A NEW Watched Any Good Movies Lately? Thread

The other one was taking forever to load.

We rented The Broken last night with Lena Headey and Richard Jenkins. Creepy!! It actually gave me goosebumps, something that hasn't happened in a very long time. I don't think I'll be looking in a mirror comfortably for awhile. But very, very good.

We watched Noises Off last night with (academy award winning actor) Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve. Hilarious if you've ever been involved in the theater.

And even if you haven't! I love that movie. :D

#2
Thanks for the recommendation! I'll probably get the DVD from Amazon in the near future, as I have a sister who's a theater actress and we both love silly comedies of errors. :)

Thanks for starting the thread, Katy! I hadn't even gone into the first one, it is so long...

The other day (a Sunday), my sisters and I organized a movie night with some friends. We've decided to do that at least once a moth, rotating between our apartments. The idea is to expose the others to films they probably would not have chosen on their own (my sisters and I have very different tastes, apart from the shared love for silly comedies.)

That day we watched Cinema Paradiso, the Oscar winner for foreign language film in 1989, I think. I can't believe I'd never seen it. It is so beautiful!!!

I'm planning on "exposing" them to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind soon ;) Just so they can see Jim Carrey is much more than just a comic actor (we all agree on one thing: we cannot stand his comedy style!)

Oh, bother, I just posted to the old thread *after* reading this new one. I hope this isn't too annoying, but I am going to repost my comments here.

I was responding to 508 from unorna, regarding The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth:

I'm a big Henson fan, and I would never think of David Bowie in a Henson movie, but he is *perfect* for the part, isn't he? Neither of these is my favorite, but I agree that Labryrinth is better. I wanted so badly to like The Dark Crystal, but it was too clunky...or something.

Another repost:
I just watched Grace is Gone, with John Cusak(sp?). It is a sad topic, but not as "tearjerker" as I feared. More poignant, with John doing the "not moving, not speaking" pain that he does so well.

Ohhh I love John Cusack!!! I hadn't heard of this film, thanks for mentioning it! I have an entire section of my DVD wishlist at Amazon devoted to him.

And I agree on David Bowie being absolutely perfect in Labyrinth. =)

#6 & #7 . Perhaps Labyrinth, (being the 2nd full length fantasy), is better because the production team had ironed out a few of the snags that cropped up in the 1st one. In the DVD Colllectors Editions, they have a documentary 'The Making Of.......' which I find just as fascinating as the actual movie. It's amazing they managed to create something so complex with hardly any recourse to CGI. ( I since discovered an 18" model of David Bowie, as Jareth, and it TALKS!!!!!!!(gibber,gibber)

Yesterday it was ''Bringing up Baby'' and ''Roman holiday'' night.Gregory Peck.............Gulp.............they don't make them like this any more............

I've hired some Vietnamese films in preparation for my trip (in 10 days time! Yay!)

I watched 'The Scent of Green Papaya' last night. It was a beautifully shot film, with gorgeous images. Though I must say that I think the child playing Mui (the main character) was vastly superior to the adult playing her '10 years later'. Pretty she may have been, and she did look like the kid, but the poor woman just could not act...

Ooooh, chione, I am also a Gregory Peck fan. The Big Country is one of my absolute favorite movies and his character in that is the perfect man (doesn't need to prove anything to anyone...brave, loyal, honest, intelligent, funny, handsome...and of course, completely fictional, sigh).

Well said..
Eileen
================

Handyman Toronto

#11 I have found a sister!He Is Adorable.
Absolutely eatable too.........melting sigh............I must have that chocolate....................

chione and bluesalamanders, another Gregory Peck fan here. Big time. And my mother was one too. I remember when I was little - we're talking a long time ago ;-) she went to Washington on a holiday. Think of all the wonderful things to see and do in Washington DC. All she could talk about (at least all I can remember now, hee hee) was that she saw Gregory Peck in person on the steps of the Lincoln memorial!!! We were all breathless with the awe of it. It was truly a wonderful moment.

*grin* Thanks for that memory :-)

So many good movies of his, I just watched The Yearling the other day.

#9 - Those are two of my all-time favorites. Add in Arsenic and Old Lace and you would have all three!

I'm not reposting my comments here. Taking of Pelham 123. Good action-packed movie if you are not offended by language and blood in your face.

Given that my husband mostly likes adventure flicks and

Given that he whines when I keep saying no to watching adventure flicks

We watched The Bourne Identity the other night. I have to admit that I liked it. We then watched The Bourne Supremacy, and, Sunday night after our daughter leaves for camp for 27 days, we'll probably watch The Bourne Ultimatum.

I hate it when he's right and I like a movie I don't think I'll like.

But, I will never ever watch The Matrix. He's finally given up on that one, after much whining. He finally realizes he will never win.

Like your husband, karenmarie, I really like the Bourne movies, and had the 3 dvds given to me as a present after we saw the movies in the theater. Hold onto your hat when you watch the last one; it's a fast ride!

>>16 karenmarie: Admittedly the second and third matrix movies were little more than action movies with philosophical window dressing. However the first one is very interesting on a philosophical level. I understand if you don't want to, but I think you're ignoring an excellent mind-bender of a movie, if for absolutely no other reason than the movie had a huge impact on pop culture.

I too love Peck and Cary Grant... :o) Can't go wrong with one of their movies.

Recently saw Up at the theater with my husband and 6yo and we all 3 really enjoyed it. Recommended!

At home I watched Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman (yum) and it was of course quite well made.

I just watched America's Sweethearts. Meh, pure fluff. But it had John Cusack in it, so. AND Julia Roberts. I love them both. Oh and Christopher Walken being, well, Christopher Walken. :D

Another hand in the air for Gregory Peck.......can't imagine anyone else in To Kill A Mockingbird, and my mother would have reacted in exactly the same way as Katy's if she had seen him in person (after all, she did name my brother Gregory)!!

Jennifer Connelly looks so young in Labyrinth and yet I don't think the movie shows it's age too much at all. Farscape is one of my favourite series and the quality of Jim Henson's puppets in that show is amazing.

> 4
I love Cinema Paradiso too. It is a totally beautiful film and it brings a tear to my eye every time I watch it. I adore all Charlie Kaufman films, too. Eternal Sunshine is my favourite and I'm looking forward to watching Synedoche, New York (even though I've got absolutely no idea about how to pronounce it!) : )

Was watching the American version of The Ring last night. Very disturbing, especially the woman in the wardrobe. That Face....uurrrggghhh!!!!!!

I've just watched How to Lose Friends and Alienate People which is based on the memoir of Toby Young. I want to read the book now. : )

We watched the new Keanu Reeves version of The Day The Earth Stood Still. It was better than I thought it would be - would definitely watch it again. Keanu found a part he could get away with playing completely deadpan.

Last night it was Pan's Labyrinth. *sobs*

I would like to offer up a mini-series that my spouse and I have been watching together on DVD. It's The Infinite World of HG Wells -- from the '80's (I think), with a nicely woven series of sci-fi stories based on Wells' short stories.

> #27 I'd never heard about that show before but love Wells' books so hope to enjoy this too. Thanks for the recommendation!

#22 Rach, Being John Malkovich is one of my favorite films. And I'm also looking forward to Synecdoche, New York, also because it starts another favorite of mine: Philip Seymour Hoffman. :)

I only heard about How to Lose Friends & Alienate People because it stars Simon Pegg, so I have to see it.

Great, now I've added two more DVDs to my basket at Amazon. I've been fiddling with adding and removing items for a week now, have to make a decision soon and just click on the "Buy now" button already. :P

>26 Choreocrat:. Will, I love Pan's Labyrinth. It is such a beautiful film and the ending is perfect.

>29 Delirium9:. Being John Malkovich is great. Totally off-the-wall and completely original. Yes, Simon Pegg is fab. Did you ever watch Spaced?

>26 Choreocrat:..i loved PAN'S LABYRINTH too...but mine was a Library copy..and i haven't got a copy for me.yet

okay..has anyone here seen THE LIFE OF DAVID GAYLE...starring the inimitable Kevin Spacey???
i acquired this baby a few months ago..have watched it 5 times and still..at the ending..give a big "Holy Shit"...this, in my opinion, is a "thriller that thrills"...who is lying? what is the TRUTH? why should anyone care?

a damned good movie!

Watched ~half of Gran Torino w/my dad tonight. Amazing movie. Eastwood's still got it in spades.

Okay, this is *sort of* off-topic, but I'll post it anyway: I watched Full Metal Jacket the other day - a movie highly acclaimed by many - and didn't like it at all. In fact, I thought it was terrible. But then again, I'm really not a fan of war movies or Kubric, so what did I expect, eh? Anyone out there really like this movie? I'd love to know what you like about it, out of sheer curiosity.

