Films to watch & to look out for

Happy Gilmore 2
2025
Comedy / Sport

Happy Gilmore isn't done with golf — not by a long shot. Since his retirement after his first Tour Championship win, Gilmore returns to finance his daughter's ballet classes.

On Netflix - @SimCityAT

Was there a Happy Gilmore 1?   

I'm not keen on Adam Sandler but he has a massive deal with Netflix so someone likes him.

Was there a Happy Gilmore 1?
I'm not keen on Adam Sandler but he has a massive deal with Netflix so someone likes him. - @fluffy2560

Yeah and it was rubbish 

Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 - Netflix Documentary

2025

A viral joke about storming a secretive US Air Force base sparks a meme-fueled media frenzy and puts the military on alert in this bizarre true story.

Watched this last night. It only gets going when the chief characters get shot down or crash in North Korean territory and brutalised by the Chinese communist forces.    There's a weird side plot where Mitchum purports to be in love with May Britt, wife of his subordinate.  Absolutely unethical for a military officer and somehow everyone goes along with it.    The only real interest are the planes and dogfighting. No missiles. 

There's a mildly interesting factoid that May Britt, a white Swedish actress was married to Sammy Davis Junior, at a time when interracial marriage was illegal in many states.  Their relationship also caused issues for those involved in JFK's inauguration and Davis was supposedly rejected at a performer.  Harry Belafonte took his place.  More interesting than the film.

An ambitious American student travels to Oxford in England to fulfill her dream, but encounters a charming local who changes both their lives.

now streaming on Netflix.

Coming soon to an Internet near you!

Most episodes were written  by Noah Hawley.  He wrote most of Fargo's seasons so there are high hopes this will be a winner.

In space no-one can eat ice-cream!

The Counselor - saw this the other day.  It's got a great cast but it's all wasted.  Some really superlative names but unfortunately, I'd say don't bother, it suddenly ends and you don't find out what happens.  It's all inferred and one is left hanging.  I wasn't convinced.  Not enough anyway.

Strange to say it was written by a supposedly great writer  Cormac McCarthy but perhaps this was one of his off days or he did it for the money.

Watched this last night. It only gets going when the chief characters get shot down or crash in North Korean territory and brutalised by the Chinese communist forces.  There's a weird side plot where Mitchum purports to be in love with May Britt, wife of his subordinate. Absolutely unethical for a military officer and somehow everyone goes along with it.  The only real interest are the planes and dogfighting. No missiles. There's a mildly interesting factoid that May Britt, a white Swedish actress was married to Sammy Davis Junior, at a time when interracial marriage was illegal in many states. Their relationship also caused issues for those involved in JFK's inauguration and Davis was supposedly rejected at a performer. Harry Belafonte took his place. More interesting than the film. - @fluffy2560

Interesting time.

Robert Mitchum is an intense actor; Always seems over the top serious.

Take him or leave him.

My step dad no.2 was a US Navy  N.Korean POW. Yes, the were mean as all get out. At least the US gov; set him up with new dentures after they pulled out all of his teeth! Great times!

We met Harry Belafonte inside the old Brown Derby restaurant  as teens; Nice ,polite ,classy man.He took the time to sign my friends table napkin as we were leaving . He was with a lady and we interrupted their lunch. He shook all of our hands and signed the napkin for my friend. Honestly at 16 I did not know who he was, my friend did. later I found out about him.

Saw Sammy Davis singing on stage at age 8 or so. Not in a flashy Vegas showroom but in the appliance dept of a White Front store, the Walmart of the 1960s. He had recently lost his eye in that car crash and was just getting back into performing in public. he still had the patch over his eye. Talented but yes, he was super short. I remember thinking to myself at 8 that he was about as tall as I was and really skinny too.

