Frank Moore4 said:Who knows, maybe they'll go for something more like Nolan's Batman—really dark and gritty—to serve as an intro to the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe. 🤷🤣
Anyway, here are a few ideas for who could play Superman.
Christian Bale? I mean, he'd be perfect😂 He’d probably just wreck the character by giving him some heavy, tragic backstory where he’s basically crying whenever no one's watching. I guess it's enough that he totally destroyed Batman.
Dwayne Johnson -the highest-grossing actor of 2013 http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothyp...actor-of-2013/ (article update: his movies actually pulled in an extra $100 million on top of that $1.2 billion)
The guy is officially at the absolute peak of fame. Honestly, he deserves it. I mean, maybe he isn't some legendary, award-winning actor, but the man just has insane charisma. He’ll probably run for Governor next, and honestly, he could totally pull off being President one day if he wanted to.😁
Someone should probably give me a medal just for sitting through this whole thing in the middle of the night 😬 Brad Pitt playing Jesse James—hmm, I guess he was okay, though I can't shake the feeling that at least ten other actors could have portrayed him better. Casey Affleck really got on my nerves in the first half playing that obsessed fan, only to turn into a total badass in the second half once he stopped believing in Jesse. Visually, the movie is stunning; in a way, it feels like a case study, occasionally analyzing American society itself. Is it just me, or does the film feel pretty anti-American? In the movie, everyone celebrates Jesse as some kind of hero and legend, even though the guy killed twenty people and robbed several trains and banks. A man who kills such evil eventually becomes hated, and everyone loathes him for it. To make the irony even thicker, the guy who kills Jesse James' killer is quickly released from prison and hailed as a legend. Does that mean Americans just celebrate killers and thieves? I don't even need to mention that the plot is ultra slow, but honestly, I don't see much point in having a movie pumped up with non-stop action given this context, so I don't hold it against them. That murder scene was brutally good—it’s a little messed up because of the title (which obviously tells you exactly what's coming), but even without that title, you’d definitely know the exact moment when Ford feels his moment to kill him. Genius. I'm not disappointed with the film; it was definitely worth watching, even with this inhuman timing.
If it turns out to be an adult movie, like Sabotage, it’ll probably be good enough. Regarding the mediocre acting—it seems like a lot of supposedly high-quality actors just don't have the guts to step out of their comfort zones. Every time I see Amy Adams on screen, she's playing some emancipated character who thinks they're a big deal when, honestly, they're nobody. BTW, I love the soundtrack—it immediately makes me think of the final fight from Serious man. Ah, good times.😁
Is it possible to change my handle to Zoltan or, if we're really pushing for brand recognition, maybe Zoltan800? I was thinking about just adding "aka walkman800" or something similar to my signature in a few months anyway.
No. I already laid out all the reasons for that in my first post.
The Dark Knight Rises That trailer was pretty epic, honestly. Lots of heavy emotional beats and a top-tier performance by >. It feels like a real movie, though even if it doesn't end up being a total disaster, it definitely didn't trigger nearly the same level of nerdgasm as the trailer did. On the flip side, I remember the previous > had some pretty dull trailers, yet the actual movie turned out to be fantastic. As for >, that was easily the biggest letdown of last year. The trailer was one of the best in the whole superhero genre, especially with that soundtrack that everyone else basically ripped off until it became totally cliché. The movie itself might have had an impressive, high-energy opening, but it just seemed to get worse and worse as it went on.
Great movie. The cast was good, but—and I mean no disrespect to the late Paul Walker—those dogs actually gave better performances. The way they portray things like solidarity, strategy, and pure grief is just incredible. It’s honestly unreal. Honestly, Kristen Stewart could probably learn a thing or two from those huskies.
I honestly don't think this thread is going to last very long. Arguing about who the greatest director is is just as controversial as debating a national referendum 😬
I honestly think Liam Neeson would’ve been a much better fit for Jack Reacher than Tom Cruise. Maybe Arnold Schwarzenegger should’ve played Ivan Drago instead of Dolph Lundgren. I guess Hugh Laurie would’ve worked better in Thank You for Smoking than Eckhart. Or maybe just any actor bigger and more imposing than Tom Hardy for the latest Batman.
