Noir Watch: The Gangster ( 1947)

Watched:  07/15/2025

Format:  TCM

Viewing:  Second

You know what, I think I would just repeat myself - so here's my post on the movie from the first time I saw it back in 2018.  

I guess I'll mention - this movie stuck with me in a way that really surprised me.  I've almost purchased it on disc for a rewatch a number of times-  even as recently as a couple of weeks ago - and then it was listed as part of Noir Alley's offerings on TCM.  

I'm not sure it's the best movie in the world, but after seven years, it's one I thought about quite a bit, and that's not nothing.

Superman Second Watch: Superman (2025) - Part 2 - Characters

You can follow our posts on Superman at this link, and our posts on the new movie, Superman (2025) at this link.

For More on the Movie:

• Super Watch:  Superman (2025) - a pre review post
• Super First Watch:  Superman (2025)
• Superman Second Watch:  Superman (2025) - Part 1 - Likes/Dislikes/Punk Rock Superman
• Superman Second Watch: Superman (2025) - Part 2 - Characters
• Superman Second Watch: Superman (2025) - Part 3 -  If You Now Like Superman, Hooray!

So, this is my consideration of the casting and portrayal of some key characters in the film.  I'm bringing my opinions as an avid Superman comics reader, who prefers certain portrayals - often tied to certain eras.  But I'll be mostly discussing portrayals in the comics over the last two decades.

One thing that Gunn seems keen on doing is not re-imagining characters too much.  Except when he does, and I'll get to that.  But the default between Gunn and John Papsidera to go with types for archetypes.  Which may be a bit different from what Sarah Hailey Finn has been doing at Marvel - to great success - which has been finding a personality that will be kind of what you expect, but with a spin.  And that's how you wind up with Tatiana Maslany as She-Hulk rather than a 6'2" weightlifter.

SPOILERS FOLLOW

Doc Watch: Jaws @ 50 - The Definitive Inside Story (2025)

Watched:  07/10/2025

Format:  Hulu?

Viewing:  First

Director:  Laurent Bouzereau

A victory lap for Jaws, this doc is an uncritical look at the movie on its 50th anniversary.  And that's great!  How many movies earn this? 

There's interviews new and old, and despite the fact I think I've seen two prior Jaws documentaries, Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story (2025) still manages to feel a bit fresh as it provides some new info but mostly how it contextualizes the movie in 1975, after, and now.  Sure, there's the "making this was rough" parts of the doc, but more details abound and how much the film is now woven into Martha's Vineyard's shared history.  How involved the whole island really was - I really didn't know until now.

Spielberg is one of *the* storytellers of the last 70 years, so of course he's captivating on camera and his stories about the movie during and after are engaging - and maybe even true.

Many who worked on the film have since passed, of course, but there's still many around - those who played kids are now aging adults.  Lorraine Gary even appears.  Dreyfus, always a problem child, is not in the film except as archival footage, which is odd as he's been touring for years to supposedly talk about Jaws (I think he's been canceled or something recently, so maybe that got him cut).

But the biggest delight is learning that Emily Blunt is a huge Jaws nerd.  Who knew?

Regret Watch: Jaws - The Revenge (1987)

Watched:  07/13/2025

Format:  Prime

Viewing:  Second (god help me)

Director:  Stanley Morgan

A while back, SimonUK and I podcasted this trainwreck.  Over the past six years, I'd forgotten how truly terrible this movie is.  Like - I don't understand how this is a studio movie with professional actors, and studio backing and intended for a human audience.

It's maybe not the worst movie I've ever seen, but.. for a studio movie?   it's up there.

Jaws: the Revenge (1987) is a movie that admits - in movie, by way of recycled footage - that the only reason it exists is that they hope you liked the first one.  But they have to admit, they do not know what this movie is about.  Because if it's about a giant shark, they all know to stay out of the water.  If it's about the lives of the Brody's, post-Martin Brody's untimely passing - no one asked or wanted to see it, and as a slice-of-life movie about mourning, they forget to be sad for the second half of the movie, and the movie instead gets very randy.