Interesting time.Robert Mitchum is an intense actor; Always seems over the top serious.Take him or leave him.My step dad no.2 was a US Navy N.Korean POW. Yes, the were mean as all get out. At least the US gov; set him up with new dentures after they pulled out all of his teeth! Great times!We met Harry Belafonte inside the old Brown Derby restaurant as teens; Nice ,polite ,classy man.He took the time to sign my friends table napkin as we were leaving . He was with a lady and we interrupted their lunch. He shook all of our hands and signed the napkin for my friend. Honestly at 16 I did not know who he was, my friend did. later I found out about him.Saw Sammy Davis singing on stage at age 8 or so. Not in a flashy Vegas showroom but in the appliance dept of a White Front store, the Walmart of the 1960s. He had recently lost his eye in that car crash and was just getting back into performing in public. he still had the patch over his eye. Talented but yes, he was super short. I remember thinking to myself at 8 that he was about as tall as I was and really skinny too. - @Marilyn Tassy

Mitchum was never really a lightweight.  He always played heavies - like cops, military or similar.  Don't remember him in a comedy.

Sorry to hear about Step Dad 2's teeth.  They used to do that but they try and save them now.  I wonder if anyone has sued dentists for their cruelty and treatments of the past.  Trench fillings. Another crime against humanity. Dentist ruined my teeth when I was 11 or 12.  If I could sue him beyond the grave, I would!  I think he took the fast elevator down, not the escalator up when his time came.

Now, dropping Belafonte's and Davis's names and personal meetings is just showing off!   Belafonte sounds like a class act. I've heard that more modern stars like Brad Pitt, knows that being famous is his job and will always be professional and have a word with fans.  After all, only the fans keep the fame going.

I find it quite amusing Davis was performing at Walmart.  I suppose they had to do what they had to do to keep going.   I always wondered how he lost his eye.  Didn't know it was a car crash.  Now I need to research that more so I can up my trivia street cred.

BTW, our daughter caught me out.  I remembered that song, "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone" and quoted the words and she nailed it immediately! Bill Withers, 1971.  Like WTF?  How does a 20 year old know that?   

Now it's an earworm and given that we left the Mrs F family holiday home, partially because of rubbish weather (thunderstorms), I keep hearing:

"Ain't no sunshine in Bal-a-ton"....

Currently watching this spooky and weird comedy type show, The Consultant.

The main actors are good - it's not bad but no Season 2 so far.   Downloadable at an Internet near you.

Episodes are only 30m long and there's 8 of them so it's not a big investment time-wise.

I finished my Turkish tv series a couple days ago.

All 139 nearly 2 hours long each episodes.

Investment in time since it was my 3rd time around watching it.

Had English subtitles so it was not hard to understand but here and there the first time around it was hard to pick up details of the story plus watch the action.

Now I am depressed since I know it was only based on reality and romanticized.

The reality of the over 1,400 years of the Arab slave trade was in some ways even more horrible then the transatlantic. At least the slaves sent to the US were allowed to reproduce and have families.

What a real horror show the Arab trade is, heard they still practiced in open their trade in Arabia until 1962!

God only knows what is happening behind closed doors.

From stealing  male children as payments and brainwashing them to stealing young girls only to toss them away like trash.

I now can understand why Hungary has heros like John Hunyadi.

So much history is hidden from us or covered up so deeply.

I finished my Turkish tv series a couple days ago.
All 139 nearly 2 hours long each episodes.
Investment in time since it was my 3rd time around watching it.
Had English subtitles so it was not hard to understand but here and there the first time around it was hard to pick up details of the story plus watch the action.
Now I am depressed since I know it was only based on reality and romanticized.
The reality of the over 1,400 years of the Arab slave trade was in some ways even more horrible then the transatlantic. At least the slaves sent to the US were allowed to reproduce and have families.
What a real horror show the Arab trade is, heard they still practiced in open their trade in Arabia until 1962!
God only knows what is happening behind closed doors.
From stealing male children as payments and brainwashing them to stealing young girls only to toss them away like trash.
I now can understand why Hungary has heros like John Hunyadi.
So much history is hidden from us or covered up so deeply. - @Marilyn Tassy

Slavery is still around us.   Asylum seekers and refugees are particularly prone to being caught up in it.  Being sent to another country and having to pay back with excessive and long work and bad conditions.  It still happens in the UK when some people move countries and take their servants with them.   Any abuse just continues in another country.  In the UK, reporting abuse does not mean the victim is just deported.

