Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Movies, DVDs, and Theater
>
Have you seen any good movies lately? (Part THREE - 2010)
Yes. That's the kind of horror I like. The kind that could happen and for that reason it is horrifying. Psychological thrillers too, for the same reason. The cheap slash 'em up, gory so-called horrors are not horror to me, just crap. I need a good story to go along with horrific scenes or it's not worth reading/watching.
Jim wrote: "Joy, I haven't watched the 2004 version of the Stepford Wives, just the old 70's version. ... "Jim, I had no idea that there was an earlier version of "The Stepford Wives"! I see that the earlier version was classified as "Horror" by Netflix, but not the later version. See below:
http://www.netflix.com/Search?oq=&...
(Scroll at link above to see both versions described.)
Highlights:
=====================================================
"The Stepford Wives" (1975)
Genre: Horror Classics, Sci-Fi Cult Classics, Cult Horror
This movie is: Scary, Suspenseful, Dark
"The Stepford Wives" (2004)
Genre: Dark Humor & Black Comedies, Spoofs and Satire
=====================================================
I saw the 2004 version and somehow didn't get the impression which you describe in your spoiler alert. Also, I can't remember the climax you describe. However, it may be just my poor memory. I am now trying to remember specifically how the change in the wives was brought about in the 2004 movie. That part is vague in my mind. I just remember that the change took place. There were humorous aspects in the 2004 movie which lessened any impression of horror.
BTW, I never read the original story in the book, The Stepford Wives, by Ira Levin. The GR description says: "The Stepford Wives is a novel so frightening in its final implications that the title itself has earned a place in the American lexicon."
Jim, thanks for widening my horizons on this.
Jackie wrote: "Yes. That's the kind of horror I like. The kind that could happen and for that reason it is horrifying. Psychological thrillers too, for the same reason. The cheap slash 'em up, gory so-called horrors..."Jackie, you've made a good point. Up to now, my idea of horror has been the gory type of movie, not the psychological thrillers. For example, to me, the movie in which the crazy lady saws off the writer's leg... (title?) that was horror; it was more than just a psychological thriller. The same for the movie "Psycho" (woman slashed in shower).
I guess we all have a different definition of horror. Movies about the Holocaust are more than horror movies, even though horrible things happen in them. I wouldn't classify them as horror. In my mind I see them as movies about true atrocities.
Is there an official definition of the movie classification of "horror"? I wonder if there is some disagreement among the people who do the classifying.
Oh, they were different takes on it?!!! This is as bad as the "I, Robot" naming thing. You really should watch the older version - both of you. No gore, just really scary in the implications, as it says. It's very 70's in a lot of ways, but still quite good for all that.
I'll have to watch the 2004 version now. Thanks for turning me on to the difference.
Interesting article.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_g...
"Categories of horror are all similar, in the use of overwhelming dark, evil forces and demonic aspects. The different types of horror are: Dark fiction; this is a psychological type of horror, historical horror; where the stories find place in the past or in realistic settings or psychological horror; where the characters' psychological problems generate horror."
There's more to the article.
Isn't it odd that it doesn't even mention the gory type? Maybe it's not horror. But so many people consider it horror, they should give it it's own name...besides crap, hahahaha
"It has always grieved me professionally that the two words 'horror' and 'terror' are used indiscriminately.... Horror carries with it a connotation of revulsion which has nothing to do with clean terror.... The essential element of true terror as opposed to so-called horror is... fear. Fear of the unknown and of the unknowable." --Boris Karloff, Introduction to Tales of Terror (1943). A distinction that I found interesting!
I second that, Werner.Jim, I saw both versions of The Stepford Wives and read the book before the first movie came out. I was pretty freaked out of it. I was young, but the idea of those perfect robot women was abhorrent to me. Still is.
I wanted to tell you all about my extreme TV watching. I watched seasons 2, 3, and 4 of Battlestar Galactica in 6 days. 60 episodes. I definitely set a record with that bit of viewing!I also wanted to let Werner know that I'm starting Roar today!
Jim: I'll be watching the older version of Stepford Wives soon.Jackie: Thanks for the Wiki link about Horror fiction. (I guess there should be a separate "Gore Genre". :)
And "Whew!"... about your TV watching marathon! You are definitely a fan of BG!
Werner: Thanks for the Karloff quote. I've saved it in my quote collection.
Now I'm off to look up "Roar"! :) Oh! Heath Ledger! Might have known!
Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "You're welcome, KM. You might want to try that last link again. It works for me.
