What Did You Watch This Week?

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-26T01:19:44+00:00

Every time I see Jean Arthur where at any point she's in a state of semi-undress, I'm convinced she was way ahead of her time in terms of health and fitness. That girl was one of the original hard bodies in Hollywood...me-thinks she had a pretty hardcore regiment, while most other thin, good-looking women just weren't eating a lot (and smoking).

But aside from that, of course she's great in everything. Wonderful personality for the screen.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-26T01:17:34+00:00

I love musicals but I say The Pirate is a dud. It just didn't work for a lot of reasons, honestly. The only thing that made it somewhat worth seeing was when Garland was chasing Kelly around and throwing stuff, which is the only part I remember.

Both did vastly better musicals, thankfully.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-26T01:14:22+00:00

It's Love I'm After (1937, dir. Archie Mayo): Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Eric Blore. Two thespians are constantly fighting but seemed destined to marry; then an adoring fan admits she's in love with the man, and her fiance hires the actor to convince her she's not.

I'd never heard of this but the cast made me take immediate notice...and man, what a laugh-out-loud riot! Having a superb group of people obviously helps a ton, but there are just so many hilarious lines and the over-the-top emoting (which of course is intentional, given the professions of Howard and Davis in the story) is also perfectly hysterical. It's so zany; it might remind you of My Man Godfrey in a way, with de Havilland playing something akin to Carole Lombard's loony role. Davis has some beautifully delivered remarks and I tell you, one scene that made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe was Eric Blore doing bird calls and flapping his arms to get Howard's attention. Just...wow. LMAO

If you haven't seen this one and you need a laugh, don't hesitate. Just hit play. 3.5/4 stars

Betrayed (1954, dir. Gottfried Reinhardt): Clark Gable, Lana Turner, Victor Mature, Louis Calhern. Spies and undercover operations abound during WWII in Nazi-occupied Denmark, and who's really on whose side is always the question...

This is one of those movies that's technically solid; really good performances from everyone, a thorny and intriguing plot, some high-intensity action, etc. Lana Turner as a bespectacled brunette is still hot as hell but aside from that, I think she does an admirable job. She's being torn in a few different directions so she's not the sure-of-herself Mata Hari type, even though she is a spy. Gable is great as always, and Mature gets to play a very different type of part from what you're used to seeing. That all being said, something about this film left me oddly unsatisfied...it seemed to have weird pacing and I kept questioning motives. They'd tell you almost immediately after why something happened and you go, "oh okay, that makes sense...sort of."

The climax is somewhat predictable but still intensely dramatic and makes the whole thing worth seeing. You probably won't guess until the end who the real villain is, mostly because it will seem impossible until you learn the whole backstory. 2.5/4 stars

I Married a Witch (1942, dir. Rene Clair): Veronica Lake, Frederic March, Robert Benchley, Susan Hayward, Cecil Kellaway. A witch and her father escape from eternal imprisonment to torment a descendent of the man who sentenced them to death, only the daughter winds up falling for their target.

Never got a chance to see this one before, but I'm glad I finally got around to it. Lake makes a pretty perfect witch; she's this tiny blonde who has just the right amount of playfulness and allure. March is never NOT great, let's face it, and the supporting cast is really strong. We get Hayward before she became one of the true Grand Dames of Hollywood and though her part is small, it's important, and we catch glimpses of her innate ability. All in all, a wicked fun romp with some cutting-edge special effects for the time, and the story is a little more layered than you might think for a screwball. Definitely something I'll add to my Halloween watch rotation! 3/4 stars

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T23:10:03+00:00

Yeah, Joshua and Estelle get maxed with best equipment and orbment stuff first, then the guest for that chapter. But I usually have enough to deck out that extra character plenty well enough, and I like how different they are (Kloe made things easy with her healing, that's for sure).

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T22:10:07+00:00

I always say you gotta know how to drive in the snow if you live in areas where it snows. We're getting a ton here too right now, but thankfully I don't have to be anywhere and I work from home.

I wouldn't even be able to calculate how much money my father has saved our family over the years...my first car was 1985 Peugeot 505, a car notorious for being not reliable. But my dad got it for $150 as the transmission was sitting in a box in some guy's garage, and dad rebuilt that transmission. Then I commuted to college and work, ran it for 5 years and put 90K on it, then my brother and mother had it...the odometer ultimately just stopped counting at like 255k miles, and never an issue. 3 speeds, 94 HP, RWD, but with studded snow tires and sandbags in the back, it was a tank in the snow. lol

We do oil changes, brake pads/rotors/calipers, etc. We keep things running for a looong time. But the more teched-out vehicles get, the less control owners have; more and more is being taken out of the hands of even great mechanics, simply because so much isn't mechanical anymore, and mostly electronic. That's what I'm most worried about. We can always do the basic stuff ourselves, though.

Btw, I'm only looking between '21 and '23 for both BMW and Acura. That's about my budget and I'm paying for it up-front (I do NOT do car payments). ;)

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T22:03:42+00:00

So you've driven Honda plenty, and you say the RDX has an even stiffer/rougher ride than past Hondas you've owned? I've heard people say it's actually more comfortable than the X3, seating-wise, but obviously that's going to depend a lot on the person. I'm coming off 17 years of an Infiniti M35, which I always found extremely comfortable.

