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Annael
Elvenhome
Jun 29 2022, 8:24pm
Post #1 of 26
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What have you been watching? (with apologies to Cats16 for usurping)
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My excuse: I can't remember what I've watched if too much time elapses.
I've seen three movies in (very sparsely populated) movie theaters:
Downton Abbey 2. Okay. Suffers from trying to give everyone in the huge cast some kind of moment, and there was a dramatic red herring I think we could have done without entirely. Mosley got the best of it. Beautiful locations in France, gorgeous clothes as usual. I wish someone had commented on how much Edith looks like her grandmother at the same age. Hugh Bonneville gets better-looking the older he gets.
Lightyear. An adequate but not great Pixar movie. Noticeable improvements in the technology. I enjoyed it but the ending was a big disappointment (imho) and made it hard to believe that this was young Andy's favorite movie. And for all that I usually argue with those who hate it when a modern sensibility is brought to a period film, there was one thing that I couldn't believe would have been allowed in a 1995 children's film. I did laugh a lot, especially at Taika's character.
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Too many fights, a huge red herring that completely fizzled out and left me and the people sitting near me go "what was the point of that?", and trying to give three major characters a story arc that requires each of them to achieve a similar emotional breakthrough added up to a mess of a movie. For all of me they could have skipped a lot and then spent much more time in the 'verse with the Illuminati, who were the most interesting part of the whole film.
I just binged Season 3 of The Umbrella Academy, which did NOT disappoint; in fact I think it was my favorite season. And now I'm sad because it's over. Also finished off Season 4 of Stranger Things which was awesome, and so happy we get a Season 5. Moon Knight was fun and very weird; as a mythologist I was happy to get some Egyptian mythology for a change although they took a lot of liberties. Disappointed in Kenobi; seemed like fan fiction filling in the lost years.
Meanwhile, NCIS writers have done a great job shifting from a Jethro Gibbs-centric show to one in which the entire team has the lead, and Gary Cole is doing well in the lead agent role. Hasn't jumped the shark yet!
What have you been watching?
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
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NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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Kimi
Forum Admin
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Jun 30 2022, 12:06am
Post #2 of 26
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"Line of Duty", the latest "Shetland", and a new Kiwi series
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Thanks for starting the thread, and for the useful comments on "Doctor Strange". I'd already decided I probably wouldn't see it, and you've helped firm up that decision.
"Line of Duty" has been around for a while, and very highly rated, but we've only fairly recently come to it. We do enjoy our police procedurals, and this one is up there with the best. Clever stories, fine plotting, excellent acting, and what feels like a real attempt at accuracy. Real-looking people who don't look like they spent a morning with a professional makeup artist before coming to work. The sort of programme where we're discussing last night's episode for a fair chunk of the next day.
"Shetland" - possibly my favourite police procedural. One episode into the latest season, and hooked already.
"Kid Sister" - tagline: "Lulu is a young woman navigating big issues in this comedy set in Auckland, New Zealand, where more people identify as Jedi than Jewish". I began watching this when I was on my own one evening recently, and looking for something a bit different. The first episode was enjoyable enough for me to try the second, which I enjoyed quite a bit more, so I think I'll carry on with this. I'm actually not familiar with most of the actors, which is unusual for a local programme! There's more depth to this than I'd at first thought there might be, and more warmth, too.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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Jun 30 2022, 2:38am
Post #3 of 26
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I'm watching The Boys for the first time.
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I've watched the first six eps of season one so far and it's as excellent as I'd hoped - the epitome of 'absolute power corrupts absolutely'. But having said that, I hope Starlight says pure and hopeful. (No spoilers, please!!)
I'm chopping and changing between Masterchef NZ and Masterchef Australia and boy, our lower budget reeeeally shows - not least in having fewer chefs, and also more of them leaving each week than on the Aussie show. And McAU has more interesting challenges. But there are a couple of chefs on the NZ version who definitely look like they'll be ones to watch as they develop their careers.
But I think my favourite show right now is Match Fit. A former All Black captain and coach bring in other former All Blacks - fast, strong and famous while at the height of their rugby careers - who are now overweight and likely experiencing mental health issues. They get the lads moving again, reducing their weight and metabolic age, and talking about mental health and the steps they take to improve that. It's hugely inspirational to see these heroes of old talking about mental and physical health.
This season's series is especially touching as Vai'inga Tuigamala - known as Inga the Winger and immensely popular even beyond his rugby-playing days - is taking part and loving being among his old mates again ... but he died suddenly earlier this year due to health issues. He didn't get to see the TV show he took part in.
