Atomic Blonde - July 2017

[spanner]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2406566/

Never been a big fan of Charlize Theron but I rather like her in this!

[electric indigo]

Sofia Boutella & The Politics of Dancing!

And while we're in the 80s:

 

[sh9000]

 

[glane21]

I saw a screening of this a couple weeks ago.  It was surprisingly good, especially if you were a teen in the 80s.

[sh9000]

 

[hachi]

Just saw this. Good movie.

Spoiler

However, I didn't get why James McAvoy just didn't tell who Satchel was over the phone?

 

[hachi]

I'm debating with myself whether to rewatch the movie again (if it's still showing this weekend). Or maybe I'll just listen to youtube instead? The soundtrack just transports me to a different time.

 

 

[peter]

Lol, John Wick female version?  

Charlize is hot, but she's an anti-gun hypocrite.  Not giving her any more money unless she starts doing porn.

[TangledThorns]

6 hours ago, peter said:

Lol, John Wick female version?  

Charlize is hot, but she's an anti-gun hypocrite.  Not giving her any more money unless she starts doing porn.

That's half of Hollywood right there

[peter]

15 minutes ago, TangledThorns said:

That's half of Hollywood right there

Sad, but true.  Keanu Reeves seems like a good dude.

 

Edited August 1, 2017 by peter

[mechaninac]

6 hours ago, peter said:

Charlize is hot, but she's an anti-gun hypocrite...

It's easy for these holier-than-thou elitists to be anti-gun when they've got the means to hire armed bodyguards or have bodyguards hired by third parties for their benefit... the irony never seems to get through to their echo chambered brains...

[Kanedas Bike]

So by the logic of the last few posts, an actor is a hypocrite or elitist idiot (or whatever colorful metaphor like those sprinkled around) if for example they play a villain but don't support said villain's beliefs or causes in real life?

And don't assume my stance on that issue because I posed the question.

And on-topic, the movie looks like it might be fun but it smacks of wanting to take advantage of the success of John Wick - my only issue would be the appearance of, or actual serious lack of originality. 

-b.

[TangledThorns]

 

2 hours ago, peter said:

Sad, but true.  Keanu Reeves seems like a good dude.

 

Chris Pratt is pro-gun too. Lot of them stay in the 'closet' out of fear of being black listed.

[peter]

14 hours ago, Kanedas Bike said:

So by the logic of the last few posts, an actor is a hypocrite or elitist idiot (or whatever colorful metaphor like those sprinkled around) if for example they play a villain but don't support said villain's beliefs or causes in real life?

And don't assume my stance on that issue because I posed the question.

And on-topic, the movie looks like it might be fun but it smacks of wanting to take advantage of the success of John Wick - my only issue would be the appearance of, or actual serious lack of originality. 

-b.

It's not so much the role they play, it's that they earn income from films that have generate interest through the use of firearms and their usage.  

As mechaninac pointed out, these actors are quick to dismiss your rights to bear arms, but have no qualms about hiring armed body guards for themselves.  Liam Neeson is another tosser I can't stand.

TangledThorns, I heard about Chris Pratt as well and I'd buy him a drink.  Johnny Strong is another pro gun guy and he was pretty good in Sinners and Saints.  Tom Cruise seems to handle firearms proficiently as well, he was pretty good in Collateral.  

And back on topic, it seems we share the same sentiment that this film is trying to cash in on the success of John Wick, though Ms. Theron doesn't look like she trained as hard as Keanu.  

 

[Kanedas Bike]

26 minutes ago, peter said:

It's not so much the role they play, it's that they earn income from films that have generate interest through the use of firearms and their usage.  

As mechaninac pointed out, these actors are quick to dismiss your rights to bear arms, but have no qualms about hiring armed body guards for themselves.  Liam Neeson is another tosser I can't stand.

TangledThorns, I heard about Chris Pratt as well and I'd buy him a drink.  Johnny Strong is another pro gun guy and he was pretty good in Sinners and Saints.  Tom Cruise seems to handle firearms proficiently as well, he was pretty good in Collateral.  

And back on topic, it seems we share the same sentiment that this film is trying to cash in on the success of John Wick, though Ms. Theron doesn't look like she trained as hard as Keanu.  

 

Ah, okay. Then with that in mind then that would be hypocritical. It's like being a non-smoker, but having your TV Show/Movie/Radio Show, etc sponsored by big tobacco.

In fair disclosure I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to actors or celebrities views on things like that, because I usually don't care. I haven't seen them be "in your face" about anti-this or pro-that, but again even if they were I'd likely ignore it.

And re: training she likely didn't, you could tell that Wick was a passion project and Keanu is/has treated it as such. And it shows. I don't get that same sense about Atomic Blonde.

Thanks very much for adding some context. 

-b.

[electric indigo]

I read that Theron actually did train with Reeves when he was shaping up for John Wick II.

[peter]

30 minutes ago, electric indigo said:

I read that Theron actually did train with Reeves when he was shaping up for John Wick II.

Sorry, nope.

 

http://www.justjared.com/2017/07/25/charlize-theron-sorta-trained-with-keanu-reeves-for-atomic-blonde/

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4729542/Charlize-Theron-pal-Keanu-Reeves-trained-gym.html

 

Charlize......we're waiting.......

