Pitch Perfect 2 beats Mad Max. So the MRA "boycott" was really just about those dudes wanting to get their Bellas on.
— Bob Schooley (@Rschooley) May 16, 2015
Anthony Lane, in the New Yorker:
… I have been looking forward to this movie for months, trying not to watch the trailers more than twice a day, but, fool that I am, I hadn’t foreseen its feminist ambitions—crystallized in the sight of one Wife, heavily pregnant, flinging wide the door of the War Rig and flaunting her belly, like a bronze shield, at her enraged pursuers. (The Wives were coached in preparation for the film by Eve Ensler, the author of “The Vagina Monologues.” This must be a first. Gloria Steinem was never hired as a consultant on “The Dirty Dozen.”) Later comes a droll sequence with a sniper’s rifle, as our hero aims at a searchlight, in the distant gloom, but misses. Only one bullet remains. Furiosa takes the gun and hits the target, using Max’s shoulder as a rest. The tough guy is nothing but a cushion…
A.O. Scott, in the NYTimes:
Desolate, post-apocalyptic landscapes, zombie-ridden or not, are perennial popular tourist destinations for 21st-century moviegoers and couch potatoes. “Mad Max: Fury Road” is like a visit to a World Heritage site…
… This “Mad Max” unfolds in fast, hectic, relentlessly linear motion. It starts quietly, with Max standing on a dusty outcropping, casually snacking on a two-headed gecko as he sketches the relevant background in voice-over. When things started going bad — when the world collapsed in a welter of greed, violence and stupidity — he failed to protect his wife and daughter. Their memory both haunts and grounds him, making him able, even in the worst circumstances, to recognize decency in himself and others.
And then the fights and chases commence. The whine and chug of souped-up engines, the whoosh of flames and the squeal of twisting metal — all the tried-and-true idioms of action filmmaking to make your heart beat faster. Speed and efficiency are of the essence, leavened with nasty biker wit and a blunt distaste for authority…
… It’s worth paying a few more dollars for 3-D: That newfangled format brings out the virtuosity of Mr. Miller’s old-school approach. The themes of vengeance and solidarity, the wide-open spaces and the kinetic, ground-level movement mark “Fury Road” as a western, and the filmmakers pay tribute to such masters of the genre as John Ford, Budd Boetticher and, not least, Chuck Jones, whose Road Runner cartoons are models of ingenuity and rigor…
***********
Blockbuster or otherwise, what’s on the agenda for the day?
ruemara
Tidying. I hope to see Mad Max tomorrow in between workouts.
Amir Khalid
Steven Gerrard’s playng his last home game for Liverpool FC before he leaves for MLS. Liverpool have conceded an equaliser to Crystal Palace just before halftime. Rats.
Joel
I wish that Hollywood wasn’t so lazy with franchises, but I’ll probably watch this… Eventually.
Karen in GA
At the UGA vet school emergency clinic again. This time it’s Phoebe, the World’s Most Affectionate Cat, 15 years old, and my oldest kitty now that Smudge is gone. Her lungs filled with fluid and we don’t know why — either her heart or cancer.
Amir Khalid
In other news, James May has uploaded new material to JM’s unemployment tube. It’s an exciting three-part cooking video: poached eggs on toast.
SuperHrefna
I want to catch up on Wolf Hall, I’ve only seen the first three episodes so far.
I’ve also got to,prepare a container for the two Ketchup and Fries plants I bought that arrived yesterday evening: a clever grafting technique has led to a plant that grows both potatoes and tomatoes!! My seedlings need to harden off for a few days so I have time to consider whether they are going into the usual earthbox or if they need some other sort of container.
SuperHrefna
@Amir Khalid: Excellent! I love James May.
SuperHrefna
@Karen in GA: I’m so sorry. Hugs for you and Phoebe.
Amir Khalid
@Karen in GA:
Oh dear. I remember having fluid in the lungs when I was in hospital with heart problems. Holding you and
SmudgePhoebe in my thoughts.Pogonip
Those Mad Max movies ARE like Road Runner cartoons, aren’t they? I’d never thought of it before but when it was pointed out it was perfectly obvious. I guess that’s why that guy is paid to write movie reviews and I’m not.
