Favourite Films Viewed in 2023

Babysitter

Sweetie

Cane Toads: The Conquest

Plácido

Gung Ho

John Wick: Chapter 4

Kaze no tani no Naushika (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind)

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Far & Away

Tenkû no Shiro Rapyuta (Castle in the Sky)

Viking

The Circus

JFK

King Richard

The Horse's Mouth

Girl with Green Eyes

Calabuch

Efcháristi pepoíthisi. Tromerí ermineía. Oukranikí sýnthesi.

Say what you want about the nomad lifestyle, they're always on vacation. 😎

 Blue cheese mixes well with gravy (on sandwiches). 🥪

Old

Engaging thrilling prospects.

Resortful relaxation.

Pack up the fam, head down south.

Fare thee well road weary travellers.

The Cappa(bara) family takes such a spirited initiative, and soon arrives at a stunning locale, where others await and luxury accommodates, the stay promising to be uneventful. 

Briefly after settling in, a special opportunity is secretly presented, a coveted invitation to lounge for a day, reputedly favoured spry striking resiliency. 

Soon they're off with a gourmet spread stretched out and chillin' at the isolated beach, the families engaged in freeform conversation when it becomes apparent that many of them are sick.

Even worse, after an even shorter time it appears as if the young ones have suddenly sprouted, and that everyone is aging indeed, at a rapid unusual alarming pace!

Different methods of desperate escape naturally present themselves without much thinking, each of them as treacherous as the last as the woebegone venturers routinely phase.

And just as Horror Beach or Death Beach seems about to claim its final victims. 

Escape ideogrammatically matures. 

Having been nurtured throughout the ages.

Star Trek themes and plots terrestrially abound in the seductive Old, as rapid aging and medical malfeasance malpractically matricurate along the coast. 

Certainly a creepy caper reminding visitors never to leave the boat, for they may find a pandemic peculiarity contraceptively constructed with scampy decorum. 

Nazi scum experimented on humans as do the fascist Cardassian monsters, such a practice to be met with sincerest defiance, through the aggrievéd art of humanistic condemnation. 

Had the beach's unique capabilities been made strictly known to concerned public agencies, there's no doubt reasonable decorum would have efficiently encouraged effective recon.

It would have made a cool nature documentary since as far as I know nothing quite like it exists.

Just to learn about, like bears or wolverines. 

To remain aware, never to be forsaken. 

*The idea may have come from reckless government initiatives hoping to store toxic waste near vital aquatic resources. 

Argyhoeddiad dirdynnol. Darllediad cyflwyniad. Cyfansoddiad Wcrain.

Convicción convivial. Interpretación formidable. Composición ucraína.

Walrustictackeybland(r)ameed'y'a

Purtinnitus tunalatter

eladaurorado pladohr

sigmanifticannebarrow

whealalitread sunkrisparrow

winginéditarzanedict

lululattasauring heel-click

tumdrumrig'madrollcallclacking

fleighsty aerodrogensnacking

hicupidley terragorgon

atumisurly fluflorin

idesackeyamarti(s)an

orvictual solmarzipan

implanetarty humbugginger

emburburlap pumpermingler

nicourtinsel carrakeener

frecocoalispinteaser

trailboundlestartart.

Conference Championships Picks

Kansas City Chiefs/Baltimore Ravens: the forecast isn't so bad for this one, the weather predicted to come in between 4 and 8 degrees Celsius at the moment, perhaps levelling the playing field somewhat, although both teams played well in the cold. This game's a tough one to pick even though it really shouldn't be, Baltimore was that good during the season, but the Chiefs are crazy good in the playoffs. It looks like the football gods just won't let Buffalo win in January (versus Kansas City), and like the old school Cleveland Browns, they keep coming up short versus the AFC West. It was so freakin' close again and that touchback in the fourth after the failed fake punt seemed like a prognostic miracle. Still shaking my head a bit. But I'm sure the Bills will have plenty of game next September. This is Kansas City's 6th AFC Conference Championship Game in a row, that's pretty freakin' incredible, after assuming there would never be a team comparable to New England, the Chiefs proved me wrong without much time having passed (in Conference Championship terms anyways). They've won 3 and lost 2 picking up 2 Super Bowls along the way, the pattern looks like it's Lose-Win-Win-Lose-Win-?, if things continue to follow the same scheme, this Sunday's another Chiefs victory. Baltimore's crazy good though I mentioned their regular season heroics last week, they've finally had success at home again this postseason, and Lamar Jackson must want this more than anything. They really dominated last Saturday, and didn't even look like they were trying to run up the score, they looked cold too and they still scored 34 points, Houston persevered, but the wall was impenetrable. Kansas City did not look cold and it's like they've been playing bombastic Beatles ballads throughout, the extra-curricular cantankerous criticisms efficiently ignored with elastic poise. I've never really listened to rap music not that I don't have a lot of respect for the artists, I do listen to old school jazz however, and love spur-of-the-moment inspired improvisation. San Francisco must be pissed because they've lost to both the Chiefs and the Ravens in recent Super Bowls, things looking good for the Lions however, craziness, intense playoff craziness. It seems futile to pick either team which makes the decision all the more interesting. Can Mahomes outlast his biggest challenge since Brady? I think he can. Picking the Chiefs. 

