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Movies, DVDs, and Theater
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Have you seen any good movies lately? (Part THREE - 2010)
Joy H. wrote: "The TCM Channel is currently showing "Million Dollar Mermaid" (1952) starring Esther Williams.http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Million-......"
Wish I'd jumped on TCM channel (if it hadn't stopped playing MM by then) because the dvd Netflix supplied had been stored under a pile of rocks for several years and gave my player conniptions. I was fairly shocked by the 'head above water' type swimming that Esther Williams demonstrated in the picture. That is SO much harder than keeping your head in the water and swimming flat with a lower drag. I'd forgotten everybody seemed to swim that way when I was a kid. I was never much of an overhand swimmer till I took up lap swim in the 80's. The ending of the movie inferred she was going to be paralyzed by the movie accident. Google searching proves this untrue. Funny way to end a movie. In all, I'm glad I watched it. It satisfies my desire for 'old' flicks for a year or so.
Speaking of Netflix, yesterday's outage on Netflix's website has started some doubts about the future of receiving DVDs by mail versus the streaming of movies. I read that Netflix's streaming in Canada was so successful that there was talk of Netflix concentrating on developing streaming and reducing their DVD mailings.I'm not sure how I'd like this change. The way streaming works now, it hasn't got many of the advantages which DVDs provide such as ease of rewinding to a specific spot, availability of subtitles, and the inclusion of the bonus features. Also, with DVDs I find it much easier to get the movie up on my TV screen. If they go to all streaming, I'll have to invest in another device to get the movie up on my TV screen without needing to switch to the bother of working the Internet on my TV screen first.
Hmmm, maybe Netflix was too good to be true. :-(
Joy H. wrote: "Speaking of Netflix, yesterday's outage on Netflix's website has started some doubts about the future of receiving DVDs by mail versus the streaming of movies. I read that Netflix's streaming in Ca..."I hate to say it, but your take on the matter smells right, Joy. Heck of a lot cheaper to stream movies than pay for/use the post office. I've gotten VERY good service from Netflix of late (not counting that defective dvd I mentioned). I mail it back day x, before the pickup time, get an email confirmation that it's received on day x+1, get email they've shipped my next dvd on day x+2, receive that on on day x=3 or 4. Because the service was so good I've taken to requesting questionable dvds, that I MIGHT like but probably won't. And yes, I'll probably go for that Netflix computer-tv device you mention also IF they include subtitles. No subtitles I quit them.
I don't like the idea that you're basically forced to invest in yet another electronic device. That's the way of electronics, though.
To tell the truth, I'd probably stick with Netflix if I can adapt to their changes easily. Since I've subscribed to the Netflix service, I've seen more movies than I've seen in years. That's because I have never been a regular movie-goer. So it's been a pleasure to catch up on all the movies I've missed over the years.The advantage of streaming is that if you find you aren't enjoying the film, you can bail out immediately and then immediately try another film. There's no waiting for the mailman to deliver DVDs. Unfortunately, as of this date, Netflix's choice of films to stream isn't as half as good as the choice you get when selecting DVDs to be mailed. If and when Netflix starts concentrating on streaming, I'm sure the choice will improve greatly. That might turn out to be a huge improvement after all.
I'm sure they're working on getting more movies to stream right now. Especially if it's their plan for the future.Do you know what the computer-tv device is called, Joy? Eric has a cord he uses to get movies from his computer to play on his TV. It looks like the cord that connect the monitor to the computer tower. I'm not sure if it's the same cord, but it looks like it.
Jackie, the following Netflix webpage may help to answer your question:http://www.netflix.com/GetStartedStre...
The page is called: "Get started watching instantly on your TV".
I can't get in, it's asking for me to sign in. No ig deal, I have no plans to use Netflix anyway. Just curiosity. I haven't been watching many movies, I seem to have gotten over movie watching, too many bad movies or too many similar movies.
Try this:http://www.roku.com/netflixplayer/def...
I followed some links at Netflix and arrived at the above page.
Able to get in, thanks.The Roku offers quite a bit, I think it's great.
Jackie, I know what you mean about "too many bad movies". When they don't draw me in, I stop watching. My options are limited because I don't enjoy many of the popular genres.One DVD from Netflix which I DID enjoy recently was "Letters to Juliet" (2010).
