Tollywood Scarface but instead of cocaine, this syndicate smuggles red sandalwood. It’s tollywood big with dance numbers using 50-100 backup dancers, some sprawling truck convoys through scenic mountain forests, and some weak cgi of logs going down waterfalls. The rise is straightforward. A cocky coolie with no fear and ridiculous fighting skills works his way up into a family of smugglers. There’s a rival cop hit on his tail. And there’s a silly romance with wild dance scenes. 

The fight choreo was over th top slo mo, with Pushpa sending bodies flying. At one point, he kicks a villain in the nuts and sends him flying like 10 feet in the air. Ow. There’s another fight where his hands are tied behind his back and he has a sack over his head being chased by a few dozen baddies through the jungle and he takes them all out (one of the best flying head butts ever). 

At nearly 3 hours, it could’ve finished but no - this is part 1. Part 2 - the Rule - came out in 2024 and I’ll have to hunt that down.

Not D00M recommended. D00M ain’t tollywood ready yet.

See? All the crimes take place along the 101 Freeway in LA. But people are missing the point what this really is is an undercover MCU project.

Thor is an emotionally stunted high class jewel thief. Hulk is a detective on the way out with his police peers because he has a wild theory about the MO for the thief. Meanwhile, Storm sells insurance to billionaires. She is also dissatisfied with her job because they keep passing her over for promotion despite landing some really big clients. The Hulk creator fences the stuff Thor steals. The Eternal Druig is a hot headed who wants to take Thor's place as the premiere thief along the 101 corridor.

I liked this movie based on a book by Don Winslow. Had a good look and feel. Thor gets to stretch a little as a thief with no life because of his abusive childhood. Storm continues to turn her acting up to 11 every chance she gets, but she is kind of good as a fading beauty about to be discarded. And schlubby Hulk fights to prove he's right.

The only problem with this film is that the ending is a bit weak. You can see the bit zinger coming from a mile away and some of it doesn't make much sense. But up until that final scene or two the show was doing a good job of keeping me interested. This despite the fact the movie (and my whole house) kept switching off and on the first time I tried to watch it.

Roofman.

Channing Tatum robs McDonald's. He gets caught. He escapes from prison. He hides out in a Toys R Us.

I was hoping for some yucks from this absurd based on a true story tale. Yeah, no. It's all very earnest and dower. Peter Dinklage plays a prick of a store manager. Kirsten Dunst is a Toys R Us employee who gets involved with the robber when he ventures from his hidey-hole. It took some work to get through.

(12-09-2025, 12:08 PM)Drunk Monk Wrote: Mercy



thot I posted this one earlier but it didn't pop on a search...

Steve Carrell plays author Greg Russo who goes to the college where his daughter Kate teaches in order to cheer her up after learning she has broken up with her husband. Greg is an author ala Carl Hiassen and his most famous character is Rooster. One of the things Greg does is give a talk about his most famous character. The Dean of the college wants Greg to become a writer in residence at the college, which Greg eventually agrees to after some light blackmail.

Rooster is made by the same people who make Scrubs and Ted Lasso. There is even a Ted Lasso alumni in the form of Kate's ex-husband. The whole show has the kind of gentle humor you find in Lasso and some of the situations are generally funny. The Dean for instances is fond of taking meetings while doing cold plunges and saunas.

I say watch it.

The opening act sucks - a DJ dropping messy bass bombs, an emo singer with a scythe.
I’m enjoying the costuming. Merch line is cleaning up.
Young crowd - 20s - a lot in white face paint with black highlights. Skull & crossbones theme.

We had a big 50th anniversary celebration for employees at Apple Park Tuesday evening. We even had a musical guest!

This 2017 series is now on all the free w/ads streamers: Tubi, Plex, PlutoTV. it might even be on Kanopy w/o ads (which would be much better). I've had this on my watch list for probably 5-6 years, but never got around to it and watched it on Tubi. It's a period drama: early 1800's England (dirty Londoners, lots of mud and muck). Only 8 episodes. Good cast, good writing/acting. Lots of intrigue and plot twists. 

The story begins with a funeral of a Mr. Delaney. During the service, the long lost, thought dead son (Tom Hardy) enters and throws a wrench into the entire estate transfer. The late Delaney senior owned what is now Vancouver and the adjacent coast, by way of treaty with the natives. Everybody wants it. The East India Co, the Brits, the Americans. Hilarity ensues. 

This is a Ridley Scott production, and I've been on/off about some of the others (eg: Prometheus), but this was very good. Very Masterpiece Theater. 

Really recommended.


--tg

The D00Maestro informed me over IG that our former AFS coworker passed on Sunday. I figure I should start this obit since we both knew him. 

I haven't seen Glenn since we left AFS back in the mid 90s(?) but we'd swap the infrequent comment on each other's sitonmyfacebook now and again. I knew he was having health issues. He had many stories of when he was a bouncer at a strip club. He was also a surprisingly talented musician. Another of the AFS lost boys gone...