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Movies, DVDs, and Theater
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Have you seen any good movies lately? (Part THREE - 2010)
Arnie wrote: " There was an excellent film version of Turn of the Screw, called The Innocents, (1961)---adapted by Gore Vidal---stars Deborah Kerr as the governess---on my all-time best scary films list."This is an addendum to my reply to Arnie in Message #49.
I just noticed the following comment at the Wiki web page about "The Turn of the Screw":
"Perhaps the most highly regarded adaptation is The Innocents (1961) directed by Jack Clayton and starring Deborah Kerr."
FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turn...
The webpage lists the many different adaptations which have been done over the years.
Remember we talked about 3D hurting your eyes?Eric's friend Derrick is here and said he saw Avatar in 3D but it hurt his eyes. He did wear the glasses after the movie acting silly with his friends. But still, it's worth a mention I think.
Jackie wrote: "That's a version I'd like to see."I'm looking forward to it.
I checked the "Trivia" page at IMDb on this film ("The Innocents"). It's interesting:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055018/t...
Excerpts:
"Quint's unworldly appearance at the window was achieved by putting actor Peter Wyngarde on a trolley and wheeling him up to and then away from the window."
"Deborah Kerr always regarded this as her finest performance."
"Jack Clayton didn't want the children to be exposed to the darker themes of the story, so they never saw the screenplay in its entirety. The children were given their pages the day before they were to be filmed."
"20th Century Fox executives were highly nervous about the admittedly unsettling scene where the governess kisses the boy Miles directly on his lips."
"Much of the screenplay is not actually derived from Henry James's novella "The Turn of the Screw" but from William Archibald's 1950 Broadway adaptation 'The Innocents'."
Jackie wrote: "Remember we talked about 3D hurting your eyes? Eric's friend Derrick is here and said he saw Avatar in 3D but it hurt his eyes. He did wear the glasses after the movie acting silly with his friends. But still, it's worth a mention I think."Hmmm, see the following:
Title of article: "The Problem With 3-D - It hurts your eyes. Always has, always will."
By Daniel Engber
http://www.slate.com/id/2215265/pagen...
Also see:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...
Here's the entire Google hit page on "Does 3D hurt your eyes"
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sour...
I just read about a British remake of Dorian Gray, starring Colin Firth as Lord Henry, on DVD in the UK Sept 2009. Looking for it here.I loved the original. I was young when I saw it, maybe 12 or so, I'll never forget that corrupted picture of him. It stuck with me all these years. I haven't seen a remake but I'd like to give this one a try when I find it.
You can never go wrong with Colin Firth.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1235124/
Jackie wrote: "I just read about a British remake of Dorian Gray, starring Colin Firth as Lord Henry, on DVD in the UK Sept 2009. ... I loved the original. I was young when I saw it ... I haven't seen a remake but I'd like to give this one a try when I find it. You can never go wrong with Colin Firth.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1235124/ "
Thanks, Jackie. I agree. This is a "must-see". I too remember seeing "The Picture of Dorian Gray". (1945) It was unforgettable.
Netflix description: http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Pict...
"When his portrait is painted, Gray makes a Faustian bargain: The picture will age while he stays young and handsome..."
This new film, "Dorian Gray" (2009) with Colin Firth sounds exciting.
Netflix description: http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Dorian_G...
IMDb: "A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty eternally, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all."
Of course we have to tip our hat to the original novel, _The Picture of Dorian Gray_,
by Oscar Wilde.
I think Angela Lansbury was in the original movie.
Katherine wrote: "I think Angela Lansbury was in the original movie."Thanks, Katherine. Lansbury plays the part of the beautiful, but unfortunate Sybil in "The Picture of Dorian Gray. Here's the IMDb cast listing:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037988/
The cast also includes George Sanders, Peter Lawford, and Donna Reed.
In the 2009 movie, Sybil is played by Rachel Hurd-Wood.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1235124/
Smooop.com says: "'The Picture of Dorian Gray' was Oscar Wilde's only novel (he's mostly famous for his plays, poetry, and short stories)..."
http://www.shmoop.com/picture-dorian-...
Here's Smoop's character listing:
http://www.shmoop.com/picture-dorian-...
In the 2009 movie, Colin Firth plays Lord Henry Wotton:
From Shmoop:
"...with friends like Lord Henry, who needs enemies? This hedonistic, selfish aristocrat has the whole world at his fingertips, and, rather than doing something good for humanity, he simply goes about his business in a totally self-indulgent manner."
http://www.shmoop.com/picture-dorian-...
