Posts by Morgan Vaughn10

Personally, I found it worked best because every single ad and review seemed to frame him as this dominant force 😁

But then again...

northerndriver said:It’s just way too pretentious and honestly, God, it's boring. That piano music just makes the whole vibe even worse. Watching Alma was actually pretty uncomfortable... that dinner argument scene felt about as intense as some cheap Lifetime movie drama.

I actually liked the movie—aside from that dinner sequence. That part was genuinely unwatchable. It felt poorly directed, poorly written... just poorly executed.
Still, the rest of it held my attention; interesting enough, even if it feels distinctly old-school American.

silentsurfer3 said:If I’ve grasped the opening post correctly—the goal was to add a label for those realistic films, maybe something like a PG-13 tag just to make them easier to track down?

I don't think it's necessary—but I'm not against it.
Just one mark more or less—does it really matter?

I'm not talking about the PG-13 rating—I mean the genre itself. Thriller, action, drama, that sort of thing.
I like the idea.

I know where you're coming from—my dad can't stand modern movies. He always asks why anyone would bother watching something that has zero connection to reality. Even animation? Forget it. To him, those are just cartoons for kids.

So, we end up sticking to the classics or Westerns. Watching those old films makes me wonder: why don't we see anything like them anymore? Like someone else mentioned regarding 12 Angry Men.
But let's be real—these kinds of movies still exist today; they just don't get the massive marketing budgets they used to. You only hear about them if they're in the running for an Oscar, and only then do studios actually spend money on ads.
Lately, I’ve been finding out about them through Facebook groups.
Take a movie like Olive—it's a story of a brave girl traveling to Germany to find her grandfather's sold olive tree. It isn't some masterpiece, but it's decent.

It really should be easier to track down films like that.

Right now, the market is flooded with superhero movies, and honestly, it's exhausting. I truly don't understand how this overproduction hasn't hit their bottom line yet—not to mention the excessive use of CGI btw. 😠

Btw, I watch pretty much everything depending on my mood. Sometimes I'll enjoy something like Doctor Strange (though less and less lately), and other times I just want something down-to-earth, like that one film that was playing on PBS the other night.

The Grand Seduction

Back then, Costner was stuck in that same phase Cage is in now—that stage where he just gets under everyone's skin.

His biggest setbacks were *The Bodyguard* and *Robin Hood*, which actually preceded those other two.

People got sick of hearing the same two songs from each movie played on loop—it led to total saturation.

On top of that, there was all this noise claiming he wasn't even that good an actor and that his *Oscar* for *Dances with Wolves* was a complete mistake.

I remember those days; it felt like the "cool" thing to do back then was to mock him and his films. It’s the exact same thing happening to Nicolas Cage right now, with people labeling him one of the worst actors ever. You see the same kind of hype surrounding Samuel L. Jackson too. Even Willis faced it during the *Hudson Hawk* era—people were calling him the worst actor around. Later, he changed his approach; he used to rely heavily on facial expressions... eventually, his acting just turned into the same single expression every time.

Then again, *Waterworld* ended up at number 12 at the box office that year, while something like *Braveheart* sat at number 18.

Frank Chase6 said:Someone mentioned earlier that recent stuff is mostly made by that duo—and honestly, any of their movies I’ve sat through were a disaster long before they even qualified as comedies. Just pure racism, sexism, and general nonsense tailored for this millennial idiocy. They aren't even in the same league as the classics.

I recently rewatched The Wrong Guy—my girlfriend and I couldn't stop laughing at bits like the guy checking into a motel and making up such a bizarre name that the clerk actually had to help him pronounce it—or that scene where the kidnapper is demanding a helicopter. Then there's Top Secret!, like when they stumble upon boots in the grass, or that phone call where a colonel tells a doctor to report on a patient's status (even though the patient is dead). I haven't seen humor like that in anything released after 2000. I found something similar in Futurama, though that show has its own specific vibe that might not sit well with fans of Goal Pistol.

Reading your take is killing me—🤣 that's just how those movies work...

The biggest issue with these classics—and many others—is that they play constantly. When a movie has aired a thousand times on TV, of course you're going to change the channel.

