DSL's Movie/TV Reviews and Discussion

[AlabamAlum]

And since this is also the chess thread.

Ding and Nepo will battle for the vacated world champion title in a few months in Kazakhstan.

Chess does this shit too often. Put the Championship in London, Paris, Tokyo, Amsterdam, some place, any place, that tourists would go and watch the match. Just a huge opportunity missed. Again.

[iam416]

It's a location fairly befitting the battle. That's probably harsh, I guess, but neither can touch Magnus so, meh.

Meanwhile, I'm in a Schmidt variation game and my opponent has castled queenside. It's gonna get sharp!

[AlabamAlum]

I usually play the Schmidt. Castling long against that seems dubious. I guess he plans to storm the kingside, but that’s easier said than done.

[AlabamAlum]

And Ding is probably a bit better than Nepo, but, yeah, neither are exciting options as champion.

[AlabamAlum]

Also, play around with the classical and the Fried Liver. If you’re gonna play e4, experimenting with closely related openings gives you more depth in your repertoire and has a synergistic effect in what you stay with.

[iam416]

I usually play the Schmidt. Castling long against that seems dubious. I guess he plans to storm the kingside, but that’s easier said than done.

Yeah, main line but he went long instead of g6. Whatever. I haven't played this line so I'm looking forward to it.

And I'd take Ding, too, but I honestly don't much care.

[iam416]

Also, play around with the classical and the Fried Liver. If you’re gonna play e4, experimenting with closely related openings gives you more depth in your repertoire and has a synergistic effect in what you stay with.

Will look into that. I'm fairly familiar, now, with the two mainline Scotchs so I trust myself in those positions and understand what I'm trying to do. Which is usually enough to beat players my level. I also like the Evans gambit because that can wreck players my level, but I usually abstain b/c there's a fairly high risk you just end up in a GP suckfest.

[AlabamAlum]

The Fried Liver is the Patzer killer. It’s fun. Haven’t played it in years.

Also, if you’re gonna play the Scotch, get good at defending Qh4. It can be tricky (Steinitz).

[Dr. Strangelove]

I watched It's a Wonderful Life this past Christmas Eve for probably the first time ever in one sitting. I get the appeal. Stewart and Donna Reed are really good. For some reason though I thought all the stuff about the bank going bust happened first and his past was told in flashbacks but no, it's all pretty chronological. Apparently, J Edgar Hoover considered the film commie propaganda because of how it depicts Mr. Potter.

[iam416]

I think I played the Fried Liver once, but I didn't know what it was. It looks great and, heh, a compliment to the Evans if I'm feeling particularly aggressive.

Thanks, asshat!

[iam416]

I watched It's a Wonderful Life this past Christmas Eve for probably the first time ever in one sitting. I get the appeal. Stewart and Donna Reed are really good. For some reason though I thought all the stuff about the bank going bust happened first and his past was told in flashbacks but no, it's all pretty chronological. Apparently, J Edgar Hoover considered the film commie propaganda because of how it depicts Mr. Potter.

Strangely, so did I. And it was really good.

[Dr. Strangelove]

10 minutes in and a drunk pharmacist is smacking around a kid hard enough to make his ears bleed and I'm thinking, welp...MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY!

[Mike]

Has anyone seen the new All Quiet On the Western Front? I haven't but plan to at some point. Good?

[AlabamAlum]

Yes I have. It’s well done. Just realize it’s a “war is bad and stupid; man’s inhumanity to man” kinda film.

But for a period piece that centers around trench warfare, I’m not sure they could have done a better job.

[Mike]

OK, cool. That was pretty much my impression from what I've seen/read.