* Did you watch a film last night (on Blu or DVD), and what was it? *

[NorthStar]

The last two (((3D))) flicks that I watched on Blu:

Moby Dick, the night before last night ... In the Heart of the Sea

It started promising, as a good narrated adventure. But it did not deliver fully as it started. ...Still very decent though.
It had its moments, but they were CGI, not the real whale. ...Of course not.

Film merit: 67

Technically:
- Visuals (((3D))) ? 79 (some scenes were too dark and washed out, details were lost; but daytime was pleasing).
- Sounds (+ music) ? 91 (impressive @ times, hard to fault).

For me it was just a bit too dark in few scenes; it is tiring to see too many dark movies.
The acting wasn't inspiring and captivating....I was wishing for more. The makeups were good, but the actors behind the makeups...lesser good.
And the whales were fake. But then it's a Hollywood movie, made inside rooms with computers run by humans.
The sound effects; yes, they were "effects"...effective for sure. ...The winds, the rain, the whales.

All in all it's worth it. And if you have a chance catch some real whales in the wild...truly magic and impressive.
...Or you can read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby-Dick

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I like 3D movies, I'm a Blu-ray 3D fan. I guess I'm just a kid inside an adult's body.

Last night I watched Charlie Brown & Snoopy ... in (((3D))) The Peanuts Movie

I just loved it, totally! The story goes like this...Charlie is investigating...many things...and Snoopy is going along for the ride...and has his own rides too.

Overall (everything): 91

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Our time on this planet is quite brief. ...We born, we do a bunch of things, and we gone. ...The proof? Just look where we are @ now...with roughly 3/4 of our time already gone.
Watching Charlie & Snoopy in 3D is one of the things we can do. ...And it certainly is better than watching the "zoo" on the TV news right now in America.
...For who's going to lead the country next.

IMHO you'd do yourself a fantastic favor watching this flick on Blu. ...Bring the kids and the wife along in your living room; it's a great family flick.
...About two best buddies (a cat & his mouse ;-)). The pic above depicts this marvelous adventure between a boy and his companion...that bound more powerful than the bound our next leader will ever have...

Last word: Dream big, dream realistically, ...in animated films. :b

 

[NorthStar]

In the last few days I revisited some older films:

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One of them was in 3D (cute actress, and with Nic).
Another had some slow-mo action (virtual virulence with Denzel).
One had a cool car chase and abandon (virulence with Tom).
And the last one had romance and virulence (cars with Ryan - same guy in The Big Short).

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? Quiz: Here are four scores, for each film (@ random): 73 - 78 - 65 - 84
Those are my own rating scores...try to sync them to their respective film's title.

The winner will get a personal Congrats from me. :b

 

[NorthStar]

Last night:

Very very very good: 93

If you love love stories, and your lover too; you are both going to love it. Because it's a good one. Two thumbs way up.

 

[amirm]

Good to know as my order just arrived. Will watch it with my wife later in the week! Thanks Bob.

 

[NorthStar]

Amir, be careful; your wife might want to jump you. :b

* I must also admit this: @ the end I shed one small tear.

 

[NorthStar]

I revisited this:

It still has an infernal aura to it...like a surreal glimpse on one location that would be preferable to be not there @ a certain time. ...Similar to a physicality not following a spirituality. Or vice versa, depending on where you stand; outside looking or inside dying.
It's a powerful moving experience, searching for a meaning...

Kubrick's films can do that to some of us, they keep their essence even after multiple viewings.

Overall (film intensity): 92

 

[NorthStar]

Deleted: Computer glitch.

 

[Ronm1]

^^^ m i c...

 

[NorthStar]

^^^ m i c...

Microphone? :b

* Somehow when I submitted my post, a little rectangle appeared on top and asked me if I wanted to stay on that page or leave. I clicked on "stay".
Then I submitted my post again, and that rectangle message reappeared again.
...Anyway I ended with a double post; a PC glitch I guess, or Google Chrome acting up. Extremely rare that I've seen this here @ WBF. I am 99.99% sure it's my browser because recently, started 4-5 days ago, I encountered a chain of issues with it.

And now because I'm replying to m i c... I might as well share the BR film I watched last night:

This is based on 2008's "short" story in America by a guy who decided to bet "big" money on the decline of the housing industry...the bubble.
He won, big, and many people lost, big. It happened in a relatively short time too.

This movie, for me, was a little painful to watch. Why? Because, because some schmuck/punk inspired other punks too to bet people's life savings, not their own money, against what it is to work hard on the land and raise a family.

The capitalist system, with all its variables, is flaw, very.

Overall: 68

Last word: Read about the true story, the events that led to this enormous crisis and destruction of many families in North America.

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It's funny sometimes our world: It just makes no sense; it is totally unbalanced and dysfunctional. But then, what's new pussycat.
This, only in America. But other parts of the world they have their different issues too. ...From my point of view, in the fast informative highway we live in now, there are many chain reactions...events that affect other parts of the world...economically, sociologically, and physiologically.