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Letters-...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892318/
Vanessa Redgrave and Amanda Seyfried were very good. The search for Vanessa's character's old flame in Verona, Italy, kept me watching. I was waiting for his appearance as played by Franco Nero, who actually had been her old flame years ago. He played opposite her Guenevere as Lancelot in "Camelot" (1967). They were beautiful together... and young! (They have a son together in real life.)
There was some chemistry missing between Seyfried's love interest and that took away from the film, but I enjoyed it anyway. The scenery in Italy was beautiful and must have been breathtaking on the big screen, as the characters drove through the countryside during their search.
Jackie wrote: "Able to get in, thanks. The Roku offers quite a bit, I think it's great."Hmmm, yes. Maybe I'll end up getting one. :) Currently, I do have the ability to stream onto my TV screen, but first I have to bring up the Internet on my TV screen. Then I must access Netflix from there. It requires too many steps for me, since the keyboard I use isn't my usual keyboard.
I suppose that Roku must require its own keyboard too. It would be nice if I could see how it works.
PS-By the way the movie "Letters to Juliet" (2010) was inspired by the book, Letters to Juliet (2006) by Lise Friedman. The book doesn't tell the story but the film's creators developed the story after reading the book. They came up with a plot which they then made into the movie. The search for an old flame is always a good hook to get people interested. Get Vanessa Redgrave (and Franco Nero!) and you've got a good story and film. :)
Netflixed The Girl With the Dragon Tattoohttp://www.netflix.com/Movie/The-Girl...
Bloody, graphic and interesting. My kinda movie. I would give it 4½ stars, but Netflix only does even numbers so I'll give it 5. I loved Lisbeth (Naomi Rapace) the tough-as-nails traumatized survivor. The dvd does dubbed English and subtitles. Once I finally managed to turn both on I enjoyed the movie.
Earl wrote: "Netflixed The Girl With the Dragon Tattoohttp://www.netflix.com/Movie/The-Girl...
Bloody, graphic and interesting. My kinda movie. I would give it 4½ sta..."
Earl, I liked the surprise ending the best. :)
I just read that the next one, The Girl Who Played With Fire, was released to DVD yesterday. It's not dubbed like Tattoo. I'll probably wait to rent in around Thanksgiving when there's nothing on TV til January.
The TCM Channel is currently showing "Mrs. Pollifax: Spy" (1971)! It started at 5:15 PM and will end at 7:30 PM. I didn't realize that this movie existed! It's based on the wonderful book, The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (1966) (by Dorothy Gilman), which I recently reread after finding it on my shelf.Here's the IMDb link:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067451/
I see that Netflix carries it (via streaming):
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Mrs.-Pol...
Rosalind Russell plays Mrs. Pollifax.
Darren McGavin co-stars.
What a treat!
PS-This was also a TV movie in 1999:
"The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0202045/
Angela Lansbury played Mrs. Pollifax.
Coming up on National Geographic on Sunday Nov 7 at 8PM is Great Migrations. It looks like it's going to be a good one.http://channel.nationalgeographic.com...
Thanks, Jackie. I'll check it out.
We just watched Iron Man 2 last night - got it through the Dish Video on Demand. It was fun.
I checked out the trailer. Looks very exciting. Lots of CGI. Robert Downey Jr. is impressive as Ironman. The distant shots show great views. It's not my kind of film, but I can see how people can be drawn to it."Iron Man 2" (2010)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1228705/
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Iron-...
Here's the trailer:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2256...
IMDb has a long, long list if trivia:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1228705/t...
Jim, Mickey Rourke was fantastic as the Russian dude. Anthony still hasn't see it. Maybe we'll do that this weekend.
Both Downey & Rourke played their parts perfectly. It was definitely an action comic, but perfect for that.
Oddly enough, I was against Downey as Tony Stark. Even though he's an outstanding actor, he didn't fit my vision of Tony Stark. But in under five minutes of the first movie, he changed my mind for good. Now, Downey is Stark in my eyes.I didn't care for Jeff Bridges in the first one, only because his performance was something any actor could have done. But with Mickey Rourke in the 2nd film, only he could have played it like he did. I like Rourke anyway but really appreciated him in IM2. And yes, it's just a comicbook movie but both Downey and Rourke played it like it was the most important film of their careers. That's what sets them both above other actors, the way they give each role top notch performances. I wouldn't mind an Iron Man 3, or 4 and 5 for that matter, LOL
BTW, did you see the commercials for Downey's new film, a comedy called Due Date?
