winther's recent activity
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Comment on Is it time to get offline? in ~tech
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Comment on ‘Fast & Furious’ star Vin Diesel implores Universal to “please tell the best fans in the world when the next movie is coming out” in ~movies
winther Link ParentI believe those numbers are total ticket sales and the studio doesn't get all of that, as the theaters also need to have a percentage.I believe those numbers are total ticket sales and the studio doesn't get all of that, as the theaters also need to have a percentage.
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Comment on George R.R. Martin says 'The Winds of Winter' is 'the curse of my life' in ~books
winther Link ParentI am not so sure about Sanderson being the right one in that situation. His style of fantasy was right for WoT, but I think Martin and Sanderson have very different styles of writing and the type...I am not so sure about Sanderson being the right one in that situation. His style of fantasy was right for WoT, but I think Martin and Sanderson have very different styles of writing and the type of fantasy they write. Stephen R. Donaldson perhaps?
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
winther LinkI have seen the 2018 remake of Suspiria and that was really something else. The 1977 original impressed with its colorful style and iconic score. This is very much its own thing with a very...I have seen the 2018 remake of Suspiria and that was really something else. The 1977 original impressed with its colorful style and iconic score. This is very much its own thing with a very different approach. Colors are much more muted, the story is expanded to also include RAF terror events of that time and it isn't really a horror film, even though it uses horror elements in plenty of scenes. I was drawn into this very quickly. There are some super fast cuts and a constant presence of a moving camera, which is a style I usually don't like, but that just makes it so much better when a film can subvert my normal taste in things like that. It is a film heavily drenched in symbolism, which I mostly just chose to ignore as that kind of analytical interpretative film watching is not my main interest. It is just one heck of an experience like a bloody blend of the original Suspiria, Climax, Black Swan and The Substance - though I think this takes the prize in arthouse pretentiousness.
I have also seen some more "normal" films, coincidentally all dealing with dilemmas in some fashion. Scent of Woman gave me something to think about in terms of morals on "snitching". Captain Fantastic was an interesting portrayal of a man with firmly held ideals and principles that were challenged by normal society. And In the Line of Fire at least tried to deal with the dilemma of sacrificing yourself in the line of duty versus the instinct of self preservation.
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Comment on We can’t stop checking our phones while watching TV or movies – and it’s affecting the quality of shows in ~tv
winther (edited )LinkI admit I am sometimes guilty of that. It depends on whether it is something I have watched before or if I am only half-liking what I am watching. Going to a cinema is a great way to force myself...I admit I am sometimes guilty of that. It depends on whether it is something I have watched before or if I am only half-liking what I am watching. Going to a cinema is a great way to force myself complete attention, and the effect can go both ways. It can elevate a good movie but also make a mediocre movie even more tiresome to sit through.
The impact to have shows and movies be made with this in mind are made is more concerning, as it would likely just increase that bad habit. And I think it has moved in that direction for years now, though now it seems to be more obvious and a direct demand from the producers. I think the constant need for foreshadowing and exposition have gone too far for quite a while and especially many tv shows have had a tendency to really stretch and pad their episodes, so only one thing seems to happen in a single episode. This trend made me basically give up on watching series and I only watch movies now, as I rarely felt the extra running time to tell a story added that much in the end. It was just longer.
As for the challenge of not even looking up reviews or analysis is something I need to think about, as it conflicts with how I generally approach my film hobby. I enjoy reading other peoples opinions and analysis after I have seen something. Getting other perspectives can be very eye opening. Though I guess it could wait till the next day.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
winther LinkI have been heavily focused on spaghetti westerns the last week. Been catching up on some of my blurays and found out that Netflix has a good handful of rather obscure films in this genre I hadn't...I have been heavily focused on spaghetti westerns the last week. Been catching up on some of my blurays and found out that Netflix has a good handful of rather obscure films in this genre I hadn't heard about.
Gatling Gun from 1968 is half spy thriller half western. It involves a kidnapping of the inventor of the Gatlin gun in the midst of the civil war, secret code words, poison darts, and various clever spy tricks and silent assassinations.
