Watched “Land of Bad” on a plane flight the other day. It’s out on Netflix now. A good Special Ops mission film. Nothing groundbreaking nor cerebral, but plenty of action and entertainment albeit formulatic. Worth watching if you like Rambo, Missing in Action type films.
The Movie Thread
- Thread starter Maddox
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I miss Tom Cruise, the actor. He was so good in that film along with others like Magnolia and Interview With A Vampire.
But for the last twenty years or so, he's just been Tom Cruise the movie star who hasn't had a serious part since he made The Last Samurai back in 2003.
Sadly, his best acting roles were back in the 80s and 90s. I get that he's an adrenaline junkie, but I can't help but wonder if he's too worried about losing his star status by gambling on these serious roles where he doesn't have the built-in audience of a Mission Impossible. He used to occasionally attach himself to these other projects where he could show off his acting chops. But then he made Rock Of Ages, which tanked. After that, it's been nothing but MI, Jack Reacher, and Sci-Fi tent pole films that appeal to the masses.
"It's Christmas Eve. The luckiest Parisians are preparing to unwrap their presents with their families. Others are watching television alone at home. Still others, like Serge, are working. Serge is the only SOS-Médecin on call that evening. His colleagues all walked away. In any case, he no longer has a say because he has taken too many liberties with the practice of medicine, and the radiation is hanging over his head. visits follow one another and Serge tries to keep up, reluctantly, when the address of his next consultation falls. It is that of Rose, a family relation, who calls him for help. the place at the same time as an Uber Eats delivery man, Malek, also on duty that evening..."
"Collateral" (2004) was his best work.
Cruise was an excellent actor when he still tried like in 'Rain man' and 'Born on the Fourth of July', but his stardom really got to his head in the new millennium unfortunately.
Also in 'Magnolia' he's actually playing himself (you probably already know this) the role was specifically written for him and he took the inside joke like a champ, we will not see him do that again.
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I liked it a lot. Simple action movie. No women and gays.
I just watched A Quiet Place Part Two and enjoyed it. Good entertainment and not woke and gay.
I didn't know that. Although now that I think about it, the character was very much like him so that makes sense. I'd argue though that the whole ladies man thing is not who he is. I used to work in Hollywood many years ago and one lady I worked with told me it's a known fact in the industry that he's gay. This would explain a lot as his romantic scenes with women look wooden, like he really has to act to make them believable. It's the only weak point I can find in his acting and he doesn't seem to do a lot of them, at least not from the movies I've seen him in.
If you're saying he fears stepping outside his comfort zone in dramatic acting, I could see that argument. But it may be simpler than that. I think he just chooses roles for fun, since he doesn't need any more money or fame. I think he knows his boundaries, stays within them, throws wholesome mass-appeal red meat to the audience and is chill about it. I can respect that, actually. I also like the fact that he doesn't preach or get political in his films. Frankly, that is refreshing.
Good point. He doesn't seem woke either just enjoying life like the adrenaline junky that he is but I wouldn't mind seeing him do some serious "deep" role again.
I think Charles Bronson is my favorite action star, although I think I'd prefer to refer to him as a masculine star. I watched a few more of his movies the other day (Hard Times and Chato's Land) and I've seen The Mechanic and Death Wish. There's more available on Tubi, so I think I will continue to watch whatever of his movies I can find. He has the stoicism, the toughness, the physique, and the work ethic of a good masculine role model.
I was tricked in life as a child to think Arnold S was the epitome of action hero. Same with Stallone. They portrayed huge, jacked guys as the ideal masculine model, the hypermasculine, but I find I much prefer the quiet and hard types like Bronson. Bronson had the kind of physique I'm aiming for, and I wish I could find out more about the man, because I read he was very careful about what he ate and took his roles very seriously and worked hard at them.
I was tricked in life as a child to think Arnold S was the epitome of action hero. Same with Stallone. They portrayed huge, jacked guys as the ideal masculine model, the hypermasculine, but I find I much prefer the quiet and hard types like Bronson. Bronson had the kind of physique I'm aiming for, and I wish I could find out more about the man, because I read he was very careful about what he ate and took his roles very seriously and worked hard at them.
Check out Once Upon a Time in the West. It stars Charles Bronson as the good guy. Still one of the greatest movies I've ever seen.
My wife bought tickets to see it for her birthday before I had any idea, so I went along and watched it. If it weren't for that I'd have not bothered. If you liked Deadpool 1 and 2 you may like it, but I've changed since then and was unmoved by the latest Deadpool. It's another Jewish gore-porn vulgarity-slop production for the goys. I liked Ryan Reynolds humor once, but then it got old for me in record time, I think because it began to feel repetitive and too cheesy. Hugh Jackman did a good job portraying the Wolverine and shows himself to be the best actor the Marvel franchise has ever had. If you're a fan of Wolverine you won't be disappointed.
I saw it too. The audience ate it up. About a decade ago, I might have joined them. Instead, I found myself rolling my eyes at the explicit or implied sexuality and Redditor humor (fourth wall breaks, "Marvel Jesus"). It's also difficult to make any kind of investment in "superheroes" who can never really perish (even if they don't possess regenerative superpowers, there's always another "universe" capable of reviving them). A world free of consequences.
Gonna pass on Deadpool. Never cared for the humor.
Gonna try and see the new Alien this upcoming weekend instead.
Gonna try and see the new Alien this upcoming weekend instead.
I enjoy watching Edge of Tomorrow and Oblivion. It's easier to watch Tom Cruise be a character in those movies than to suspend disbelief and watch female superhero kick ass.