What MOVIES or DVDs have you watched? (PART SIX - 2013) (ongoing thread)

[Werner]

Jackie, I haven't seen the version of Wuthering Heights that you mentioned. But I did see one of the earlier ones, starring Timothy Dalton and Anna Calder-Marshall, in my hometown theater soon after it came out in 1970. (The imdb link is www.imdb.com/title/tt0066585 .) I liked it at the time; but I hadn't read the book back then, so didn't know that they'd only adapted about the first 40% of the book, and that --partly to end it that abruptly-- they'd changed the plot of that first part drastically in at least two ways (depending on how you count.) :-(

[Earl]

I discovered the Showtime tv series Shameless by reading the Post Star Arts & Entertainment section last Sunday. Got first dvd from Netflix yesterday and give 4 stars out of 5.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1586680/?...

But at first it turned me off. The semi-functional Gallager family, 6 kids, alcoholic dad with NO morals, no mom but the oldest daughter, who tries hard. Last epi details a 10 year social security scam where Dad buries Aunt Ginnie (his sister? not explained) in the back yard and collected her checks for a decade till govt finally gets suspicious. Does that sound entertaining? Yeah, me neither, that's my social security they're stealing! But, somehow, it managed to charm me and I have about 3 seasons to catch up with.

[Jackie]

I watched one episode and hated it, I don't find anything funny about an alcoholic father and neglected kids. But my sister loves it.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Earl wrote: "I discovered the Showtime tv series Shameless by reading the Post Star Arts & Entertainment section last Sunday. Got first dvd from Netflix yesterday and give 4 stars out of 5. http://www.imdb.com..."

Earl, it doesn't sound like my cup of tea. I don't follow any TV series anymore. I'm happy with what I already have on my Netflix queues. :)

[Earl]

Joy H. wrote: "Earl, it doesn't sound like my cup of tea. I don't follow any TV series anymore. I'm happy with what I already have on my Netflix queues. :)

Joy, the majority of my Netflix movies earn 1 to 2 stars. TV series, mostly, earn 4 stars. I suspect the difference is their target audiences.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Earl wrote: "Joy, the majority of my Netflix movies earn 1 to 2 stars. TV series, mostly, earn 4 stars. I suspect the difference is their target audiences."

True, Earl. The rating depends on the preferences of the audience. TV series do have target audiences. Not sure about Netflix. Netflix audiences are probably a mixed bag. My ratings are mixed too.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Has anyone watched the movie "Winter's Bone" (2010)? Any comments?

I just finished watching it via a Netflix DVD. It was adapted from the book: Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell. I haven't read the book and don't intend to.

The movie was very dark, but very compelling. It features a very strong, teen-age female protagonist who exhibits incredible courage in the face of a depressing and frightening situation. The setting is a poverty-stricken section of the Ozarks of Missouri. (They're so hungry that they shoot squirrels for food.)

See a good review of the book here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... (by GR member, Clif)

IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399683/?...
Netflix: http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Winter-s...
"In this unflinching noir drama, resilient teen Ree Dolly goes on the trail of her missing, drug-dealing father when his absence jeopardizes the family's safety. Her deadbeat dad has a key court date pending -- and Ree is determined that he show up."

[Werner]

Actually, Joy, shooting squirrels for food isn't uncommon in many parts of the rural South. (They're quite tasty. :-) )

I've never seen the movie or read the book, but I've read several reviews of the latter, and finally added it to my "maybe to read" shelf a few minutes ago.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "Actually, Joy, shooting squirrels for food isn't uncommon in many parts of the rural South. (They're quite tasty. :-) ) ..."

Werner, I wondered about that. It certainly was an eye-opener for me to see a young teen-age girl shoot a squirrel and skin it! She's pretty handy with a gun! The reality of the rough life those poor people lead is disturbing. The movie does a good job of showing their harsh living conditions.

[Jim]

Squirrels, rabbits, & pigeons are all good food, fun to get. I used to shoot or snare all of them fairly often as a kid. I liked pigeon breasts the best, though.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "Squirrels, rabbits, & pigeons are all good food, fun to get. I used to shoot or snare all of them fairly often as a kid. I liked pigeon breasts the best, though."

