Movie: Rebel Moon; Part 2: The Scargiver (2024) Caution: Spoiler Alert

 Rebel Moon Part Two The Scar Giver

Came out; 2024

Time; 2 hr 2 Min

Watched: Netflix

Rated: PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, brief strong language and suicide

IMDB Rating; 5.2/10

Caution; Spoiler Alert

Staring;

Sofia Boutella as Kora

Djimon Hounsou as Titus

Ed Skrein as Atticus Noble

Michiel Huisman as Gunnar

Bae Doona as Nemesis

Ray Fisher as Bloodaxe

Anthony Hopkins as Jimmy (Voice)

Story Line;

Kora returns to Veldt with the farmer Gunnar and the warriors Titus, Nemesis, Darrian Bloodaxe and Tarak. Titus commands the defense of the farmers and asks them to harvest the grains and use them to protect their homes. While waiting for Atticus Noble and his men, they disclose their pasts waiting for the showdown with the mother world's force.

Thoughts:

I will watch bad movies so you don't have to.

This movie was terrible yet visibly stunning. Weird considering that 2 of the people involved are good known actors.

I swear it went ½ hour without dialog, like no words what so ever.

I got lost in this story because it was slow, out of order, without backstory or current story, just blah and bland.

Also, they fight with light sabers, which is a blatant copy of Star Wars.

They plan to make a few more and I plan to not watch them

CAUTION; Major Spoiler Alert

Veldt was a human colony and peaceful until the gaze of the Motherworld fell upon it. Admiral Noble looked at Veldt as a granary for the Motherworld and demanded more than the moon could give. So, Kora and Gunnar set forth from the village, to gather warriors to stand against Noble's dreadnought. On Neu-Wodi, they were joined by Tarak, and in the mines of Daggus, by Nemesis. They picked up General Titus from the Colosseum of Pollux. On the planet Sharaan, they picked Darrian Bloodaxe and his lieutenant Milius. On the floating docks on Gondival, the rebels ambush Noble and Kora triumphs. Unknown to Kora, the Imperium had picked up Noble's body and resurrected him under watch from Cassius (Alfonso Herrera) a warrior from Noble's Dreadnought. Noble orders Cassius to set a course for Veldt to confront the Scargiver.

Kora (Sofia Boutella) (a former Imperium soldier) and the surviving warriors return to Veldt (a moon circling the gas giant Mara), believing that Kora had successfully killed Admiral Noble (Ed Skrein) (an admiral and Balisarius' right-hand man) and prevented the forthcoming assault on the planet to claim its food supplies. JC-1435, 'Jimmy' (Anthony Hopkins), is the last member of a race of mechanical knights who now refuses to serve the Motherworld.

Cassius contacts his soldier Aris on Veldt and informs him of Noble's orders. Aris (Sky Yang), a Motherworld soldier working as a double agent for the village people, informs them that Noble is alive, and the dreadnought ship will arrive in five days. The fighters join the small group of villagers to harvest the entire grain supply in three days, so the flour can be used as leverage to prevent the Motherworld forces from simply bombing the village from orbit; over the remaining two days, Titus (Djimon Hounsou) (a former general of the Imperium recruited to lead the fight against the Motherworld) intends to train the villagers to fight.

Kora and Gunnar (Michiel Huisman) (a farmer) become lovers, and she admits that Regent Balisarius (Fra Fee) (Kora's adoptive father who seized control of the Motherworld) compelled her involvement in the assassination of the Motherworld's king, queen, and young Princess Issa, with Kora herself shooting the princess. The Royal family came to the christening of the Peacemaker, the last dreadnought class battleship marking the end of the age of expansion. Balisarius murdered the King and Queen, and Kora pulled the trigger on Issa. Balisarius had seen that under Princess Issa, the King was ending the Motherworld's age of expansion. Balisarius did not want to stand by as the Princess dismantled the war machine that the soldiers sacrificed their lives for. Balisarius had then attempted to frame Kora for the coup, but she had instead fled to Veldt in a Motherworld shuttle to hide from the law.

After the harvest, the villagers gather together for a night of feasting and community, all of which is witnessed by Jimmy from afar. Over two days, Titus, Nemesis (Doona Bae) (a cyborg sword-master), Tarak (Staz Nair) (a nobleman-turned-blacksmith), Milius (Elise Duffy), and Kora train the handful of villagers in combat, preparing a plan involving digging trenches and tunnels in the fields, laying explosives, and preparing Kora's shuttle (which had been sitting idle in the mountains for over 2 seasons). The grain is moved all over the village, so it cannot be destroyed without losing the harvest. Kora and Aris fix the shuttle and Kora is able to fire it up. The group also reveal their pasts to each other, but Kora declines to share her involvement in Issa's death. Titus reveals that he was ordered by Balisarius to hover over the parliament of Sarawu, in his battleship. This was to force the parliament to vote against independence from the realm. Sarawu voted for freedom and Titus was ordered to open fire on the Capitol. When Titus refused, his ship was shot down and his men slaughtered. Milius came from a farming world who was too afraid to fight against the forces of the Motherworld. Due to this, the whole population was scattered in labor camps all over the Universe. She was liberated by the resistance when Darrian attacked the mines where she worked. She became a rebel. Nemesis was in a fishing village which was slaughtered by Imperial forces. Nemesis cut her own arms to get the Cyborg implants and became a warrior like her ancestors. Tarak was a royal on his planet, when the Motherworld killed his father who went to them with a peace treaty. The Motherworld invaded his planet and Tarak lost his mother in the attack. He was smuggled off-planet and hidden in a refugee transport, headed for the nearest bright star. He is determined not to let another world be destroyed by the Motherworld. Kora says that she is a war orphan. She was brought up by Balisarius and only found family when she arrived on Veldt.