>31 jdthloue:. Yeah, jdthloue. I've seen The Life of David Gale and agree that it's a fantastic film. Really had me hooked from the opening scene!

>>33 scaifea: Its widely considered to be one of the most realistic portrayals of war ever made. There really isn't a definite hero or villain in the whole thing, no patriotism, no hero-worship. This is why its famous. It also made R Lee Ermee (the drill sergeant) famous. It should be noted that, if you didn't know, Ermee was actually a drill sergeant in the marines during Nam. Thats his actual uniform he's wearing, and thats actually the sort of thing he did, and it was SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) at the time. I wouldn't be surprised if the movie caused major reforms in boot camp training after it was released because of Ermee's portrayal.

35 > I've been told that Ermee was actually a consultant on the movie and told the actor he didn't know how to be a drill sergeant, the actor in a huff said FINE YOU DO IT. so he did.

True story.

Slightly off topic because it's not been released (or even completed?) yet but the art work looks fantastic:

Alice in Wonderland gets the Tim Burton treatment.

Oh, and it has some bloke called Depp in it, I understand he's quite popular :-)

creepy.

Wow! That looks amazing!

#35: Wow, that's really interesting. Ermee certainly was convincing. Thanks for the cool trivia!

I watched Annie Hall for the first time.

It was... odd. Can't say I liked it.

#30
Yes! I got introduced to Simon Pegg through "Spaced"! :D A friend bought the DVDs of Series 1 & 2, and I think we worn out those discs by sheer amount of repeated watchings. And then of course came Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. I now have to watch the guy in everything else he does. Haven't seen Run Fatboy Run or Star Trek yet, though.

#38
Oh yes yes yes!!! I saw some stills in ComingSoon.net, and fell in love with the aesthetics! I actually came here to post this. :)

#31 and #34: LIfe of David Gale: Yep. Brilliant (even though I did not care much for the frame story with the reporter. I'd watch it again, but since I last rented it, I moved and the DVD collection of the library *here* is tiny (loads of good films I won't be watching again unless I buy them...).

Saw The Wrestler yesterday. First time I ever got seasick in cinema (sat too close to the screen, and there was lots of handheld camera). Great film although I don't get the whole wrestling thing! And I haven't seen Mickey Rourke in decades --great comeback.

> 42 I saw Annie Hall a little while back and found it dated, at best. I was sorry, because I enjoyed it when it came out. Maybe comedies don't live as long as dramas.

I've just watched Bedtime Stories. Reminded me a little of The Princess Bride in a strange way. I loved it! : )

The Husband and I watched Knocked Up last night. I'm a big Apatow fan, and this one was hilarious (if a little on the crude side).

Watched Inkheart last night. I liked it and thought most of the casting was great, but this confirms my belief that Brandon Fraser is not really a great actor but he does do great movies that I enjoy watching. Not too happy with the ending though. They wrapped it up too much and too nicely. Doesn't lead nicely into Inkspell like the book does.

#47 - How long, and how much money do you think that "unwashed" look took to create? ;)

Watched The Night Watch tonight. It's not as good as the book, but pretty good nonetheless.

Now I'm watching From Dusk Til Dawn on TNT. Having seen this before, I'm mostly curious to see how they're gonna cut a Quentin Tarrantino movie to make it acceptable for TV...

I'm watching Tin Man at the moment, thanks to the interesting reviews it got here on the GD. I'm enjoying it, and have quite forgotten it had anything to do with Frank L Baum.

#51
I watched that one about a year ago, preceded by Day Watch, both films back to back, with a couple of friends. We were blown away by how good they were! :) I haven't read the books, though.

I haven't seen any good... heck, not even bad, movies lately. Just lots of TV.

#54 Loved Night Watch (movie and book) and looking forward to seeing Day Watch (book was good). Must catch up with the other two books as well.

Recently watched "Flyboys", a movie that didn't seem to receive much publicity. It's inspired by the Lafayette Escadrille, a squadron of Americans who became pilots and fought in the air over France during WWI. I thought the movie was a bit too lengthy but the battle scenes in the air are amazing.

I watched Burn After Reading last night, it was, well, blah. I expected more, though John Malkovich was quite funny.

I've also just finished season 1 of the Tudors, it was much more enjoyable with Henry Cavill in it.

Watched a German film about German soldiers in Kosovo. This is actually interesting stuff: Unlike in the USA or UK, there exist almost no films about the various "hot" deployments the German Army had since 1990 (when they were deployed for the first time outside the German borders). It's a genre in the making, and up to now I am not too impressed. Well, maybe I am unfair, with only three films the sample is quite small, but only one of them is "good", in my opinion. The rest is either trying to be Hollywood, or not taking its protagonists seriously...

Yesterday's film was "Mörderischer Frieden" of 2007. The standard for this kind of film was set by Peter Kosminsky with "Warriors" (filmed for the BBC in 1999). I know it'll be hard to measure up with this, but couldn't they try at least? The story was just too simple and schmaltzy.

Oh yeah, and tonight I watched Vantage Point (2008). Interesting! I think I have to watch it again and look for clues (whether the bad guys can be found out if you know they are the bad guys). Other than that, the "Secret Service! Get outta your car!" scene had me howling. If that happened to me in my home town, I'd probably telling him "Yeah, mate, and what have you been smoking?" (we are talking Salamanca, Spain here, not Washington, D.C. ;-) ).

Life is NOT FAIR. I watched a delightful little movie last night called, "Learners," I think it was a made-for-TV movie, starring David Tennant. I would love to own it, but on Amazon it is only for region 2. *pouty face* So for now, I'm stuck with viewing it in a non-ethical manner on YouTube.

My husband finally convinced me to see Hot Fuzz and I was pleasantly surprised. I don't like really silly movies which I thought this was but it wasn't. Just silly enough :oD
I still refuse to see Shaun of the Dead though. I just can't do zombies.

I agree with you about zombies, sandragon.

Saw UP last thursday. Pixar are geniuses, every movie they make seems to outdo the last. With all the Star Wars references in this one, I'm kind of wondering if there aren't a couple geeks at Pixar.

62 - ExLibris, is UP as sad all through as I've heard it is?

#60 sandragon - if you can get over the anti-zombie feelings (maybe that's impossible) Shaun of the Dead is even funnier than Hot Fuzz. Simon Pegg is great, as is his rotund sidekick.

Watched Otto Preminger's ''Laura'' last night.Again.Wow!!!Again.

Saw Public Enemies over the weekend. I enjoyed it. Lots of closeups of pretty men, and the action scenes were well done. I see what Mann was going for by only giving us what we actually (kind of) know about Dillinger and Purvis, not adding in a lot of Hollywood sentimentality or made up backstory (except for the love story *eyeroll*), but it did make the movie a little flat. I think he overdid the "look it's Clark Gable playing a gangster, look it's Johnny Depp playing a gangster" stuff at the end.

How do you make the point that gangsters aren't/weren't nice guys and we shouldn't glamorize them, and still have gorgeous movie stars play them? Depp did his best to play menacing, but he's just too pretty.

64 - jnwelch, I'm going to give Run Fatboy Run a try, and if I like that as much as Hot Fuzz I may give Shaun of the Dead a try. I know it's supposed to be hilarious, but normally I just can't stomach zombies, or horror movies in general actually.

Gran Turino w/Clint Eastwood.
Taken w/Liam Neeson.

#67 I wasn't that impressed with Shaun of the Dead, it had a few funny moments for me, but mostly just...yuck. That's not the consensus of most of the GD though. :)

#66 - That's what I was afraid of with that movie. I don't like gangsters made into wonderful guys, although I suppose it's the same thing as pirates being made into hero types. Sort of the idea of "stick it to the man" no matter what you have to do and no matter that it mostly only serves yourself. The fact is, the money in most banks belongs to people, not "the man." But I haven't seen the movie, so I don't know whether that's the premise or not. I do think Dillinger and others like him were idolized by lots of people though.

I watched Powder Blue. It's a character drivien movie of 4 main characters who are 'down on their luck' and through a series of events find redemption among themselves. On a whole there's nothing attractive about these characters, but the writing dragged me into the story where I did end up caring about them. A few glaring plot holes almost ruined it for me, but overall I give it a B-.

The Wrestler was a great part for Micky Rourke, and he did make me care about his character, but I didn't think the movie deserved the hype I had heard about it. Worth the rental.

In the 30s, a lot of banks were considered "bad guys." They foreclosed, they repossessed, they refused loans. At a distance, their behavior is understandable - the economy was in freefall, and the Great Drought was making farms and other real estate worthless. But to the average rural folk who were going under, the banks were the enemy, and Dillinger and his ilk were doing to the banks what they wished they could do.

sandragon - Run Fatboy Run has its charm. For me it would rank #3 behind the other two, but as MrsLee points out, reactions vary.