It's amazing how totally different groups sometimes get on the same subject simultaneously! Over on a British Literature group I belong to, someone just brought up the original Wilde novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray --we agreed that it's a masterpiece. And I loved the 1945 movie version, too.
Werner wrote: "It's amazing how totally different groups sometimes get on the same subject simultaneously! Over on a British Literature group I belong to, someone just brought up the original Wilde novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray..."The new 2009 movie will probably spark more reading of the book too.
Re the Deborah Kerr movie The Innocents, the scene with the governess kissing the child Miles on the lips doesn't occur in the original Turn of the Screw. So that's evidently one example of material derived from the Broadway "adaptation," rather than from the book itself.
Werner wrote: "Re the Deborah Kerr movie The Innocents, the scene with the governess kissing the child Miles on the lips doesn't occur in the original Turn of the Screw. So that's evidently one example of material derived from the Broadway "adaptation," rather than from the book itself."Werner, thanks for pointing that out. I can't even imagine Deborah Kerr agreeing to that scene. I wonder why they just didn't have her kiss the child on the cheek. I can't even imagine a grandmother kissing her grandchild on the lips!
In the versions I saw, it was Miles that kissed the governess. That makes more sense, because he was corrupted by Peter.It was still a strange scene, either way.
Jackie wrote: "In the versions I saw, it was Miles that kissed the governess. That makes more sense, because he was corrupted by Peter. It was still a strange scene, either way."I wish I could remember that part. I saw the version with Colin Firth as the bachelor who wanted nothing to do with the kids. Here's the Netflix description of the version I saw:
"The Turn of the Screw" (1999)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Turn...
The one I saw was a BBC version, from either 2008 or 2009.
P.S. Jackie, did you see one of the "Turn of the Screw" versions listed at the following Netflix page?http://www.netflix.com/Search?v1=The%...
I'm going to try watching the version with Lynn Redgrave.
I'll pay special attention to the kiss (if there is one). :)
Jackie wrote: "The one I saw was a BBC version, from either 2008 or 2009."I see. Netflix doesn't seem to offer that one.
No, and I don't see it listed on imdb either. Maybe it's too new? It probably just aired on BBC.
I don't know any of the actors in it so I can't even look it up that way. It might not be on DVD yet.
Jackie wrote: "No, and I don't see it listed on imdb either. Maybe it's too new? It probably just aired on BBC. "Jackie wrote: "I don't know any of the actors in it so I can't even look it up that way. It might not be on DVD yet."
It must be very new.
Last night I watched my Netflix DVD entitled:"Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds (2001)"
"The documentary highlights Rodgers's fruitful collaborations with lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II and features archival footage and live sessions with Julie Andrews, Shirley Jones and other great performers."
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Richard_...
The DVD is a feast for lovers of Rodger's music. There I was at two o'clock in the morning, singing along with Gordon McCrae as he rides his horse through the scenic cornfields: "Oh What a Beautiful Morning"! LOL
PS-That was from the great hit musical "Oklahoma"!
I also recently watched the Netflix DVD of:Saving Sarah Cain (2007), which Jackie and Nina had told us about.
It's a sweet movie with some sad parts which are resolved nicely in end. The juxtaposition of the old-fashioned Amish life with modern life in the big city was impressive. I thought they overdid the modern interior decoration of the city apartment, but I suppose that enhanced the contrast. (To me the apartment seemed cold and uninviting.)
The movie was an adaptation of the book: _The Redemption of Sarah Cain_ by Beverly Lewis. Beverly Lewis was raised in Pennsylvania Amish country. In fact, she appears in the bonus section of the DVD, commenting on the story.
As Jackie explained, the story centers around city-girl Sarah who takes over the raising of her deceased sister's Amish children. Her sister had married into the Amish community and that's how the connection between the city and the Amish country came about. The scenes in the movie of the Amish countryside in PA are absolutely beautiful!
I remember that, when touring the Amish countryside, I realized that the spacious rolling farmlands of PA could be as beautiful to me as the open waters we enjoy when gazing from our boat and the Lake George islands. You still feel the freedom of the ocean.
I put in the order for it at the library. I hope it comes soon, I'd really like to see this movie.
Jackie wrote: "I put in the order for it at the library. I hope it comes soon, I'd really like to see this movie."I especially appreciated the performance of the actress who played the eldest Amish daughter, Lyddie. Her name is Abigail Mason. See her IMDb page at:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2211996/
In fact, all the Amish kids were very appealing. I usually don't go in for kids in pictures. Don't know why. I guess it's because some of them are too sugary. But that wasn't the case in this movie.