Jimmy meets Kora. Kora helps Jimmy understand that they have both been programmed to fight for the Motherworld, but their worst nightmare is for them to join forces. Jimmy knows this but says that they have no hope of winning. When Noble arrives with the dreadnought, his forces scan the village, identifying where the women and children are hiding, protected by Nemesis and Aris, and send forces to capture them to force Kora out. Kora offers Noble to take the grain but leave the village, but Noble won't leave without Kora as presenting her to Balisarius would gain him a seat on the Senate. Noble plays on Kora's insecurity when he promises the destruction of the village in her name. Kora attempts to surrender to him once Noble promises to spare the village, but Gunnar triggers the ambush anyway. Titus and Tarak lead the villages in successfully repelling the first wave, though Nemesis is killed defending the women and children.

The large contingent of heavily armored and mechanized second wave of Motherworld troops pushes the few remaining defenders back, destroying much of the village, but Kora and Gunnar use the shuttle and stolen uniforms to infiltrate the dreadnought, laying explosives on the engine. The engine room reports the infiltration to the bridge, where Noble orders Cassius to wipe out the village, and he heads to the engine room to capture Kora himself. As Noble confronts Kora, Gunnar hears their conversation from the shuttle, which is their escape route. Jimmy arrives to help the village defenders push back the assault, and the explosives bring down the dreadnought. Gunnar rushes out to help Kora and engages Noble. In the process, Gunnar kills Noble but later dies from his injuries. Devra Bloodaxe (Cleopatra Coleman) (Darrian Bloodaxe's (Ray Fisher) sister and the leader of a band of insurgents opposing the Motherworld) and her rebel forces arrive in ships to destroy the remaining Motherworld troops, leading to victory.

In the aftermath, the village mourns the dead, and Kora admits her past, which Titus reveals he already knew. He also reveals that Issa is secretly alive and in hiding, and the assembled group declare their intentions to find her and restore the royal lineage to the throne in order to depose Balisarius.

Chronic Pain Thoughts; Volume 29

 Dear Reader,

I no doubt suffer from medical trauma. There have been so many times where I've been dismissed, ignored and told things weren't “a big deal”. Once it almost cost me my life.

I know I'm not alone in my struggle with getting care. I'm not alone in my struggle on going in to get care.

I used to paranoid that something was wrong. I used to call into the doctor to talk to them and it usually ended up in an appointment in which “everything is normal”. My good friend at the end time accused me of having munchausen's. She was toxic and I've since come to realize this. BUT with this on top of being dismissed, ignored and shut down I've stopped trying to figure it out.

My new pain provider asks me every appointment if I've had childhood trauma. Every time I tell him “No, but I have medical trauma”. Guess what?! He shrugs it off with a soft smile. This response makes nothing better.

Medical Trauma Definition: Medical trauma is the experience of traumatic stress as a result of interactions with the medical system, which may include procedures (i.e., surgeries), new diagnoses (i.e., cancer), and professionals in healthcare settings

If you've ever experienced this or feel like, know that you are NOT alone and there are good providers out there who actually care about their patients.

Movie: Hit Man (2023) Caution Spoiler Alert

 Hit Man

Came out; 2023

Time; 1 hr. 55 Min

Watched: Netflix

Rated: R for language throughout, sexual content and some violence

IMDB Rating; 7/10

Caution; Spoiler Alert

Staring.

Glen Powell as Gary Johnson

Adria Arjona as Madison Figeroa Masters

Austin Amelio as Jasper

Retta as Claudette

Sanjay Rao as Phil

Story Line.

Gary Johnson is the most sought-after professional killer in New Orleans. To his clients, he is like something out of a movie: the mysterious gun for hire. But if you pay him to rub out a cheating spouse or an abusive boss, you'd better watch out, he works for the cops. When he breaks protocol to help a desperate woman trying to flee an abusive husband, he finds himself becoming one of his false personas, falling for the woman and flirting with becoming a criminal

Thoughts:

This movie was pretty good, it was a little slow moving without much action. I wanted to know what happened with the investigation into the ex-husband and Jasper's death.

This said it was based on a true story, which they always take liberties in that so it's hard to tell what's true and what's not.

The acting was good, and the story line was fun, I love Rhetta, she is a fun actress to watch.

CAUTION; Major Spoiler Alert

Gary Johnson is a professor of psychology and philosophy at the University of New Orleans, while also working undercover with the New Orleans Police Department to assist in undercover sting operations. When Jasper, a fellow cop who portrays fake hitman to solicit murder-for-hire confessions and payments from "customers," is suspended, Gary is unwillingly ushered into the role. Gary quickly finds himself to be a natural in garnering solicitations, going so far as to research suspects in advance and tailor a unique persona for each one.

Gary adopts the persona of a man named "Ron" to garner a solicitation from a discontent married woman named Madison, who is trying to have her controlling husband killed. While conversing with her, Gary quickly becomes both sympathetic and attracted to Madison; when Madison attempts to pay "Ron", Gary refuses the money and suggests that Madison use that money to restart her life, much to the disappointment of Gary's coworkers.

Gary begins a relationship with Madison but maintains his "Ron" persona with her. Madison reveals she owns a gun, and Gary shows her how to use it and instructs her to shoot someone in the heart should she need to kill. One night shortly after clubbing, Gary and Madison have a heated encounter with Ray, Madison's ex-husband, which ends with Gary pulling a gun to back Ray off. Later that night, while outside at a restaurant, Gary and Madison encounter Jasper, who is suspicious of the two being together.