Jim and Werner, I guess you can tell that I'm a city girl! :) I've had no experience with hunting or eating squirrels, etc. LOL

[Joy H., Group Founder]

About the movie (and book) "Winter's Bone", I started a discussion at the following link:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
The title of the discussion is: "What did U think of the title, 'Winter's Bone'?"

[Jackie]

So for years, I've been hearing about The Wire. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0306414/?... One of Eric's friend's has it on DVD and brought it over for me. One episode and I'm done. I don't see what's to like about it, drug dealers, drug addicts shooting up drugs, getting beat up, all that awful ghetto violence, the worst cusswords every 3 minutes. My friends say 'Stick with it', but no thanks. I can't see any way that any of this would ever appeal to me. The main reason I even gave it a try was because an actor I really like is in it, Idris Elba. But I'll just wait for Idris' return in the fabulous UK series Luther later this year. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1474684/

Now I'm gonna try Californication http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0904208/
Yet another actor I like, David Duchovny of X Files fame. Wish me luck. I haven't been liking much lately, I've even deleted a few shows off my DVR.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie, I don't blame you for not liking "The Wire". To me, that type of thing is demoralizing and dispiriting.
Here's the Netflix description:
=================================================
The Wire - 2003-2007 TV
"Widely considered one of the finest-written dramas ever to appear on television, "The Wire" explores the personalities embroiled in Baltimore's underground drug trade. Each season focuses on a different aspect of this small American city grappling with its vices, from the longshoremen on the docks, to the cops, journalists and politicians who all have so much to lose."
"This show is: Dark, Gritty"
FROM: http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Wire...
====================================================

[Earl]

Joy H. wrote: "Jackie, I don't blame you for not liking "The Wire". To me, that type of thing is demoralizing and dispiriting.
Here's the Netflix description:
=================================================
The..."

I liked The Wire a lot. It's surprising how people rate these shows. I value what I perceive as 'authenticity' ALONG WITH a story. Possibly I lack empathy enough to identify with the characters in a Baltimore ghetto?

On another note I Netflixed Winters Bane which I believe both Joy and Jackie recommended and I gave it 4 stars out of 5. I'm surprised you liked that one, as it is also dark. The acting seemed kind of dead pan, but then I'm not much of a judge of acting anyway (unless it's REAL bad!) Before I ever bad mouth an actor I consider that I, personally, couldn't begin to memorize all those lines.

[Jackie]

I don't know Winter's Bane.

I don't mind dark, I like it depending on what the story is about. I hated The Wire because I hate intentional ignorance and I hate the whole ghetto thing, yay it's so cool to be stupid and a criminal! When you've spent time there in the real world, you see nothing worthy about it, it just angers me. The Wire is authentic, yet I don't see what's to enjoy about that. I want to be entertained, and The Wire doesn't entertain me in the least.
Everyone likes different things.

Only actors in theater and on soap operas have to memorize their lines. TV and movies get to do as many takes as they want.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Earl wrote: "...On another note I Netflixed Winters Bane which I believe both Joy and Jackie recommended and I gave it 4 stars out of 5. I'm surprised you liked that one, as it is also dark. ..."

Earl, like you, I gave "Winter's Bone" 4 stars. It was more about poverty (not drug-dealing as "Wires" was). It was compelling. I admired the incredible courage of the teenager in the face of a depressing and frightening situation.
See my review here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Jackie]

That doesn't sound like anything I'd want to see either. Sounds good, just not for me.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "That doesn't sound like anything I'd want to see either. Sounds good, just not for me."

Jackie, it was the title "Winter's Bone" that made me curious enough to watch the film. I simply wanted to understand what the title meant. Once I started watching I was drawn in, even though I don't usually like dark movies like that.

BTW, I've started a special topic at the book's page. It's about the title. I want to know if anyone else thought the title was strange.
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
After watching the movie, I still think the title is strange. It doesn't seem to fit right or have meaning to me.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I watched "The Journey of Natty Gann" (1985). It was excellent. Compelling. I gave it 5 stars. Thanks for the recommendation.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089385/?...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Jour...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

PS-Am also enjoying the "Father Ted" series and the "Ballykissangel" series, both about priests, the former a comedy and the latter a mix of drama and comedy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Ted
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111958/?...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballykis...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115105/?...

Highly recommended, if you like that sort of thing. :)
A pleasant way to pass the time.

