Insurance Agent Forum

[arnguy]

I have heard a rumor that our very own Frank Stastny was the techical advisor for this just released movie. If true, it's good to know that Frank was able to use his expertise in this field. I hope that he is listed in the credits.

[STIBROKER@AUSTIN.RR.COM]

Really...tell me more....

Anyone with experience with FinalExpenseAgents.biz

[arnguy]

I dunno, Scott. Frank will have to clue us in. BTW, it looks like a good movie from the trailer you posted.

[Robert Barney]

Sounds mediocre.

The Men Who Stare at Goats Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes

I have a four point grading system:

1. Must See it in a theatre.

Very few films appear appealing enough to make me go out to a theatre - this ain't one of them.

2. Must Rent a DVD

A handful of movies make this level. Last night we watched Duplicity, my son rented it. Mediocre. Had great promise and blue it in the end. Too many Hollywood movies fail because they are infected with liberal mush.

On another note, Julia Roberts is no longer the cute babe she was. I predict her career to languish.

Clive Owen on the other hand, should have been James Bond. The closer you get to Sean Connery the better and Owen was closer than Craig.

Owen can be very, very good. I liked Croupier.

3. Watch on Satellite

This is where I see most watchable films. It is where the goat move will be seen.

Anything that portrays the military in less than flattering terms always ticks me off. I don't mind a military with bad guys in it, there are many, but I don't like a military movie where the military is the bad guy.

4. Not watch on satellite

Just obviously so bad there is no point. Two hours of your life gone for what?

Generally I like Clooney's stuff but he can be unbearable in a bad film because I start thinking about his liberal wacko political views and then it's over for me. Burn After Reading was bad and he did not come off well in that. Having said that, he's a good enough actor to get me over the hump. I thought he was brilliant in Michael Clayton. He got some great scenes in that film and I have watched it 3 or 4 times. Great job of acting.

Al no doubt love him, being a diehard liberal. Although Al may feel conflicted giving that Clooney was born and raised in Kentucky.

I used to like Susan Sarandon but she is so far out there I can't bear to see her in anything.

On other other hand, I can watch Clint Eastwood read a telephone book and find it interesting. Gran Torino was Dirty Harry on Social Security. One of the best directors in Hollywood - the guy really knows how to make a movie.

Back to the goat flick - who would be anxious to see it?

[Mr. Bill]

Yours is similar to mine:

The Big Screen - theater. Nothing like it for a James Bond movie, or Clive Owen when he's playing a bad guy. That movie with Julia Roberts was interesting but I still don't understand how she commands more than $20k to "star" in a flick. Debra Messing, I think she pays the movie people!

Small Screen Rental - I never bother with this. There are enough $2 theaters around and for 1st runs, I can always go $6 on the early show

TV - Seriously, can't do it. The commercials just get to me and somehow 90 minutes transforms to 3 hours.

Then there's the straight purchase (very rare). The other day I bought Transporter and Transporter 2 at WalMart for $7.50. WalMart has some terrific deals!

As for the goat movie, I'm going to pass. Looks kinda funny. As far as George Clooney movies, I liked Syriana and The Peacemaker is simply awesome, but Michael Clayton was his best.

[Charpress]

"Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" is a must-add to that list. Clooney is very good at playing quirky characters in quirky movies. Since John Turturro is in it too, you have quirky squared.

[Robert Barney]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bill

TV - Seriously, can't do it. The commercials just get to me and somehow 90 minutes transforms to 3 hours.

I have a pretty good home theatre set up:

52" Sharp LCD panel, 120 mhz, 1080i. Picked up on ebay for $1,045 to the door.

Sony home theatre amp - ebay $85 to the door

Sony subwoofer - ebay $125 to the door

RCA center channel - ebay about $75 to the door

Advent towers in the front, - ebay about $85 to the door

Advent bookshelf speakers - ebay about $30 to the door

The TV is fabulous and the sound is better than a theatre.

I have not sprung for a Blue ray DVD player, simply because I don't want to lay out the big bucks for Blue ray disks. I have an up converting oppo DVD player which does a great job with standard DVD disks. Still not as good as Blue Ray, but really a nice picture.

We are getting Dish Satellite and my favorite channels are HDnet Movies and MGM. Both are like TCM, they play older movies but these are movies that have been converted from film to 1080. I've been seeing old favorite like Bullit. Here are the line ups so you can see the great, hi def stuff we are getting commercial free. It's awesome:

HDNet Movies Schedule

Here's MGM's guide. Note MGM pauses about half way through a movie for a little self promotion. Gives me time to grab a snack and use the restroom.

THE MGM Channel - Schedule

Like I say, I watch this stuff more than anything else and they are converting more and more older/classic films to 1080. And there is some more recent stuff, but those are running solid classics like Unforgiven.