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 EIGHT - 2015) (ongoing thread)
Jackie wrote: "What's the distance, and direction, between your Mom's house and yours, Jim?..."Mom lives in northern MD, basically about the same weather as we get. Totally different soil, though. She has wonderful, deep top soil while we have a lot of clay on top of sedimentary rock. Our top soil is very thin. Water pools briefly, then runs away.
Overall, we're the exact same temperature this year as we were last for the past 30 days. Way more rain, though.
Asparagus, once it gets going, does grow fast, Joy. Spears grow several inches in a day once the ground is warm enough.
Does your Mom live in KY? Imagine asparagus already on the table..Yummm.
Joy, I enjoyed "The Angry Houswives..." as it was just a fun read.
It is easy to get tired of cold. But, when the warm soft breezes of spring arrive you can appreciate them all the more for it. I used to feel that way when we'd end up stepping onto the plane in KC in a snowstorm and step off into that soft breeze.
Interesting that you get the same temps, Jim.
Maryland, Nina. Our weather is generally their weather a day later.
Our weather is in the same temp zone as VA but maybe because of the mountains it sometimes varies a bit. We once had a cottage in the Ozarks and I read that the Ozarks because of it's position will grow almost anything that grows any place in the country. It seemed to do that to me/cactus and wildflowers and persimmons and yucca and the most beautiful moss ever. it was little spikes of green with red heads. It is called British soldier moss.
Nina wrote: "Joy, I enjoyed "The Angry Houswives..." as it was just a fun read."Nina, I couldn't get into the book, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, because it started out with too many characters who weren't fleshed out enough to be interesting. If a book doesn't hook me in the first few pages, I lose patience.
Besides, anything domestic turns me off and housewives are definitely domestic. :)
Another thing which turns me off in books is too much dialogue, i.e., people carrying on conversations. That's not a style I enjoy.
Joy, those critiques are probably all good and it's been so many years since i read the book i can't remember what it was even about. Seems like it was an easy read and maybe it was a time when that is what I needed. I am certain it wasn't memorable. So many books that I can't say I blame you for giving up if it doesn't appeal. I feel the same way.
Yes, Nina, when the beginning of a book doesn't appeal to me, my eyes glaze over and I can't even force myself to read further. I think you have more patience with books than I do. I can't wait for the plot to start developing. Too many authors think they need to describe every little thing in order to set up a background for the plot. Sometimes it seems that the descriptions are there just to give the book necessary length.
Don't laugh. LOL I've watched another old movie! Usually I don't go for the Sonja Henie movies because they are so out of date and sort of cornball. But this one left me with a "feel-good" feeling. The story is pretty good and the musical ice-skating performances are fun to watch, especially the musical finale which was very well done. There are even a few scenes of ice hockey games. The plot has a very satisfying ending too."It's a Pleasure" (1945) with Sonja Henie and Michael O'Shea. Streamable from both Netflix and Amazon Prime.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037822/?...
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/701141...
http://www.amazon.com/Its-Pleasure-So...
Joy, as a child I loved Sonja Henie movies. She was sort of my heroine as she whizzed about on those skates. Then when I was nineteen and lived in CA the ice rink I frequented that was just down the road from where I was living was the one where she practiced. Unfortunately she was never there when I was but still it thrilled me to think that is where she would go. When I was eleven my mother who liked to enter contests won a pair of white ice skates for me. I was thrilled.
Those are lovely memories, Nina. You chose a good word for Sonja Henie. She really did "whiz" around on those skates! I guess it's the next best thing to flying! It's even fun to watch her as she whizzes along. I get the same type of feeling when I watch Astaire and Rogers dancing (whirling!). Such freedom of movement and grace!
Yesterday I streamed an excellent movie:The Answer Man (2009) with Jeff Daniels. Netflix has the DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1187041/?...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/70112459...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002...
"A reclusive, world-renown author learns to embrace life again when he throws out his back and falls for his chiropractor, a beautiful single mom."
There's so much more to this story than the description tells. It's so well done and captures your interest right away. It has a little bit of humor and an interesting dramatic plot as well as good sub-plots... and characters you can relate to.
I realized I had seen it before but I was willing to watch it again. I hardly ever do that but with this film it was worth it, especially because I had forgotten so many parts of it. It holds your attention throughout. Jeff Daniels is so appealing in this movie! FIVE STARS!
I just ordered your recommentdation on Netflix.
I hope you'll like it, Nina. Let us know, OK?
Tried to order, "Advise and Consent," and netflix said, SAVE. So I gave up. Loved the movie we saw recently on Netflix, "Touching Wild Horses," with Jane Seymour.