I was in Syria (before the war) and in the apartment I stayed in, the owner had a young Indonesian woman who came in as a cleaner.  I couldn't speak to her, but the other guy had worked in Indonesia and could talk to her.  Turned out she was only about 14.  She had the full Islamic dress on.   From what I gathered, she was supposed to attend a school in Syria as part of the deal - in exchange for the cleaning duties.  It didn't look like it to us.  Looked like she was working for nothing and just getting food and a bed.  It was pretty horrible.  I said she should be sent home as she was too young to be in a strange country working for what I thought were marginally dodgy people.  It really offended me that she was working and not being properly cared for.   Makes you wonder what her parents thought they were doing - sending her as a pious (and very maleable) youngster into a strange household.  I don't know what happened in the end. I moved out to another place.

Yes, it still goes on.

Just too horrible to think about too deeply.

I do wish gov; would do something about it instead of worrying about petty things.

What party is in control etc; just do something to stop human suffering and injustice worldwide.

Money, really is the root of all evil.

I wonder if we rid ourselves of money if things would change for the better?

Never going to happen, how can they control the masses with money or credit scores?

As long as humans see each other as more worthy or more important then others, nothing will change for the better.

OK, that is my political take.

I need to find myself and nice silly comedy to watch!

Yes, it still goes on.
Just too horrible to think about too deeply.
I do wish gov; would do something about it instead of worrying about petty things.
What party is in control etc; just do something to stop human suffering and injustice worldwide.
Money, really is the root of all evil.
I wonder if we rid ourselves of money if things would change for the better?
Never going to happen, how can they control the masses with money or credit scores?
As long as humans see each other as more worthy or more important then others, nothing will change for the better.
OK, that is my political take.
I need to find myself and nice silly comedy to watch! - @Marilyn Tassy

I haven't seen any comedies worth watching recently.   I certainly wouldn't pay to see any at the cinema.

Money corrupts.  Power corrupts.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely.   Etc.

Watching this - Untamed - on Netflix.   Cast is OK including an almost unrecognisable Sam Neill, not even at top billing.   He's got really old.   It's all a bit routine but the scenery is great.  I've been to Yosemite and yup, it really does look like that.

Tomorrow is  Wednesday and  Season 2 drops on Netflix.  It was quite good in Season 1.  The actors do a great job and Wednesday actress herself superbly captures the deadpan personality we all know from The Addams Family.  And of course, the delightful Thing appears.  It's for kids really but I will be watching it!  Who'd have thought "horror" was "family viewing"!

Speaking of horror movies, I looked online for famous Rusyn Americans;

Lots of actors , film makers .

Chrstina Ricci is Rusyn

Robert Urich

Wentworth Miller

Sandra Dee

Bert Michaels

John Spencer

Mila Kunis

Andy Warhol

Elizabeth Scott

Horror film maker, Night of the Living Dead, the Classic,George Romero

And funny enough, Steve Pitko who came up with the comics for Spiderman

Lots of talent for a small ethnic group.

Speaking of horror movies, I looked online for famous Rusyn Americans;
Lots of actors , film makers .
Chrstina Ricci is Rusyn
Robert Urich
Wentworth Miller
Sandra Dee
Bert Michaels
John Spencer
Mila Kunis
Andy Warhol
Elizabeth Scott
Horror film maker, Night of the Living Dead, the Classic,George Romero
And funny enough, Steve Pitko who came up with the comics for Spiderman
Lots of talent for a small ethnic group. - @Marilyn Tassy

Wow, that's a lot. I always thought Wentworth Miller was British but indeed, his bio says Rusyn roots and a positive United Nations of bloodlines.  Good for him!