Furious with Madison, Ray attempts to have her killed, unknowingly contacting Gary. Unable to research his suspect, Gary walks into the encounter blind, and improvises having their conversation with backs to each other. However, he reveals himself to Ray at the end of their conversation; Ray rushes out and proclaims that he will kill her himself. Gary attempts to move Madison out of her house out of fear, but Madison doesn't believe Ray would do it

Gary is later called into work to discuss Ray's murder, much to Gary's shock; after hearing that he was shot in the heart with bullets belonging to a gun like Madison's, Gary deduces it was her, while his coworkers believe it was either her or a botched drug deal. Gary meets with Madison to discuss Ray's murder, to which she admits to; this prompts Gary to reveal to Madison that "Ron" and the hitman persona were made up, and that Gary was worried she would prefer the "Ron" to Gary.

After being kicked out by Madison, Gary returns to the police, who reveal their evidence on Madison is building after discovering Ray increased his life policy before he died. Jasper suggests that Gary tries to solicit a confession out of her using the "Ron" persona, to which he agrees. Gary arrives at her house and pretends to interrogate Madison while giving her acting cues typed in on his phone. The two convince the police to leave Madison alone, but Jasper camps out and waits for Gary to return. Jealous that Gary took his job, Jasper demands Madison's newly inherited money from the life policy. However, he quickly begins to pass out from poison given by Madison, while Gary suffocates him with a plastic bag. After planting the body to appear as a suicide, the movie skips several years ahead to depict Gary and Madison's new life as married and with kids.

As the credits roll, an intertitle card dedicates the film to the real Gary Johnson, praising his accomplishments as a war veteran, college professor and being responsible for 70 undercover arrests, ending with a note that he never murdered anyone (they made that part up).

Movie: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) Caution: Spoiler Alert

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Came out; 2024

Time; 2 hr

Watched: Amazon

Rated: R for strong violence throughout and some language

IMDB Rating; 6.9/10

Caution; Spoiler Alert

Staring.

Henry Cavill as Gus March-Phillips

Alan Ritchson as Anders Lassen

Alex Pettyfer as Geoffrey Appleyard

Eiza Gonzalez as Marjorie Stewart

Babs Olusanmokun as Heron

Cary Elwes as Brigadier Gubbins

Story Line.

Billed as a true story about a secret British World War II organization: the Special Operations Executive. Founded by Winston Churchill, their irregular warfare against the Germans helped to change the course of the war and gave birth to modern black operations.

Thoughts:

I am not big on 'war” movies, but this was more of a spy type movie. It was decent and started off really strong.

The visual portion of this movie was really good, the small details were off as they didn't make sure to be historically accurate.

This isn't a movie that I would make efforts to watch again but one that I'm glad I saw once

CAUTION; Major Spoiler Alert

In late 1941, during World War II the United Kingdom is struggling to halt Nazi Germany's attempts to take over Europe, with London regularly suffering bombing runs at the hands of the Luftwaffe. With their supply and aid ships constantly sunk by German submarines, Brigadier Colin Gubbins, with the indirect backing of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, prepares to initiate Operation Postmaster, an off the books black-ops sabotage mission intended to disrupt the Nazis' U-boat resupply operation on the Spanish-controlled island Fernando Po. While SOE agents Marjorie Stewart and Richard Heron depart by train, Gubbins enlists Gus March-Phillips to assemble a ground team to destroy the Italian supply ship Duchessa d'Aosta and two tugboats attached to it.

Using the neutral Swedish fishing trawler Maid of Honor, Gus and his allies, Graham Hayes, Freddy Alvarez, and Danish naval officer Anders Lassen (the only non-British subject to be awarded the Victoria Cross), begin the slow sail to Fernando Po. Upon discovering that SOE saboteur Geoffrey Appleyard, whom Gubbins had sent ahead on the assumption that Gus would show interest in wanting him on the team, was captured by Gestapo agents, they divert course to a Nazi-controlled section of the Canary Islands for a rescue mission.

Meanwhile, arriving early on Fernando Po, Marjorie and Heron use the latter's 'illegal' gambling hall to recruit backup for Gus' team while Marjorie seduces Heinrich Luhr, the SS commander in charge. Upon learning that the Duchessa intends to depart three days ahead of schedule, Gus has his crew sail through a British naval blockade of Nazi-occupied West Africa despite knowing they'll be arrested should their unauthorized mission be discovered.

On the night of the intended raid, Marjorie and Heron learn that Luhr has had the Duchessa's hull reinforced despite the Italian attache's reservations. Barely warned of this in time, Gus and Appleyard decide that their best course of action is to hijack the ships and use them as a bartering chip after a mole in Gubbins' staff reveals the mission to senior command. Although Luhr eventually catches on when Marjorie's act begins to 'slip', the raid is ultimately successful, and Marjorie shoots Luhr in the head. Delivering the boats to a British fleet outside Lagos, the team is nonetheless arrested. While waiting to be court-martialed, they are saved and recruited by Churchill as part of his 'Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare', as their actions have not only severely damaged the Nazis' naval strength, but also have allowed the United States, who recently entered the war following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, to join the European theatre.

A montage of details before the end credits reveal the post operation activities of several protagonists: Gus became a war hero and would helm several similar raids during the war before marrying Marjorie at the start of her acting career; Appleyard would receive several commendations for his role in the mission, much to the king's amusement; Hayes would go on to become a highly accomplished spy notable for surviving a year of Nazi torture without breaking; Lassen would go on to take part in raids outside the group until his death in 1945; Ian Fleming, who had been part of Gubbins' inner circle during this time, would use Operation Postmaster as the inspirational basis for his James Bond novels.