I wonder who that gal in the third picture is. (Message #376)"
No Joy, I meant in message # 376, the 4th and last link with "cache" in the link does not work, still for me.
I have Defiance in our stack of DVD's to watch already, probably will watch it soon after we finish Lost.
Jackie, that's amazing, your watching all that Battlestar Galactica!!!
I liked the old series by that name, but haven't seen any of the new one. How do they compare? [if you've seen the old one that is:].
I wonder who that gal in the third picture is. (Message #376)"
No Joy, I meant in message # 376, the 4th and last link with "cache" in the link does not work, still for me.
I have Defiance in our stack of DVD's to watch already, probably will watch it soon after we finish Lost.
Jackie, that's amazing, your watching all that Battlestar Galactica!!!
I liked the old series by that name, but haven't seen any of the new one. How do they compare? [if you've seen the old one that is:].
Katherine M wrote: "No Joy, I meant in message # 376, the 4th and last link with "cache" in the link does not work, still for me."KM, I've inserted an alternate link to the same photo. Try it. It should work.
Katherine, at first, I was outraged, how dare they remake Battlestar Galactica! And I'm ashamed to say, the usual snide comments that would go along with such a declaration. But the scifi geek in me was curious, mainly so I could complain and rip the new one apart but it didn't turn out that way at all. The new BSG was incredible, the best scifi TV ever made. Smart and intense, it took us way beyond the original BSG. It is now my #1 TV show of all time, of all genres.
The characters were amazing, it's something you'd have to see for yourself to believe the phenomenon it became. Instantly addictive.
This was my second viewing of BSG, and I couldn't wait to watch the next episode. It was a great experience to watch it all the way through. I know I'll do it again...again and again.
Joy, they should really have all the sub-genres listed for books/movies, not just the general genre.
And Heath Ledger, ahh, he was so young and beautiful in Roar. And the added bonus of a show about the Celts is a dream come true for me.
Jackie wrote: "... Joy, they should really have all the sub-genres listed for books/movies, not just the general genre."I agree, Jackie. Sub-genres would help a lot. But I suppose it's easier for the classifiers to lump everything into the general heading and let us figure things out for ourselves. :)
I can never keep genres straight. I tried to that with books & gave up. I do it with movies & the family teases me unmercifully about it. I have stuff in comedy that they consider horror or action. I can't even find them half the time because I think of them as a different genre. I'm putting them more by the star I like; hence "Joe Dirt" is filed with the rest of Christopher Walken's movies.
The difficult part is that books and movies are not just of one genre, they mix and mingle. Some of this, part that...Here on goodreads it's great because one book can be on mulitple shelves all at the same time. Not so with real shelves. I tend to put them in groups by author, it seems to be the only way I can find things. Sounds about right with the movies by going with actor. I have some grouped by actor; series stay together like comicbook based movies. Swords stay together. It's weird. Probably hard for anyone else to figure out my book and movie shelves.
Jackie, I have the same problem with arranging movies on shelves; Barb can't figure out my genre classifications, either. The other day, I put her in charge of arranging them, so we'll see if her system is any more intuitive! :-)Glad to hear you're getting to watch Roar! So far, we've watched the first CD; I'm looking forward to my summer schedule (when I'll be home every evening and on Sundays), so we can watch the rest. (Though, come to think of it, I'll be on the same schedule next week, for spring break... who knows?:-))
QUESTION:Since I don't collect movies, I don't have the classification problem. I tend not to enjoy re-watching a movie I've seen already. How often do you folks re-watch a movie? (From reading the posts, I already know that Jackie enjoys re-watching.) Once you know the story and the suspense is gone, doesn't that lessen your enjoyment to some degree?
You're going to like this answer Joy! Since I forget the details, it's almost like watching it for the first time. I remember the beginning and the end (sometimes) but it's the details that make a good book or good movie great. I buy movies only if I'm going to watch it multiple times. Anthony buys movies and then never watches them; I don't see the point in that. I get my money's worth. Some movies I can watch over and over again as long as some time has past between viewings. I can't watch a movie this week and then watch it again next week.
Werner,We're probably around the same place in Roar, I finished Episode 3, Chosen, centering around the little boy Druid. I love the music in Roar. When I say I like Celtic music, this is exactly what I mean. I'm not in a headlong rush to finish Roar. I don't know if I'll get a chance to watch any today because it's so beautiful outside that I'm compelled to spend the day outside.
