Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
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Movies, DVDs, and Theater
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What MOVIES or DVDs have you watched? (PART SIX - 2013) (ongoing thread)
Barb got a copy of the book Life of Pi from Rebekah for Christmas last year (Rebekah later admitted it wasn't a very well-considered selection), but was decidedly underwhelmed with it. She didn't bother to finish it, and gave it to me for my BookMooch inventory. (It's been mooched since, though.)
Werner wrote: "Barb got a copy of the book Life of Pi ... but was decidedly underwhelmed with it. She didn't bother to finish it ..."I think I will check out the GR reviews of Life of Pi to see how well it was received.
The GR rating details say that 89% of people liked it. But I have to admit that it was hard to get into.
BTW, the link to the rating details can now be found above the GR book description. It used to be below it.
Except for those (like John Carter) that are library check-outs, I generally don't plan in advance to watch a movie at home; if I do, it's a spur of the moment thing, most often because I've been run off the computer by a thunderstorm while I'm still eating supper (trying to read a book while I eat isn't usually something I do). That happened to me last night, so I watched one of my favorite movies (Barb likes it, too), the unconventional Western No Man's Land (1984). Although it has an imdb listing (www.imdb.com/title/tt0087808/ ), I'm not sure if it's commercially available at present; we taped it years ago when it was on TV.A TV movie, it was intended as the pilot film for a projected series, which unfortunately was never made (if it had been, I'd like to have watched it!). Like Gunslinger, which I described on one of our earlier movie threads, it focuses on a sheriff's widow who steps into his job; but whereas the Corman movie is straight drama and pretty violent, this one is more in the comedy-drama mold and the gunfighting action isn't lethal. Set in 1878, it stars Stella Stevens as the 40-year-old widow of the founder and former sheriff of Wilder, New Mexico. A lady with a somewhat unconventional background, she was a stage performer in her early days, and learned to shoot from a performing sure-shot artist she was once involved with; she was widowed twice before marrying the late sheriff (not an unusual situation in the pre-antiseptic/antibiotic era, especially under rough frontier conditions), and has a daughter by each of her husbands. (The girls are well-drawn characters, very different from each other, and the family dynamics are a big part of the appeal here.) With her inherited ranch going under, she needs the money from the sheriff's job to keep afloat, and got the star (despite facing a lot of gender prejudice), partly because of the townfolks' respect for her late husband, but more because none of the males want it. But that doesn't stop the same males from seriously grousing when the town is targeted by a notoriously vicious outlaw; so unless our heroine can bring him in, she's apt to be out of a job. Add in a mysterious stranger with enigmatic motives and loyalties (played by Dack Rambo); a newly-arrived, courtly English gentleman, played by John Rhys Davies, who's writing a guidebook to the U.S. --or is he?-- and a strange project the local blacksmith has been commissioned to work on, though even he can't figure out what it is, and you have the makings of an interesting and original plot that threw me some surprises the first time I watched it.
On examination, the plotting has three significant logical holes that aren't addressed (and another one that is addressed, but in a tongue-in-cheek way), and I wouldn't say that the production values are top-drawer. But the characters and storyline are engaging, the humor is nicely dry, there's a serious underlying feminist message, no illicit sex as such and little bad language, and a solid cast. Viewers who are Golden Girls fans (I'm not one, but Barb is) will recognize and appreciate a much younger Estelle Getty, who plays Sheriff Wilder's friend and former "dresser" from her theater days, Euroi Muller --and who's as acerbic here as on the later TV show, though the writers here don't wallow in one-liners in the same way. Stevens herself (1938- ) is perfect for her role, which I suspect was written with her in mind. (Her striking beauty was a mixed blessing to her as an actress; producers tended to value her only for her looks, and to underrate her acting ability. But she gets to show some of the latter here, IMO, and I only regret that it didn't turn into the series she deserved to have!)
One quick point I meant to add above, but forgot to until now: the writers make good use of a couple of aspects of actual 19th-century history, which clearly required some research. I really appreciated the fact that they took their work seriously enough to do that; not enough Hollywood writers do!
Werner wrote: "... I watched one of my favorite movies (Barb likes it, too), the unconventional Western No Man's Land (1984). Although it has an imdb listing (www.imdb.com/title/tt0087808/ ), I'm not sure if it's commercially available at present; we taped it years ago when it was on TV...."Werner, I checked and it's not available for rental or streaming via Netflix or Amazon Prime. I can tell from your post that it really drew you in. A user review at IMDb says: "In NO MAN'S LAND, she [Stella Stevens] plays the town sheriff who must prove herself worthy."
Here are some pics of Stella Stevens at Google images:
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&a...
I wondered who she was.