The new Star Trek could've used more of Simon Pegg's Scottie. It did well enough that hopefully we'll see more of him in a sequel.

We watched a sweet little movie called Son of Rambow over the weekend. A boy being raised by his widowed Plymouth Brethern mother makes friends with the school bully and together they make a movie based on a Rambo flick. Really cute.

Re: idolizing Dillinger: is it any different from people idolizing modern-day gangsters-turned-rappers and their lifestyles? Everyone loves a rebel. Until they're caught in a drive-by, I guess.

I saw Made of Honour, a very weak chick flick, Patrick Dempsey realises he loves his best (female) friend the minute she gets engaged. And in the end they didn't even get a flaw into the other guy's character as to why he should be dumped. Gah.

Saw half of Australia before my brother needed me to go with him to Accident & Emergency because he had some metal in his eye.

Got the 3rd Mummy film recorded because I liked the fist one and the second was OK. We'll see how good this one is

A few weeks ago I watch Wristcutters: A Love Story. Absolutely wonderful, a cross between O Brother Where Art Thou and Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist.

The new Mummy film was only OK.

I haven't really been watching movies. I've been getting into Castle, though. Nathan Fillion!

Musereader, you should get back to "Australia" soon :-). I saw it on the big screen and quite enjoyed it!

I saw "Black Book" by Paul Verhoeven last night. Great drama, and I like Sebastian Koch more every time I see him. In this film no-one is what he seems to be, and the good guys don't all survive...

#77 Will: I really enjoy Castle too - it's certainly showcases Fillion as a great actor, since, without him, I think that show would be just another cop show.

Watched The China Syndrome the other night. Jack Lemon is great in it, and it still has a good element of 'thrill'.

I watched "Outsourced" tonight and it's a very lighthearted comedy on jobs being outsourced........in this case to India. Nowhere near as gritty as Slumdog Millionaire but it still shows India with just a little Bollywood. It's good fun.

We watched Tropic Thunder the other night. Silly, funny movie. Good for laughs, I'm sure if you're in the acting business it's even funnier.

I've been curious about "Away We Go" , its gotten mixed reviews but also was praised at Sundance . Has anyone here seen it and what's your verdict ?

Talking about zombie movies(*), I saw 28 Days Later... again last night for like the third or fourth time. I adore that film. The cinematography and the music. Oh the music!!! It's just a perfect blend of ambience, photography, story... the acting isn't that remarkable, although it's not bad (and Cillian Murphy's eyelashes are totally a separate character!!!), but oh it's just such a pretty film to watch.

Yeah, I know, it's got ZOMBIES in it, how can it be pretty, right? But that's me, sometimes I just overlook substance for style and I love films with great cinematography. For a good story, I go read a book. ;)

Oh and it's got Christopher Eccleston for an added bonus. :D

(*)And I LOVE Shaun of the Dead, and not only because I'm obsessed with Simon Pegg ever since "meeting" him in Spaced.

My son and I watched Nicholas Cage in Knowing last night. Interesting ideas to kick around after the end of the movie, but not great cinema.

I watched The Science of Sleep a few days ago, and found it a very sweet story.

I watched The Secret of Roan Inish again over the weekend. What a sweet movie.

Public Enemies = Ho-Hum The first Depp movie I was not impressed with. It didn't bother me for the reasons I thought it would though, mostly it was just boring. I think that blame probably lies with the director or writer.

I watched Love Actually again last night. Sometimes only a totally feel-good film will do! :)

Off to see the new Harry Potter on Weds. Can't wait to see it!

My wife bought me Quantum of Solace on DVD for my birthday and we sat down and watched it last night (our anniversary). I hadn't heard much at all about it and wasn't too excited but it was great; action, suspense, complex story lines, even a bit of exotic arthouse type sequences. Even my wife loved it and she's not naturally a Bond fan.

Just home from Harry Potter film! It was fun watching it with all the theater employees. I was the only old person there though. Happily my daughter wasn't ashamed to bring me. No crowding, no talking or cell phones or anything else annoying, just an appreciative audience. :)

Also watched Marley and Me last night, and sobbed. A lot.

Sounds wonderful MrsLee. We're going to see it with our younger daughter on Thursday night at a big cineplex, with comfy seats and really good sound system. I'm really looking forward to it.

MrsLee? Old? Incredible!

We watched Ferris Buehler last night. I love the Charlie Sheen scene.

I've never seen Ferris Bueller. I find Matthew Broderick rather boring. Even after all the hazzah's for this movie I can't watch it. I'm wierd like that.

I watched Knowing with Nicolas Cage. As jillmwo says there's a lot of interesting ideas to kick around. I think I liked it better than jill, but tend to agree about it being 'good' cinema. I have it on a 6 day rental and want to watch it again.

Though I'm rather agnostic in my believe of a higher power I find this stuff (biblical prophecy/end of the world scenarios) fascinating, so I probably rate it higher just because of my interest.

I thought Knowing was a great movie. Very suspenseful. As good a sci-fi movie as you're going to get.

#95 And you can't pay me to spend 2 hours watching Nicholas Cage. To each hir own.

I like Nicholas Cage, but disliked Knowing. :)

Went to see HP & the HBP. I had not reread the book before going, but even I could tell they left out a LOT (as they had to) and seemed to skip over some fairly major plot points. It was OK, but not great. Now I'll have to read the book again.

I went to the 3:30 am showing of Harry Potter. Never again. The movie was fun, but I cannot sleep for a few hours, get up and watch a movie, and then go back to sleep, and expect to feel good the next day. I had such a headache. After seeing the previews, we're already planning to go to the midnight release of Percy Jackson next year, but I will make sure I get tickets in plenty of time, so that we actually go at midnight. That would be much easier.

I think it shows determination and stamina to go to the 3:30 show. Even if I could manage to get up for one, I would never trust myself driving at that hour!

A 3:30am showing indicates either fanatical devotion or care for a loved one. In either instance, "you're a better man than I am, Gunga Din"!

Anyone ever watched the Canadian or maybe British series, Kavanaugh QC? I have the first set and am figuring I'll watch my first episode of it sometime this weekend. Any feedback?

I took my nephew to see Harry Potter Wednesday afternoon. My son went to the midnight showing. It was good, but not my favorite.

I watched Gran Torino last weekend and thought it was wonderful!

MrsLee - Arsenic and Old Lace is one of favorite movies!

I just finished watching the Tollywood adaptation of Sense and Sensibility - Kandukondain Kandukondain, AKA I Have Found It. It was quite fun to watch. The quality was a bit poor in some places - I don't think the Tamil film industry has the money that goes into Bollywood, let alone Hollywood. Aishwarya Rai was, of course, lovely. A couple of the music numbers were just hilarious. There is one where all of a sudden a love interest is dressed up Viking-style in a Scottish castle, chasing around the beloved, who is wearing a sari. And there's a great nod to some other films, including the BBC Pride and Prejudice (think white shirt and water...).

@97. I agree 'each their own.' I can't deny Broderick is talented. Just not my cup of joe.

Mrs.Lee. Arcenic and Old Lace is a favorite of mine too. We put on a performance during high school and it's remained a fave all these years. The crew had a party during the production and coincidently it was aired on TV. We watched it and I fell in love with it.

edit: Mrs.Lee is not known as Nrs.Lee.

WillSteed - I love Bride and Prejudice. It is hysterically funny.

I just finished up seeing Lady in the Water for the first time - really good! Now I'm watching the last half of The Princess Bride. After that, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is on. Not too bad an evening!

I rather enjoyed My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Right now, I'm watching the aforementioned Kavanaugh, QC at the moment. Still early in the first episode so I can't decide whether it is good.

#104 - :)

I just watched "Ushpizin" and loved it. It is, I presume, in Hebrew with subtitles, but that enhances a foreign movie for me. A wonderful film about the heartaches and joys of life and faith.

Over the last two days, I watched The Kite Runner and New in Town. They were okay. Nothing to write home about.

106 &107: If you both like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you might enjoy Connie and Carla, also written by and starring Nia Vardalos. You can see the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuCfJfCzmUo

Our little "cinema club" got together again last night at my apartment, to break in my new home theater system. :D

After about an hour and a half of "insert part A in part B and cable C into slot D" and all of us getting frustrated, we managed to set it up so we could at least watch the DVD and get the audio playing properly (even though not coming out from all the speakers as intended), no matter that there were three different remote controls that couldn't agree among them on who was boss! :P

We watched Being There, with Peter Sellers. What a heart-warming, thought-provoking film! Truly showed what a great actor Sellers was.

Bollywood, Schmollywood ;-).

