Michael*

Thread cleaned. Since we're mindful of how quickly mild disagreements can get ugly online, we ask members to try and stay on topic at all times and to be aware of the thin line between expressing opinions/constructive criticism (which we're okay with) and baiting/bashing (which we’re not okay with). If anyone has any questions or would like to continue this discussion, please feel free to contact me via PM. In the meantime, let’s get back to the topic at hand.

Clara Oswald, we hardly knew ye.

Given that the first film came out over a decade ago, the visual style still looked remarkably fresh to me. I can't say the same about the material, though. The additional plot threads felt second rate, as if Miller just had them lying in a drawer somewhere. Eva Green is always a joy to watch, but the overall thrill has gone or at very least diminished.

Most of us took heart from the performance against Spurs, and you'd think a trip to Bournemouth would be a decent chance to keep that new-found momentum going. Not for this lot. With less than ten minutes on the clock, we'd already given ourselves a mountain to climb. It's as if Sunderland and Newcastle are desperately trying to outcrap each other.

The three months are up, so :Dinah:

This notion of City losing because they lack Champions League 'know-how' never fails to baffle my brain. There's no doubting Juve's superior pedigree in the competition, but this is still a team boasting bags of experience at the highest level. Sometimes the simplest answer is the best one, they just haven't performed well enough on the European stage.

Yeah. Well, sort of. Frank Miller is most definitely someone who naturally leans toward favouring Batman and isn't shy about expressing it in his stories. I believe he's on record as saying he doesn't believe that two characters with such vastly differing ideologies could ever be friends, hence putting them at odds. I think there are worse offenders on that front than him, though.

This should be good. It's a worthwhile (if relatively obscure) property seemingly being handled pretty well. Netflix is promising a psychological thriller vibe and they've a talented cast on board. Looking forward to seeing more.

Marvel's Jessica Jones Release Date: November 20, 2015 The Netflix original series Marvel’s Jessica Jones is the second of four epic live-action adventure series (Marvel’s Daredevil, which launched April 10th, Marvel’s Luke Cage and Marvel’s Iron Fist, all leading up to the teaming of the main characters in Marvel’s The Defenders) to premiere only on Netflix. It is a suspenseful, edgy look into the life of Jessica Jones, one of the most popular new Marvel characters of the last decade, as she faces demons from within and without. The drama will premiere with thirteen one-hour episodes. Marvel’s Jessica Jones on Netflix is Executive Produced by series Showrunner Melissa Rosenberg (Twilight, Dexter) and Liz Friedman (Elementary), along with Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Smallville, Heroes), who also serves as Marvel’s Head of Television. Synopsis Taking place after a tragic ending to her short-lived stint as a superhero, the new series follows Jessica Jones as she rebuilds her personal life and career as a detective who gets pulled into cases involving people with extraordinary abilities in New York City. Cast Kristen Ritter - Jessica Jones David Tennant - Dr. Zebediah Kilgrave/The Purple Man Mike Colter - Luke Cage Rachael Taylor - Trish 'Patsy' Walker Rosario Dawson - Claire Temple Carrie-Anne Moss - Jeri Hogarth Eka Darville - Malcolm Erin Moriarty - Hope Wil Traval - Detective Will Simpson

I lost patience with S1's lack of forward momentum after a while, so I'm not sure if I'm on board for this new season. It's one of those shows that keeps stringing you along with promises of getting good soon, but no prestige TV series should need ten or more hours for that to start happening.

:Dinah:

Jackpot. Thanks again, Shep!

Also, we can cross at least one big name off the cast list in Mark Ruffalo, who's not now going to be in the movie. Apparently, plans for the Hulk have changed and it’s going to form part of some other future story. I can only assume that Banner was on his way to New York again, but the small motorcycle he was riding ran out of petrol and by the time he pushed it to the nearest garage and got it refilled, the team didn't need him any more.

Squire Renner has shared some promo images via his Twitter account, and revealed another new costume for Hawkeye. If Ant-Man doesn't take a ride on one of his arrows like in the comics and animated series, we riot! :lullaby:

Her US Open match against Angelique Kerber was one of the best I've seen in years.

When they have writers capable of reaching beyond the common and somewhat childish 'Batman cool, Superman dumb' mentality, stories of the pair going toe-to-toe can be really intriguing. Naturally though, in most situations it should end the same way - Batman eventually exhausts his bag of tricks, Superman proves his superiority without being a jerk about it.

What I would say about the suit is that, even though they've sacrificed the stealth element in doing it, it's the right time for an overhaul of the aesthetics. Batman has, of course, worn nothing but black since the Tim Burton movies and I think this will be a nice change of pace.

I left feeling a little unsatisfied, if I'm honest. In a story dealing mostly with the bleakness of a post-apocalyptic world and our struggle to survive there, the convenience of the way everything was resolved just sat a bit uncomfortably with me. There was a lot to like about it, the emotional stuff seemed pretty genuine and the sheer scope and ambition of the project was positively awe-inspiring at times, but I wouldn't put it up there with the best of Nolan's output.

What can I say, we finally wore the poor lad down!

From what I saw in those two episodes, the plan was probably always for it to be an ongoing series, because it adopts the ‘monster of the week’ formula quite a bit, sending David Duchovny and, erm, the other one after more bog standard criminals than Manson. I'd like to think, if it's renewed for a second season, that it'll delve into Manson's motivations a lot more, but I'm not really holding out much hope.

This undoubtedly veered beyond 'so bad it's good' territory, but there's something oddly endearing about a film that fails on every imaginable level, isn't there? The fact that nobody involved in the making of it realised that it was a terrible idea is quite funny too.

Selection of comments from IMDB's user reviews and ratings section...

Classic cinematic trailer and honest trailer.

Batman & Robin Release Date: 20 June 1997 Director: Joel Schumacher Synopsis This superhero adventure finds Batman and partner Robin attempting to the foil the sinister schemes of a deranged set of new villains, most notably the melancholy Mr. Freeze, who wants to make Gotham into an arctic region, and the sultry Poison Ivy, a plant-loving femme fatale. As the Dynamic Duo contends with these bad guys, a third hero, Batgirl, joins the ranks of the city's crime-fighters. Cast George Clooney - Batman/Bruce Wayne Chris O'Donnell - Robin/Dick Grayson Arnold Schwarzenegger - Mr. Freeze/Dr. Victor Fries Uma Thurman - Poison Ivy/Dr. Pamela Isley Alicia Silverstone - Batgirl/Barbara Wilson Michael Gough - Alfred Pennyworth Pat Hingle - Commissioner James Gordon John Glover - Dr. Jason Woodrue Elle Macpherson - Julie Madison Vivica A. Fox - Ms. B. Haven Vendela Kirsebom Thomessen - Nora Fries Elizabeth Sanders - Gossip Gerty Jeep Swenson - Bane

Hung on in there for a potentially valuable point. Toivonen made a difference when he came on, and with Lens scoring again and M'Vila also finding the net, you'd have to say the new boys are doing their bit so far. The old guard, not so much. Cattermole has been responsible for most of the goals we've conceded this season and Jones was all over the shop, while Graham and Fletcher would struggle to score for the Blue Bell. Will we able to bring in reinforcements before the window closes? Will we ever keep another clean sheet? What is a Jack Rodwell? All questions I don't envy Advocaat for having to try and answer. Fred, your thoughts on the game? I was impressed with Sinclair...