LINKS TO THE MOVIE DESCRIPTIONS:
"Saving Sarah Cain" (2007)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918557/
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Saving_S...
PS-I see that Abigail Mason won an award for her role in this movie (and a nomination):
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2211996/aw...
I enjoy reading what professional critics have to say because sometimes I learn something from them. They bring up angles I've never thought about. Today I found an enlighteniing article at:http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/i...
In the article referenced above, the critic (David Parker) compares David Lean's direction to the direction of Joseph Hardy in their handling of their different movie adaptations of " Great Expectations ".
Since I recently viewed both versions of the movie, I was able to appreciate the fine distinctions made in the review.
David Lean's version of "Great Expectations" (1946):
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Great_Ex...
Joseph Hardy's version of "Great Expectations" (1974) (with Michael York & James Mason):
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Great_Ex...
The critic brings up a number of interesting angles but the one he didn't mention was how well Hardy's version shows the the streets of London, complete with detailed period costumes, vehicles and architecture. This wonderful representation enhanced the mood and setting of the film for me. Lean did this somewhat, but Hardy did it better, owing perhaps to newer technical advances over the years.
NOTE: I've started a separate new topic (entitled "Comparing Directors") with this message at:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...
Thank you thank you, whoever steered me to Dogmahttp://www.netflix.com/Movie/Dogma/26...
in this movie thread. Netflixed it and really enjoyed it. Also saw Defiance
http://www.netflix.com/Search?v1=Defi...
which was also enjoyable, but not as entertaining as Dogma. I got the book from the library, haven't read it yet, but it has star Daniel Craig on cover so I fear it may be just a screenplay, which I don't much enjoy AFTER I've seem the movie.
Earl wrote: "Thank you thank you, whoever steered me to Dogmahttp://www.netflix.com/Movie/Dogma/26...
in this movie thread. Netflixed it and really enjoyed it. Also saw Defiance..."
Jim mentioned the film, "Dogma" in Message #28 of this topic and Jackie discussed it further. I still haven't watched it, although it's on my Netflix queue. Seems I'm hardly ever in the mood for the darker movies, but I sometimes enjoy them after I've been drawn in.
Today I'm Netflixing another version of "The Turn of the Screw' with Lynn Regrave, made in 1974.
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Turn...
It's very different from the version with Colin Firth, made in 1999. In the 1974 version with Lynn Redgrave, the boy, Miles, is older, about 16 years old. There are quite a few scenes and slants which I don't remember seeing at all in the 1999 film.
I guess I'm going to have to read the original Henry James novella, The Turn of the Screw, to learn the workings of the original plot. (Yes, I've been drawn into this famous dark tale.)
Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to viewing the other film version of the story with Deborah Kerr, entitled "The Innocents" (1961).
Dogma is one of my favorites, Earl. I could do without Jay's cussing - it's over the top & detracts from the movie to the point where I almost quit watching - but otherwise, it's fantastic. George Carlin make a wonderful Catholic Bishop!
Jackie wrote: "Dogma isn't dark, it's a comedy."Thanks, Jackie. I guess the mention of all the cursing in it made me think it was dark.
Netflix says:
"Genre: Indie Comedies, Religious Comedies & Satires, Spoofs and Satire"
"This movie is: Suspenseful, Goofy, Controversial"
Here's the N-link:
http://www.netflix.com/Search?oq=&...
I know I'd be interested in seeing George Carlin as the Bishop! He's great at satire.
Yes, the Jay character is disgusting, repulsive.
I just watched 'Surrogates' (Bruce Willis, James Cromwell)IMDB: People are living their lives remotely from the safety of their own homes via robotic surrogates -- sexy, physically perfect mechanical representations of themselves. It's an ideal world where crime, pain, fear and consequences don't exist. When the first murder in years jolts this utopia, FBI agent Greer discovers a vast conspiracy behind the surrogate phenomenon and must abandon his own surrogate, risking his life to unravel the mystery.
Good movie. I find the idea of robotic surrogates frightening and realistic. I can totally see people doing living vicariously through robotic counterparts if the technology were available.
Jackie wrote: "I just watched 'Surrogates' (Bruce Willis, James Cromwell) IMDB: People are living their lives remotely from the safety of their own homes via robotic surrogates -- sexy, physically perfect mechan..."Jackie, here's the Netflix page on "Surrogates" (2009):
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Surrogat...