Detroit Lions/San Francisco 49ers: I know, I know, I need to pick San Francisco more often, it's been almost 30 years since they last won the Super Bowl, a new generation of 49ers fans must be hoping they win again big time. But they're playing the Detroit Lions this Sunday, and I'm definitely picking, the Lions 🦁. Picking Detroit again. Go Lions Go on the road!

2067

Spoiler alert.

A grim environmental forecast depicts an uninhabitable world, whose air has become so toxic plant and animal life no longer breathes.

Special masks facilitate community as one last industrious enclave holds out, underground crews working day and night to eclectically maintain the grid's survival. 

Unsuspecting and unaware a gifted technician is suddenly told (Kodi Smit-McPhee as Ethan Whyte), of his bizarre relationship with the future which his genius father cultivated. 

He's tasked with venturing forth through time to find a solution to the crisis, endemic flora that has adapted and in turn healed the ailing world.

Uncertain as to how to proceed he courageously heeds the call nevertheless, and soon finds himself in a future world where trees and plants freely grow partout.

He also discovers his corpse and a highly advanced technological device, which recorded his last interactions and provides haunting evidence and messed up clues.

Soon his closest friend startlingly arrives to lend a hand (Ryan Kwanten as Jude Mathers), but it appears he may not be interested in the cultivation of universal levity. 

Indeed he's come to goonishly ensure that only a select few survive. 

By travelling through the portal.

Abandoning Earth to its chaotic fate.

Nice to see such an embowered ending flexibly fostering collective hope, without much covert underlying foreshadowing, cool to proactively see. 

Australia's making some thoughtful headway into the realm of science-fiction, notably through the art of time travel, I still love these atemporal conceits. 

What I loved about 2067 is that it's not concerned with the select few, it seeks to harvest multivariable accolades from wide-ranging intricate diverse spectrums.

It's leadership it's practical knowledge of what's been done and what can be attained, when cultures emphasize sundry different interactive humanistic applications. 

Even in times of greatest sorrow the humanistic will to cultivate community, and curate widespread prosperity still constructively motivates goodwill. 

Still upholding multifaceted life.

Collective unity.

For generations onwards. 

It doesn't seem like that tough of an equation, it's a huge downer when it doesn't compute. 

Dìoghaltas dìteadh. Tionndadh iongantach. Sgrìobhadh Ucràinis.

Gesellige feroardieling. Formidabele fertolking. Oekraynske kompsysje. 

Bandit

A criminal breaks free from an American minimum security prison (Josh Duhamel as Robert), and crosses the border into Canada, soon looking for work and lodging as the police search frustrated in vain, the 1980s much less suspicious and routinely hysterical, he doesn't blend, without standing out much either.

He still lacks identity cards and cash so he needs to creatively conjure convincingly, fortunately securing a place to stay, without much luck finding steady employment.

Not really cut out for the workforce, indeed brave but also quite lazy, he soon takes to robbing banks for small sums, and proceeds to do so across the country.

At the same time, his parter matter-of-factly announces she's about to bear young (Elisha Cuthbert as Andrea), filling him with enlivening ecstasy since he's always wanted to have a family.

His lifestyle rather ill-suited to traditional bourgeois relational trajectories, he feels somewhat isolated however, yet rather than attempt to learn a trade and embrace regal commerce and industry, he seeks the backing of a local gangster (Mel Gibson as Tommy), and malfeasantly reengages. 

Things proceed quite successfully for awhile before a local task force takes note.

His wife also figuring things out.

Accompanying him thereafter, from time to time. 

I know the pandemic was a difficult time during which it was particularly hard to make movies, and film studios had to green light questionable scripts and move forward with rash decisions, the period we're in now perhaps one of the worst in cinematic history, does that still excuse Bandit's lacklustre writing, lack of conscience, homophobia and general malaise?, no, I'm afraid it doesn't, this film's a directionless amateur train wreck.

People with no artistic skill and a lot of money still attempt to make commercial movies, and they think it's remarkably easy, and proceed with undaunted confidence in a pleasant atmosphere lacking critical aplomb (Mel Gibson most likely rewriting his lines), no stirring voice providing comment and criticism, good god, was this script even edited?

Bandit falls into the new filmmaking category which functions like grassroots bludgeoned briars, Ronald Reagan is therefore celebrated, and work and a steady job for chumps and fools, anyone limiting the fun a homosexual (the police for instance), they appeal to Robin Hood, but this guy's just a piece of shit.

The major transition hasn't taken place but hopefully things improve since restrictions have been lifted.

Some pandemic films were pretty amazing (Babysitter, Viking).

At least a couple of standouts slipped through. 

Viihtyisä vakaumus. Valtava esitys. Ukrainalainen sävellys. 

Kontenta konvinko. Formida interpreto. Ukraina komponado. 