Nina, thanks for the tip about "Touching Wild Horses".I just came across "Dreamer" (2005) which I gave 5 stars to a while ago. So it must be good. Available as a DVD from Netflix.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418647/?...
"Cale Crane catalyzes the rescue and rehabilitation of Sonador, a race horse with a broken leg."
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Dreamer/...
"Down-and-out horse trainer Ben Crane rescues a once-great racehorse that's been severely injured. Buoyed by the unwavering faith of his daughter, he sets out to win the Breeders' Cup Classic."
I watched "Patton" (1970) with George C. Scott & Karl Malden. Drama and humor too. Patton was quite a character! George C. Scott was great! The movie is streamable from Netflix. I gave it 5 Netflix stars.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066206/?...
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/600023...
"The World War II phase of the career of the controversial American general, George S. Patton."
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004...
"A critically acclaimed film that won a total of eight Academy Awards (Including Best Picture), Patton is a riveting portrait of one of the 20th century's greatest military geniuses. George Patton was the only allied general truly feared by the Nazis. Charismatic and flamboyant, Patton designed his own uniforms, sported ivory-handled six-shooters, and believed he was a warrior in past lives. He out-maneuvered Rommel in Africa, and after D-Day led his troops in an unstoppable campaign across Europe."
I also watched "Who Am I This Time?" (1982) with Susan Sarandon & Christopher Walken. I gave it 3 Netflix stars. Available as a DVD from Netflix. Touching and pleasant.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083325/?...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/70052496...
"Christopher Walken is a shy hardware store employee. But whenever he takes a part in a local amateur theater production, he becomes the part completely..."
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V...
"Academy Award-winners Susan Sarandon and Christopher Walken star as a couple who discovers that affairs of the heart on the stage may be a bit less complicated than continuing the romance off the stage."
I enjoyed the Netflix DVD of "The Last of Robin Hood" (2013), starring Dakota Fanning, Susan Sarandon, and Kevin Kline. All 3 did a superb job! 5 stars!http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2450440/?...
"The last days in the life of legendary Hollywood actor Errol Flynn."
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Last...
"The true story of a young starlet who became the infamous girlfriend of legendary swashbuckler Errol Flynn."
Thanks for the suggestion, Joy. I will put it on my Netflix list.
I recently borrowed the following movie DVD from our public library:"Captain Horatio Hornblower" (1951) with Gregory Peck and Virginia Mayo.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043379/?...
"During the Napoleonic wars, a British naval captain has adventures in Central American waters."
Netflix has it as a DVD:
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Captain-...
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"Gregory Peck stars as Horatio Hornblower, the swashbuckling British naval captain of the HMS Lydia, as he navigates the waters around Latin America to thwart Napoleon's Spanish allies in this adaptation of C. S. Forester's novel. Amid sea battles and calculated face-offs with other warships, Hornblower tangles with supposed ally El Supremo (Alec Mango) and falls in love with the comely Lady Wellesley (Virginia Mayo) in this classic adventure film."
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I enjoyed this film very much, since Hornblower was played by Gregory Peck, one of my favorite actors. I was able to follow it easily and the fighting scenes were tolerable for me. I enjoyed the scenes of the mighty ships sailing on the ocean. I enjoyed seeing Peck as the sea captain. The story is interesting and held my attention throughout.
I wish I had seen this one advertised before I watched the other one. Although, the former was good and good acting, I too love anything with Gregory Peck however, I am not up to seeing the Hornblower over again at this point.
I borrowed another Hornblower film from the library as well. It stars Ioan Gruffudd. The library and Netflix call it:"Horatio Hornblower: the new adventures".
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/60032534...
At IMDb, it's called: "Hornblower: Duty" (2003)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0352410/?...
"Admiral Pellew interrupts Hornblower's wedding reception and tasks him to locate a British ship which has disappeared off the French coast, where Napoleon's troops are engaged in covert activities."
I wasn't drawn in by Ioan Gruffud at all. I was sleepy and fell asleep while I was watching. I have no desire to see it again. It seemed pretty dull to me. Perhaps Gregory Peck made all the difference as Hornblower in the other Hornblower movie I mentioned.
You should try them as audio books, Joy. Christian Rodska has done a great job of reading them for me.
We saw the first three in the series of Hornblower, the one before the Gegory Peck. I have forgotten the name of the actor. It wasn't the one you just watched Joy. He was very good as were the first three, then netflix sent # 6 in the series and none of it made much sense and by the time we got # 5 and never # 4, we just gave up on it entirely. We did watch the end and there was no marriage in this one. In France during a battle in a small village, Horn..fell in love with a village girl but she was killed as they were trying to escape.