Mike G
How did they get permission to film in the Bush/Cheney White House?
Tenar Darell
@Karen in GA: Sorry about Phoebe.
CaseyL
@Karen in GA: Sending best wishes your and Phoebe’s way.
Haven’t seen Mad Max yet. I loved the earlier ones (before Mel Gibson revealed what a pill he is), and hear good things about this one.
But today a friend and I are going to the Pompeii exhibit at the Pacific Science Center/Seattle Center. Very excited about this. Pompeii and Herculaneum are two places I would love to go back in time and see – before the volcano erupted, of course!
FlipYrWhig
@Karen in GA: cmon kitty!
NotMax
But apparently Exxon-Mobil and BP muddled through just dandy.
satby
@Karen in GA: oh my, best wishes for her! It’s so hard when lots of your fur kids are older.
fuckwit
@Mike G: Well played, sir.
satby
@SuperHrefna: ok, those sound amazing!
Iowa Old Lady
The farmer’s market is open again. They had asparagus, rhubarb, and onions today. Also lots of baked goods. Scones for breakfast make it easier to get out of bed on gym mornings.
SuperHrefna
@satby: When I realized that they are available in the U.S. this year I just had to get a couple to try! http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/02/12/385459778/gardeners-twofer-first-ketchup-n-fries-plant-hits-u-s-market
satby
I’m running out of steam after labeling soap boxes all morning to restock the two stores that sell my stuff locally. Been up since 6 and since it’s a grey overcast day with intermittent showers, not going to be getting much done outside, and I desperately need to!
But a snooze in my chair is what’s enticing me right now.
BillinGlendaleCA
@NotMax:
Easy to do when you have “more money than God”.
satby
@SuperHrefna: I totally want some now! I’ve been deciding what to put in my earthbox.
SuperHrefna
@satby: Have the snooze. You can’t run yourself into the ground.
satby
@SuperHrefna: LOL! Thanks!
And I have to look for Ketchup and Fries at my local high-end garden center, Territorial Seeds is sold out. Or there’s always next year!
Karen in GA
Thanks. The cardiologist is going to look at her. They’re talking in terms of “here are the possible illnesses it could be, and here’s how we treat them” rather than “well, this Hail Mary pass might work,” so I’m not letting myself get too upset just yet.
Having lunch while I wait. If anyone’s in Athens and goes into a depressing Loco’s, I’m the middle aged blonde sitting by myself and staring at my phone. Sorry about the sweatpants — UGA’s the third vet in 12 hours, and I’m too tired to care.
Mike in NC
I’m about as interested in seeing the latest Mad Max flick as I am “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”.
Karen in GA
@satby: I hope they’re selling well. I love what I ordered. I’ll order more once the vet bills are paid.
Amir Khalid
And now Liverpool are down 1-2,. In Stevie G’s last home match. :(
Steeplejack (tablet)
@Amir Khalid:
Just tuned in a few minutes ago. Crystal Palace are giving them more than they can handle. Game is very fast-paced.
Suzanne
@Karen in GA: Hugs to you and Phoebe.
Alexis Marlons
My wife and my girl kids are excited to see this movie.
Raven
I Guess the surgery and meds took their toll. I drove for 4 hrs but, when we got off 95, I turned it over. We are trying to remember when this has happened in 20 years and can’t!
guachi
Mad Max is fantastic. Saw it last night and both early shows off Pitch Perfect were sold out. Lots and lots of teens to see it.
But if you aren’t a teen, go see Mad Max. Is a simple movie done extremely well.
Peale
Yo, pitches. The sequel isn’t as good, because like most sequels, the characters aren’t as fresh. But it is good enough to pass. Snoop Dogg and Clay Matthews should cut a duet.
Kathleen
@Karen in GA: Hugs to you and your kitteh. Hope all goes well.
jeffreyw
Overnight, we had a cicada emergence. Not looking forward to the singing.
Botsplainer
Saw Pitch Perfect 2 last night.
Adorable!
Amir Khalid
1-3 to Crystal Palace. That’s it. Liverpool have lost Stevie G’s last home match. Pfui.
Peale
You gotta work your jelly.
shell
‘The Graduate’ is on my PBS station tonight.
