Mod Post - Off-Topic Tuesday

[icon_uk]

In the comments to these weekly posts (and only these posts), it's your chance to go as off topic as you like. Talk about non-comics stuff, thread derail, and just generally chat among yourselves.

The US election campaign is in full swing and this looks like it's going to start fairly nasty and go downhill from there. Biden has called Trump a toxic President and Trump has expressed support for the seventeen year old white kid who crossed state lines with a semi-automatic weapon, killed two people and injured a third in the unrest in Kenosha (itself triggered by the shooting of a black man by a police officer).

Following Scotland's return to school of the past couple of weeks, children in England are starting back to school this week, so spare a thought for any educators you might know, though one would hope parents/guardians would be particularly appreciative of their efforts.

Speaking of unruly individuals with a tendency to childish tantrums, Parliament resumes this week too. Many MP's on his own side, are unhappy with the Prime Ministers frequent U-turns over the past few weeks, so we'll see how that plays out.

A move (some might call it shit-stirring) to encourage people to go back to work in the office is being met with a deal of resistence, not least by some large scale employers (including some who do a lot of work on Government contracts) who have expressed no real urgency in doing so, and might well start to open up more "Working From Home" positions going forward.

A furore on the site OnlyFans, which allows people, including many sex workers, to sell exclusive content which can include provocative and nude photos directly to purchasers, has broken out after a celebrity advance-sold nude photos which turned out not to be nude, leading to a massive refund demand and a lot of pissed off purchasers. The site has set a new cap on prices which can be charged, which cotent creators are saying is unfair, though the site says that that this is something they have been planning on doing anyway.

The NHS is planning on making a diet plan for those with Type 2 diabete available as a free service, as it has led to sucess in the condition going into remission and both diabetes and weight are seen as factors in the chances of complications with Covid 19.

The entertainment world has been rocked by the untimely death of Chadwick Boseman which we already have a thread devoted to.

"The New Mutants" has, against all apparent laws of God and humankind, finally opened (in the States at least)... to $7 million box office, mixed reviews and some deep disappointment among fans that Dani Moonstar, thanks to the whitewashing of Sunspot now the ONLY POC on the team, is subjected to racial slurs from Illyana Rasputin. Sigh... (They also apparently mis-spelled Bob McLeod's name in the credits)

"Bill and Ted Face the Music" has arrived on VOD and the fact there's a fun, somewhat silly movie to enjoy has caused much happiness, which seems apt for Wyld Stallyns.



I'm currently reading "Meddling Kids" which is, as the name implies, Scooby-Doo.. -ish, with a strong whiff of Stephen King. The conceit being that a group of kid investigators (and their pet dog), unmasked a real criminal years before, but now their more than slightly messed-up adult selves are going back to re-investigate because they now realise that SOMETHING was genuinely "not right" about their experience there.

This weeks random question was submitted by a member of the community: "What modern comic book based movie would you recommend for someone that knows nothing about/is not at all into comics or super heroes?"

Comments

[cricharddavies]

I'll just note that $7M is more than the previous week's #1 movie, the Russel Crowe thriller Unhinged, made in its first week. And MUCH more than the Bill and Ted movie made in its limited theatrical release.

And I'd pick Batman Begins, which got my not-at-all-action-movie-fan mom into that series.

[janegray]

Guardians of the Galaxy. Pirates and bounty hunters are timeless, on earth or in space.

Anyway, I was going to write a comment about some anti maskers I've had the displeasure of talking with, but I think it might be best not to because the things I want to say would definitely get me a mod warning. I'm very, very, very done with those individuals, and just as done with those who insist that we show them compassion.

[icon_uk]

Good thing you avoided London this Saturday then. They had all those nutcases in the same place and didn't even put up a fake 5G mast to disperse them.

[owlbrigade1]

"What modern comic book based movie would you recommend for someone that knows nothing about/is not at all into comics or super heroes?"

Either Blade or The Rocketeer, depending on where their tastes in action movie lie. Or if they want a bit of slapstick comedy, then maybe that Green Hornet movie with Rogan and Chou in it. If we allow tv movies, then probably one of the Bixby Hulk movies. Blade is closer to a horror/action movie, The Rocketeer is a family fun movie with heart, and Bixby was always a character based reluctant Hulk rather than rushing to the fray.

