[Aptorian]

amphibian, on 01 May 2018 - 02:14 PM, said:

The goons aren't contracted for.

And yes, the gold coins buy one act from the person they're given to. Just one. The gold itself is only supposed to have that value and not be a fuck off huge gold coin that's worth a lot. Real money isn't really important to anyone in the John Wick universe. What matters is getting obligations or buying acts.

amphibian, on 01 May 2018 - 02:15 PM, said:

That's why one body, one coin. One drink, one coin. One night's stay in an ultra secure hotel, one coin. One contracted for death, one coin.

While I understand the symbolic meaning of that exchange it still doesn't quite make sense to me. Not unless the coins aren't actually a financial transaction but rather some kind of ritual, that merely communicates other meanings. One would then assume that real money is changing hands but it all goes on tabs that every coin bearer is registered for.

Still, for this system to make any kind of sense (except looking cool and mysterious on screen) some kind of bank has to be handing out stacks of these things for spending at "syndicated" place. Otherwise you sure will need to do a lot of favors to be able to mingle on a night out on the town.

[Tiste Simeon]

Isn't there a scene in the second one where some people are minting new coins? I seem to remember that but I don't recall if that has any bearing on the rest of the film...

[Malankazooie]

La La Land

Finally watched it. Didn't hate it, but not sure why it got so much Academy Award buzz. I guess as a Musical/RomCom type movie it performs well, but it doesn't really say or do anything that hasn't already been said or done. I do like the "love letter to Los Angeles" vibe that strongly emanates throughout. But yeah, relationship between struggling actress and a musician who is fanatical about a music genre that is niche or slowly fading away is not really anything groundbreaking to tell a story about. You know, the whole, "chasing our dreams and risking it all while in each other's arms, only to see the pursuit of those ambitions be the ultimate reason for going our separate ways" type scenario. I suppose the overall production quality of the film is what earned it such kudos and award nominations? Dunno really.

I give La La Land 3.5 gluten free muffins out of 5

[Tiste Simeon]

Yeah Whiplash was a better film about jazz and The Greatest Showman was a better musical. La La Land was good but nothing spectacular.

[Silencer]

Tiste Simeon, on 01 May 2018 - 07:38 PM, said:

Isn't there a scene in the second one where some people are minting new coins? I seem to remember that but I don't recall if that has any bearing on the rest of the film...

The Continental is the "bank" in this instance. It was the owner of the Continental who was inspecting the quality of a fresh batch of coins, I believe is the scene you're referring to.

While I agree the actual value of the coins seems off, I always assumed the coins were essentially a reference to the coin one pays to Charon - and therefore one coin is paid for one contract.

Of course, the second film specifically applies a bounty to John with an actual dollar value, no? Implying the coins are indeed markers that can be used for an essentially unlimited range of purposes with the value of items being negotiated accordingly (e.g. the cleaners charging 1 coin per corpse disposed - thus making their service a trade-off for anyone who is only killing at a rate of one coin per kill, so their service wouldn't make sense in that context).


That being said, I had come to the conclusion myself that the coins were being used symbolically rather than with any actual thought to their value by the writers. Pretty sure Rule of Cool applies here.

[Macros]

But he gives a coin per body cleaned.
And a coin for a drink?

Surely these are not comparable actions.
Unless this is a show of Wick tipping outrageously because he's killed so many and has too many coins

[Aptorian]

In my head they are just krugerrands. Makes much more sense.

[Tiste Simeon]

Macros, on 02 May 2018 - 04:16 PM, said:

But he gives a coin per body cleaned.
And a coin for a drink?

Surely these are not comparable actions.
Unless this is a show of Wick tipping outrageously because he's killed so many and has too many coins

Yeah that doesn't sound like him...

[Malankazooie]

Get Out

Finally got around to watching. Holy shit that was crazy. I mean you catch the subtleties early on, but it goes from 0 to 100 when the cars roll in and the party starts.
Daniel Kaluuya is so good. Very deserving of every one of his best actor nominations.

Spoiler

Damn, he's going to have to avoid a tea cup and spoon from now on

Behold the Coagula

I give Get Out 5 racially coded "My Man"(s) out of 5

[QuickTidal]

[Aptorian]

QuickTidal, on 03 May 2018 - 02:28 PM, said:

Who okayed this script? Who cast those characters? Who wrote those lines? Why does this film exist? Is this evidence of the decline of Western Civilization? Why has God forsaken us?

EDIT: Actually, I would be down for a version of this featuring Zorro during the Spanish Civil War.

This post has been edited by Alternative Goose: 03 May 2018 - 02:41 PM

[QuickTidal]

Alternative Goose, on 03 May 2018 - 02:39 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 03 May 2018 - 02:28 PM, said:

Who okayed this script? Who cast those characters? Who wrote those lines? Why does this film exist? Is this evidence of the decline of Western Civilization? Why has God forsaken us?