I watched "ChakDe! India" (again) last night, after finding it at the sale of our local department store (they are closing! We will have to drive 40km to the next department store! That is horrible (in European terms, I know the Americans laugh at that...)!)
Anyway, the film is the only Bollywood film I ever saw from beginning to end. All others I simply couldn't finish, and stopped watching after half an hour or so. This one is straight sports drama, no dance, no singing, no romance. But it has Shahrukh Khan as a kick-ass coach of the Indian national women's hockey team, and a number of really good actresses in the player's roles. The team gets a new coach (a man who was dumped from the men's national team in disgrace for perceived betrayal of his team). He forms the women from all over India into a strong and effective team and even dares to attempt the World Cup with them...
Had me biting my nails through the last ten minutes of the film (a hockey match, of course) --again, even though I knew how it ended! Great stuff, great acting, good score, and good sports matches.

Oh my goodness! Watching Mamma Mia with the lyrics and my son is mocking me. On the other hand, I'm dancing around the living room.

Watched Miracle at Saint Anne's, and Defiance over the weekend. Both are excellent WWII movies and highly recommended.

I've been on the fence regarding renting Miracle at Santa Anna. You highly recommend it, DeusExLibrary? I pick it up almost everytime at the video store, but end up putting it down in favour of another selection.

I watched The Guns of Navarone the other night and I was surprised to find that I really enjoyed it - I think I've mentioned before that I'm usually not a war-movie fan, but the acting in this one was great.

M@A is definitely one of those movies that may not be for everyone. Its dark, violent, and a lot of it is subtitled. The reason I recommend it is that by and large its not just violence for the sake of violence. Its realistic in portraying the Nazi's brutality in Italy (and throughout Europe really) but it ends with a strong message of hope, which to me is hugely redemptive. It does catch you off guard though, as the movie is not what you might think from seeing the first couple minutes.

We watched Night at the Museum last night. What fun!

I watched The Fellowship of the Ring the other night. It's been a long time since I've seen it. Now I have to watch the others again. What beautifully made movies!

DeusExLibrus. Thanks for the recommendation. I enjoy WW2 films - mostly from a historical perspective. This will probably be right up my alley.

(LOL Sorry about the DeusExLibrary. D'oh!)

Morphidae, Did you see the sequel? I took my nephew to see it. It was fun to watch with a kid though I don't think it had the same charm as the original.

#119 Too funny. I watched the Fellowship recently too. I love the music. I downloaded all three movie music to my I Touch as well. I am so excited because I am going to Wolf Trap in Virginia(near Washington,DC) end of August to hear the Two Towers music performed in an open air venue while the movie is being shown on multiple big screens. I can't wait.

#121 jewels, I am green with envy! Wolf Trap just has to be one of the world's most beautiful outdoor music venues! Have you got space for one in your picnic hamper by any chance?

Hugh, I live within walking distance of Ravina, summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. We picnic there regularly and love to have guests!

Wish!!!

I live pretty close to the Cleveland Orchestra and their lovely Severance Hall. The Husband took me to their annual Handel's Messiah concert for one of our first dates - simply wonderful.

Watched Pirates of the Caribbean 1 & 2 last night, made OH go out and buy 3 so we would have a set, but I don't like it and haven't watched it yet. How messed up is that?

>126 MrsLee: MrsLee,
do you mean that you don't like the series or just the one you haven't watched yet? I'm not keen on any of them, although I haven't watched 2 or 3 completely. But if the squid creatures are in 3, I really don't like that one. Yuck!

I do like Johnny Depp in them, but even he gets tiresome. And they have been running the trailer for so long now, I am beginning to find the "Enough!" funny (from the squid captain?).

BTW, completist rationale is *never* messed up, even (especially?) if you have to drag in OH to justify it.

ETA especially is *especially* hard to spell!

Just finished watching 12 Angry Men. Wow. For a film that takes place nearly entirely in one room and is almost completely dialogue, this is an intense movie. Fantastic acting.

#127 - I think #1 was a fabulous summer fun movie, a classic. I don't think 2 or 3 measured up in the writing and characters, however, I have a great fondness for the crew of the Flying Dutchman. There are elements in 2 which are great. Probably in 3 also, but when I saw three, I left the theater feeling very let down. I haven't seen it since, so I wonder what my reaction will be to seeing it on DVD. So far I've had no time. I like your comments on the completist rational. :)

Watched Hot Fuzz last night for the first time and absolutely loved it. I'd seen so many trailers for this with the bits of the supermarket sequence in them that I was really pleased to see that in fact most of the rest of the film was even funnier. I really loved Simon Pegg in Star Trek but I strangely really hope that it isn't too successful a new series that he still has plenty of time for films like this and Shaun of the dead.

I saw the newest Harry Potter on Sunday night and while it was entertaining, I was a bit lost. I only read the books until the fourth one, and then lost interest. I don't know why, but I just can't be bothered with finishing the series just for the sake of it. I might go see the last film, though, only because I've already seen the other six.

This is weird for me, in that I usually prefer reading the book instead of seeing the film.

I also watched The 25th Hour on cable the other night. Fantastic film, great acting (Edward Norton + Phillip Seymour Hoffman, can't miss), great cinematography, and direction by Spike Lee.

The HP movies after four boggle the mind in my opinion. They're so disjointed that you really have to have read the book to get the whole picture. The studio, IMHO has really botched the whole affair.

Thank goodness, it's so nice to hear people agreeing with my opinion. I have read all the books, but I didn't care for them much, so I only read them once, which means I don't remember a whole lot of what goes on. Which means if the movies don't make sense, I don't get it. A couple of people whose opinion I usually respect when it comes to movies and such keep talking about how good the HP movies are and I just..don't...get it. The last couple seemed to be random scenes from the books, without much discernible plot.

I have read the books and I have no idea how anyone would be able to keep up with movies 5 & 6. They left out giant swaths of the books. Then again, JKR is pretty verbose so there's a lot worth cutting, IMO.

Since I already know the stories, I do enjoy the movies. They did a great job of casting.

I just received today the first batch of my latest online shopping spree. Since it's just DVDs and not books, I'm posting it here instead of the July's Joyous Bargains thread:

1) Time Bandits
2) The Big Lebowski
3) Waking Life
4) Before Sunrise
and 5) Synecdoche New York.

I'm planning on seeing 5) later tonight. I've already seen the others, but wanted to have them in my collection anyway. For viewing with my group of friends in our informal film club. :)

Still waiting to arrive are:

6) Stranger Than Fiction
7) Being John Malkovich
8) Before Sunset
9) The Station Agent

The last one is the only one I haven't seen of the four.

Am I weird for buying DVDs of films I've already seen? I don't know. I guess I'm obsessive about seeing a film I've particularly enjoyed multiple times until I can quote it from memory. :P

I almost only buy movies I've already seen, just like I almost only buy books that I've already read. Because I watch/read the ones I like over and over and over again. I don't think you're weird :)

126 & 127 Just had an interesting conversation with my wife (MW?) about OH... I've seen SO = significant other and DH = darling (dear) husband.. but what does OH mean? I voted for "other husband", my wife's contribution was "onery husband"

Oh and I only liked the 1st Pirates movie.. 2 and 3 ..bleh.

I think OH translates to "other half".

I am watching cheap DVDs of BBC remakes of George Bernard Shaw plays. I watched Maggie Smith and Tom Baker in The Millionairess earlier this week, and this afternoon, I'll watch Mrs. Warren's Profession which leads me to inquire whether anyone's ever heard of a British actress called Coral Browne?

#137 - I use OH to mean "other half," we aren't much into the use of words like "darling" and such. :)

Delirium - I only buy movies I've seen and loved, but my OH will buy all sorts of weird movies he hasn't seen. Usually for my teens.

I knew I could count on other "weirdos" here. ;D

Synecdoche, New York was... weird. In a spectacular way. Borrowing from a review in another site: "Charlie Kauffman, you beautiful bastard!" His films always stir feelings in me...

I'm so glad I bought it, because now I can watch it multiple times. It begs repeated viewings. And discussion too.

I saw Synedoche, New York on the plane coming back from Brooklyn, New York and it was very strange, but I liked it very much. Totally agree, Delirium, that it begs repeated viewings. I also watched The Boat That Rocked (also starring the brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman) and thought that was great too.

Watched "Little Voice" and was blown away by the amazing Jane Horrocks......stellar performances from Michael Caine and Brenda Blethyn as well.

Message 128:

I watch 12 Angry Men every time I catch it on. Being judged by a jury of my peers is one of the things that truly scares me.

Just spent the evening watching videos on YouTube with some friends... being silly.

In the spirit of this thread, we did watch two films, albeit shorts, but still films and not videos only:

Tim Burton's "Vincent" and "Frankenweenie." :)

Finally watched Gran Torino on dvd. Wonderful! At age 78, Eastwood still has it as both an actor and a director.