Or Flash Gordon, but that is just 100% goofy dumb fun. I love it.

It depends so much on the person.

[tripodeca113]

Oh dear video game The Sinking City is in a controversy. Developer Frogware claims that the publisher has void their contract, and has been hoarding their share of the profit.

Another Floor 13 game has been announced.

They showed some concept art for Dragon Age 4. At the earliest that game might come out in 2023.

Oh dear God. Yakuza Ishin might actually get a Western localization.
Started playing Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines again.
I started reading From Hell. And My Hero Academia.

[deh_tommy]

I’m a fan of Frogwares, so that really sucks to hear.

I hope Dragon Age 4 ends up better than Bioware’s past two outings (I actually liked Andromeda, but that was very evident that needed a bit more time in the oven).

[skjam]

My CRUD Challenge movies (which I primarily talk about on my own Dreamwidth account) for this month are primarily horror (no surprise given the CRUD Buddies Discord has a channel devoted to "Falloween."

I'll have a review of a book about "The Last Victorians" up later today, but for right now, at my blog I talk about a Western with no gunplay. http://www.skjam.com/2020/08/30/movie-review-adventures-of-gallant-bess/

[onsokumaru]

I'd probably recommand V. A friend who is not into super hero movies liked it. Deadpool would be a good choice too.

New Mutants being out now of all times must be the result of a monkey paw wish.

The trials of the january 2015 terrorist attacks in France are about to begin. I should avoid twitter for some time. The whole masks and hydroxychloroquine circus is already infuriating, I don't want to read on top of that all the usual "they deserved it", "you must respect religion", "waddabout the jews" bullcrap.

[owlbrigade1]

Everything in the last few years has been a monkey's paw as far as I am concerned. I might be being gloomy though.

[zachbeacon]

My initial thoughts on Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe was that the music was disappointing compared to previous episodes. After having “Adulting” stuck in my head most of the weekend, I believe I need to rethink that.

Remember that kid with the MAGA hat who was harassing a Native American guy a while back? Mitch McConnell just hired him.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/514258-mcconnells-campaign-team-hires-covington-graduate-nicholas-sandmann

On the movie thing, I really think it depends on the person. My dad took me to a lot of comic movies as a kid (before the X-Men/Spider-Man era when I could just take myself*) but I don’t think he seemed to enjoy any of them until he saw Iron Man years later; he’s an engineer. I sort of feel like the 70s Superman movie is the platonic idea of a superhero movie but the pacing is pretty slow by today’s standards. Into the Spider-Verse is a great movie but I know a lot of people are put off by animation. I’ve recommended Scott Pilgrim to someone just based on the strength of the cast.

*And often my younger brother. It still doesn’t seem right watching those movies without him constantly asking “is that Mystique?”.

[deh_tommy]

Didn’t that turn out the MAGA hat guy was the one being harassed, or am I mixing things up?

[dewinged]

Working from home for at least the end of the year.

And while I am trying, I am finding it harder to feel anything. I'm exhausted all the time, even with depression meds.

I'm either afraid to get into new things (mostly media, due to the low cost investment) or really twitchy about talking about it due to...well, others. Something you like being casually dismissed makes the concept of "fandom of one" pretty attractive.

Example: Cobra Kai. A character whose position I really understood, having been there in my youth, has had said about him "He's so annoying, he deserves to be bullied/ attacked."

[zachbeacon]

I get it. I’m still annoyed that the last Avengers movie played Thor’s depression for laughs.

I recently saw a thing saying that depressed people watch the same shows because we find the predictability comforting. Currently my go-to “I don’t know what to watch so I’ll just watch this” shows are the Simpsons (a show that started when I was a child), whatever random anime I was watching in my teens (currently One Piece), and Columbo (which is “new” to me but they tell you how and why the villain did it and you know Columbo will figure it out).
I’ve never been the most social person but I usually looked forward to seeing friends. That got harder as life got in the way and impossible with the plague. Now I barely leave my apartment on weekdays and barely leave my bed on weekends and, if I’m being honest, aside from going to work (before I was working from home), that was mostly true before Covid.

I wish I could be more helpful on this but I’m not sure how. Just please know that you’re not alone.

