IudexMiku's recent activity
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Comment on What are the genuinely worst films of all time? in ~movies
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Comment on What are the genuinely worst films of all time? in ~movies
IudexMiku Link ParentI'll have to pass on that. I saw it at release, and it's a film I really hate for a lot of reasons. It buys into the idea decadence is what made the Roman Empire fall, and when you push that onto...I'll have to pass on that. I saw it at release, and it's a film I really hate for a lot of reasons. It buys into the idea decadence is what made the Roman Empire fall, and when you push that onto the contemporary USA Coppola comes up with Shia LeBeouf's character: an incestuous transvestite Nazi whose followers are immigrants.
There's a scene where the city is damaged by a Soviet satellite, with a big focus on the iirc hammer and sickle on it, as a hamfisted one-note scene about the lurking danger of communism I guess.
Of course women are treated terribly. Of the two I remember, one is portrayed as an evil seductress and the other gives up on her dreams and personality to have babies with Adam Driver.
It's ultimately this big great man theory thing where the common people just don't understand Adam Driver's beautiful future where instead of houses people will live in glowing flowers. The richest man ever realises that he's enabled the fall of society and murders the evil seductress and the transphobic caricature at the last minute, saving the day.
I'm not a fan of any of this, to say the least. OP said to leave off Birth of a Nation style films, which is the main reason I didn't bring it up.
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Comment on What are the genuinely worst films of all time? in ~movies
IudexMiku LinkSomeone else has already mentioned Megalopolis, so I'd pick The Blood Beast Terror: an extremely cheap 60s horror film that Peter Cushing thought was the worst thing he ever starred in. It's...Someone else has already mentioned Megalopolis, so I'd pick The Blood Beast Terror: an extremely cheap 60s horror film that Peter Cushing thought was the worst thing he ever starred in.
It's incredibly dull. The story, characters, the way it's shot, there's just nothing of interest in it. There's a scene of a play with intentional bad acting that's honestly no worse than the rest of the film. Most scenes contribute little to the story, and ultimately Peter Cushing, playing a detective, saves the day by having other people do the work for him while he just talks about fishing.
My favourite goof is ~2/3 of the way in, when some member of the production team wanders into the centre of the shot by mistake and hides behind a hedge. -
Comment on Where do we go from here? (Regarding AI) in ~tech
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Comment on Where do we go from here? (Regarding AI) in ~tech
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Comment on Where do we go from here? (Regarding AI) in ~tech
IudexMiku Link ParentPerhaps I'm misunderstanding something here, but are you saying racism was invented in the 1900s because of a lack of religion? This all sounds extremely ahistorical and ungrounded.Perhaps I'm misunderstanding something here, but are you saying racism was invented in the 1900s because of a lack of religion? This all sounds extremely ahistorical and ungrounded.
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Comment on Where do we go from here? (Regarding AI) in ~tech
IudexMiku LinkSometimes I feel like some people (not to signal out OP, but I've seen this sentiment shared elsewhere) live in a parallel universe to me. I am not concerned by AI developments in the slightest...Sometimes I feel like some people (not to signal out OP, but I've seen this sentiment shared elsewhere) live in a parallel universe to me. I am not concerned by AI developments in the slightest and never have been. It has no bearing on my personal life and I have no worries about my professional life being negatively affected by AI. I use it for work, in which I get generally poor results from Claude Opus.
It has had no impact on my hobbies or plans in life, let alone my sense of identity or my understanding of where humans stand in the world.
If it was able to solve a Millennium Prize Problem, I will sleep the same at night (although it looks like that's currently in a heated debate and there's decent odds it just finished off existing human work). -
Comment on A24 boards SCP Foundation movie from Spooky Pictures and Image Nation, sets 2027 release in ~movies
IudexMiku LinkThe fact they have avoided contact with the wiki suggests to me they'll try to pass it off as their own legally distinct foundation (a silly idea after announcing it this way). The wiki's...The fact they have avoided contact with the wiki suggests to me they'll try to pass it off as their own legally distinct foundation (a silly idea after announcing it this way). The wiki's statement on the matter gives a good rundown of why making a film under this licence is highly unusual.