I see the early episodes of the first season are on YouTube - here's the link to the first one in case anyone's interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rVFPIZGn8Q
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 30 2022, 2:36pm
Post #4 of 26
(1371 views)
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"The Crown", "Top Gun: Maverick", "Jurassic", "Emergency" (TV series)
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I've been on the run, so my viewings are hit n' miss; but all of them are high on my list of ESCAPISM!
I've watched each of the Marvel movies at the theatre and gotten the dvds on release, but this latest Doctor Strange was "strangely" one I didn't care to see sensing it wasn't up to the storytelling done so well in the other Marvel films. Plus, with little time and 2 other movies I was anxious to see... it was a matter of time and money. I'll get the dvd when released and see it then.
I saw Top Gun Maverick twice! It's one of my favourite films now and I can't sing its praises enough! I'm not a huge Cruise fan; but he's in a lot of great movies... and this one leads them all. The original Top Gun was good, but it didn't curl my toes. This one is 10 times better. I won't spoil anything... but the storyline/plot, the action (all pilots trained for action), the personal moments surpasses the original... it's a wonderful film... and knowing Cruise is a serious pilot in RL adds to the quality of the flights. It was also very personal for me in a couple of ways. My Uncle was a WWII torpedo plane pilot who flew off aircraft carriers and my brother-in-law(ish) just finished 7 weeks of radiation therapy for throat cancer (ref to part of film's story) followed by over 3 weeks of still dealing with a feeding tube. I came away both times with feeling the need for speed... but hobbity (SUV) and I did our best to behave on the freeway home ;)
Jurassic World: Dominion is great :) I'm still a bit distracted by the impact of TGMaverick, so it's hard not to compare. BUT given they were combining both Jurassic threads (Park & World) was wonderful. There were a few places where I burst out laughing at the fun references :D The action is great, the storyline(s) so good... and I love how they (in all films) give the T-Rex props at the end :D I can't wait to get this on DVD and really get into it again.
The Crown (Netflix on Library DVD loan) After Queen Elizabeth's 70th Festival and at my Balti-daughter's urging, I am borrowing the dvd series from my local library. I've just finished Season 1 & 2 and am picking up 3 & 4 today.... and I'm loving it! Claire Foy is amazing as a young Queen as the rest of the cast are also wonderful! The Queen has been through so much and devoted her entire life to her realm and people. I'm in awe of her and have been for decades :)
Emergency (TV series 1972-79) This was one of my favourite tv shows (when I had a tv!) in the 70s. I'm having so much fun stepping into the wayback machine with the clothes, cars/trucks, hair, slang... such great flashbacks. At the time, Adam 12 and Emergency were SO popular! In comparison to the polished movie-like shows on tv now, it's quaint and entertaining in a simpler time... even though Viet nam was in high gear.
We have been there and back again.
Join the "Tolkien Fandom Oral History Project"
TIME Google Calendar
(This post was edited by grammaboodawg on Jun 30 2022, 2:38pm)
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sevilodorf
Dor-Lomin
Jun 30 2022, 11:00pm
Post #5 of 26
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Jurassic World//Top Gun Maverick// Elvis//Black Phone//Rowdy//Lightyear
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Lightyear..... shrug.... did not impress me as something that would resonant with kids.... if the cat had MORE lines-- that robot had to have so many possible features that could keep popping up. And sorry.... Zurg reveal was a disappointment.
Rowdy -- Biopic about Kyle Busch. My mother is a NASCAR fan so I took her. It was fairly well done if obvious "He's a GREAT person!" film.
Black Phone -- based on Joe Hill short (Stephen King's son)... well done with a twist or two that moved it off the obviously pathway of such a movie.
Elvis -- Butler was a great Elvis but as my mother commented.... Did they only get rights to five or six songs? They did use the same ones over and over. It was a bit of speed demon type film moving from situation to situation without time to dig deeply into any of them. The feeling that Elvis was musical genius was a major theme and that Tom Parker was a conniving "snowman".
Maverick -- eye candy worthy if easily predictable.
Jurassic World -- I find it hard to believe that there were SOOO many dinosaurs escaping that the Armed Forces across the planet could NOT have wiped them out as they were obvious threats to people. Once I just suspended that WTF thought.... it was the predictable Jurassic movie. Time to come up with something new.
Fourth Age Adventures at the Inn of the Burping Troll http://burpingtroll.com
Home of TheOneRing.net Best FanFic stories of 2005 and 2006 "The Last Grey Ship" and "Ashes, East Wind, Hope That Rises" by Erin Rua
(Found in Mathoms, LOTR Tales Untold)
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Starling
Gondolin
Jul 1 2022, 8:41am
Post #6 of 26
(1343 views)
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It played on NZ TV when I was a kid.
