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)
We watched an escape movie the other night. Just sort of fun if you like Judy Holliday. It was "Bells are Ringing" and also had Dean Martin.
Nina wrote: "We watched an escape movie the other night. Just sort of fun if you like Judy Holliday. It was "Bells are Ringing" and also had Dean Martin."Nina, I too saw part of that movie ("Bells are Ringing") on TCM the other night but there was too much annoying loud screeching by some of the characters. So I bailed out.
However, I did enjoy the movie (via a Netflix DVD) which you recommended a few days ago:
" Dark Horse " (2015).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4137902/?...
"An inspirational true story of a group of friends from a working men's club who decide to take on the elite 'sport of kings' and breed themselves a racehorse "
https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Dark-Ho...
"In a bid to develop a champion racehorse, Welsh barmaid Jan Vokes and her husband persuade 30 pub patrons to purchase ownership shares in the long-shot venture -- leading to the hoof-pounding saga chronicled in this upbeat documentary."
This was an absorbing documentary about a beautiful horse named "Dream Alliance" who became a winner. The shots of the gorgeous horse & horses made the movie a pleasure, not to mention the exciting suspense of the races and the touching comments of the group of friends who financed the "Dream Alliance" project. You couldn't help but love horses after you see this movie. I wish I could own a horse myself and nuzzle my head against the face of a horse who knows me.
NOTE:
Do NOT confuse this film with the following:
FILM: "The Dark Horse" (2014) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2192016/?...
OR
BOOK: The Dark Horse by Rumer Godden
P.S.-HORSE JOKE: A horse walks into a bar & the barman asks:"Why the long face ?" :)
I love that joke and I'll pass it along to my Horsey daughter. When she was in high school and had a horse stabled near us I used to take her there after school each day and usually rode Merlin at that time and it was such a good feeling to be up and away from the housework and all other duties just almost like sailing. You find yourself away because you must concentrate on what you are doing at that time. As Merlin got old Megan donated him to a farm for disabled children to ride him. That was the most fun gift we ever gave one of our children for Christmas. Megan was fourteen and she was absolutely in heaven for a few minutes when she saw her present for the first time.
Nina wrote: "I love that joke and I'll pass it along to my Horsey daughter. When she was in high school and had a horse stabled near us I used to take her there after school each day ... That was the most fun gift we ever gave one of our children for Christmas.... she was absolutely in heaven..."QUOTE: "I've often said there's nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse." ---Ronald Reagan
There's a new movie out called "Wiener-Dog". Sounds like a good one. Our granddog is a dachshund. :)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4144190/?...
IMDb DESCRIPTION: "A dachshund passes from oddball owner to oddball owner, whose radically dysfunctional lives are all impacted by the pooch."
https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Wiener-...
NETFLIX DESCRIPTION: "Unfolding through four vignettes, this episodic tale follows a spirited female dachshund as she's taken in by a series of shifting owners, including a 9-year-old cancer survivor, a despondent film professor and a crotchety shut-in."
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GU87FNA/...
AMAZON DESCRIPTION: "
From director Todd Solondz (Welcome To The Dollhouse, Happiness), WIENER-DOG is a dark, starkly funny story of a single dog and the many different people she touches over her short lifetime. Man’s best friend starts out teaching a young boy some contorted life lessons before being taken in by a compassionate vet tech named Dawn Wiener. Dawn reunites with someone from her past and sets off on a road trip. After leaving Dawn, Wiener-Dog encounters a floundering film professor, as well as an embittered elderly woman and her needy granddaughter—all longing for something more. Solondz’s perversely dark comedy offers an appallingly honest look at the American experience, brought to life by its all-star cast."
I can watch it free cause I'm a Prime Member of Amazon.
Here's the trailer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GU87FNA/...
I just now streamed the movie "Wiener-Dog" via Amazon. It's a weird, dark film. I don't recommend it at all.Weird characters, long pauses, jumps around from one thing to another.
It has a terrible ending, very sad, especially for the dog.
The dog actually doesn't have much to do with the story except that it had these different weird owners.
They call the film a dark comedy but I didn't see anything funny about it.
That's a shame. Thanks for letting us know, Joy. I'll make sure I avoid it.
Jim wrote: "That's a shame. Thanks for letting us know, Joy. I'll make sure I avoid it."Jim, I should have known it was a strange movie ["Wiener-Dog"] when I read the Amazon description. It says: "Solondz’s perversely dark comedy offers an appallingly honest look at the American experience".