Not only that, but it got my daughter-home-from-college and I talking about the Hmong and she is now reading The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down which I also really enjoyed.

My sons and I watched Inkheart last night and I was right when I thought I'd like the movie better than I liked the book. The book dragged a little too much for me.

I went to watch Coco Before Chanel yesterday at a little arthouse cinema, and found it a thoroughly charming film. Not much really happens, but it is very beautiful and Audrey Tatou seems to literally channel Chanel.

I watched North by Northwest last night. Such a great movie.

I watched Miss Potter over the weekend and loved the scenery. I was also able to get a sitter earlier in the week and see The Half Blood Prince, I enjoyed the movie but enjoyed the few hours of me time better.

I watched some musicals with friends over the last few days. Oliver!, Singing in the Rain and Strictly Ballroom. They never get old.

(Those not familiar with Strictly Ballroom who like Moulin Rouge should see it. It's a hilarious Australian Dirty Dancing/small group politics/making fun of Aussies movie).

We've been having a Monk movie festival at my house lately. I have season 1 on DVD and my kids have watched every single episode at least once now.

I watched the movie "Always" last night. it is a remake by Steven Spielberg. It is 20 years old but I still love it.The last scene is so good. You will definitely need a tissue or two. It stars Richard Dreyfus,Holly Hunter and John Goodman. I almost forgot,it was Audrey Hepburn's last role before she passed. I don't think you will be disappointed if you saw it. Lots of humor too.

I haven't seen 'Always' in ages. It's a wonderful movie. I can't believe 20 years have passed since I first saw it!

Not good movie: we were disappointed by Watchmen. Among other things, while the well-known graphic novel was violent, the director of the movie over-emphasized the violence in ways that distracted from rather than fit with the story. Too bad, because some of the questions raised about power, human nature, human destiny, uniting in the face of danger, and whether horrid acts for the overall good are acceptable, are interesting ones.

#154

I thought Watchmen was rather impressive, myself. The book was quite a close adaptation of the novel, could be followed by someone who has not yet watched the movie (I had watched it at the cinemas before reading the graphic novel, then watched it after) yet the movie was filled with inside references to the novel. I appreciated it both as a general movie-goer, then as a fan of the Watchmen graphic novel.

I also thought that the one major change to the movie actually worked better than that of the novel - it fit the mythology of the novel so much better than Moore's graphic novel, and raised quite a few interesting questions.

The movie was violent, certainly, but I don't consider the book to be any less violent - perhaps it is more the media being used to show the violence than the violence depicted itself.

Yes, the book is the better of the two, but the movie is quite impressive nonetheless.

I just saw Waking Life again on DVD after several years. I had first seen it about 7 or 8 years ago, when it first came out, on VHS and in a very small TV screen. I remember I was blown away by it at the time, it resonated profoundly, and I remembered a lot of the ideas for a long time. I'm glad I bought the DVD, because now I can watch it whenever I want. :D

#141
Oh, I'm looking forward to that PSH film! I see it's scheduled for a November 09 release in the US. That means we won't get it here for a couple of months after that, probably. That is if we do get it at all. *crosses fingers* :P Incidentally, I have yet to see "Doubt" starring PHS himself...

#155 - My thoughts exactly!

Not movies exactly, but I've been watching old Dr. Who episodes on Netflix. I'm trying to find the regeneration episodes, which are not easy to find, and not all on the instant play list. Also trying to watch each Dr. for a sample. Yes, I miss Dr. Who.

When I'm not watching the Giants kick up sh*t in the NL West (woot!), I'm rewatching season 2 of Mad Men. I can't wait for August 16th!

Last night my husband and I watched an interesting movie called "Push". Dakota Fanning was in it. A very interesting (to me) sci-fi sort of story. I'm wondering if it was based on a book or a series of books.

I didn't want to watch The Watchmen. I really loved the novel and didn't want it spoiled by the book. But, when your 16 year old son begs you to watch a movie with him, and begs you several times, you better do it. So we watched it tonight. I still like the novel better. I could pick some bones about the movie, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it might have been. There were some scenes that made me laugh out loud, and I don't think they were meant to (the love-making ones, in particular the one with the Hallelujah song playing). There were a couple I didn't watch because I can only tolerate a certain amount of blood flying, but all in all I thought they did a decent job of it. What I love about this story is that there are so many things to discuss in it. We had some great talks tonight and it helped me to hear how my children view the world, people and so much more. All in all, a good movie experience.

>156 Delirium9:. I hope you'll like The Boat That Rocked, Delirium. I thought it was really funny and November isn't that far away. It'll soon come round. I've not seen Doubt yet, but it does look good from the trailer.

I watched "Seven Pounds" last night and maybe it was because it wasn't what I expected but it seemed to take ages for the storyline to come together and make sense. I did like the performances of Will Smith and Rosario Dawson as a couple though.

I rented Coraline and The Reader and have watched them over the last couple of nights. I enjoyed them both very much. Wow, Coraline is so well done and I think Kate Winslet really deserved the Oscar she won for that role, she was amazing.

I watched the bonus episode of Dollhouse (Epitaph One) last night. Wowsers! That was quite an episode. Yup, my obsession with all things Whedonesque continues. They made quite a break from the rest of the episodes with it, telling a really different story, and giving you so many tantalising bits of extra plots, without giving away the secrets from later on. Gosh.

Okay, so how d'ya get to see the bonus episode Will? Do you mean to say that Dollhouse is out on DVD already??

Yes, it is, although I don't have the DVDs myself yet. I got it off a friend. My purchase of the DVD set will have to wait until I have an income.

What?! Bonus episode?! Dag!
*hurries over to amazon.com to order the dvds*

Well I'm going back to the video store today! Bonus episode - very cool. Thanks for letting us know Will :-) I'm really looking forward to the new season starting, whenever that will be.

Since I am part of the international audience, that Dollhouse episode got aired here last night on the british scifi channel. My brother kept asking "this is dollhouse isn't it?" he was so confused right up untill the end. That attitude is really annoying though, generally if you just watch the whole thing (episode, movie whatever) it explains itself by the end, but a lot of people abandon things if they are not immediatly clear.

Ohhh I'm new to the Dollhouse craze. It just started airing here a few weeks ago on cable. I missed the third episode day before yesterday, but I now Fox will rerun it again later this week... I just have to remember when!

I didn't like the first episode as much as the second one. That one was really good! Of course, I've only seen those two. :D

171 - Wait 'til episode 6...

I plan to watch 'em all! :D

I just watched The Station Agent. What a gem of a movie! I loved it. So simple, so non-assuming, and yet so powerful in a bittersweet kinda way... My kind of film.

Plus, I have a teeny tiny crush on Peter Dinklage, pardon the bad pun... ;P

I watched "Doom," "Dan in Real Life," and "Pineapple Express."

Doom was great fun trying to figure out how many of them would die, which ones would die and which ones would die first. It even surprised me at the end and I loved the monster costumes.

Dan in Real Life made me cry most of the way through, but I liked it.

Pineapple Express....kinda reminded me of old Cheech and Chong movies, but with action? I can't really say I liked it, but in some ways I did.

#173, Tess, LOL!!! I really liked The Station Agent too, a most underrated movie I think, most people I know have never heard of it. (teeny tiny crush on Peter Dinklage...LOLOLOL)

I've got the DVDs for Dollhouse now, going to watch the bonus episode tonight :-)

Of newer films The Station Agent is one of my favourites. I love films that are all about the story and not about action.

Loved Dan in Real Life. Great cast; Steve Carrell and Juliette Binoche were really something together.

My OH inspired me to try making a Gin Fizz tonight, so I decided to watch The Big Sleep while I drank it. Both were entirely satisfactory.

#175
I'm glad I made you laugh!!! ;-P But seriously, he's a darling, isn't he? Such a great actor! His facial expressions are the best! I loved the film. I'm glad I bought the DVD. :)

#176
I love films that are all about the story and not about action.
Exactly! This one had such lovely scenes with just music, and beautiful scenery and nothing really happening...

I have to see Dan in Real Life. I really like Steve Carell, especially in Little Miss Sunshine and The Office -- such opposite parts! His is the perfect blend of drama & comedy that I prefer...

MrsLee, that reminds me I have the DVD of The Big Lebowski to watch soon. I have to get some Bailey's and whip up a batch of White Russians, then kick back and enjoy. ;P

#173 The Station Agent is still my favourite Peter Dinklage film but he's fine with comedy in Death at a Funeral and Elf also. I think there is a new Death at a Funeral movie in the offing but haven't heard anything about it yet.