Zenvelopincouschutes

Exhautsk-tsk manoeuvracuun

sunshingl'amour risohorune

seaquestairwavelet impreschism

pirouxesquire pragmaprism

iridescibaltic vroomy

overdriventriptychoosie

indepsyclic raspmatarry

soloquashush pulpune'erly

nougastromping palaitu

improwhizooals two-by-two

ackrupaesthetic acrolattice

spinpoindextruss bread'n'batted

upswingshonorarratory

plasmajazztric vallév'ory

whurlpearlisper soakinderly

eggmangattic yolkminnervdy

dozenzymyst'reathe.

Divisional Round Picks

Houston Texans/Baltimore Ravens: once again, applying literary hypotheses to the picking of NFL playoff games falls flat, and the Baltimore Ravens will not face the Cleveland Browns this Saturday, what a story it would have been however, the old franchise facing the new (the Baltimore Ravens used to be the Cleveland Browns but they moved to Baltimore in the 90s, after which a new Cleveland Browns team was created), with the old franchise's quarterback helming the rebirth, it was still cool to see Mr. Flacco back at it one more time (I was convinced Cleveland was the only team who could take Baltimore[like Paris taking Achilles]). But C. J. Stroud put on quite the performance and played exceptionally well in his playoff debut, that's a lot of points for the first time out, and an impressive outstanding home win. Could he be the Texans quarterback they've been searching for for decades, the one to get them through to the Super Bowl?, the Cowboys are out, it's all up to Houston. Baltimore though. Geez. All bets are off after the Cowboys collapsed last Sunday, but the Ravens were pretty freakin' good this year. They crushed Houston, Detroit, and Miami, and beat San Francisco by 14, those are pretty good stats for a team that regularly makes the playoffs, although they have come up short in recent January memory. Not including the last game of the season, they've won 10 of their last 11, playing well in a tough division, playing rested at home this Saturday. The temperature at the moment is listed as between -9 and -4 degrees Celsius for tomorrow's game, the cold potentially a factor, affecting both resilient teams. I hesitate to pick Baltimore because they seem like such a sure thing, yet I'll continue to go with the home team, even though it'd be cool to see another Stroud win. They showed his Bowl stats last Saturday and they were crazy impressive. He may be built for the playoffs. This Saturday's quite the test. 

Green Bay Packers/San Francisco 49ers: back at it again, what a crazy win over Dallas, watching that game was mind-boggling, although dull, I would have rather not got so much work done. How do they pick 'em, how does Green Bay keep coming up with these big game quarterbacks? Have you looked at their List of Seasons on Wikipedia? They've been a consistent playoff contender dating back to 1993. I'm thinking back to 1995 through '97 when a feisty Brett Favre was helming Green Bay, and Dallas and San Francisco were the teams to beat, and the Pack overcame San Fran 3 playoff years in a row. Does that have any bearing on this weekend's game? Technically, no, it's almost thirty years later and these teams have changed remarkably since, but with Green Bay's decisive win over the Cowboys last Sunday, it would be cool to see them beat the 49ers as well (if you were in high school during the mid-90s). Beat San Francisco though? That's another gruelling task. The 49ers crushed Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, and Dallas, beat the Seahawks twice, beat the Rams in the game that counted, defeated Tampa Bay by 13, although they didn't play well mid-to-late October. Still, not including their Week 18 loss to the Rams they've won 7 of their last 8, have seemed like an impregnable force, and let in the fewest points in the NFC (almost the league). But Dallas also had a solid defence and seemed unconquerable as well, and the Pack found a formidable way to expeditiously entertain triumph! In recent memory they've struggled versus San Fran losing their last 4 post-season games however (dating back to 2012). And sometimes teams that explode one week have trouble adjusting to a tougher challenge the next. Nevertheless, I like this new Pack team and their advantageous undaunted defence. Picking Green Bay in a tight one. Would love to rewatch the latest Guardians of the Galaxy.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Detroit Lions: have to give props to Baker Mayfield on his second playoff win. He's quietly accomplished a lot floating under the radar without much press. Also have to acknowledge the Lions' huge win last Sunday! Picking Detroit again. Go Lions Go!

Kansas City Chiefs/Buffalo Bills: the highly sought after rematch NFL aficionados have imaginatively heralded, freely available at frigid heights this coming Sunday in upstate New York. The forecast is currently predicting somewhere between -3 and -12 degrees Celsius, another challenging one for the contestants, in this here freezing post-season January. Both teams played well in the cold last weekend however and came up with convincing wins, Josh Allen's 52 yard-touchdown-run of note, the Chiefs playing surprisingly well in atypical Missouri conditions (Mahomes also has some huge playoff runs under his belt). The last time they met the game was so intense the league changed a rule shortly thereafter, to accommodate similar potential death-defying ingenious offensive outbursts. They've played twice in recent memory but both times in Kansas City, the first match a clear Chiefs victory, the second one still almost too close to call. You can never really count either of these teams out since if they catch fire they can put up 20 plus points pretty quickly, but neither of them seem like a lock this year, all the better for predictions and prognoses. They both let in a comparable amount of points during their respective 2023 campaigns, two of the lowest totals in the NFL in fact, surprised both of them didn't win more games (it's tough to beat Denver). On offence the Bills totally scored more though and this game's in Buffalo this weekend, after having lost one of the most exciting games in NFL post-season history in KC two years ago, does Buffalo even have to practice? Of course they have to practice incredibly intensely to take on Mahomes + North American Pop Culture, there's no doubt they'll be ready though I reckon, I don't know if Allen's a Stones' fan? Either freakin' way I feverishly can't wait and hope the weather doesn't influence the outcome. It's like the new Manning/Brady rivalry. There's nothing quite like 'em. Picking the Bills.  