It certainly was perverse and it certainly was appalling. It seemed to focus on the worst side of our culture and some scenes were downright disgusting and lingered upon. At least there was no pornography! LOL
PS-The shame of it is that kids will see the title, "Wiener-Dog", and think that the story is about a cute dog. Not so, even though that kind of a dog is very cute and lovable and so was the dog in the movie. But the story around him was awful.
PPS-Below are some of the comments at Fandago re "Wiener-Dog". The link is: http://www.fandango.com/wienerdog_190...BELOW ARE COMMENTS I FOUND AT LINK ABOVE:
=============================
Life is short, don't waste 90 minutes.
I know Todd Solondz does weird movies, I've seen several of his and I'm just fine with quirky or dark. This is the worst film ever made. By anybody. There was nothing, no not one thing, redeeming...
Worst Movie I've Ever Seen (and I've sat through a lot of bad stuff)
While I am an avid moviegoer, and frequently seek out quirky movies, I've never written a review. The bottom line is that I could barely sit through the entire movie and by the end I wish I hadn't. ...
Terrible. Waste of great talent
Despicable Film
The best actor in the film was the dachshund. The film was perhaps the worst theater going film I have ever seen. It was poorly written, no story, no message for the viewer to think about. I want...
Dyspeptic
Weiner is a dog
Horrific Do not go Not funny...
A terrible movie. Stupid, not funny, politically insensitive, disjointed....
I never write reviews. However for this movie I can't help myself. My wife and I are avid movie-goers and we agree this is one of the worst movies we have seen. Do NOT waste your $ on it. Slow -...
Another look at the dark side of suburbia from writer/ director Todd Solondz. A real treat for the hardcore Solondz fan that appreciates his films....
Worst movie of the year. Any year. Any movie. Danny DeVito performed well but the characters were all horrible, plot disjointed, interactions among characters didn't make sense and overall, this...
==================================================
The review at the following link gives details: http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/wie...
Here's the "Rotten Tomatoes" link: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wien...
Currently we are watching "Little Dorrit," by Dickens. It is mesmerizing so far. I have never read the original but this adaptation by the BBC is well worth it. I have it on Netflix. A bit somber and somehow confusing though I have to add.
Nina, In 2010 I watched a DVD of the 2008 TV mini-series adaptation of Little Dorrit. Here's my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Joy, I need your help in understanding the complexity of the relationship of Arthur and Amy. And other questions that I don't know the answers to. First of all I wondered if Arthur and Amy were half brother and sister but as they were married at the end I guess that isn't the case. How did Little Dorrit fit into the scheme of things? Why was she in the old lady's father's will? And who was her mother? And the little black girl? Was she related to Arthur? Did they have the same father? I hope I don't have to read the book but maybe you can straighten things out for us. My husband didn't get all the answers either. I look forward to your message.
Nina wrote: "Joy, I need your help in understanding the complexity of the relationship of Arthur and Amy. And other questions that I don't know the answers to. First of all I wondered if Arthur and Amy were hal..."Nina, I don't remember any of the details about "Little Dorrit". Here's a link to a summary. Perhaps it will help:
http://www.shmoop.com/little-dorrit/s...
This page tells about the characters: http://www.shmoop.com/little-dorrit/c...
Here's another link: http://www.online-literature.com/dick...
And another: http://www.online-literature.com/dick...
Tonight we just finished watching on Masterpiece Theater, "Churchill's Secret," It was excellent and was taken from the novel of the same name. I would class that story as literary as it definitely was character driven. However, was disappointed that the nurse in the story was made up as she was next to Churchill the other main character and truly moved the story along. Did any of you see it?
Nina wrote: "Tonight we just finished watching on Masterpiece Theater, "Churchill's Secret," It was excellent and was taken from the novel of the same name. I would class that story as literary as it definitely..."Nina, I'm afraid I missed it. Thanks for telling us about it. I found a link about the program: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/11/art...
"Michael Gambon portrays Winston Churchill at 78, determined to keep his life-threatening stroke — in the summer of 1953, when he was prime minister for the second time — a secret from the world."