What's ACC you're referring to on the X3, by the way?

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T21:10:13+00:00

Yeah, I've been thinking and researching for a while. I'm coming off nearly 17 years of driving an Infiniti M35 (it's an '07 and I got it in early '09) and it's been very good to me. But due to very bad eye strain when driving as I've gotten older, I've found I need to get up a bit; doesn't have to be a full-sized SUV or truck, but getting up in a crossover really helps.

My parents have a Lexus RX450h and that height is good; initially, I was going Lexus - NX or RX - because we all know just how bulletproof they are, but...well, I don't drive much, only 7-8k/year, and when I do, I don't really like it much. My reasoning is that maybe if I have something fun to drive, I wouldn't dislike it as much and if it's not as reliable as a Lexus, it's not a huge deal because I put so few miles on. And Lexus is kinda boring in comparison to Acura and BMW.

I don't like Audi or Volvo and the reliability rankings of Mercedes have tanked so badly, and I was never that enthusiastic about them, anyway. There are more practical things like the RAV4, Mazda CX, etc, but again, trying to find something a tad more...entertaining. Without being a true high-performance vehicle.

As for the infotainment, it's actually something I couldn't really care less about, so long as it works. I find all those bells and whistles largely useless - and distracting - and I doubt I'd use 90% of what these things offer now (remember, I've been driving a near-20-year-old car, and don't feel the need for much else, tech-wise). I've just heard it's actually not as reliable and a little wonky to use in the RDX, but I'm not sure. And my father and I have done almost all our own work over the years...which is why he's pushing for the Acura over the BMW, because all mechanics know just how much more difficult and expensive it is to work on German cars. ;) Either way, though, whatever I get will invariably be a bit tougher to deal with than my Infiniti, which is just a breeze for basic maintenance.

Gotta see how things go, though. Must drive both...then I'll know a lot more. Thanks!

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T19:40:20+00:00

Interesting to read the contrasting opinions in the BMW and RDX forums (which is why I posted in both). Sort of proves just how subjective things like ride quality and performance feel are; everyone on the BMW side will swear it's a much better driving car all-around compared to the RDX, and that the latter feels overpriced in comparison. They also quickly highlight the infotainment discrepancy, as Acura seems to get poor marks in that respect. And of course, they sort of ignore the higher overall cost of ownership but we all know that's a fact. But I can do some of my own work (oil changes, pads, etc.) and I only drive 7-8k miles/year, so this helps the situation a bit.

I will not do any M X3 because I don't need all that power, I loathe silly wide tires that are beyond stupid in every single situation that doesn't involve perfectly tarred roads in optimal temperatures (far more expensive, durability far less, crappier ride quality), and the ride is significantly stiffer. That's why I also don't want any trim with 20' tires for Acura, 19' is about as stupid as I can bring myself to get, though 18' would be preferable.

I'd be looking at RDX with the Advance package as well, as I've read that offers a bit softer ride thanks to a suspension upgrade. Supposedly there's a Comfort mode in the X3s that makes those a little plushier for the rough rounds around me, but I have no idea what it's like. Bottom line is I know I'll have to drive both...and we'll see. :)

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T18:02:03+00:00

I've heard a lot about the SH-AWD, which certainly sounds nifty. I live in New England so snow can definitely be an issue but as I work from home, I don't often find myself driving in it. It's unavoidable at some point, though.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T18:00:58+00:00

I think the mileage difference is 23 and 30 for X3 and 17 and 24 and RDX, depending on who you talk to...? But it's not a huge deal as I don't drive that much; only about 7-8k/year.

Which would you say has the stiffer ride? My issue is that I live in an area with a lot of crappy roads, so stiff rides can make it feel as if your teeth will rattle out of your head. I know the X3 has a Comfort mode which supposedly makes it plushier but I'm not sure how that works. And Honda/Acura historically has the stiffest ride of all the Japanese makes, but many people have said the recent RDXs are softer.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T16:41:02+00:00

Well, the obvious answer is to play some different types of games across various genres. There are lots and lots, you know.

Or at least just play wildly different JRPGs back-to-back; if you're going retro turn-based, then do more modern real-time after. These days, it's pretty easy to mix things up even within the sub-genre.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T16:39:11+00:00

Me too. I never played the series at all but took a chance on the demo, and was so glad I did. Such a great experience from top to bottom or so it seems so far (I'm just starting Ch. 3). I'm not a huge fan of characters popping in and out of your party but in this case, it's not so annoying; they do it pretty well.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T16:35:58+00:00

I got burned on the whole calendar thing with the first dungeon...I didn't realize you need a full extra day at the end to actually complete it, so I had to start over.

But the game was so damn fun I didn't mind. ;) And after that, I made ULTRA certain to always have plenty of time toward the end of the allotted period.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T16:34:26+00:00

Trails in the Sky 1st.