Raven, what finally happened with your hand?
Steeplejack (tablet)
@Amir Khalid:
And no Champions League either!
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@Karen in GA:
Oh no! I know that raven has always said that his dogs get the best of care at UGA, so at least you know you’re doing all you can.
If you haven’t already, make sure the vets know that one of her kitty companions died recently. I think sometimes we underestimate how stressful that can be for them because the way they communicate with each other is so different than the way they communicate with us.
Raven
@Karen in GA: I’m sorry I’m in north carolia. I bartended at the now closed Harris St Locos. Sweats are overdressed.
Raven
@Mnemosyne (tablet): It’s a brand new complex for the Vet School and it is state of the art.
trollhattan
@Pogonip:
He’s no Pauline Kael (who is?) but A.O. Scott is pretty excellent nevertheless.
The kid is headed to a girl party/bday sleepover and the whole gang is seeing PP2, which should be a theater packed to the ceiling with young teens and tweens. Chaos, I tell ya!
geg6
Meh. This is one feminist that doesn’t give a shit about this movie, but more power to it since Eve Ensler got some input into it, a true rarity.
A good friend gave me some morels that her husband gathered, so I’m going all out and making beef tenderloins stuffed with morels with brandy cream sauce, three cheese risotto and some broiled baby zucchini topped with shaved Parmesan. We already have a devil’s food cake and vanilla bean ice cream, so that’s one thing I don’t have to do. The wine store had Rodney Strong Pinot noir on sale, so I shall be having a truly indulgent dinner tonight.
Iowa Old Lady
@geg6: What time are you eating? I’ll knock three times.
Mnemosyne (tablet)
I’m getting ready to go for a bike ride — just waiting for my hair to dry a little more and my phone to charge. I’m not one of you weekend warrior types — I’m taking my three-speed Dutch bike on the bike path to the used bookstore and (maybe) a yarn store or two.
shell
@geg6: Oh, geg6, where do you live?
******
Just tasted a burrata for the first time. Oh my, they are good.
satby
@Karen in GA: vet bills first, I totally know how that goes!
Raven
@shell: No cancer but the nerve in the finger was severed so they did surgery. I’m almost at the beach and should be fishing I a couple of hours. Thx
trollhattan
Hmm, this is an interesting item.
Hungry Joe
@Karen in GA: Our two-year-old calico Phoebe sends your Phoebe the best.
Today’s agenda 50 percent fulfilled: planted peach tree. Other 50 percent coming up: siesta.
I promised myself I would never, ever (as in “never, ever”) watch another superhero/comic-book-character movie ever (as in “ever”) again because they always remind me that I don’t care one whit about them and I end up hating myself for wasting the time. But “Mad Max” movies don’t count, right?
Corner Stone
Kid played back to back basketball games today, winning both. It’s sloppy ball, overall, but it’s fun to watch the techniques you’ve worked hard on with him get used in a game.
shell
@Raven: Watch out for those fish hooks. ;-)
Raven
@shell: I’m more worried about infection. Not worried enough NOT to fish though !
Corner Stone
@Hungry Joe:
I just never got in to any of the Mad Max oeuvre. The blurbs for PP:2 look humorous in some small way but I’m not the target audience for it, and have no interest. I haven’t actually went to a theater since before my son was born.
ThresherK
@Raven: Thanks for the update.
“Doc, will I be able to play the violin after this heals?”
Karen in GA
Thanks again, everyone, for the good wishes. Sorry not to thank individually, but too many links, etc., FYWP. But it’s been helpful to read while I’ve been sitting here (I’m back at the vet after a very unhealthy lunch).
In the meantime, the cardiologist just arrived. The vet just told me her thoughts based on her preliminary exam, though. My response to her: “I didn’t even know they made pacemakers for cats.”
Off to consult with G. Oogle, DVM.
Karen in GA
@Raven: Enjoy!
Amir Khalid
@Steeplejack (tablet):
Double pfui.
Corner Stone
@trollhattan: It is a very curious item, isn’t it? US SpecFor traipsed all the way through war torn Syria, killed Baddie #1 and 12 other stooges, all without taking an injury.
