Everything posted by Michael*
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Wonder Woman (2017)
That's true, although I always find it interesting to note the disparity between western and eastern tastes. Something like Warcraft, which performed abysmally in the US and UK amid critical complaints that it was confusing, had too many subplots and required too much knowledge of the source material, went down a storm in China and became one of the highest-grossing films in recent memory. By the same token, I suppose one could argue as well that Wonder Woman could be just as difficult to understand without a prior knowledge of the context of the franchise.
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Marvel's The Defenders
I found the first meeting between Cage and Rand in episode two just satisfying enough to keep me hanging on, and to overlook my reservations about the Hand and what appears to be a fairly ropey, vague evil plan. Overall, if the plot is fairly simplistic but we get more interactions like it, I'd probably put that down as a fair trade-off. There was some groundwork laid in Iron Fist regarding K'un-Lun, but a lot was referenced only by Danny talking about it, which was a disappointment at the time. Even though a few different strands would benefit from having a little more context, I don't think it'll be to the extent that you couldn't work out everybody's deal quickly enough.
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Marvel's The Defenders
Two episodes in now. My hope beforehand was for the story to come out swinging and that hasn't really been the case, but it does feel like things are starting to heat up a bit as we edge closer to establishing the four leads as a team. I would agree that the Hand are profoundly uninteresting though, even with Elektra in tow.
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Wonder Woman (2017)
It's official then, Wonder Woman has now topped 800 million worldwide and surpassed Spidey '02 as the highest grossing superhero origin story ever.
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Recent Discoveries of Classic Albums
When it comes to albums that are generally regarded as classics, I always just sort of assume that they'll somehow find me eventually, perhaps via an online article, a review, maybe a chance discovery. Sometimes it's a case of wondering what all the fuss is about, but every so often something will come along that blows me away. So, how about it? What classic albums have you only got round to hearing recently?
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The Political Correctness Haters' Club
A lot of people are overly touchy-feely, humourless or just plain grandstanding, but that's much easier than engaging on a case-by-case basis. Engagement means you actually have to think, and sadly, it's something too few people seem willing or able to do. Respect and empathy, even if it's grudging, is universally desirable. It binds society.
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Problems and Suggestions for BZ - Post Here
The staff is made up of a small group of individual members who chip in when we're able.
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Problems and Suggestions for BZ - Post Here
The Tweet saying we were back online came out two or three hours ago, the one saying we were having technical issues came out in the early hours of Sunday morning, when the forum was still down.
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Problems and Suggestions for BZ - Post Here
An announcement was made on the BZ Facebook page on the 18th, which was when I first became aware that we were down, and on the Twitter yesterday I believe. Unless I'm mistaken, the forum came back online just this morning.
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Problems and Suggestions for BZ - Post Here
Making an announcement ahead of time would have required prior knowledge that the forum was going to go down, which none of us had.
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Football
Deep down I think we all knew a result like that one was coming, although most of us would have probably hoped for it to happen with a bit less of a whimper. A tough game to watch and a harsh lesson for all of us, but it's still very early days and Grayson needs all the support he can get.
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The Political Correctness Haters' Club
With regard to the media, there should be rigorous analysis of the statements made from both ends of the spectrum, and exposure of deceit. Most people though, no matter what political or social side of an issue they stand on, are more likely to start throwing ad hominem attacks and figuratively sticking their fingers in their ears like a seven-year-old, than trying and have frank and open dialogue with the other side. Everybody wants their turn on the soapbox, which is fine, but fewer and fewer people seem interested in actually discussing things. Overall, my concern is that there's eventually going to come a point (if there hasn't already) where you can get away with anything simply by shouting "political correctness" and claiming oppression or bullying, when all that's actually happened is that someone has gotten a bit frustrated at the lack of factual evidence in an argument. We seem to have found ourselves in an age where people get to claim that facts don't tell the whole story, which is completely insane. The real question should be “how do we get people to trust in verifiable facts again?”
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The Political Correctness Haters' Club
There's undoubtedly an element of people who seem to treat outrage over anything, no matter how trivial, as their calling in life, but at the same time, there's going to have to come a point where the world finds a way to rationally discuss things without simply pointing the finger at the lunatic fringe of the opposite side. I would agree for example, that it's not racist for a white person to want to braid their hair, but I also think that only the very tiniest number of people ever thought it was or said so. The idea of all these overly sensitive people just being on one side of the argument is ludicrous and shows how easily offended the opposing side must be if they really think their skin isn't just as thin.