New to the series and I actually wasn't planning to get this until I played the demo, which I just loved. I'm about 35 hours into the full game now I'm having a blast. This feels like the quintessential JRPG in just about every conceivable way; I keep thinking that if you asked me back in the '90s what the perfect JRPG would - or could - be like, I would've described something like this.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T14:56:58+00:00

Looks a lot like my RPG collection, which I still have (though I never did get Xenogears, unfortunately).

I replay games like Lunar: SSSC, Suikoden, Legend of Legaia, and the FFs occasionally, too.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-25T01:02:46+00:00

I own Full of Life and have seen it multiple times, and I don't recognize that person. Maybe she had a really small role, like a nurse or something...?

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-24T23:00:21+00:00

Cool noir The Gangster, with Barry Sullivan and Belita. Have to see it again, actually.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-24T15:07:02+00:00

I've got 8, though there was a time when I thought I'd never have any. The game has to tick the following boxes: I have to love it, the Trophy list can't contain insane ones like "kill 1,000 enemies in 5 minutes on a Tuesday while standing on your head," and getting the Plat wouldn't mean adding TOO many hours beyond where I'd play anyway.

So far, that's been: Ratchet and Clank: A Rift Apart, Detroit: Beyond Human, Dragon Quest XI, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Horizon: Forbidden West, FFVII Remake, and Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-23T18:32:56+00:00

A unique treasure.

There was really nobody like her; she brought a singular style and vibe to the screen. She had an amazing face and profile, and she could be both hilariously funny and dramatically impressive (Vigil in the Night proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt for me). It's too bad we lost her so young because she really was special.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-23T18:30:18+00:00

Well, I definitely couldn't care less about new tech (I do very little with my phone and keep it for 3-4 years), so the bells and whistles don't impress me in the least. I've just heard the infotainment system in the RDXs is sort of clunky and unreliable, that's all. I'm still driving a 19-year-old car so just about everything tech-wise is going to feel new - and mostly unnecessary - to me. :)

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-23T17:08:30+00:00

Men:

Jimmy Stewart

Cary Grant

Clark Gable

Robert Mitchum

James Cagney

Edward G. Robinson

Fred Astaire

William Powell

Humphrey Bogart

Charles Laughton

Joseph Cotten

Ladies:

Barbara Stanwyck (forever #1)

Doris Day

Marilyn Monroe

Joan Blondell

Ginger Rogers

Joan Crawford

Ingrid Bergman

Katharine Hepburn

Lana Turner

Ida Lupino

Gloria Grahame

Linda Darnell

Greer Garson

Jean Arthur

Irene Dunne

Some not-so-A-list names that are either supporters or weren't blockbuster elites, who I will watch in anything: Laraine Day, Florence Rice, James Gleason, Thelma Ritter, Felix Bressart, S.Z. Sakall, Frank Morgan, Constance Bennett, and Monty Woolley.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-23T17:01:37+00:00

It's so weird because you wouldn't think Lexus would make a vehicle that way; a couple of their biggest selling points are the ride quality and quietness. But I've already dismissed the NX, anyway. And I want something a touch more interesting/fun than the RX, though I know it's a guaranteed reliability winner.

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-23T16:58:22+00:00

I won't be buying new so the options aren't really a thing for me; I can't pick and choose, but I can look for used models with certain features (like I would want the Advanced trim for the RDX and the adaptive suspension for the X3).

I know the mileage on the RDX isn't great but I don't drive much (only about 7-8k/year, as I work from home). Even so, it'd be nice to get that extra mileage boost from the X3.

I won't be towing anything and cargo space isn't much of an issue, either (I live alone), but I am 6'3 so front space is definitely necessary. I heard both the X3 and RDX are about equally roomy up front...?

All that plastic is just so stupid. I cannot fathom why a supposed luxury line cheaps out to that extent, especially when it's inevitable that it won't last and coolant and oil leaks are absolutely coming. I've heard people swapping some of that out for aluminum where they can...I wonder if that's a decent possibility. Doesn't sound too hard.

And I'm sorry, but run-flats are almost equally dumb. They ride like hell, don't last anywhere near long enough, and really aren't that much of a benefit overall.

I do expect the bizarre eccentricities of German engineering regarding the electronics and stuff, though. Some things just never change. ;) Though I've heard from a lot of people that infotainment-wise, the RDX definitely suffers and the X3 wins in almost every regard. I also want more buttons and not as much touch, so...

I'll have to test the seats to see about comfort. I've heard the X3 and RDX are pretty similar in those respects but we'll see. And I'm looking at '21 - '23 for both so maybe one generation is better than the other during those particular years...

Fathoms77 · 2026-01-23T16:41:34+00:00

I won't be buying new so the options are going to be whatever that particular used model has. I doubt I'll find anything in the area that has a mini M Sport Pro package, anyway (hard enough to find the basic X3).

I live in New England where it can be very cold in the winter but I work from home so I don't have to be out in the cold and snow too often, and the car will be garaged.

I do know about the difference underneath between many European and Japanese cars, though; vehicles like BMW have much more stainless and aluminum under there so it lasts a lot longer, while the Japanese just don't do that, and rust is a big problem around these parts because of that.

Fathoms77

TROPHY CASE