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Movies, DVDs, and Theater
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Have you seen any good movies lately? (Part THREE - 2010)
message 951:
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Jackie
(last edited Sep 12, 2010 08:17AM)
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Sep 12, 2010 08:17AM
Joy, Legally Blonde is one of those movies I've always meant to watch but still haven't gotten around to it. I've always liked Reese Witherspoon.
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Werner, what really bothers me is that many kids, like my son, won't bother checking the facts and think this skewed version is the truth. Historic-fiction is when the unknown parts of a historic person's person life are painted upon the historically accurate canvas of their known life. They can play with the fiction part all they want, it's the historic inaccuracies that are disturbing to me. And even more disturbing is that it wouldn't have taken more than a minute to give the historically accurate details of King Richard's death, yet the movie was 2 1/2 hours with plenty of unnecessary scenes.
Jackie, Reese Witherspoon was especially delightful in "Legally Blonde". It's the first time I've really noticed how charming she can be, although I was familiar with her name and face.Here's her filmography:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000702/
I did see her in "Vanity Fair" (2004) (Netflix DVD).
http://www.netflix.com/Search?oq=&...
OOOOH! I see that she's slated to appear in "Water for Elephants" (2011) (in post-production).
I LOVED that book: Water for Elephants (2006) by Sara Gruen
I'll look forward to that film!
PS-Oh, WOW! Robert Pattinson will also be in "Water for Elephants"! That will be interesting!http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1067583/
I remember seeing him for the first time in the Vampire film we saw together ("Twilight" ?). He was so handsome in that film.
PPS-From IMDb trivia:"In a deleted scene of Vanity Fair (2004), Reese Witherspoon plays Robert Pattinson's mother. In Water for Elephants (2011), they play lovers."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1067583/t...
I don't remember him in Vanity Fair. But it was a while ago I saw it. Yes, he was handsome in Twilight. I think it was more his brooding personality than actual looks.
I can't find any info on Water for Elephants. Do you know what it's supposed to be about?
Joy, that's one of Barb's favorite movies! (I probably wouldn't rate it quite as highly as she does, but I definitely like it too; so ditto to what you said.) There's also a sequel, Legally Blonde II, that takes the now-graduated Elle to Washington, D.C. The premise isn't quite as fresh there, but it's as well-done, and fans of the first one would probably like the second also (I did :-)).
Jackie, Pattinson was uncredited in Vanity Fair. So it must have been a very small part.Here's the synopsis for the film "Water for Elephants:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1067583/s...
I doubt if any description or synopsis can do the book justice. I think you have to read it to appreciate it. It really keeps you reading. As for the movie, we'll see. :)
Thanks, Werner! I've added it to my queue:"Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde" (2003):
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Legally-...
You're welcome, Joy! Hope you like it.Jackie, you're exactly right (message 952)! And this isn't the only movie that does that. One of the History teachers at the college where I work gives an annual assignment where her students have to watch a "historical" movie of their choice and then write a research paper comparing it with actual history. For most of them, I'd imagine that's quite an eye-opener!
Joy, Water for Elephants sounds great. Thanks for the synopsis link.Werner, that's a great way to teach the students the difference between Hollywood and reality.
Yes, Jackie, it is --I just wish I'd thought of it, back when I was teaching history! :-)
Kids seem to enjoy unique ways of being taught.
Dexter Season4 Disc 1 FINALLY available from Netflix. It was as good as usualhttp://www.netflix.com/Movie/Dexter-S...
but the DVD will no longer let you fast-forward thru the Showtime junk to get to the movie. Might as well turn the player on, walk away for 5 minutes to let it pass thru the dreck. The series is staying pretty true to the books, but I hope they avoid the supernatural angle explored in the books. This DVD DID make mention of Dexter's "Dark Passenger" which I can't remember referenced in the series before. (it's all through the books) IMHO I don't think Dexter needs the supernatural and it would detract from a successful series.
Jackie wrote: "Kids seem to enjoy unique ways of being taught."Yes, Jackie, they also benefit from being taught a subject via several different methods and points of view.
The following article might interest you:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/07/hea...
The article is mostly about study habits, but it also points out some interesting things about the learning process.
Excerpt:
=================================================
"Varying the type of material studied in a single sitting — alternating, for example, among vocabulary, reading and speaking in a new language — seems to leave a deeper impression on the brain than does concentrating on just one skill at a time. Musicians have known this for years, and their practice sessions often include a mix of scales, musical pieces and rhythmic work. Many athletes, too, routinely mix their workouts with strength, speed and skill drills."
