Autumnal
Bruce Baugh, Writer of Fortune
“We weren’t kidding about enshittification.”
Pineapple Express: Someone Is Wrong on the Internet?
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Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Speaking of grumpy old men, I rewatched Heat today, before it leaves Netflix at the end of the month.
While it still looks amazing -- Michael Mann can really bring it, the movie wonderfully captures the light in Southern California and the action sequences are jaw-dropping -- it's shockingly dismissive of women.
The female characters are all there to be various sorts of burdens to the men. Even the women who, in 2025 terms, are objectively right about everything are treated like wet blankets for wanting their marriages and families to not fall apart or for the men in their lives to not be going off to die every day. The women basically only exist as appendages to the male characters and the fact that a minor character is a serial killer of prostitutes is treated as a bit of interesting trivia which is only mentioned once,
I like the Miami Vice movie, which doesn't display this same attitude (at least to not this degree). I clearly need to hunt down and rewatch Ronin.
Heat is still great, but I was shocked at just how dated it actually is.
While it still looks amazing -- Michael Mann can really bring it, the movie wonderfully captures the light in Southern California and the action sequences are jaw-dropping -- it's shockingly dismissive of women.
The female characters are all there to be various sorts of burdens to the men. Even the women who, in 2025 terms, are objectively right about everything are treated like wet blankets for wanting their marriages and families to not fall apart or for the men in their lives to not be going off to die every day. The women basically only exist as appendages to the male characters and the fact that a minor character is a serial killer of prostitutes is treated as a bit of interesting trivia which is only mentioned once,
I like the Miami Vice movie, which doesn't display this same attitude (at least to not this degree). I clearly need to hunt down and rewatch Ronin.
Heat is still great, but I was shocked at just how dated it actually is.
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trappedslider
Legend
The sequel/prequel novel Heat 2 is good too if you wish to know what happened to Chris after the movie. Along with more about Neil and Vincent's histories.
While I appreciate Heat, I really hate its legacy. The thing where the protagonist and antagonist have to do a face-to-face is a terrible trope that is a stain on American cinema, and I absolutely blame this movie for its popularity.
Autumnal
Bruce Baugh, Writer of Fortune
Manhunter has some of the same problem, and yes, so does Ronin, though Heat problem has it worst.
Isn’t that more of a modernization of the Western gunslinger shootout trope?
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