I'd also throw in things like Robin Hood, guys in tights, or Mafia.

The last newer film that actually showed potential was Tropic Thunder, but unfortunately, it doesn't come close to those old hits. I really liked Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead—especially the first one.

Maybe it's just me, but I can't stand modern comedies. I don't get why producers and directors keep pushing actors like Jonah Hill or Seth Rogen. They aren't even comparable to Gene Wilder, Bill Murray, Leslie Nielsen, Martin, or Eugene Moranis... Out of the Wayans crew, only Matt Damon works for me (Mayor Payne).
The only old-school actor I can't stand is Rodney Dangerfield.

There are plenty of them out there—especially the British ones. But when I think of my top picks, a few names always jump to mind: my absolute favorite is John Heard, followed by Ciarán Hinds and Trevor Eve, who also sit right at the top of my list. Then there are the actors I see and immediately think, "they should be major stars"—people like Chi McBride, Wallace Shawn, the legend 🙂, and David O'Hara, who seems to drift in and out of sight constantly. He’s definitely one of those many British actors I just happen to love...

Just finished watching Doubt—wow. It’s a brilliant film, though mostly thanks to the acting. Reminds me a bit of that Mel Gibson movie where everything hinges on a "maybe." That scene with PSH and Meryl Streep was fantastic—truly top-tier. It’s actually strange that nobody walked away with an Oscar for it, but I suppose there were bigger fish to fry that year. I remember PSH from various roles, and while I've always championed him, he left me feeling a bit let down in Charlie Wilson's War—though perhaps that’s just because that film is an absolute disaster to me.
Regarding his passing—honestly, everyone is right. His death was incredibly stupid, but then again, how many aren't? I always think back to that show Dead Like Me, where they used to depict all sorts of bizarre ways to go. Do we really need to call him "brilliant" just because he drugged himself into an overdose? No. He was foolish. On the other hand, humans are fragile creatures; we are all addicts to something, and more often than not, our weaknesses catch up to us. We smoke, we drink, we wear thin shirts that leave us exposed, we eat too much salt until it eats us from the inside, we choose driving over walking... why did James Gandolfini die? Some say it was because he was overweight—what a ridiculous way to go. A man is a weak being, and these actors have plenty of money, which naturally surrounds them with a swarm of dealers offering everything imaginable. Their lives move at a pace most of you can't even fathom—would you truly be any different? Do you all really share the psyche of Jack Nicholson? Then you look at Jared Padalecki, who has children, and I can't imagine myself ever making such a moronic mistake. Yet, the onslaught of condemnation against him begins. In reality, you are simply repeating his exact error. He judged too easily—he shouldn't have—and now you are judging just as recklessly for no reason. The man simply voiced what many people think, which is why even here on this forum, opinions and condemnations are split. Besides, he wasn't the only one; LeVar Burton made similar comments on Twitter and faced attacks for it too. I want to say that judging someone isn't right, whether it's PSH or JP—I'm sure you all have enough problems of your own to deal with.
By the way, he was a great actor; it's a shame he died. Just as it's a shame for so many others who couldn't win their battle against drugs. Because yes, it is a battle—some win, some lose... it's a disease, just like any other.

It’s been ages since I last saw this movie—so much so that seeing how much Gladiator ripped off from it tonight was a total shock. Most of the scenes I absolutely loved in Gladiator? Turns out they were just slightly tweaked, polished versions of what I watched tonight; basically stolen. I guess movies work the same way music does nowadays—just take an old classic, put some different actors in a new setting, shuffle the dialogue, and boom—you've got a blockbuster... shit. 😢