Haven't seen the commercials but have heard it mentioned.Didn't know what it was until now. :)
Here are the links:
"Due Date" (2010) (Comedy):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231583/
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Due-D...
Opens November 5.
Stars Robert Downey Jr. as a "high-strung father-to-be".
Netflixed Vincere (victorious)http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Vince...
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
Film about Mussolini's 'other wife' and her mistreatment. I hated the first part of the picture as it is shot is half-light with no explanations for dumb Americans. And I kept thinking WHAT does she SEE in this schmuck!?!?!?! About half way thru it started making some sense to me. Maybe I should have read to the end of Ebert's review before I ordered it? Right till the end I expected her to die with him and the hands of the mob at the end of WWII, but that wasn't her. I do wish for dubbed English.
3 stars out of 5 from me.
Earl, I had never heard of the movie "Vincere" (2009). IMDb's description says: "The story of Mussolini's secret lover, Ida Dalser, and their son Albino."I had never heard about Mussolini's private life, but I do remember the horrible photos of his body hanging after he was executed.
Wiki says:
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"Mussolini became the 40th Prime Minister of Italy in 1922 and began using the title Il Duce by 1925."
...
"Mussolini was first married to Ida Dalser in Trento in 1914. The couple had a son one year later and named him Benito Albino Mussolini. In December 1915, Mussolini married Rachele Guidi, his mistress since 1910, and with his following political ascendency the information about his first marriage was suppressed and both his first wife and son were later persecuted."
...
"Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci were stopped by communist partisans... ... the next day (1945), Mussolini and Petacci were both summarily executed..."
FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussolin...
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PS-I read Ebert's review. What a sad story and a sad ending for Ida Dalser.
Joy H. wrote: "Earl, I had never heard of the movie "Vincere" (2009). Joy, a movie buff like you should register at Roger Ebert's site
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
and have his weekly reviews emailed to you. That's how I'm picking out most of my Netflix dvds. After Roger reviews its usually a 6 month wait till they're out on dvd and Netflix has them. But you won't forget cause you've already put them in your Queue based on a review you liked.
Thanks for the suggestion, Earl. I'll try it.
I just saw Inception. Wow, what a movie! Conceptually the most intelligent movie I've ever seen. You have to be able to think abstractly or be good at following abstract concepts to keep up with the film. Differentiating between the levels of this film could pose a problem for some. A dream within a dream within a dream within a dream. Yes, you read that correctly and I'm not exaggerating. You have to pay attention all the way through but it wasn't a problem since I truly could not take my eyes off the screen, it was that good. Inception was intense and suspenseful. It had some action but not over the top as we see in so many movies these days. Excellent CGI, but that's not where the genius of this film lies, it's in the story itself.Two and a half hours well spent. I highly recommend Inception to every scifi fan and to many non-scifi fans a well. You don't have to be a scifi fan to enjoy this movie.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/
Jackie, that sounds like a challenging film. I don't usually enjoy dream sequences in books or movies. So I'll have to think about this one, but you've made me curious. :) Here's the Netflix link:"Inception" 2010:
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Incep...
I watched the trailer at IMDb.
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4219...
Those dreams would probably give me nightmares... (LOL) ...but it does look riveting.
Here's an excerpt from the IMDb storyline:
========================================================
"Dom Cobb [Leonardo DiCaprio] is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible- inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. ... "
FROM: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/
=======================================================
One of the user reviews at the IMDb page raves about how great this film is. He also says: "The final hour of the film, is possibly one of the most complicated action sequences put on film. You have to constantly be paying attention to remember all of the layers of what is happening."
Another IMDb user review says: "there is a lot of information to remember and digest."
Hmmm ... sounds like work. :)
Film critic James Berardinelli says: "For those who pay attention, Inception is not confusing. It is smart, taut, and does not reward indolence. If you zone out or make a trip to the snack bar, it will lose you. All it asks of viewers is that they do something rare: engage the intellect."