Robert Urich was great as "Spenser for Hire".  I was impressed he could park his car in his living room.  What a shame he was taken so early.

I absolute love zombie movies and George Romero is THE No.1 zombie movie maker to watch.  I remember when the first mainstream movie of his came out in the UK and I went to see it at the cinema. I was kind of obsessed with it. I've watched it quite a few times  now.  I have a copy in my library and get it out every few years.   The one I liked the best is where they are trapped in a shopping centre.  It was remade a few years ago with Ving Rhames and others in it.

There will be more Christina Ricci tonight as she'll no doubt be doing more cameo in Netflix's Wednesday. 

I have fond memories of seeing the Night of the Living Dead.

I usually dislike horror films but strangely enough, my mother wanted to see it and asked me to go to a night viewing with her at the local cinema.

We both were terrified, it is a nice memory thinking on how we both acted like teenagers, closing our eyes,screaming and holding on to each other. We held hands so tight as we walked in the dark to the car after the film. Mom was braver then me.

Poor Robert Urich, he like many others passed from colon cancer.

The Pickup

2025

Action / Comedy

A routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when mismatched armoured truck drivers Russell and Travis are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by savvy mastermind Zoe.

On Amazon Prime

I have fond memories of seeing the Night of the Living Dead.
I usually dislike horror films but strangely enough, my mother wanted to see it and asked me to go to a night viewing with her at the local cinema.
We both were terrified, it is a nice memory thinking on how we both acted like teenagers, closing our eyes,screaming and holding on to each other. We held hands so tight as we walked in the dark to the car after the film. Mom was braver then me.
Poor Robert Urich, he like many others passed from colon cancer. - @Marilyn Tassy

Your Mum had taste!  I expect she was seeing the posters and advertising for the movie. I was commuting to college in London when I saw the posters.  That was what got me.

The Night of the Living Dead I see as just the forerunner of Romero's real work.  The one I mentioned is Dawn of the Dead.   This is a classic of the zombie genre.  I didn't find it scary, I found it exciting.  It also put me on the path of liking all these dystopian movies where civilisation collapses.   There are a lot of those.  Amazing how Zombie movies have managed to survive as really they are much the same.  Of course, how zombies are powered is one of the mysteries of the entire thing.  They eat other people but are dead themselves.  Violates the laws of physics.

Others really like zombie movies, notably Simon Pegg (he eventually played Scottie in the later Star Trek movies).   He wrote Shaun of the Dead which is probably one of the best comedy movies satirising the zombie world. It's actually part of a trilogy.  Obscure factoid - Shaun works at a shop called Foree.   One of the main actors in Dawn of the Dead is Ken Foree. 

@SimCityAT

The plot’s cliché, action’s okay, and jokes mostly miss. Leads have some chemistry but weak script holds them back.

I watched a really good film the other night.

Just popped up on my U tube feed and decided to check it out.

Stared Jane Fonda, made in 1984.

The Dollmaker.

Excellent film; she played a down on her luck mountain mama of 5 who moved to the city for her husbands work during WW2.

I was surprised , no makeup, ragged clothing on Jane, a far cry from her usual glamour roles.

Sad story overall.

I watched a really good film the other night.
Just popped up on my U tube feed and decided to check it out.
Stared Jane Fonda, made in 1984.
The Dollmaker.
Excellent film; she played a down on her luck mountain mama of 5 who moved to the city for her husbands work during WW2.
I was surprised , no makeup, ragged clothing on Jane, a far cry from her usual glamour roles.
Sad story overall. - @Marilyn Tassy

What was it they called Jane Fonda?   Hanoi Jane?

She was a good actress though and appeared in so many reasonable and some unreasonable movies. 

Famous Dad no doubt helped improve her chances.   I always thought Henry made acting look effortless.  It was kind of like he slid into someone else's personality (at least on the screen).  Usually played authority figures - generals, police etc.

