* Did you watch a film last night (on Blu or DVD), and what was it? *

[NorthStar]

• http://www.cultofmac.com/392432/woz-admits-steve-jobs-wasnt-always-a-nice-guy/

I remember that scene ? from the film, and played by Seth Rogen (Canadian actor/comedian).
________

 

[YashN]

The guy was brilliant,

That's the rub: you don't get that from this movie, you see some of the effects.

Reading Isaacson's bio is a good way to know more, as is knowing about the Tech industry, the history of computing and also strategy of this particular segment.

With his passing, a lot of people who didn't like him also got to express themselves.

His address at the Stanford graduation is something which is a must to listen to as well if you want to know the man better. In it he explains why Mac looks better than anything else and where he got that sense of artful design.

"Stay hungry, stay foolish" - Jobs.

 

[NorthStar]

• The Brilliant ******* ** Steve Jobs

* The film you just watched.

 

[YashN]

• The Brilliant ******* ** Steve Jobs

* The film you just watched.

Sums up a lot of what's wrong with this movie, even though the writer is more a politics guy rather than a Tech one.

Also interesting was the article linked to, an interview with Levy and Sorkin where the latter explains how a fact wasn't meant to be included in this story.

It's a highly fictionalised piece, so if you want to see it that way, it may be enjoyable: it's not the story of Steve Jobs, but an extremely biased fictional and mythologised portrayal of a great human being who was instrumental in the history of personal computing.

Forgot to add: the liberties taken by Sorkin on scripting this just make Steve as a continuously annoying guy to his entourage and co-workers. This perhaps explains why Steve's wife didn't like the result and asked Bale and another actor not to participate in this.

 

[YashN]

• The Brilliant ******* ** Steve Jobs

So apparently, 'failure of' is censored in the forum?

 

[NorthStar]

No, I'm the one who omitted the word, deliberately.
______

But funny you mentioned, because there was another link I posted yesterday, and that link, 100% in relevance to Steve Jobs, was censored by the Internet forces.
Not me, not WBF, but the Internet itself! And I kid you not; it was there as an entry and I've read it, and I thought that others might also find it informative and educational...and low and behold after posting the link, you were directed to nowhere land...or 404 error...some' like that. I didn't pursue it...and simply moved forward.
______

Last night I just watched some short documentaries about 13 Hours (2012, September 11 - Benghazi).
______

* Yash, Steve Jobs, and also 13 Hours are films that arouse our interest greatly; mine for sure.
We read a lot of views from a lot of people. We form our own opinion, and it's not easy. But that's what we all do, in trying to balance @ best the pros and cons of the two movies and their repercussions beyond the realm of borders. I am not an expert of film's critic, and I wasn't present in all the events of people who were there. And even the people who were there have their own conflicting opinion of the facts that transcended.

Those two films are based on real life. But films are still based on someone(s) own vision/interpretation. The best we can really do, us, movie watchers and book readers and documentaries, is discuss our thoughts, what we learned. Steve Jobs definitely brought greatness in the computerized world. And the six secret soldiers who fought to save lives in Benghazi are heroes too, no matter the true circumstances that lead to that tragedy (........).

 

[YashN]

But funny you mentioned, because there was another link I posted yesterday, and that link, 100% in relevance to Steve Jobs, was censored by the Internet forces.

Not me, not WBF, but the Internet itself!

Odd stuff!

Those two films are based on real life. But films are still based on someone(s) own vision/interpretation. The best we can really do, us, movie watchers and book readers and documentaries, is discuss our thoughts, what we learned.

And the six secret soldiers who fought to save lives in Benghazi are heroes too, no matter the true circumstances that lead to that tragedy (........).

I'm avoiding that movie and the kind altogether: the narrative is closer to propaganda rather than a fact-based story, IMO. Witness how Zero Dark Thirty's scenario was deliberately doctored by a three-letter acronym agency.

About the only war movie I liked was "The Thin Red Line" in which I found at least some philosophy and thoughtful musings. Not sure if you've watched it but if you haven't give it a try, I found it really awesome.

I am not a big fan of war movies, and unfortunately, that kind of violence permeates a lot of our entertainment. We are catching up a bit on the Marvel and DC superheroes series, but of course, here again you can't really escape the violence.

I would have really liked to see those Marvel + DC as a kid. Now, we are catching up so that we can watch the latest and forthcoming movies, and whatever we have in our collection will be for the kids.

A Documentary is fine though, although here again, I wouldn't want to watch a lot of that kind at one go.