See Berardinelli's interesting review at: http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_t...
Hmmm, another problem... I often "zone out". :)
Roger Ebert says: "It's said that Christopher Nolan spent ten years writing his screenplay for "Inception." That must have involved prodigious concentration, like playing blindfold chess while walking a tight-wire. The film's hero tests a young architect by challenging her to create a maze, and Nolan tests us with his own dazzling maze. We have to trust him that he can lead us through..."
FROM: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
Berardinelli says that the film is "mostly linear". Well, that's good news. :)
Joy,It sounds more daunting than it really is. Just pay attention and you'll be glad you did (if you choose to see it).
I practically live 'zoned out'. Part of the reason is my mind not challenged enough; daily mundane tasks are done on autopilot. The great thing about this film, for me, was that it kept my mind engaged the entire time. It was complex and well done.
Also, this wasn't like any dream sequences you'd have seen previously. If they didn't tell you it was a dream, you'd probably never know it.
Thanks for the reviews and info. Ten years on the screenplay! That's incredible. It was 10 years well spent, IMO.
Jackie, I might give it a try when the DVD is available at Netflix. At least with DVDs, one can rewind in order to clarify certain moments, especially after one zones out. :)I usually get lost if a mystery is too complex because there is too much to digest and remember. Years ago, I never watched "Murder She Wrote" on TV (starring Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher) because you had to pay attention to details. Recently, I streamed the first episode via Netflix:
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Murde...
The first episode (the pilot) is called "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes".
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087757/
I was able to follow it because I could rewind and I could also take breaks. (It was very entertaining. The murderer was the least likely suspect. Well written, great dialogue, wonderful cinematography.) So now with Netflix I can appreciate the show more.
One of the things I like about streaming from Netflix is that if you bail out in the middle of a film, you can go back at another time (even weeks later) and pick up where you left off. Netflix saves your place.
The rewind button is my best friend, LOL
Jackie wrote: "I just saw Inception. Wow, what a movie! Conceptually the most intelligent movie I've ever seen. You have to be able to think abstractly or be good at following abstract concepts to keep up wit..."Already have it in my Netflix queue, but from your description it sounds a bit too fancy for me. When they MAKE it too hard to understand it usually isn't worth the effort. I especially dislike movies that flash forward and backward in time without any explanation. Remember, I'm trying to read subtitles at the same time I'm viewing. I don't much feature the director getting off on some 'artistic' kick at my expense.
Joy H. wrote: "Thanks for the suggestion, Earl. I'll try it."You do have to get used to Ebert's reviews, read between the lines. I can USUALLY tell a movie I'll like from his review, but sometimes I still get burned with a stinker. Mostly when he pans a movie though I can feel free to ignore the film.
Earl, it wasn't too fancy or artsy and it's not hard to understand. All you gotta do is pay attention. There's no flashing forward or backwards in time. I cannot attest to the ability of reading subtitles while viewing but I don't think it'd be that hard. It's not done at a fast and furious pace where reading and viewing at the same time are almost impossible.
You'll have to be the judge of what you can watch, but for what it's worth, I think you should at least try it and see how you feel about it.
I loved, Backstairs at the Whitehouse. It was fascinating to eavesdrop on the famous. nina
Earl wrote: "Joy H. wrote: "Earl, I did attend the Senior Swim at the Y occasionally years ago. However, these days I don't seem to crave swimming as I used to. I'm satisfied not to swim, especially when the we..."Hot tubs can be fun, even in winter outside. I once went in ours on Jan 1st and you should have seen the steam. nina ps we now have one in our solarium but feel not inclined to use it. They are better outside. Otherwise your house smells like chlorine.
Nina wrote: "I loved, Backstairs at the Whitehouse. It was fascinating to eavesdrop on the famous. nina"Nina, I'm glad you enjoyed "Backstairs at the Whitehouse". I enjoyed it too.
I watched a Netflix DVD of "Evening" (based on the book, Evening (1998) by Susan Minot:"Evening" (2007):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765447/
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Eveni...
In this movie, Vanessa Redgrave's character is lying in bed dying. In her delirium, she recounts a romance she had as a young girl. The film flashes back and forth between the present and the past.
