I just watched the movie Unhinged for the first time, and although I'm a couple years late to the party, I'd like to talk about it, if anyone else has seen it.
Spoiler
I enjoyed the movie overall, I suppose, though from a technical point, I feel they had a few too many car crashes for what is, inherently, a thriller rather than an action flick. That's a small criticism, though, because I felt it was pretty well-written for this kind of movie. They handle foreshadowing pretty well, although I could definitely see an argument that they perhaps foreshadowed too much for a 90 minute film. I thought the acting was decent overall, and if I have any content complaint, it's that they might be just a bit more preachy than I would like, though I don't think they beat you over the head with it or anything.
What does bother me about the film, though, is that overall, I agree more with the psycho than the victim on a purely philosophical basis. Admittedly, he goes several magnitudes beyond the appropriate reaction, and I am in no way advocating any of the violence that he exhibits. But Crowe's speech in the pick-up near the beginning is pretty on-point, and if that had been all there was to this movie, like a short discussing philosophy, I would be completely with him as opposed to Caren Pistorius's character. The Man (as he is credited) made a small mistake, owned up to it, and apologized. I respect that. The woman was excessively rude, and doubled down, refuses to apologize when it would have been easy to do so. Add to that the fact that her son was in the car, so she could have set a good example for him instead of defaulting to pride and anger.
This leaves me with an uneasy feeling about the film, for some reason. I think it's because, based solely on that one conversation, I want to pull for the psycho (up until he starts stalking and killing, of course). Unlike other thriller/stalker/killer movies that I can think of (which admittedly is not a genre I watch much, so I might be wrong), she is given several opportunities to end it by simply apologizing. The violence the man perpetrates is never justified, of course, but it makes it harder for me to feel empathy for the victim knowing that she had the ability to stop it, especially with something so simple.
Now, I suspect that is why the film starts out the way it does, the night before with Crowe's character murdering his ex-wife and her lover and burning down their house. I suspect that was to forfend the viewer from empathizing too much with him. Ironically, the first thing I ever saw of this movie was that talking scene in traffic with Crowe's speech. I saw it in a clip shortly after the movie came out, and that's what made me buy the movie to begin with. It's been sitting on my shelf for a year, and I only just got to it. I didn't like the opening, because it seemed to me the movie was just flashing me a neon sign saying: THIS IS THE VILLAIN!
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I enjoyed the movie, but it pretty 'middle of the road.' I doubt I will rewatch it very often, if ever. But I'd be interested in hearing what other people think about it.
Joined: Sep 25, 2013 Posts: 14140 Location: Kamloops, BC
Identity: Male
Unhinged is the road rage murder movie, right? I haven't seen it. Not unless I am terribly, terribly mistaken. Sounds like the movie didn't really trust its audience with that opening. I'd tsk tsk, but then irrational violence seems to be somewhat "in" at the moment.
Ill heartily recommend to you all Chip & Dale's Rescue rangers. Excellent movie. The Roger Rabbit of our generation. I've gotten a lot of gruff on this, but I'd hold this one up over the old Rabbit.
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Joined: Sep 22, 2013 Posts: 5699 Location: Inside my own head
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I've been kind of out of it lately as I've focused on getting ready for my new job while still having to deal with gruelling days at my current one, but I'm still around. Been doing some more research and slight worldbuilding, watching some anime.
I watched through Big O, finally, though I had to take a break in-between seasons 1 and 2. The kind of slower pace, kind of aged animation, and kind of trope-y formula (monster-of-the-week style with not a lot of overarching plot for most of the series) meant I needed a bit of a breather about halfway through. I'm still kind of processing the show because of the weird ending (which I actually did know was coming due to seeing a tiny handful of reruns ages ago) and details that I'm only finding out by reading up about the show.
My first choice of break was the indie/OVA anime Kowarekake No Orgel (literally translated, "Half-broken Music Box" but it's usually called by its Japanese title), which I liked as much as it felt like a pilot for a bigger and better show, but because of its limited runtime it has to cram all its heartstring-pulling into such a short span of time that I feel it falls short of what it's trying to be, much the same way I felt about Planetarian. There's just not enough time to get to know the characters in order to truly feel for them.
My second choice of break was the short film (45 minutes) Garden of Words. I had heard about it as being nonstop eye-candy, and indeed it was nonstop eye-candy, but it got uncomfortable at times, because it dealt with uncomfortable topics. It tackled **** family members, trying to break out into a new career with little prospects, bullying, depression, and above all the central plot had to do with the budding romance between the 15-year-old highschool boy and the 27-year-old lady he meets who turns out to have been one of his teachers. Like, I would recommend it because it is simply gorgeous to watch, but the relationship and romantic plot weirded me the hell out.
After Big O, I went to an anime called Level E, which turned out to be like Men In Black but anime, however I've hit a roadblock and may drop it despite stopping at episode 9 out of 13. I'll have to report back about it later, because I may actually need some extra feedback on it.
I'm a (self) published author now! You can find my books on Amazon in Paperback or ebook! The Accursed, a standalone young adult fantasy adventure. Witch Hunters, book one of a young adult Scifi-fantasy trilogy.
