Fantastic Four: First Steps - this was really good. Don’t bother with any of the other fantastic 4 movies, most were either meh or down right bad, and there is nothing in them that you need to know for this one which was a franchise reboot.
Heads of State on Amazon. John Cena as the president and Idris Elba as the PM. There is an attempt to blow up Air Force One with both of them on it. They survive and need to figure out who is after them and save NATO. Cena is what the current president would like to be. Had potential and failed at every turn.
The Old Guard 2 on Netflix. Follow up and not nearly as good. Ends with no conclusion and needs a part 3. I wondered if they had already shot it, maybe at the same time as 2, but they didn’t. Hope there is a third just for the conclusion.
Taffin on Amazon. Oldie (1988) with Pierce Brosnan as a local fixer who ends up trying to help the town stop a chemical plant from being built. Meh.
For a Dew Dollars More on YouTube. I don’t think I had ever seen this from start to finish. Pretty much what I expected. Funny to see so many Italian guys playing Mexicans. I guess we couldn’t tell them apart 60 years ago.
V for Vendetta on Netflix. Never saw this start to finish, although I had seen most of it in pieces over the years. Holds up real well against today’s current political situations.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps at the theater. Not sure I agree with YT. I felt that it was a good story and didn’t rely on any prior versions, but I thought that the acting was very flat. Also, kind of a waste of a lot of talented people with very small parts.
after seeing ads for the reboot, i compelled my kid to watch this original:
The Naked Gun - now she has seen the most famous baseball umpire ever depicted in a film!
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You mean Enrico Pallazzo??
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Paddington In Peru (Netflix) I find these to be very entertaining family movies, without pandering to adult humor for grown ups to like it.
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Rewatched The Last Waltz for the umpteenth time. It is my favourite music documentary.
Every time I watch it, a specific performance stands out. This time it was the Staple Singers backing The Band on The Weight.
Time Limit - 1957 Richard Widmark
I saw this recently as well while watching my nephews. Fantastic cast and enough going on to keep me entertained through most of the movie. More importantly the kids were engrossed despite the wide age gap (10/5/2).
Rio Lobo (1970) - John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson (@age 18)
Haven’t watched it all recently, but I’ll be in Vegas in a few weeks, and “The Wizard of Oz” is showing at The Sphere. I’m tempted. Better than wasting $500 on Old Eagles Minus One. (Already seen Eagles in 1978 and 1994.)
“Monty Python and The Holy Grail”
Aging.
“Death on The Nile” (1978).
Pretty good. Good cast. Might need to read the book, see which movie was truest.
Enjoyed Sideways when I saw it 20 years ago so rewatched it last night as it is now streaming on Netflix. After watching the vineyard and restaurant wine tastings for an hour I was moved to break out a nice bottle of red wine (not merlot!) to accompany the viewing.
There is a book out by a wine writer and a movie critic (and they’re married) called, “Sideways Uncorked.” It can be had on Amazon or any wine tasting shop.
https://www.amazon.com/Sideways-Uncorked-Perfect-Pairing-Film/dp/1493078046
I highly recommend it if you like wine and the movie.
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I check both boxes.
Visiting vineyards has long been one of my most pleasurable activities and I have done it in many countries over the decades. Never been to California wine country though: only Oregon and WA in the US.
BC’s Okanagan Valley is the closest we have to the California wine experience as there has developed an extensive industry around food, wine and lodging. The best BC vineyards only sell their best wine directly so you can’t get them at your local wine store. Probably largely the same in California?
Yup.
Wines in a whole range of years and grapes and even specific plots of land are available at the winery (or tasting room), while stores generally get the more mass-produced bottles of one vintage. I can’t remember the last time I bought wine in a store. We get so many from our four clubs. (One of which has wines that require more time to mature (allegedly), so they take up a lot of space in our wine refrigerator.)
Plus, wine is delicate. I have greater faith in a winery to store wine properly than a store. I mean, a store would have to convince me of their storing process. One of our clubs say they gather employees for a monthly tasting of wines to see if they are ready (or past ready) for release. Will be opening an old Pinot from Au Bon Climat (Knox Alexander 2004 from Santa Maria Valley) this weekend with extended wife’s family.
Looking for a decently priced Pinot from Burgundy (note the book above discusses Pinots from every CA/OR Region as well as France), although, again, I am concerned about the shipping process, hence the requirement of low price. Might have to wait until we visit.
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Ironically the Cheval Blanc that he speaks so highly of and finally opens at the end of the movie is primarily Merlot. The wine comes from St Emilion (a part of Bordeaux) and most wines there tend to have >50% Merlot in their blend.
Yes, we know. Then again, it’s from France, so maybe a better grape than those in CenCal.
Merlot is fine (I’m no expert, though.). Not nearly as strong-tasting as a cab, which I find hard to drink without a good steak to wash it down with.
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Referring to “Death on The Nile”? Is the book that much longer (more detailed, more plots, etc.) to require a miniseries?
Just got some “BritBox” on Max, so I’ll look it up. Maybe go to the library tonight for the book, though.
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