Gojira tai Mekagojira

An ancient island peacefully existing off the enlivening breathtaking coast, known for its stewardship and amiable governance suddenly embraces emergent chaos.

A prophecy enigmatically predicting the brazen arrival of a destructive monster, haunts the descendants of the Royal House which once freely administered the land.

Nevertheless, said prophecy also foretells the upswing of two courageous protectors, to halt the progress of the beast, and reinstate harmonious accord.

Without much pomp and circumstance the fated creature uproariously arrives, and begins pugnaciously a' plundering the calm and tranquil unsuspecting countryside.

Looking indeed rather like Godzilla yet not on friendly terms with his monster friends, it soon becomes apparent he's a massive robot after the real Godzilla burns off his skin!

Confrontation leads to complication and soon this Mechagodzilla needs repair, a reputed scientist coerced into fixing the damaged mighty formidable automaton.

When he's once again unleashed will Godzilla disputatiously authenticate?

With the help of the island's mythical saviour?

Once again, it is the legend.

You never know what to expediently expect when the aggrieved Godzilla supernaturally awakens, has he reemerged to engage in conflict or act as combative spiritual advisor?

In Mothra vs. Godzilla it's clear that he's furious with the mainland, and seeks uncompromising visceral discord as he belligerently proceeds forward.

Yet in Gojira tai Mekagojira he demonstrously radiates heroic acculturation, and sets about saving the honest land from covetous invasions from outer space.

Thus, it seems that ye olde Godzilla isn't instinctively interested in traditional teamwork, otherwise he would have noted a keen and like-minded ally in the bellicose bombastic bellwether beast.

Therefore, it appears Godzilla of old prefers to unleash carnage on his own, and must take the lead if disruptively disabling versatile socioeconomic infrastructure.

Hence, he's somewhat like an immortal and intuitively agrees there can be only one (in monster movies), I suppose it would be quite the problem if manifold Godzillas were roaming at large (note the current upsurge in right wing politics).

But has anyone ever considered a Highlander/Godzilla crossover where manifold Godzillas contend for the prize?

Would it be any less ridiculous?

Godzilla Highlander.

Or Highlander Godzilla?

Convicción cordial. Interpretación formidable. Composición ucraniana.

Overbevisende overbevisning. Formidabel gengivelse. Ukrainsk sammensætning.

Moonfall

While conducting routine work in space, a strange Venom-like entity belligerently cascades, proceeding to wreak extraterrestrial havoc, its malice resulting in one fatality. 

Back on Earth the lead astronaut's (Patrick Wilson as Brian Harper) pleas find no bureaucratic quarter, and with no proof the higher-ups conclude that he was responsible for the accident (classic Aliens).

He loses his astronaut status and must return to civilian life, his marriage soon falling apart, it's a huge downer, but he keeps things cool.

Meanwhile, a self-taught scientific theorist works odd jobs to pay the bills (John Bradley), while finding creative ways to observe data, and taking care of his cat and mom (Kathleen Fee). 

He accidentally meets Mr. Harper one morning and unfortunately fails to impress, but his work gains more attention when NASA acknowledges the moon's shift in orbit.

In possession of a working theory regarding the moon's new alarming trajectory, the disgraced astro hooks him up with NASA (they're like a less/more campy Flash Gordon and Hans Zarkov), his old partner now its managing director (Halle Berry), the moon about to disastrously crash land.

They improvise a plan nevertheless and are soon extemporaneously space bound.

Destined to adventurously uncover.

Humanity's chaotic origins.

Moonfall's quite the ride the action's fast-paced and non-stop throughout, improbability delineating progression as each new leap is overtly field-tested.

It reminded me of Independence Day almost 30 years later Roland Emmerich's still got it, no doubt crafted through intuitive expertise, and first hand knowledge of cataclysmic virtual reality. 

Spoiler alert: loved how it took on A.I with an ingenious reworking of the Terminator thesis, it does seem likely that self-aware computers will cause quite the disturbance in the nanofuture.

That disturbance may counterintuitively save the planet or at least humanity's role upon it, however, the survivors forced to relearn old school ways to make the most of a world without technology.

Scouts will once again be a big deal and take their place at the forefront of society, while animal populations rapidly expand and our once limitless oceans resplendently recover.

You wonder sometimes about Roswell and if all this technology is somehow related (as I imagine many others have supposed).

But why would aliens want us to create A.I if it's indeed destined to objectively destroy us?

It could be a trap ingeniously devised!

To get us to annihilate ourselves to save on the costs of an invading army. 

😜

Družiteljsko uvjerenje. Nevjerojatna izvedba. Ukrajinski sastav.

Druzhestveno ubezhdenie. Strakhotno predavane. ukrainski sŭstav.