Last night watched the worst movie I have ever seen/says a lot doesn't it? The title, "Nobody Knows," based on a true story from Tokyo. I kept thinking it would improve and it kept getting worse but I had hopes the ending would satisfy. NOT. Terrible ending and now I hope I can forget it. Theme, a mother abandons her four children by leaving them in an apartment for the twelve year old to care for the rest of them. I thought the mother would return at the end but instead she doesn't and one of the little children died. In the meantime I just finished reading one of my favorite books as it made smile from beginning to end. "The President's Hat," by Antoine Laurain. Such fun to go from each page to the next one. Otherwise it is hot and humid here and not autumn like but we have promises that next week fall will begin.
Nina wrote: "Last night watched the worst movie I have ever seen/says a lot doesn't it? The title, "Nobody Knows," based on a true story from Tokyo. I kept thinking it would improve and it kept getting worse bu..."Thanks for the warning, Nina.
My last 3 Netflix DVD'sx were disappointments:
The Jewel of the Nile (1985)
My Dinner with André (1981)
My Afternoons with Margueritte (2010)
https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Jew...
https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/My-Dinn...
https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/My-Afte...
My next Netflix DVD will be "The Secret Life of the Brain" (2002)
https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Sec...
I'll check out your book: The President's Hat. Sounds like a good one.
PS-Weather here is cool and crisp and sometimes warm. I like it!
I thought the "Jewel of the Nile" was fun. Not as good as the first one, though. Still, Michael Douglas & Kathleen Turner are excellent actors. Did you watch "Romancing the Stone" first, Joy?
Jim wrote: "I thought the "Jewel of the Nile" was fun. Not as good as the first one, though. Still, Michael Douglas & Kathleen Turner are excellent actors. Did you watch "Romancing the Stone" first, Joy?"Yes, I did, Jim. I rated it 3 Netflix stars on 10/15/2010.
https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Romanci...
I, too, was bored with "Andre" and I did see "Romancing the Stone," and probably too would have given it three stars. I am not up to studying the Brain I fear. Maybe too close for comfort.
Nina, I'll try to remember to let you know how I liked the "brain" DVD. I find info about the brain fascinating, as long as I understand it. :)
I'm streaming Heartland (TV Series) Season 1, Episode 1, "Coming Home".https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IF0NK4/...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1094229/?...
Based on novels created by Lauren Brooke
Coming Home - "This powerful series follows Amy Fleming through the loss of her mother and her struggle to continue the work at Heartland-a refuge for abused and abandoned horses."
"about a 15-year-old girl named Amy Fleming, who lives in Virginia on a horse ranch called Heartland,"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartla...
HORSES!
This movie got a very good review in our paper this morning, "Queen of Katwe" and is based on a true story. You might check it out.
Nina wrote: "This movie got a very good review in our paper this morning, "Queen of Katwe" and is based on a true story. You might check it out."Here's the IMDb link to that movie, Nina:
"Queen of Katwe" (2016)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4341582/?...
"A Ugandan girl sees her world rapidly change after being introduced to the game of chess." The user-review at the page linked above is very positive. Thanks for the heads up, Nina.
BTW, I watched Disc 1 of the TV series, "The Secret Life of the Brain".
https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Sec...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475203/?...
At the above-linked page it says: "A startling new map of the human brain has emerged during the past decade of neuroscience research, contradicting much of what was previously believed. This series tells stories through a mix of personal histories, expert commentary, and cutting-edge animation. Viewers learn startling new truths about the brain as they journey inside about this complicated organ."
I found the disc fairly interesting but much of it was film of babies with brain problems (seizures) and vision problems. The film presents the story of their treatment. I had hoped for more information about the workings of the normal brain.
One thing I found interesting was that they have found that the brains of dyslectic children show no stimulation when the child tries to sound out words. In other words that area of the brain isn't working. Fortunately, the plasticity of the brain enables improvement of this problem by giving the child phonic exercises which can help build the skills using that part of the brain.
In fact, when half the brain is removed to prevent seizures in children, the other half of the brain can be trained to take over the job of the missing half.
Online it says: "Brain plasticity refers to the extraordinary ability of the brain to modify its own structure and function following changes within the body or in the external environment."
See a page about this at: https://faculty.washington.edu/chudle...
Brain plasticity is really interesting, Joy. Indre Viskontas did a lecture or 2 that included it in 12 Essential Scientific Concepts. I was taught that the brain was pretty static, but they've found some amazing growth & change in it now. Taxi drivers grow a larger hippocampus when they successfully memorize a huge amount of maps. She also mentioned how areas of the brain could be damaged & could change to recover those abilities. Very cool.