 

Chronic Pain Thoughts: Volume 28

 Dear Reader,

The power of words. Words have the power to build people up and bring them down. We all have the power over the words we choose to use.

Language is how we communicate. When someone is constantly gaslighting you or making you feel like you don't matter, can't do something or must follow them it can really take a toll on you.

Toxic People, Doctor's and even the people you love the most can say things that stick with you.

When I was younger, I wanted to go into law enforcement, although I'm glad about with my chronic illness I never pursued it, I was always told “No one will take you seriously” because of my size. It was now, at 44 years old that I have finally decided, I will show them. It's not law enforcement, but it's something.

The most recent doctor who told me “Your back isn't really that bad” should know the power of words. Most people I know go to medical school to help people, not tear them down. How do you deal with a doctor who has poor bed side manner? You find a new one.

Don't let words hurt you, don't dwell on them or believe all of them. Self Esteem is so important and when you have a chronic illness you can feel torn down by your own body.

Wax: Athame + Alchemy June 2024 Order

 Vendor; Athame + Alchemy

Web; Home | athame + alchemy (athameandalchemy.com)

Facebook; (3) athame + alchemy | Facebook

Owner; Kimberly Gonzalez

Dulcerias De Miami: Cinnamon, Sugar, Butter, Coconut Flakes, Crunchy Pistachio, Fluffy Vanilla Cake

Teddy Bear Picnic: Sticky Pecan Waffles, drizzled with butter and maple syrup. Little Lemon cakes with Buttercream icing and Cold Iced Tea

Emotional Larceny: Woodsy Vetiver, Bergamot, Lemon Peels, Warm Amber Resin, Black Plums, Cherry Juice, Sandalwood and Cracked Black Peppercorns.

Whimsy Goth: Dark Musk, Incense, Amber, Cedar, Bamboo & Fruit Loops

Bakasana: Palo Santo, Lemon Blossom, Cashmere, Butter, Toffee, Buttercream, Fluffy Vanilla Cake and Cedar Wood

Goodnight Moon: Lavender, Oats, Almonds and a Warm Cup of Milk

Extra “Love” received

Incense Cones

Now is in the Winter of our Discontent: Vanilla, Peppermint Candy, Green Leaves, Musk, Dry Wood and a Patchouli

Cottage Hearth: Warm Bread, Cobblers and Pie.

Overall Order Thoughts:

I needed some wax and while going through my internet vendor file I found this one. I know I've ordered once before that I know of.

I don't remember if I liked them or if they worked good in my house.

I do not like this packaging. I understand why they do it but I prefer the zip bags.

Everything smells good on cold, which is what counts in the end!

Chronic Pain Thoughts: Volume 27

 Dear Reader,

I always thought it was “only me” who dealt with weird things. It's not, there are so many others who are the same. It's great to have the power of the internet to connect with people.

I had a friend, who also suffered from chronic pain, I would talk to her about these things, and she would make me feel like it was my fault. Like I was lazy and couldn't try and fix myself. Don't be like this and if someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. People can change but toxic people don't want to.

It's almost been 1 year since I ended up with emergency surgery, in the ICU and suffering for 10 more weeks after. It's been 1 year since I've spoken to the person who I thought was my friend. I need support and someone to vent to that wasn't my family and yet she wasn't there. Someone unexpected was. She reached it because it wasn't just me, she had been through the same thing. I've been thinking a lot about it lately. Here are the other things that aren't “Just me”.

I always thought that my arms getting super tired while trying to do my hair was just me. It's not, millions of people who suffer from fibromyalgia also feel the same thing.

I always thought it was me that no matter what I did, I couldn't get my upper body strength up, it's not just me.

I always thought it was just me who's stomach would get upset if I got too excited, or ate the wrong thing, it's not just me.

I always thought it was just me who would hurt so bad after walking, trying to exercise or sometimes even walk to the bathroom. It's definitely not just me.

I thought I was the only one who hurt themselves after trying to work out. I tore both my labral in my hip and meniscus in my knee on the right side after walking on the treadmill. It's not, so many others have had exercise related injuries.

I have so many other examples of this, it's eye opening. I always I was quirky because of these things happened to me. I was also told by doctor's it was normal or not that bad. I would just continue trying to live life.

It's been this way all my life, but it wasn't until after I had my 4^th child that things just weren't getting better, I could no longer ignore it. Trying to get treatment has brought me down a 10-year rabbit hole that I haven't been able to get out of. I don't ever want to feel alone, and I hope that no one else does either. It's a scary lonely place to be.

Movie; Joker (2019) Caution Spoiler Alert

 Joker

Came out; 2049

Time; 2 hours 2 min

Watched: Hulu

Rated: R for strong bloody violence, disturbing behavior, language and brief sexual images

IMDB Rating; 8.4/10

Caution; Spoiler Alert

Staring.

Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck

Robert De Niro as Murry Franklin

Zazie Beetz as Sophie Dumond

Frances Conroy as Penny Fleck

Brett Cullen as Thomas Wayne

Shea Whigham as Detective Burke

Story Line.

A socially inept clown for hire - Arthur Fleck aspires to be a standup comedian among his small job working dressed as a clown holding a sign for advertising. He takes care of his mother, Penny Fleck, and as he learns more about his mental illness, he learns more about his past. Dealing with all the negativity and bullying from society, he heads downwards on a spiral, in turn showing how his alter ego, "Joker," came to be

Thoughts:

Clearly there's more people in this movie than what I listed above, however I listed all the people who are in most of the movie.

We were trying to figure out why we never watched this, it came out some time ago, yet we forgot all about it. It may be due to Suicide Squad's version of the Joker and how no one can compare to Heath Ledger.