Jim wrote: "You should try them as audio books, Joy. Christian Rodska has done a great job of reading them for me."Nina, I can listen to some Hornblower stories here:
http://www.thisoldradioshow.com/OldRa...
or here:
https://archive.org/details/Adventure...
Jim gave us the links.
Joy, don't confuse the Old Time Radio plays with the books. The links you posted are for the OTR plays. I downloaded the audio books from my local library.
We watch the movies together and mostly depend on subtitles so audios wouldn't work for us now.
Jim wrote: "Joy, don't confuse the Old Time Radio plays with the books. The links you posted are for the OTR plays. I downloaded the audio books from my local library."Jim, aren't they the same stories, more or less?
Nina wrote: "We saw the first three in the series of Hornblower, the one before the Gegory Peck. I have forgotten the name of the actor. It wasn't the one you just watched Joy. He was very good as were the firs..."Nina, I can't find a Hornblower movie at Netflix which was made before the 1951 movie with Gregory Peck. In fact I can't find any Hornblower movie anywhere which was made before 1951.
Joy H. wrote: "Jim, aren't they the same..."I don't know. Haven't listened to the OTR plays nor made it through the books yet. Considering how much time & action is packed into each of the books, I'd guess they were partials, though.
Thanks, Jim. I borrowed a bunch of Hornblower books from our public library for my husband to read. As you know, he enjoys stories of the sea and boats.I started reading Mr. Midshipman Hornblower but for some reason it hasn't called me back. :) It may be because I'm reading other books at the same time, books which call louder to me. (lol)
I hope you gave him a copy of my review of 'Midshipman' so he has the proper chronological reading order, Joy. I really think reading them that way is best. I guess a purist might want to read in published order, but I have both listed.
Isn't it interesting how much discussion Mr. Hornblower stirred up among us?
Jim wrote: "I hope you gave him a copy of my review of 'Midshipman' so he has the proper chronological reading order, Joy. I really think reading them that way is best. I guess a purist might want to read in..."Yes, I emailed it to him. I'll bet he can't find it. LOL
PS-I'll remind him at supper tonight.
Nina wrote: "Isn't it interesting how much discussion Mr. Hornblower stirred up among us?"Yes! C.S. Forester would be very pleased.
I started listening to Hornblower and the Atropos, but had to quit. Nicolas Coster's reading had me ready to cut my own throat in under 5 minutes. I gritted my teeth & concentrated more on driving hoping against all hope that it would improve. It didn't. Had to stop or my teeth were going to break.Slow, ponderous, awful!
Christian Rodska read all the previous books & did a great job. Looks like he read the rest that my library has, too. I guess I'll have to get the ebook & read it.
Jim wrote: "I started listening to Hornblower and the Atropos, but had to quit. Nicolas Coster's reading had me ready to cut my own throat in under 5 minutes. I gritted my teeth & concentrated mor..."Jim, I can sympathize with your feeling about the reader. Readers can make or break an audio book. I had a similar experience with an annoying reader once. See my review about a reader/narrator who sounded haughty, pompous, and pretentious. The link is:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I can't remember now who was the narrator for the "All Creatures Great and Small," audio series but he was wonderful. I felt I was in the room listening to him talk. I agree the narrator can make or break a book's theme.
I streamed an unusually good movie from Netflix the other day:"The English Teacher" (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2055765/?...
"An English teacher's life is disrupted when a former student returns to her small town after failing as a playwright in New York."
Stars: Julianne Moore, Michael Angarano, Greg Kinnear & Nathan Lane.
No subtitles but they weren't necessary since the sound was very clear.
There's more to the movie than the description gives you. I gave it 5 stars.
Mostly struck out with our latest Netflix so will try your suggestion and add The English Teacher.Oops, it is rated R and it's not usually our thing with that rating.
Nina, I didn't see anything wrong with The English Teacher. There is an intimate scene but it's short. I'm used to seeing that stuff by now. LOL
Joy, the intimate scene wouldn't bother us, what bothers is a lot of bad vulgar language. So, it that is not the case in that movie it's worth trying.
Nina, I don't remember any offensive language. At least nothing that offended me.
Joy, after reading a of the description of The English Teacher, I realized I had alread seen it. The title didn't ring a bell but yes, it was an interesting movie now that I am reminded.
Nina wrote: "Joy, after reading a of the description of The English Teacher, I realized I had alread seen it. The title didn't ring a bell but yes, it was an interesting movie now that I am reminded."Glad you saw it, Nina.
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Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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Jackie, I agree with you about the winter seeming so long.