Yes, this was definitely a "thinking man's" spy thriller. There were many nuances one must pay attention to throughout, but the dialogue and scenes were not cut in a hyperactive fashion like some (hard to watch)British spy movies of the last decade have been--which works strongly in the film's favor. We have a more traditional presentation here.
Yes, this was definitely a "thinking man's" spy thriller. There were many nuances one must pay attention to throughout, but the dialogue and scenes were not cut in a hyperactive fashion like some (hard to watch)British spy movies of the last decade have been--which works strongly in the film's favor. We have a more traditional presentation here.
When it comes to spy/espionage thrillers there seems to be a certain formula that works for mainstream audiences and a formula that doesn't work. For example, both the Mission Impossible series and the Bourne series (except for the Renner offshoot) have been very successful box office hits but spy thrillers like Red Sparrow, The Man from UNCLE and Anna all flopped.
Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 02/16/2306:34 PM.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
It's not a spy thriller unless you have lots of fights and car chases!
For mainstream audiences that certainly seems to be the case! They don't want to see scenes with people having secretive meetings in dark rooms. BO-RING!
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
I enjoy film from the 30s, 40s and 50s, so I'm definitely not mainstream. Most of the newer Mission Impossible movies are... impossible to watch. Too much action, not enough plausible substance.
"Howard the Duck" has some interesting history behind it. George Lucas was one of the principal investors of the film and he ended up losing several million dollars due to the film bombing at the box office. It actually left him in a bad financial situation so he decided to sell the animation department of ILM to some guy by the name of Steve Jobs. That animation department eventually became Pixar.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
1) "Lucky Day" -- Decent little crime comedy that I watched only because Crispin Glover was in the film. Not bad. The plot, however, projected far too much what would happen next, so basically the film was on a track and you waited for the next prescribed scene in the diorama to pass by. I liked the picture, I just wish there were unpredictable twists and turns. ** 1/2 out of **** stars.
2) "After Hours" -- Wow. Forgotten 80s Scorsese crime/drama/black comedy gem. This was one of the finest I have ever seen, and I believe the first over 3.5 star rating I will give to a film in probably the last few years... that I have never seen before. This was special. Too bad it was an 80s film, and not a modern one, but whatever. This one delivered. Basically a story of a date gone awry as the main characters undertake a meandering journey through New York night life. *** 3/4 out of **** stars. I could almost rate this a perfect four... I might change my rating.
2) "After Hours" -- Wow. Forgotten 80s Scorsese crime/drama/black comedy gem. This was one of the finest I have ever seen, and I believe the first over 3.5 star rating I will give to a film in probably the last few years... that I have never seen before. This was special. Too bad it was an 80s film, and not a modern one, but whatever. This one delivered. Basically a story of a date gone awry as the main characters undertake a meandering journey through New York night life. *** 3/4 out of **** stars. I could almost rate this a perfect four... I might change my rating.
I've seen quite a few Scorcese films but I've never even heard of this one. I may check it out some day. Ha! John Heard and Catherine O'Hara were both in it! This was 5 years before they teamed up again for Home Alone.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
Watched "Final Countdown" a few nights ago after listening to the F-14 Tomcast episode on that movie. The flying scenes rival "Top Gun" in my opinion. That got me in the mood to watch "Tora Tora Tora" again, great flick. I love the "just the facts" take with no crap like the "Pearl Harbor" debacle with Ben Affleck. Then yesterday I re-watched (and finally bought) the great F-105 documentary "Thud Pilots". If you've not seen that you gotta watch!
US federal spending per person per year, in constant 2025 dollars: 1925 - $153.00 2025 - $20,497.00
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz (RIP)
"It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance." Thomas Sowell
That got me in the mood to watch "Tora Tora Tora" again, great flick. I love the "just the facts" take with no crap like the "Pearl Harbor" debacle with Ben Affleck.
What really makes Tora so great is not only the adherence to historical facts but also the cast. All of the actors were perfectly cast for their roles IMHO. They were all very convincing. Also the fact that the Japanese segments of the movie were directed by a Japanese director gave those scenes added authenticity as far as the Japanese perspective of the event goes.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
That got me in the mood to watch "Tora Tora Tora" again, great flick. I love the "just the facts" take with no crap like the "Pearl Harbor" debacle with Ben Affleck.
What really makes Tora so great is not only the adherence to historical facts but also the cast. All of the actors were perfectly cast for their roles IMHO. They were all very convincing. Also the fact that the Japanese segments of the movie were directed by a Japanese director gave those scenes added authenticity as far as the Japanese perspective of the event goes.
+1
US federal spending per person per year, in constant 2025 dollars: 1925 - $153.00 2025 - $20,497.00
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz (RIP)
"It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance." Thomas Sowell
yesterday I re-watched (and finally bought) the great F-105 documentary "Thud Pilots". If you've not seen that you gotta watch!
Any idea where I can find this? I bought it on Google Play, but the speech track seems to be missing, I get music only and no narration. Very much want to see (and hear!) this with working sound! Love the books by Ed Rasimus, When Thunder Rolled is one of my favourite Vietnam air war books.
In all my years I've never seen the like. It has to be more than a hundred sea miles and he brings us up on his tail. That's seamanship, Mr. Pullings. My God, that's seamanship!
yesterday I re-watched (and finally bought) the great F-105 documentary "Thud Pilots". If you've not seen that you gotta watch!
Any idea where I can find this? I bought it on Google Play, but the speech track seems to be missing, I get music only and no narration. Very much want to see (and hear!) this with working sound!
There’s also another good one called «100 Missions, surviving Vietnam.»
In all my years I've never seen the like. It has to be more than a hundred sea miles and he brings us up on his tail. That's seamanship, Mr. Pullings. My God, that's seamanship!
Yep, that's it. Not sure that it being free on YouTube is legit however......
US federal spending per person per year, in constant 2025 dollars: 1925 - $153.00 2025 - $20,497.00
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz (RIP)
"It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance." Thomas Sowell
Yep, that's it. Not sure that it being free on YouTube is legit however......
Yeah, I don't know.
@ 24 minutes, when McNamara is defending the policy to not attack airbases, I want to punch him. I recall reading declassified documents in college for a history project or something, and they were of the Vietnam war and read page after page of incompetence in policy issued by that man. Idiots. They cost us lives when they did not have to.
I just watched the whole Obi-wan Kenobi series, and have to say that I wasn't impressed. It had a few good scenes, but overall I felt the story wasn't great, and I feel it had some conflicts with what I consider to be canon from the original movies.
Ken Cartwright
No single drop of rain feels it is responsible for the flood.
Yep, that's it. Not sure that it being free on YouTube is legit however......
Yeah, I don't know.
@ 24 minutes, when McNamara.....
Don't get me started on that POS 😡
US federal spending per person per year, in constant 2025 dollars: 1925 - $153.00 2025 - $20,497.00
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz (RIP)
"It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance." Thomas Sowell