Waco Watch: Action USA (1989)

Watched:  07/12/2025

Format:  Prime

Viewing:  First

Director:  John Stewart

After he'd recommended it to me twice, I took JAL up on his suggestion of this particular flick.  I meant to watch this for the 4th of July, but we got busy, so here you go.  My salute to America.

Action USA (1989) is probably the best high-action movie shot in Waco during the 1980's.

I very much remember Waco in the 1980s.  It was, aside from Baylor, a town that had seen its best days 30 years prior and was not yet recovered from the economic turns of the 1970's and 80's.  In a few short years, we'd have the Branch Davidian stand-off near here.  And then, much later, Joanna Gaines would convince people Waco was the shit, which... TV is a powerful drug, y'all.  Somehow, the second worst college town in Texas is now a tourist destination for people who like overpriced wooden spoons and mediocre football.

Anyway, it is always weird/ a delight seeing the landscape of my part of Texas in a movie.  And buildings that still stand that I am a bit familiar with from a job I had ten years ago when I was in Waco a lot.

Superman Second Watch: Superman (2025) - Part 1 - Likes/ Dislikes/ Punk Rock Superman

You can follow our posts on Superman at this link, and our posts on the new movie, Superman (2025) at this link.

Watched:  07/12/2025

Format:  Drafthouse

Viewing:  Second

Director:  still James Gunn

For More on the Movie:

• Super Watch:  Superman (2025) - a pre review post
• Super First Watch:  Superman (2025)
• Superman Second Watch:  Superman (2025) - Part 1 - Likes/Dislikes/Punk Rock Superman
• Superman Second Watch: Superman (2025) - Part 2 - Characters
• Superman Second Watch: Superman (2025) - Part 3 -  If You Now Like Superman, Hooray!

We've already posted on seeing Superman (2025) as an initial, kinda spoiler-light/ spoiler-free take that was really about how gobsmacked I was to see a Superman movie that actually cared about four-color comics and what Superman actually stands for.  

While celebrating that the movie felt like a DC comicbook in that first post, I didn't get into the issues I had with the movie, because I wanted to make sure I didn't just miss something.  I also didn't discuss the characters beyond our primary trio of Superman, Lois and Lex - plus Krypto.  Or a few other things I figured I'd cover in a subsequent posts.

In this post, I really don't want to get too much into the social media stuff happening around this film, and, believe me... it is tempting.  There is some incredibly disappointing stuff happening out there.

SUPER SPOILERS AHEAD

What did and did not work

So what didn't work (for me)

Super First Watch: Superman (2025)

Watched:  07/08/2025

Format:  AMC IMAX

Viewing:  First

Director:  James Gunn

You can follow our posts on Superman at this link, and our posts on the new movie, Superman (2025) at this link.

For More on the Movie:

• Super Watch:  Superman (2025) - a pre review post
• Super First Watch:  Superman (2025)
• Superman Second Watch:  Superman (2025) - Part 1 - Likes/Dislikes/Punk Rock Superman
• Superman Second Watch: Superman (2025) - Part 2 - Characters
• Superman Second Watch: Superman (2025) - Part 3 -  If You Now Like Superman, Hooray!

Light spoilers ahead.  We'll do another post or two on the movie getting deeper into details.

Well, kids.  We made it.  It's 2025, and we have a Superman movie.  

We posted some details of our screening previously, right after Jamie and I took in the flick.

At the top - I'll say, a good portion of my life has been spent reading Superman comic books, watching Superman films, television, cartoons, etc... I've read non-fiction about Superman's storied history as a pop-culture figure and feel pretty confident in saying that I'm up to date on the character.