Yes, watching that film was painful somehow for sure, but also inciting @ researching the true real facts of this big short story.
Work hard all your life, and quickly lose everything. Because some punk Heavy Metal kid walking barefoot in an office and wearing the same shorts and t-shirt for extended periods of time is spending too much of it in front of a screen and not realizing that his greed is the very foundation of the world's destruction around him. Wow, some punk kids will never learn. And neither the adult world because they let it happened. ...Very same similar with Spotlight, where our children get raped and the leaders let it happened too, and still today we ain't out of it...from both sides.

And who's building this world of ours?

Listen, if we do nothing everything will stay the same, and we're building a big cloud of lies, deceits, false illusions, wrong values, big big hurts.
Who's planet is it again? ...The big bang, the big short...

Yes, fascinating and very funny...not. ...A triumph? ...The film?

 

[Ronm1]

Microphone

And now because I'm replying to m i c... ?

nope

 

[NorthStar]

This then? ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_inhibitory_concentration

Or: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mic

More in comments (mic): https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/1zbzsp/what_does_mic_next_to_a_post_mean/

 

[YashN]

Deleted (double post - looks like the forum software is glitching for me a few times).

 

[YashN]

We watched 'Gravity' and 'The Avengers', both on Blu-Ray surround.

Since I just had two dedicated audio lines, using one for the main surround amp and a second one for the subwoofer, the sound was excellent as well.

There was no dead moment in Gravity, fun watch although far-fetched.

I would have really liked The Avengers as a kid or teen, but it was a fun watch as well, setting the environment for 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' which is now available on Netflix Canada.

 

[Ronm1]

This then? ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_inhibitory_concentration

Or: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mic

More in comments (mic): https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/1zbzsp/what_does_mic_next_to_a_post_mean/

No and no.

 

[audioguy]

I watched the Big Short as well and while I enjoyed the film a lot, I found it over-the-top unimaginable that virtually no one (of consequence) went to prison for the ponzi scheme of all ponzi schemes.

The night before that, I watched the movie (don't recall the name) about the reporter who discovered that the US Government was involved in selling drugs to fund illegal undercover operations. And years later, the reporter was found dead with two bullets in his head --- AND RULED A SUICIDE.

Our country has completely lost it's moral compass. Completely. So sad!!!

Rant over !!!!

 

[NorthStar]

--------------- ?

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Couple nights ago: The Hateful Eight ...Based on a fictive story, by Quentin Tarantino in the west, and music score by Ennio Morricone.
Outrageous to the limit; even when the very lovely and friendly and peaceful Daisy Domergue playing the guitar got interrupted suddenly...no more guitar playing around.

The acting is first rate (it's a comedy), the scenery is superb (was shot in 70mm and it shows on Blu), the premises are a stage coach with six gorgeous horses and a cool cabin large enough to have a fiesta in it with disco ball and strippers. ...It's like a western/horror/comedy flick similar to a Broadway play. It mainly happens inside the cabin with lots of talking. The snow and the blizzard outside is just a pretext to have them in that cabin, till the storm die down so that they can all hit town and get it on with the hanging of Daisy, the $10,000 reward, and the new sheriff, plus plus plus. But, it just won't happen, because it wasn't meant to be; what was, all happened in that cabin before anything else get a chance to get out of it...it's like destiny...like your own free prison given to you because of the bad weather outside.

Anyway, it was a fun ride, way over the top, nothing out of the ordinary here, and I know that the replay value is high...because there are few things to be analysed here.
Some verbal exchanges are quite funny, and the sheriff Chris Mannix has a good set of lines. Lol ... and poor Daisy Domergue. And her brother didn't fare any better; he had it comin' too. Also, there is one scene, told by the major Marquis Warren, about the son of the general, and it happened in the snow, where the general's son is completely nude...I won't tell what happened but be sure that no one other than Tarantino can have those kind of thoughts in mind! That was good reason enough to enrage the general, grab the gun and .... you'll have to watch it.

Overall (film's merit itself plus picture and sound technical qualitative attributes): 80

Last word: They started with eight, then one by one up they went till only a very few luckiest ones (two) made it, but far from being intact, far from it indeed. I think only the sheriff Chris Mannix showed promises...because the major got it real bad where it counts the most. ...Ouch!

 

[NorthStar]

Deleted: Double post (forum glitch).

 

[YashN]

And years later, the reporter was found dead with two bullets in his head --- AND RULED A SUICIDE.

Our country has completely lost it's moral compass. Completely. So sad!!!

Happens a lot more than you think.

Secondly, true, and it happened a long while ago.

 

[NorthStar]

Deleted. It was a double post error, from the post below.
I very rarely experienced this in many years here (5), but only recently. Perhaps it's the fourth or fifth time that it happened in about the last three-four weeks.