EDIT: Actually, I would be down for a version of this featuring Zorro during the Spanish Civil War.

Yeah, a few things stand out starkly to me.

1. This is aping ARROW in its action sensibility, and that's not a great idea after the show has been on for how many seasons now?

2. It seems to embrace the Guy Ritchie KING ARTHUR aesthetic of both historically accurate setting and dressing AND anachronistic stuff like modern clothing, and some other set dressing. It's incongruous and while I'm fine with anachronistic done in this fashion (A KNIGHT'S TALE), you have to also LEAN into the campiness of what you are presenting. This looks like it's leaning into Gritty instead....wbch is what ARTHUR did...and possibly part of why it failed.

3. Ridley's 2010 ROBIN HOOD largely failed because it was a boring exercise that tried to cash in on the GLADIATOR/KINGDOM OF HEAVEN historical epic set....but Robin Hood was always more myth than history, and to nail it in the sweet spot you NEED to lean into the camp, the whimsy, and the myth. This needs to be a fairytale. This is slicking the whole thing up to a weird level.

4. What is SO wrong with garbing Robin in green!??! 2010 avoided this too..and here he's in Black leather and a BLUE handkerchief? Ugh.

5. Is it sad that still one of the best (possibly THE best) version of this story was 1991's PRINCE OF THIEVES? That move still holds up WELL all these years later. And it did exactly what I said. It was a great action adventure movie that leaned into the camp of the Robin story. I think that's why it stands so well now.

But yeah, this looks BAD.

[Aptorian]

When I looked at the still picture I actually thought this was a modern film because of their clothing. Which sounds like an interesting idea.

Has anyone ever done a modern day Robin Hood movie adaption? Like bank robber Robin Hood?

[QuickTidal]

Alternative Goose, on 03 May 2018 - 03:30 PM, said:

When I looked at the still picture I actually thought this was a modern film because of their clothing. Which sounds like an interesting idea.

Has anyone ever done a modern day Robin Hood movie adaption? Like bank robber Robin Hood?

I'm sure there are modern set stories that take the whole "steals from the rich, gives to the poor" aspect....but I don't think the main story itself has ever been adapted as a modern-told tale, CRUEL INTENTIONS style....but like CLUELESS is EMMA essentially....there might be some Robin Hood-like version like that.

[QuickTidal]

Briar King, on 03 May 2018 - 03:43 PM, said:

I think it’s going to surprise us.

You are ever the optimist BK!

[Tiste Simeon]

QuickTidal, on 03 May 2018 - 03:26 PM, said:

5. Is it sad that still one of the best (possibly THE best) version of this story was 1991's PRINCE OF THIEVES? That move still holds up WELL all these years later. And it did exactly what I said. It was a great action adventure movie that leaned into the camp of the Robin story. I think that's why it stands so well now.

But yeah, this looks BAD.

Ahem. I believe you're forgetting an absolute blinder of a film called Men in Tights...

[QuickTidal]

Tiste Simeon, on 03 May 2018 - 06:28 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 03 May 2018 - 03:26 PM, said:

5. Is it sad that still one of the best (possibly THE best) version of this story was 1991's PRINCE OF THIEVES? That move still holds up WELL all these years later. And it did exactly what I said. It was a great action adventure movie that leaned into the camp of the Robin story. I think that's why it stands so well now.

But yeah, this looks BAD.

Ahem. I believe you're forgetting an absolute blinder of a film called Men in Tights...

I will certainly agree that it was good (My fave Mel Brooks comedy by far)...but it's no Prince Of Thieves.

[worry]

Looks like the Assassin's Creed games to me, and the AC games hella suck. Also it was originally titled Robin Hood: Origins. I'm not familiar with Taran Egerton, but he probably should have been an accountant instead of an actor.

I can't think of any modern takes on Robin Hood, surprisingly, but I've read there's a project on the horizon called Robin Hood 2058 that sounds pretty goofy.

[Abyss]

WITH A SPOON!!!!

[paran falcon]

Briar King, on 03 May 2018 - 06:41 PM, said:

I still like the cartoon one. They are all animals. Fuck I loved that when I was small.

I've got a real soft spot for the Disney one too.

I'm also with QT on Prince of Thieves. Its got its flaws, for sure, (Kevin Costner's "I'm going to attempt a British accent; oh hell, nevermind, well maybe a little.") but overall its quite entertaining. Alan Rickman stole the show as the Sheriff. I LOVE the elder Locksley's broadsword, so much so that I own an exact replica except with brass colored hilt, not silver. And the one outfit Costner wears with the varying shades of green was one I always wished for myself.