====================================================
Earl wrote: "... Dexter Season4 Disc 1 FINALLY available from Netflix. ... but the DVD will no longer let you fast-forward thru the Showtime junk to get to the movie. ..."Earl, I too find it annoying when I have to sit through many minutes of trailers before the start of a DVD film. As usual, the advertisers are overstepping their bounds with the public. I'm waiting for the public to start complaining loudly, especially about the increasing number and duration of commercials we are forced to watch when watching TV.
I wonder if the advertisers realize that they are actually driving their audiences away.
Earl wrote: This DVD DID make mention of Dexter's "Dark Passenger"The Dark Passenger has been mentioned in previous seasons, I took it to be the killer in him. Dexter often alludes to the serial killer as if it were a separate identity. Not split personality exactly, since Dexter is aware of it. Part of him but separate.
It's pretty much the heart of the show, how Dexter lives a completely normal life most of the time juxtaposed by the Dark Passenger creeping out from time to time. Rarely is the Dark Passenger mentioned but he's there.
Before I say anything that'd be a spoiler, did you finish the entire Season 4, Earl?
Joy wrote: The following article might interest youThat was very interesting; I think more should be done to teach children individually, teach by how they respond. Kids aren't all the same and I never bought into the idea of putting these kids into a box; it doesn't work.
I recently streamed "De-Lovely" (2004) from Netflix:http://www.netflix.com/Movie/De-Lovel...
"Kevin Kline stars as the celebrated 20th-century composer Cole Porter..."
I gave it 5 stars out of 5.
I had seen the movie before, but this time I enjoyed the music even more because I was using headphones, which always enhance the musical experience.
Kevin Kline was terrific as Cole Porter. It's a shame he didn't win any awards. He was nominated for a Golden Globe award and a Satellite Award but didn't win. (He lost to Jamie Foxx who won the Golden Globe award for his part in "Ray".)
Ashley Judd played an excellent part as Cole's wife, Linda. Judd was also nominated for a Golden Globe but lost to Annette Bening who starred in "Being Julia".
Golden Globes - 2005:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/62nd_Gol...
Roger Ebert, in his review of the film said:
=====================================================
"De-Lovely" is a musical and a biography, and brings to both of those genres a worldly sophistication that is rare in the movies."
"Kevin Kline is ideally cast as Cole Porter: elegant, witty, always onstage, brave in the face of society and his own pain."
FROM: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
====================================================
James Berardinelli's review says:
====================================================
"... Kline's marvelous performance. The actor buries himself in the role, making Porter come alive on the screen."
FROM: http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_t...
====================================================
If you like Cole Porter's music, you will LOVE this movie.
If you like Kevin Kline, you will ADORE him in this movie.
Thanks, Joy, I haven't heard of this movie. I like both Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd so I think I'll rent it one of these days. I'll put it on my list. This is my last week to catch up on movies before the Fall TV season starts but I've already got a few I have to watch first. If I can get them done quick enough and get them back to the store, I'll be able to get De-Lovely.
Jackie, I think you'll like "De-Lovely".Here's the trailer:
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/...
Some good scenes from the movie, on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z4zFI...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqhxzL...
I read that Kevin Kline did his own singing and playing, when at the piano.
I rented Letters to Juliet, Prince of Persia, and Princess K___ (forget the name, the one about the Hawaiian prncess).I just finished watching Letters to Juliet and it was fabulous! Ladies, you'll love it. I highly recommend it, it'll please the romantic in you. Beautiful story filmed in beautiful Tuscany and Verona. No spoilers, just trust me, don't miss this one.
Thanks, Jackie. I have "Letters to Juliet" on my Netflix queue but it says I have a "long wait"."Letters to Juliet" (2010)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Letters-...
"This movie is: Feel-good, Romantic, Emotional."
"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (2010)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Prince-o...
"This movie is: Exciting."
"Princess Kaiulani"(2009)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Princess...
"Lush scenery and gorgeous photography highlight this bio of Princess Kaiulani, a 19th-century Hawaiian princess..."
All three were just released to DVD so that's probably why there'll be a long wait.How long is the 'long wait' usually?
Jackie wrote: "... How long is the 'long wait' usually?"I don't know, Jackie. I should pay more attention. :) I'll try to let you know when I receive "Letters to Juliet".
Jackie wrote: "Earl wrote: This DVD DID make mention of Dexter's "Dark Passenger"The Dark Passenger has been mentioned in previous seasons, I took it to be the killer in him. Dexter often alludes to the serial..."
