David Richardson67 said:Look, my philosophy has always been pretty straightforward—both back then and even now. If I’m actually in the mood to follow some romantic subplot or if I’m craving a cheesy rom-com, then sure, I’ll head to the theater to catch something like "the old Bridget Jones" or maybe "the classic 'the old Polly'". But if I am sitting down to watch Top Gun, let’s be real: I don't give a damn about the love interest or any heavy-handed moralizing. I am there for the adrenaline, the aircraft carriers, and those F-14 Tomcat jets.
The romance was absolutely necessary, though. It was woven into the script specifically to maintain that sense of intense camaraderie among the pilots, built on a foundation of friendship and brotherhood, just so the audience wouldn't walk away thinking they were watching a group of guys who were all just obsessed with one another...
Ha, ha, they finally caught him on camera, though I really wish they’d managed to snag a longer clip—maybe even five minutes of footage instead of this snippet.
wiredraven82 said:Since I’m primarily a fan of horror with a supernatural edge, Halloween doesn't belong in "your" category—it belongs in ours. 😁Michael Myers certainly isn't just some guy; there is nothing but pure supernatural energy behind him, which was glaringly obvious even back in the original film. 🙂
I don't think it's actually that obvious—if anything, it only becomes clear through the sequels. Isn't part of the original's charm found in that very ambiguity? Leaving it up to the viewer's imagination to decide whether M.M. is a person or something else entirely is what makes it work.
We've seen this basic setup played out countless times before, usually involving some sort of zombie apocalypse where the remnants of humanity are forced to bridge their differences just to stay alive while they scramble to uncover what actually triggered the collapse. It remains to be seen whether this story will actually bring something fresh to the table, or if it’s just going to lean heavily on those same tired, predictable tropes we've grown so accustomed to.
Samuel Scott54 said:The bird with The crystal plumage ( 1970)
This was Argenta's big directorial debut in the Giallo genre. I think the film does a great job showing why people constantly call Argenta the Italian Alfred Hitchcock. He’s always been pretty open about how much of an idol Hitchcock is to him. Honestly, this movie is a must-watch, especially just to hear that incredible score by Ennio Morricone..
Exactly, it’s a fundamental pillar of the giallo genre.
Just like in music, there are certain films that exist right on the bleeding edge of multiple genres, blending elements so seamlessly that they defy easy categorization. It’s perfectly natural that when people encounter these types of movies, someone will inevitably chime in with a pedantic correction, insisting, "No, that isn't Sci-Fi," or "That doesn't count as a thriller," or some other arbitrary distinction...
Ultimately, I find it somewhat futile to exhaust ourselves over these rigid divisions or to obsessively debate exactly how much of a specific trope is required before a film can officially claim a seat within a particular category..
I’ll be the first to admit I didn't quite grasp the twist in Sixth Sense back when it first hit theaters. I was just some kid at the time, far too inexperienced with the whole ghost story genre to see it coming. My apologies to everyone for that oversight. However, failing to catch it then actually served a purpose, as it helped me instantly decipher the twist in The Others later on. 😁
analogviper36 said:I am not entirely certain about the specifics of various twin studies, but I personally know a pair of identical twins who were raised in the exact same environment—same school, same home, even worked together—yet their personalities couldn't be more different. To be honest, I found myself connecting with one much more easily than the other. And as they've grown into adulthood, their lives and life paths have diverged completely.
And why wouldn't destiny choose specific genes to act as its messengers?
Beyond Heritability : Twin Studies in Behavioral research
Controlled studies have been conducted involving upwards of 800,000 twin pairs—both identical and fraternal—and one of the primary conclusions drawn from the whole ordeal was, and I quote: "By now we have a fundamental understanding that genetic influences are involved in all aspects of psychology and behavior."
It goes without saying that when we discuss these topics—and let’s be honest, most of what is being debated here revolves around how genes and environment interact—we are dealing with variables that are notoriously difficult to quantify precisely.
One researcher once put it this way: trying to separate the influence of genetics from the influence of one's environment is like attempting to credit either the musician or their instrument for the music they produce. How can you possibly decide who deserves more credit? If you lack the talent of the performer, or if the instrument itself is broken, the music simply won't exist, or at the very least, it won't sound anything like what we hear.
@Michelle Williams17 If you are looking for rigorous, controlled studies specifically regarding how genetics shape behavior, you really need to look into the field of behavioral genetics. They have uncovered significant genetic influences—varying in scale, of course—on a massive spectrum of behaviors and personality traits, ranging from how people vote in elections to the career paths they eventually choose.
