Topics

1

Off-Topic Discussion / My mom

« on: December 01, 2022, 04:10:14 PM »

Sixteen years ago today, God called my mom Home.  Affectionately known by my siblings and I simply as ?Ma.?  Sad to say I didn?t have as close a relationship with her as my brother, sisters and niece.  While that was a struggle for decades she made peace with me prior to her passing.  That?s all that matters now, along with as many positive memories I can cling to.  For years after she was gone I kidded myself into believing how great it was for family members, friends and colleagues to have such a better relationship with her than I did.  On my 54th birthday in 2020 I had an epiphany while discussing this with my cousin at his home in Kingston, NH.  Ironically, prior to having to move due to health reasons, this is the same town she lived in where she had purchased a home with a lakeside view.  The powerful epiphany was that while I had been repeating those sentiments to him that day, I didn?t truly feel that way.  Upon realization, I was overwhelmed with guilt and became uncomfortable to the point that I had to excuse myself temporarily to go outside for a walk, get some air and contemplate.  Upon my return I explained to him why I?d become emotional and was grateful to have been able to have shared the revelation with him.  I had come to the realization that I?d been carrying jealousy of others because I didn?t share the closeness to her the way they did.  I?d gotten so used to suppressing that because I felt ashamed, but since then I?ve come to terms with it and can now admit and say I truly am glad for the closeness shared by others with her that I didn?t.  Ma wasn?t a religious person and for a long time I wasn?t sure of my own beliefs.  I wish I could hear the conversations she?s having with Him now.  I will always miss her and wish she could?ve been present to witness the arrival of the rest of her grandchildren.  I?m sure she?s watching over all of them very lovingly now and forever.  God Bless you, Ma.         


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2

Off-Topic Discussion / Love

« on: March 15, 2022, 10:02:25 AM »

Today is my girlfriend's birthday.  Her name is Cydney and we were introduced Christmas Day, 2020 by a mutual friend.  I asked her out on a date the following night and we've been spending a lot of time together since then. 

I'm sharing this with everyone because I've been on this forum since 2002, value my membership here and enjoy the interaction and various topics that are discussed.

I wish you all love. 

Take care and stay safe,

Jed (Brian) Cooper




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3

General Discussion / Clint Eastwood Double Features Ideas

« on: November 16, 2021, 01:22:33 PM »

Greetings, and welcome. I want to play a game. 
 
I?ve often thought about what would make good Clint Eastwood double features.  Once I completed my collection years ago, that came easy and more interesting over time as he released and continues to release  more movies.  I was going to post a list but that would be more fun for me than anyone else and thought it would be a good idea to include others.
 
So, we?ll start with the rules.  I?ll be the gamekeeper.  I?d say moderator, but that just doesn?t feel right.  In light of that, I am dedicating this post to KC.  I think it?s something she would?ve enjoying participating in. 
 
We?ll begin with the first post after this.  Give me any Clint Eastwood movie and I?ll respond with what I think would be a good companion film for a double-feature viewing.  Originally, I was going to limit this to his starring-only projects, but don?t want to offend anyone.  Keeping that in mind, I?ve decided to expand it to every movie he?s starred in since he began his career all the way up to present day.  So, this means Revenge Of The Creature to Cry Macho.
 
Please don?t post after the first person because it will be too difficult to keep track if there are many.  The goal here is for me to reply and that opens the door for further discussion on the two films paired together.  How about we do this for a period of one week for each pairing?  I think that will be enough time for others to join in.  It will be an open discussion to agree, disagree, share thoughts, insights and so on.  Not in any way intended to be a debate.  No, I think we could have a lot of fun with this, potentially for a long time.
 
So, please join me and I hope all is well with you all.

4

Off-Topic Discussion / Happy Birthday Schofield Kid!

« on: October 15, 2021, 12:37:31 PM »

Happy Birthday!  Enjoy your Special Day! 

5

Off-Topic Discussion / Tapatalk problems

« on: May 12, 2021, 08:46:17 AM »

Does anyone else here use Tapatalk for this forum?  I switched a few years ago and up ?til recently found it easier to use.  I noticed some problems recently but don?t know what?s going on.  Does any Tapatalk users have any insight?  Thank you in advance for your time.

6

Eastwood News / John Saxon, Co-Star in Joe Kidd, Dies at Age 83

« on: July 25, 2020, 06:15:13 PM »

John Saxon, 'Enter the Dragon,' 'Nightmare on Elm Street' Actor, Dies at 83

God Bless. Rest In Peace. 🙏🏻🙏🏻




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7

Eastwood News / R.I.P. Anthony James and Richard Herd

« on: May 28, 2020, 05:07:54 PM »

Anthony James, Actor in 'Unforgiven' and 'In the Heat of the Night,' Dies at 77





Rest In Peace.  God Bless.




