What MOVIES or DVDs have you watched? (PART EIGHT - 2015) (ongoing thread)

[Nina]

I'm wondering if any of you have seen "Iris." One of my friend's daughter's said after seeing that movie that Iris reminded her of me because of how I put different clothes together. She was supposedly an interior decorator adn is now in her nineties.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Cori wrote: "This is Where I leave you is a great movie I just watched on HBOGO. Jane Fonda, Tina Fey and Jason Bateman. Really good with humor and real-life family substance. (not a great choice for those u..."

Thanks, Cori, for the recommendation. Here are links to info re the movie, in case anyone is interested:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371150/?...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/This-Is-...
http://www.amazon.com/This-Where-Leav...
"When their father passes away, four grown siblings bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof."

I've put the movie on my Netflix DVD queue. Sounds good. I like Jason Bateman and the rest of the cast sounds good too.

[Nina]

Not fond of Jane Fonda although "Golden Pond," was one of her bests.

[Jim]

I agree, Nina.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Not fond of Jane Fonda although "Golden Pond," was one of her bests."

Sometimes she turns me off, too. She has an "edge" that is off-putting.

[pics&books]

I don't know. I like her recent work. Like the movie I mentioned above and the Netflix series Grace and Frankie, with Lily Tomlin and Sam Waterston. And even some earlier films such as Coming Home and 9 to 5. I feel like she is a versatile actor.

[Nina]

Yes, Jane F, is versitle but also controversial. I like her father much better. I just finished reading, "James Herriot's Yorkshire," and loved the descriptions of that special place. He was such a good writer and I had forgotten that the firt movie, "All Creatures Great and Small," before the TV series starred Anthony Hopkins. I'd like to watch it again. In his "All Creatures Great and Small," books his wife's maiden name is Alderson and that is my Yorkshire ancestors' name. He didn't use her real name but he must have been familiar with that particular name.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Yes, Cori, I agree that Jane Fonda is OK in Grace and Frankie. She's cast well in that part. In fact I'm surprised at the great chemistry between her and Lily Tomlin in that show. They're good together.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina, about Yorkshire, my MIL used to make Yorkshire pudding. I had never had it before then... didn't even know what it was. I don't know why they call it pudding. :) I guess the batter is kind of a pudding. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshi...

[Werner]

Jane Fonda is associated with various political and social stances I don't agree with, and I doubt whether I'd like her much personally if I ever met her. But I have considerable professional respect for her as an accomplished actress. She turned out quality performances in The China Syndrome (1979; www.imdb.com/title/tt0078966 ) and the made-for-TV movie The Dollmaker (1984, www.imdb.com/title/tt0087160 ), the latter of which earned her an Emmy Award.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner, thanks for the movie links. I had never heard of The Dollmaker. Those movies are about hazards or tragedies. I've been avoiding that kind of movie lately but it seems that's almost all they're making these days. Same with the books. I guess I'm stuck with the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby "Road" films. LOL

This week I watched "Widows' Peak" (1994) with the wonderful Joan Plowright. It's a humorous mystery. I gave it only 2 stars because it seemed a bit silly. However, it did hold my attention.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111712/?...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Widows-P...
http://www.amazon.com/Widows-Peak-Mia...
"When a sexy stranger (Natasha Richardson) moves to Widows' Peak she turns the town upside down with her devious lies and shocking secrets."

[Nina]

Yes, I saw Widow's Peak several yeas ago and felt the same as you about it. Joan P. is marvelous but didn't care much for the theme. And yes, the Queen book is the one you described. It is gossipy but fun to read and mostly I, too, skipped the details about the Royals I didn't know or care about but lots about the Queen, Wallis S. etc. It was entertaining.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I watched a Netflix DVD entitled: "Freud" (1984) (Disc One) (TV Mini-Series ) It starred David Suchet as Freud. It made me sleepy. :) Perhaps I was hypnotized. LOL Two stars.
http://dvd.netflix.com/Queue?lnkctr=m...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0135093/?...
"The life and times of Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis."

I hadn't known that Freud had prescribed cocaine for his patients to make them feel better, not realizing the harm it could do when they became addicts.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

PS-After a while, "Freud ceased to publicly recommend use of the drug" (cocaine). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund...

PPS-Nina, glad you agreed with me about Widow's Peak.

[Nina]

Can you imatine prescribing Cocaine? However, I think there was some of it in the original Coco Cola. Am I right about that?

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Can you imatine prescribing Cocaine? However, I think there was some of it in the original Coco Cola. Am I right about that?"