And God Said to Cain from 1970 stars Klaus Kinski in a bit of an unusual role for him, as he plays a more calm and calculated man. In contrast to his usual madness. has a simple plot (Kinsksi gets released from imprisonment and seeks revenge over him who put him there) that is stretched over its runtime, so it is a slow burn but engaging from start to finish. It is also labelled as a gothic western for its unique aesthetics. Almost every scene is set at night, often in a church, constant wind blowing, windows and doors bursting open and all that. And the final showdown is absolutely amazingly well shot with creative use of mirrors. While the plot is basically like every other western, it is a very unique movie due to its aesthetics and atmosphere.
Duccio Tessari made two films in 1965 with basically the same crew and actors, A Pistol for Ringo and The Return of Ringo. However as I found out, they don't really have anything do to with each other and are quite different types of films. A Pistol for Ringo is a fast paced bank robbery hostage situation. Ringo is no hero, but he saves the day - for a price. The general vibe of this film tends to be a little goofy with silly characters and over the top violence. But it is also very very sinister with the gangleader killing hostages left and right just for the heck of it. The many deaths (overall body count is huge) are both laughed off and sometime taken quite seriously. It is a weird mix of style, but common for these early Italian westerns before the settled into the mostly serious tone in the upcoming years (before it got comedic again in the 70s). It is however pretty damn entertaining from start to finish and Fernando Sancho is the perfect Mexican gang leader with his pompous acting style. The Return of Ringo is almost a romantic love story, told in an extremely theatrical manner with absolutely over the top music. Ringo returns from the war only to finds his family killed and his wife about to be married to the ruthless leader of the town. It somehow works pretty damn well.
I Want Him Dead from 1968 is a title that could fit basically every western. It follows a Confederate soldier who just want to settle down now with his sister on a small farm. The sister gets raped and murdered and he sets out to find and kill those bandits who did. Parallel to that, a wealthy arms dealer hires the same bandits to kill two generals in order to keep the war going. Because of course, peace is bad for business. They had to stretch the two plots a bit far to fill the runtime, but I did like the aspect of the lone gunslinger really just wanting to settle down and live "happily ever after".
Fort Yuma Gold from 1966 also follows a Confederate soldier, this time an imprisoned one that gets tasked with a special mission with the goal of stopping confederate soldiers in a foolish attempt to raid Fort Yuma, because it will end in a bloodbath. It is one of the few of these westerns that at least acknowledges that mindless killings are a pretty big deal that should be avoided. People here beg for their lives and the whole plot is pretty sympathetic at its core. There are still some pretty damn entertaining scenes like an absolute mad saloon bar fight. It also comes with a pretty good sounding score.
The only disappointment was Hallelujah for Django from 1967. It starts and ends well, but that is pretty much it. Starts with a spectacular bank robbery of $500,000 and ends with someone skeet shooting after sticks of dynamite. In between a whole lot of mostly uninteresting fights and terrorizing of poor townspeople.
What continues to keep me hooked on this niche genre is how there can be tons of films with basically the same 2 or 3 plots, yet are still very different. Even the mediocre movies usually always have a single unique element that makes them worth watching. A creatively shot scene, a reversal of a trope, individual scenes that stands on their own or just a cool title theme.
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Comment on What are some examples of media that really captured lightning in a bottle? in ~tv
winther LinkI think Monty Python applies here. Today it is mostly standup comedians that are doing that kinds of sketch based comedy, but the Monty Python weren't comedians, they came from an intellectual...I think Monty Python applies here. Today it is mostly standup comedians that are doing that kinds of sketch based comedy, but the Monty Python weren't comedians, they came from an intellectual university background and I think that created a truly unique approach to what is funny. I have seen in interviews with them that were definitely not just fooling around on set or improvising much. Things were written out and planned and they barely laughed on set. Making good comedy is serious business.
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Comment on Google AI search shift leaves website makers feeling “betrayed” in ~tech
winther Link ParentI must applaud you for doing what must be a uphill battle with this. I think it is a failure of education if the only focus is to get answers and not explanations. These summaries may give a...I must applaud you for doing what must be a uphill battle with this. I think it is a failure of education if the only focus is to get answers and not explanations. These summaries may give a correct answer, but they will always severely lack context and nuance. It doesn't encourage critical thinking or how to deal with a situation where two sources says different things. I think this bigger shift to only focusing on getting quick "answers" are also part of the reason why we are getting increasingly polarized as a society. Every policy or opinion is framed as either 100% good or bad, because we seek the simple short "answers" and less the longer more complicated and nuanced explanations.