I still remember the opening titles.
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Starling
Gondolin
Jul 1 2022, 8:47am
Post #7 of 26
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I think I cried through almost the whole first episode
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of Match Fit.
Mind you, I cried through most of the first series.
I love Masterchef NZ because it's low budget and clunky, which I vastly prefer to the slick Aussie one. 
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cats16
Gondolin
Jul 1 2022, 10:50pm
Post #8 of 26
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I had a calendar notification set to do another post today (the 1st), so we weren't too far off. 
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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Jul 2 2022, 3:22am
Post #9 of 26
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Just finished Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 *no spoilers*
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These are the last two eps of season four and I feel like I need to catch my breath.
The last ep has both the most epic scene in all of the show, and a damn heartbreaking one. Incredible acting. Complicated characters (Papa can get in the bin). Hard left-turns in the plot. And man, so many tears. Excellent, excellent work.
And a tiny cliffhanger for season 5.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
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ElanorTX
Dor-Lomin
Jul 4 2022, 3:24am
Post #10 of 26
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I try to pick the quietest showing of the day and the latest day of the run for safety -- though Maverick is poised to settle in for a long time. Dear BIL is a retired RL Top Gun instructor and was in the first movie; DD the film critic is a Tom Cruise expert with a published book about his acting. So I have a six degrees or fewer connection.
Admitting to crying at the end of Downton Abbey when Dear Grandmama passes away.
Months will pass before I can watch anything at home, so I'm selecting features which benefit most from the big screen or are unlikely to be available otherwise. (If I learned how to stream, that would broaden my horizon.) TV series are off the list entirely.
Annael, a few of my online friends are getting into the Egyptian game Senet. Have you ever played?
"I shall not wholly fail if anything can still grow fair in days to come."
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Lily Fairbairn
Gondolin
Jul 4 2022, 2:17pm
Post #11 of 26
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The Lost City, with Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt, and, so help me, Daniel Radcliffe as the villain. It’s like Romancing the Stone, the novelist having a real-life adventure, but it has its own quirkiness. It's preposterous, funny, and even touching in places. All the actors are clearly having a great time, especially Radcliffe. And Bullock is a treasure.
Highly recommended, especially as airplane viewing!
Kenneth Branagh's new Death on the Nile, on the other hand, was also airplane viewing, and even then was a disappointment. Like so many movies and TV shows these days, it looks fabulous but the script is severely lacking, preposterous in a bad way. And Branagh had a good script to begin with, Christie's original novel.
Unless you just want to boggle at the beauty of Gal Gadot, the period clothes, and the landscape, never mind.
Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?
Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing?
Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing?
They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow;
The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow....
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Jul 4 2022, 3:32pm
Post #12 of 26
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"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"
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I'd never seen this classic before. Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, and the wonderful Kate Hepburn are marvelous, although I found Katharine Houghton's take on the daughter/fiancee just too over-the-top perky. I did appreciate the straightforwardness of the script. And what an awesome movie debut for Isabel Sanford!
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Annael
Elvenhome
Jul 4 2022, 7:45pm
Post #13 of 26
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May look into that. Currently I am trying to learn how to play bridge. Bidding is a real challenge!
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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sevilodorf
Dor-Lomin
Jul 5 2022, 7:28pm
Post #14 of 26
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Straight forward Regency Romance.
Not quite up to Austen level but definitely on par with Bridgerton's Series.
The costumes and settings are more realistic (except for that was not a riding habit so good thing she was leading the horse) than the Bridgerton's -- more on level with Sense and Sensibility.
A nice PG level romantic romp.
Fourth Age Adventures at the Inn of the Burping Troll http://burpingtroll.com
Home of TheOneRing.net Best FanFic stories of 2005 and 2006 "The Last Grey Ship" and "Ashes, East Wind, Hope That Rises" by Erin Rua
(Found in Mathoms, LOTR Tales Untold)
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SirDennisC
Gondolin
Jul 14 2022, 3:04am
Post #16 of 26
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Netflix finally released an English dub of Vinland Saga
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Just brilliant so far.
Also watching Only Murders in the Building; and an interesting period piece set in Ireland c. 1200 called Pilgrimage. Stars Richard Armitage who does a great job playing a French prince/warlord. The film is low key but makes a powerful statement in the final moments.
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Jul 15 2022, 1:07am
Post #17 of 26
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Good summer fun movie, and does need to be seen on the big screen. Nice amalgam of "The Right Stuff" (loved the nod to Chuck Yeager), "Independence Day", "The Hunt for Red October", and of course "Star Wars" (thermal exhaust port!).
