Movie: "The Queen" with Helen Mirren

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Through Netflix, I rented a DVD of the movie, "The Queen".
Helen Mirren was excellent. I enjoyed the entire movie.

Below is a link to the IMDb web page for "The Queen": ====>
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436697/

Any comments?

[Becky]

On my list....she is a wonderful actress....

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I thought the actress who played the Queen's mother wasn't pretty enough. The Queen's mother was a very sweet looking woman. This actress (Sylvia Syms) didn't look pretty or sweet.

Perhaps in actuality the Queen's mother didn't act sweetly, but she looked sweet. I thought they could have portrayed that sweet appearance.

Here are 3 photos of the real "Queen Mother": ====>
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/royal...
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images...

[Jackie]

I saw that a while ago, I really liked it. It was a difficult time for her and her family.
And I absolutely love Helen Mirren.
Have you seen her in Calendar Girls? It was based on a true story.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I don't think I've seen Calendar Girls.
See the IMDb web page here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337909/
The description says:
"A Women's Institute chapter's fundraising effort for a local hospital by posing nude for a calendar becomes a media sensation."

I think I remember hearing about it. I can't recall if I saw it or not. It sounds so familiar.

[Jackie]

When it was in the theaters, the trailers were on a lot of channels.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "When it was in the theaters, the trailers were on a lot of channels. "

Maybe that's why it sounds so familiar to me.

[Carolyn]

Calendar Girls was a wonderful movie!
Sort of a sleeper like The Full Monty, got lots of attention because the concept of all of the ladies posing 'nude' (although nothing untoward shows in any of the pics.)
Even better though, because it is based on a true story. I don't remember them as doing the fundraiser for the hospital, it was for the medical expenses of one of the members or her husband, I believe.
Either way, very enjoyable, I recommend it if you haven't seen it. = )

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Thanks for reminding me, Carolyn.
I'm going to put Calendar Girls on my Netflix queue right now.

[Margaret]

Hi everyone just running through to say hello and to see what is going on. I'm going to put the Queen in my list of movies to see. I don'[t get to post much. I wish that there was two of me one to do the necessary and one to play.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Hi Margaret. Nice to hear from you. Thanks for dropping by.

I know what you mean about needing more time. I don't even have time to watch the movies I've rented from Netflix! :)

You'll enjoy "The Queen". It's a great movie. I love following the lives of the Royalty in the UK. I wonder how much longer the Queen will live and if Prince Charles will ever become king.

I hope I live to see Prince William become king!

[Margaret]

She is from sturdy stock!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Margaret wrote: "She is from sturdy stock!"

LOL - She MUST be!
Elizabeth II is a very strong queen.
She was born in 1926.
She became queen in 1952 when she was 26 years old.

There's some interesting info about Elizabeth II at the following Wiki web page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabet...

Scroll down about 4/5ths of the way down the above web page to see a clear chart showing facts about members of her family. For example, it says:
====================================================
"Elizabeth II is one of the longest-reigning British monarchs ranking behind [the following:]
-Victoria (who reigned over the United Kingdom for 63 years),
- George III (who reigned over Great Britain for 59 years),
-and James VI (who reigned over Scotland for 57 years)."
====================================================
I believe Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for 56 years as of June 2008. (1952-2008 = 56 years)
As of June 2009, it will be 57 years.