Perhaps this summer I'll be less stuck indoors or on some crippling administrative work like the one that took my options away last year.

There are street fairs occurring around here around twice every year and it's a great way to replenish or renew our collection, so we did get some new Blu-Rays.

We're more interested in Ultra-HD Blu-rays though.

 

[NorthStar]

Odd stuff!

Yes indeed, I was totally surprised. Some words they weren't the "shiniest" around either...the main reason why I did not pursue.
{I'll try to find that link again, and if, I'll PM it to you.}

I'm avoiding that movie and the kind altogether: the narrative is closer to propaganda rather than a fact-based story, IMO. Witness how Zero Dark Thirty's scenario was deliberately doctored by a three-letter acronym agency.

You shouldn't, I think; 13 Hours is still a powerful and entertaining film. I don't care what most critics said, I'm my own cinema critic.
As for Zero Dark Thirty; that's another film I really like, no matter how false it is, or little in truth. But it's another fascinating subject of conversation, for another time in space.

About the only war movie I liked was "The Thin Red Line" in which I found at least some philosophy and thoughtful musings. Not sure if you've watched it but if you haven't give it a try, I found it really awesome.

Of course I saw it, I have the Criterion Collection Blu-ray version. One of my favorite atmospheric audio soundtracks...muy profundo. ...And the imagery...

I am not a big fan of war movies, and unfortunately, that kind of violence permeates a lot of our entertainment. We are catching up a bit on the Marvel and DC superheroes series, but of course, here again you can't really escape the violence.

I would have really liked to see those Marvel + DC as a kid. Now, we are catching up so that we can watch the latest and forthcoming movies, and whatever we have in our collection will be for the kids.

A Documentary is fine though, although here again, I wouldn't want to watch a lot of that kind at one go.

Perhaps this summer I'll be less stuck indoors or on some crippling administrative work like the one that took my options away last year.

There are street fairs occurring around here around twice every year and it's a great way to replenish or renew our collection, so we did get some new Blu-Rays.

We're more interested in Ultra-HD Blu-rays though.

Violence is part of our culture, history, societies, unbalance, clashes, classes, ... as is peace.
All those flicks we're talking about here and above...all on Blu-ray from my side...of course. ...Including Black Hawk Down.

 

[YashN]

Violence is part of our culture, history, societies, unbalance, clashes, classes,

As are many things that I choose not to fill my vision or subconscious with all the time

 

[NorthStar]

Many kids are into video games. 13 Hours resembles a video game.
Arms dealing is the most lucrative business in the world...ahead of oil, ahead of diamonds and gold.
Wars are created with arms exchanges and deals with other countries in the goal to empower economically, strategically, geographically, financially, all that jazzally.
But @ the end it has the opposite effect; wars are terribly costly...financially, humanly, economically, stability wise, future protection and generations wise.

Peace? Peace is security, protection against the invaders, periods of calm.

It's a vicious rotation; if you know how to resolve it let me know and we'll start right away. :b

War films are a divergence in entertainment short of doing something else. ...A way of seeing it for some, excluding others.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War
? http://www.zionism-israel.com/Albert_Einstein/Einstein_Freud_Why_War.htm

Only because we are on the subject of war films; The Thin Red Line, 13 Hours, Pearl Harbor, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List, Ran, Rescue Dawn, The Imitation Game, Zero Dark Thirty, Apocalypse Now, Black Book, The Pianist, Fury, Hamburger Hill, Full Metal Jacket, Dr. Strangelove, Paths of Glory, Inglourious Basterds, Lone Survivor, American Sniper, Black Hawk Down, Platoon, The Hurt Locker, The Battle of Algiers, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Deer Hunter, Flags of our Fathers, Letters From Iwo Jima, Pan's Labyrinth, Life is Beautiful, ...

* War movies, documentaries, pictures of the first World War and WW2, are important to remember...to be aware...to learn...to not repeat today what made yesterday those terrible events.
_______

 

[YashN]

Many kids are into video games.

And many non-kids also.

13 Hours resembles a video game.

That's a way of making banal.

* War movies, documentaries, pictures of the first World War and WW2, are important to remember...to be aware...to learn...to not repeat today what made yesterday those terrible events.

A very idealistic perspective. But haven't we seen recent wars that turned out to be totally unjustified?

