John Wick 1-4.
Absolutely disgusting.
Great fun.
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I also did a John Wick run this week. You nailed the series as a whole. I’ll still give Ballerina a chance. Now onto Die Hard!
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Now Jim, what’s wrong with killing people with a pencil?
You’ve done it many a time just writing a shopping list.
I’ve done it twice. Okay, not “great fun”, but very practical. 
Okay, kinda fun, but also entertaining. It stokes ones “legend” status and scares bloody Hell out of former “KG- used to be” types.
Just sayin’
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Juror No.2
A juror discovers that the man accused of murdering his girlfriend is innocent - because the juror himself has accidentally run her over that night. If he told the truth, however, he would be put in jail for vehicular manslaughter. Therefore he tries to persuade all the other jurors to vote not guilty.
Clint Eastwood uses this simple but great premise for a dissection of the meaning of justice in this thriller-drama which could be the last film of his outstanding career. While telling the story expertly, in his typical style which straight-forwardly ramps up the tension with efficiency, finely drawn characters and dark humor, Eastwood´s film also is about the perception of truth in these times.
For too long people have hidden in the all too cozy idea that “there is not one truth, everybody has their own truth”. That, of course, is dangerous and wrong. There is only one truth. But everybody has their own interpretations of it and their own preconceptions which too often could not be further from the truth.
There is only one truth here: juror no.2 has accidentally killed the young woman. But he is a recovering alcoholic and committed to his pregnant wife, about to have a baby after losing one already. So he has everything to lose.
But his attempt at getting the accused a not guilty verdict is doomed from the start. All the other jurors just hate the accused man - and surely enough, he is not likable, he is violent and everything seems to point to his actual guilt. Also, all of the jurors have their own agenda to call for a guilty verdict. Some just don’t want to spend more time in the jury box. Some project their own experiences on the accused. Then there is the juror who is a total true crime podcast fan and thinks she therefore has an expert view on the details of the case.
The jury really represents modern society here, and the way they manipulate each other into thinking they are right is a fitting indictment of the jury system. But there’s also the district attorney, angling for a political job, who is eager to get a guilty verdict for selfish reasons, and the defense attorney who drowns his frustrations in alcohol and cynicism. In an Eastwood film, nobody gets away clean. But he also does not condescend to anyone here.
The ending, while a fitting conclusion, shocks because we have come to understand and sympathize with everyone here. And it drives home what the movie is all about: justice is messy, with often devastating consequences.
Eastwood has regularly delivered box office successes and award accolades. And even if in the last decade his movies have made less money, he still could be counted on for solid returns. However, his go-to studio Warner Bros. decided to dump “Juror No.2” after only a short run in select cinemas onto their streaming platform. Here in Germany the movie will not even be released on DVD/Blu-Ray.
What a terrible shame. “Juror No.2” is one of Eastwood´s best films, in a long career of masterpieces, and it also goes to show that these days a movie which really is about the state of our society gets thrown away and hidden. Just because the money people don’t think they can sell it to the masses.
It also proves that awards are just popularity contests. Otherwise "Juror No.2“ would have been repeatedly named one of the best films of 2024.
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I watched the classic action adventure from the 80’s, Die Hard. My dad says that Alan Rickman should have been Oscar-Nominated for his role as Hans Gruber. I agree fully. It’s a shame that Bruce Willis can’t do anymore Die Hard movies anymore, as they are enjoyable.
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Die Hard 2. Entertaining. Hard to follow who was what character. Not enough Sergeant Al. I’m interested to read the original books that DH 1 & 2 are based on. Lots of changes I’m told!
I also think that Die Hard 1 could be a great stage play. Some minor changes, and I believe it could work. Also, I’ve gotten to talk to Grand L. Bush (also Hawkins from LTK) a few times on social media. Really a nice man.
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3 is the only one that dares compete
5 is one of the worst and most absurd films ever.
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That’s what I heard. However, I try to give a full series a chance. Jai Courtney does seem to be the kiss of death for a lot of movies, it seems.
Remember too that the first book featuring the character was turned into The Detective with Frank Sinatra so Die Hard is the sequel
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Yup. And there even were plans to make what later became Die Hard with Frank in the lead role 
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I actually borrowed the book on which the first one turned out to be based from the library and read it. It went pretty much the same except without the happy ending because the wife didn’t survive.
Now that I think about it again, it could of course also have been one of those tie-in books based on the film script. I’m starting to have doubts now.
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Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995). Still fun. Despite the riddles, it was easier for me to follow, compared to the overcast and too many twists of Die Hard 2. Jeremy Irons as Simon Gruber was just as great as his onscreen brother Hans. Samuel L. Jackson was fun. You can tell this was also a possible Lethal Weapon 4 script. I think it could have worked with the LW movies. But alas, I’m happy it turned out to be a Die Hard sequel. A worthwhile trilogy, and one to look at for action with generally good pacing. In some ways, I can see where Skyfall took some influences from.
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Jagged Edge
Haven’t seen it in years- solid stuff but ending still a little mysterious. Deliberately so? Still don’t know.
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Wasn’t it
Summary
Jeff Bridges is the killer after all?
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Well, that’s the thing - is it? The final shot or two seem a bit uncertain. Perhaps the ambiguity is deliberate. Or maybe I am stoopid.
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It saddens me that the director (Richard Marquand) died so young (49). He had a truly promising career ahead of himself. He said he wanted to direct one of the Star Wars prequels. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to. He really had a series of all hits in his directing career.
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I don’t remember any ambiguity - so who is stupid now?
I saw that Nosferatu is coming to Peacock on Friday.
I asked Siri “remind me to watch Nosferatu on Friday” and this is how it added it to my calendar 
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Minari (2021 film about a Korean family who moves to Arkansas in 1983): A poignant story about what it means to be family. The husband has started a farm that’s beset with problems. His wife wants to move the family back to California, where they can pay off their debt. But he resists, stubbornly wanting to finish what he started. There are also two children (the son has a serious health condition), plus the wife’s aging mother, to consider.
Just when you think you know where this movie is going, it takes a different turn … then turns once more. Minari symbolizes resilience, a theme that resonates throughout the entire film.
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