This movie certainly showed a totally different version of the Joker. It showed a person spiraling out of control with mental health issues. It wasn't as violent as the reviews made it out to be.

I had a hard time figuring out what was a hallucination and what he was actually seeing. In the end, it all came together to make a very good movie.

Joaquin Phoenix had some pretty big shoes to fill, and he filled it.

CAUTION; Major Spoiler Alert

The story takes place in Gotham City, 1981.

Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) works as a clown-for-hire for a company called Ha-Ha's. He struggles with severe depression personally but finds some form of optimism in performing for others and trying to make people laugh. He is tasked with advertising a store by dancing and waving a sign around. On one such occasion, the sign gets snatched by a group of punk teens, forcing Arthur to chase them into an alley. They smash the sign against his face and proceed to mercilessly kick him while he's down.

In this era, Gotham is struggling with crime, unemployment, and poverty. Arthur visits a social worker for his medication, as well as his ongoing mental health issues. On the bus ride home, a small child looks at Arthur. He makes silly faces that amuse the boy, but his mother tells Arthur to leave him alone. Arthur begins to laugh hysterically and uncontrollably. When the mother questions him, he hands her a card that explains that he has a mental condition that causes him to laugh the way that he does.

Arthur returns home to a high-rise apartment project, where he lives with his ailing mother, Penny (Frances Conroy). After dinner, they sit and watch a TV talk show with host Murray Franklin (Robert DeNiro). Arthur imagines himself being on the show and getting Murray's attention. In his fantasy, Arthur charms the audience and Murray by telling them that he takes care of his mother. Murray relates to Arthur and invites him up on stage in front of everyone, where they share a familial embrace. It is revealed that Penny used to work for Thomas Wayne (Brett Cullen) and is obsessed with the millionaire and has been currently writing to him to try and better their living situation.

At Ha-Ha's, Arthur is given a gun for protection by his co-worker Randall (Glenn Fleschler) after he hears about the mugging incident. Arthur is both reluctant and relieved to receive such a gift as firearms are outlawed at work but soon finds his confidence growing after receiving the weapon. However, soon after this, he is confronted by his cold and unfeeling boss, who reprimands him for losing the sign and takes the cost of it out of his pay. Arthur responds only by smiling bitterly.

Arthur meets and becomes infatuated with one of his neighbors, a single mother named Sophie Dumond (Zazie Beetz). She speaks to him politely about relating issues that he can relate to. However, while trying to make an impression with her, he appears awkward and weird around her. At one point, he spends his day following her. Later, she comes by his apartment and asks if he was following her, and he admits that he was, but she doesn't seem put off by it. He invites her to a stand-up comedy show that he is performing at. She is hesitant but is won over by his charm and sense of humor. Arthur watches comedians perform to help him gain some insight into the craft, but feels more awkward and out of place as his over-the-top laughter is not genuine.

Arthur goes to the comedy club for his performance. His nervousness consumes him and, as a coping mechanism, unintentionally finds himself laughing so hard that he can barely speak. He then begins going off into his routine, which isn't very funny. Sophie appears to be in the audience... the only person who is laughing at Arthur's jokes. This gives him the comfort he needs to continue to joke despite his inner torment and turmoil.

Arthur later goes to a children's hospital to entertain them as a clown. He brought his gun with him, and it falls out on the floor. Arthur's boss later chews him out for this. Arthur pleads for a second chance, but his boss refuses and fires him on the spot. To top things off, Randall throws Arthur under the bus by claiming that Arthur got the gun himself. On the subway train ride home from Ha-Ha's in full clown getup, Arthur spots three drunk young Wall Street types working for Wayne Enterprises harassing a woman. Arthur starts laughing unintentionally and draws the attention of the men, while the woman wisely flees from that car. The men approach Arthur and mock him and his laughter before they start to beat him. Arthur fights back in self-defense, but they team up, and relentlessly beat him to the floor. Having had enough, Arthur then pulls out his gun and shoots two of them dead in self-defense before following the last guy out of the train and murdering him on the stairs.

In shock over what he just did, Arthur retreats into a nearby public men's room. After a moment of frantic contemplation, he finds a force rising within him, and he begins to dance by himself. At this moment, he sees himself in the dirty mirror as a battered and smeared and yet powerful clown and begins to embrace it. He hides the gun and then returns to the apartment building where he meets and kisses Sophie for the first time.

The news of the three murders spreads, with some seeing it as an attack on the wealthy, while others support the act. Thomas Wayne speaks out and condemns it, labeling the lower class as "clowns," which becomes a symbol they readily embrace. The next day, Arthur cleans out his locker at Ha Ha's but not before confronting Randall about betraying him and breaking the time punching machine. He then leaves, feeling high-spirited and free. News reports show clown rioters protesting through the city and wreaking trouble, condemning the higher privileged. Arthur sees that he has inadvertently caused this and begins to see his true potential, which makes him genuinely delighted.

Arthur later finds one of Penny's letters to Thomas, which indicates that Arthur is Thomas' son. Arthur goes to Wayne Manor, where he meets young Bruce Wayne (Dante Pereira-Olson). After performing a magic trick for Bruce, he sticks his hands through the gate and forces Bruce to smile, realizing deep within that they may or may not be brothers. However, Alfred (Douglas Hodge) comes to intervene and tell Arthur to leave. Arthur mentions his mother and her involvement with Thomas. Alfred says he remembers Penny, but that she was lying to him. Arthur attacks and nearly strangles Alfred through the bars but then notices that Bruce is watching. Arthur then gets hold of himself and flees the Wayne premises.