#179, hehe, you just hit my funny bone at the time :-) Peter Dinklage is a marvelous actor. I wish there could be more parts for him. I'd love to see him in more movies, I agree, he has wonderful facial expressions! And yup, movies with a good story to tell and not just action are right up my alley too.

I saw Reefer Madness the Musical for the first time. 0_0 That was a lot of fun, but it's pretty much what you'd expect: disturbing.

I saw Gran Torino. It's his best performance since The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly in my opinion, but some people might think that opinion is heresy. That said, Gran Torino was one of the best movies this year, which cannot be denied.

Just saw District 9. Frenetic cinematography, but very good. You'll likely find yourself sympathizing with the "prawns" and pulling for the unlikely human at the center of it all.

District 9 was great. Chalk me up as another saying "go-and-watch".

Haven't seen "District 9" yet myself, but my son has and he gives it a big thumbs-up!

Also saw District 9 today. Not your typical sci-fi movie and not what we expected at all. Still, I liked it. Peter Jackson is one hell of a story teller.

I saw Public Enemies on Saturday night. Very entertaining. I loved Johnny's performance (of course!) as well as Billy Crudup's as Hoover. He was amazing! I don't recall ever having seen footage of Hoover, so I don't really know if Billy's portrayal of him was accurate, especially in his mannerisms and voice inflections, but I've always enjoyed Billy's acting.

Also, I actually didn't know anything about John Dillinger until a few years ago when I read one of Stephen King's short stories included in Everything's Eventual. So I wasn't burdened by historical accuracy or anything, and I've read some negative reviews (this after seeing the film because I don't like reading them before) criticizing the film because of that. I don't know, I just took it for pure entertainment value, and it delivered :)

Now, about Dollhouse, I finally caught up with last week's episode and it turns out Fox aired the wrong one! :/ It was supposed to be the third one, but they aired the fourth instead. I noticed it while watching the "Previously on..." segment at the beginning, in which there's a story involving agent Ballard and Victor that wasn't in the last episode I'd seen. Argh. I sure hope Fox airs that episode tomorrow. Or I could just download it, I guess...

#184 ~ #187
I just googled District 9 because I hadn't heard about it. Sounds interesting... But I see Peter Jackson just produced it, he didn't direct or write it.

I saw District 9 on a whim (I hardly ever go to the cinema), and found it mind-blowingly wonderful.

You guys do know that Peter Dinklage has been cast as Tyrion in the HBO series of Game of Thrones, right? I can't wait. I don't want to get HBO, tho, can you subscribe to their series through amazon? I could just wait for dvds I suppose.

Yes! Honestly, that was the thing that made me decide I was looking forward to the television adaptation. I don't have a television, so I'll probably be waiting for the DVDs, too.

Breakfast on Pluto - DVD. I've had it for ages, but never took the time to watch. Love it! I also finally broke down and watched the version of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley, which I'd been boycotting because I don't care for Knightley, but more importantly because the trailer showed Darcy and Elizabeth kissing. Sacrilege!!

For the record - I really enjoyed P & P - up until the completely unnecessary tacked-on ending. (imagine an emoticon showing eyeball rolling here)

#192 - *waves at Alanna* Funny you should stop by. This past weekend I finally rented The Holiday with Jack Black and Kate Winslet. I'm pretty sure it was you who recommended it. We enjoyed it very much. :o)

I'm going to see Coraline tonight. I was holding out, but I wanna see it!

Too funny P&P is on Oxygen this evening. Georgia and I like this version of P&P because of Matthew MacFaghen. He makes a wonderful Mr.Darcy. I never thought anyone could replace Colin Firth's version. However, I must admit Matthew did it for me.
Hi Alanna and Clam! good to see you both.

#188 - Didn't realize that. Still an excellent movie and worth seeing.

#190
Ohh I had to wikipedia Game of Thrones because I had no idea what it was. I've never read George R. R. Martin. (I know, I know. *hands in her GreenDragoneer card*) But I'd totally see that series just for Peter.

#192
Is that the one with Cillian Murphy? I love that man, I gotta see more films with him in it (I haven't seen that particular one.)

As for Dollhouse... *again* Stoopid Fox aired the same wrong episode twice. I keep forgetting to download the third episode. Because I'm sure they'll never air it now to correct the continuity... :/

197 - Do Fox really do that very often, or do they just have it in for our(my) dear Joss?

Coraline was creepy and quite fun. Plus, schnausers!

My thoughts exactly, Will! Coraline was creepy and quite fun! : )

I watched Get Smart (the new version) with my husband and son a couple nights ago. It was much better than I expected.

Will, you have such a discerning eye. That was one of the highlights of Coraline for me (naturally) ;-), but I liked it for it's creepiness and fun too.

I'm going to see District 9 tonight, looking forward to it, after what everyone's been saying here. My daughter and I saw The Time Traveler's Wife on the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it, total chick flick, I even cried, which I don't do very often. I know it's been getting terrible reviews, but I liked it. I thought Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams were perfect as Henry and Clare.

katylit--let us know what you think if District 9. I'm not sure if it's something I want to see, but it sounds interesting.

I told my husband that the rating on District 9 said it was rated for "bloody violence and pervasive language" he said, are you sure it isn't the other way around? My daughter really liked it.

I had a little private chuckle last night because one of my son's friends, a 16 year old boy, was asking me about The Time Traveler's Wife. He had heard it was done by the same person who did The Notebook and he really liked The Notebook. Now, The Notebook was way too "chick flick" for me, so it made me smile that he liked it so. Kinda sweet.

I was afraid it would be to gory for me. I really don't find spurting arteries to be entertaining.

#204

It isn't always my thing - it depends on the context, more than anything. And there is actually a decent plot to explain all of this violence.

Wow. Well, I agree with rojse, there is a good story to explain all the violence. And there is pervasive foul language as well, but I would say it's pretty well justified (wouldn't you - who've seen it?). I did like the main character, he is an unlikely "hero". It's not exactly uplifting though. I think I want to watch The Time Traveler's Wife again, or maybe Harry Potter. I think I'd give it 1 1/2 thumbs up.

By the way MrsLee, I found The Notebook way too "chick flick" for me, but maybe because I'd listened to The Time Traveler's Wife first and fell in love with it that way, I didn't think the movie was any way near as "chick flicky" (lol). That is sweet though, that a 16 year old boy would like The Notebook and say so outloud, good for him!

I watched "Die Hard" last night (yes, the first of them, for the first time). Alan Rickman is a cool b*st*rd. But most of the German accents and the German were atrocious *lol*.

#198
I don't think so... it's weird that they did that. Anyway, I downloaded the third episode and got to watch it just now. I think I'll do that with the rest of the season instead of waiting one week to see each one. :P

Went to see Julie and Julia tonight. I thought Meryl Streep was superb. Enjoyed the whole movie, but I'm not really inspired to cook like that. Eat like that, yes, but not the cooking. I'm just too tired. I have no idea where that Julie person found the energy to work 8 hours and then cook in the evenings. Oh yeah, she had just turned 30. You still have energy when you're thirty, especially if you don't have a house full of children. :)

I've been getting more and more into Studio Ghibli movies. A while back I saw Howl's Moving Castle and My Neighbor Totoro, and last weekend I saw Spirited Away. Loved them all, for the story, the art and the overall feel of the movie.
This weekend I have a couple more Studio Ghibli movies lined up to watch, and I can't wait :D

Just finished watching Ned Kelly, it didn't really do much for me, other than the pleasure of watching Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom. I think I was supposed to be moved with compassion for Ned, but like Dillinger, it just left me kinda flat. Some nice photography of Australia though.

divinenanny, Princess Mononoke is my favorite Ghibli.

>211 divinenanny: divinenanny The new one by Hiyao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli is out and called "Ponyo". It's getting rave reviews in the U.S. FYI, the ones of his you like are also out in graphic novel form, and you might enjoy seeing the pictures and story in still form. It gives you a chance to really appreciate the hand-drawn artistry.

My wife and kids (23 and 19) aren't as crazy about his stuff as I am, so I'll probably end up going to Ponyo without them.

Morphidae, Yeah, I also saw Mononoke (and Kiki's Delivery Service) last weekend. I didn't like Kiki that much, but I love love loved Mononoke.

I will also see Ponyo this weekend, I think I'll like it, looking at how many people have recommended it to me :D

#201 - The Time Traveler's Wife wasn't as bad as I feared it would be, nor as good as I could have hoped. It was okay. In the translation from the book to the movie, I think the characters lost important components of their personalities. But it's never a hardship to look at Eric Bana.

That's a good point Tigercrane, but isn't that often the case in a movie vs the book? When reading the book you can read the characters thoughts and feelings and that's something that can't be done in a movie. Definitely agree about Eric Bana, nice to see him in a romantic role for once.