I had mixed feelings about this movie. The mixed feelings were reflected in the two different reviews of Roger Ebert and James Berardinelli. Ebert had reservations about the movie and expressed them in a humorous way which I enjoyed. Berardinelli took it more seriously and wrote an interesting review. I had to agree with both reviews even though they were both so different. Below are links to the reviews:
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_t...
The movie had some slow parts. I had to agree with Berardinelli when he said: "Frankly, it's not all that compelling to watch someone lying in bed dying (even if that someone is played by Vanessa Redgrave in top form)..." However, there were some good scenes too and some interesting food for thought about life.
As for the flashbacks, the time shifts made the movie a bit choppy and also a bit confusing until you got used to them. Roger Ebert talks about the confusion in his review.
Vanessa Redgrave and Meryl Streep were both in the movie, Streep coming in near the end to visit her dying friend. I thought it was interesting that their daughters were also in the movie. Redgrave's real-life daughter is Natasha Richardson. Streep's real-life daughter is Mamie Gummer.
Good acting but I agree, not my cup of tea to watch it. I somehow wasn't that impressed with the story. nina
Yes, Nina, the story in _Evening_ wasn't that great. The male leads weren't charismatic enough and the plot seemed a bit contrived. On her deathbed Vanessa Redgrave's character was obsessed with "Harris", the one unrequited love in her life even though she had married someone else and raised two lovely daughters. At the end of the film, Meryl Streep's character said to her dying friend: "We did what we needed to do". She also said: "There's no such thing as a mistake". Good food for thought. Those comments gave the story some depth.
Joy,I had forgotten those ending lines of Evening.But, yes, they are worth remembering; but I tend to disagree with "There is no such thing as a mistake." Maybe it's my age. I have seen and lived through some in my lifetime. nina
Nina wrote: "Joy, I had forgotten those ending lines of Evening.But, yes, they are worth remembering; but I tend to disagree with "There is no such thing as a mistake." Maybe it's my age. I have seen and lived through some in my lifetime."Nina, I know what you mean about "mistakes" being real things. However, there is another point of view. See the following quote:
=========================================================
"There are no mistakes. The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn; whatever steps we take, they're necessary to reach the places we've chosen to go."
-Richard Bach, in The Bridge Across Forever: A True Love Story
==========================================================
It looks as if more than one person has held that point of view. On the other hand, when we say that 2 plus 2 equals 5, that's a mistake. :)
Maybe the quote means that if a mistake turns out to happen for the best, perhaps it's not a mistake. :)
Yes, I agree with the last line that if a mistake turns out to happen for the best,perhpas it is not a mistake. I also think we read into quotes what our life has been or is at that time. Perhaps regrets sums it up better than mistakes. But, even that is debateable. nina
Netflixed Unthinkablehttp://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Unthi...
I give it 4 stars out of 5, which surprised me, as I figured it'd be a shoot-em-up. You have to accept the basic premise, which is highly unlikely, but after that it's a pretty good plot. They bad-mouth the CIA interrogators, calling them 'sadists', which is untrue. They are highly trained and seasoned, to get results, not entertainment. They don't show the really bloody stuff, but it's gory enough anyway.
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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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Gregory Maguire (other topics)Jeff Kinney (other topics)
Charles Portis (other topics)
Charles Portis (other topics)
Horton Foote (other topics)
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http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Grand-Ho...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022958/
"A group of very different individuals staying at a luxurious hotel in Berlin deal with each of their respective dramas."
The plot draws you in as you learn more and more about their characters and see them interact with one another.
The cast is amazing. It includes: Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery, and Lionel Barrymore. The young Joan Crawford is more likable in this film than she was in future films. BTW, I learned somewhere that Lionel Barrymore and John Barrymore were actually brothers; I had thought that they were father and son.
The film is black and white but the quality is good. It's surprising how many of the films made in the 1930s are very sharp and clear.
I found a big surprise among the bonus features. It's an amusing spoof of the actual film, but is much shorter in length. Unknown actors play the parts of the stars in the original film. They ham it up uproariously. The dialogue is very witty and had me chuckling. The title of the spoof is something like "Nothing Ever Happens", an ironic statement about life in the hotel. If you rent this DVD, don't miss this bonus feature!