# Movies you've seen recently (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [August 27, 2024, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288 "2024-08-27T05:10:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 59
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1161 "2025-01-13T21:31:05Z")
Post football yesterday I did a semi-binge of **Mission Impossible** on Pluto. Watched **MI II,** **MI III** and **Ghost Protocol**. All I remember from II and III is a lot of explosions, fight sequences, car/motorcycle chases and crashes and _ **The Tom Cruise Run.** _ Ghost Protocol had all that AND the lamest space launch/flight/reentry sequence I’ve ever seen apart from the ghastly _James Bond in Space_ sequences. I appreciated the commercial breaks to renew snacks and popcorn. Great scenery on locations, fantastic stunts, some twists and turns were good. The movies were entertaining, fast paced, and very much define current action films (at least those without superpowers or supernatural elements). Sublime, they are not. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1162 "2025-01-14T00:16:48Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > I knew he was far more well known in the UK (and probably other parts of Europe) but hadn’t realised he was _that_ obscure in the US? Yes, it is kind of amazing how obscure Williams is in the U.S., considering the massive success he has had elsewhere (in addition to Europe, he has also been successful in Australia and East Asia). It’s very weird regarding what musical acts in the U.K. can achieve Stateside success as well. This is particularly peculiar for pop acts; for every Adele, Spice Girls and One Direction there seem to be two Craig Davids, Steps and S Club 7s. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1163 "2025-01-14T00:29:02Z")
> [@SwissMan](#): > > there seem to be two Craig Davids, Steps and S Club 7s. It would be funny if you made those up. Which, from my perspective, is possible. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1164 "2025-01-14T00:42:50Z")
There’s a guy in the UK named Ian Watkins, but everyone knows him as “H From Steps.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1165 "2025-01-14T00:47:46Z")
> [@SwissMan](#): > > This is particularly peculiar for pop acts; for every Adele, Spice Girls and One Direction there seem to be two Craig Davids, Steps and S Club 7s. Of those, the only one that’s slightly familiar to me is Steps. I _think_ they were on Graham Norton’s show. And most Americans don’t watch his show. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1166 "2025-01-14T01:47:33Z")
**Being the Ricardos** (2021). Watched it for a second time, though I don’t think I’ve commented on it before. Basically a biopic of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz set against the backdrop of the making of _I Love Lucy_, arguably one of the most influential TV shows of all time and one of my guilty pleasures since childhood. Despite some silliness and the typical lack of sophistication of the 1950s, it benefited from a small but competent and dedicated writing team – Madelyn Pugh and her lifelong colleague Bob Carroll, and Jess Oppenheimer who also produced the show. Pugh was credited as “Madelyn Martin” in later episodes, but it’s the same person. Ball is excellently portrayed by Nicole Kidman, Arnaz by Javier Bardem. Kidman manages to both look and sound like Ball; Bardem is somewhat less authentic, since he neither looks nor really sounds like Arnaz. I strongly suspect that Aaron Sorkin, who both wrote and directed, took considerable liberties with the facts, but these are some of the story lines I got out of it: - The extent to which Ball and Arnaz supported each other, each bringing their own creative and management skills to the table. It’s well known that the real-life Lucille Ball was a both a skilled actress and shrewd businesswoman, the exact opposite of the ditzy redhead she played on the show. - Ball refusing to do the show unless Arnaz played her husband, and getting tremendous pushback from both CBS and the sponsors, because they felt the audience just wouldn’t buy the idea of a Cuban with a thick Spanish accent as a typical American husband. Casting Arnaz, of course, turned out to be a big part of the show’s comedic genius. - The controversy of Ball going on with the show despite her real-life pregnancy, with Arnaz shocking the network and the sponsors by suggesting that the way around the “problem” was just to write her pregnancy into the script. By then _Lucy_ was far and away the #1 show on television, and Arnaz appealed to the head of Philip Morris. My favourite line from the movie, when Arnaz receives a response: it was a copy of a memo sent to all employees of Philip Morris and CBS, allegedly reading simply “don’t fuck with the Cuban”. - Ball’s alleged communist background being dredged up by the media, nearly killing the show, and Arnaz’s determined attempt to counter the libel against his wife. - In addition to being an obviously talented comedian with a knack for physical comedy, Ball was an excellent actress. She starred in dramatic roles in several major movies, but her movie career never took off. Instead she went on to do a comedy series on radio, which eventually moved to television and became _I Love Lucy_. The story line is a bit scattered and incoherent at times, but overall, recommended if this sort of biopic interests you. I admit to having a special nostalgic interest in the story behind the series. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1167 "2025-01-14T04:20:54Z")
_Twins_ 1988 and _Kindergarten Teacher_ 1990 with Arnold Schwarzenegger both produced and directed by Ivan Reitman. Sundance channel ran them tonight. I’d forgotten how good Arnold is at comedy. His initial reaction to the classroom of 5 year old kids is hilarious. Ivan Reitman needs recognition for his work in getting the best comedy performance from Arnold. Animal House and Ghostbusters are quite a career. Highly recommend both movies. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1168 "2025-01-14T07:56:36Z")
\*Kindergarten Cop ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1169 "2025-01-14T09:06:58Z")
Yes Kindergarten Cop I was thinking too much about what Arnold was doing. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1170 "2025-01-14T11:47:23Z")
And the bit in Kindergarten when he confronts that dad is just cathartic. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1171 "2025-01-14T15:04:44Z")
Aronld teamed up with Ivan Reitman again in 1994 in _Junior_. I haven’t seen it. A pregnant, ex body builder didn’t seem too promising a plot for a film. Anyone remember if it’s worth watching? Last Action Hero came out in 1993. I remember paying extra to rent a new release. Then got disappointed. I haven’t see it again. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1172 "2025-01-14T15:14:29Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Aronld teamed up with Ivan Reitman again in 1994 in _Junior_. > > I haven’t seen it. A pregnant, ex body builder didn’t seem too promising a plot for a film. > > Anyone remember if it’s worth watching? It’s okay. Good for a few laughs, but not a must-see. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1173 "2025-01-14T15:47:16Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’d forgotten how good Arnold is at comedy. His initial reaction to the classroom of 5 year old kids is hilarious. It was a great idea and executed well. A bunch of little kids can be harder to deal with than criminals, especially with someone untrained and unprepared. Arnold sold it really well. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1174 "2025-01-14T15:50:55Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > A pregnant, ex body builder didn’t seem too promising a plot for a film. I’d love to see a remake with a female body builder. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1175 "2025-01-14T16:53:34Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > I’d love to see a remake with a female body builder. …why? I mean, the entire premise of the film is “Arnold gets pregnant”. Remove that and you’ve got no film. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1176 "2025-01-14T17:33:47Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Last Action Hero came out in 1993. I remember paying extra to rent a new release. Then got disappointed. I haven’t see it again. I’d give it another go. Underrated, that film. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1177 "2025-01-14T17:49:29Z")
That’s okay, I once read a review of the movie in which the critic said he had to eat crow, as he’d once said he didn’t think Arnold would ever be an actor. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1178 "2025-01-14T17:59:33Z")
+1 ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1179 "2025-01-14T18:46:08Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > > [@aceplace57](#): > > > > Last Action Hero came out in 1993. I remember paying extra to rent a new release. Then got disappointed. I haven’t see it again. > > I’d give it another go. Underrated, that film. I agree. Check it out. It’s cringe but it perfectly fits Arnold’s role. It’s like Kindergarten Cop, Arnold just being himself is exactly what the film calls for. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/1180 "2025-01-14T20:57:05Z")
I checked and Last Action Hero can be rented on Prime. I’ll give it a fresh viewing. I think before that I didn’t understand it was supposed to be a parody. I remember the Video stores charged a little extra to rent new releases. The price eventually dropped after it was available for awhile. I was a big Arnold Schwarzenegger fan and rushed to the video store the first week Last Action Hero was released. _True Lies_ came out after _Junior_ was released. Putting Arnold back on Top at the box office. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288.md?page=58) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288.md?page=60)