Werner wrote (in message #366): "Finally, I took some time today to finish my Jamaica Inn miniseries ..."Since our interesting discussion of "Jamaica Inn", I've learned the following from an online friend who lives in Cornwall:
====================================================
(My friend writes): "There's still a pub and hotel called "Jamaica Inn" on Bodmin Moor. It has a small museum alongside with smuggling and Daphne du Maurier themes. I have been past it on numerous occasions - it stands alongside the main A30 road - but I have never been in the place. It has its own website."
http://www.jamaicainn.co.uk/
http://www.jamaicainn.co.uk/History/J...
=====================================================
At the Jamaica Inn website it says:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Jamaica Inn hotel, Cornwall's legendary coaching house, immortalised in Daphne du Maurier's novel of the same name, has stood high on Bodmin Moor for over four centuries. We're still referred to by historians as Cornwall's most famous smuggling inn. These days we do welcome the more salubrious guest --- and the odd ghost!
...
"Visit the Smugglers Museum & watch the film.
"Enter into the evil yet romantic era of smuggling in Cornwall and see what is probably the finest collection of smuggling artefacts in the country, followed by our cinema room where you can learn more about Cornish smuggler!
"Smuggling evolved when customs dues were first introduced in the thirteenth century but there was no form of law and order until the fifteenth century and even then it was negligible. Goods such as silks, tea, tobacco and brandy were more frequently smuggled into Cornwall than anywhere else in England.
Come and stay at this famous, haunted hotel in Cornwall!"
...
History
"Built in 1750, Jamaica Inn was a coaching inn - a bit like our modern day service station. Weary travellers using the turnpike between Launceston and Bodmin would stay at the Inn after having crossed the wild and treacherous moor.
"Some of the travellers were a little less respectable than most and used the Inn to hide away the contraband that had been smuggled ashore. It is estimated that half of the brandy and a quarter of all tea being smuggled into the UK was landed along the Cornish and Devon coasts.
Jamaica Inn was remote and isolated so it was the ideal stopping place on the way to Devon and onward. It is also thought that the Inn may have got its name because it did a considerable trade in rum!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, Jackie, we're at the same point with our Roar watching. I'm keen to see the rest of it, just because it's been so long since I watched it that, like you said, my memory for the details has faded. :-) And there were episodes I missed, and episodes on this DVD set that weren't aired on TV because of the series' cancellation. Alas, being virtually tone deaf, I don't experience the Celtic music as fully as you do! But I still love the series for the characters and plotlines.Joy, thanks for the links on Jamaica Inn. I had no idea that it was a real place; that's fascinating!
Some people would say you should always watch a movie at least twice to get the most out of it: the first time you watch it for plot, and the second time for performance. That is to say, the first time you're all agog with the suspense of seeing what happens, so the storyline overshadows other aspects of the film. Once you know the storyline, you can back up and more closely notice the fine details of acting performance, cinematography, costume, atmosphere, etc.
Usually I re-watch the black-and-white version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol starring Alastair Sim every year (though things were hectic enough that I didn't last year). For me, movie watching is much more apt to be a social activity (usually with Barb) than a solitary one, and she re-watches Christmas movies --all through the year!-- and other favorites quite a bit. If I'm picking a movie, I'm more apt to pick something I haven't seen, if I can; but I'm also amenable to re-watching things I've seen before and liked --especially if I haven't seen it in awhile; like Jackie, I usually find that I've forgotten a lot of the details! :-)
Jackie wrote: "You're going to like this answer Joy! Since I forget the details, it's almost like watching it for the first time. I remember the beginning and the end (sometimes) but it's the details that make ..."I see. Now I understand, Jackie. Yes, there have been times when I realized that I had already seen the movie I was watching. As you say, since I had forgotten so much of the movie, it was almost like seeing it for the first time. The fun part was trying to see if the movie, second-time-round, would jog my memory at all. Thunk! Thunk! :)
I'm trying to think of which movies I wouldn't mind seeing again. Hmmm, I'll have to mull that one over awhile.
Additional thought on re-watching --when I was a kid, they always showed two movies on TV every year: The Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland, and the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of Robert Sherwood's Abe Lincoln in Illinois with Jason Robards as Lincoln (that one always aired around Lincoln's birthday). I'd watch those every year, no matter how often I had before. It's been decades now since I have, and I don't know if they even do that anymore; but those were always big annual events back then! And nowadays, if I happen to be home and find that one of the Mystery! or Masterpiece Theater productions I like is going to be on, I'll commandeer the TV even if I have seen it before! :-) (Barb's a good sport about that, since she knows I don't watch TV much.)
