Cinema Strikes Back
@cinemastrikesback.bsky.social
Movie reviews, news and interviews since 2004. We particularly love the unusual and absurd – kung fu, giallo, Czech New Wave, etc.
Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/tVcR
Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/tVcR
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Imagining an alternate universe where Bennings was played by Paul Bartel.
January 7, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Imagining an alternate universe where Bennings was played by Paul Bartel.
#Rewatched The Thing (1982) - First movie on the big screen of the new year so had to make it a banger. Scratchy beautiful old 35mm print - a pleasure. You can really hear the snow scrunch in the theater.
Also, Bennings, why you gotta be such a whiny bitch all the time, I’m glad you got et.
Also, Bennings, why you gotta be such a whiny bitch all the time, I’m glad you got et.
January 7, 2026 at 3:38 PM
#Rewatched The Thing (1982) - First movie on the big screen of the new year so had to make it a banger. Scratchy beautiful old 35mm print - a pleasure. You can really hear the snow scrunch in the theater.
Also, Bennings, why you gotta be such a whiny bitch all the time, I’m glad you got et.
Also, Bennings, why you gotta be such a whiny bitch all the time, I’m glad you got et.
I’ve had the chance to meet and interview some cool people over the years, but the absolute highlight for me remains getting to interview Sammo in person, he was every bit as cool and friendly and fun to talk to as you could hope. Love Sammo!!!
January 7, 2026 at 3:00 PM
I’ve had the chance to meet and interview some cool people over the years, but the absolute highlight for me remains getting to interview Sammo in person, he was every bit as cool and friendly and fun to talk to as you could hope. Love Sammo!!!
Am I done talking about Lord of the Rings until next New Year? I think I am. Time to get back to what really matters: Dolph Lundgren and the Universal Soldier franchise.
January 7, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Am I done talking about Lord of the Rings until next New Year? I think I am. Time to get back to what really matters: Dolph Lundgren and the Universal Soldier franchise.
Okay, while I’m still bullshitting about LotR, one thing that’s always irritated me since the first time I saw it: the Denethor eating scene. I think it’s a filmmaker’s cheat, no easier way to make someone seem gross than a close up of them eating, but it bugs me for a number of reasons … /1
January 6, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Okay, while I’m still bullshitting about LotR, one thing that’s always irritated me since the first time I saw it: the Denethor eating scene. I think it’s a filmmaker’s cheat, no easier way to make someone seem gross than a close up of them eating, but it bugs me for a number of reasons … /1
sorry I’m bringing so much Lord of the Rings chitter chatter but I just spent like 12 hours on my annual rewatch of the extended editions with the fam over the last week and I have many dumb and silly thoughts, so y’all can get on board or ignore as you see fit 😆
#Rewatched LotR: Return of the King (2003) -
Denethor may be a complete prick but he gets the best mean lines.
“Go now and die in what way seems best to you.”
"I know his uses, and they are few."
"Always you cast a poor reflection on me."
spitting straight fire, like a medieval Lucille Bluth.
Denethor may be a complete prick but he gets the best mean lines.
“Go now and die in what way seems best to you.”
"I know his uses, and they are few."
"Always you cast a poor reflection on me."
spitting straight fire, like a medieval Lucille Bluth.
January 6, 2026 at 3:23 PM
sorry I’m bringing so much Lord of the Rings chitter chatter but I just spent like 12 hours on my annual rewatch of the extended editions with the fam over the last week and I have many dumb and silly thoughts, so y’all can get on board or ignore as you see fit 😆
#Rewatched LotR: Return of the King (2003) -
Denethor may be a complete prick but he gets the best mean lines.
“Go now and die in what way seems best to you.”
"I know his uses, and they are few."
"Always you cast a poor reflection on me."
spitting straight fire, like a medieval Lucille Bluth.
Denethor may be a complete prick but he gets the best mean lines.
“Go now and die in what way seems best to you.”
"I know his uses, and they are few."