[thezmage]

Now that it’s out, I can finally mention that I saw a preview screener of New Mutants two or so years ago. I thought it was okay but desperately needed some editing. Pretty much the main reason to go is because you actively want to see a hybrid superhero/horror movie

Loved Bill and Ted Face the Music

I was disappointed by Meddling Kids. Apparently the author didn’t have any sort of outline while working on it and it shows. Some of the stuff I most wanted to see followed up on was not and it seems to play into the “evil trans person” trope

Comic book movies for not comic book people

[ironymaiden]

From Hell or American Splendor. I would also second Blade and V for Vendetta.

Re: Comic book movies for not comic book people

[zachbeacon]

Road to Perdition seems like a good one for people uninterested in superheroics too. There was a time I would have said "who doesn't love Tom Hanks?" but now he's one of the people being targeted by a truly insane conspiracy movement.

[iamrman]

I will probably wait to watch New Mutants until it is on home release. I rapidly lost interest to watching it in cinemas thanks to all those delays.

I am glad to hear that the new Bill and Ted movie is pretty fun. I think we all need something like that in these complicated times.

As for my comucs reading, my Incredible Hulk marathon has reached the prelude to Planet Hulk. I will save Planet Hulk for a future date as I already read that not too long ago and don't want to re-read it so soon afterwards. Next on my list is Ed Brubaker's Captain America. (The Winter Soldier is dreamy!)

As for DC, I have finushed the Palmiotti and Gray run of Jonah Hex. I usually only stick to the main superhero titles from the Big Two, but Jonah Hex was a pleasant distraction. I look forward to reading the New 52 All-Star Western series that came after.

[zachbeacon]

Agreed on New Mutants. I'm not put off by the mixed reviews but I didn't like going to the theater BEFORE the pandemic. The McLeod response isn't really helping.

Besides, I'm already behind on X-Movies.

I should probably give All Star Western another chance (especially since I don't know how much longer DCU will be around). I jumped ship with the Nu52 for a lot of reasons. Hex was one of the few characters I followed Pre-Flashpoint that was still recognizable or didn't vanish entirely but I was wary that having it in Gotham would make it just another Batman comic. Apparently that was followed by a time travel arc. Hex and sci-fi and/or fantasy tends to be hit or miss but the time travel is the best part of Two Gun Kid*.

*Without it he's just a sighted Daredevil; a vigilante/lawyer who fakes his death a lot and isn't great about keeping a secret identity.

[sisterofbloomerjunior]

Mom's in the hospital again because her Jackson - Pratt drain caused an infection and her kidneys are in trouble. I hope she doesn't need dialysis. I had to call an ambulance to have the crew lift her back up, so I'm also dreading possibly admitting her into a nursing home. :(

Good fandom bit, though. Rated ROT-13.

[sisterofbloomerjunior]

I rented Toy Story 4, however, and loved it. Do you there's enough fan interest to continue the franchise va gur cbfg-Jbbql ren?

[cainofdreaming]

Movie recommedation would really depend on the person I'm recommending it to. On one end of the spectrum are the likes of Big Hero 6 or Scooby-Doo, on the other are Deadpool and Hellboy. It all depends on the person's general taste in movies, superhero movies vary within the genre so much.

[deepspaceartist]

"What modern comic book based movie would you recommend for someone that knows nothing about/is not at all into comics or super heroes?"

Well, for someone who doesn't know about comics but seem like they'd be receptive to the superhero style, I'd likely go with Iron Man, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman or maybe even go for the classics with Batman and Superman. If it's someone who actively dislikes superheroes, then less hero-y stuff like V for Vendetta or Blade would be good choices.

[bravest_spinja]

I suppose I would recommend Road to Perdition, Ghost World, Road to Perdition? You know, mundane, prestigious "Would never have even guessed it was based on a comic" movies. Otherwise I wouldn't really make any suggestion other than "Look at the reviews, or most popular ones, I guess." I'm largely not up for evangelizing because 1) It makes me look like one of those comic book nerds who still can't get over the fact not everyone is a comic book nerd, and 2) I find people with such blanket statements make very arbitrary exceptions. (Like, let me just say, Joker might as well have had giant clown props for all it could have taken place "in the real world".)