And, yet, it is very, very strange to see Superman come to the screen and feel less like an interpretation of Superman re-imagined for the big screen by people wanting to put their own stamp on the character, and instead get a movie that feels like someone took a really terrific event Superman comic run and said "this is what we're doing.  On the screen.  With a budget that's equal to roughly the combined GDP of Europe."

Super Watch: Superman (2025) - a pre review post

You can follow our posts on Superman at this link, and our posts on the new movie, Superman (2025) at this link.

For More on the Movie:

• Super Watch:  Superman (2025) - a pre review post
• Super First Watch:  Superman (2025)
• Superman Second Watch:  Superman (2025) - Part 1 - Likes/Dislikes/Punk Rock Superman
• Superman Second Watch: Superman (2025) - Part 2 - Characters

This isn't the actual review.  I'll start on that ASAP and get it done - don't worry!  (Because I know how you worry, pals!)  But I also don't want folks really reading what I have to say until the film has been out more than a few random screenings on a Tuesday.

We saw Superman (2025) at the AMC Barton Creek on Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 as part of an oddball promotion with Amazon Prime, Fandango and Superman I guess.  

I'll say this:  I really, really liked the movie.  If all you want to know is if I think it's worth a viewing - sure.  Go get a ticket.  

Much as I went into Black Panther terrified this was going to go badly and then was just stunned by what I saw, this was that - only bigger.  It may surprise you to learn I have a lot invested in Superman as a character.

It was also wild to walk into a theater full of people not just in Superman shirts, but sporting the S from this movie in large quantities.  When you shop at one of the biggest comic shops on the continent and they *still* know you as "the Superman guy" it can feel like maybe you're the one person who likes the character.  But holy cats, did the Superman fans come out of the woodwork tonight.  The dudes in front of me were regularly quietly high-fiving.  

Anyhow - I don't think this is just opening night hype. 

Y'all go see my guy, Clark, and his cool friends.

Rock Watch: This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Watched:  07/06/2025

Format:  Alamo

Viewing:  Unknown

Director:  Rob Reiner/ Marti DiBergi

SimonUK and I took in the re-release of This is Spinal Tap (1984) at the Alamo on Sunday evening.  

I don't need to tell you what This Is Spinal Tap is, I hope.  Apparently, The Drafthouse has signed up to host Fathom events, and this included the viewing of the new 4K restoration of the movie, but it's sort of America's original faux-documentary.  It led directly to Christopher Guest's brilliant mockumentary* series and indirectly to the format of shows like The Office and Parks and Rec.  

I have lost track of when and how I saw this movie the first time.  I remember seeing it very young, and not really getting the jokes - minus the "it goes to 11" bit (I want to say as early as 1985 or 1986) but then seeing it again at the end of high school and absolutely getting it (maybe in 1992-93).  By then, I'd had a subscription to Rolling Stone, so some of the references and gags - like the cricket bat - made more sense.

Superman 2025 Pre-Watch: Superman - The Movie (1978)

Watched:  07/05/2025

Viewing:  a lot.  Whole bunch of times.

Format:  Max

Director:  Richard Donner

You can follow our posts on Superman at this link, and our posts on the new movie, Superman (2025) at this link.

In prep for seeing Superman 2025 on the 8th, I figured I owed the OG classic one more spin before settling in for what Big Blue has to offer us in our modern era.  

To catch folks up, I saw Superman: The Movie (1978) during its initial release in December of 1978 or shortly thereafter.  Maybe in Spring of 1979.  But I'd certainly seen it in the theater with my dad and brother during that window when I was 3.  I recall seeing it, as they were giving away gumball machines that were red or blue, and at that time, my brother's stuff was coded blue, and mine was red, so my parents could be even-steven giving us things, but we knew what belonged to who.

I think often of how spoiled we were as kids in the 1980s.  One of my first movies outings was seeing Star Wars in the theater at age 2, and then all of the paraphernalia around the movie from toys to wall paper .  To me, movies were just where mind-boggling things happened, and what was the point if you weren't seeing something amazing?