I’ve seen reports on the incident but haven’t read too much on it yet. It smells fishy, IMO.
Corner Stone
Watching the NBATV shortened replay of the Game 6 between HOU and LAC. I went to bed the other night in the 3rd quarter so didn’t see the epic comeback. I really like Josh Smith so I’m eager to see him turn it on in 4th Q.
shell
Just heard this on the news- Romney was in a charity boxing match with Holyfield?
And apparently he made a funny ‘Please Champ, don’t beat my brains out; cause then I’d have to become a Democrat.”
Oh, that wag!
Corner Stone
Speaking of movies, anyone have a GoPro? May be the wrong thread to ask.
Amir Khalid
Nobody here seems to have found of interest the business with Johnny Depp’s dogs and the Australian health authorities.Johnny flew them in with him on his private plane when he came to shoot Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Show Jack Sparrow The Money, bypassing quarantine controls. They were found out when he took them to a dog groomer. Depp was given 72 hours to fly them back out again, or else the two dogs would be put down. Back to America they went, no doubt muttering pirate curses all the while. Opinion seems split on whether the authorities were doing the right thing, or being harsh on Depp and his dogs.
Corner Stone
This Game 6 replay HOU v LAC is crazeballs.
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@Raven:
It may be too late, but maybe you could wear gloves? If you have time to get disposables, nitrile would be better than latex (though all of them make my hands sweat).
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@Amir Khalid:
Deep is an idiot. Has he never gone to Hawaii or Great Britain, which have similarly strict quarantine rules, or was he an inconsiderate jerk there, too?
elmo
Strawberries! There’s a huge u-pick-em place five minutes from my house, but they also sell pre-picked for us olds who don’t fancy stooped labor in the hot sun. The crop is late this year because the winter was cold and spring came late, but I have just beheaded and sliced three quarts of picked-today strawberries. They are sprinkled with sugar and chilling in the fridge, and I have pound cake and whipped cream at the ready, along with a nice moscati d’asti.
Did I mention I need to lose 30 lbs? It’s on my bucket list, as the President says. Bucket.
Germy Shoemangler
Open thread: this lion feels the grass and earth beneath his feet for the first time in thirteen years.
scav
@Amir Khalid: I can see why enforcing the law on the rich might be controversial. I mean, they arrived on a private jet and all! What clearer iron-clad proof of health and immunity can there be?
Karen in GA
@Amir Khalid: EDIT: Christ, my reading comprehension is non-existent today. No idea where I got the idea of his dogs being put down. If you read what I wrote before, ignore it.
Karen in GA
@Amir Khalid: Anyway. The dogs are still alive? Then I can’t really argue with the authorities on this.
divF
@geg6:
Your dinner recalls for me a bit of early Woody Allen, back when he was channelling S.J. Perelman.
OTOH, I have a colleague who comes to visit about once a month and has come to expect me to make one meal pretty much along the lines you described (I replace the morels with reconstituted dried porcini mushrooms, which I mail-order in pound lots).
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@Germy Shoemangler:
Kitty! I see he was having a ball and showing a major Flehmen response — or, as we call it in our housecats, the “who farted?” face.
Tenar Darell
@Amir Khalid: I didn’t realize that Depp had become, in his mind, one more of those people to whom the rules no longer applied because reasons.
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@Karen in GA:
Weird as this is going to sound, it’s not terrible news if it’s her heart. There’s a lot they can do for heart troubles these days, human and animal. I’m very relieved for you that it sounds like it’s not cancer, because that’s really hard to effectively treat in cats (unfortunately, we know from experience).
Karen in GA
@Mnemosyne (tablet): Thanks. I let them know. In fact, I had taken Phoebe to her regular vet a week after Smudge died because she wasn’t quite herself. Tests came back normal, so they thought it was grief. I wonder if it contributed to this — it’s a hell of a coincidence.
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@Karen in GA:
The stress probably didn’t help, just like it wouldn’t help for an elderly human to lose a friend, but there’s not much you could have done about it, so try not to feel guilty.
Karen in GA
@Mnemosyne (tablet): Yeah, so far this is pretty different from Smudge. With Smudge they weren’t confident that anything would help, whereas with Phoebe they seem to be pretty sure she has options, whatever the diagnosis turns out to be.