Drew Sanchez82 said:I haven't gotten around to watching the sequel yet, but I caught the first one on TV again last night. It really reminded me just how much of a genius Bryan Mills is. 😁 He honestly has everything you'd want in a classic tough guy. The funny man part for me was when he handed that guy in Paris a hundred bucks just to stay out of a beating, even though Mills could've easily sent him straight to the ICU in about two moves. 🤣
The first part is honestly brilliant. I can handle a little bit of action in a 21st-century flick now and then, but this one? I absolutely loved it. Nonstop action from start to finish. I mean, Liam Neeson is just a total phenomenon when he plays a badass. The second part was honestly just a cheap imitation of the first one. It really could have been so much better than what we actually got. I don't know, I'm honestly kind of dreading the third part. It's actually making me pretty anxious. 🤣
Jose Morris7 said:It depends on the person. Every day, I feel myself becoming a little more liberated, even if my bank account hasn't quite caught up to my sense of freedom yet. I refuse to let finances ruin the joy of it all. I can do things now that would have been impossible when I was a kid...
Like hopping on a motorcycle and just riding off into the distance without having to ask Mom or Dad for permission... you just go.
Or holding someone you love and making them happy... back then, I used to spend my time flipping through old copies of Rolling Stone, totally aimless (god, those memories of Mama Mia)...
Telling someone where to go at 3 p.m. without a hint of fear... as a child, I would have been too terrified to even think it.
Building my own home, sharing a drink with good company... I’m actually glad I grew up. A child dreams of being an adult, but anyone who spends their life wishing they were a child probably never truly learned how to be an adult in the first place...
That tiny little thing called finances. When I think about how much money I have to shell out for every little thing on my own now—just being an adult, having to bleed money to clear away all the trivial stuff just to get back to zero—it's a lot. When I was a kid, everything was just paid for, and I didn't really give much thought to where it came from. Now, at the end of every quarter, I have to sit down and balance my books while nursing a bottle of rum.
Jose Morris7 said:It depends on the person. Every day, I feel myself becoming a little more liberated, even if my bank account hasn't quite caught up to my sense of freedom yet. I refuse to let finances ruin the joy of it all. I can do things now that would have been impossible when I was a kid...
Like hopping on a motorcycle and just riding off into the distance without having to ask Mom or Dad for permission... you just go.
Or holding someone you love and making them happy... back then, I used to spend my time flipping through old copies of Rolling Stone, totally aimless (god, those memories of Mama Mia)...
Telling someone where to go at 3 p.m. without a hint of fear... as a child, I would have been too terrified to even think it.
Building my own home, sharing a drink with good company... I’m actually glad I grew up. A child dreams of being an adult, but anyone who spends their life wishing they were a child probably never truly learned how to be an adult in the first place...
Douglas Gray8 brought up the police. And honestly, when I was a kid, they used to let me wander around until I was practically unconscious. It’s not like I’m going to zip over to Charleston or anything, but even as an adult, I don't really feel the need for that kind of stunt.
Jose Morris7 said:It depends on the person. Every day, I feel myself becoming a little more liberated, even if my bank account hasn't quite caught up to my sense of freedom yet. I refuse to let finances ruin the joy of it all. I can do things now that would have been impossible when I was a kid...
Like hopping on a motorcycle and just riding off into the distance without having to ask Mom or Dad for permission... you just go.
Or holding someone you love and making them happy... back then, I used to spend my time flipping through old copies of Rolling Stone, totally aimless (god, those memories of Mama Mia)...
Telling someone where to go at 3 p.m. without a hint of fear... as a child, I would have been too terrified to even think it.
Building my own home, sharing a drink with good company... I’m actually glad I grew up. A child dreams of being an adult, but anyone who spends their life wishing they were a child probably never truly learned how to be an adult in the first place...
Are Mom and Dad not loved people? I used to be way more prone to hugging loved ones and falling in love. Now, experience has taught me that showing that kind of emotion openly needs to be rationed out carefully. You never know who might take advantage of your kindness.