"Always you cast a poor reflection on me."
spitting straight fire, like a medieval Lucille Bluth.
January 6, 2026 at 3:21 PM
#Rewatched LotR: Return of the King (2003) -
Denethor may be a complete prick but he gets the best mean lines.
“Go now and die in what way seems best to you.”
"I know his uses, and they are few."
"Always you cast a poor reflection on me."
spitting straight fire, like a medieval Lucille Bluth.
Denethor may be a complete prick but he gets the best mean lines.
“Go now and die in what way seems best to you.”
"I know his uses, and they are few."
"Always you cast a poor reflection on me."
spitting straight fire, like a medieval Lucille Bluth.
I watched the first season of RoP, mostly bored out of my mind, my wife noped out after 1 ep, my son noped out after 5. I quite literally fell asleep during the big rain of fire finale, and didn’t come back for season 2 (which I think happened? That happened right?).
January 6, 2026 at 3:08 PM
I watched the first season of RoP, mostly bored out of my mind, my wife noped out after 1 ep, my son noped out after 5. I quite literally fell asleep during the big rain of fire finale, and didn’t come back for season 2 (which I think happened? That happened right?).
Reckon this’ll be the year I finally clear an entire day to watch a Bela Tarr movie. RIP.
January 6, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Reckon this’ll be the year I finally clear an entire day to watch a Bela Tarr movie. RIP.
Man, this Gollum movie thing news, oy. There’ve been three follow up projects that I can think of since LotR - the Hobbit Trilogy, Rings of Power, and War of the Rohirrim. And each and every one of them has been an interminable unwatchable tedious snooze fest. Odds are not good.
January 6, 2026 at 1:42 AM
Man, this Gollum movie thing news, oy. There’ve been three follow up projects that I can think of since LotR - the Hobbit Trilogy, Rings of Power, and War of the Rohirrim. And each and every one of them has been an interminable unwatchable tedious snooze fest. Odds are not good.
Anybody read that Jason Aaron Bug Wars “Conan in the Back Yard” book? I read the first issue and trying to decide whether to pick the rest. I liked it but curious if it goes anywhere.
January 5, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Anybody read that Jason Aaron Bug Wars “Conan in the Back Yard” book? I read the first issue and trying to decide whether to pick the rest. I liked it but curious if it goes anywhere.
Seriously, no one will ever convince me that Fist of the North Star is not a very intentional comedy
January 5, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Seriously, no one will ever convince me that Fist of the North Star is not a very intentional comedy
that whole military surplus to local police department pipeline thing has really gone way too far this time
The police, of course, are famous for using aircraft carriers to arrest suspects
UN Ambassador Michael Waltz: "There is no war against Venezuela or its people. We are not occupying a country. This was a law enforcement operation."
January 5, 2026 at 7:02 PM
that whole military surplus to local police department pipeline thing has really gone way too far this time
The best “Robin Hood isn’t actually a good guy” take was from Time Bandits and we don’t really ever need to do it again, that covered the field.
January 5, 2026 at 6:24 PM
The best “Robin Hood isn’t actually a good guy” take was from Time Bandits and we don’t really ever need to do it again, that covered the field.
Reposted by Cinema Strikes Back
"Ooo, I can't wait for a scene of Robin Hood not in England fighting a religious war that everyone thought was a bad idea back then" said nobody ever.
For this they cut archery tournaments and Sherwood Forest antics.
Which reminds me...
Antics. I want antics. I demand antics.
For this they cut archery tournaments and Sherwood Forest antics.
Which reminds me...
Antics. I want antics. I demand antics.
a man in a robin hood costume climbs a tree branch
ALT: a man in a robin hood costume climbs a tree branch
media.tenor.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:19 PM
"Ooo, I can't wait for a scene of Robin Hood not in England fighting a religious war that everyone thought was a bad idea back then" said nobody ever.
For this they cut archery tournaments and Sherwood Forest antics.
Which reminds me...
