Springsteen: Deliver me from Nowhere. I could have sworn thatGuy reviewed this somewhere but it's not coming up. Maybe I'm confusing this was the Dylan biopic that came out around the same time.

I like Springsteen. I'm not a huge fan. I knew some of the stories surrounding Nebraska at the time. I think I might have even bought the album at the time. I could sing you the opening lines to Atlantic City, which is a song I really like. But I'm not invested in him. I've never been to a concert. (Did see him at ABA, though, with the Rock Bottom Remainders and will dine out on that forever)

The story charts the time from the end of the River tour through the recording of Nebraska on a 4 track in a rented house in New Jersey to its release. This was a bad time for Springsteen as he dredges up memories of growing up with an abusive father, who had his own mental health issues. There is not a lot of arc to the story. He records the album. He spirals downward. The record company doesn't know what to do with the album as they are looking for hits. The weirdest character in the movie is Jon Landau, Springsteen's agent. His slavish devotion to Springsteen is weird and the way Landau is portrayed is kind of trippy.

But the Biopic covers all the bases, hits all the points of note. Gives some of the background for some of the songs. On the whole it felt forced, like they were trying there hardest to make an important statement about artistry.

Yes, my Achilles heal is Romantic Comedies. But I guess I should say good Romantic Comedies. Plus, I like Brett Goldstein who plays the lead and also wrote this. You might recognize Mr. Goldstein from Ted Lasso or Shrinking, which he also helped write.

This was bad, epically bad. Should have been on the Hallmark channel. There were a few tepidly funny scenes but not many. The graphic nudity is an up close showing of a birth. At no time did I feel involved in the characters or actually believe they were in love with each other.

Yes, this is on my own head.

Mabel's brain gets transferred into the brain of an animatronic beaver. She uses the new body to go on a quest to find other Beavers to help her save her beloved glade from development. Shenanigans occur.

The movie has really heavy handed messaging about saving the environment and getting along with all the animals in order to preserve our environment. Maybe it wasn't heavy handed if you are under ten or maybe people are so siloed at this point you need the heavy to get the point across, but for it was too heavy.

This seems like it could have been a direct to DVD back in the day. Story wasn't all that rich. Nothing super special about the animation. Not all that funny. It does have a big number from SZA for the closing credits.

No sword fights.

(05-28-2026, 10:29 AM)Drunk Monk Wrote:

(05-28-2026, 10:09 AM)thatguy Wrote: DM, is RM doing this quarry event:

Quote:

Carmina Burana: A Cinematic Masterpiece Live in the Quarry Amphitheater

Join I Cantori di Carmel and Music Director Daniel Henriks for an evening of raw power and cinematic wonder. Featuring over 130 musicians, this bucket-list experience is performed at the historic outdoor Quarry Amphitheater in Santa Cruz.

The Quarry Amphitheater

BUY TICKETS

 

• The Music You Already Love:Even if you have never stepped foot in a symphony hall, you will recognize the pulse-pounding sounds that have defined countless movies and anthems.
  
• A Physical Experience: Hearing this work live with an intense choir and orchestra is something you have to feel to believe.
  
• A Masterpiece Made in Our Community: Our ensemble leads this performance alongside world-class soloists Ashley Fabian, Chris Mosz, and Ethan Vincent, with a special debut by our youth chorus, I Cantorini.
  

 

--tg

JM covers the Quarry, not RM. And JM is only called in for the more extreme concerts, not this one. However I met with the general manager there at Cali Roots and he offered to comp me and Stacy in - I need to follow up on that. I love Carmina Burana.

Was doing some research into Miao Xie for next week's screener (which I'm very excited about). Xie heads two franchises - Eye for an Eye ( https://www.brotherhoodofdoom.com/doomFo...p?tid=7880 ) and these Fight Against Evil flicks, of which there are two or three - there's definitely a sequel which I'll watch soon. 

Xie was the kid who starred alongside Jet Li in My Father is a Hero and The New Legend of Shaolin, both films I remember fairly well but should probably revisit. He was also in The Thousand Faces of Dunjia, which I thought I've reviewed here, but it doesn't come up in a search. That was a Chinese Tomb Raider genre flick. He's now in his forties and about to explode on the scene.

In Fight Against Evil, he plays Li Hongji, a 'little policeman' who is, of course, a totally kick ass fighter. In the opening scene, he stands solo between to gangs and kicks everyone's ass. Then he's sent on leave, where, of course, he gets involved with another gang extorting the community. More ultravi ensues. 

The fight choreo is simple - mostly one shot/one action, but it's brutal hardcore stuff. There's a great fight inside a cramped empty bus, and another against a brain damaged hulk of a gangster brother that's exceptional. It's good stuff. Xie can move, a former child wushu champ IRL who has honed his fight choreo skills over the years - he can sell a punch. Loved the action.

Also love the modern PRC vibe, the squalor, the vibe, a lot of eating scenes, and drinking of baijiu, which reminded me of the banquet last Saturday. 


Seen here: 


NOTE that this has horribly translated subtitles, probably done by AI. It's distractingly nonsensical and frequently derailed my attention because I was struggling to discern what they were talking about. 

D00M Recommended.

There's a lot to process about last night. I'll get to it later today. This is just a placeholder for now. 

For you uninitiated, may I present her majesty, Queen Herby

(01-22-2026, 10:27 AM)Greg Wrote: Masters of the Universe. By the power of Grey Skull.

The Duffer Brothers first project after the end of Stranger Things is The Buroughs. 

The Buroughs is a retirement village where Alfred Molina was supposed to live out his days with his wife, Jane Kazmarack. But she up and died and Molina is stuck in this perfect village and desperately wants to leave. But weird things are afoot. The chief of the security doesn't believe anything anybody says. The owner of the Buroughs seems out of the Stepford Catalog. And Ed Begley Jr is running around saying there are monsters in the walls of his house which is now Alfred Molina's health.

There is a lot going on so far. Geena Davis and Alfre Woodward are in there as is Bill Pullman. Strange Things are happening and they continue to get stranger. 

Three episodes deep. Will continue to watch.

Ms. Lucas was the editor on such little films as American Graffiti, Taxi Driver, and won the Oscar for editing Star Wars.

To all who celebrate (only DM).