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Elsa Hosk
Thread cleaned. If I catch anyone making a single comment that remotely resembles baiting, bashing or pointless comparisons between models, I'll be deleting them on the spot and giving out formal warnings.
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Twin Peaks
I've seen bits and pieces in the past, but overall, I remain something of a novice in the ways of Twin Peaks. Although I'm hoping to change that soon, with the plan being to work my way through the old episodes before starting on the new ones. Any new or longstanding fans out there?
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Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American serial drama television series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch that premiered on April 8, 1990, on ABC. It was one of the top-rated series of 1990, but declining ratings led to its cancellation after its second season in 1991. It nonetheless gained a cult following and has been referenced in a wide variety of media. In subsequent years, Twin Peaks has often been listed among the greatest television series of all time. The series follows an investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) into the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) in the fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington. The narrative draws on elements of crime drama, but its uncanny tone, supernatural elements, and campy, melodramatic portrayal of eccentric characters also draw on American soap opera and horror tropes. Like much of Lynch's work, it is distinguished by surrealism and offbeat humor, as well as distinctive cinematography. The show's acclaimed score was composed by Angelo Badalamenti in collaboration with Lynch. Twin Peaks was followed by a 1992 feature film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, that serves as a prequel to the television series. In October 2014, Showtime announced that the show would return as a limited series. Also known as Twin Peaks: The Return, the limited series premiered on May 21, 2017, and was written by Lynch and Frost and directed by Lynch. Many original cast members, including MacLachlan, returned. Cast Kyle MacLachlan - Special Agent Dale Cooper Michael Ontkean - -Sheriff Harry S. Truman Mädchen Amick - Shelly Johnson Dana Ashbrook - Bobby Briggs Richard Beymer - Benjamin Horne Lara Flynn Boyle - Donna Hayward Sherilyn Fenn - Audrey Horne Warren Frost - Dr. Will Hayward Peggy Lipton - Norma Jennings James Marshall - James Hurley Everett McGill - Ed Hurley Jack Nance - Pete Martell Ray Wise - Leland Palmer Joan Chen - Jocelyn Packard Piper Laurie - Catherine Martell Kimmy Robertson - Lucy Moran
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Problems and Suggestions for BZ - Post Here
Yeah, if you'd like to point me in the direction of the topic you feel is in need of an update, I'd be happy to take care of it.
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Marvel's Jessica Jones
Based on the ending of the last season, this one might strike people as being a little odd, but it's been confirmed that David Tennant will be returning in S2. Presumably furthering the plot line of Jessica's PTSD-induced flashbacks.
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Barbara Palvin
Thread cleaned and re-opened. I'm letting you all know now so that there can be no excuses later, if I catch anyone making direct attacks or see any posts designed to bait others into arguments, I'll be deleting them on the spot and giving out formal warnings.
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Football
Until his brace on Saturday, I hadn't realised that Huddersfield had signed Mounie. Given how good he was last season in a fairly moderate side, it seems like a bit of a head scratcher that nobody else was in for him. Overall though, there's an awful lot of dross in the lower reaches of the Premier League, and Huddersfield play a decent brand of possession football. Crystal Palace probably won't be the only team caught out by them this year. The result went down well with Patrick Stewart, too.
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Last movie you saw...
Well, there's an exception to most rules. Quite honestly, although you'll hear a lot of people bagging on Sofia Coppola's performance in that, my overriding memory of it was how different Al Pacino's voice sounded from the second movie to the third one. Granted, I watched the trilogy in fairly quick succession, but it just felt so jarring.
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General Celebrity Gossip
I've yet to see it, but I get the feeling it's the kind of thing that the cast, no matter how many accolades they might win thereafter, will still be remembered for knowingly taking part in.
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Football
The forcing of the Arsenal narrative was very evident throughout last night's Sky coverage, especially with commentators like Carragher, who seem to have it in for them at the best of times, picking holes in everything. Yet somehow you just know, when Arsene Wenger finally does get around to going and they're stuck watching a Pulis-ball tribute act instead, that the media and the fans will find themselves pining for games like that one.
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Rate the Celebrity Above You
Let it go Lynn, you're never going to meet him. Steve Buscemi
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Last movie you saw...
There were bits of it that I really loved (when Marko first became the Sandman for example, or Harry's fast and creepy exit from the diner), but overall it was far too long and there was too much time spent trying to awkwardly pull all the different strands together. Generally, it seems the third movie in any series is the one you have to be most wary of.