Reed

Ringu 2: OK, it’s not a patch on the first. The plot is a bit too strange. But I still think it’s a terrific horror film and better than both the American remakes. It has so many creepy, unsettling moments. Moments that Hollywood blatantly ripped off. (The mortuary scene in The Grudge and the well chase in Ring 2, notably.) Moments that hit you out of nowhere. - Miki Nakatani is terrific here. She’s the right combination of niceness, curiosity and the ability to, well, get absolutely hysterical. -When you realize just why Tomoko’s friend in the opening scene of the first movie went crazy. Her flashback to that night is absolutely frightening. -Mai spotting Shizuko’s ghost. And Shizuko’s ghost spotting her right back…and sneaking up on her. -The well scene is amazing. -Even Sadako seems exhausted and tired of all the horror by the end: “Why are you the only one saved?” She’s simply sad now. -The ending with Kanae makes it clear: This will never end. It’s not even about Sadako anymore. A chilling, gratifying little follow-up. Cold and very human at the same time. It cleared up some loose ends.

Sherlock as a show started missing something the second Moriarty died. Let’s be honest. *Moriarty turns up dancing to Freddie Mercury and makes one of the best entrances in TV history ever* *Me * “This is superb. This is amazing.” *’5 years ago’ subtitle flashblack appears* *Me* “Oh, right. And now I’m sad because I understand what this show is missing now. And why it can’t ever truly be the same.” Brilliant and depressing at the same time. The problem with the finale, essentially.

Cena and Shane were incredibly irritating and obnoxious in that scene. Who can dispute this? WWE weren't even shy about it: Shane was faking it. Cena was intentionally shit-stirring. And, IMO, Shane went grey early a long time ago and is now just jealous of AJ and his gorgeous, shiny locks. The true source of his anger.

How can AJ be so pissed off when his hair is that lovely? WWE television plot holes that need to be answered.

AJ has the cool slick "Rachel" haircut from the '90s. Someone other than me should have probably noticed this by now.

AJ's hair does look amazingly great these days, tho. Put that man in a shampoo commercial.

"There you go, dear." The subtle moment you realize Miz might be a heel but he's also a nice guy who adores his wife. And AJ is very, very bitter and pissed off but we secretly suspect he's probably a good person, deep down. He's right to be unhappy. Shane is bullshitting and patronising everyone. Cena is casually indifferent and will resort to comedy antics to antagonise and annoy people. SmackDown is all about reading between the lines these days. A bizarre segment. I felt worse for the heels.

He was quite a good director. too. This is a genuinely horrifying scene.

That documentary was deeply unfair. The whole point was: "Well, blame the family." The easy option. Which was bullshit. They didn't ask her to be a self-destructive, drug-addled wreck. Read about her life. Read the biographies: The family kept trying to help her and get her away from her husband. One line from a song doesn't make a man a terrible father. Mitch made a mistake early on, that's all.

"She's heard me say 'I love you' 1000 times, she never once heard me say 'I'm sorry.'" A powerful, rather deep line with a level of emotion that few action films can ever touch. McClane is flat out admitting: "I fucked up this marriage." It's a startling confession from a man who is pretty sure he's going to die. As opposed to when we see him earlier in the movie and he has convinced himself: "This is mostly her fault. A little of mine's, sure. But mostly hers." IMO, Die Hard is a psychological masterpiece. But no one wants to admit it because, well, it's just a stupid action movie.

IMO, Die Hard worked so well because both McClane and Gruber are very human in their own ways. McClane, as you mentioned, slowly goes crazier as the film goes along. But he has to trust his instincts. Not like he has any other choice. And Hans? Well, he's cold and evil, obviously. But he's not really the cartoonish bad guy we usually see in action movies. It's purely about money for him. If people have to die for it to happen? So be it. But he's not necessarily bloodthirsty. Hans always considers himself perfectly rational. A lot of action movies after Die Hard ripped off Hans (evil cultured foreigner). But they failed because, eh, because, it was too over-the top? Passenger 57 springs to mind.

Die Hard is always good for a re-watch, though. Especially when you appreciate the more subtle moments. *befuddled henchman mouth whispering* "Asian Dawn?" *Hans off the walkie* "I read about them in Time Magazine." *casual shrug* McClane's "What the fuck?" reaction is also great. He doesn't fully understand what is happening here, But he knows fine well Hans doesn't give a crap about politics or being pissed about whatever far off foreign country America has just invaded. He's a step ahead of everyone else.

I'll never forget when TMZ posted pictures of Amy Winehouse's dad at the airport right after he heard, well, that news. It honestly made my skin crawl. Probably the most devastating news someone can ever hear in their lives. (Your child has died tragically young.) And you're posting sneaky paparazzi photos of him for all the world to see? Look: It's one thing to report on fashion or gossip or the latest supermodel Leo is banging. Who cares? It's just silly stuff to entertain housewives, I guess. There's a market for it, I suppose. But you know fine well when you're crossing a line and becoming actual hideously cruel people.

Ah, but she was always royalty to me.

Even by tabloid standards, this is fucked up.

*me re-watching Back to the Future* “You know, the most depressing thing in this series are the early moments when a middle-aged, melancholy Lorraine seems to admit: ‘Oh, I just settled for George.’ George lazily accepts it. That was not a happy marriage." Their own son actually had to go back in time to make them realize why they fell in love in the first place. Or fall in love properly, anyways. I always adored that about this film. Marty, in all his actions, pointed out something to them. He saves them. IMO, it's a rather dark film because that family was so frigging miserable in the first place.

In hindsight, it's nice that Rogue One ended like it did. “What is it they have sent us?” *Leia looking as bad ass and determined as ever* “Hope.” A poignant note to end the movie on.

Maybe. Maybe not.

You know, I always thought Raw and SD and the talk shows gave you hints about them being together. Granted, I might be giving WWE Creative more credit for subtle long-term storytelling than they deserve. But whenever Renee was interviewing The Shield or Ambrose in a TV tag match you got the sense of the other guys thinking: "Well, let's just leave her alone and be polite and keep our distance." To keep the peace.

"The man you love and adore will never, ever marry you because he doesn't care about you enough!" is an incredibly fucked up thing for a woman to say to another woman. Hogan/Savage levels of emotional trauma, right there. WWE trying to appeal to the ladies.

Nattie and The Miz were both great heels on this show because they went straight for the jugular. But Nattie's comment was far nastier that Miz's, IMO. Miz just pointed out an obvious fact. Embarrassing? Yes. But she is sleeping with the guy. i doubt either will deny it, frankly. And he didn't dispute that Ambrose cares about her. Nattie's remarks, meanwhile, were flat out psychological warfare. She was telling Nikki she was worthless and that's why the man she loves won't ever love her as much back. That's fucked up. By any standard. I like Bitchy, Evil Sociopath Nattie~!

I heard about all the stuff she went through in those final years. It was frigging horrible. Sometimes it's for the best when nature takes it course. Like, I always understood Paul Newman, aged 83, deciding: "This chemo is useless. Now I'm going home." If you witness a family member die of a prolonged illness, you understand.

I may or may not steal this post for my FB page, for the record.

99 is a great age to die at, tbh. Kinda feel 2016 was in merciful mode here. For once.

My feelings too. Most of the cameos worked very, very well. Even factoring in Leia's not-exactly-wonderful CGI, her bit at the end was terrific. Because it meant something to the plot and story. Artoo/Threepop simply felt like "Well, it's Star Wars. These two have to be in every film, right?" Too much of a wink, IMO.