Wiki says: "When launched, Coca-Cola's two key ingredients were cocaine and caffeine. The cocaine was derived from the coca leaf and the caffeine from kola nut, leading to the name Coca-Cola." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Co...

PS-Coca-Cola now "uses a cocaine-free coca leaf extract".

[Jim]

Opium was legal back then too in some forms. I had a couple of great aunts who overdosed or were hooked on laudanum. Family stories vary a bit.

[Nina]

Guess I was right about Cokes. Isn't it strange we didn't know that danger?

[Joy H., Group Founder]

The other night I couldn't find a good movie to stream. So I re-watched "Tootsie" (1982) (via Amazon Prime) with Dustin Hoffman & Jessica Lange. It was terrific! I enjoyed it even more than I had the first time, if that's possible. What a great movie that was! A great comedy and romantic too. Dustin Hoffman is priceless in that movie. 5 Stars.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084805/?...
"An unemployed actor with a reputation for being difficult disguises himself as a woman to get a role in a soap opera."
http://www.amazon.com/Tootsie-Jessica...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/60011473...

[Nina]

Some of those old movies are fun to see again. We just watched, "Walk Don't Run," with Cary Grant and it was still good. He came across just like always.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

You usually can't go wrong with Cary Grant.

[Nina]

Saw a repeat of a movie I enjoyed as much the second time as the first, "Letter to Juliet," starring Vanessa Redgrave. Happened to be filmed in Verona, Italy where we once stayed so that made it even more enjoyable.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Saw a repeat of a movie I enjoyed as much the second time as the first, "Letter to Juliet," starring Vanessa Redgrave. Happened to be filmed in Verona, Italy where we once stayed so that made it ev..."

Here are some links about the movie, Letters to Juliet:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892318/?...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Letters-...
http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Juliet-...

I'm not sure if I've seen that movie. I don't think I have. I'll try it. Thanks, Nina.

PS-I see that I gave it 4 stars sometime in the past. So I must have seen it. But I don't remember it. Well, there's no harm in seeing it again. :)

[Nina]

Vanessa Redgrave is one I really enjoy watching.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Vanessa Redgrave is one I really enjoy watching."

Me too. She's lovely.

[pics&books]

Hi, everyone. Hope your weekend waswonderful and relaxing! I saw Jurassic World last week. Let me know your thoughts/opinions if you have sen it. Take care!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Cori wrote: "Hi, everyone. Hope your weekend was wonderful and relaxing! I saw Jurassic World last week. Let me know your thoughts/opinions if you have sen it. Take care!"

Haven't seen it, Cori. Here's the IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369610/?...

[Werner]

When I'm at home and can't get online while I eat, I often eat in front of the TV and put on a movie. That was the case last night, so I opted to re-watch one of the episodes of the Horatio Hornblower miniseries produced some years ago by A & E, which has been mentioned on some of our other threads. (I'd meant to watch the first one, but the tapes were shelved out of order, so I ended up watching #II, "The Fire Ships.")

Having only read one Hornblower novel, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, I can't say if these adaptations follow the books as closely as A & E adaptations generally do. (I definitely hope to finish reading the Young Hornblower: Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, Lieutenant Hornblower & Hornblower and the Atropos omnibus volume before this year is over!) But I can say that Ioan Gruffudd is my permanent image of Hornblower. :-)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "When I'm at home and can't get online while I eat, I often eat in front of the TV and put on a movie. That was the case last night, so I opted to re-watch one of the episodes of the Horatio Hornb..."

Werner, that was a lucky find.

[Werner]

Joy, I'm not sure if our Hornblower tapes were just a lucky find at a yard sale or flea market, or were brand new tapes deliberately purchased from a regular vendor (we've had them for so many years I don't remember). :-)

[Nina]

Very good series. We saw several recently.

[Nina]

After reading a review of the movie just out, "Mr. Holmes," I want to see it. Have any of you seen it?

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "After reading a review of the movie just out, "Mr. Holmes," I want to see it. Have any of you seen it?"

Haven't seen it, Nina. Sounds like a good one!
Here's the IMDb link:
"Mr. Holmes"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3168230/?...
Cast: Ian McKellen, Laura Linney
"An aged, retired Sherlock Holmes [Ian McKellen] looks back on his life, and grapples with an unsolved case involving a beautiful woman."

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Holmes-Ian-M...
"Sherlock Holmes returns from a research trip in Japan, where he has witnessed the devastation of nuclear warfare. Now, he tends to his bees, with the company of his housekeeper and young son. Grappling with old age, Holmes comes to rely upon the boy as he revisits the unsolved case that forced him into retirement, and searches for answers to the mysteries of life and love - before it's too late."

http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Mr.-Holm...
"Long retired to a country farmhouse, 93-year-old Sherlock Holmes tends his apiary and reflects on his remarkable career. But the legendary sleuth, whose mental powers are fading, remains haunted by the unsolved case that caused him to call it quits."