Numbrayskulldigdugoutlederhosen

Stagrototo beatniche couscoustique

rayafraternigh 'clecqueu-tip

galexceedling mooniversal

gravicinitty gristrudel

crestintinsalubriustle

blustirupswing psykirfluffle

incidairy (c).r.e.m zloomblé

solemneutrail irrelevé

parladdled conewt kayip-yap

traversaturnellithe snip-snap 🐢

rotatter-fretch-ad'orbrittle

bunnavinsp(r)iggy sporeal

thy-thymballast flotiltasaur

dynerverclaspring phanticore

humdrummustique abuzzlingenie

ridicuetiptoppereamie

sampulsardrawnchi.

Super Wild Card Weekend Picks

Cleveland Browns/Houston Texans: who hasn't been unreasonably impressed with Joey Flacco's mind-blowing comeback, the Browns desperate for a QB mid-season, the Super Bowl Champion Flacco signing up and winning games?! I was glad to see the Broncos defeat Cleveland 29 to 12 in Week 12, but didn't want to see Cleveland lose their QB, the Broncos likely still would have won if he had played the entire game. Nevertheless, it must have seemed bleak for Browns fans especially after only having picked up one playoff win since forming the new team, and looking like a solid threat this year, even coming close to beating Baltimore the second time round. But even with all the Joey Flacco comebacks in the world there's still a remarkable team in Houston, who fought and struggled hardcore throughout 2023, to make the playoffs for the first time in 4 years. C. J. Stroud making the most of his rookie debut, winning some huge games along the way, including an improbable win over the Broncos, it was close right up 'til the end. They're pretty even with points for and against, some slight differences but nothing major. Can the rookie sensation defeat the resurgent legend and begin franchising fascination of his own? Or will Mr. Flacco's never-say-die exceptionality pick up another playoff win and herald famished triumph? They played in Week 16 and the Browns won 36 to 22 (with Flacco). I'd like to see both teams win. Picking Cleveland because they've had so much less success (since reforming in 1999).  They also had a really tough division this year (two losses vs. Baltimore, split vs. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati [the second game vs. the Bengals didn't really matter] [the Browns actually beat Baltimore once, my mistake]). 

Miami Dolphins/Kansas City Chiefs: it's tough to say. Do extracurricular phenomenons give the opposing team an edge? The Chiefs didn't play as well this year although they certainly had a lot of media attention, and I liked how they merged popular music and sport in an entertaining unprecedented (?) spectacle. It was cool to see how Kelce and Swift became bona fide American pop culture royalty, and even though I'm a die hard Broncos fan, Denver defeating the Chiefs 24 to 9 in Week 8, I can still appreciate what Swift and Kelce mean to romantic fans. Does the relationship give Chiefs' opponents an edge, however, does it motivate them even more to crush adorable Kansas City? This might be the case. From what I've taken in from watching sports for many a year, you don't want any distractions on the field, any drama that may lead to complications. You want to be 1000% focused without anything tearing you away from the moment. The trash talk must be unbearable every play, but Mahomes is the best QB in the league, and if the Chiefs can focus on the Beatles, there's no doubt they could excel this postseason (is Swift the biggest musical act in the States right now?). Just remember that when the Beatles had the whole world pressuring them to do well, when pop culture put an astronomical amount of pressure on them, they responded with some of the best music the world's ever encountered, you're that freakin' talented, I'd focus on that this Saturday. Although the Dolphins are pretty solid and haven't won a playoff game in over 20 years. Brady lost twice in the Wild Card round with New England (once vs. Flacco). But look at the risks Kansas City is taking for America! Picking the Chiefs. In an incredibly close game. That is one brutal weather forecast. I've worked in weather like that. But never in a freakin' t-shirt. Crazy.

Pittsburgh Steelers/Buffalo Bills: I think Buffalo is in the best postseason position they've been in in years. No one expects them to win. The media pressure is totally off. There's no doubt it's nice to have people saying nice things about your team, but taking them seriously can lead to error. Thus, like the pressure was off Cincinnati when they faced the Bills last year, the pressure's off Buffalo vs. Pittsburgh this weekend, although the Steelers aren't expected to win either (I imagine), and Mike Tomlin's no stranger to the post-season (no one's expected to win!). Mason Rudolph can make quite the five-year-plan for himself if he pulls off the unexpected upset, and he's been playing well as of late, he isn't cornered, but has nothing to lose. Pittsburgh can be cold and brutal in the winter too so home field may not generate an advantage (it may be brutal again this Sunday in Buffalo), although the Bills have won three straight Wild Card games in Orchard Park, and must be fuming after losing in the snow to the Bengals. Buffalo's been in the trenches all season with a horrendously gruelling schedule, still picking up 11 wins along the way, falling to the Broncos on Monday Night in week 10. A schedule like that may be daunting but it keeps you playoff ready all the time. It's like they've been playing playoff ball since September. And have put on quite the spellbinding show. Pittsburgh hasn't had it easy either, I've already mentioned that the AFC North was tough. The only teams they played this year that never seemed like playoff contenders were Las Vegas, Tennessee, Arizona (loss), and New England (loss). They had a rough go of it too. The Steelers hold a 2 to 1 postseason edge over Buffalo but they haven't played in January since 1995. Hoping it's a close game but am I really, I must admit, I am really not. Hoping the Bills make a statement. Picking Buffalo on Sunday.