Wiki says she's 74 yrs old now and still alive.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_S...
Joy, thanks for the links! I'd checked out the same wiki earlier, so I knew she was still alive. From that source, I learned that after retiring from acting, she enjoyed some success as a novelist, and currently sells her own line of fragrances for men and women. Her origins were pretty humble; she was married at 15, had her son at 16, and raised him as a single mom after being divorced at 17. I've never seen any of her other films, that I know of, but I did like this one.None of the pictures, at least on the first page, are from this movie (and a few are of male relatives or friends --so no, she doesn't really look like Ernest Borgnine. :-) ) Early in her career, she unfortunately posed for Playboy three times (but I'm not judging!), so folks might want to be warned that some of these pics apparently come from those occasions. (Of course, that might really tempt some of our male members to check out that link.... Before you think any disrespectful thoughts, just remember that she's pretty handy with a Colt and a Winchester rifle. :-) )
Werner, I didn't want to mention those daring pics of Stevens because they might be too tempting. :)
Well, if we just figure that she's beautiful the same way that a flower or a rainbow are, no harm's done to anybody!
Werner wrote: "Well, if we just figure that she's beautiful the same way that a flower or a rainbow are, no harm's done to anybody!""In every man's heart there is a secret nerve that answers to the vibrations of beauty."
---Christopher Morley
Jim wrote: "Prettiful. ;-)"The Urban Dictionary gives the following definitions of "prettiful":
=========================================================
"a combination of pretty and beautiful"
"a word greatly used in my case for describing someone who is soo pretty. It beats all the other words like beautiful` `handsome` `lovely` `co0o0o0ute` `cute` "
"Understood to be more beautiful than plain 'pretty,' but not gorgeous enough to gain the "beautiful" title. Cutsy way of saying 'kinda hott.' "
=================================================
There are many other definitions, all at the following page:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define...
I had never heard the word before this. Wonder who coined it.
My daughter uses 'prettiful' all the time, Joy. Kind of a joke in our house.
Jim wrote: "My daughter uses 'prettiful' all the time, Joy. Kind of a joke in our house."Is it always complimentary? Or is it said with tongue in cheek?
Always complimentary, sometimes used with sexual overtones. My daughter might say a guy or I might say a girl have prettiful body parts.
Next up in our September book group selection is, "The Orchardist," by Amanda Coplin. It sounds good and wondered if any of you have read it.
Funny how "prettiful" can be changed with the addition of only 2 letters: "prettiAWful". LOLAs we age, our looks may go from "prettiful" to "prettyAWful". :)
It happens to most of us except for a lucky few, like Cary Grant.
Any others? Robert Wagner too, I think.
Nina, I haven't read The Orchardist.Here are GR's current rating details:
========================
5 stars - 23%
4 stars - 38%
3 stars - 26%
2 stars - 8%
1 star - 2%
89% of people liked it
========================
Kids would LOVE this DVD! Adults would too. --->"The Elephant's Child", Told by Jack Nicholson with Music by Bobby McFerrin (1981)
I just streamed it from Amazon and I loved it!
GOODREADS: The Elephant's Child
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Elephants-Child...
AMAZON INSTANT VIDEO: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009...
The Bobby McFerrin's music alone is wonderful! Almost mesmerizing!
The simple animation is superb.
And you can't beat Jack Nicholson's voice.
"Rudyard Kipling's story of how the elephant got its trunk has always delighted children with its playful use of language and sense of high adventure. Never has there been a more satisfying rendering of Kipling's most beloved "Just So" story."
Here's a good review by a GR member:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I watched a Netflix DVD of the film adaptation of the play, The History Boys, by Alan Bennett."The History Boys" (2006)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464049/?...
"An unruly class of gifted and charming teenage boys are taught by two eccentric and innovative teachers, as their headmaster pushes for them all to get accepted into Oxford or Cambridge."
The play won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Play.
As I watched, I was impressed by each of the 8 actors who played the young students in the film. They each had a special personality and it was fun watching them.
It was a bit raunchy in parts but I didn't mind because the acting and dialogue were so good. I gave the film 5 GR stars out of 5.
That one sounds good, I'll have to check it out. Thanks Joy.
Jackie, I see that the DVD of "The History Boys" is available in our library system.
Excellent! Thank you, Joy. I haven't had time to check; I'll place it on order right now. I watched Beasts of the Southern Wilds http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125435/ last night. I don't understand all the wow over this movie; it was depressing. Watching people willfully live in filth and squalor isn't my idea of entertainment. I don't know what the story was meant to convey. And why the main character, a child, got an Oscar nod, I have no idea. I could barely understand what she was saying, and it was in English. I suppose it was meant to be that way, but they should have put English sub-titles on it.