 

[NorthStar]

Non-kids, you mean adult men? I'm sure many world leaders love to play video war games. ...It's a common pastime.
Many comic book movies are like video games...just look @ the Iron-Man series...Batman...Superman...Spider-Man...Ant-Man...Avengers...X:Men...Deadpool...
That's the vogue in making money with movies, so Michael Bay with his Transformers series I don't think he wanted to stay away of it when he filmed '13 Hours'.

* That would make for a great discussion; which wars are justified, and which ones aren't. Filmmakers of war movies based on real events they give us some of their own perspective with their collaborators and witnesses. Are they the best reliable sources? Up to us to make our own mind...that's what movies are supposed to do.
_______

Just couple links on what's going on today worldwide (wars, conflicts, dissaccords, group fighters, armies, etc.):
• http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Hot+Topics/Syrian+Civil+War
• http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.ca/

Only for personal consumption, for now, till some of those events turn out to be the basis of future films...and there will be...without a doubt.
_______

Five films I recommended to my brother last night and that he didn't see yet:
- The Finest Hours (true story)
- Meru (true story)
- Steve Jobs (true story)
- 13 Hours (true story)
- Deadpool (true story...with twisted facts )

Cheers Yash, it's a beautiful life. ...More films to come, and not about wars...but romances, comedies, sci-fi, westerns, ...

 

[still-one]

Our recent vacation in Europe had me re-watch HBO's 2001 TV Movie "Conspiracy" staring Kenneth Branagh and Stanley Tucci. We visited the Wannsee home where this secret meeting took place where plans for "the final solution" were formalized. This film reaffirms Branagh's place as one of this generations best actors.

 

[YashN]

We watched the 4K version of The Martian last night.

It's an OK movie by Ridley Scott, not as good as his previous blockbusters, especially after you have seen movies like Gravity. There are similarities.

It's hard to watch Kristen Wiig in a movie with a serious undertone, as I love her in SNL, so I'm always reminded of her goofy mannerisms, so the first scene in which we see her, I am nearly laughing, which is not supposed to happen.

Great to see Chiwetel Ejiofor whom I discovered in Serenity where his screen presence was immense.

In this one, I discovered Mackenzie Davis, who has a very small role.

A lot of the movie elements were seemed quite caricatural to me and I found it overly long.

I thought that Gravity had more gripping moments, but there were still a few interesting ones in The Martian as well.

Would I re-watch it in 4K? Perhaps with the added benefit of HDR and more colours, just as a test, but other than that it is rather formulaic and Damon isn't too convincing as a scientist/botanist in this role. Oddly, in a segment of the movie, he isn't seen for a good while while Earth is trying to find out how to help him. It feels weird to re-connect with the main protagonist after this long pause.

Other than that, it's not a great movie for 4K: there is a distinct lack of variety of colours and perhaps even too stringent filters as the scenes on Earth seem not to have realistic skin tones, unless our TV is badly calibrated but I did calibrate it and have no issues with skin tones on other movies.

An Extended version in Ultra-HD 4K will be released soon, so the studios have also found a way of milking consumers on this platform too... Not sure we'll bother getting the new one.

 

[NorthStar]

Jeff Daniels was also another character who played in several comedies before.
______

I liked some aspects of 'The Martian' in (((3D))), my main visual interest here. The surface of Mars (fake) and some of the CGI effects in space with the space station were impressive from my seat. I have to admit that I was pleased with some of the 3D visuals.
______

As for the Extended Edition/Cut of The Martian (Blu-ray regular & BR 4K), it was released last Tuesday, with ten more minutes of footage.
• http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=18962 ? • http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Martian-4K-Blu-ray/154003/

But, extremely unfortunately, for people like me, no 3D version, and! because it is a FOX studios title, the Dolby Atmos audio soundtrack is only on the BR 4K disc!
______

Ridley Scott is an "extended cut" type of filmmaker. Most of all his films have various versions with more footage. He must be loved very much so in Hollywood for future film revenues. It's fine by me, but not so for omitting 3D and have that Dolby Atmos exclusivity to UHD. The regular 2-disc Blu-ray Extended Edition is in 2D only, and no Atmos love.
? • http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Martian-Blu-ray/155210/
______

Coming back to the film; it was fun to have a spaceship with a tarp on top. Of course she did not hold on too long...lol
The film mixed humor with seriousness adroitly. ...I thought. And that, was its main message.
______

? My deepest thoughts and extended prayers to all the families and friends of Orlando, Florida, United States of America's victims...deceased and injured.

 

[YashN]

Ridley Scott is an "extended cut" type of filmmaker.

This has more to do with the producers.