Dr. G. Oogle, DVM seems to think kitty pacemakers are rare. It would be interesting if she needs one — my Phoebe, the fluffy little trailblazer.
jake the antisoshul shoshulist
I will probably wait fot DVD on MadMax 4, but you would have to pay me a lot to watch Perfect Pitch 2.
The trailers make me want to claw my eyeballs out.
Gin & Tonic
@Corner Stone: I do.
Amir Khalid
@Karen in GA:
There were people saying the Aussie government was over-reacting, but I agree that it was Depp who was being stupid.
Corner Stone
@Gin & Tonic: What category(s) of stuff do you find it useful to use it on? Is there a particular activity that you thought, hmmm that’s the ticket!
Do you have any mount(s) you’ve found specifically useful or not useful?
Mary G
@Karen in GA: Hugs and hope for you and Phoebe.
Tenar Darell
@Karen in GA: Whatever you decide, I’m positive you can handle it. I remember you dealing with Iggy’s issues. (You’re Iggy’s human, right?)
I googled the Angell Memorial site.
I know cats are different, but you have the perfect previous pet parent experience for Phoebe. (I hope I made you smile a little, because you and Iggy have shared some great laughs with me).
LWA (Liberal With Attitude)
Apparently there are some MRAs who have their panties in a wad over this movie.
I guess Masculinity, like the One True Religion and Patriotism, is one of those Eternal Truths, self evidently true, pre-existing and impervious to our puny attempts to argue with it, the eternal bedrock upon which all is made.
But strangely fragile, like a hothouse flower or castle of sand that needs constant promulgation and defense and which can be made to collapse with the most simple of efforts.
The universe is a strange place indeed.
Gin & Tonic
@Corner Stone: I got it as a family thing, so my kids, who are into a variety of active outdoor activities, could use it as well as me. Wasn’t thinking of any one thing, but I do ski, so I’ve used it there, with a helmet mount. My daughter and her husband took it on vacation in February, and used it while kayaking and rock climbing. I’ve taken it on a whitewater trip using an elastic over-the-head mount. My son wants to get a chest mount harness and use it for some sports/training/coaching activities.
It’s pretty foolproof to use, and the quality of the video is great. Sure, it’s a toy, and you can live without it, but if you’re reasonably active you’ll find yourself using it.
divF
@LWA (Liberal With Attitude):
Ursula LeGuin posits a resolution to this paradox.
Karen in GA
@Tenar Darell: Thanks so much! And yep, I’m Iggy’s human. Iggy fears Phoebe, BTW.
And I’m about to call PetPlan to see if they cover pacemakers — the cardiologist says it looks like Phoebe’s got congestive heart failure caused by arrhythmia, and a pacemaker will give her a good life, assuming there’s nothing else going on. They’re testing now to confirm the “nothing else” part.
Could have been worse.
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@Tenar Darell:
I’m guessing that exercise restriction for a 15-year-old cat is a LOT easier than it was for a young dog who loved going for walks. ;-)
pluky
@Amir Khalid: The right thing it is! Australia has very good historical reasons for the strictness of its quarantine rules. And if anyone can afford to have their dogs very well taken care of while he is off for a few weeks making bank it is Depp. No sympathy here.
satby
@elmo: LOL! I need to lose more than 30, and I made myself turtle brownies in anticipation of my birthday Monday. Same bucket list.
Corner Stone
@Gin & Tonic: Thanks. I picked one up for our trip to Alaska. A head mount and a JR chest mount. I plan to take DSLR pics with my Canon but I thought the GP time lapse feature and a few other things would be cool.
We’ll have some time to learn how to use it a little. My son is already programming and recording to his own gaming YouTube channel so I figured he could make use of it and have some fun creating.
Reason I asked is that some of the YT video reviews on the GP were by very advanced, technical people and I wanted some actual usage type info.
Gin & Tonic
@Corner Stone: Hope it helps. I’m an experienced still photographer, but not experienced at all with video, and this thing is just completely simple. Push the button and it records – essentially nothing is adjustable. I’ve used one of these mounts, but if I was to go overboard while rafting, for instance, I’m not sure it would hold on.