Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
Movies, DVDs, and Theater
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What MOVIES or DVDs have you seen? (PART NINE: On-Going General Thread)
Oh, if you do watch the movie, there isn't much bad language in it, but there are occasional lapses. In one joke/lapse, they talk about having to look up a word that Watney calls them. Don't. Seriously, you don't want to know. Just take it as a given that it's really bad & roll with it. I didn't & wish I had.
Thanks, I will definitely follow your advice and will let you know after we watch it what we think.
RE: "The Martian" - I didn't like the looks of the preview. That's why I'm not interested in it.
Jim, There wasn't any mention of what watney called anyone in our Netflix version.
Good. I watched the extended version. Glad you liked the movie, Nina.
Jim, My husband once did some work for one of the space missions;I think it was the one with Gus Grissom. He got pictures from space and a recommendation personal letter thanking him. Not long after that they were still on my dining room table and my youngest daughter suddenly exclaimed, "I have nothing for show and tell." Yes, I gave her the pictures and letters and yes, she forgot to bring them home and the janitor threw them away. End of story; we didn't get a divorce.
Yes, both my husband and I liked the movie very much.
Ouch! Things like that happen, though. Glad you liked it so much. I thought the book was better, but Damon did a very credible job. I couldn't believe how much weight he lost for his role.
Nina wrote: "Jim, My husband once did some work for one of the space missions;I think it was the one with Gus Grissom. He got pictures from space and a recommendation personal letter thanking him. ... I gave her the pictures and letters and yes, she forgot to bring them home and the janitor threw them away. End of story; we didn't get a divorce. "Nina, that was surely a day of regret but, as Jim says, things like that happen. I sent something (of sentimental value) to my son's school once and it never came back. Long story... but similar.
My grandson also read the book and saw the movie too so I'll ask him sometime which he preferred. My son also read the book and liked it.
I recently watched Queenie (1987) (TV Movie).http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093808/?...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Queenie/... (Netflix Disc 1 and Disc 2)
"Based on the life of actress Merle Oberon as fictionalized by her nephew, Michael Korda, this lush film tells the sweeping story of vivacious Queenie (Mia Sara), a half-Indian, half-British beauty who leaves Calcutta to seek fame and fortune in 1930s England. While working as a stripper, Queenie attracts the attention of influential film producer David Konig (Kirk Douglas) and becomes a movie star, as well as Mrs. Konig, but heartbreak follows."
It was a bit like a soap opera but still, it was interesting. It was slow in parts (too many love scenes). I wonder how much of it was true. The choreography held my interest (scenes of Calcutta, etc). Mia Sara as Merle Oberon was lovely and Claire Bloom was good as her mother.
Interesting, Joy. I've read a book by Michael Korda, Horse People: Scenes from the Riding Life. It was autobiographical & interesting, but overall I didn't care for it too much. I wound up giving the book only 2 stars, although at times it was a 4 star book. My review is here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"Bridge of Spies," was the best movie I saw within the past year.
Jim wrote: "Interesting, Joy. I've read a book by Michael Korda, Horse People: Scenes from the Riding Life. It was autobiographical & interesting, but overall I didn't care for it ..."Thanks for posting, Jim.
Nina wrote: ""Bridge of Spies," was the best movie I saw within the past year."Yes, Tom Hanks was terrific as usual! Interesting story!
We finished watching "Kill The Irishman" (2011) tonight. It was really good with some original news reports in it including a clip of the real Danny Greene. Great cast, too....The film chronicles the rise and fall of Danny Greene. He worked as a longshoreman in the Cleveland docks, until being chosen to serve as interim president in 1961. In 1964, he was convicted of embezzling $11,500 of the union's funds. After his conviction, Greene rose through the criminal underworld in Cleveland, and waged war on the Mafia for control of the city. After many failed attempts, Greene was assassinated on October 6, 1977 by contract killer Ray Ferritto. His death ultimately led to the demise of the Cleveland Mafia....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_th...
Thanks for posting that, Jim. Sounds like an interesting movie. Reminds me if Jimmy Hoffa. Wiki says:============================================
"Hoffa was portrayed by Robert Blake in the 1983 TV-film Blood Feud, Trey Wilson in the 1985 television miniseries Robert Kennedy & His Times, and by Jack Nicholson in the 1992 biographical film Hoffa. In the 1978 film F.I.S.T., Sylvester Stallone portrays Johnny Kovak, a character based on Hoffa.
FROM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_H...
===============================================
Today I enjoyed watching the 1935 film adaptation of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, starring Freddie Bartholomew (via a Netflix DVD). What a beautiful movie adaptation of this touching story!http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026266/?...
I also watched the 1970 adaptation of the same movie and it isn't nearly as good as the 1935 version. It doesn't even come close! It stars Robin Phillips as David Copperfield. I streamed it from Amazon.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065615/?...
I'm looking forward to watching the 1999 version (the TV Mini-Series) with Daniel Radcliffe as David Copperfield (via a Netflix DVD).
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Charles-...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167872/?...
