Movies/TV worth watching (or at least discussing)

Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15 said:
I understood ClemmonsDevil to be suggesting that much like Handmaid's Tale, MITHC had a good start and lots of potential, but didn't really land the plane very well.

I could be wrong. I'm sure ClemmonsDevil is quite capable of pointing out my misunderstanding.
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Ah, if that is the case, I do agree. I thought both shows started off well and tailed off a bit as they progressed.
 
Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme contains all the hallmarks of his filmography -- quirky characters, stunning visuals, and genuine humor -- but this one seems to be missing the cohesive plot and emotional connection that elevate some of his movies from good to the realm of great.

Here is my 100-word review: https://flixchat.blogspot.com/2025/06/jason-evans-100-word-reviews-phoenician.html

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I typed out 2 responses and erased both of them in the TV thread yesterday. I felt this required a long explanation and I an busy at a huge NICU in WV. I thought that just the assertion that Germany and Japan could have crossed the ocean and invaded and taken over the US was too easy. There's no way that you can project that kind of power during World War II and invade the US Now you could have made the case that Germany could have easily won a Eurocentric war (could have if they avoided taking on the Soviets at the same time they were fighting the British...but it turns out having a crazy personin charge begets crazy decisions). And then that the US descended into a fascist dictatorship sort of in conjunction with a fascist Germany.

A little discussed part of History is that there were fairly robust efforts to push fascism in both England and the United states in the lead up to World War II. But that Hitler's absolute insanity and aggression ended that. And neither country really talks very much about it now. But it seems to me that one of the reasons the show drops you into fascist America that has been conquered is because it be really hard to explain how it actually occurred. And I feel like that's lazy. So to me, it just doesn't feel like America being conquered is something that is reasonable.

But America taking a heel turn and becoming the bad guy in conjunction with an ascendant Germany does seem like it would have been the better method to use. Then I think the show has really only two compelling and sympathetic characters. And unfortunately, one of them is Smith who is a Nazi And the other is the Japanese trade minister. I don't think that's the goal at all, and I don't think it's a good thing. NONE of the Americans are particularly likable to me . But I also think it's Testament to the fact that Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Rufus Sewell are absolutely incredible in the show. So my issue with man in the High Castle is that the takeover of America gets yada-yada'd.

My issue with The Handmaid'taTale is that the Christo-fascist junta that has taken over the United States is way too easily defeated. So it's the opposite problem from Man in the High Castle. Once the Christo-fascism takes hold and completely takes power, they're never going to give it up. Because it's their divine right to control America. And they have nukes and God on their side and they would never have hesitated to nuke Canada if Canada was going to assist the resistance in trying to take over. If Christo-fascism ever takes over a country (and PM me if you want to know my thoughts about the current environment), they are not giving it up so easily. And it was way too easy in The Handmaid's Tale.

So I have the same problem with both shows. Just from two different angles. And I watchemaMan in the High Castle twice. I really liked it. But it's absolutely nowhere near as good as my favorite show The Americans. The Americans just did a much better job with the explanation for how things occurred during the show while I felthThe Man in the High Castle and The Handmaid's Tale kind of mailed it in for parts of the show. And it's okay if people disagree.
 
ClemmonsDevil said:
I typed out 2 responses and erased both of them in the TV thread yesterday. I felt this required a long explanation and I an busy at a huge NICU in WV. I thought that just the assertion that Germany and Japan could have crossed the ocean and invaded and taken over the US was too easy. There's no way that you can project that kind of power during World War II and invade the US Now you could have made the case that Germany could have easily won a Eurocentric war (could have if they avoided taking on the Soviets at the same time they were fighting the British...but it turns out having a crazy personin charge begets crazy decisions). And then that the US descended into a fascist dictatorship sort of in conjunction with a fascist Germany.

A little discussed part of History is that there were fairly robust efforts to push fascism in both England and the United states in the lead up to World War II. But that Hitler's absolute insanity and aggression ended that. And neither country really talks very much about it now. But it seems to me that one of the reasons the show drops you into fascist America that has been conquered is because it be really hard to explain how it actually occurred. And I feel like that's lazy. So to me, it just doesn't feel like America being conquered is something that is reasonable.

But America taking a heel turn and becoming the bad guy in conjunction with an ascendant Germany does seem like it would have been the better method to use. Then I think the show has really only two compelling and sympathetic characters. And unfortunately, one of them is Smith who is a Nazi And the other is the Japanese trade minister. I don't think that's the goal at all, and I don't think it's a good thing. NONE of the Americans are particularly likable to me . But I also think it's Testament to the fact that Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Rufus Sewell are absolutely incredible in the show. So my issue with man in the High Castle is that the takeover of America gets yada-yada'd.

My issue with The Handmaid'taTale is that the Christo-fascist junta that has taken over the United States is way too easily defeated. So it's the opposite problem from Man in the High Castle. Once the Christo-fascism takes hold and completely takes power, they're never going to give it up. Because it's their divine right to control America. And they have nukes and God on their side and they would never have hesitated to nuke Canada if Canada was going to assist the resistance in trying to take over. If Christo-fascism ever takes over a country (and PM me if you want to know my thoughts about the current environment), they are not giving it up so easily. And it was way too easy in The Handmaid's Tale.