Canadian sci-fi show Plan B returns for Season 3 but it's really hard to find at any Internet near me.   It was really difficult to get Seasons 1 and 2.   6 episodes in Season 3.   All released Friday 8th August 2025.

I watched a really good film the other night.
Just popped up on my U tube feed and decided to check it out.
Stared Jane Fonda, made in 1984.
The Dollmaker.
Excellent film; she played a down on her luck mountain mama of 5 who moved to the city for her husbands work during WW2.
I was surprised , no makeup, ragged clothing on Jane, a far cry from her usual glamour roles.
Sad story overall. - @Marilyn Tassy
What was it they called Jane Fonda? Hanoi Jane?
She was a good actress though and appeared in so many reasonable and some unreasonable movies.

Famous Dad no doubt helped improve her chances. I always thought Henry made acting look effortless. It was kind of like he slid into someone else's personality (at least on the screen). Usually played authority figures - generals, police etc. - @fluffy2560

Yes, having famous family helps allot.

She is a good actress though. I liked her Netflix show ,Grace and Frankie.

Hanoi Jane, yes those were weird times.

She did cross the line considering so many young people were being drafted and forced into the military.Not all had the resources like she and her brother did.

Yes, having famous family helps allot.
She is a good actress though. I liked her Netflix show ,Grace and Frankie.
Hanoi Jane, yes those were weird times.
She did cross the line considering so many young people were being drafted and forced into the military.Not all had the resources like she and her brother did. - @Marilyn Tassy

Yes, she had a privileged life for sure.  Easy to be a protestor when she's got no chance of being drafted.  She was always on the left.

On the other hand, being on the right, I just read Dean Cain who played Superman back in the 1990s is joining ICE as an agent.  Of course, one has to wonder why?  And what's in it for him?   He's gone way down and hit rock bottom in my previously favourable memories of that Superman show.   He's off my Christmas card list.

Speaking as an leftist observer and non-American, anyone applying to have a frontline position in Federal law enforcement has to have suspect motivations, dodgy political leanings or even mental health issues.

Sweeping statement I know but that's the climate right now.

The Pickup2025Action / ComedyA routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when mismatched armoured truck drivers Russell and Travis are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by savvy mastermind Zoe.On Amazon Prime - @SimCityAT

Saw this and it was vaguely OK.  What surprised me is that the picture above actually shows Eddie Murphy in the middle.  Looks so much older as his face is puffy. 

The other actors are unknown (to me).   

There was reasonable jokey and clever banter between the participants.

It was about 1.5h and not unreasonable (or that memorable) but I wasn't left wishing it was 1.5h I would never get back.

The Pickup2025Action / ComedyA routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when mismatched armoured truck drivers Russell and Travis are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by savvy mastermind Zoe.On Amazon Prime - @SimCityAT
Saw this and it was vaguely OK. What surprised me is that the picture above actually shows Eddie Murphy in the middle. Looks so much older as his face is puffy.
The other actors are unknown (to me).

There was reasonable jokey and clever banter between the participants.

It was about 1.5h and not unreasonable (or that memorable) but I wasn't left wishing it was 1.5h I would never get back. - @fluffy2560

I never would of guessed it was Eddie Murphy.

Wow he sure has changed.

Weird thing, he used to remind me allot of my departed brother, that smile, the stash and the wild look in his eyes. My bro was rather dark but had straight hair, otherwise sort of the same physical vibes as Eddie.Crazy laugh too.

I watched a few so , so not worth mentioning films the past evenings.

I would really recommend that Jane Fonda film though, she outdid herself; I believe she also said it was her favorite movie the one she was proud of making.