Jackie wrote: "Excellent! Thank you, Joy. I haven't had time to check; I'll place it on order right now. I watched Beasts of the Southern Wilds http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125435/ last night. I don't under..."I felt exactly the same way after watching it.
Jackie wrote: "... I watched Beasts of the Southern Wilds http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125435/ last night. I don't understand all the wow over this movie; it was depressing. Watching people willfully live in filth and squalor isn't my idea of entertainment. ..."I don't like depressing movies either, Jackie.
Joy, This isn't giving away the ending of, "Outer Banks," but I wondered all through most of the book if Fig set the fire in the dormotority. I thought sure she must have but it never indicated that in the story. Did it ever cross your mind that she might have done it?
Nina, it's been so long since I read the book, Outer Banks, that I can hardly remember anything about it. I only know that I enjoyed it very much.
I recently enjoyed the Netflix DVD of the biopic:"Hitchcock" (2012)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0975645/?...
"A love story between influential filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and wife Alma Reville during the filming of Psycho in 1959."
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Hitchcoc...
"Iconic filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock struggles with his marriage, the censors, and the financiers of his 1960 film Psycho in this biopic. Driven to prove he still has an edge, Hitchcock crafts what would become one of the greatest thrillers of all time."
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson
The film was adapted from the book: Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello.
For those who are interested, here's a pic of Hitchcock's wife, Alma Reville, at Wiki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alma_Rev...
She was a strong woman and knew how to handle him. She also contributed a lot to his work, behind the scenes.
Yes, Hitchcock is always thrilling. Anthony Hopkins did a good job of playing the role as Hitchcock. Great makeup transformation too.Also, I recently watched 2 other DVDs from Netflix:
"The V.I.P.s" (1963) (with Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057634/?...
TRAILER: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/...
and
"Liz & Dick" (2012) (with Lindsay Lohan as Liz Taylor and Grant Bowler as Richard Burton)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2375255/?...
I'm still fascinated by the romance between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton!
Joy H. wrote: "I recently enjoyed the Netflix DVD of the biopic: "Hitchcock" (2012) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0975645/?... ..."BTW, while watching the Hitchcock biopic, I learned the source of the theme music used for the "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" television series:
The musical theme is taken from the following: "Funeral March of a Marionette" from "Suite Burlesque" by Charles Gounod
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funeral_...
Hear it at Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHqhu1...
Charles Gounod - Funeral March of a Marionette
Good choice, I'd say. :)
P.S. See my new topic in this group:"Sources of Musical Themes used for TV shows, etc."
LINK: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
Just watched the Netflix movie, "Separation," and I don't recommend it. I hate movies that leave you hanging after struggling through the entire movie. Bah Humbug!
We went to see The Wolverine today, a Marvel movie. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430132/ It was good, lots of action. It went way far from the original comicbook story-arc but it was still enjoyable.
Joy, yes,"Hitchcock" was good and Hopkins superb. You may be aware there's anther film on Hitchcock out called "The Girl"---about his directing of "The Birds", and most especially his tormenting of Tippi Hedren, whom according to the film, he was sexually obsessed with---I think there's a lot of truth in it, but also ample sums of plain hooey.
Nina wrote: "Just watched the Netflix movie, "Separation," and I don't recommend it. I hate movies that leave you hanging after struggling through the entire movie. Bah Humbug!"Nina, which movie was it?
This one? - "Separation" (2013) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1773041/?...
Or this one? - "A Separation" (2011) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1832382/?...
Jackie wrote: "We went to see The Wolverine today, a Marvel movie. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430132/ It was good, lots of action. It went way far from the original comicbook story-arc but it was still enjoy..."Jacki, here's the Netflix description:
"The Wolverine" (2013)
"Enigmatic superhero Wolverine travels to the Land of the Rising Sun in this kaleidoscopic battle epic based on the Marvel Comics character. There, Wolverine confronts his long-time adversary Logan in a spectacular battle that rattles the universe."
Cast: Hugh Jackman ...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Wolv...
Is that a different kind of role for Hugh Jackman?
Arnie wrote: "Joy, yes,"Hitchcock" was good and Hopkins superb. You may be aware there's anther film on Hitchcock out called "The Girl"---about his directing of "The Birds", and most especially his tormenting o..."Arnie, thanks for telling me about "The Girl" (2012).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2132485/?...
Netflix shows it but its availability date is unknown. I've put it in my "Saved" queue. It sounds like a movie I'd like to see. Evidently, Hitchcock had a roving eye.
Netflix describes it as follows:
"The Girl" (2012)
"Sienna Miller and Toby Jones star in this unsettling depiction of the schizophrenic relationship between iconic director Alfred Hitchcock and the leading lady he wanted to possess: Tippi Hedren, the frosty blonde he cast in The Birds and Marnie."