Antics. I want antics. I demand antics.
For this they cut archery tournaments and Sherwood Forest antics.
Which reminds me...
Antics. I want antics. I demand antics.
To be crystal clear, I have no actual serious complaints, I’m just getting into the weeds for shits and giggles and my own personal amusement, this isn’t meant to be some dumb “couldn’t the eagles just fly them” debate 😆
#Rewatched LotR: The Two Towers (2002) - I ask, who was wrong, Theoden or Gandalf? Gandalf pushes hard for Theoden to stay in Edoras and fight instead of going to Helm’s Deep, which he says will be a death trap. And he’s totally right (but for the happy intervention of trees/Eomer/elves etc). BUT …
January 5, 2026 at 5:29 PM
To be crystal clear, I have no actual serious complaints, I’m just getting into the weeds for shits and giggles and my own personal amusement, this isn’t meant to be some dumb “couldn’t the eagles just fly them” debate 😆
#Rewatched LotR: The Two Towers (2002) - I ask, who was wrong, Theoden or Gandalf? Gandalf pushes hard for Theoden to stay in Edoras and fight instead of going to Helm’s Deep, which he says will be a death trap. And he’s totally right (but for the happy intervention of trees/Eomer/elves etc). BUT …
January 5, 2026 at 5:04 PM
#Rewatched LotR: The Two Towers (2002) - I ask, who was wrong, Theoden or Gandalf? Gandalf pushes hard for Theoden to stay in Edoras and fight instead of going to Helm’s Deep, which he says will be a death trap. And he’s totally right (but for the happy intervention of trees/Eomer/elves etc). BUT …
tfg is back, he’s relentless, he wants to be in my house, he will not stop. it’s like It Follows, did I give this damn bird an std or something?
January 5, 2026 at 4:56 PM
tfg is back, he’s relentless, he wants to be in my house, he will not stop. it’s like It Follows, did I give this damn bird an std or something?
Been so busy with the holidays and everyone in my family, my extended family, and my extended extended family catching some new flu or sickness every other day (jfc), gotta catch up on some movie posting. Last four on @letterboxd.social
January 5, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Been so busy with the holidays and everyone in my family, my extended family, and my extended extended family catching some new flu or sickness every other day (jfc), gotta catch up on some movie posting. Last four on @letterboxd.social
prepare to get wrecked, provolone sourdough
January 3, 2026 at 8:46 PM
prepare to get wrecked, provolone sourdough
vamp team almost done, just in time for the start of the league
January 3, 2026 at 5:13 PM
vamp team almost done, just in time for the start of the league
My sister always buys my dog the classiest holiday presents:
January 3, 2026 at 5:03 PM
My sister always buys my dog the classiest holiday presents:
As usual, journalist, environmentalist, and Venezuelan Quico Toro has the most interesting take on the possible internal effects of last night’s action that I’ve seen so far.
I don’t usually post actual news here bc I don’t find social media to be a useful forum for it, but this is worth reading.
I don’t usually post actual news here bc I don’t find social media to be a useful forum for it, but this is worth reading.
Maduro Is Gone—Venezuela’s Dictatorship Is Not
Bloodied and humiliated, the regime could turn even nastier.
substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 1:56 PM
As usual, journalist, environmentalist, and Venezuelan Quico Toro has the most interesting take on the possible internal effects of last night’s action that I’ve seen so far.
I don’t usually post actual news here bc I don’t find social media to be a useful forum for it, but this is worth reading.
I don’t usually post actual news here bc I don’t find social media to be a useful forum for it, but this is worth reading.
Seen at the supermarket yesterday, at least we know what’s next after Maduro.
January 3, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Seen at the supermarket yesterday, at least we know what’s next after Maduro.
For directors, at least a couple more RMs I need to log, watching a lot while I’m reading his bio.
January 3, 2026 at 1:34 PM
For directors, at least a couple more RMs I need to log, watching a lot while I’m reading his bio.