[Nina]

Thanks Joy for the info. Maybe I'll wait until it comes to Netflix.

[Nina]

Joy, if you haven't seen the movie, "Words and Pictures," I think you would like it because of all the quotes and you too, werner. I enjoyed it just as much at the second viewing as the first.

[Nina]

Jim, I read your review the second time tonight of Farenhieght. I probably spelled that wrong but I excuse myself as it's late and I'm tired. Your review is excellent. If you ever retire you could get a job as a reviewer for a newspaper if they are still around then.

[Werner]

Thanks for the recommendation, Nina!

[Jim]

Thanks, Nina. I wish. Fahrenheit 451 is special book & amazingly relevant today 62 years after it was originally published.

Oddly enough, it's the same age as my wife, down to the month!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Joy, if you haven't seen the movie, "Words and Pictures," I think you would like it because of all the quotes and you too, werner. I enjoyed it just as much at the second viewing as the first."

Thanks, Nina. I did see that movie and found it very interesting.
"Words and Pictures" (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2380331/?...
"An art instructor and an English teacher form a rivalry that ends up with a competition at their school in which students decide whether words or pictures are more important."

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Jim, I read your review the second time tonight of Farenheight. ... Your review is excellent. If you ever retire you could get a job as a reviewer for a newspaper ..."

Yes, I'm sure he could! :)

[Nina]

Joy, have you seen Tasting Menus? A fun movie.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Joy, have you seen Tasting Menus? A fun movie."

Nina, since it's in a foreign language, I decided not to watch it even though it has English subtitles.
"Tasting Menu" (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1826753/?...

[Nina]

You have to get used to subtitles and if you aren't it is a bit hard. Once you are though, you really enjoy using them even with British fllms when the dialect is hard to follow. But, there are lots of movies so you don't need to pick one that isn't suitable to you personally.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina, I use subtitles all the time when they are available, even when the movie is spoken in English. They serve as a back-up for me. However, movies in a foreign language seem to lack something for me.

[Nina]

Joy, that's interesting. Isn't it wonderful how different we all are..

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Highly recommended to all the lovers of the music and dancing of the 1930s:
The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027698/?...
"This biography follows the ups and downs of Florenz Ziegfeld, famed producer of extravagant stage revues."

Stars: William Powell, Luise Rainer, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Fanny Brice, Dennis Morgan (singer), Myrna Loy (as Billy Burke, Ziegfeld's 2nd wife).

http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Grea...
"Director Robert Z. Leonard's grand vision made for this celebration of Broadway impresario Florenz Ziegfield's life and work, from his humble beginnings as a carnie to producer of breathtaking stage shows. Louise Rainer, Myrna Loy, Fanny Brice, William Powell and Ray Bolger lend enormous star power to this 1936 classic, which features favorites such as "If You Knew Susie," "Shine on Harvest Moon" and "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody.""

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Ziegfeld-...
""Ziegfeld's midway attraction isn't drawing flies. "How's business, Ziggy?" a rival taunts. This winner of three Academy Awards including Best Picture provides the career-chronicling answer."

I recently watched this musical via the TCM movie channel on TV. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered it as a DVD from Netflix and watched it again.

Pure pleasure! William Powell was so appealing as Ziegfeld! Frank Morgan was delightful! Luise Rainer was precious! She won an Oscar for this role as Ziegfeld's first wife.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

PS-Lest we forget these beautiful lyrics:

"A pretty girl is like a melody
That haunts you night and day
Just like the strain of a haunting refrain
She'll start upon a marathon
And run around your brain
You can't escape, she's in your memory
By morning, night and noon
She will leave you and then come back again
A pretty girl is just like a pretty tune."
-Irving Berlin

[Joy H., Group Founder]

PPS-Hear and watch Dennis Morgan singing the lyrics
above (in the movie, "The Great Ziegfeld"):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgYEF...
"A Pretty Girl is Just like a Melody"

[Nina]

Oh yes, I do remember the melody the lyrics and thanks for allowing me to hear it. Those were the movies that made you smile.

[Nina]

Speaking of actors fitting the parts; How about Gregory Peck in "Mockingbird..?" Couldn't anyone better, don't you agree? And how about Clark Gable as Rhett? And Jimmy Cagney in "Yankee Doodle Dandy?" But. as you say some just don't fit the bill.