* When I clicked on submit it asked me if I want to stay on this page or leave it! It's not supposed to do that but that's exactly what happened.
I'll try another browser next time to see if it makes any difference.

Also, there was another slight glitch, the reason why I had to edit my post below, and without noticing that the same post was also above.
I only realized it later, about 20-30 minutes later.
The glitch was when I tried to post a youtube video trailer; I had to try about seven times! I went to the testing area to see if I was doing something missing.
No, I wasn't; it just took a long time to work. Anyway, switching threads from this one to the testing area one and coming back here finally got the video posted normally.

Maybe I should post more? ...Nah, it's just a bug.

 

[NorthStar]

Happens a lot more than you think.
Secondly, true, and it happened a long while ago.

He did kill himself; he couldn't find more work, he couldn't pay his mortgage, he was depressed. He shot himself in the face but was still alive and shot himself again and was dead.
It happens that some suicides they have to shoot themselves more than once; not everyone is an accurate shooter, even @ close range. And particularly when emotionally down.
His wife confirmed his depression, and knew how deep it was.
The CIA had no motive to kill him because everything has already been exposed publicly two or more years before.

Anyway, the CIA and the FBI are not catholic people either. We know some of their involvement with the underground arm dealers and drug dealers from other countries, nothing new here; now it's the Panama papers. ...And the run for safe heaven...if Donald...

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Blu-ray sounds better than VHS tape, than Laser disc, and than DVD. ...And than Netflix too. ...I can again concur from couple nights ago.
And I bet this one in 4K (later this year) is going to look the best, better than the one I just saw in 2K.
And I am convinced that the 3D version (later this year) is going to be more immersive than the one I just saw in 2D.

"We have a new force here, and it's a young girl. She's ... different. ...Her name is Daisy Ridley (Rey).
Unfortunately, for me @ this present time, that was only the 2D version. I will have to repurchased it again later this year, probably around Christmas.
But I simply couldn't resist, the force is just too strong. C'est la vie, and then we eclipse ourselves, naturally.

My take: I wasn't prepared for a "soft" type of entertaining coming from a movie like Star Wars. ...Soft because it wasn't loaded like some other films from Marvel and DC comic books. No, this is Lucas style; space, large vistas, sand, spaceships, funny creatures, funny acting, funny interactions, languages, and great for kids...from all ages. Some parts, for me, were pretty cheesy, like melted soft swiss cheese on crackers on top of black forest ham and Italian tomatoes slices.
Simply put it was easy to descend through your tongue and throat, with a large glass of fresh milk. ...What all kids and adults love for after school collation @ the director's office. That, or on your knees with your arms crossed in the air (remember that on grade one?).

My eyes were mostly riveted on Rey's face...eyes, mouth, overall facial expression, and walking and running style.
The new round robot was fun to watch too but less than Rey.

What was smooth is the Star Wars signature; the transitions between quintessence and action scenes. Don't ask, just watch...you'll know what it means.
The guys in white plastic suits were still in it, and you would have to pay me extra to wear one of those suits; they look like slaves inside, with restricted movements and head vision.
And the dark side's new black mask wasn't as good as the one we're used to, IMO. ...Even his voice wasn't menacing; it was smooth.
Typical Star Wars action scene with laser guns and light sabers and spaceships collisions. ...Zip, zap, slip in the way (like the song from Simon & Garfunkel), smooth again and not like Gandalf in LOTR with his long cane with a blinding light @ the top of his crystal.

It takes dedication for Star Wars fans like me in making you part of the same movie experience as I saw it using only words.
And besides my eyes are green, most likely a different color than most of you; so I see differently, and hear not the same because the shape of my ears are like small crispy oval pancakes the type they served in maple syrup cabins in Quebec during the season's festivities and food. ...April.

The same actors that were in the original Star Wars (1977); Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill ...they were still there too in this one (2016), wow!
That is 40 years later! ...They didn't look exactly the same, but they weren't supposed to. They were wiser too, except for Harrison. ;-)

It was fine and fun overall: 80.5 (that's for everything...film's storyline, acting, decors, CGI, picture and music score).
Feel good about the Blu; the quality of the picture and audio is into a galaxy far far away. ...Meaning excellent.

Last word: Smooth. And of course I recommend it; it's a Star Wars film, not a Peanuts movie. ...The Peanuts Movie I liked it too, in 3D.
So, comes next Christmas (just a guess), I'll spend more money and get the 3D version, to encourage Disney studios and in helping to provide for all their families.
And I bet this one will also look splendid in 4K, because the pic quality was very good in 2K. ...Sound was fine too, and the music matching Star Wars trademark signature...sort of; perhaps not as good as III - Revenge of the Sith (still my personal favorite)."
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* Reprint ? by permission (my own).