Green Bay Packers/Dallas Cowboys: surprised to see Green Bay back in the playoffs so soon after Aaron Rodgers' left. Against the Packs' old coach Mike McCarthy no less. This post-season is writing itself! Both teams have reached outstanding heights in the NFL playoffs, Green Bay with 4 Super Bowl wins, Dallas having picked up 5. That's 9 Super Bowls between 'em note that most franchises go nuts with one, or even an appearance means a lot, it does, it's a huge thing. There's the weird coachy jinx that may make a difference (in my head), it may be strange for McCarthy to play against his old team, not consciously, I'm sure his mind will be 100% focused on winning the game, but the subconscious old school remnants of his long tenure coaching in Green Bay, which included a Super Bowl win, may unconsciously muck things up, although according to Google, his hometown's Pittsburgh, and Green Bay, led by McCarthy, defeated Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV (Manning had trouble vs. the Colts when he was in Denver [it's understandable]). Nevertheless, Dallas and Green Bay have a long playoff history that's seen them meet 8 freakin' times, the games split 4 wins apiece, the Pack winning the two most recent (2014 and 2016). I'd like to see Dak Prescott and the Cowboys have more playoff success since they haven't made it past the 2nd round in almost thirty years, but Green Bay comes up short in January often and has lost in the NFC Championship Game 4 times since winning the Super Bowl (it'd be nice to see them win too). They lost to the Seahawks, Falcons and Buccaneers which means they struggle in big games versus teams without much post-season success, but they also lost to San Francisco, and when I was in early high school, they were the only team that could beat Dallas. If Jordan Love can win his first post-season game only one measly year after Aaron Rodgers left, that would be pretty huge, and he has impressed this season (although he came up short vs. Denver who beat Green Bay 19 to 17 in Week 7). He throws the ball exceptionally well at times. A win against the Cowboys in Dallas seems impossible however. After looking at the Cowboys' schedule, they didn't lose at home this season. Not once. While I was watching them play Detroit, an announcer mentioned that up until that point they were averaging 40 points a game at home as well. Those are pretty crazy odds for a team whose defence also let in 35 fewer points than Green Bay's. Always love seeing a Packers playoff win. But the odds are too stacked in the Cowboys' favour. Picking Dallas at home. I'm picking these home teams too easily. 

Los Angeles Rams/Detroit Lions: I would just imagine it's back to day one. The first Super Bowl Era Season. No history, no rivalries, no jealousies, no nothin'. Just formidable Detroit Lions football throughout the entire freakin' game. No concentration on the media. No qualms about sensation. Just preparing like mad and executing impeccably. I have no doubt the Lions can win. Picking Detroit! Go Lions Go!

Philadelphia Eagles/Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I don't know what happened to the Eagles in 2023 but they suddenly fell apart when they were playing San Francisco, and haven't really done much since. It's odd because before that game they beat Minnesota, Tampa (25 to 11), the Rams, Miami, Dallas, Kansas City and Buffalo (with an amazing last minute and overtime comeback), and seemed like a for sure Super Bowl contender. That's not to say they're out of it or anything, but it's a shock nevertheless, but if I remember correctly, the last time Baltimore won the Super Bowl, with Joey Flacco as quarterback, they lost their last four games of the season, before turning it around in the playoffs (blackbirds singing). Tampa will naturally defy them as the Eagles attempt to punish them at home, the Bucs' defence having let in more than a hundred fewer points this year, their offence having scored 85 fewer. They've actually met in the playoffs 5 times with Tampa holding the edge 3 to 2, the Bucs having defeated them during 4 of their last 5 meetings (not this season), their lifetime series tied 11 apiece. Normally, I'd pick the team that played really well last year and at the beginning of the season (😌), it's difficult not to pick Philadelphia since I'm so used to seeing them play well. I'm also taking way too many home teams which is always a bad sign, but if I'm way off and several away teams win, the playoffs will be much more exciting. Tampa's defence is playing exceptionally well and Philly has blown it versus several recent opponents, but can the Bucs still score enough to win, can they regenerate that legendary 2020 magic? I'm betting they can although they did lose on Monday (vs. the Eagles) and Thursday Night (Bills). Picking the Bucs at home. Defence wins championships. 

*Stats from Wikipedia and The Football Database.  

**The Bills/Steelers game was switched to Monday. 

The Lost City

A famous adventure/romance novelist (Sandra Bullock as Loretta Sage) begins to question her professional identity, when the launch of her latest book fails to inspire commercial motivation.

She's done it so many times that the book tour and associated hoopla, seem too superficial to sincerely entertain even though her adoring fans can't wait.

She's jealous of the easy going male model (Channing Tatum as Alan) who adorns the covers of her texts as well, he loves the media sensation, this doesn't evince discerning pageantry.

After she turns the anticipated launch into a dire ill-fated farce, she seeks in vain for heartfelt felicity, before a covetous mean-spirited billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe as Abigail Fairfax) suddenly has her kidnapped. 