What other movies can one see moments of in this one?
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Otaku-sempai
Elvenhome
Jul 15 2022, 4:00am
Post #18 of 26
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Star Trek: Lower Decks Season Two
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My spouse picked up the Blu-ray set last night (we're not subscribed to Paramount+) and we've so far watched the first three episodes. Lots of fun and lots of easter eggs.
#FidelityToTolkien
#ChallengeExpectations
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Eldy
Dor-Lomin
Jul 15 2022, 4:16am
Post #19 of 26
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I'd heard amazing things about the Vinland Saga manga for years, but I went into the anime adaptation mostly blind when I watched it (subbed) as it aired, and I was blown away. I just googled it as a result of seeing your post, and whaddaya know, they finally announced a second season just last month (to premiere in January 2023). Which is my way of saying, thank you for putting this back on my radar! I'd basically given up hope for a continuation a while back.
(This post was edited by Eldy on Jul 15 2022, 4:18am)
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SirDennisC
Gondolin
Jul 16 2022, 3:02am
Post #20 of 26
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I’ve been waiting for the dub,
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I mean I don’t mind subtitles at all but my preference with anime is for it to be dubbed, probably because of all the stuff going on with lighting, colour and expression in the anime I’m willing to watch. (I do not, as a rule like dubbed live-action movies.) It was a long wait because I knew it was out there—there may even be two competing English versions—though delayed by the licensing and streaming platform battles that are plaguing the industry.
I love it so far, and the intro and outro anthems are fantastic (especially the outro, “Torches”). The series gives me hope that The War of the Rohirrim could be phenomenal as well.
…
(This post was edited by SirDennisC on Jul 16 2022, 3:03am)
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Hamfast Gamgee
Dor-Lomin
Jul 16 2022, 8:26am
Post #21 of 26
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Wasn't the idea of the movie that those Dinasaurs where a bit harder to destroy than people thought. Also, I don't think everyone wanted to kill them all!
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Hamfast Gamgee
Dor-Lomin
Jul 16 2022, 8:36am
Post #22 of 26
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TV wise, a new series of Worzel Gummidge which I surprisingly quite like. Worzel is a bit different in this interpretation he even has dare I say a Tom Bombadil like character! And the rest of the series reminds me a little of last of the summer wine so that is two concepts i didn't think I would see together!
In contrast I am still watching Myans MC which can be violent but also a bit addictive. I am going through in my slow pondering way but i hope to at least finish the first series before the BBC take it off. And in a similair fashion I am still watching eighty days around the world with David Tennant.
I saw an interesting interpretation of the importance of being earnest at a roman ampithature a ruined one. Moves, I saw operation mincemeat which I did think interesting although I am not sure that I buy all that stuff about the whole fate of the war depending upon it.
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Jul 16 2022, 3:36pm
Post #23 of 26
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From what I've been reading on WWII sites: the deception did allow the Allies to succeed in the recapture of Sicily - otherwise it would have been a failure and bloodbath, or would never have been attempted at all. Apparently Sicily was important for maintaining Allied supply lines. This Axis loss also helped towards the downfall of Mussolini.
So what do you think of Around the World so far? Have you seen the original movie with David Niven?
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Eldy
Dor-Lomin
Jul 16 2022, 7:48pm
Post #24 of 26
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I'm definitely looking forward to War of the Rohirrim, though I'm a bit antsy over the fact that Kenji Kamiyama has mostly (exclusively?) been working in 3DCG animation in recent years. But that's just me being a stereotypical grumpy otaku—watches subs, prefers hand-drawn animation, tries and sometimes fails not to act like a snob—and there's every chance the film will be great no matter how it's animated.
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sevilodorf
Dor-Lomin
Jul 17 2022, 9:56pm
Post #25 of 26
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Wasn't the idea of the movie that those Dinasaurs where a bit harder to destroy than people thought. Also, I don't think everyone wanted to kill them all!
If you've got predatory dinos eating tourists in the national parks and small children at the beach, then I would bet a few people would be out there blasting away. Hard to kill but hey,,,, our fearless heroes are able to outwit and outrun not one, not two, but THREE velociraptors through city streets it can't be completely impossible to kill them.
Fourth Age Adventures at the Inn of the Burping Troll http://burpingtroll.com
Home of TheOneRing.net Best FanFic stories of 2005 and 2006 "The Last Grey Ship" and "Ashes, East Wind, Hope That Rises" by Erin Rua
(Found in Mathoms, LOTR Tales Untold)
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