That evening, Arthur finds Thomas at a public art theater event. Arthur infiltrates the theater by impersonating an usher. He follows Thomas Wayne into a men's room and tries to confront him with the potential of him being his father. Arthur mentions Penny, whom Thomas also remembers. While Thomas also acknowledges that Penny used to work for him as part of his housekeeping staff, he says that she was delusional and that there's no way Arthur could be his son. Thomas also explains that Penny never told Arthur that he was adopted, which Arthur strongly rejects before uncontrollably laughing in Thomas's face. Thomas, unaware of Arthur's condition, becomes defensive and punches Arthur in the face before having him thrown out of the building. Arthur returns home, where he tortures himself by slamming his head on the refrigerator in a fit of depression and longing.

The next day, two police detectives, Burke (Shea Wigham) and Garrity (Bill Camp), go to Arthur's apartment to question him on the subway murders due to the word that the suspect was wearing clown make-up, and they know Arthur lost his job earlier that day. Arthur denies any involvement and gets the detectives to leave. Not long after, Penny falls ill and is hospitalized. Sophie sits by Arthur as he tends to his mother. In the hospital, Arthur sees that Murray's TV show is playing a clip from his stand-up routine, but he is hurt to see that Murray only played it to mock Arthur.

Arthur later receives a phone call from a rep for Murray's show. He is invited to appear as a guest, which Arthur reluctantly accepts. After studying other interviews on the comedy show, Arthur decides to commit suicide in front of the live audience, thinking it will make them laugh.

Seeking hard proof, Arthur goes to Arkham Asylum and speaks to a clerk, named Carl (Brian Tyree Henry), who has a file on Penny. When Carl says he can't give Arthur the info he wants, Arthur snatches the file and runs away to read it. Once away and hidden in a stairwell, Arthur opens the documents and reads them, finding that Thomas was telling the truth... according to the documents. The reality is that Penny adopted Arthur after he was found abandoned as a baby, and she abused him, tying him to a radiator and beating him alongside her abusive boyfriend. One part of the file mentions Arthur having a head injury, which is most likely what caused his laughing condition. Arthur returns to the hospital and tells Penny that he thought his life was a tragedy, but he sees it's a "fucking comedy." With that, he smothers Penny to death.

Arthur goes back home and breaks into Sophie's apartment. She sees him and is terrified, asking him to leave for the sake of her daughter. Arthur asks her if she has ever had "a really bad day," to which she replies that she doesn't even know him. Through this, it is revealed that every other moment featuring Sophie was just in Arthur's head. A broken and frustrated Arthur apologizes for his intrusion and leaves Sophie alone, storming out of her apartment.

Arthur starts to get ready for his appearance on Murray's show and paints his face white. He is visited in his apartment by Randall and another former co-worker, a dwarf named Gary (Leigh Gill). They offer condolences after they hear about Penny's death, but then Randall begins mentioning Burke and Garrity going to their apartments to question them about the subway murders. Arthur realizes that Randall is only seeking a way to use Arthur in order to cover his own butt and then snaps, brutally stabbing Randall twice in the face before smashing his head against the wall. A terrified Gary questions Arthur's deeds and begs to be let go. Arthur agrees to before playfully scaring him as a prank. Gary tries to undo the lock on Arthur's door but is unable to due to his height. He asks Arthur to open the door for him to which Arthur immediately agrees, pausing once to thank Gary for being the only person in his life who was nice to him. Arthur kisses Gary on the forehead and lets him go.

Arthur then dyes his hair green, puts on full clown make-up, and dons a burgundy suit. He then dances down the stairways, fully embracing his insanity and carefree life. Burke and Garrity find Arthur dancing in the street and move in to arrest him. Arthur runs, and they chase him into the subway train where dozens of other Gotham citizens are dressed like clowns after being inspired by the murders. Arthur hides his face with a clown mask, which he steals from a protester and inadvertently starts a brawl in the train cars. As the detectives pursue Arthur, one clown gets in the way, and Burke accidentally shoots him dead when they struggle with his gun. The clowns pull the detectives out of the subway and start beating them relentlessly, allowing Arthur to get away, moving smoothly through the police forces which swarm the area.

At the TV station, Arthur meets Murray and his agent Gene (Marc Maron). Before he goes on, Arthur asks Murray to introduce him as "Joker," since Murray referred to him as such when playing his clip. Murray asks Arthur if his clown make-up has political agendas behind it to which Arthur replies, "I don't believe in that. I don't believe in anything." While waiting to be introduced, Arthur sees Murray broadcasting a clip of a struggling Arthur trying to tell a joke. This causes Arthur's mind and plans to change, and then he dances out into the spotlight.

Arthur goes out as the show begins. He awkwardly tells Murray a joke, which he finds funny for its dark humor though nobody else does. After being confronted with this, Arthur continues by admitting to the subway murders. Murray and the audience slowly realize that Arthur is serious. Arthur argues that the audience only cares for the victims because Thomas Wayne spoke for them, but anyone else like Arthur would be ignored and walked over. Murray and the audience grow angrier with Arthur, but so does he. Murray scolds Arthur, which escalates into Arthur snapping and telling another joke, grinning giddily. "What do you get when you cross a mentally ill loner with a society that abandons him and treats him like trash?!" he asks, only for Murray to try shutting him off before calling for the police. An enraged Arthur then screams, "You get what you fucking' deserve!" before blowing Murray's brains out in front of everyone. The audience runs away in terror, and the news of the murder immediately hits the airwaves. Arthur then laughs genuinely for the first time in his life.

Gotham is now overrun by rioting citizens dressed as clowns after hearing about what Arthur did. The Waynes leaves a movie theater to find the chaos in the streets. Thomas takes his wife Martha (Carrie Louise Putrello) and Bruce into an alley, but one clown follows them and tells Thomas he is getting what he deserves using the punchline that Arthur used on the Murray Franklin show. With that, he shoots Thomas and Martha dead in front of Bruce.