She's flown to a tropical island and tasked with locating enticing treasure, local Natives imploring them to leave it alone, the alarming obsession metastasizing madness.

Alan soon follows along with an Indiana Jones/James Bond type rescuer (Brad Pitt as Jack Trainer). 

Ill-prepared for the ensuing task force.

Still improvising with resonant throng. 

The Lost City embraces traditional stately oft criticized tropes and accessories, yet effectively makes the age old adventurous point, that its principal goal is to just entertain. 

Therefore, I had to ask myself, am I genuinely enjoying this film?, beyond multivariable criteria, and I had to admit, I was.

I was lightheartedly reminded that novel bizarre stylistic independence, and counterintuitive literary jigsaw, don't imaginatively motivate some, who are more concerned with intuitive fun.

I suppose a lot of the time it isn't the mischievous wordplay, but just hot bods and romantic adventure that make people interested in watching films.

I also suppose it isn't the goal of many to only enhance the authentic aura, of low-budget brainiac films perhaps one day destined for whimsical cult status (it doesn't make any sense!).

The pandemic's cut me off from theatres and my lifestyle changed as time moved on, and I found for the first time in over a decade I had what is known as free time.

I love the free time I have to just to sit back and listen to music.

But movies are meant to be seen on screen.

The direct experience deconstructing cynicism.  

*Loved the Raiders/Terminator pastiche near the end.

Društveno uvjerenje. Zastrašujuća izvedba. ukrajinski sastav.

Elkarbizitza konbentzimendua. Emanaldi ikaragarria. Ukrainako konposizioa.

Oppenheimer

Nuclear weapons are a horrible thing.

They're easily the most reckless anything anyone has ever created, and it's an international miracle the secrets of their creation have been kept under lock and key to this present day.

For a while it seemed like their manufacture would become a thing of the past, as Russia and the United States struck accord after accord, and seemed ready to cultivate lasting peace throughout a united interactive world, wherein which difference wasn't something to be feared, and absolutes were nothing more than sewage.

But this historical epoch is partially defining itself in opposition to the last 30 years, as Trump has arisen to challenge them, so instead of a brilliant film like Planet of the Apes (1968), which effectively obliterated arguments in their defence, we have Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, which revels and glorifies in their creation, overlooking the ill-fated Planet of the Apes sequel, Beneath the Planet of the Apes. 

Paying disingenuous lip service to the ways in which madmen can use them to coordinate mass destruction on a planetary scale, it instead introduces several powerful independent scientists, and examines various controversies as they jockey for position.

Thus, two prominent individuals see their reputations slowly ruined as the film bureaucratically concerns itself with bilateral character assassination, without really generating much character along the way, besides that associated with blind innocence and petty grievances. 

It's more like an academic paper with no sense of objectivity than a convincing film.

Prometheus taught the people to make fire so they could cook their own food and have warmth and entertainment.

Anyone who would have denied them such knowledge is certainly not worthy of divinity. 

Oppenheimer coordinated a team that built a nuclear weapon with the power to kill hundreds of thousands that select military officials can use hopefully only as a deterrent. 

Do you see how Prometheus is not like Oppenheimer? How the comparison is ridiculous?

It does seem more and more like Christopher Nolan is the military industrial complex's darling, as they note in Barbie, the patriarchy just hides its hegemony more effectively these days, and whereas Oliver Stone actually made an incredible film looking at the ways in which JFK's murder was covered up, Nolan's Oppenheimer creates a Republican rib roast to be saluted for years to come, while presumably catering to democratic sympathies (JFK didn't win best picture when it should have [Oliver Stone also made a film that lauded Edward Snowden, it didn't make the case for the mass institutional invasion of privacy through cellphones like Nolan did at the end of The Dark Knight]).

I used to have a friend who was nice to talk to but sometimes didn't take her meds, and thought she heard voices in the walls of people discussing this and that.

I tried to ease her mind when these thoughts would overwhelm her late at night, and even though nothing could convince her that the voices weren't real, the conversation helped lighten the anxious mood.

In turn, it was nice to have someone to talk to, to know someone who didn't quickly change their tune, to have a sympathetic yet mischievous outlook to clarify trajectories and nothing in particular.

She tolerated my French too and even taught me a couple of words. 

I like being nobody in Québec.

And I'll always love working and living there. 

Gesellige Überzeugung. Beeindruckende Wiedergabe. Ukrainische Komposition. 

Sigh. Was hoping the Broncos would finish above 500 for the first time in years after it became apparent they wouldn't make the playoffs. Ah well. That was the best and worst Broncos season since the season after they last won the Super Bowl. Things seemed miraculous for awhile. But then they took such a disastrous turn. Nevertheless. It was really cool to see them playing so well again for a long stretch. 

Looking forward to 2024.

Broncos! 

I'm always worried that I might break it, but it's still so tempting to see if an antique still works.

They built things to last in my day . . . ! 

Bindje e këndshme. Interpretim i frikshëm. Përbërja ukrainase.