No, Jackie, I only watched Disk 1 Season 4 so far. I plan to ration them out instead of getting them one after another. One of the Dexter books makes the Dark Passenger a supernatural entity. I'm used to that stuff in books, but it usually gets necessarily cheapened up and ruined when tv tries to do it.
Earl, OK, then, I won't comment on Season 4. But you have watched Season 3? That's my favorite season, Jimmy Smits' role was outstanding. The way they built the character changes was incredible!
I haven't read the Dexter books yet. I'm not sure I'd like the Dark Passenger as a supernatural entity. I guess it'd depend on how the author did it. I think for TV, it's best left as is. This show really works and I'm so looking forward to the new season later in the month.
I just finished watching the Netflix DVD of "Temple Grandin". I gave it 5 stars out of 5. It won many Emmy Awards. I found it amazing."Temple Grandin" (2010)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Temple_G...
"Claire Danes stars as Temple Grandin, a brilliant young woman coping with the stigma of autism ..."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1278469/p...
"A biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who has become one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry."
PS-The film, "Temple Grandin", was adapted from the following books written by Temple Grandin:Emergence: Labeled Autistic
Thinking In Pictures and Other Reports from My Life with Autism
From Wiki:
===================================================
"During Temple's college years, she conceptualized the squeeze machine, which was designed for herself because she had a sensory integration dysfunction and disliked physical affection by people. The machine hugs both sides of her to calm her down, as she controls the pressure, and it makes her relaxed whenever she becomes tense."
FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_G...
====================================================
That sounds like a good one. Onto the List!
I just have to post this because I'm excited... I'm going to see The Girl Who Played with Fire on Sunday! :)
Jenni, I want to know how it is. Where are you seeing it at?
Oh boy, Jenni! For some reason I hadn't realized that Stieg Larsson's books had been made into films!Now I see that all 3 books in the trilogy have been made into films. Below are the books:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005)
The Girl Who Played with Fire (2006)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2007)
In fact, the film of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (2009) can now be streamed from Netflix.
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The-Girl...
"This movie is: Scary, Suspenseful, Mind-bending, Violent."
(I'm not sure this film is for me.)
However, I browsed through a copy of the book on the shelf at Walmart and I could see that the author had a very engaging writing style. That interested me.
The other two films in the trilogy will also be available at Netflix on DVD sometime in the future.
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The-Girl...
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The-Girl...
PS-I notice that the language in the films is Swedish.
Joy, how can you tell what language they're in? I can never seem to find that info anywhere.I saw the 2009 Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I couldn't tell if it was dubbed or not, it was that good. I hope the next two films are more of the same.
Jackie wrote: "Joy, how can you tell what language they're in? I can never seem to find that info anywhere.I saw the 2009 Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I couldn't tell if it was dubbed or not, it was that good..."
Jackie, the Netflix descriptions which I linked above say: "Language: Swedish".
This very moment, I'm streaming "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (2009) from Netflix. The actors are speaking Swedish and there are English subtitles.
Could it be that you saw a version which was dubbed in English?
PS-Jackie, if you scroll down on the following IMDb page, you will see a section called: "Additional Details". It says: "Language: Swedish | English".http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1132620/
It must have been dubbed because there were no subtitles. Thanks for telling me where to look. I wish it was more detailed, such as dubbed, subtitled, etc.
Another thing I like to know is where a movie was filmed, I can never find that online and have to wait til I rent it and watch the credits.
Hi All!Jackie - I'm going to see the film at the Bijou Theatre in Iowa City. The Bijou gets a lot of smaller and independent films.
I saw The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in August... it was the English dubbed version. I have to say that they did a great job in producing a movie version, but they had to cut so much out!
I'm looking forward to seeing the movie on Sunday. :)
Jenni,That's great that you get independent films, we only get the big blockbusters. I'd have to go to Saratoga or albany to see any independent films. Usually I just wait to rent them.
I can hardly wait for you to tell us how it is!
Yes, Jackie, it would be helpful to be able to find that info.At Wiki, I found the following about "The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo":
====================================================
"The film became available on DVD and Blu-ray on July 6, 2010 in North America. The DVD includes both the original Swedish-language version and an English-language dubbed version."
"An English-language film adaptation, based on the same novel, written by Steven Zaillian, and directed by David Fincher, is in the works for release in 2011. The film's release date has been confirmed for December 21, 2011."
FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl...