Jim wrote: "Brain plasticity is really interesting, Joy. Indre Viskontas did a lecture or 2 that included it in 12 Essential Scientific Concepts. I was taught that the brain wa..."Jim, thanks for those links. I read your review. I am definitely going to listen to this. I've ordered it from Audible.com, using their free trial offer.
I recently watched the film, "Bicentennial Man". One of the stars was Sam Neill. I noticed that he strongly resembles James Mason, not only in looks but in voice.I did some searching and I found that at Sam Neill's Wiki page, it says: "In the late 1970s, his mentor was James Mason."
I also found that at James Mason's Wiki page, it says: "In the late 1970s, Mason became a mentor to up-and-coming actor Sam Neill."
I could not find any other reference to their relationship. However, the strong resemblance makes me wonder. Could they have been related in some way?
I wonder if there is a movie expert who could look into this for me. What person could I contact about this?
LINKS:
JAMES MASON:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_M...
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000051/
SAM NEILL:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Neill
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000554/
Here's a fun bit by Sam Neill.http://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-ma...
It came up in a search "sam neill looks like james mason"
Jim wrote: "Here's a fun bit by Sam Neill.http://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-ma...
It came up in a search "sam neill looks like james mason""
Thanks for searching, Jim. At least you found a site about Sam Neill! At that site, Neill says: "It was in Switzerland, and I was staying with (actor) James Mason and his wife."
I've made posts about this "resemblance" issue at 3 other GR groups. I've had one very pleasant reply. See it at: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... [Message #2]
Interesting about Loretta Young/never knew anything about her baby or Betty Hutton working as a cook. Interesting trivia this morning. Off to B and N to use a coupon. Yes, I love my Kindle but also frequent the bookstore about once a month. Freezing cold yesterday at Mass because a back door was stuck open and some very sweet older lady insisted I use her shawl. See, even though we have a mess of an election coming up there are still wonderfully nice people if you just look around you still.
Nina wrote: "Interesting about Loretta Young/never knew anything about her baby or Betty Hutton working as a cook. Interesting trivia this morning. Off to B and N to use a coupon. Yes, I love my Kindle but also..."Nina, I'm surprised you didn't know about Loretta Young and Clark Gable's love child. Her name was Judy Lewis (born Judith Young). She died at the age of 76 in 2011.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Lewis
EXCERPT: "Lewis looked strikingly like Gable as she grew older, including having ears that stuck out like his."
And yes, as you point out, there are many wonderful people in our country. We shouldn't dwell on the nasty ones. As the saying goes: "When they go low, we go high".
Isn't it sad none of those wonderful people are running for president?
Nina wrote: "Too bad she had ears like her father."And too bad they never really knew each other. Now I'm wondering how much contact they had with each other, if there was any at all.
You can read details about that at Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Lewis
Nina wrote: "Isn't it sad none of those wonderful people are running for president?"I'm getting more and more nervous about the outcome, as the days go by. So much dirt is being thrown by each side. It's terrible.
Just finished watching Netflix, "The Pallisers," and thought it was equally as good as "Downton Abby" as the story was enhancing and the acting terrific even the extra characters rang true. I almost cried at parts. But, really not terribly sad just emotion got to me.
Nina, here's the IMDb link to "The Pallisors" (TV Mini-Series (1974– ) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075557/?...
"Follows the novels of Anthony Trollope. Beginning with the forced Marriage of Susan Hampshire's character, Glencora, the lives of the friends and children of this couple are the subject of study. The backdrop is the House of Commons in Great Britain as we watch the comings and goings and loves and tragedies of the powerful and not so powerful."
I have never read a book by Anthony Trollope. Goodreads Constant Reader group read and discussed Trollope's book, The Way We Live Now in 2013. Goodread's description: "Trollope's 1875 tale of a great financier's fraudulent machinations in the railway business, and his daughter's ill-use at the hands of a grasping lover is a classic in the literature of money and a ripping good read as well." I wonder if his writing is easy to read.
Joy H. wrote: "Nina, here's the IMDb link to "The Pallisors" (TV Mini-Series (1974– ) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075557/?...
"Follows the novels of Anthony Trollope. Beginning with the forced Marri..."
That sounds like something Marg would like. Thanks.
We're going out to see The Accountant tonight which stars Ben Affleck.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140479/
Hi Jim, thanks for the link. I've seen ads for "The Accountant" and was wondering what it was about. The IMDb description says: "As a math savant uncooks the books for a new client, the Treasury Department closes in on his activities and the body count starts to rise."It seems that the majority of books and movies nowadays deal with crime. I'm not interested in crime.