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Comment on Volbeat – In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan's Spawn in a Dying World of Doom (2025) in ~music
winther Link ParentMost of these track titles are decades old. It is just a thing Nile does for some of their albums.Most of these track titles are decades old. It is just a thing Nile does for some of their albums.
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Comment on Val Kilmer, film star who played Batman and Jim Morrison, dies at 65 (gifted link) in ~movies
winther Link ParentHis last appearance in Maverick was a very fitting (and emotional) farewell scene for him.His last appearance in Maverick was a very fitting (and emotional) farewell scene for him.
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Comment on You get to choose your favorite director's next project. What is it, and why? in ~movies
winther LinkI just finished Adolescence and while I liked it, I still think its themes can be handled much better and go even deeper into the uncomfortable parts of the current various gender issues. I would...I just finished Adolescence and while I liked it, I still think its themes can be handled much better and go even deeper into the uncomfortable parts of the current various gender issues. I would love to see what Michael Haneke could make of that.
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Comment on Dipping my toes in OpenBSD, in Amsterdam in ~tech
winther Link ParentMostly that I am not really interested in managing servers anymore and I have less need for it. I do have a small VPS which just run Ubuntu because I couldn't be bothered with anything else. At...Mostly that I am not really interested in managing servers anymore and I have less need for it. I do have a small VPS which just run Ubuntu because I couldn't be bothered with anything else. At work, everything is containers running on kubernetes anyways. Back then I was heavily into tinkering with operating systems, and used both FreeBSD and Gentoo on my desktop and laptop computers, volunteered at conferences and was generally just more enthusiastic about the whole thing. Now I have just settled with a Mac for my work computer, and I am generally satisfied as long as I have a shell to work with.
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Comment on Do you have games that you play (almost) exclusively? in ~games
winther LinkI had a period of about 2 years where I played almost only iRacing. Expensive subscription based online racing, but the best of its kind. Could play my whole week of evenings around the schedule...I had a period of about 2 years where I played almost only iRacing. Expensive subscription based online racing, but the best of its kind. Could play my whole week of evenings around the schedule of races. Was fun while I lasted, but I lost interest. Took a single month of subscription a little while ago to see if I could reignite the spark, but it didn't hooked me again. Think the competitiveness wore me down. Now whenever I turn on my gaming computer, I just relax with podcasts and American Truck Simulator or Euro Truck Simulator 2. But none of these have reached 1000 hours, just in the 100s.
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Comment on How do you find new movies to watch? in ~movies
winther LinkBasically through Letterboxd. If I see a movie I like, I see if the director have made other interesting movies I can add to my watchlist. Letterboxd also has all kinds of lists integrated like...Basically through Letterboxd. If I see a movie I like, I see if the director have made other interesting movies I can add to my watchlist. Letterboxd also has all kinds of lists integrated like the Sight & Sound top list, various best rated according to IMDB, box office, Letterboxd user highest rated and so forth. I also look at award winners from Cannes. Criterion Channel is also good at curating their recommendations into various topics and every month they release a new batch of movies where I always find something I find interesting.
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Comment on Dipping my toes in OpenBSD, in Amsterdam in ~tech
winther LinkI had a server running at home 20 years ago which ran OpenBSD. It was the most pleasant and consistent system I have ever worked with. Splendid documentation and predictable release cycles, with...I had a server running at home 20 years ago which ran OpenBSD. It was the most pleasant and consistent system I have ever worked with. Splendid documentation and predictable release cycles, with an update procedure that just worked every time with a comprehensive list of all the changes you might need to be aware of and how to handle them. And every release comes with a catchy song. I probably won't use OpenBSD again, but the really old-school approach to Unix systems does have its appeal.