=====================================================
PS-In his review of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (2009), Roger Ebert said:====================================================
"It is destined to be remade by Hollywood. That remake may turn out to be a good film, but if I were you I'd be sure to watch this version. The Hollywood version will almost certainly tone down the sexual violence. I can't think of an American actress who could play Lisbeth. Kristen Stewart, who I respect, has been mentioned. Dakota Fanning. I dunno. A younger Jodie Foster, maybe. Someone able to play hard as nails and emotionally unavailable. Make her a Swede, and simply cast Noomi Rapace."
FROM: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
====================================================
Right now, I'm watching Noomi Rapace playing Lisbeth as I stream the film. She certainly is daunting. In the IMDb trivia, it says:
=====================================================
"In an interview on the BBC Breakfast programme, Noomi Rapace stated she prepared for seven months for her role. She was on a strict diet, took kick boxing lessons and had her eyebrow and nose pierced."
FROM: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1132620/t...
====================================================
I just watched Princess Kaiulani; it was OK but much of historic note was incorrect, as usual in movies. I don't know why they want to make of a historic person and then not supply the facts.I'm going to see if I can get Temple Grandin when I return the movies tomorrow.
I have "Princess Kaiulani" on my Netflix queue, but there'll be a "long wait".Meanwhile I've been watching the three-disc, British TV mini-series from Netflix called "Island at War"(2004), which "examines the lives of three different families caught on the islands (Channel Islands) at the outbreak of World War II." The islands were under German occupation at that time and the inter-action of the German soldiers with the civilians leads to highly suspenseful situations. I'm giving the series 5 stars out of 5.
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Island-a...
A while ago, I listened to an audio version of the book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which treats the same subject, but was a bit lighter in point of view. IMDb says it's "in development" as a film for 2011. I look forward to that one.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1289403/
Today on TV ("Live with Regis and Kelly"), Anderson Cooper mentioned that the following movie is a good one to see. He said not to tell anyone what it's about:"Catfish" (2010)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Catfish/...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1584016/
Tagline: "Don't let anyone tell you what it is."
"A new suspense-filled documentary thriller in theatres Friday, Catfish, is difficult to describe, but looks fascinating in part because of its mysteriousness."
FROM: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1584016/n...
According to IMDb, its "release date" in the USA was January 22, 2010. I've saved it to my Netflix queue.
Netflixed The Road. http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The-Road...
Depressing, dark and sad. 3 stars out of 5 from me. But what GREAT propaganda for the NRA! 'DON'T be caught without a long gun and lots of ammo after an atomic catastrophe!' The film reminds me of the type of nightmares I too often have: helpless, can't find a firearm, can't get there from here, etc, etc. The writers don't seem to know how normal people think: I wouldn't even have thought of using a grocery cart as a conveyance for a long trip. Supermarkets make them non-utile on purpose so they aren't stolen by the thousands. Surely with 'all their friends dying' there were a few left-over guns available? All those empty houses, there weren't guns in any of them? This is AMERICA. Except for the cities, where the cops are afraid of getting their rice bowls broken, we ALL got guns.
Earl wrote: "Netflixed The Road. http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The-Road...
Depressing, dark and sad. 3 stars out of 5 from me. But what GREAT propaganda for the NRA! 'DON'T be caught without ..."
Thanks for the link, Earl.
Netflix says: "Charlize Theron co-stars in this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, set in a fictional near future in which the world has been virtually destroyed."
Too dark for me.
GR description of the book: The Road (2006) by Cormac McCarthy
I've read only one book by Cormac McCarthy: All the Pretty Horses (1992). He writes beautifully but to me the plot was vague, perhaps because of his "modern" style of writing (not enough exposition, i.e., not enough explanation of what's going on. I need that.)
I finished streaming the film, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", which we were discussing above.It kept my attention, a high priority at this point. :) It had a good ending. However, the abuse was hard to take. I worry about the effects of that sort of literature/film on our culture. I think it desensitizes us. What kinds of minds are able to create those kinds of images? Strange.
I had to fast forward through those scenes, Joy. Extremely brutal. It doesn't desensitize me but I can't say how it affects others. What bothers me isn't the minds that create this fictional imagery but the minds of those who do these things in reality.
Jackie, fast-forwarding is a big advantage when using DVDs. It's not as easy when streaming, although it's possible. When streaming, it's difficult for me to pinpoint the scenes exactly; it's hit or miss when trying to "slide" the scroll bar.One disadvantage of fast-forwarding is that you might miss some important dialogue. But at least you avoid the horror.
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