Genes provide the fundamental blueprint, supplying the very building blocks and biological processes required to construct an entire organism. That is the core essence of genetics—from the structure of your fingernails to the intricate wiring of your neural cells, your nerve centers, and the brain as a whole. The specific way these cells are architected dictates their functional processes through various biochemical characteristics. Whether a particular compound manifests as serotonin or dopamine depends entirely on its molecular structure, which, quite predictably, is dictated by our genes. Therefore, if the brain and its internal mechanisms exert any influence whatsoever on psychology and behavior—as scientists claim (and even a few laypeople seem to agree)—then genes are inherently involved through that physiological link. This goes far beyond some superficial idea that physical appearance somehow influences one's psyche.
If we are going to be incredibly blunt—perhaps even a bit crude, given the nature of this topic's title—we can test this concept quite easily, at least as a thought experiment. If you want to measure the impact of genes on life, simply try to extract the genes from life itself, or attempt to imagine existence without them. If you actually manage to pull that off, then you’ll have your answer regarding just how negligible they truly are. But you won't, will you?
I’m dropping this 1992 live performance here as well. Just look at how effortlessly he handles that bass, playing whatever the hell he feels like in the moment. Honestly, Lalonde is such an underrated guitarist. 😁 Otherwise, the entire Sailing The Seas of Cheese experience is just a psychedelic funk-rock bombshell, and that goes for several of their other albums too. I’d also throw Tales fra The Punchbowl into the mix; it leans more toward mid-tempo vibes and hasn't always been the fan favorite, though I suspect that might be somewhat unfair.
Since we’re all sitting here swapping stories, I can't help but recall a specific memory from back in the late 80s when my uncle used to take me to the movies. He looked my mother straight in the eye and assured her there was absolutely nothing to worry about, telling her we were just heading out to catch a little horror-comedy like Twilight. Naturally, being a kid, I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. We settle into our seats, the lights dim, the film begins, and suddenly—*bam*—we’re met with this crystal-clear shot of deep space filling the massive screen, flashes of light, and that terrifying sight of a meteor streaking toward Earth.
In that moment, I just sat there thinking, "Uncle, I have to hand it to you, that was a masterclass in deception." It remains a rather vivid memory...
Joshua Hall4 said:Then you have Bill Paxton and that iconic line, "Come on motherfucker. Let's Dance," delivered right to the Predator's face just moments before everything goes south. 🙏
Is there really any other actor who has managed to be hunted down and killed by Predator, Terminator, and Alien? It’s a bizarrely specific trifecta if you think about it.
The first installment stands out primarily because of how effective the Predator looks, that iconic cloaking tech, and the overall palpable sense of tension paired with that gritty, tooth-and-nail action through the jungle. Not to mention those legendary lines like If it bleeds we can kill it...
Schwarzenegger once mentioned how intense and hyper-focused the cast was; apparently, some guys were hitting the gym from dawn until filming actually started just to ensure they had more muscle mass than the colleagues who weren't putting in that kind of work, ha...
Here is what the Predator looked like before they went with the different design that’s been carried through all the sequels...
...And yeah, believe it or not, Jean-Claude Van Damme was actually in the suit at one point. He supposedly thought he’d get his big moment to showcase his karate skills in a final showdown against Schwarzenegger, but instead, he just got kicked off the set entirely.
Original suit with Van Damme
As for the other sequels—aside from Predator 2, which I have a soft spot for in my own way—they're all just a bit mediocre for me...
Richard Wilson4 said:...It’s not for teenagers aged 12 to 17, but you can easily show it to them in four years; by then, they’ll have binged a thousand movies and series, not to mention all the absolute garbage they encounter on the internet every single day.😉
Honestly, what these kids need is a couple of firm slaps to get them focused on studying or finding a job, rather than having some studio churn out a mindless reboot every four years. And let's be real, even the adults haven't been able to resist watching a new reboot every four years themselves.
Nicholas Nguyen said:I haven't the slightest clue whether there's a new Spider-Man in the works, nor do I know if Tobey is actually set to reprise his role.🤣
Good grief, I was completely in the dark about that too.
"Information you aren't allowed to ask for Section 25. (1) During the candidate selection process (interviews, testing, surveys, etc.) and when drafting employment contracts—as well as throughout the duration of the employment itself—an employer is prohibited from requesting any data that does not have a direct connection to the job duties. (2) An employee is under no obligation to answer any prohibited questions as outlined in paragraph 1 of this section.
So, which specific pieces of information fall under the category of being unrelated or directly related to the role? I suppose that’s left entirely up to whoever's interpretation they feel like using that day. And honestly, has anyone here ever actually invoked Section 2 during a job interview and somehow walked away with the position anyway? I’d love to see that happen.