Just got back from the hospital and I’m feeling pretty fired up—need to get this off my chest. What actually makes a good doctor? It’s not just about the degree. When you're dealing with serious stuff—blood in your urine, a lump in your breast, things that actually matter—you shouldn't leave an appointment feeling like you wasted your time. In my experience, most primary care physicians act more like glorified assistants to specialists. My current GP hardly listens; she barely even glances at my test results. She just checks what the specialist prescribed, writes the script, and says goodbye. I used to see a doctor who actually cared—a real professional. He’d prescribe medications that carried serious risks—stuff that could wreck your kidneys or cause internal bleeding—so he monitored everything constantly. "Let's get a kidney scan tomorrow," or "Be in this room at this specific time"—he handled the scheduling, the follow-ups, all of it. He watched for side effects like his life depended on it. When I left his office, I felt informed—I had a clear roadmap for my health. Today, walking out of a different doctor's office, I felt more confused than when I walked in. I laid out all my symptoms, she asked a few perfunctous questions, handed me a printout, and dismissed me. Then I look down at the paperwork and see she recommended an ultrasound—something she didn't even mention during our talk. No follow-up plan, nothing. And there's this recurring vibe I get from so many doctors lately—the moment you walk in, it feels like you're stepping onto a battlefield. Like you're being interrogated or forced to defend your own symptoms. That first doctor gave me his direct line and told me, "Call me if something doesn't feel right; don't take your health lightly." This second one? It was more like, "Ugh, another one on the assembly line." It reminds me of a story about a physician—someone who started in dermatology because they loved helping people with skin issues, full of youthful enthusiasm. But then they hit the reality of the system, became bitter, and started treating patients like chores. Every time I hear about some "public health initiative" or mass screening campaign, I can't help but wonder if my doctor is thinking about the patients or just counting how many referrals they've sent out this month to meet a quota. To sum it up: a good doctor doesn't treat patients like they're on a conveyor belt. They track the progression of illness because fighting for a patient's health should be the whole point.

I’m in total agreement regarding the lack of basic courtesy. If you happen to mention—by pure chance—that they don't have your prescription in stock and you'll just try a different pharmacy, suddenly you're the problem. I once went into a drugstore to buy some lens cleaning solution; when I couldn't reach it on the high shelf, the woman behind the counter actually took offense. She started huffing about "what kind of behavior is this?" before grabbing a ladder from the back room to get it down—all while making a massive scene. These places are famous for shouting things like, "What do you need, hemorrhoid cream or earwax remover?" only to have the entire store turn around and stare at you. And don't even get me started on the pharmacy near my house in Indianapolis—it's a nightmare. They almost never have what I need. I'll order something from one person, only to spend half an hour the next day explaining the situation to another employee who proceeds to search the entire building while insisting they don't have it—only to find it exactly where the special orders are kept. It happens nearly every single time. Honestly, between all the "I'm sure we had it, but now I can't find it even though the computer says it's here!" nonsense, I start to wonder if everyone working there has Alzheimer. They just stare at you with this blank, lost expression. I hate having to go to them, only for them to turn a simple medication pickup into a complete circus. 😢

Is there any place to download a recording of the Grammys?

Nicholas Myers said:Morgan Vaughn10, have you seen a surgeon lately about your symptoms? Did they mention if you meet the criteria for surgery?

Which specialist did you consult, electricwalker35? I don't mean names, just the field—dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or someone else?

I haven't seen a surgeon. I saw an orthopedist earlier this year who just suggested ice—enough. 🙂After I insisted the leg pain was real, he suggested a neurologist, claiming it might be a spinal issue. In my layman's opinion? Unlikely. The pain is most intense in the calf. When things flare up—usually during the summer—it hits the foot too, causing redness on the top near the toes. There's also a hemangioma right by the Achilles tendon. I've mostly just learned to live with it over the years, which is arguably the worst way to handle it, but here we are...

Nicholas Myers said:Intramuscular hemangiomas can lead to swelling and bouts of pain.

Thanks for the input—it’s frustrating because you won't find anything about intramuscular hemangiomas online. Dealing with doctors has been an absolute headache; back when I was younger, they’d just suggest ice packs, chamomile compresses, or some random arthritis cream. Fast forward years later, and my leg still hurts every single day. My posture is actually starting to shift because the muscle atrophy is getting so bad—honestly, after all that useless advice, how is anyone supposed to trust medical professionals?😢

I read everywhere that a hemangioma isn't usually dangerous and shouldn't cause any pain—but I've had this one on my leg for as long as I can remember, and my leg has been hurting just as long. Back in the day, the area around it and the veins would swell up sometimes; it doesn't happen as much now. The pain used to be localized right there, but lately, it’s spreading. So, can a hemangioma actually cause pain?