I love the story and all the colorful characters! [e.g., Roland Young as Uriah Heep and W.C. Fields as Micawber]
There's also a 1974 version (a TV Mini-Series) starring David Yelland.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210636/?...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/David-Co...
I saw this movie as a child and was mesmorized. I look forward to seeing the newest version
Nina wrote: "I saw this movie as a child and was mesmorized. I look forward to seeing the newest version"Nina, I doubt if any film version of "David Copperfield" could be better than the 1935 version with Freddie Bartholomew!
The 1999 version with Daniel Radcliffe is next on my Netflix queue. I'll try to remember to post my comments about it. Since I just recently watched the 1935 version, I'll be able to compare my reactions to each version. I was really touched by the emotional sensitivity of the 1935 version. I doubt that anything can match that experience.
Watched a very good movie last night,"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," staring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. Maybe you've already seen it. Great acting.
Nina wrote: "Watched a very good movie last night,"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," staring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. Maybe you've already seen it. Great acting."Thanks for reminding us about that movie, Nina. It's in my Netflix queue. I bumped it up nearer the top just now.
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" (2011)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477302/?...
" A nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001."
Stars: Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock
BOOK: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
The acting was so good I felt I was right there. Don't you admire Tom Hanks?
Tom Hanks is remarkable. The best part of him is that he is so likable.
I agree about Tom Hanks. He's played quite an array of characters & always done them well.
Today I saw "Love & Friendship" (2016) with my Red Hatter group at a dinner theater in town. The movie is based on Jane Austen's novella, Lady Susan. I could hardly understand a word the characters were saying. Therefore, I couldn't follow the plot which seemed rather silly. Too much talk-talk-talk among women.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3068194/?...
"Lady Susan Vernon takes up temporary residence at her in-laws' estate and, while there, is determined to be a matchmaker for her daughter Frederica -- and herself too, naturally."
Amazon description: "Set in 1790s London, LOVE & FRIENDSHIP centers on the recently widowed Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale), who seeks refuge with her in-laws to escape the scandalous rumors surrounding her private life. While at their estate the scheming Lady Susan decides it's time to secure a husband for herself and for her somewhat reluctant and awkward daughter." https://www.amazon.com/Love-Friendshi...
PS-None of the actresses appealed to me.
It's in my Netflix so we'll see what I think of it. It got a reasonably good review here in our paper a month ago.
Nina wrote: "It's in my Netflix so we'll see what I think of it. It got a reasonably good review here in our paper a month ago."I suppose that those who enjoy Jane Austen will enjoy the movie. For me, when it comes to this type of movie, it all depends on who the performers are. For example, Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice and Emma Thompson in Sense and Sensibility. I enjoy watching both performers.
I especially like those those two performers also and I liked the TV series of Pride and Prejudice far better than the movie.
Nina wrote: "I especially like those those two performers also and I liked the TV series of Pride and Prejudice far better than the movie."There sure have been a lot of versions of Pride and Prejudice! Here's an IMDb page with links to the different versions:
http://www.imdb.com/find?ref_=nv_sr_f...
Here's an IMDb link to all 148 links! LOL
http://www.imdb.com/find?q=Pride%20an...
ALL "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE"! lol
JOY, The TV series that I liked was in 1995 starring Colin Firth. Just watched an old movie, "Water for Elephants," for the second time last night. I had also read the book. Both were very good.
Nina wrote: "JOY, The TV series that I liked was in 1995 starring Colin Firth. Just watched an old movie, "Water for Elephants," for the second time last night. I had also read the book. Both were very good."Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen was one of my favorite books!
I rated the movie 5 stars out of 5!
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Water-fo...
https://www.amazon.com/Water-Elephant...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1067583/?...
"Set in the 1930s, a former veterinary student takes a job in a traveling circus and falls in love with the ringmaster's wife."
Joy, it seems we often agree on books we like. However, I didn't like "Life of Pi," was that the title? And I seem to remember that you did like it as did many others. I just couldn't do my suspension of disbelief on that one.
Yes, Nina, I enjoyed Life of Pi by Yann Martel.Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I think I covered all the points in "defending" my point of view.
Instead of thinking about it in terms of fantasy, perhaps you can think of it as "hallucinatory". :)
Here is the beginning of my review:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Life of Pi has me in a state of awe over the obvious intelligence of author Yann Martel. So far he has me spellbound by his wonderful prose and his deep interest in his subject (e.g., zoo animals, among other subjects) and his ability to instill that interest in the reader.
"Right now, Pi is stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on a lifeboat with a tiger! He's trying to figure out a way to stop the tiger from eating him. He tells you all about it. Pi is an intellectual, like the author, Yann Martel."
FROM: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I looked back at your review and my comments after reading it. I actually feel the same way now. It was an excellent review telling and showing why it appealed to you. I do remember not liking the ending.
Nina wrote: "I looked back at your review and my comments after reading it. I actually feel the same way now. It was an excellent review telling and showing why it appealed to you. I do remember not liking the ending."Nina, you are so good at remembering endings! I can't remember how the book, _Life of Pi_, ended. I do remember that it was open to interpretation.
I streamed "Love & Mercy" (2014) via Amazon.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903657/?...