Meanwhile, Arthur has been arrested and is being taken by the police. Arthur looks out the window and laughs gleefully as he sees the destruction and chaos he has caused. Just then, the clowns in an ambulance run into the car, killing the cops and freeing Arthur, who is injured and unconscious. When he awakes, Arthur finds himself surrounded by a mob of cheering mobsters in clown masks. The rioters then cheer Arthur on as he stands on a car and embraces their admiration, now that he has gotten the recognition, he has long desired. He dances to their cheering and then pauses, finding that his nose is bleeding profusely. He then spreads the blood across his upper lip and grins before standing before them, elevated like a god.

Sometime later, Arthur is locked up in Arkham Asylum. He laughs after telling this story and visualizes a young Bruce standing over his parents in the alley. Realizing that he has, in a way, turned Bruce into himself, Arthur laughs some more, finding this genuinely hilarious. He meets a new social worker (April Grace) and says he wants to tell her a joke, but she wouldn't get it. A few minutes later, Arthur then steps out of the room, leaving a trail of bloody footprints behind before he is chased around by orderlies.

Movie: The Fall Guy (2024) Caution Spoiler Alert

 The Fall Guy

Came out; 2024

Time; 2 hr 6 min

Watched: Theater

Rated: PG-13 for action and violence, drug content and some strong language

IMDB Rating; 7/10

Caution; Spoiler Alert

Staring.

Ryan Gosling as Colt Seavers

Emily Blunt as Jody Moreno

Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Tom Ryder

Hannah Waddingham as Gail Meyer

Teresa Palmer as Iggy Starr

Stephanie Hsu as Alma Milan

Winston Duke as Dan Tucker

Ben Knight as Dressler

Story Line.

He's a stuntman, and like everyone in the stunt community, he gets blown up, shot, crashed, thrown through windows and dropped from the highest of heights, all for our entertainment. And now, fresh off an almost career-ending accident, this working-class hero has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy and try to win back the love of his life while still doing his day job. What could possibly go right?

Thoughts:

My husband suggested this movie and I like both Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt so I figured, what the hell. This movie goes from the start. It ropes you in and just keeps going.

The story line was pretty good and something I could imagine happening. The acting was good and the visual was stunning. It was almost 4^th wall as you were watching a movie of them making a movie.

It had some very funny moments as well as serious ones and a love story put in the middle.

CAUTION; Major Spoiler Alert

The film opens with stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) talking about how important the people in his line of business have been in the history of film and television. Colt takes a lot of hits as a stuntman, but he finds it worth it because he is in love with camera operator Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt), who aspires to become a director. In his latest project, Colt is doing stunts for major Hollywood actor Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Colt gears himself up to a harness to film a scene where he takes a big fall, but something goes wrong and Colt hits the ground and severely injures his back. He walks always from the business, and from Jody.

Eighteen months later, Colt works as a valet driver and has not spoken to Jody since the incident. He is spotted by a former coworker who refers to him as "the fall guy" after what happened, so Colt brings his car back aggressively and by doing donuts in front of him. Later, Colt is contacted by Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham), a producer that frequently works with Ryder. She offers Colt a chance to be Ryder's stunt double on a new sci-fi epic, "Metalstorm", but Colt refuses until Gail informs him that Jody is directing the film.

Colt arrives on set and reunites with his friend, stunt coordinator Dan Tucker (Winston Duke), who informs Colt that his first major stunt back is a cannon roll, which dismays Colt because he fears he will screw that up in front of Jody. The crew goes ahead with the cannon roll stunt, with Colt's car tumbling across a beach before he sticks his thumb out to let the crew know he is fine (a stuntman habit, as he claims). When Jody sees Colt is the stuntman, she is none too pleased to see him after such a long time away, which contradicts Gail's previous claim to Colt that Jody specifically asked for him. For his next stunt, he is set on fire and blown against a wall. Colt and Jody then try to dissect the scene while unsightly discussing their relationship in front of the crew, with most people appearing to be on Jody's side.

Gail visits Colt in his trailer to let him know that Ryder has gone missing after he has gotten into bed with some shady people, and she is tasking Colt with finding him to save Jody's film production within the next 48 hours. Colt then goes to his car and reminisces about his time with Jody while listening to Taylor Swift and crying before Jody shows up, and he has to play it cool. She gets in the car with him and talks about how important the film is for her, and he promises not to derail the production for her.

Colt goes to Ryder's apartment to try and find him but gets attacked by Iggy Starr (Teresa Palmer), Ryder's girlfriend and the main actress of "Metalstorm". After a bit of crashing around the place, Colt finds that Iggy is using a prop sword and he then tries to explain that he is looking for Ryder for the film's sake. Iggy tells him to go to a nightclub that Ryder goes to and to look for his drug dealer.

Colt gets into the club by dressing flashy and meets the drug dealer, Doone (Matuse). When Colt asks for Ryder, Doone instead gives Colt a drugged drink and tries to have his guys deal with him. Colt starts tripping but manages to beat up three goons before chasing Doone outside as he tries to catch a cab. Colt jumps in front of the cab and stops Doone from getting away. He tells Colt that he was paid to drug him and directs him to a hotel to find someone named Kevin and to ask for a "fruit platter". Colt also hallucinates seeing a unicorn.