Yes, I suppose so. I guess the issue I was having is the characters in the novel were more edgy than in the movie. About the only time I thought Movie Henry was the same as Book Henry was when he was beating up that guy in the alley. Book Clare was more interesting and less whiny than Movie Clare.

#211, 214, 215
The only Miyazaki I've seen so far is Princess Mononoke and I liked it a lot. I'd love to see it with the English audio version one day (I saw it with audio in Spanish and Japanese subtitles, it was a free showing by the Japanese Embassy), just because Neil Gaiman worked on the adaptation. :D

All of his other films that you've mentioned I have on my wish list.

#201, 216-218
I haven't read The Time Traveler's Wife, but I've had it as a "possible read" for a while because the story sounds interesting. However, I have no desire to see the movie, especially because of all the comparisons to The Notebook. Still, I was wondering if it was worth it, but your comments have helped me. I think I'll definitely pass on the film version and buy a copy of the book instead.

I have just come home from watching The Time Traveler's Wife and, if I had not read the book beforehand, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. Some of the enjoyment was lost because I already knew what was going to happen. As it was, I thought that it was a fair adaptation and that the telling of the story from Clare's perspective (ie: in chronological order) helps people who've not read the book. I agree with the edginess comment from Tigercrane, but didn't find Movie Clare whiny. The book made me cry; the movie didn't but, like Tigrcrane has said, looking at Eric Bana for two hours is never a bad thing...

I watched Babel tonight. My first thought was: It should be titled "101 ways to make Stupid Choices which Change your Life and the Lives of those around You."

After my brain mulled through it a bit though, I realized that it answered one of the questions I frequently ask myself in my faith, which is, why are we worth the bother? I thought this movie did an excellent job of showing that people from every culture, race and government are perfectly capable of doing stupid things, and yet, they are still essentially lovable. Not evil, just broken.

DISCLAIMER: I am not looking to start a religious discussion here, just saying how the movie affected and spoke to me.

SPOILERS: Favorite people: the Japanese policeman and the Moroccan interpreter. For some reason I got a great deal of pleasure in knowing what was going to happen when the children were told to catch a chicken and they thought it was a great game. Ah, talk about cultural differences!

I watched Inglorious B******S on Weds. Two words: LOVED IT!! I won't spoil it for those who want to watch it and haven't yet but it was really not the film I was expecting it to be.

221 - I liked Babel for the same reason. It seemed that everybody was suffering from a complete lack of communication and did really stupid things because of it - similar to why I like the Farseer trilogies. I liked the interpreter, too.

I haven't watched Babel yet. Probably because I didn't like 21 Grams (it just left me cold, meh), although I did like Amores Perros. I know those three films are supposed to be taken as a trilogy by Alejandro González Iñárritu and Guillermo Arriaga. Anyway, I just figured Babel would be as disappointing as 21 Grams... And now you all have piqued my curiosity, so I might consider watching it.

#223
Will, do you mean the film The Interpreter or is there a character in Babel that is an interpreter? Because if there is, it really increases my interest in seeing it. (Although I disliked the Nicole Kidman film, it was ridiculous! Even if Catherine Keener is in it.)

#222
really not the film I was expecting it to be.
I think that's true of every Tarantino film. ;D

#224 - I think Will meant the interpreter in the film. He was interpreting Moroccan to English and back. Lots of different foreign languages in the film for language buffs. :)

So today I took son and his girl friend to District 9. It was...different. It didn't leave me feeling exhilarated or moribund, I'm really not sure how I feel about it, but it was "fun" to watch. Fun used not in a happy way really. The "F" word abounded, but like my daughter said, it was spoken in a lovely accent, so for a strange reason didn't make me flinch so much. Stupid, huh? I'm a sucker for an accent that isn't mine. ;)

Tonight I watched Himalaya. My daughter gave it to me today for Mother's Day. She never could remember what she had bought for me, so got this instead! I've wanted it for a long time because I just love the film, the story, the people and the scenes. Oh, and yaks. I'm very fond of yaks.

larryhaney - I'm not quite sure how you replaced the "Post a message" link with an ad, but I believe that is against the TOS. You should probably take it out if you're serious about the site.

ETA - I see the "Post" link now, but I still flagged the ad.

Just watched "King of Hearts" on Netflix. Amusing, very French flavor of humor. The lead was a lovely man, his eyes!

224 - I meant the one in the film, not the film, The Interpreter. I haven't seen that one yet. I've heard it's compelling, but I'm not rushing out to see it.

#224
Ah, then I definitely want to see Babel now. :)

I just saw Time Bandits on DVD. I hadn't seen it since... forever. Still brilliant!

I watched the Paul McGann Dr Who movie. It's fun, even if it is somewhat lacking in Britishness at times.

Three totally different movies this weekend: Gran Torino (always rely on Clint Eastwood for a good movie); Coraline (cleverly done but didn't capture my imagination the way I thought it would) and The Flock (disturbing subject matter and characters that stretch credibility).

And to continue with the Gilliam theme, today I watched The Fisher King. On cable, not on DVD, though.

I like New York in June... how about youuuuu?

Watched Mama Mia this weekend. It was fun but not great, meaning the singing was mostly attrocious but they looked like they had fun doing it and I liked that. I think I would have liked watching the stage production better. My 8yo watched the whole thing with me which is strange considering his verdict afterwards was 'too much singing!"

I watched Flashdance last night. I really enjoyed the movie. I'd forgot how cool the music and the dancing was back then.

#236 Mama Mia was fantastic to watch on stage and there was still a good atmosphere when I saw it at the cinema but it certainly didn't transfer so well to TV.......somehow that woeful singing was more noticeable.

#237 I love all the dance movies and Footloose is another old one that's fun to watch again.

Last night I saw "Coraline" at last! LOVED it! As I am a fan of all that's dark and gory and disturbing, I kept thinking "It's not at all as disturbing as I've read it is" (and I loathe reading reviews, but I just happened to have read some of the DVD on Amazon, and anyway, it's not like I didn't know the story, since I'd read the book. Wow, I just used the verb "to read" four times in the same paragraph, ha!)

And tonight I saw "The Holiday" on cable, which wouldn't have been my choice for a movie, but it was the only thing on TV that grabbed my attention. I caught it about 20 minutes after it'd started, and I have to say it wasn't as bad as I might have thought. I would've liked to see more of Kate Winslet and Eli Wallach, their story was charming. And less of Cameron Diaz and Jude Law, actually.

Today I watched an Alan Campion mystery, not sure if I'm spelling that correctly, but, it was O.K. watching. Like the author, not my favorite, but a nice way to pass an afternoon while folding the masses of laundry that were piled up.

Tonight I watched the six episodes of Neverwhere, which was interesting, but nothing I'm gaga over.

I watched Manos: Hands of Fate (MST3Ked). Oh, wow. That was spectacularly tragic.

#241: Manos is my 2nd favorite MST3K movie (Puma Man is *the* best)!

Puma Man! Theme song: "He Flies Like A Moron" .

Oh my god, I remember Puma Man. Dumbest. Movie. Ever. MST3K was hilarious, though.

My brother actually found me a Puma Man shirt, and on it, Puma Man is indeed flying like a moron. Probably my favorite MST3K ever, up there with Soul Takers.

My favorite part is when Puma Man gets thrown out a window then somehow crawls back through it - one of the MST3K guys says, "Look, he's re-fenestrating himself!" Hilarious.

I have to ask: what is MST3K?

Thanks, Tris! I was wondering too!

Mystery Science Theater, and I'm thinking the 3K stands for 3000? Hilarious TV show which used to be on, a man and his two robot friends are subjected to the torture of watching horrible Scifi movies. To keep their sanity they make wise cracks throughout the movie, and it is very funny. Like watching with your friends.

#241
Wow. The one film that's supposedly the worst film ever PLUS MST3Ked?! That has to be hilarious! :)

I've never seen either the film or the show anyway... But I know MST3K is legendary. I *think* I saw some DVDs of the show on Amazon a while ago.

There was a local TV show here that copied MST3K in that they showed cheesy films late at night with funny commentary and cuts from two or three guys. It was called "Cine Gallo" ("cine" meaning "cinema," of course, and "gallo" is slang for something that's really baaaaad or of mediocre quality. The actual meaning of the word is "rooster.") Ahhh I miss that show...

Manos:HoF is terrible enough that they had trouble making fun of it. They kind of weren't needed. It's spectacular, and the WP article explains in part why it was so bad.

Mitchell!!!

I'm also a big fan of Space Mutiny, aka (around our house) "Railing Kill!" Chunk McManMeat.

Some of the shorts are really great too. I love Mr. B Natural.

#253: LOL! I'd forgotten about Space Mutiny! I love all the different nicknames they give that guy.