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Comment on Started watching Adolescence in ~tv
winther Link ParentThey hooked the camera on to a drone. Seems simple enough, but damn I would be nervous to drop it and ruin the whole take :DThey hooked the camera on to a drone. Seems simple enough, but damn I would be nervous to drop it and ruin the whole take :D
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Comment on Started watching Adolescence in ~tv
winther (edited )Link ParentI have seen the first two episodes, and I agree that this kind of one shot was distracting. At least at first, I noticed it too much with how the camera become almost an active participant in the...I have seen the first two episodes, and I agree that this kind of one shot was distracting. At least at first, I noticed it too much with how the camera become almost an active participant in the narrative. It is not immersive when you are too much aware of how the technical film crew are doing it. I stopped noticing it for the second episode however, but I also think it really doesn't add that much. It could still be told in real time with editing cuts, and be better off with it without the downsides you mention.
I do like long takes however when they are done well, which I think is mostly when it is used in static shots. Letting a scene unfold with the actors for longer periods without the traditional shot/reverse-shot formula. There are also impressive feats like the hospital scene in Hardboiled, but they are their own thing in action scenes and not just sequences of people walking through doors like in Adolescence.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
winther LinkI took a random chance yesterday and saw Faith Akin's Auf der anderen Seite (The Edge of Heaven) from 2007. It won for best screenplay in Cannes. I basically just watched it because I saw it will...I took a random chance yesterday and saw Faith Akin's Auf der anderen Seite (The Edge of Heaven) from 2007. It won for best screenplay in Cannes. I basically just watched it because I saw it will be removed from Mubi in a few days, and I am really glad I took such a random chance. This is very much a film about characters or personal portraits if you will. Every person in this are full of life and personal history. They are not just there to drive the plot forward. The narrative structure reminds me very much of one my favorite directors - Kieswlowski, with how it deals with random encounters and how all destinies are interlinked. This makes for a rather constructed plot, which I am usually not a fan of, but the plot is not the main point here - it is the characters and they all draw you in from the first second on screen.
It is a very tragic story, but in a strange way since you know the tragedy before it occurs. We see "Lotte's death" on screen, without knowing who Lotte is yet. When someone says "I am Lotte", the sadness instantly hits, even though it hasn't happened yet. Just waiting for the inevitable outcome. It adds an anxiety to the narrative that I don't think I have seen done like that before.
The different narrative threads sort of blends together, then drift apart, giving closure but also leaving things unresolved. I love films that does that.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
winther Link ParentMy Neighbor Totoro is a great movie for all ages. I think more of it as a movie that is told through the eyes of kids, rather than a kids movie. Especially compared to many commercial western...My Neighbor Totoro is a great movie for all ages. I think more of it as a movie that is told through the eyes of kids, rather than a kids movie. Especially compared to many commercial western animation movies, that are just plain kids movies. I also have two daughters that remind me quite a bit of Satsuki and Mei, and what pulled me in was the incredible display of childhood glee, imagination, curiosity - and not the least their need for comfort. I like their father too, with how he simply acknowledges and encourages their curiosity. I have also seen it a couple of times with my daughters and they also love it, and just confirms for me that movies aimed at kids don't have to be this fast paced action galore fest that most other modern animations are these days. If it is good, slow paced stories can still grab their attention.
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Comment on What quotes inspire you? in ~talk
winther LinkIt is better to start somewhere than nowhere Useful at work as well as in private. I am generally one that is better than finishing things than starting them, so this quote is helpful.It is better to start somewhere than nowhere
Useful at work as well as in private. I am generally one that is better than finishing things than starting them, so this quote is helpful.
While I sometimes can get nostalgic about the time when using the internet meant turning on the computer, dialing up to the internet and counting the minutes before logging off again, I am not sure I could get back to that. And going completely offline is not feasible for most people in practice, but we can try to do is be much more intentional when we are online. Mindless scrolling on social media serves no purpose other than hoping something interesting will pop up. In a way, opening Tildes or an RSS reader is sort of similar in that you are not looking for something specific, but you are more in control of what you will encounter than on the big social media sites. I agree that much of the internet is now shit, but there is still plenty that isn't, and to a large degree, we choose ourselves what we spend time on. As long as it is intentional and with a purpose, and not mindlessly letting the algorithms control our engagement.