Jose Morris7 said:It depends on the person. Every day, I feel myself becoming a little more liberated, even if my bank account hasn't quite caught up to my sense of freedom yet. I refuse to let finances ruin the joy of it all. I can do things now that would have been impossible when I was a kid...
Like hopping on a motorcycle and just riding off into the distance without having to ask Mom or Dad for permission... you just go.
Or holding someone you love and making them happy... back then, I used to spend my time flipping through old copies of Rolling Stone, totally aimless (god, those memories of Mama Mia)...
Telling someone where to go at 3 p.m. without a hint of fear... as a child, I would have been too terrified to even think it.
Building my own home, sharing a drink with good company... I’m actually glad I grew up. A child dreams of being an adult, but anyone who spends their life wishing they were a child probably never truly learned how to be an adult in the first place...
As an adult, you'd end up in prison. 🤣 Luckily, I've never held a grudge against anyone that deeply. Though, I guess I can agree with that part. Whenever old folks try to lecture me about my behavior these days, I just tell them, "Look, you did your job until I turned 18. Your job is done; you don't get to micromanage my upbringing anymore."
Jose Morris7 said:It depends on the person. Every day, I feel myself becoming a little more liberated, even if my bank account hasn't quite caught up to my sense of freedom yet. I refuse to let finances ruin the joy of it all. I can do things now that would have been impossible when I was a kid...
Like hopping on a motorcycle and just riding off into the distance without having to ask Mom or Dad for permission... you just go.
Or holding someone you love and making them happy... back then, I used to spend my time flipping through old copies of Rolling Stone, totally aimless (god, those memories of Mama Mia)...
Telling someone where to go at 3 p.m. without a hint of fear... as a child, I would have been too terrified to even think it.
Building my own home, sharing a drink with good company... I’m actually glad I grew up. A child dreams of being an adult, but anyone who spends their life wishing they were a child probably never truly learned how to be an adult in the first place...
Honestly, if you actually have the cash to be a Builder and put up your own place, more power to you. It’s a damn rarity these days. Even for people who think they can pull it off, I guess it takes them decades just to get the thing finished. And as for grabbing drinks with good company like an adult? It’s kind of depressing. You don't go out and get wasted as much anymore; instead, once you hit a certain age, the big question becomes "so, what's for dinner?" Hanging out is getting rarer too—whether it's because of work, marriage, kids, or just because everyone drifted apart.
This is purely my own take, but for me, it’s a yes—childhood was easily the happiest time of my life. I was completely oblivious to everything going on around me and all the ugly stuff in the world. No heavy thoughts, no existential dread, just running around and playing.
If someone offered me a choice like in The Matrix—two pills, really. One blue pill that makes me filthy rich for the rest of my life, or a red pill that sends me back to being five years old (and once I hit ten, it just loops me back to five again, forever)—I’d take the red one.
venera_veritas said:Yeah, that was just some kind of natural growing pains.
Back in middle school, my gym teacher actually called me stupid because I couldn't climb a rope. I didn't run crying to my mom or anything, and it wasn't even a big deal. I just figured he was an idiot for judging me based on that. I knew he didn't like me, but I didn't particularly care for him either. I guess. I just focused on other teachers who were neutral or actually liked me. I mean, damn, that's basically how I learned that not everyone is going to like you. There isn't always someone to blame for that. You just move on with your life and whatever.
So yeah—it seems like a pretty basic situation, but I guess there's a useful lesson in there somewhere. I don't really get this whole trend of overprotecting kids lately. A kid needs to learn how to handle their own problems as soon as possible (ideally early on). They aren't going to be able to call Mom at work just because a coworker told them they're being an idiot. If someone is always stepping in to fix things for them, they’ll never actually learn how to resolve a conflict on their own. In this specific case, I agree with one of the teachers mentioned here—the kid should have just spoken up and said they have dyslexia. They aren't a toddler anymore; they have a voice. It would only be a real issue if the teacher kept making the same mistake after being warned; then, and only then, should an adult step in.