>254 scaifea:. Is that the one with Rib Steakface, Crud Bonemeal and Jock Plankchest? : )

The best last movie I watched was GI Joe a couple of weekends ago. Not the best movie, although it was fun. (Who doesn't like ninjas, hot chicks, and stuff blowing up?) The best part was my mom came visiting and kept our 7-year-old and 4-month-old so my sweetie and I could go out just the two of us.

I wonder what that says about us that we had kid-free time so we went to see GI Joe...?

#255: Yes!

I really, really wanted 9 to premiere here today as in other parts of the world (09/09/09!!!), but it was not to be. :(

I could instead watch the original short on YouTube, though...

I watched to 1925 version of Phantom of the Opera yesterday. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

258 Delirium - I wanted to see 9 yesterday on 9/9/09 too, but I couldn't either. I'm going to see it today. I hope it's as awesome as it looks like it will be.

Oh I hope you enjoy it! :)

Mmmm I liked it, I didn't love it. I thought the end was kind of lame.

I'm in the middle of watching The Color of Magic. It's fun. Some of the characters are not as my mind's eye sees them, but the actors do such a good job that it soon doesn't matter.

I went to see "9" tonight with my friend. We both enjoyed it, but it wasn't a lighthearted animated romp. Beautiful in a very dark way, and some of the messages/thoughts were confused, but still, a very thoughtful tale.

I had been discussing "Valkyrie" fervently for over a year at IMDb with people from all over, and then wasn't able to see it when it came out earlier this year. The DVD is on sale now in Germany, so I got to watch it yesterday.

I have to say, it didn't "grab" me like the German TV film of 2003 did. Which is probably due to the fact that I was watching the film in its original version in English (to watch it in German dubbing would have been even weirder I think). IMO, the 2003 film showed better how nerve-wracking those 12 hours between the bombing and the execution of the four head conspirators actually were.

Other than that, I have to say that the film was historically very accurate, but like the 2003 film a bit short on background. But then it was primarily meant as a thriller, not as a docudrama to educate people. And as a thriller it does work well.
If people learn something about the German resistance, it is a good thing (I was watching the extras and the screenwriter C. McQuarrie said he had never heard about Stauffenberg until he found the memorial at Bendler-Block in Berlin --which made him investigate and ultimately write this film).

#265 - Did Tom Cruise not come across as too "American" for you? I sort of wish an unknown actor had played the part, or at least someone not quite as well known.

I am reading Spymistress by William Stevenson right now and gaining a whole new perspective on the roles of England and America before the war started. Not so pristine as I had been taught, and it also is giving me a better perspective of the German people at that time.

#266, actually, no, he didn't. Quite a "toned-down" performance, actually. The problem for me as a German was, that the language and the body-language that comes with the language still gave away that this wasn't a German film. Even though I have no problem following a film in English it made it somewhat less real for me, if you know what I mean. That is probably part of the reason why the 2003 film was more effective on me --even though that one wasn't as historically accurate as this.

New perspectives are good! :-) I won a book through Early Reviewers about the early time of WW2 in Poland, by an "average non-Jewish Polish woman". I have read accounts by Jewish Poles, but cannot remember a non-Jewish author, so that is a new perspective for me.

No, but I want to see this.
Trailer

Unfortunately Jasper's trailer wouldn't play well for me.

At the recommendation of our two kids, 23 and 19 years old, my wife and I watched "Superbad", and for the first time felt the generational difference for this kind of thing. They love this movie; we found it juvenile and boring. We both like Michael Cera, but he couldn't overcome the bad material as far as we were concerned.

That's fun Jasper! Charlton Heston would have made a great Indiana Jones :-)

For those of you who enjoyed "The Station Agent" I would highly recommend "The Visitor". It's the story of a man who finds new purpose in life after meeting two young immigrants. Richard Jenkins is perfect in the main role and it's a story told with restraint and sensitivity.

I know it's been out for a while, but I just saw "Nick and Norah's infinite playlist". I really liked it. Michael Cera was suitably awkward in it.

263, I've always wanted to watch The Color of Magic (well, for the three months I've known that it exists). Although Rincewind is really the only less than perfect Pratchett character, in my opinion. Did you see the Wyrd Sisters?

Just watched Crank 2 ....ahh such dippy fun :)

#273 - No, I didn't know there was a Wyrd Sisters, but I haven't begun to read the witches books yet, saving them for the last because I have heard great things about them. I am one of the few people who love Rincewind. He's one of my favorite characters. :)

Saw Zombieland this afternoon. I haven't laughed that hard in a movie theater for many many years.

I watched Frost/Nixon last night and really loved it. I'm British and wasn't even born when Nixon was ousted from office, but it had inspired me to read all about the Watergate scandal!

My friend and I went to see Surrogates. I really enjoyed it! Lots of food for thought and fun action, and, I couldn't figure it all out until the end. I must say though, for hard core critics, there were probably some plot holes, etc. I was able to overlook them though because of the other stuff, plus I found the makeup and acting of those playing the surrogates intriguing.

#278

I mustn't have seen the same movie as you. I watched a movie called "The Surrogates" that was rather silly, cliched, and predictable, but had some nice special effects.

:) I'm not very harsh when I watch a movie, nor very careful about titles, I just like to be entertained sometimes. Personally, I thought the ideas of what people wanted to look like compared to what they were, and whether or not we would go that route if it were available to us was interesting. Also the thought that it started out as a possible useful thing for paraplegics or soldiers, but the long term effects of those choices turned out quite differently.

SPOILER
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Then the effect on me when the main character started driving down the sidewalk, not caring whether or not he hit "people" and such. It was weird.

Just watched "Around the Bend" on Netflix instant play. Excellent film story! Two of my favorite actors, Michael Cain and Christopher Walken, and the other two male leads were great as well, of course the little boy stole my heart. Watch with tissues.

Watched Field of Dreams tonight. I LOVED it. If you've never seen it, go out RIGHT NOW and rent it. I can't believe I haven't gotten around to seeing this yet.

I watched Like Water For Chocolate this afternoon and I have to say, I didn't care for it. The plot was all over the place, it was so dark I sometimes had trouble seeing what was going on, things seemed to just happen without much reason or explanation, and the dialogue in the subtitles was awful, clunky and dull. Not recommended. Hope the book is better.

283 - The book isn't better.

Carl Dreyer's Vampyr.Wow....And, MrsLee,I love Rincewind too.And the Luggage and the Witches,and...oh dont get me started on that!

284 MrsLee

That's disappointing. I mean, not that I was about to run out and find the book, but it was the kind of movie that felt like it could be an interesting story if there was more to it or if it had been told a little differently...oh well.

Well, not movies precisely but I'm netflixing (using my Roku) season one of The Legend of the Seeker. Aside from stupid science mistakes, one blatant, it is okay. The first few episodes made me want to kick the Seeker in the butt, but he's grown a bit now.

Also re-watching Bablyon 5. Loved the series and am enjoying experiencing it again. Ivanova rocks.

I went to see " The Invention of Lying". I loved it. It's such a neat concept, and I really like Ricky Gervais and his sense of humor.

287 - Yes. Ivanova is approaching godhood. I didn't like Legend of the Seeker at all.

Watched the new Transformers movie which we got from Netflix. My husband and son saw it in the theater and loved it. I liked parts of it. There was one thing that was either funny or slightly sick, can't decide which. Why did the big robot on the pyramid have to have dangly bits and did we really have to look at them?

Bought "Savior" (1998) with Dennis Quaid last week. Wow. I don't remember this being in the cinemas. It's an independent film, financed by American companies and shot in Montenegro with a Serbian director and a European/American cast and crew.
It is about an American mercenary who ends up with the Bosnian Serb army in 1993. After an exchange of prisoners he is made the guardian of a young Serb woman and her child (born after being raped in a Bosniak prison), brilliantly portrayed by Natasha Nincovic. They find themselves between all chairs and everyone, including the girl's family, is after them. Guy tries to find a way to the coastal town of Split to save the woman and her child. Needless to say, also the Croats have no use for them.
Rated 18, for the subject matter as well as for violence, but absolutely worth watching. One of the better films about the Yugoslav Wars in my opinion.

Wow, I've never heard of Saviour, but it certainly sounds intriguing. I'll have to hunt that one down!

I went to see 'Whip It' the other night (on a date no less....I'm as shocked as you are!) It's all about a roller derby league. I enjoyed the film more than I thought I would. I initially decided to go see it because a friend of mine is joining a league down in Melbourne and I think one has just started up here. While I don't think I'm cut out to be a skater, I think I might try to go to the next game (the one this weekend is sold out!)

I watched Dr. Horrible and was...well, vaguely disappointed, but not particularly surprised about that. It was mostly amusing, but I thought the end was awful.