Mission: Impossible – Fallout

Ms. Makerbot and I finally saw Mission: Impossible – Fallout yesterday afternoon. I seem to recall enjoying the last MI movie (Rogue Nation?) a few years back, but couldn’t tell you much about it now. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, probably more of a testament to the movie as escapist summer fun than a dig.

Anyway, my overall impression is that this one’s better than that one. Fallout has a just-complex-enough twisty plot, evil bad guys hellbent on world destruction, lots of great set pieces, and a silly-but-fun McGuffin. Say what you want about Tom Cruise’s personal life, the guy just wants to make great movies. And perform all his own stunts, if possible. He reportedly trained an entire year for one of them, and production was halted a few months after he broke his ankle performing another.

Have the Mission: Impossible movies always just been American James Bond with M and Q along for the ride?

The Shiner

“The Shiner,” from MAD Magazine issue 221 (March, 1981).

Art by Angelo Torres, written by Larry Siegel.

What’s In The Bag…

Here’s a new way to lose track of time and waste hours. What’s in your bag is a series of videos on You Tube where your favorite artist runs around Amoeba records and fills up a bag with their favorite music/dvds, and then tells you about why the picked whatever they selected. It’s been a nice go-to for finding new music, and a great way to waste hours without even realizing it. Here’s a few to get you started. They’re only a few minutes long…

This Looks Completely Bonkers In The Best Way Possible And I Can’t Wait To See It

Starring Nicolas Cage, directed by Panos Cosmatos, music by Jóhann Jóhannsson. September 14th!

Pacific Northwest. 1983 AD. Outsiders Red Miller and Mandy Bloom lead a loving and peaceful existence. When their pine-scented haven is savagely destroyed by a cult led by the sadistic Jeremiah Sand, Red is catapulted into a phantasmagoric journey filled with bloody vengeance and laced with fire.