1. It being New Year's Eve, I suppose standard practice would be to give some kind of a retrospective of the year gone by or speculations of the one to come. But we have more important things to talk about today; namely Spider-Man! I'd thought I was done with the MCU, but the word-of-mouth on … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Thoughts on ‘No Way Home’
Movies
Friday Flotsam: In the News, Invisible Man, and Folk Song
1. I have barely looked at the news in weeks and have frankly been much happier for it. After all, I have no power to affect anything that is in the news, and it’s going to affect me I’ll find out about it sooner or later. Not to mention that most of it is either … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: In the News, Invisible Man, and Folk Song
Flotsam: Self-Examination, Plot Holes, Halloween-ness, and a Joke
1. I notice that I have a bad habit (and perhaps you do as well) that when I start to pray and try to meditate upon God that I tend to fall into criticism of modernity: thinking of how far the contemporary world is from the majesty of the Divine plan and how many ways … Continue reading Flotsam: Self-Examination, Plot Holes, Halloween-ness, and a Joke
Flotsam: Various and Sundry Life Things and the Mario Movie
1. I'm beginning to settle in at last as the final few necessary tasks and purchases are being wrapped up. Having a new apartment is like having a giant toy; there are all sorts of things you can do with it and you can't wait to get the chance to play with it. 2. Internet … Continue reading Flotsam: Various and Sundry Life Things and the Mario Movie
Just Because It’s Cool: Donnie Yen vs. Mike Tyson
I found this clip of a fight scene in Yip Man 3 pitting Donnie Yen as the titular (historical) Wing Chun grandmaster Yip Man against Mike Tyson as...well, basically just Mike Tyson. There's some kind of plot going on (I haven't seen the film), but the important thing is that we get to see two … Continue reading Just Because It’s Cool: Donnie Yen vs. Mike Tyson
Flotsam: ‘Coco’ and Such
1. I missed seeing Coco when it came out in theaters, since I was by the disillusioned by Pixar's deteriorating quality. Last week, upon seeing it recommended, I pulled it up and gave it a watch. My goodness, that is one of the best films I've seen in a long time. Certainly one of the … Continue reading Flotsam: ‘Coco’ and Such
Mauler vs. Black Widow
A melancholy step: I was really hoping this movie wouldn't be horrible. And I would say that it was still possible Mauler's being too harsh on it, except...the prison break scene. How the heck did that make it through production without anyone saying "wait, our heroine just condemned hundreds of people to horrible deaths..."? And … Continue reading Mauler vs. Black Widow
No Aspirational Heroes, Huh?
Apparently, the star of the latest Marvel film - Shang Chi and the Ten Rings (yeah, I forgot about that movie too) - claimed that this is something he "didn't have growing up," namely an aspirational Asian or Asian American hero. Ahem: "Three weeks top of the US Box Office. I doubt you will be … Continue reading No Aspirational Heroes, Huh?
If You’re Looking for Reasons to Go Back to the Theaters…
I just learned that certain services are ramping up their theatrical showings of classic films. Most people already know about Fathom Events, but they seem to be showing even more lately. Their upcoming schedule includes Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Star Trek IV, the Voyage Home (the whales one that is widely considered one … Continue reading If You’re Looking for Reasons to Go Back to the Theaters…
Flotsam: Fitting Final Lines
To every actor there comes a final performance. Most of the time, for such is the nature of the beast, they're pretty prosaic affairs, often obscure, coming and going with little fanfare. But sometimes it happens that a prominent performer gets to end his film career on a high note, ending his final performance with … Continue reading Flotsam: Fitting Final Lines
Serpent's Den 