The description says it's based on the graphic novel, The Surrogates by Robert Venditti.
Sounds so weird. Seems to have echoes of the movie, "The Stepford Wives", although the plot is very different.
Tonight I watched one of my all-time favorite movies:"A Place in the Sun", starring Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelly Winters. The screen play is based on one of my all-time favorite books:Theodore Dreiser's "An American Tragedy". The book is an American classic, based on a early twentieth century murder that occurred on Big Moose Lake in the Adirondacks. Dreiser parallels the original crime. The movie, although set in the 1950's is true to the book. Both get 5 stars from me.
Katherine wrote: "Tonight I watched one of my all-time favorite movies:"A Place in the Sun" [1951:], starring Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelly Winters. The screen play is based on one of my all-time favorite books:Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy [1925:] ... Both get 5 stars from me. "Yes, Katherine, that was such a sad story, but a good one.
Below are excerpts from IMDb's trivia about the movie:
====================================================
"The box office failure of the 1931 adaptation of An American Tragedy (1931) prompted the filmmakers to seek an alternative title. One such title was "The Prize". There was a $100 reward for whoever came up with the best new title, and George Stevens's associate Ivan Moffat successfully pitched for 'A Place in the Sun'. He never received his $100 reward."
"Shelley Winters soon developed mixed feeling toward director George Stevens for making her look so unglamorous alongside Elizabeth Taylor. Her role, moreover, typecast her in mousy or brassy parts. Winters said she drove white Cadillac convertibles (similar to Taylor's in the film) for years afterward to compensate for her intense feelings of inferiority while making the film."
FROM: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043924/t...
====================================================
Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Katherine wrote: "Tonight I watched one of my all-time favorite movies:"A Place in the Sun" [1951:], starring Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelly Winters. The screen play is based on one of ..."I can see where Shelly Winters would feel inferior to Elizabeth Taylor. First of all, she WAS Elizabeth Taylor in all her young glory, and second Shelly Winters was portrayed as less than plain girl, looking for attention and love.
I once did a thesis on the character of Sondra (the Elizabeth Taylor role) from Dreiser's book. There were many layers to that young woman, although the movie played her as rather one dimensional.
Katherine wrote: "... I once did a thesis on the character of Sondra (the Elizabeth Taylor role) from Dreiser's book. There were many layers to that young woman, although the movie played her as rather one dimensional."Interesting point, Katherine. I suppose we all have many sides to our personality. We only show our real selves to people with whom we're comfortable. If a writer showed all the different possible sides of his character's personality, the reader might become confused. What a hard job it must be for a writer to render his characters well. It's certainly something to take notice of as we read.
"Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody." -Mark Twain
Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Katherine wrote: "... I once did a thesis on the character of Sondra (the Elizabeth Taylor role) from Dreiser's book. There were many layers to that young woman, although the movie played her as ra..."I remember that "Dark Side of the Moon" was the name of the lakeside lodge in "Leave Her to Heaven" Another great movie made from another great book.
I guess I'm just a font of trivia today.
Katherine wrote: " ... I remember that "Dark Side of the Moon" was the name of the lakeside lodge in "Leave Her to Heaven" Another great movie made from another great book.""Leave Her to Heaven" (1945)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Leave_He...
Here's the book:
Leave Her to Heaven by Ben Ames Williams
Two movies today:Dorian Gray was really good, better than I remember the original. Dorian was pretty decadent in this one. An unusual role for Colin Firth as the Harry, who sets Dorian on the decadent lifestyle. Definitely recommend this one.
Gamer was the other one. The premise disturbed me: nanotechnology in the cerebral cortex replaces brain cells so you can be controlled in a game. Real live people being controlled by other real live people. Again, that living vicariously through others like in Surrogate but even more disturbing. There was a nefarious master plan so there is a plot, if thin.
It had the shaky camera in some scenes which I do not like at all. I know it's supposed to simulate realism, as if I were running, following etc, but it's a movie, I don't need that and I don't like it. A lot of violent scenes that were too long. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone.
Speaking of shaky cameras, my sister and I tried streaming "Rachel Getting Married (2008)" from Netflix last night. The camera work was awful. It was as though an amateur were taking a home video. It made us both a bit dizzy. So we stopped watching.Here are the Netflix pages to the movies Jackie mentioned:
Dorian Gray (2009)
http://www.netflix.com/Search?oq=&...
Gamer - Citizen Game (2009) R
http://www.netflix.com/Search?oq=&...