 

[YashN]

We have this on Blu-Ray and started watching in upscaled 4K.

Hilarious, if you know some of the types presented here and the situations.

Only on the first episode, but looking forward to seeing the 8 in Season 1.

We'll combine that with watching everything having to do with Steve Jobs and perhaps a few other visionaries of the Valley, a place I've felt from afar since I was a kid dreaming of computer, then playing on them, before programming them, all that way, way before I made Systems Engineering my trade.

 

[NorthStar]

This has more to do with the producers.

It depends...sometimes yes, and sometimes not. Sir Ridley Scott has many of his films (30%) with extended cuts (Director's Cut, Alternate Cut, Extended Edition), and for various reasons.

But look @ this one; when he first said yes there will be an extended cut, then no:
? http://www.indiewire.com/2012/06/ri...vdblu-ray-that-runs-20-minutes-longer-109648/
? http://screenrant.com/prometheus-directors-cut-ridley-scott-original-script/
_______

• "Scott is sometimes considered the "father" of the director's cut, though the impetus to produce such versions has sometimes begun with other parties."

 

[YashN]

It depends...sometimes yes, and sometimes not. Sir Ridley Scott has many of his films (30%) with extended cuts (Director's Cut, Alternate Cut, Extended Edition), and for various reasons.

But look @ this one; when he first said yes there will be an extended cut, then no:
? http://www.indiewire.com/2012/06/ri...vdblu-ray-that-runs-20-minutes-longer-109648/
? http://screenrant.com/prometheus-directors-cut-ridley-scott-original-script/

If you read your own linked article carefully, you'll see the "studio game" mentioned.

Nobody wants their Oeuvre hacked into smaller pieces, the Director is subservient to the Producers who themselves have ties to what the Studio Execs want to do for the business and how they want to market it.

Scott doesn't decide that.

 

[NorthStar]

If you read your own linked article carefully, you'll see the "studio game" mentioned.

Nobody wants their Oeuvre hacked into smaller pieces, the Director is subservient to the Producers who themselves have ties to what the Studio Execs want to do for the business and how they want to market it.

Scott doesn't decide that.

Yes, FOX studios was mentioned. FOX wanted another re-release on DVD and Blu-ray, with those additional 30 minutes that were cut on the room floor.
But Ridley said no because the theatrical version was his true vision.

In other cases the studios wanted shorter versions for the theatrical (more money when the movie is within two hours or so...more presentations = more people = more money).
But when it comes to home movies, yes...new added scenes, remastered, new audio, new special features...more more money for FOX studios.
And Ridley did it because the shorter theatrical versions were short of his full vision.

It's a funny business; one to maximize profits @ the theaters, and @ home. And two the artistic aspect of the filmmaker doesn't always coincide with the theatrical versions.
So @ home we're getting the true director's vision. But it goes even further...to maximize again the movie studio profits.
FOX for example; the Dolby Atmos audio is exclusive to their UHD Blu-ray version. And! The Extended Edition of 'The Martian' (just as an example) doesn't get the 3D version anymore...in both the regular Blu-ray disc and the UHD Blu-ray disc.

There are several other exapmples like that, and not only from FOX movie studios but also from Sony/Columbia/Tristar movie studios, and Disney/PIXAR movie studios.
And Lionsgate Film studios, if you want the best audio soundtrack, you have to purchase their Blu-rays because you won't get it from renting it.
And there are more little things like that...all in the goal to make more financial profits (very normal), but @ our expenses...us the true cinema aficionados.
If from the class of $100,000+ a year salary it's easier to digest and contribute in the Hollywood movie industry, it's the people making less who has to balance their budget with their taste. :b ...Lol, it's all fine. We all live in America, in Europe, in Australia, in the home of the rising sun, and in China, and we all turn the machine wheel together.

...All because we love music (hi-res film audio soundtracks), we love films (hi-def moving pictures...Netflix, DVD, Blu-ray, UHD, 3D).
...The ones who make them and the ones who see and hear them.
________

? The last Blu-ray flick I watched was Triple 9 :

It was ok. Is there any redemption by being a corrupted cop? Because other cops are too? Sure it's only a film, and real life is not like that...or is it?
It depends...of where you're from. The film depicts US soil.

Anyway, overall score rating (film and technical attributes...picture and sound quality; all together): 66 (worth a watch, if you can endure some more violence).
@ least it's not another war movie. I'm doomed for a light romantic passion drama, with kitchen tools (food, spoons, forks, knives and axes) instead of assault rifles and handguns.