Dialogue

Mail, rants, theories etc.

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★ STAR LETTER

I know that much of the love we have for moving pictures thrives on the chaos that they generate. But am I alone in wishing for more films and TV shows where nothing ever goes wrong? No issues, just positive engagements all round. It just seems like such a strange notion that we require dilemma and tension to enjoy anything! I like mild peril/retribution/having the rug pulled from under me as much as the next person, but sometimes it would be nice to see things turn out… nice.

Less Fast & Furious, more Slow & Steady? All Stars, no Wars? We’re intrigued. Such a sea change would lower blood pressure and increase cinema showings (jeopardy-laden epics like LOTR would last the length of a TikTok video). But it could put genres like horror at serious risk… Won’t someone think of the Ghostfaces and M3GANs?? Peter and everyone with a letter printed here will receive a copy of Oscar-winning sub thriller U-571, out 25 September on 4K UHD, BD, DVD and digital via StudioCanal. Didn’t send an address? Email it! Dive, dive, dive in!

INDY ROCKS

Was I the only person who enjoyed Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny? There seems to be a lot of negativity surrounding the film, often from people who haven’t seen it. I thought the opening train scene was great, the traditional travel elements were all there and the Nazi villains were threatening, despite [there] only being about three of them as opposed to the entire armies in previous films. The recreation of the time period was terrific too, and the calmer pace felt appropriate. It was also brilliant to see the return of some familiar faces. For this fan, it was a welcome treat that I have already seen more than once.

@BelricLongleaf ‘The Rebel Moon trailer gave me Avatar vibes with how inventive and playful it looks. Feels like it’s gonna be one of those franchises we get very familiar with…’

Glad you enjoyed, Keith. Our reviewer gave DoD four stars, so you’re not alone. Although one of Dialogue’s disappointments was Indy not trading in his 30s look for a more 1969 ensemble: sandals, bell bottoms, beads as long as his bullwhip. Or maybe that would’ve given audiences a bigger fright than angels of death hurtling round the room.

DISC ASSESSMENT

Reports that Disney will be discontinuing the sale of DVD and Blu-ray discs in Australia raises the question… is the end of physical media nigh? Like many of your readers, I have hundreds of DVD, Blu-ray and 4K discs. But many other people believe such collections are already obsolete. It seems that Millennials favour streaming, while older generations still like the sense of ownership related to physical media. Or is it so simple? What does Total Film think? And what do readers think?

At TF Towers our priority is watching content in whatever format it’s presented to us, whether it be in 4DX or projected on a bedsheet in the back room of a pub. But we’re certainly keen to hear how readers are faring in territories where discs are dying out. How has it impacted your viewing habits? What are the negatives? And is one of the positives having to contend with fewer leaky, crusty remote-control batteries?

GOLDEN MEG

In the immortal words of Nelson Muntz, I’d like to direct a ‘ha-ha’ towards last month’s Star Letter writer and their need to ‘smarten up’ movies, Oppenheimerstyle. I’ve just been to see Meg 2: The Trench and can reveal that I was able to totally disengage my brain for two hours of fantastically silly and funny over-thetop action. A hit like this confirms that the only ‘physics’ you need to know at the cinema is this equation: Meg + Jason Statham + harpoon + jet ski = pure gill-ty pleasure.

As entertaining as Meg 2 was, I feel they’re going to need to shake up the formula for the next one. I’ve been thinking of some ideas for the sequel: Meg vs Nessie: Battle for the Loch. Or Meg 3: Call of the Siren. Or maybe Meg could join another franchise… Godzilla vs King Kong vs Meg vs Dwayne Johnson, anyone?

Pleased you had a ball Ellie. Hope that your brain enjoyed the time off and is looking forward to another restful Stath-cation. Although if we do get Tom’s Dwayne Johnson crossover, it surely won’t last two hours: one arch of the People’s Eyebrow, and the shockwaves will obliterate any and all uber-beasts.

@Fludded ‘The world the Rebel Moon characters live in must be full of hairdressers. All the actors have freshly trimmed, immaculately styled hair. Really distracting.’

SWEARING THIN?

When The Wolf of Wall Street came out, it set a record for the amount of swear words in a single movie. We’ve now become used to hearing f-bombs in every other sentence in the movies and hardly notice them. But sexual swearing is different. It can be funny, but also derogatory. On a recent multiplex visit we chose to see Strays. Seeing cute dogs hump inanimate objects and spout sexual language is a long way from Beethoven, but after a while it was no longer funny. Ted was spoiled in the same way. I can’t understand why filmmakers believe their product is improved by so much profanity. Am I just getting old?

That sounds like the spur for a big debate (on swearing in movies, not readers ageing). Share your thoughts – and in clean, civilised fashion please, not the manner of a 1980s stockbroker off their noggin on Quaaludes.

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