https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/statement-on-vhs-film -
Comment on Emily Wilson’s critique of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” in ~movies
IudexMiku (edited )LinkThis is a genuinely frustrating review to read. I hate it. It has this smarmy ignorance about it. There's a bizarre amount of factual errors as to what's in the film. While Emily Wilson is...This is a genuinely frustrating review to read. I hate it. It has this smarmy ignorance about it. There's a bizarre amount of factual errors as to what's in the film. While Emily Wilson is obviously very qualified to discuss the Odyssey, I'm not convinced her critique of the film is any good. It reminds me of the recurring phenomenon of talented people in one area assuming their skills are applicable or transferable to another area of expertise.
She reduces every dark skinned character's role to Odysseus's "Black best friend", even when they do disagree with Odysseus, never meet him, or aren't even Black. Nolan's inclusion of Travis Scott is very obviously to link storytelling and musical traditions across place and time, relating contemporary Black American music with ancient Greek traditions. Saying that he was just pounding a stick and yelling instead of singing or playing an instrument reads like every other racist criticism of rap music from the last 50 years.
I think there is validity to her discussion of Nolan's treatment of women. It's been a regular issue with his works forever, and it's generally my biggest gripe with his films (just after his dialogue).
But there's some parts to this review that make me suspect she's just never seen a film before and lacks the ability to connect dots together when information is presented in this format. She just can't seem to infer anything!Rant about obvious inconsistencies between the review and the film that make me wonder if she fell asleep during it.
The Trojan horse is Odysseus's idea that he takes full blame for; why would we need to see him design it? (Also we very much do see some of the construction.)
She says she likes the line where Zendaya states the gods speak through natural forces, but in the same paragraph she can't connect the lightning storm to Zeus speaking?
Her claim that the film says Mycenaean Greece is the only civilisation in the world is very strange to me because that's just not in the film? Textually, Odysseus believes local civility was destroyed with the fall of Troy.
Odysseus calmly watches a puppy being thrown off a cliff, which she doesn't categorise as "cruelty to animals" apparently? Blinding Polyphemus can only be read as "noble" if you missed the next scene where Odysseus is immediately criticised for setting Poseidon against his crew. He doesn't fool Polyphemus, but only if you ignore the ploy to disguise the soldiers with the sheep. Is Agamemnon a failed American family man for killing his daughter or does she think that's not frowned upon in any other time or place? If we don't see any of the Trojans' faces, then who does she think Zendaya is playing?Honestly, just a terrible review. It's inconsistent with the film it's reviewing. If there was a thematic element from Homer's Odyssey that should have been present, or if there was more of a story involving a female character, I would've loved to learn that. I'd love to learn her thoughts on Nolan making Odysseus regret his betrayal of the Trojan's trust. And I definitely want to read more about the use of the Western Sahara for filming. I think there are valid complaints. But, for example, watching Circe's portrayal in the film - which establishes her actions as reasonable and she even goes unpunished for them - and the only comment on that Wilson has is to suggest Odysseus have sex with her for a year? I'm baffled. I think she truly lacks reading comprehension in the medium.
(Also the food does look good. I really want to try Polyphemus' sheep cheese.)
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Comment on Ukraine ‘cuts off’ Crimea from Russia, plunging it into an energy crisis in ~society
IudexMiku Link ParentI agree. I suppose the main reason Ukraine hasn't renounced its claim to Crimea yet is that it'd be demoralising for the war effort to seen as ceding territory to the enemy.I agree. I suppose the main reason Ukraine hasn't renounced its claim to Crimea yet is that it'd be demoralising for the war effort to seen as ceding territory to the enemy.
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Comment on Ukraine ‘cuts off’ Crimea from Russia, plunging it into an energy crisis in ~society
IudexMiku LinkI'll never understand why the Ukrainian government thinks bombing Crimea will encourage them to rejoin. Cutting off their electricity seems needlessly cruel. You would think that it would've...I'll never understand why the Ukrainian government thinks bombing Crimea will encourage them to rejoin. Cutting off their electricity seems needlessly cruel.