[scorntx]

Just so... so, so done with this year.
So done, yo...
But judging by the way 2020 has gone, it feels like at midnight on December 31st there's going to be this sound like someone cracking their knuckles and going "right..."
ugh.
(Figuring the way this year's gone, probably expecting just to wake up to find everything's literally on fire, or there are zombies everywhere. What would be one more wad of nonsense at this point?)


Interesting Transformers news (if you're into that sort of thing), with a Selects version of G2 Megatron and... Bug Bite from GoBots?
And apparently the next toyline might actually have more than one Beast Wars character in it.
Neat.
But given the relative small sizes of Stege and Earthrise, I'm guessing it'll just be some of the show characters.
*sigh*
It'll be better than nothing, but... would a few Fuzors really hurt?


Rumour abounds they may be remaking / remastering the original Mass Effect trilogy.
Mixed feelings about that.
Sure, there are bits of the original games that could use a touch-up (*glowers at the Hammerhead*), but... all things considered, a follow-up to Andromeda would be nice...
(it's never gonna happen, but it's a dream.)

[bruinsfan]

But judging by the way 2020 has gone, it feels like at midnight on December 31st there's going to be this sound like someone cracking their knuckles and going "right..."
ugh.

My fear is waking up to Sonny and Cher singing "I Got You, Babe" and finding out it's January 1, 2020.

[silverhammerman]

So disappointed to hear everything about New Mutants, I know that the deck was stacked against it in a lot of ways, but I really wanted it to turn out well, if only as one final piece of evidence that the Fox X-movies were capable of being good when someone involved actually gave a shit. Unfortunately, that didn't end up being the case. It's so disappointing that characters as cool as Magik and Dani Moonstar made their mainstream debut in a whitewashed, ill-conceived movie. On the plus side, apparently it begins with an "ancient native proverb" about how there are two bears within everyone; a lazy reuse of the now memetic "two wolves within every person" proverb which seems to have originated from the Reverend Billy Graham of all people, which is completely hilarious.

For the question of the week, it's such a broad field that it would depend on what the person were into. There are so many adaptations and so many comics which were written as thinly veiled storyboards/pitch documents that there's a glut of choices. If I were just trying to get them to watch a movie I like, I'd probably show someone Live Die Repeat (nee Edge of Tomorrow), the adaptation of All You Need is Kill. If I were specifically trying to give them a superhero-based movie to enjoy, maybe Logan, since that's basically just a scifi version of the classic Western Shane.

[blueprintstyles]

they really didn't bablance out those slurs, Ilyana had her own troubles but I would prefered to see an apology.

[beyondthefringe]

If they'd really wanted to explore racism in an appropriate manner, they wouldn't have picked Illyana, the girl from Russia, to spout off racist tropes.

No, Sam, as someone who grew up in the coal mines of Appalachia, would have been a far better choice for someone exposed to casual and pervasive racism while growing up, and would have had a much more likely cause to use anti-Native American slurs.

(I don't say this because I -want- sweet Sam to be a racist, but at least there's room in his character for the potential.)

Picking Illyana was just weird.
And whitewashing Roberto was fucking stupid, especially when his VERY FIRST appearance and mutant manifestation hinged upon anti-dark skin prejudice amongst his teammates...

[bravest_spinja]

Without knowing what was said in the movie (and I'm not going to ask), I don't think it's more likely Sam, as someone who grew up in rural Kentucky, would use the term than Illanya, somebody who grew up in Russia. Someone from either background would use derogatory language for Native Americans for largely the same reason--they were purposely trying to be abrasive or thought they were being funny. Old West iconography fits into lot of foreigners' mental image of America, so she wouldn't be unfamiliar with the terminology unless she knew absolutely nothing about America. And the Native population in Kentucky is low enough that a white Appalachian's prejudices and preconceptions would still be pretty abstract as opposed to...existential? Hell it would be just as likely the Guthrie family would claim Native ancestry from way back.

[lissa_quon]

My folks aren't big into comics but they liked Guardians of the Galaxy and Iron Man (my dads an engineer so I think the tech end of that appealed to him).

But yea something so far out of the wheelhouse of cape books, like Gaurdians, or soething like Road to Perdition or V for Vendetta would be my first choice.