The Pickup2025Action / Comedy
I never would of guessed it was Eddie Murphy.
Wow he sure has changed.
Weird thing, he used to remind me allot of my departed brother, that smile, the stash and the wild look in his eyes. My bro was rather dark but had straight hair, otherwise sort of the same physical vibes as Eddie.Crazy laugh too.
I watched a few so , so not worth mentioning films the past evenings.
I would really recommend that Jane Fonda film though, she outdid herself; I believe she also said it was her favorite movie the one she was proud of making. - @Marilyn Tassy

Yes, it surprised me.  I didn't even know he was in it until the titles started.   It's an OK movie, it's not a classic and I am sure they will have made money.  Age has caught up with Eddie like it does with everyone.  He's tried to kind of smooth himself out a bit but no amount of grooming is going to compensate for the passing of the years.  And he needs a counterfoil to his wise-cracking.  They teamed him up with a younger guy who apparently is a comedian (I've never heard of him).   Then the action sequences are done by the younger one/stunt doubles.

I don't know anyone who looks like anyone else.  I don't look like anyone which is just fine.

Very vaguely my BIL looks a bit like Nicholas Cage on his day off after a night on the town.

Mrs F - when she was younger - looked remarkably like Nathalie Guettà from certain angles.  As I remember her anyway.  Just to complete that picture, Ms Guetta is an French/Italian actress who appeared in a lot of Italian films and TV shows.  She's the older sister of the French DJ/musician David Guettà (yes, who? but apparently very popular).   She's much older than Mrs F.

There's a website for mysterious "twins" - it's here.  Amazing how some of them really are like twins but make up and dressing the same helps an awful lot to get that twin feel.

I'm downloading Jane Fonda.  Be useful to watch on a plane.

Yes, called, The Dollmaker.

Never heard of Nathalie Guetta, I probably have seen her in films and never paid attention;

Cute with a heart shaped face.

Many moons ago, I was told I looked like Jane Fonda, not really, my nose is different. Look more like the actress Molly Ringwald, or like a female Mick Jagger on a bad, bad day!

I used to be called names by Mexican kids, really rude, N.Lips, now that is a popular look to have filled lips, just my luck, over time they have thinned out!

Was looking into minor details about flying these days;

My gosh, they nickle and dime everything! Might as well bump up your seat to cover the costs they try to scam out of economy.

Started watching this on Netflix - not bad. 

Follows a psychological approach - Van Helsing tries to diagnose an insane instinct driven animal (aka Dracula).

Only 3 episodes but each 80-90m long.

Invasion returns on Friday 22nd August for Season 3.

Downloadable I expect within minutes of it airing on AppleTV.

An unusual post, this one is "Slow TV" from Sweden.  They are moving a 670 tonne church.

Click here to follow the church on its journey -  it's a LIVE stream.

Remarkable technology.  And looks like it's hugely popular to watch.  Looks cold there.  They've all got coats, hats and gloves on.  Artic circle.

BTW, it's an interesting Swedish title - Den stora kyrkflytten.  Stora must mean large.  Kyrk is like the Scottish word for church, Kirk. And Flytten must mean move - like the English word Flit or even Fly.  Forsta Dagen is easy - First Day.

This is tonight's movie - A Quiet Place:  Day One. 

Available at an Internet near you etc.

The head of the Guinness brewery is dead. Now his children must navigate power, rebellion and scandal…or risk losing it all.

From the creator of Peaky Blinders, HOUSE OF GUINNESS arrives on Netflix on 25 September.

Started this on Netflix.   

It's an oldie but 5 seasons of (Canadian made) apocalyptic vampire hunting.  Bit of a problem for good TV right now.

Hopefully it's a goldie.

The Legend of Billie Jean

1985 · 1 hr 36 min

PG-13

Action · Comedy

After a local affluent teen wrecks a cherished scooter, a young woman seeks damages. Instead, a shot is fired, ensuing a fugitive life for her.

Starring: Helen Slater, Christian Slater, Keith Gordon, Peter Coyote, Dean Stockwell

Directed by: Matthew Robbins

Not our usual fare but this one is a live stream of Starship Flight 10 from SpaceX

https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-10

Supposedly launching tomorrow, Tuesday 26 August, between 01.30 and 02.30 CET

Also on YT and NASA (Google for it).

This one will crash into the ocean (deliberately).