Stars: John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks
"In the 1960s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece. In the 1980s, he is a broken, confused man under the 24-hour watch of shady therapist Dr. Eugene Landy."
I never knew this background story about the Beach Boys.
Watched "My Greek Wedding," #2 and it was funny but not as good as the first one.
Nina wrote: "Watched "My Greek Wedding," #2 and it was funny but not as good as the first one."Nina, I'll have to check that one out.
Joy, Thanks for reminding me of the good old movie, David Copperfield. We watched and enjoyed it all over again.
Nina wrote: "Joy, Thanks for reminding me of the good old movie, David Copperfield. We watched and enjoyed it all over again."You're welcome, Nina. I watched several versions of it to compare them. The best movie version, IMO, was the 1935 film.
I recently watched a Netflix DVD of "The Jersey Boys" (2014). It was terrific! I gave it 5 stars. Good story (based on their amazing lives) and good music.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1742044/?...
https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Jersey-...
At the IMDb page (linked above), there are links to a trailer and 22 related videos!
We saw "Suicide Squad" tonight. It was fun, but not great. Reminded me a lot of 'Age of Ultron' in that way. Some parts/characters were a lot better than others - uneven. Margot Robbie was great as Harley Quinn & an eyeful in her hot pants with a much larger chest than normal. Very prettiful & strange. Wil Smith did a great job as Deadshot & so did Cara Delevingne June Moone, the Enchantress. She's another hotty even when she's creepy. Viola Davis did a great mean lady (Amanda Waller) from the government. Really mean. Joel Kinnaman played Rick Flag well, but the character was all over the place. Didn't work for me at all.
Jim wrote: "We saw "Suicide Squad" tonight. It was fun, but not great. Reminded me a lot of 'Age of Ultron' in that way. Some parts/characters were a lot better than others - uneven. Margot Robbie was great as..."Thanks for posting, Jim. Here's the IMDb page for the movie:
Suicide Squad (2016)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1386697/?...
"A secret government agency recruits a group of imprisoned supervillains to execute dangerous black ops missions in exchange for clemency,which inevitably leads to chaos."
This week I streamed the following from Amazon:"Try to Remember - The Fantasticks" (2003) [a look-back at the phenomenon]
This was a terrific video, making you appreciate the importance of live-theater and theaters in our culture.
The Sullivan Street Playhouse, a small Off-Broadway theatre in New York City's Greenwich Village (where the original show took place), no longer exists. The video expresses sadness about that.
DESCRIPTION: "On the eve of the final Off-Broadway performance of the long-running musical "The Fantasticks," filmmaker takes a wistful look back at the show's genesis with composer Harvey Schmidt, author Tom Jones and original cast member Jerry Orbach."
LINKS:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X66VHU2/...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401846/?...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fan...
WIKI: "The Fantasticks is a 1960 musical with music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones. ... The show's original off-Broadway production ran a total of 42 years and 17,162 performances, making it the world's longest-running musical."
I wish I had seen the original musical. I plan to stream the film version from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Fantasticks-Jo...
PS - On the video mentioned in my previous post, they explain that Harvey Schmidt, who wrote the music for The Fantasticks, cannot read or notate music! He plays the piano and composes melodies right off the top of his head. Other musicians have to write the musical notations. I find this kind of talent amazing.One of the songs he wrote for the show was "Try to Remember". Hear it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_COP3...
At the end of video mentioned in my previous post, Harvey Schmidt and author Tom Jones sing the song together. Very touching.
There are other musicians who are like Schmidt. I believe Irving Berlin was one of them, but I'm not sure.
I recently watched a Netflix DVD of "J. Edgar" (2011). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1616195/?...
"J. Edgar Hoover, powerful head of the F.B.I. for nearly 50 years, looks back on his professional and personal life."
https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/J-Edgar...
"Leonardo DiCaprio stars in this riveting biopic as J. Edgar Hoover, the longtime FBI director as notorious for his overzealous methods of law enforcement as for the rumors regarding his cross-dressing and close relationship with protégé Clyde Tolson."
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench
Leonardo DiCaprio does a great job as J. Edgar Hoover!
PS-I gave it 4 stars. I would have given it 5 stars but the time-shifts were a bit confusing.
PPS-I wonder if there's any truth to that cross-dressing rumor.
I just finished watching a Netflix DVD of "The Japanese Wife" (2010). Very sad movie. Too sad. Very slow-paced as well. I don't know why they make films like this. Life is hard enough without rubbing your face in it.IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1620620/?...
"Pen pals decide to get married and carry-on a long-term relationship."
NETFLIX: https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Jap...
"Despite having never met in person, Bengali school teacher Snehamoy and his Japanese pen pal, Miyage, enter a committed marriage through letters. But when a widow (Raima Sen) and her son seek shelter in his home, Snehamoy discovers the joy of real human contact. Based on a short story by Kunal Basu, this touching Indian drama explores how three incredibly shy people manage to find love."
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...
"The Japanese Wife movie is a rare gem ...' How far will you go for love.' "
Joy, I watched that movie and I, too, couldn't believe the sad ending. Not one of my favorites.
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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