I recently watched "Seven Years in Tibet" (1997) with Brad Pitt via a Netflix DVD. I gave it 3 stars out of 5. At least it wasn't about crime, per se, but there was plenty of suffering when the Chinese invaded Tibet in 1950. I guess that would come under the "war" genre and not the "crime" genre, although there is plenty of crime in wartime.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120102/
"True story of Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountain climber who became friends with the Dalai Lama at the time of China's takeover of Tibet."
Adapted from Seven Years in Tibet (first published 1952) by Heinrich Harrer.
Heinrich Harrer was a wild guy!
PS-I listened to a clip of this book (_Seven Years in Tibet_) via audible.com. http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoir...
I found it strange that the story seems to be told in the third person. I would expect it to be told in the first person since it's a memoir by the author himself. I wonder if there is any information as to why it's told in the third person.
Today I came across a 2011 animated short film entitled: "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore". Wiki says: "The film was awarded the Best Animated Short Film at the 84th Academy Awards."WIKI PAGE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fan...
IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1778342/?...
"After a hurricane levels his city, a young man wanders into a mysterious library where books literally come to life."
You can choose some YouTube clips of it here:
https://www.youtube.com/results?searc...
A local ad of our Adirondack Film Festival describes it as: "story about people who devote their lives to books and books who return the favor."
http://www.adkfilmfestival.org/portfo...
Looks like a good one!
PS - It will be shown at the Glens Falls Crandall Public Library on Sat. Oct. 22, 2016 as part of the Family Film Series. Showtimes are: 11:15 AM and 1:00 PM.
See the schedule here: http://www.adkfilmfestival.org/festiv...
PPS-Prices of tickets to the ATF Festival can be found here:
https://apps.vendini.com/ticket-softw...
PPS-Prices of tickets to the ATF Festival can be found here:https://apps.vendini.com/ticket-softw...
Just watched a Netflix movie both my husband and I really enjoyed. I recommend it/"Wild at Heart." Great acting. Couldn't believe how good the kids were. Set in Africa. A bit hard to understand the British accents but you can get the drift of the story line even if you can't make all the dialogue.
Nina wrote: "Just watched a Netflix movie both my husband and I really enjoyed. I recommend it/"Wild at Heart." Great acting. Couldn't believe how good the kids were. Set in Africa. A bit hard to understand the..."Nina, here's the IMDb link:
"Wild at Heart" - TV Series (2006– )
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0757127/?...
"About a veterinarian and his family who travel to South Africa from England to a game reserve. The trip was to initially release a wild animal back into the wild but then the vet falls in love with the animals and South Africa and decides to stay and buy into a partnership with Duplessi- the game reserve owner. The show is about their struggles and triumphs in running the game reserve."
Here's the Netflix link: https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Wild-at...
I've put it on my Netflix queue. Thanks for mentioning it.
That looks interesting. I'll bet Marg & Erin would like it. Thanks!
Joy H. wrote: "PS-I listened to a clip of this book (_Seven Years in Tibet_) via audible.com. http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoir...I found it strange that the story seems to be told in the third person. I would expect it to be told in the first person since it's a memoir by the author himself. I wonder if there is any information as to why it's told in the third person."
I rented the full audio CD of _Seven Years in Tibet_ and found out why the sample audio clip was in the third person. It was a sample from the introduction which was not by the author. The main part of the book is told in the first-person.
Just sort of watched a movie that didn't stand the test of time, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," and couldn't believer how boring it was this time as I did fall asleep during the talking on and on of all the characters and nothing I mean nothing happening. I even think I once read the book of the same title by John LeCarre. Oh well.
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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That's a good way to put it, Nina ("Not one of my favorites.")
It was disappointing to say the least [re: "The Japanese Wife"]!
I'm looking forward to seeing the movie you recommended: "Dark Horse"(2015).
https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Dark-Ho...
"In a bid to develop a champion racehorse, Welsh barmaid Jan Vokes and her husband persuade 30 pub patrons to purchase ownership shares in the long-shot venture -- leading to the hoof-pounding saga chronicled in this upbeat documentary."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4137902/?...
"An inspirational true story of a group of friends from a working men's club who decide to take on the elite 'sport of kings' and breed themselves a racehorse."
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Horse-Jan...
"The inspirational true story of a group of friends that decides to breed themselves a racehorse, who grows into an unlikely champion."