Top Gun was outstanding. I've watched it 3 times and each time I can remember the teamwork, leadership and sacrifice I've never experienced in a civilian job. Retired USN
I guess what it all comes down to is whether the Oscars is about what they think we should like, or what we (the customers) actually like. The more they tell us we’re not sophisticated enough to understand what’s good, the less we’re going to bother supporting a bunch of patronizing elitists.
As long as we're reminiscing about great 70's movies I'd like to call out two of my favorite (and dark) titles: Deliverance and A Clockwork Orange. Both have a profound impact on the watcher and once seen cannot be unseen. While each is about a completely different subject, location, and period than the other, the visceral brutality of each opens a window into the most horrible and brutal of human possibilities and man's ability to do harm to his fellow man. You can't help walk away with a different perspective.
As they say, they don't make 'em like that anymore.
The point about Reagan completely turning America's cultural fabric 180 degrees, should give us hope that wokism's days are numbered. Clearly, the popularity of "Top Gun Maverick" points to America's desire for a cultural landscape centered on patriotism, family, in general the traditional American Way of Life.
You'd be hard pressed to find many people who would choose to watch Dances With Wolves ahead of Goodfellas. As enjoyable as Forrest Gump still is to watch, there's a reason why many consider Shawshank to be their favorite film.
The Titanic? I hated that movie for a lot of reasons, chief among them was the insertion of the insipid, cheesy romance between Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio into what was a real historical tragedy, as if that as a story wasn’t compelling enough. And then I read Cameron’s commentary after the movie was released where he said it could be taken as an allegory of us being “good stewards of the Earth,” or some such enviro-woke nonsense. The capper for me was that a few weeks later, while talking with some coworkers about it, one younger guy looked wide-eyed at me and asked “You mean [that romance] didn’t really happen?”
I teared up at the intro that Tom Cruise did to Top Gun. He made me believe that they really did make it for us, and God did we need it! The tears continued right through Lady Gaga and “Danger Zone”. Top Gun Maverick hit all the right notes.
To some extent you are describing a failure of courage among the Hollywood elite. Courage is the most important of virtues as it is the support for all others. As a nation we need to embrace a culture that supports courage. And maybe strength and wisdom, while we are at it.
Maverick was SO good, I was almost giddy in the theater watching it. I'm giddy no one will watch the Oscars on Sunday because again, nobody cares about them. I do thank Tom for giving us this awesome movie. The music industry is like hollywood now, all garbage. One reason Maverick was so good is because it roots itself in what made America so great, family, patriotism, honor. These aren't racist. Well, they may be to woke Hollywood and lefties
Fantastic write up. You made some great observations about the religion called "wokeness". Even better commentary on culture and the movie industry in general. So glad I subscribed.
Sasha, saw Top Gun Maverick in theater and it was absolutely everything I hoped it would be. What made it even better was all the strangers around communally watching and we’re all laughing & cheering along at same parts. That is part of cinema you don’t get streaming from your couch.
Love all the movie hints I gain from your posts. I’ve never seen ‘Hard Times’ (1975 Charles Bronson) but CK mention of it has it now on my list of gotta sees
My ‘trauma film’ as a youth was Damien Omen II (1978), especially the ‘trapped under ice’ scene
I am convinced that in 100 years, people will look at this time period as a cultural wasteland, chock-full of preachy, derivative dreck.
Top Gun was outstanding. I've watched it 3 times and each time I can remember the teamwork, leadership and sacrifice I've never experienced in a civilian job. Retired USN
I guess what it all comes down to is whether the Oscars is about what they think we should like, or what we (the customers) actually like. The more they tell us we’re not sophisticated enough to understand what’s good, the less we’re going to bother supporting a bunch of patronizing elitists.
As long as we're reminiscing about great 70's movies I'd like to call out two of my favorite (and dark) titles: Deliverance and A Clockwork Orange. Both have a profound impact on the watcher and once seen cannot be unseen. While each is about a completely different subject, location, and period than the other, the visceral brutality of each opens a window into the most horrible and brutal of human possibilities and man's ability to do harm to his fellow man. You can't help walk away with a different perspective.
As they say, they don't make 'em like that anymore.
The Jesus Revolution
Rotten Tomatoes professional critics - 61
Actual humans - 99
That's all you need to know
I haven't seen it yet, but Cocaine Bear and JR are on my list.
Fuck the critics and Hollywood assholes. They've nearly destroyed one of the most important cultural movements in history; The American Cinema.
The point about Reagan completely turning America's cultural fabric 180 degrees, should give us hope that wokism's days are numbered. Clearly, the popularity of "Top Gun Maverick" points to America's desire for a cultural landscape centered on patriotism, family, in general the traditional American Way of Life.
You'd be hard pressed to find many people who would choose to watch Dances With Wolves ahead of Goodfellas. As enjoyable as Forrest Gump still is to watch, there's a reason why many consider Shawshank to be their favorite film.
The Titanic? I hated that movie for a lot of reasons, chief among them was the insertion of the insipid, cheesy romance between Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio into what was a real historical tragedy, as if that as a story wasn’t compelling enough. And then I read Cameron’s commentary after the movie was released where he said it could be taken as an allegory of us being “good stewards of the Earth,” or some such enviro-woke nonsense. The capper for me was that a few weeks later, while talking with some coworkers about it, one younger guy looked wide-eyed at me and asked “You mean [that romance] didn’t really happen?”
Why won't it win? Too much manly man. Too much patriotism. Fuck Hollywood.
I teared up at the intro that Tom Cruise did to Top Gun. He made me believe that they really did make it for us, and God did we need it! The tears continued right through Lady Gaga and “Danger Zone”. Top Gun Maverick hit all the right notes.
To some extent you are describing a failure of courage among the Hollywood elite. Courage is the most important of virtues as it is the support for all others. As a nation we need to embrace a culture that supports courage. And maybe strength and wisdom, while we are at it.
Maverick was SO good, I was almost giddy in the theater watching it. I'm giddy no one will watch the Oscars on Sunday because again, nobody cares about them. I do thank Tom for giving us this awesome movie. The music industry is like hollywood now, all garbage. One reason Maverick was so good is because it roots itself in what made America so great, family, patriotism, honor. These aren't racist. Well, they may be to woke Hollywood and lefties
Fantastic write up. You made some great observations about the religion called "wokeness". Even better commentary on culture and the movie industry in general. So glad I subscribed.
Sasha, saw Top Gun Maverick in theater and it was absolutely everything I hoped it would be. What made it even better was all the strangers around communally watching and we’re all laughing & cheering along at same parts. That is part of cinema you don’t get streaming from your couch.
Love all the movie hints I gain from your posts. I’ve never seen ‘Hard Times’ (1975 Charles Bronson) but CK mention of it has it now on my list of gotta sees
My ‘trauma film’ as a youth was Damien Omen II (1978), especially the ‘trapped under ice’ scene
Thank you. Had That feeling ... something you can’t quite name listening, story within a story. Tks
Thanks for sharing.