You would think that it would've crossed their minds that bombing what's supposedly still their own territory would increase anti-Ukrainian resentment there. I wonder if punishing Crimeans for leaving is seen as a war goal for Ukraine.
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Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts
IudexMiku LinkDo you not see any hypocrisy between declaring that modern art shouldn't be called art, and calling its proponents "snobbish", despite you bring the one with the more restrictive definition of...Do you not see any hypocrisy between declaring that modern art shouldn't be called art, and calling its proponents "snobbish", despite you bring the one with the more restrictive definition of art?
Not to sound like I'm accusing you of anything, because I'm not and I think a lot of people have this innate dislike or disinterest of modern art (for classist reasons I suspect), but it might be worth reading up about this other group of people who infamously didn't like modern art and seeing why you're drawing similar conclusions to them.
Personally, I've little love for classical works of art. Once you've seen one portrait of white Jesus you've seen them all, it's all too Christian for me.
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Comment on What do you think about Destiny 2’s imminent death and games as a service? in ~games
IudexMiku LinkI think Destiny 2 had plenty of opportunities to keep growing, and seemingly alienated almost all of its playbase over the last two years especially, but there's honestly been so many years of...I think Destiny 2 had plenty of opportunities to keep growing, and seemingly alienated almost all of its playbase over the last two years especially, but there's honestly been so many years of corporate mismanagement at this point. They should've hired Seth Dickinson as a narrative director 10 years ago.
I fell off it ~10 months ago, with the release of Edge of Fate. I thought it was mediocre, but it came with an overhaul of all loot that finally killed it for me. Maybe the Portal and tier system was pushed by management just to have something different (similar to how Spotify makes constant UI changes), because it does feel like a change that sounds good if you don't have to use it.
The final update has me excited for Destiny 2 for the first time in ages. They're cutting out big chunks of the Portal, bringing back reasons to visit destinations directly, and they seem to be making high tier items much more common. It does feel like someone at Bungie is genuinely pushing for changes I agree with. If this update came out 8 months ago or earlier I think Destiny 2 would still be in active development.
As for live-services games in general, I was never invested in any others the way I was in Destiny, which was forever on the verge of being quite good. I certainly don't have any interest in Marathon, and I probably won't check out another Bungie project unless a Destiny 3 ever materialises.
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Comment on 'Bloodborne' video game getting R-rated animated movie adaptation in ~movies
IudexMiku Link ParentHardly random. I was never a big youtube person but he's a fairly major name as they go. He has a decently long Wikipedia article even. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JacksepticeyeHardly random. I was never a big youtube person but he's a fairly major name as they go. He has a decently long Wikipedia article even.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacksepticeye -
Comment on I think Tildes moderators and admins may need to make a decision regarding how to handle Harry Potter related posts in ~tildes
IudexMiku LinkAs one of the people who does feel the need to always bring up Rowling's horrific and harmful politics, I will continue to do so. I personally care a lot more about the real harm being done to...- Exemplary
As one of the people who does feel the need to always bring up Rowling's horrific and harmful politics, I will continue to do so. I personally care a lot more about the real harm being done to trans people than I care about the feelings of fans of Harry Potter, and that's not a position that will change.
Just for once I'd prefer to have a little place on the internet that doesn't cater to Harry Potter fans over trans people. -
Comment on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone | Teaser in ~tv
IudexMiku Link ParentMoney spent on Harry Potter goes into her pockets, which she in turn funnels into her hate groups. It's a very simple pipeline. Giving money to Rowling openly and directly supports her bigotry....Money spent on Harry Potter goes into her pockets, which she in turn funnels into her hate groups. It's a very simple pipeline. Giving money to Rowling openly and directly supports her bigotry. She's right to consider it an endorsement of what she does.
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Comment on Eyes of Iran: how the regime secretly monitors its citizens in ~society
IudexMiku LinkThis is propaganda funded by the proudly Reaganite National Endowment for Democracy. It's terrible that so many countries have this type of technology and abuse it. But signalling out Iran for...This is propaganda funded by the proudly Reaganite National Endowment for Democracy.