So I have the same problem with both shows. Just from two different angles. And I watchemaMan in the High Castle twice. I really liked it. But it's absolutely nowhere near as good as my favorite show The Americans. The Americans just did a much better job with the explanation for how things occurred during the show while I felthThe Man in the High Castle and The Handmaid's Tale kind of mailed it in for parts of the show. And it's okay if people disagree.
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So yeah my summary of "both shows started strong but lost their way" was a completely fair and accurate summary of your issues.

Nailed it.
 
ClemmonsDevil said:
My issue with The Handmaid'taTale is that the Christo-fascist junta that has taken over the United States is way too easily defeated. So it's the opposite problem from Man in the High Castle. Once the Christo-fascism takes hold and completely takes power, they're never going to give it up. Because it's their divine right to control America. And they have nukes and God on their side and they would never have hesitated to nuke Canada if Canada was going to assist the resistance in trying to take over. If Christo-fascism ever takes over a country (and PM me if you want to know my thoughts about the current environment), they are not giving it up so easily. And it was way too easy in The Handmaid's Tale.
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Removed the needless underlining.

I have to say, while I was watching the final season of Handmaid, I commented to my wife a couple times, "So, killing a few commanders is going to bring down Gillead? I thought they had the entire U.S. military. What about the tanks, fighter jets, missiles, and nukes? Killing a few guys in Boston who spend their evenings at a brothel is going to defeat the entire Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines? I hope no one tells Russia we are that feeble."
 
JasonEvans said:
Removed the needless underlining.

I have to say, while I was watching the final season of Handmaid, I commented to my wife a couple times, "So, killing a few commanders is going to bring down Gillead? I thought they had the entire U.S. military. What about the tanks, fighter jets, missiles, and nukes? Killing a few guys in Boston who spend their evenings at a brothel is going to defeat the entire Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines? I hope no one tells Russia we are that feeble."
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Some thoughts to Clemmons and Jason’s posts:

- in MitHC, wasn’t the premise that Germany got the bomb first and dropped one on DC? (I don’t recall it exactly). I could entertain that that would be enough to force the US surrender.
- in the Handmaid’s Tale, my quibble with that Jason said above is that they didn’t take down Gilead. They took Boston which is a huge difference. Killing a plane full of all the Commanders from Boston could weaken things enough for Boston to fall. In the last episode they were talking about further attacks down the road.
- Also, I can also entertain an argument that Gilead wouldn’t use the nukes. While there were no doubt some true believer Christo-fascists, I think what we saw was that leadership had way more power hungry men that were along for the ride (ie all the ones that hit the brothels on the regular).
- Neither show compares to the Americans which is absolutely amazing (and the reason that I’ll watch anything with Keri Russell).
 
JasonEvans said:
Removed the needless underlining.

I have to say, while I was watching the final season of Handmaid, I commented to my wife a couple times, "So, killing a few commanders is going to bring down Gillead? I thought they had the entire U.S. military. What about the tanks, fighter jets, missiles, and nukes? Killing a few guys in Boston who spend their evenings at a brothel is going to defeat the entire Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines? I hope no one tells Russia we are that feeble."
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Nothing an off the shelf drone can't handle. ;)
 
JasonEvans said:
Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme contains all the hallmarks of his filmography -- quirky characters, stunning visuals, and genuine humor -- but this one seems to be missing the cohesive plot and emotional connection that elevate some of his movies from good to the realm of great.

Here is my 100-word review: https://flixchat.blogspot.com/2025/06/jason-evans-100-word-reviews-phoenician.html

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yeah, that's a fair summary Jason, entertaining, great visuals, but not one of his better efforts...at least it spared us from having to watch some CGI nightmare, though we had to sit through a lengthy Jurassic Park (Part 23?) preview that was pretty painful...
 
weezie said:
Wolf Hall is repeating on several PBS channels. Breathtaking acting, my goodness!
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Just watched S1 (2015) and S2 (2025). Outstanding. Not flawless, but saying that is a bit like saying Ted Williams sometimes struck out. It's really that good. Had been reading some history of the period at the same time, which enhanced the experience. First, a cultural history - Keith Thomas' Religion and the Decline of Magic. A classic in the field (to the point that there was a 50th anniv symposium a few years ago). Currently finishing Statesman and Saint (about Cardinal Wolsey and Thomas More), by Jasper Ridley. Not outstanding, but fairly interesting.

Anyway, it's hard to overstate how outstanding the acting is by the principals (Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis) in Wolf Hall. Nearly everyone is truly great. I could quibble about a couple portrayals, but overall, it's worth enduring the flaws to experience the greatness of the rest.
 
I watched and enjoyed Predator: Killer of Killers last night. It's an animated three story anthology, with all three tales intertwining at the end. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the same who brought us Prey and the upcoming Badlands.

If you watched Prey, you'll love the closing credits scene.

I'm not alone in really liking this; it sits at 97% on RT.
 
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