DMagill - 5-star author. Sci-fi. Movies. Reviews. @dmagillwrite

Next movie for the week: War of the Worlds (remake). I know this movie has a couple flaws. But it is incredible in so many ways - especially the first 30-40 minutes. Amazing to watch it unfold the way it does, and I love Cruise's response to what he sees happening. His flaws mingle with his good sense and worldly awareness, and he makes smart decisions, but then he has to deal with things outside his control - his kids, other people, and the aliens. This creates one dramatic moment after another, and it really works well. You really feel some victory when he frees himself from captivity later, and when they realize the shields are down. I particularly love the scene with Tim Robbins, and this line: "Do you understand what I'm going to have to do?" He recognizes the peril he and his daughter are in, and if Robbins doesn't shut up, he knows what action he must take. This sentence is how he warns him. It's a respectful way of speaking, kind of how a man might talk to another man after getting in a car accident. Formal language. As to the two major flaws: Flaw 1: Robbie (the son) surviving. While improbable, when you rewatch it, you realize there was time for Robbie to have run off to the side away from where the explosion ends up happening. He may have done that to get a better view and escapes the blast. This also serves the story because their reunion completes the character arcs for both. Flaw 2: The alien ships being underground. The thought occurred to me that perhaps, long ago, the aliens seeded their underground ships on hundreds of planets, not knowing which ones may later support life. Because their species survives by consuming other living things. So they wanted Earth to develop into a bustling world, because it would lead to more 'food'. Yes, it's a stretch, but it's enough to then be able to really appreciate the stuff the movie does so well.

@ScottKacsmar He's not 12 out of 12. Tenet was only okay - I love the ambition, but it didn't quite work. Dunkirk is for me his worst film and I would not call it even good. It was...quite boring, surprisingly. I was very disappointed.

@DollyT222027 This is TwiX. Sounds like a great idea for content - especially if you're not naming the novel.

@caseyshoots That is noteworthy for sure. I do think the first 2/3, basically up to the point when he ends up in the hospital, is about as perfect as it could be.

Next movie I watched this week: Dirty Harry. I don't know if I'd ever seen the unedited version, only the TV one. It really does turn into a mano y mano battle between the crazy killer and Callahan, and it's a taut script with no wasted time. It's raw and doesn't oversell Callahan's frustration about other forces within the system that perpetuate crime, but it still makes it clear they can be easily abused. I also appreciated the little worldbuilding authentic tidbits about the bad pay of being a cop at that time. He talks like a working class guy while also trying to fight crime and protect people - a nice combination and probably one reason the character is so likeable. Great dialogue. Not predictable - with several surprising turns. Tense. Believable. Overall a very impressive film.

Well that's true. But the difference is, being upset about something is also free speech. I'm not sure which movie you're referring to, but it certainly doesn't sound good. However, think of V for Vendetta. Have you seen it? This is a movie that, if you take it wrong, seems to be advocating for terrorism. It's not, but it's certainly raising some complicated questions, such as: At what point should people rise up and resort to violence against an oppressive government? Not a simple question.

I haven't seen it and probably won't, and this is in no way a commentary on the movie itself. But - here's the latest example of the left being against free speech. As if we needed another one. Look at the movies that get produced and distributed, with all the moral decay they contain, and no one says a word. And I'm not saying they should say a word. It's art. You don't have to like it, and you don't have to watch it. So why is this any different?

𝐍𝐢𝐨𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠 🇮🇷 ✡︎ @NiohBerg

3 days ago

If a film is so on point that Germany has to ban it, it's probably doing something right. The plot: An American man in Europe is fighting the imported migrant rape epidemic, because European leaders have betrayed and failed their people. Apparently this is verboten in 2026.

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@KamikazeCohen All the other movies? The nazis created their own films and art, and banned anything that didn't align with their warped worldview. That's one thing fascism does. You don't honestly believe the nazis believed in free speech do you?

@KamikazeCohen Uh.... not exactly a good argument bro. The Nazi would have banned all the other ones.

It's movie week. First up: The Ladykillers - a Coen Bros movie with Tom Hanks and his ultra-thick southern drawl. I think it's a hilarious movie and one of the Coens' that didn't get as much attention. The ending is perfect, and the gospel music makes the whole thing delightful. Each of the 5 criminals is so unique and well-defined, and the 'lady' gives a flawless performance.

If a film is so on point that Germany has to ban it, it's probably doing something right. The plot: An American man in Europe is fighting the imported migrant rape epidemic, because European leaders have betrayed and failed their people. Apparently this is verboten in 2026.

@AJ_Ravenhearst That was weird. In fact, Janet Leigh's entire character is weird.

Saw The Manchurian Candidate (1962) for the first time in decades. Pretty impressive stuff, and quite violent for a 60s movie. An effective visual approach to blending the mind control delusion with reality. And what a tragic story, just brutal. Angela Lansbury can act! Give it a watch.

@SLChalmersbooks It's amazing that the little old lady from Murder She Wrote could be so vile.

@JABvelin It was...it's a rare remake that actually delivered. Primarily I think because of 1) the actors and 2) they reset the story in the gulf war.

@kpmaloyauthor The one I hate the most is "must be familiar with other books like your own." I've looked. Haven't found ay like mine.

@ted_cox Interesting....

Well I didn't post yesterday because we were on the road. I wonder how many weeks it will be before X show my stuff to anyone again...

@TanyaHuff56372 I don't know if I'd call it "success" just yet. But the books are out.

Let's see... Write a blog on Goodreads? Write a blog on my website? Write long articles on X? Write long articles on LinkedIn? Or... Wonder if any of this matters and just write the next book.