[Jackie]

I've heard of Ballykissangel, and that it's good, maybe I'll give it try, when I get some time. I'm swamped with TV.

Another hilarious comedy is The Vicar of Dibley. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108981/ A boisterous female minister comes to serve in an eccentricly conservative small town's church.

I think it's still on PBS on Saturday nights.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I tried the "Vicar" show. Didn't like it as much as the others but I'm keeping it on my Watch List at Amazon Prime and my Instant list at Netflix.

BallyK is fun to watch. I like the priest, Father Peter Clifford, played by Stephen Tompkinson ( Here's his pic: http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/wp... ) and am getting to know all the other characters. There's a new priest in later episodes. So I'll eventually meet him too. I watch it free via Amazon Prime.

I too am getting "swamped" with stuff to watch, read, and listen too. Yesterday, audible.com gave me a free download of a story from the anthology/book The Undead In My Bed. The story is "Undead Sublet".
=============================================
Description: In “Undead Sublet” by Molly Harper, executive chef Tess Maitland is banned from her five-star kitchen in Chicago to recover from “exhaustion.” Choosing a random rental house in Half-Moon Hollow to spend time in, she’s unaware that the house comes with a strange man."
============================================
I started listening just for the heck of it and am slowly being drawn in. I think it's about a vampire, of all things! Maybe not. He may be just a handsome hunk of a man, according to the story! :)

[Jackie]

The title suggests he's a vampire, or some kind of undead supernatural creature. Except I don't think zombies are handsome! What other undead is there? I'm sure there's plenty but I can't think of any right now. The Undead In My Bed, what a fantastic title! lol

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Believe it or not, up to now I didn't know what "undead" meant. LOL

[Jackie]

Oh! Then I can see why you didn't know he might be a vampire. lol

[Werner]

Joy, glad to hear that you liked the Natty Gann movie!

[Nina]

I liked "Natty Gann," and watched all of the Bally K's episodes about thirteen years ago and it was addicting. BBCA used to have great stories like that one but I also didn't care for the Vicor. Did you ever watch, "As Time Goes By?" One of our favorites.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Yes, Natty Gann was a wonderful movie. Lots of suspense and a happy ending. :)

I LOVE "As Time Goes By". Judi Dench is so good and so is the actor who played her husband. He had such dry sense of humor.

[Earl]

Netflixed Homeland
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1796960/?...

I gave the first dvd 4 stars out of 5. the 2nd dvd 5 stars. I give 5 stars almost never. You need to suspend disbelief just a LITTLE bit, but once you can do that you are truly hooked.

[Jackie]

Is that Season 1 or 2? I liked Homeland, enough to keep watching jut to see what happened. Towards the end of S1, Claire Danes gave the performance of her life, she was incredible. I think she won some award for it, well deserved IMO.

[Earl]

Jackie wrote: "Is that Season 1 or 2? I liked Homeland, enough to keep watching jut to see what happened. Towards the end of S1, Claire Danes gave the performance of her life, she was incredible. I think she ..."

Netflix only has Season 1 so far. There's 4 discs in Season 1 so I'm halfway thru. I guess I'll put the other two on top of my queue so I don't lose track of what's happening. Usually I swap back and forth and try the stretch a series I like out.

[Jackie]

Earl, Oh! I'm so glad I didn't give spoilers! You'll know when you see Danes' award winning performance. She was outstanding.

I just started Spartacus Season 2, I forgot about it when Andy Whitman got sick. Now it's been too long and I can't remember who some of the minor characters are. Have you watched it?

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Just finished watching "The Last Rites of Joe May" (2011). It was dark but compelling. Not my usual fare but I was curious about it. It hooked me in even though it was slow-going. A very unusual movie about how a man, who was a terrible failure, redeems himself. I gave it four out of five Netflix stars.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1550902/?...
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The...
Stars Dennis Farina.

[Earl]

Jackie wrote: "I just started Spartacus Season 2, I forgot about it when Andy Whitman got sick. Now it's been too long and I can't remember who some of the minor characters are. Have you watched it? "

Thanks for the heads up, I watched Spartacus Blood and Sand in 2011 (according to Netflix records) but Spartacus Vengeance, the next season (I guess) has since entered Netflix. I have it in my queue now. Probably won't remember characters, but it ain't that complicated:)

[Earl]

Joy H. wrote: "Just finished watching "The Last Rites of Joe May" (2011). It was dark but compelling. Not my usual fare but I was curious about it. It hooked me in even though it was slow-going. A very unusual mo..."

