Cinema Buzz & News

We Are The Mighty profiles retired Sgt. Maj. Mike Vining through the smaller personal details behind a much larger military résumé: Vietnam EOD work, Delta Force, Operation Eagle Claw, and later life outside uniform. The article uses the “sardines he never ate” story to humanize someone usually presented as a meme or legend.

Vining served as an explosive ordnance disposal specialist in Vietnam, where he recalled multiple near-death moments, including being left behind at an abandoned Special Forces camp and helping destroy the massive “Rock Island East” enemy weapons cache in Cambodia.

The profile also connects Vining to Delta Force’s early history. A related We Are The Mighty piece says he joined Delta in 1978 as an EOD specialist under Col. Charlie Beckwith, making him one of the unit’s original members.

The article’s strategic value is not just biography. It shows how specialized technical skills, especially EOD, became central to elite special operations as missions grew more complex and politically sensitive.

Vining’s post-service life, including mountaineering, historical writing, veteran community work, and distance from his internet fame, adds a useful contrast to modern military celebrity culture. The profile suggests that some of the most consequential operators may be least interested in mythmaking.

Do stories like Vining’s help preserve serious military history, or do meme-driven portrayals risk flattening complex service into legend?

over the last couple days I’ve watched the Martian, interstellar, gravity and now Apollo 13, all absolutely fantastic imo, what other “must see” space movies do i need to add to the list ?
i think interstellar is my favourite so far, but i would love to see something take its place, let me know what your favourites are any why 😄 (no spoilies pls)

>The upcoming novel will focus on Connie Corleone, the overlooked but pivotal daughter of Don Vito Corleone, originally portrayed by Talia Shire in all three films.

I have almost finished this book, and I love it sm! I tried watching 2 episodes of the miniseries (to see the book come to life), but it is so inaccurately adapted. Obviously small changes here and there that comes with adaptations from book to screen. But there were changes of the whole story?

Spoiler:
The whole idea in the book is that after Edmond escapes prison, we as readers «loose» our connections with him. It is through narration clues that we can piece together the ideas and plans for his revenge. He doesn’t tell us anything and he DOESNT reveal any of his plans of hidden identities to anyone??? In the miniseries it’s literally the first thing he does. To both Jaqopo and Caderrouse up to that point. I couldn’t keep watching.

Is there an adaptation that stays true (at least in these aspects) to the original book?

I saw Mortal Kombat II the other day and was genuinely shocked at how reduced Lewis Tan's role was coming from the first film where he essentially served as the central protagonist the entire previous film. Granted, I think it was a smart move to shift the focus away from his character and make the sequel more about the ensemble - it just took me by surprise because when a franchise/series tends to make that drastic of a shift, the original actor hardly ever returns (see Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation).

The only other significant cases I could come up with where a main character goes from front and center in one movie to virtually nothing in the follow up were:

- Hugh Jackman's Wolverine going from the main character in X-Men, X2 and primary supporting character in X3 only to return in First Class for a bit cameo

- Adrienne King returning as Alice in Friday the 13th Part 2 >!just to be killed off before the opening credits hit!<

- Jamie Lee Curtis returning as Laurie Strode in Halloween Resurrection after starring in H20

I haven't looked up the actual screen time but I'm guessing Hugh Jackman going from X3 to First Class is the biggest drop, but I'm curious if there are any others I'm forgetting? Again, not counting recasting the role (like Patricia Arquette being replaced in Nightmare on Elm Street 4) or characters being written out entirely (like Devon Sawa in Final Destination 2). What's the largest drop-off where the original actor actually reprised the role for a sequel in the most significantly reduced capacity? Bonus points if they actually survive in the reduced role