Last Movie Seen IV

[aidensdaddy]

cstephens, on the one that didn't bother you was it that

 

apparently the Mandarin is pretty different in the movie than the comic book? Also didn't bother me since I've never read the comics and quite liked it.

Yes, quite different. But then again, they always are.

[cstephens]

In response to Alex:

 

Yes, it concerns the Mandarin. My understanding is that in the comic book, he's a real villain, though I don't know his story, but obviously, in the film, they've made him completely a fake creation of another man. From what little I've heard of the character, I think it would be interesting to see what they could do with it. I'd only heard about the rings on his fingers, each one giving him different powers. I noticed that in the first shot (or at least in one of the first shots of him), they show his hands and his rings fairly prominently. While I'd love to see what they would have done with the real character, I loved seeing Ben Kingsley as the actor who played the part. He was priceless.

[aidensdaddy]

In response to Alex:

 

Yes, it concerns the Mandarin. My understanding is that in the comic book, he's a real villain, though I don't know his story, but obviously, in the film, they've made him completely a fake creation of another man. From what little I've heard of the character, I think it would be interesting to see what they could do with it. I'd only heard about the rings on his fingers, each one giving him different powers. I noticed that in the first shot (or at least in one of the first shots of him), they show his hands and his rings fairly prominently. While I'd love to see what they would have done with the real character, I loved seeing Ben Kingsley as the actor who played the part. He was priceless.

 

The best place to view more information on the character the Mandarin is on the animated show Iron Man Armored Adventures. The show features a lot of Iron Man's many villains, especially the Mandarin. As a matter of fact, he's the primary one for both of the seasons. (Just not every episode.) His name was Gene Khan, not Aldrich Killian. He was not some actor as it was portrayed by Ben Kingsley's role in the film, which was both amusing and disappointing. In the previews, it made it look like Kingsley was the Mandarin and he was very evil. And also in the animated show, the Mandarin did use the rings and several episodes focused on the search for all the ten rings. They character never had anything to do with Extremis. In season 2, there is at least one episode that focuses on Extremis and it's centered with Tony/Iron Man. I won't go into details with that in case you or anyone else wants to see it.

[BlkPearlCptn]

Just got through watching A League of Their Own. I read about a week ago that the real life Dotty (Gina Davis character) had just passed. So I watched the film with a touch of sadness. I admit it, I cried at the very end. A great film, one of my favorites.

[MidwayManiac]

Parental Guidance.

Movies like this are the result of screenwriters who know little or nothing about kids. Even brattish children aren't like this. The script is unbelievable to the point being annoying and nearly unwatchable.

The plot involving Billy Crystal and his sorta estranged daughter (Marisa Tomei) is forced and difficult to believe and/or understand and/or care about. The whole story is beyond belief and a failed retread of Meet the Fockers which, by the way, gets a pass because it had good performances and was funny. Parental Guidance isn't funny at all and, save for Bette Midler who's a gem, the performances stink.

It's for movies like this that the term "Straight to video" was invented. If I had to choose between watching this piece again and gouging out my eyes with a stick, I might choose the latter.

[cstephens]

"Oblivion" - The trailer and the premise looked interesting, so we went in spite of Tom Cruise being the lead. Besides, we figured having Morgan Freeman in the movie would balance him out.

The movie was ok, but it felt like the first 3/4 of the movie was intro, and then this big thing happens and then it was over.

Re: Morgan Freeman as well as the ending of the movie:

 

Morgan Freeman's role was mostly a slightly extended cameo. I would have liked him to have actually been a co-star. And the ending just seemed a little too "nicely wrapped up in a bow". And women in film and TV seem to be *THE* most fertile people on earth.

[cstephens]

Went to a midnight screening of "Star Trek Into Darkness". I liked the re-boot and was looking forward to seeing this film, even though I didn't really know what it was about. I have very mixed feelings about the film. Conceptually, there are story points that bother me. Technically, I am really tired of J.J. Abrams' penchant for a particular favored lighting technique, which can be interesting used sparingly but is distracting and disruptive when overused, which he does. Benedict Cumberbatch was amazing and the best thing about the film. One acting credit puzzled me.

I was hesitant when I heard Abrams would be involved in the Star Wars re-boot. Now I'm concerned.

[aidensdaddy]

I was hesitant when I heard Abrams would be involved in the Star Wars re-boot. Now I'm concerned.

There's still a lot of time between now and then, a lot could still happen. But even if it doesn't, in regards to JJ & his lighting.......


Vader & the Emperor are gone now. The "dark times" are over.