Depressing, wasn't it Joy? But some kind of movie magic made it watchable and kept you going. I gave it 4 stars also.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Earl, it's dispiriting to see so much crime going on in the world. What's the matter with people? Did you hear about that diamond heist in Brussels last night? Incredible!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Last night I watched "Moonrise Kingdom" (2012) via a Netflix DVD.
This movie has been nominated for many awards. It's so unusual that you have to see it for yourself to really know what it's like. It's kind of magical and kind of funny, with an underlying gravity at the same time. Quirky is a good word for it!

The boy who played the main character, Sam, was terrific, a really unique little boy. He was played by actor, Jared Gilman ( http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4442068/?r... ).

I'm interested to see if the movie will win an Oscar this coming weekend. (It's been nominated for an Oscar for: "Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen".)

LINKS AND INFO:
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Moonrise...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1748122/?...
"Wes Anderson's quirky drama follows the frantic search that ensues in a small New England town when two 12-year-olds fall in love and run away together. As the townsfolk hunt for the vanished kids, a storm causes even more profound communal upheaval."

Cast: Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Bob Balaban, Harvey Keitel

Director: Wes Anderson

Genres: Independent, Indie Dramas, Indie Comedies, Indie Romance, Romantic Comedies, 20th Century Period Pieces, Period Pieces

This movie is: Deadpan, Cerebral, Imaginative, Quirky, Romantic, Witty

See the IMDb Award page here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1748122/a...

Good reviews here by Ebert and by Berardinelli:
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_t...

WIKI page here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonrise...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

PS - YOU CAN RENT "MOONLIGHT RISING" FOR $3.99 HERE:
http://www.amazon.com/Moonrise-Kingdo...

[Jackie]

I quit watching Moonlight Kingdom after the first half hour. There were so many good actors in it; I had hoped to like it because it appealed to such a wide variety of people. I need something to happen within 30 minutes or I lose interest. The kids were cute though not enough to keep me there.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "I quit watching Moonlight Kingdom after the first half hour. There were so many good actors in it; I had hoped to like it because it appealed to such a wide variety of people. I need something to..."

Jackie, I kept watching out of sheer amazement at the quirkiness of the film! I wondered where it was going. In a way it was a commentary on so many things. James Berardinelli wrote a wise insight about the boy and girl in the movie who thought they were in love. He wrote:
===================================================
"Sam and Suzy claim to have found 'love' with each other; what they have discovered, in fact, is friendship - something neither has experience with."
FROM: http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_t...
====================================================
A profound observation, IMO.

[Jackie]

Joy, you know I like the fantastical, so with that in mind, it's hard for me to get excited about movies like this. I know they have merit and are good, but I'm in it for the Wow Factor. And also the fact that I have so much to watch makes me quicker to hit the eject button, lol

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "Joy, you know I like the fantastical, so with that in mind, it's hard for me to get excited about movies like this. I know they have merit and are good, but I'm in it for the Wow Factor. And also..."

Jackie, this movie seemed a bit fantastical to me! (lol)
Yes, I understand your priorities on what you prefer to watch. As I think about it, IMO, the movie's "Wow Factor" is about a 7 on a scale of ten. (Maybe even a 6.) However its "Drollery Factor" is about a TEN! I like drollery and tongue-in-cheek stuff.

[Jackie]

It held nothing of the fantastical for me, but it was for sure droll. My fantasy threshold is pretty high, a drawback from being so immersed in it, that there's many levels of fantastical. lol

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Yes, it's all a matter of degree and what you're used to. I'm not used to much fantasy but I can understand its appeal. As a kid, I LOVED fairy tales.

[Jackie]

Me too! I just never grew out of it, lol

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Enjoy it!

[Werner]

In regard to the appeal of fairy tales, Tolkien famously said words to the effect that fairy tales are important, not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be defeated. :-)

[Nina]

That'a a very good point, Werner. I guess I loved "Wizard of Oz," without knowing why.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "In regard to the appeal of fairy tales, Tolkien famously said words to the effect that fairy tales are important, not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be defeated. :-) "

So true, Werner. Fairy tales were fun to read because they guaranteed a happy ending. The main characters "lived happily ever after." :)