This movie is: Gritty, Heartfelt
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Girl...
Karen, No, Wolverine is Jackman's signature role; this is Jackman's 6th outing as Wolverine with another one coming next year in X Men: Days of Future Past, one of my all time favorite story-arcs. The role of Wolverine is what propelled Jackman to fame. He only did a few things before that, an unknown here in the States before he became Wolverine. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0413168/
I was dubious about his casting in the role...until I saw him in the first X Men movie and knew they were right in choosing him.
His big love is musical theater though, he never thought he'd be the big Hollywood action star that is his now.
OOOPS! The above 3 posts were mine. I was signed in as "Karen", which is an account I use for testing.
It happens. This is why I can't have more than one account, I'd never be able to keep track of them.
Jackie wrote: "Karen, No, Wolverine is Jackman's signature role; this is Jackman's 6th outing as Wolverine with another one coming next year in X Men: Days of Future Past, one of my all time favorite story-arcs. ..."Jackie, I had no idea about Jackman's work as Wolverine! I remember him from the movie, "Kate & Leopold" (2001), which is described as: Comedy/Fantasy/Romance".
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035423/
I wish I had seen him on Broadway when he played Peter Allen in "The Boy from Oz".
" 'The Boy from Oz' began previews on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on 16 September 2003, opened on 16 October 2003 and closed on 12 September 2004... Jackman won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_...
I wish they'd make a movie of "The Boy from Oz". I LOVED Peter Allen! I saw Peter Allen on Broadway in "Legs Diamond" which I enjoyed even though it was considered a flop at the time. Here he is a YouTube singing "I Go To Rio". He had so much energy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCYxTg...
PS-Here's Hugh Jackman doing "I Go To Rio":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-P77A...
(He enters the clip soon after it starts.)
Karen wrote: "Nina wrote: "Just watched the Netflix movie, "Separation," and I don't recommend it. I hate movies that leave you hanging after struggling through the entire movie. Bah Humbug!"Nina, which movie ...""A Separation."
While we're linking to some of Hugh Jackman's film credits, one that shouldn't go unnoticed is his title role in Van Helsing (2004); the imdb link is: www.imdb.com/title/tt0338526/ . For me personally, that'll always be his "signature role," since I never followed him in the X-Men movies. We did see the first one, X-Men (www.imdb.com/title/tt0120903/ ) soon after it came out, because our girls wanted to, and Barb's a Patrick Stewart fan; but it just didn't excite me. (Sorry, Jackie; I'm just not much of a fan of superheroes/mutants as opposed to normal human protagonists, and back in my comics-reading childhood I was more into the DC ones than their Marvel competitors. :-) )
Van Helsing was good, that's my kind of movie. Kate Beckingsdale was excellent also.I watched the latest Fast & Furious movie. #6 I only saw the first one but the previews looked good for this one and it was good. Lots of action. Eric filed me in on the few questions I had.
History Boys came in so I might watch that one tonight. Sounds like a plan to me!
Jackie wrote, "Kate Beckinsale was excellent also." Amen to that!
Nina, I see that Netflix says that "A Separation" (2011) is a tearjerker."An Iranian husband and wife split up over his decision to stay and care for his aging father instead of leaving the country with his family. But his fateful choice to hire a stranger to do most of the caretaking breeds unexpected consequences."
http://dvd.netflix.com/Search?oq=&...
A Separation (2011)
"A married couple are faced with a difficult decision - to improve the life of their child by moving to another country or to stay in Iran and look after a deteriorating parent who has Alzheimer's disease."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1832382/?...
Sounds very dark.
Werner wrote: "While we're linking to some of Hugh Jackman's film credits, one that shouldn't go unnoticed is his title role in Van Helsing (2004); the imdb link is: www.imdb.com/title/tt0338526/ . For me person..."Thanks for the links, Werner.
Here's the Netflix description of "Van Helsing":
"Van Helsing" (2004)
====================================================
"In a plot inspired by the writings of Bram Stoker, vampire hunter extraordinaire Dr. Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) travels to a mysterious region of Eastern Europe on a quest to vanquish the big three -- Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh), the Wolf Man (Will Kemp) and Frankenstein's Monster (Shuler Hensley). On hand is Van Helsing's intrepid assistant, Anna (Kate Beckinsale), the heir to a family committed to hunting down and destroying the Count."
=====================================================
Genre: Action Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Vampires, Werewolves, Action & Adventure
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Van-Hels...
Jackie, let us know what you think of "The History Boys" (2006).http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464049/?...
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Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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I think I stuck with it because I found the various information in the book interesting.