 

Edited August 2, 2017 by peter

[Thom]

I have no interest in Atomic Blonde, but it seems weird how this has become the Charlze Theron Bashing Thread...

Edited August 2, 2017 by Thom

[mechaninac]

No one is bashing Charlize Theron specifically, at least that was not what I wrote.  The overriding theme is one of a general frustration and bewilderment at these incredibly privileged actors' cavalier penchant to tell people to do as they say, and not as they do.  It's tiresome.  Charlize is a good actress, and I don't begrudge her playing roles that may directly contradict her beliefs; it's her job and her craft, after all... but it is elitist, hypocritical, and disingenuous to push an agenda that will never affect her personally and that she (using her/she as a stand-in for they) does not live by 100%.

 

As for the movie itself... it strikes me as just another "girl" power movie (110 lb petite woman beating up men twice or more her weight without breaking a sweat... the cliche is getting very old).  I have no intention to watch this until it hits basic cable.

[peter]

3 hours ago, mechaninac said:

No one is bashing Charlize Theron specifically, at least that was not what I wrote.  The overriding theme is one of a general frustration and bewilderment at these incredibly privileged actors' cavalier penchant to tell people to do as they say, and not as they do.  It's tiresome.  Charlize is a good actress, and I don't begrudge her playing roles that may directly contradict her beliefs; it's her job and her craft, after all... but it is elitist, hypocritical, and disingenuous to push an agenda that will never affect her personally and that she (using her/she as a stand-in for they) does not live by 100%.

 

As for the movie itself... it strikes me as just another "girl" power movie (110 lb petite woman beating up men twice or more her weight without breaking a sweat... the cliche is getting very old).  I have no intention to watch this until it hits basic cable.

Misogynist....... Lol, kidding.

[kajnrig]

3 hours ago, mechaninac said:

As for the movie itself... it strikes me as just another "girl" power movie (110 lb petite woman beating up men twice or more her weight without breaking a sweat... the cliche is getting very old).  I have no intention to watch this until it hits basic cable.

Dunno what everyone's going on about right now, but as far as the movie goes, I saw it the other day and it very much does not veer into this specific territory. She wins more battles than she loses because she kind of has to for the movie to work, but her character gets thrown around more than she does the throwing.

I kept falling asleep in the beginning, partly because it was slow going but mainly because I had gotten up for a matinee and was still tired. The action is as well-choreographed as anything you'd see from John Wick, though the style of it is obviously different. Less "ruthlessly efficient killing" and more "fighting to survive." The story's... there. They frame the action within a spy thriller, which works well enough, I suppose. But it takes itself a bit too seriously. Like Metal Gear Solid without the intentional/unintentional camp.

I enjoyed it while it lasted, like John Wick, but also like John Wick, it's one of those that I wouldn't care either way if I saw again or not.

[hachi]

I have never seen John Wick that's why I can't do any comparison. I also usually don't delve too deeply into the artists' politics/offscreen behavior but I do avoid movies by actors I don't like (if I can). I guess ignorance is bliss lol

[kajnrig]

2 hours ago, hachi said:

but I do avoid movies by actors I don't like (if I can). I guess ignorance is bliss lol

This is true, and I'm not a fan of Theron in general. I'd been on the fence because I knew it was by the same team as JW, and then a friend recommended it, so I figured $5 and 2 hours ain't much to spend on a movie.

[spacemanoeuvres]

13 hours ago, mechaninac said:

strikes me as just another "girl" power movie (110 lb petite woman beating up men twice or more her weight without breaking a sweat... the cliche is getting very old).  I have no intention to watch this until it hits basic cable.

I feel the same but I don't have cable so it's a pass for me haha

[kalvasflam]

Well, let's face it, Hollywood loves glorifying violence, that's how these people earn big bucks, cause violence and sex (porn) sells.   But these megastars can't do porn, the market is too flooded.  So violence is a better alternative, after all, there just aren't that many movies that can turn around and bring in the megabucks like guys putting buckets of bullets into other people.  The core belief of all these celebs is money, if you give them a choice between money and their morals, there is no contest.

Having said that, the movie looks pretty good.  And Charlize has to earn a living, she is past her 30s right?  Wasn't there a barrier to actresses going past a certain age, they are no longer that interesting to Hollywood except as the bad guy (Hello, Meryl steep)

[Thom]

22 hours ago, mechaninac said:

No one is bashing Charlize Theron specifically, at least that was not what I wrote.  The overriding theme is one of a general frustration and bewilderment at these incredibly privileged actors' cavalier penchant to tell people to do as they say, and not as they do.  It's tiresome.  Charlize is a good actress, and I don't begrudge her playing roles that may directly contradict her beliefs; it's her job and her craft, after all... but it is elitist, hypocritical, and disingenuous to push an agenda that will never affect her personally and that she (using her/she as a stand-in for they) does not live by 100%.

 

As for the movie itself... it strikes me as just another "girl" power movie (110 lb petite woman beating up men twice or more her weight without breaking a sweat... the cliche is getting very old).  I have no intention to watch this until it hits basic cable.

Not to belabor the issue, but I'll just point out that when she was fifteen, she saw her mother shoot and kill her father, an abusive man who had been wielding a gun himself at the time. So her stance does come from personal experience.

As for the movie, I'll check it out on DVD when it comes out. She's not a favorite of mine and I'm not much for spy thrillers. Sorry James Bond...