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8

Off-Topic Discussion / Happy Easter 2020

« on: April 12, 2020, 05:40:43 AM »

I hope you enjoy a Safe, Healthy and Very Happy Easter! 




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9

Off-Topic Discussion / Music Media Progression

« on: March 27, 2020, 05:08:19 PM »

I used to love collecting cds.  It took me a while to make the switch from vinyl & cassette.  Once I was able to play cds in my car I thought there’d be no going back.  Prior to that, I’d buy albums on vinyl for home use and the same ones on cassette to hear while driving.  Funny thing is, I’ve returned to vinyl only a few years ago and have now lost the desire to purchase compact discs at all.  It’s a joy to experience playing records again but I limit myself to classic rock, some jazz and popular pre-rock music like Sinatra and Dean Martin. 

The best part is discovering music I otherwise let pass me by years ago, like Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours”, Billy Joel’s “The Stranger”, The Who’s “Who’s Next”, Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, Bruce Springsteen’s “Born To Run”, The Rolling Stone’s “Exile On Main Street”, The Eagles’ “Hotel California” and more.  I don’t buy into the vinyl vs compact disc debate.  It’s crap.  It depends on your system.  If you have a basic stereo your cds will sound fine but of course, with superior components vinyl will sound better and vice versa.  I don’t care.

For me it’s all about personal entertainment.  I’m not a stickler.  Hell, I remember 8-track tapes sounded better than cassettes on the same stereo but the 8-track drawback was the song interruptions!  LOL!  I’d be listening to the Beatles’ Let It Be album as so…

“Images of broken light, which dance before me like a million eyes…” KERLUNCK!  What the?  Is my stereo busted? Man!! ...KERLUNCK! ”…They call me on and on across the universe.”  Hahaha!  They had 4 programs on each cartridge but not enough space.   It was weird and at times frustrating.  Like many others, I thought vinyl would last forever.  You can’t go wrong with the artistry of albums, an art form lost on the smaller cd packaging.  Although, these days there are sets in both formats that go to the extreme to fans’ and collectors’ delight.

So, a few years ago, I finally graduated to modern technology and took advantage of music available on Spotify and radio programs on XFM.  I loved burning my own cd compilations but even that was limiting.  With Spotify I can compile to my hearts’ content without additional cost.  I can listen at home, in my car and on my phone.  It’s a win-win scenario, unlike the Kobayashi Maru 😉  Yup, I just exposed my geek side.  It’s great revisiting favorites and discovering music I otherwise have and would continue let pass me by.  Thanks to Linda and Amy (you know who you are 😉), I’ve discovered the greatness of The Rolling Stones and AC/DC without having to spend lots of money.           

I remember my dad telling me some years ago, “Vinyl’s making a comeback!”  I laughed and replied, “No way!  What the hell for, anyway?”  Like many others, I figured records had gone the way of VHS tapes.  They died out when DVDs took over, much like vinyl did when CDs came along.  Not long after, I was in Newbury Comics in Boston and saw he was right.  A few short years later, upon another visit, I saw that they had an entire room full of vinyl!  My dad got the last laugh on that one.  It would be a while before I returned to vinyl and am glad I did.  On the other side of the same token (as Dad used to say), I’m thankful for the technological advancement, too.  The best of both worlds.
























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10

General Discussion / Space Cowboys 20 Year Anniversary

« on: January 17, 2020, 09:10:22 PM »

This film has one of my favorite Eastwood movie quotes:  “Clock’s ticking, Bob, and I’m only getting older.”  When I first heard about Space Cowboys, it was rumored that Jack Nicholson and Sean Connery we’re going to costar with Clint.  That would’ve been interesting, but Donald Sutherland, James Garner and Tommy Lee Jones rounded out the cast perfectly.  Sutherland had worked with Eastwood thirty years before, in Kelly’s Heroes.  Clint had also worked with James Garner as well, having appeared in an episode of Maverick.




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11

General Discussion / White Hunter, Black Heart & The Rookie 30 Year Anniversaries

« on: January 17, 2020, 09:07:54 PM »

Clint’s first movie of the 1990’s had limited release, but I was determined and found myself seeking it out at a cinema in Boston.  This character study reminded me of Honkytonk Man and like that film, I didn’t enjoy it.  At least, not right away.  I enjoyed the book by Peter Viertel very much, though.  I’ve yet to see the movie it was based on, The African Queen.  My initial reaction to Clint’s character, John Wilson, losing a fistfight was negative.  I smile now, when I think of how I reacted then.  Seeing it now makes me appreciate and enjoy it.  Wilson’s verbal reaction to his loss was funny and for the first time I laughed. 