It's terrible that so many countries have this type of technology and abuse it. But signalling out Iran for this as some unique evil is a clear attempt to justify the US and Israel's "liberation" of the Iranian people. Otherwise they would've run this article about the 34 other countries who use this same technology. (Not that their evidence is very strong even. It's "impossible to verify" its use in the protests and the main evidence of its use and efficacy appears to be from marketing materials, not genuine details of its operation.)
Plenty of Iranians mourn Ali Khamenei, not that you'd know from reading this. And from the opening you might think Iranians are more concerned about text messages than American missiles! The ongoing atrocities in Iran are downplayed repeatedly because this group directly receives money from an arm of the US regime.
I don't have much love for Iran, but this is as obvious post hoc justification for war as anything. This is manufactured consent for bombing whoever the USA doesn't like.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~games
IudexMiku LinkThis comes off as the soulless corporate retread of Disco Elysium I expected. I like the idea of the temporary buffs/debuffs being assigned physical locations, but that's about it. I know this has...This comes off as the soulless corporate retread of Disco Elysium I expected. I like the idea of the temporary buffs/debuffs being assigned physical locations, but that's about it. I know this has big shoes to fill, but I think it's off to a rough start writing-wise even putting all the ZA/UM legal drama aside.
Harry starts off talking to himself in a void because he's semiconscious and delirious after a three day bender. Hershel starts the same way not because there seems to be something wrong with her, but because it's copying Disco Elysium.
The player learns who Harry is by talking to the people who put up with him, by reassembling his horrific outfit, and by seeing the terrible grimace etched onto his face. The player learns who Hershel is when she reads a file with facts about herself written in it. I feel this is the least subtle and maybe most boring method to communicate her background, sexuality, etc.And this complaint is more personal distaste, but I cannot stand the narrator's voice at all. This video was a hard watch.
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Comment on Russia poisoned Alexei Navalny with dart frog toxin, European nations say in ~society
IudexMiku LinkMaybe someone here has a better idea why Navalny was killed? I remember the high-profile novichok attempt in 2020, but it looks like he went through years of legal proceedings and imprisonment...Maybe someone here has a better idea why Navalny was killed? I remember the high-profile novichok attempt in 2020, but it looks like he went through years of legal proceedings and imprisonment afterwards.
The article claims Russia had a motive for killing him, but I don't understand it really. If they were going to assassinate him, why did they wait three years and ship him across the country first?
My assumption would've been the FSB wanted to make it look like natural causes, but they're quite infamous for their obvious poisonings. -
Comment on For Those I Love - I Have A Love (Overmono Remix) (2023) in ~music
IudexMiku LinkCool! I've got a friend who's a big fan of the original. Lots of good music coming out of Dublin in the last few years.Cool! I've got a friend who's a big fan of the original. Lots of good music coming out of Dublin in the last few years.
I think you're focusing on narrative justifications for symbolic decisions and thus missing the forest for the trees. Shia LaBeouf plays a perverted crossdresser who leads the downfall of society; do you think this is a coincidence? Is there a maligned group of people who are perhaps accused of being this very thing Shia represents?
When an American city is destroyed by a Soviet satellite (which lands hammer and sickle intact), do you think this is purely a worldbuilding detail or is there a rather unsubtle message about socialism?
Adam Driver plays a Great Man, an unmatched inventor, artist, architect, and visionary, a true pioneer who would fix the whole world if only everybody just listened to him. This is a very common libertarian ideal; he's just John Galt.
In his interactions with women, he has his fridged wife who dies before it starts, his mistress whose sole motivation is that she loves him, his new wife who has a baby and then stops having opinions, and the singer who falsely accuses him of rape. Do you think this film portrays women as real people who exist independently of men? Is this a film that respects and treats women well? Might Coppola be making a statement about how he sees cancel culture as women tearing down powerful men? Could this sentiment be reflected in the film's casting of Shia LaBeouf?
It's fine to think about a film's story and piece it together but you can't forget that these are all intentional choices made by Francis Ford Coppola. I'd call the embrace of libertarian idealism and the dismissal of common people as Nazi immigrants (I'm not convinced Coppola knows anything about Nazis) a right-wing stance rather than a left-wing one.