Gurgumpdundeenie

Inherzhall sequandairy dharma

fromenahjuragna carta

snewsiestartartanjello

drowlzees hootcheesmanic mallow

wrapslozebrees mutartive

unshealdipraxis flippurmet

ropolitundra ursynhaptic

dramasurgicult extracted

witnessie unfathoned crest

mezodiachronimblé depths

expressboxspring reverbabrainie

splintercolec'tis seren'sea

diptitchy spinetworthwhilbilly

strikingcortozoning'rilly

purtendrillbritz bleightiny

timbitters mediscrillity

agillichi--chi's.

Barbie

It was sad to see the self-reflexive metastyle slowly fade out of cinematic fashion, as the urge to cultivate newfound novelty eventually led to paradigm shifts.

Rather than adhering to the comprehensive guidelines enthusiastically theorized by the critics, the slow return to banal absolutism cacophonically effaced the convivial endeavours. 

Yet as Trump and his minions sought to rework complicated literary trajectories, patriarchically concerned with eternal slaves and masters, a more symbiotic environmental approach gregariously germinated in the wholesome underground, ill-amused with everlasting tethers, and holistically seeking reciprocal gratitude. 

Thus, as the years slowly changed from the 1990s to the 2020s, an intermittent zone materialized, and the do-gooding and collective well-being of the post-war years clashed with feudal modes of expression.

The times during which they had once been employed with malignant rigour and destructive candour having faded from collective memory, the brigands dishonourably proceeded as if they had created something new.

Was it indeed more popular or were studios just attempting to mutate and froth, as a younger generation took the reigns, and vitriolically dismantled their elders's designs?

I didn't think the honourable pursuit of collective well-being and respect and goodwill, was a fad to be gradually replaced however by one-dimensional monocultural narratological goals.

It didn't seem like casting aside relevant millions to tell crass racist jokes, was commensurate with integral progress as commercial interests teleologically contend.

Alas, to rely on Barbie the oft criticized popular doll to redraw the lines, and perhaps create spherical counterintuitive shapeshifting threads like cats playing with multicultural yarn.

Symbiotically speaking, the world of men and women excelling when a level-playing field emancipates, lay androgynous mutual convection, when it works it's totally comfortable.

The world of course multilaterally pulsating to the tune of manifold international drums.

So much passing by unnoticed.

As prominent prognoses ebb and flow.

Une conviction conviviale. Rendu formidable. Composition ukrainienne. 

Note: chip dip tastes better cold. If throwing a party, make sure to serve your chip or veggie dip etc. on ice 🧊.

Convivial conviction. Formidable rendition. Ukrainian composition. 

Mothra vs. Godzilla

A mysterious giant egg suddenly appears off the Japanese Coast, its contents baffling yet still intriguing, as diverse interests eclectically gather.

Unfortunately, environmental initiatives fail to posture before the egg is (absurdly) sold, by local entrepreneurial opportunists hoping to monumentally prosper.

A more ambitious wealthy exhibitionist hopes to create a theme park through Happy Enterprises, and entertainingly showcase the egg while also selling treats and delicious refreshments.

Concerned journalists soon learn of the plot and set about cultivating public opinion, hoping to create a massive uproar which may encourage government intervention.

They lament that there's no legal recourse to directly challenge the developers in court, especially after two miniature citizens suddenly arrive from Mothra's island.

Apparently, the typhoon sent Mothra's egg on a disquieting maiden voyage, and they've come to argue for its return especially since noble Mothra is dying.

The adventurists care not for her plight and refuse to give up their lucrative treasure.

Just as Godzilla comes a' callin'.

Hellbent on countercultural carnage.

A crash course in socioeconomics instructively awaits in Mothra vs. Godzilla, perfectly laid out with accessible language which any curious audience member would easily comprehend (with English or French subtitles 🤷).

Mothra vs. Godzilla may even indeed be a solid didactic tool to be used in classrooms across the land, schools effectively saving resources and time by simply showing this ridiculous film.

Perhaps that's what happened, there's no equivocal doubt that environmental regulations in some jurisdictions are much stronger, and that if you want to develop land like Ontario's Greenbelt, you first have to acknowledge local regulations.

Thus, the public outrage the journalists seek to nurture in ye olde Mothra vs. Godzilla (Mothra shows up in spellcheck but Godzilla doesn't), would likely also be backed up by laws progressively created over the course of the last century.

Hence, instead of bravely spending the last moments of her life epically battling the formidable Godzilla, Mothra could have cared for her fledgling young and perhaps even named or taken them for their first flight.

Perhaps Godzilla disputatiously emerged to figuratively encourage the creation of such laws, I've seen several nature shows about Japan, and it seems as if their wildlife is flourishing (except for whales 😢😭😿🐋).

Sad that Mothra had to physically give her life for such a turn of events to jurisprudently take hold.

Her larvae born argumentatively composed.

Their perspicacity irritating the aggrieved Godzilla!

Is it possible to transfer like 20 rhinos to both the United States and Australia, with the hope of sending new members of the herds back to Africa in time?

That might work out well.

🦏

*Seriously, what better place to raise rhinos than an American or Australian military base in the middle of nowhere? Poacher attacks? I doubt it.