I remember the publicity about The Rookie around the time of its’ release.  I thought it was cool that Charlie Sheen would be teaming up with Eastwood.  After having been disappointed with Pink Cadillac and White Hunter Black Heart, I was looking forward to something good.  At the conclusion of The Rookie, I was indifferent.  I was a little concerned, confused, even.  Was this strike three on Clint Eastwood movies for me?  I was questioning my loyalty as a fan.  Coincidentally, the year before I was let down by Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.  Three bad films in a row by Eastwood didn’t help.  In Star Trek, redemption was delivered by the original series cast swan song in 1991.  It would be twenty months after the release of The Rookie for salvation to come my way when Unforgiven was released.




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12

General Discussion / Bronco Billy & Any Which Way You Can 40 Year Anniversaries

« on: January 17, 2020, 09:06:46 PM »

I first saw Bronco Billy on cable tv.  I was fortunate to see Any Which Way You Can at the cinema with my friend, Mike.

Bronco Billy is okay.  If anything, it’s interesting to pick out actors that have performed with Clint before, such as Geoffrey Lewis, Sondra Locke, William Prince, Bill McKinney, Sam Bottoms, Dan Vadis, Walter Barnes, Doug McGrath, Woodrow Parfrey and Hank Worden.  The humor is not effective, very lighthearted.

Unusual for a sequel, Any Which Way You Can is better than its’ predecessor.  Unlike Bronco Billy, the story flows nicely and comedy is on point.  Every Which Way But Loose proved the naysayers wrong when it came to Clint doing a comedy and this film hammered the point home.




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13

Questions & Answers / Correction ?

« on: January 17, 2020, 07:00:27 PM »

Is this something that could/should be amended?

I just noticed something that, with Gran Torino, makes the first comment on these films outdated.  Walt Kowalski is the third character to die in an Eastwood movie. 



Curious, there’s no mention of Walt Kowalski’s death here.




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14

General Discussion / Two Mules For Sister Sara & Kelly’s Heroes 50 Year Anniversaries

« on: January 15, 2020, 10:09:25 AM »

For the first time after viewing these again recently, I came away enjoying them very much.  So much so, that I look forward to seeing them again.  Another first.   After becoming a fan, I sought out all of Eastwood’s films but didn’t care for these upon first viewing.  Even this time around, it took a second viewing of each to finally appreciate and fully enjoy them.

After first recent viewing of Two Mules For Sister Sara I thought, “Well, at least Don Siegel did a better western with Flaming Star.”  I’m glad I gave it another chance so soon.  I enjoyed watching the interaction between Eastwood and MacLaine.  They have good moments individually and together. 

The best part of Kelly’s Heroes is the ensemble cast.  My favorite character is Big Joe.  Telly Savalas plays him perfectly in every scene.  Whereas I used to find this film long, drawn out and boring I now enjoy watching the story unfold from opening credits to the end. 

 


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15

Clint Eastwood Westerns / Coop’s Rawhide Page

« on: May 10, 2019, 11:26:24 AM »

I’m finally getting around to checking this out in season order.  I thought I’d share my thoughts after I watch each episode of Rawhide here.  For what it’s worth I’ll be giving my ‘so-called’, er-aaahh….  ahem, ‘reviews’, LOL.     
 
Rawhide was a happy discovery for me, but not for long.  I first learned about this western television program through Iain Johnstone’s 1981 book, The Man With No Name: The Biography of Clint Eastwood.  I wondered why I hadn’t seen the show before.  Being a new Eastwood fan, I was excited about the prospect of seeing it but that feeling was short-lived.  Over time I came to realize although it had a decent run of eight seasons, it wasn’t currently as popular as Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Big Valley and The Rifleman to still be shown on tv regularly.  Many a year would pass before it finally would, but my interest had faded.  Not in Clint’s movies, just Rawhide.  At the time, he was still heavily involved in acting and directing, unlike now.
 