That's it, Joy! Dizzy! Not a good feeling.
Jackie wrote: "That's it, Joy! Dizzy! Not a good feeling."Yes, Jackie. It almost makes you nauseous.
I saw The Road this afternoon. I don't know why I watched it, maybe I thought the movie would be better than the book. It was, in some ways, but still so hopeless. I couldn't see the point of trying to survive in such a hostile world.
Jackie wrote: "I saw The Road this afternoon. I don't know why I watched it, maybe I thought the movie would be better than the book. It was, in some ways, but still so hopeless. ..."I haven't read or seen it but below are relevant links:
"The Road" (2009)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Road...
"From the ash-covered, post-apocalyptic remains of Appalachia, the Father and Son take to the road in search of a better life."
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (2007)
Jackie wrote: "I saw The Road this afternoon. I don't know why I watched it, maybe I thought the movie would be better than the book. It was, in some ways, but still so hopeless. I couldn't see the point of tr..."
Humans want to survive, that's the strongest instinct that exists. I definitely see your point, and partially agree, but instinct must take over at some point. I've read the book, but cannot agree that it is totally hopeless. The ending signified, to me at least, that there was indeed better available out there, and the love between the father and son was incredibly uplifting.
I've been on the fence about seeing the film, but I think I've come down on the affirmative side, I want to compare it to the book.
Humans want to survive, that's the strongest instinct that exists. I definitely see your point, and partially agree, but instinct must take over at some point. I've read the book, but cannot agree that it is totally hopeless. The ending signified, to me at least, that there was indeed better available out there, and the love between the father and son was incredibly uplifting.
I've been on the fence about seeing the film, but I think I've come down on the affirmative side, I want to compare it to the book.
My writing critique teacher emphasized NO ONE dimensional characters. She said always give them a flaw. No one wants to read about a SAINT that isn't one. And even they had their faults; Look at Mother Teresa who was brave enough to say at times she lost her faith in God. I am just now returned to the real world of ice filled driveways, not quite now, below zero weather and banks of snow drifts three feet or more from sunny seventy degree CA weather. I was visitng my son and his family and part of them live in Baja CA across the road from the Pacific Ocean. Feel sorry for me? While there I read one of my son's books which I recommend to you all; "The Alchemist," by Paulo Coelho. It is fascinating but an easy read. One of the reviewers said it changed his life. Rave reviews! nina
The Road is worth seeing, especially if you've read the book. Though I have to disagree about the end, the boy found a 'family', which is completely unrealistic in that kind of world. But even accepting that as possible, what's left, where's there to go. No trees, plants or animals, no food, kill or be killed (or eaten), all resources gone or unusable. Survival in the most basic animal way is not life, not to me. I get the survival instinct, but I think there is a point when it's time to give up. I can understand why the father couldn't, because of his love for his son. I just found it as depressing as the book.Today I watch Brothers with Tobey Maquire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Sam Shepard and Mare Winningham. Really good movie. This was Tobey Maquire's best acting performance. The preview/commercials are totally misleading. It's more than it appears to be and paints a fair picture of combat related post traumatic stress. I highly recommend it.
After reading the book, "The Road," which I thought was totally depressing I wouldn't go see the movie. I guess that type doesn't appeal to me. I thought the father was miserable to put his young son through all of that. nina
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Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
Books mentioned in this topic
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Mirror Mirror (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Gregory Maguire (other topics)Jeff Kinney (other topics)
Charles Portis (other topics)
Charles Portis (other topics)
Horton Foote (other topics)
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Werner, thanks for the review. I see that there are no less than eight filmed versions of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" at the following Netflix page:
http://www.netflix.com/Search?oq=&...
The production you described above is among them. The description of it says:
====================================================
"The Hound of the Baskervilles" (2000)
"Super-sleuth Sherlock Holmes (Matt Frewer) roams the foggy English moors in search of a killer in this version of Author Conan Doyle's classic mystery. After the strange death of Sir Charles Baskerville, Holmes and Watson (Kenneth Welsh) are on the case. Townsfolk blame Charles's death on a family curse: For centuries, a bloodthirsty hound has haunted the moors, waiting to kill the heir to the Baskerville estate. But Holmes isn't buying it."
FROM: http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Houn...
=====================================================
The GR book description is here: The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
Werner's review of the book is here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I've put the book on my To-Read list because I've always wanted to read a Conan Doyle story. Years ago I started reading one but never finished it. I remember appreciating the wonderful quality of the writing.