I remember back in elementary school, our whole class used to go to the principal's office together to complain about teachers who were being way too harsh. The principal actually took us seriously, and the teachers were warned, so those mistakes stopped happening (even though, looking back now, the faculty was honestly pretty incompetent). There was zero need to involve parents.
Still, I'd say kudos to the author for doing her job as a parent perfectly. It's actually pretty rare for a parent to actually look into what really happened instead of just blindly believing their little angel. 👍
James Nguyen13 said:In their actual day-to-day lives, many leftists act like staunch conservatives. They live by that old "what's mine is mine" mentality. The idea that "your success belongs to the community" usually only applies to everyone else. It’s always "my taxes are too high," "my paycheck is too small," "gas is too pricey," or "highway tolls are a rip-off"—but somehow, it's perfectly fine to take from *him*. I don't think I've ever met anyone actually advocating for taxing themselves.
And if you look at the non-economic side of things, you see a similar contradiction. Leftists often end up being the negation of their own values. Take the USA, for example; many of those supposedly progressive states are almost entirely white. And if someone from a different background moves into one of those neighborhoods, you'll see those same "liberals" quickly pack up and move to an exclusively white suburb.
That's a fair point. But I guess I’ve been looking more at the people who actually get how the world works—the ones forced to play by the rules just to survive—but who still cling to that leftist utopianism as some kind of ideal. Like, maybe they have this specific vision of equality, but they know deep down it’s impossible, so they just treat it like a daydream for when they have free time. I don't really see anything wrong with that, I suppose. The idea that you should take from others is true, but I wouldn't say it's strictly a leftist thing. Who actually enjoys having things taken from them? Maybe the leftist lobby complains about it the loudest, but I don't think it's right to say conservatives don't have plenty to say about it, too.
Charles Campbell7 said:Leftists are nothing more than dreamers living in a fantasy land. I suppose it’s perfectly fine to hold those views when you're young and haven't yet grasped how the world actually operates. But when you have an adult—someone who identifies as an intellectual, mind you, in their 40s or 50s—still playing the leftist role... well, that suggests something else entirely is going on. From my observations, there are really just two types of leftists:
The "Sincere" Leftist (an adult who claims to be well-informed) is essentially a narcissistic sociopath who uses leftist ideology as a substitute for reality. They truly behave like narcissists; the moment you attempt to dismantle their ideology with actual logic, they lose their sense of self and react as if they've been personally assaulted.
Then you have the Manipulators. This group doesn't give a damn about ideology at all; they've simply realized they can rake in a paycheck by rambling incessantly about leftist utopias.
It is my firm contention that a sincere, mentally stable adult simply cannot be a leftist. ☕. That said, I am more than willing to hear an example—a specific individual—who might prove me wrong.
Hmm.. Interesting. So, what you're saying is all adult leftists are mentally unstable in one way or another. And I suppose—all right-wingers are just perfect reflections of God's image? ☕
Look, maybe I’m a bit of a misanthrope, but I just don't like them. In my experience, dealing with old people has been pretty much nothing but a headache, and honestly, none of them have ever gone out of their way to be kind. They smell, they can barely follow a conversation—so you end up having to yell at them just to be heard since they're practically deaf—and their views are incredibly outdated. Whatever nonsense they picked up back in their twenties is basically set in stone for the rest of their lives. Plus, they'll keep you on the phone forever talking about absolutely nothing, not to mention when you're stuck dealing with them in person. You just sit there taking it until you run into one of those bitter, childish old men who hates everything in existence, yet somehow still needs your help because he can't even move a finger due to being immobile.
I have way more respect for those seniors living in the cities—some of them still go jogging, hit up the theater, stay active in local clubs, and actually bother to learn how to use technology... But those folks out in the rural areas? It's like they're permanently stuck in the past. It's always, "this is my land, and I'm staying here until the day I die."
That's just how it's been for me, obviously, not everyone is like that—honestly, I actually look forward to meeting an old timer with an open mind who can actually have a friendly chat about all the crazy stuff they've lived through.