When Rawhide finally saw the light of day on DVD, I was happy to add it to my collection.  This was another short-lived feeling.  After viewing the first season, I understood why it wasn’t shown as frequently as the other westerns.  It’s just not as good.  That’s not to say it’s bad, not at all, just not enjoyable enough to look forward to more.  That was strike one.  Strike two was the amount of time in between the release of seasons one and two; July 25, 2006 to May 29, 2007… ten months!  Not only that, but beginning with season two, they were divided into two volumes …and not at the same time!  I understand the marketing logic behind this, but Rawhide took 8 years to be released in its entirety, less than its original run on tv!  That was strike three for me and I gave up.   
 
Rawhide ran from January 9, 1959 through January 4, 1966, 8 seasons but in actual time, a total of seven years.  The first season of Rawhide was made available to purchase on dvd on July 25, 2006 and the final season was released June 3, 2014...  Eight years!  UGH!!  Fast forward to a couple of years ago, I received the series as a birthday gift from my girlfriend, Tina.  I finally took the set out of its plastic and began watching recently.  So now I’ll be able to see the entire program, although, who knows how long it’ll take!  The saving grace is that I do love westerns and like his recent movie, The Mule, Rawhide will make up for Eastwood directing only.  Head ‘em up!  Move ‘em out!   
 



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16

Off-Topic Discussion / 2018 Baseball

« on: October 28, 2018, 08:42:57 PM »

Red Sox cap stellar season, win 4th World Series in 15 years

Red Sox Beat Dodgers to Win 9th World Series Championship

17

Eastwood News / Burt Reynolds RIP

« on: September 06, 2018, 12:11:30 PM »

Burt Reynolds, Star of ‘Deliverance,’ ‘Smokey and the Bandit,’ Dies at 82

Rest In Peace, sir.  God Bless. 🙏😢






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18

General Discussion / Changeling & Gran Torino 10 Year Anniversaries

« on: August 05, 2018, 06:28:44 PM »

Wow, ten years since the release of these films have gone by already.  I remember hearing the news of production beginning on Changeling.  I had yet to get used to the fact that Eastwood’s starring roles were coming to an end.  Since then, I’ve been able to “improvise, overcome and adapt.”

Four years had passed since Million Dollar Baby and I wasn’t impressed with what Clint had released in the intervening years. 

I wasn’t very impressed with Changeling, either.  That disappointment wouldn’t last long, thankfully, upon the release of Gran Torino.  Hell, the mere mention of another Eastwood starring role made up for everything! 

Gran Torino is a favorite and one of Eastwood’s all time best, successful films.  What a pleasure and relief to see it when it came out!  A friend opined that it seemed like a lot of characters Clint had portrayed were summed up into Walt Kowalski.  I agree with him and that’s one of the things that makes this movie so enjoyable and entertaining.






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19

General Discussion / The Dead Pool & Bird 30 Year Anniversaries

« on: August 05, 2018, 06:26:22 PM »

I recently attempted to sit through these again, but couldn’t.  I grew bored with The Dead Pool and stopped watching less than halfway through.  Bird held very little interest to begin with so I let myself become distracted throughout and fell asleep before the conclusion.  I watched the both of these earlier this year, anyway, so no big loss. 

The fifth installment in the Dirty Harry series has a strong beginning, but doesn’t take long to fade into mediocrity.  Being a fan, I enjoyed seeing this for the first time on the big screen.  There are a handful of good moments but overall it lacks the punch of the first three.  It would be great to see Eastwood reprise his iconic role again, obviously retired, possibly working a cold case with flashbacks featuring his son Scott as a younger Harry Callahan. 

As for Bird, well, this film only reinforces my opinion that unless he stars in it, it’s not a true Clint Eastwood movie.  That doesn’t mean I haven’t given them a chance or won’t.  Since Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil, I’ve missed just one movie Eastwood directed only in the theater.  To quote the late, great King Of Rock & Roll, “You gotta take the bad with the good.”  Precisely, I agree wholeheartedly.




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20

General Discussion / Every Which Way But Loose 40 Year Anniversary

« on: August 05, 2018, 06:23:39 PM »

Comedy is not the first movie genre that comes to mind when Clint Eastwood is mentioned.  He’s become a successful and prolific director, but even after all these years his most popular achievements lie in his western and police movie roles.  Most notably, The Man With No Name and Dirty Harry.

Pairing Eastwood with an orangutan worked like a charm.  The entire cast is amusing and there are a lot of funny sight gags.  Clint’s judgment paid off enormously at the box office and produced an even better sequel. 

I first saw this on cable at my friend Mike Sormanti’s.  He introduced me to other entertaining comedies like Smokey & The Bandit, Up In Smoke and Stir Crazy.  We had fun watching them repeatedly when we could.  I have Mike to thank not only for introducing me to Eastwood films, but comedies as well.






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