At the hotel, Colt runs into Jody, who vents to him that the studio is meddling with her film's love story. Colt then meets the concierge, Kevin (Ben Gerrard), who gives him a "fruit platter", which is just the key to Ryder's hotel room. After a few unsuccessful tries with the door key, Colt breaks into the room by knocking the door down. Jody calls him and talks to him about some ideas for the film while playfully bantering. Afterwards, Colt finds the corpse of another stuntman, Henry Herrera. Colt calls Gail, who advises him not to talk to the police, but he does so anyway because one officer approaches him because he is illegally parked. When Colt mentions the body in the tub of ice, they return to Ryder's room to find the tub completely empty...and Colt still gets a ticket.

On the next day of shooting, Dan complains that Jody was inspired by whatever she discussed with Colt since she has bigger and more complicated ideas for the shoot. Colt stands in for Ryder so that they can use deep fake technology and add Ryder's face to the final product. Jody later invites Colt out for karaoke, which he accepts.

On his way to karaoke, Colt runs into Alma Martin (Stephanie Hsu), Tom's assistant, along with a trained dog named Jean-Claude that he has worked with. When he asks Alma about Ryder, she says that she last saw him and Henry at a crazy party before Gail called her away from it. Alma got her hands on Ryder's phone since his head of security, Dressler (Ben Knight), was hounding her over it. She knows there is something criminal on there and is willing to turn it in, but she tells Colt she wants producer credit on "Metalstorm". He says he will see what he can do right before they both get teased by Dressler, and he abducts Alma in his truck. Colt gets Jean-Claude and steals a truck to chase after them, all while Jody is at the karaoke bar waiting for him and disappointed that he is not there. Jody goes on to perform "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" while Colt fights the goons after he and the dog make it onto their van. Jean-Claude bites the goons in the balls before going up front to help Alma get rid of the driver goon. They manage to stop the car, and Colt crashes through the windshield, but he is okay. He then runs with the dog to the karaoke bar, only to find Dan there, and he says that Jody is long gone.

Colt and Dan give Ryder's phone to fellow crew member Venti (Zara Michales) to hack into, but she needs his password. The guys go to Ryder's apartment and go through his wide array of post-it note reminders until they manage to find the password written in plain sight. After Venti unlocks the phone, Colt and Dan find a video of Ryder, Iggy, and some of his buddies with Henry, who makes a crack about Ryder not doing his own stunts. Ryder is seen trying to do a stunt, only to accidentally knock Henry over and kill him. Moments later, Venti calls Dan to inform the guys that the news is reporting on Henry's death and naming Colt as the prime suspect. Soon, Dressler and his goons show up and open fire on Colt and Dan, who quickly take action. Dressler ends up shooting and destroying Ryder's phone out of Colt's hands. They fight off some goons as Colt makes it outside and jumps onto Ryder's boat, crashing through the roof. He then finds himself face-to-face with Ryder before getting knocked out cold.

Colt wakes up to find himself tied up, with Ryder demanding his phone back. He admits to killing Henry and setting up Colt to be "the fall guy" for the crime, as well as informing him that the entire cover-up was Gail's idea after he went crying to her. Ryder also admits that he set up Colt's accident because he felt Colt was stealing his thunder. This happens just as Gail goes to meet with Jody to tell him that Colt is the suspect in Henry's murder. After Colt admits that Dressler destroyed the phone, Ryder has his goons douse Colt with kerosene to light him on fire, but he gets some in his mouth and spits it at Dressler when he tries to light him up. Colt hops on a boat and tries to get away while steering backwards. He tries to contact Jody, but Gail intentionally gets her phone wet before Jody can answer his call. Colt eventually manages to reach Jody and tries to explain himself, but the villains chase after him and cause his boat to crash and explode, though he manages to jump to safety. Colt is presumed dead, and it is billed a suicide, while the villains use the deep fake tech to use Colt's face on Ryder's body in the video showing Ryder killing Henry.

Colt reaches Dan and gets help sneaking back onto set in disguise as an alien from the movie. Jody beats him up due to the confusion until he reveals himself. Before Colt can explain himself, Jody embraces him with a kiss, but the moment is ruined with Gail outside. Jody hides Colt and hears Gail talk about Colt's supposed death, as well as trying to do Jody's big car jump stunt for the film in VFX and focusing on Ryder's epic final monologue. After Gail leaves, Colt and Jody organize a plan to get Ryder to confess to the murder by getting him to make him do the car jump himself since he will be wearing a mic, and he usually forgets he is being recorded, so he is always seen or heard saying whatever he wants unfiltered.

The crew gets ready for the big scene and shoots Ryder's monologue. Jody gets Ryder into the car by saying she needs a close-up of him. Colt reveals himself and begins to drive the car away, prompting Dressler and his goons to go after him. Jody and Dan help keep the goons off Colt long enough until he gets Ryder to admit to killing Henry and saying Gail came up with the frame job before Colt pulls off the epic jump across a canyon, which knocks Ryder unconscious. Gail then gets a chopper to come get her and Ryder after she steals his confession tape. With help from Jody, Colt is thrown toward the helicopter and fights both Gail and Ryder until he gets the tape back and jumps down onto a crash mat set up by the crew at the right time. Colt and Jody celebrate their victory with a kiss.

"Metalstorm" eventually hits theaters with Jason Momoa replacing Ryder as the lead actor. The film becomes a major hit, and Alma gets her producer credit. Colt says that while the heroes in the film got their happy ending, he and Jody got theirs as well.

The credits show off the stunts shown in the film. At the end, we see the police coming to arrest Ryder and Gail after their chopper crashes. They are met by the lead cops (Lee Majors and Heather Thomas - the stars of the original "Fall Guy" TV show), but Ryder runs off onto the set to try and call for help. This activates the pyrotechnics and blows Ryder up, leading Alma to call for Momoa's agent.