Yeah. Been there. Though admittedly that was at work, so a bit different, but all the same, I feel you.
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At twilight's end, the shadow's crossed / a new world birthed, the elder lost. Yet on the morn we wake to find / that mem'ry left so far behind. To deafened ears we ask, unseen / "Which is life and which the dream?"
Okay, we got through our DO inspection, seemingly okay, but I half expect her to do that bull **** where the corporate types are positive to you face and then ream you in a file report.
To celebrate, after a fashion, we watched Who Framed Roger rabbit?
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At twilight's end, the shadow's crossed / a new world birthed, the elder lost. Yet on the morn we wake to find / that mem'ry left so far behind. To deafened ears we ask, unseen / "Which is life and which the dream?"
Joined: Sep 25, 2013 Posts: 14140 Location: Kamloops, BC
Identity: Male
I had a cold kick me around for the past few days but I'm well on the mend today. Within a 4 day period I went from fine to sniffly to "it hurts to talk, Imma go back to bed" back to fine (fingers crossed). almost all my nutrition over that period took the form of tea, neo citran (basically tea), juice, water, Ensure, hot cocoa and the honey I mixed into those things. I think I really could rock the Soylent lifestyle.
*"To YMTC it up" means to design cards that have value mostly from a design perspective. i.e. you would put them in a case under glass in your living room and visitors could remark upon the wonderful design principles, with nobody ever worring if the cards are annoying/pointless/confusing in actual play
Going to be honest, I didn't have a good night tonight. I mean that in a mental health kind of way.
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At twilight's end, the shadow's crossed / a new world birthed, the elder lost. Yet on the morn we wake to find / that mem'ry left so far behind. To deafened ears we ask, unseen / "Which is life and which the dream?"
Going to be honest, I didn't have a good night tonight. I mean that in a mental health kind of way.
many digital hugs for you
my bad day was Friday, cycling between "I have no appetite, just let me die of starvation" and "I want to eat until my stomach physically bursts" -- luckily I had a friend come over and spend literally all day with me yesterday, and I hope you can get the same support
I had a cold kick me around for the past few days but I'm well on the mend today. Within a 4 day period I went from fine to sniffly to "it hurts to talk, Imma go back to bed" back to fine (fingers crossed). almost all my nutrition over that period took the form of tea, neo citran (basically tea), juice, water, Ensure, hot cocoa and the honey I mixed into those things. I think I really could rock the Soylent lifestyle.
And it makes me realize how spoiled we become. I lived for years in a place with no AC, and it was fine, for the most part. Oh, well. I'm getting old.
I dislike framing these things as "we're spoiled", especially when it comes to heat which has been measurably rising for decades and as multiple droughts have torn across the U.S. for the last several years
And it makes me realize how spoiled we become. I lived for years in a place with no AC, and it was fine, for the most part. Oh, well. I'm getting old.
I dislike framing these things as "we're spoiled", especially when it comes to heat which has been measurably rising for decades and as multiple droughts have torn across the U.S. for the last several years
I got to do a draft of the new Commander Legends set today. It was a ton of fun, and my deck ended up being quite strong (I might have to look into expanding it into a full Commander deck). I was running Rilsa Rael, Kingpin with a bunch of creatures that take the initiative when they enter the battlefield and some blink and bounce effects (including Displacer Kitten, the best card in the deck). I won one game, and came close to winning the second. I only lost because of an incredibly lucky moment for my opponent, but that story is too long to tell right now.
Now that this poll is officially over, it's time to congratulate Aaarrrgh for designing Hill, which has been decided by popular vote to be the Card of the Month for October 2013!
I got to do a draft of the new Commander Legends set today. It was a ton of fun, and my deck ended up being quite strong (I might have to look into expanding it into a full Commander deck). I was running Rilsa Rael, Kingpin with a bunch of creatures that take the initiative when they enter the battlefield and some blink and bounce effects (including Displacer Kitten, the best card in the deck). I won one game, and came close to winning the second. I only lost because of an incredibly lucky moment for my opponent, but that story is too long to tell right now.
Very nice. I have a displacer kitten in my current D&D game. Her name is Tickles. She's adorable.
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Happy Independence Day to anyone for whom that's relevant.
For everyone else, I hope you have an excellent July 4!
I'm a (self) published author now! You can find my books on Amazon in Paperback or ebook! The Accursed, a standalone young adult fantasy adventure. Witch Hunters, book one of a young adult Scifi-fantasy trilogy.
At twilight's end, the shadow's crossed / a new world birthed, the elder lost. Yet on the morn we wake to find / that mem'ry left so far behind. To deafened ears we ask, unseen / "Which is life and which the dream?"
Joined: Oct 19, 2015 Posts: 2220 Location: Homestuck rehab center
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A bit in a limbo, multiple project and stuff kida on hold, my mother has covid... I have enough to keep me distracted (LoR and the surprisingly engaging Duelyst 2 alpha), but still, could be far better.
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Cecil Gershwin Palmer (Welcome to Night Vale) wrote:
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