Werner wrote: "... For me, movie watching is much more apt to be a social activity (usually with Barb) than a solitary one..."Werner, that is an interesting idea for discussion. I usually watch TV and films alone, even though I enjoy having the company of someone else while watching. Alas, Ed and I have different preferences.
I enjoy watching TV with my sister, except when she watches the series with legal or medical themes. She loves following the details of those plots. Somehow they don't interest me. Alas, we hardly ever have TV time together, but we will be watching the Academy Awards together next weekend when she'll be visiting. That's fun for us every year and has become a tradition.
During recent holidays, there were several times when I watched specially chosen movies with the entire family, grandkids included. I treasured those times and hope that there will be more of them in the future.
Werner wrote: "Additional thought on re-watching --when I was a kid, they always showed two movies on TV every year: The Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland, and the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of Robert Sherwood..."Werner, it's so great to have favorite shows which are guaranteed to bring us enjoyment. I empathize with you there.
Werner, oh that's too bad you don't hear the music like I do. I makes my heart soar, touches my soul. I love that music. Sometimes it's dramatic, sometimes it's happy, either way I love it all.Joy, I like the idea of traditions with your sister. That must be so nice.
JIm, I would be curious to hear what you think of the book(it's short) by Iam McEwan, titled, "Saturday." not sf, but a bit strange, yet I couldn't put it down.nina
Nina, I've ordered it, but no promises on reading it any time too soon. My to-read pile overfloweth & the book swap site I'm getting it from thought that "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" was similar. I tried that & couldn't get into it, but I'll give this one a shot. Thanks.
Jim, I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. My review is at:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
As I said in my review, the story gives some "interesting insights into the nature of Asperger's Syndrome." The story is written from the perspective of a 15 year old British boy who has Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism. We see the boy's point of view in everything. I gave the book four stars out of five.
Jackie wrote: "Werner, oh that's too bad you don't hear the music like I do. I makes my heart soar, touches my soul. I love that music. Sometimes it's dramatic, sometimes it's happy, either way I love it all...."
I've often wondered why people vary so in their appreciation for music. Speaking for myself, I am now VERY hard of hearing and wear two hearing aids (hearing aids are very imperfect instruments that only let you APPROXIMATE normal hearing. I am always struggling to understand conversation. Thus any unnecessary noise (like music) is mostly just an irritation. When I was young, and had near-perfect hearing I enjoyed pop music of my day, though I am tone deaf to some degree. I found it necessary to UNDERSTAND the lyrics to get some memory of the melody so I could hum or sing it. I never studied a musical instrument (my sister had taken piano lessons and given them up, so my parents gave me a choice: did I want to or not. Unfortunately I chose 'not'.) Nowadays it seems that instruments always overcome the lyrics, making them hard to understand. Also lyrics are now less repetitive, more like poetry, and voices are more mush-mouthed (I don't believe my deafness accounts for this, it's an affectation), for whatever reason.
So that is a short explanation of why *I* don't care for music. I would love to read about studies that delved into different individuals response to music (as measured scientifically).
Kids and their 'concerts' I view as mostly an excuse to get together as a mob and dope up. Either thru the 'mob mentality' or pharmaceuticals. I wonder if playing an instrument and learning to read music is helpful in its appreciation?
I would love to experience the 'thrill' that Jackie describes. Maybe I'm too 'right-brained'? Or is it left?
I like music, but agree that it can be an distraction. It's often played far too loud in movies & conversations not loud enough. At the right volume, it can set the mood, but too loud & it just sets my teeth on edge.I find that with a lot of bands, especially when they're live. They crank the amps on everything except the vocals. I listen to a lot of music just for the lyrics. I don't listen to much country music, but all my favorites have excellent lyrics, usually funny ones. Like Brad Paisley's "I'm Still A Guy" or "I Want to Check You For Ticks".
Earl wrote: "I've often wondered why people vary so in their appreciation for music. Speaking for myself, I am now VERY hard of hearing and wear two hearing aids (hearing aids are very imperfect instruments that only let you APPROXIMATE normal hearing. I am always struggling to understand conversation. Thus any unnecessary noise (like music) is mostly just an irritation. When I was young..."Earl, I sympathize with you about your hearing problem. At least you have tried to improve things by getting hearing aids. Some people don't even try.
From what I've read, I gather that early training in any skill gives one a huge advantage because that's when our brains are in their formative stage and are very receptive to learning. The brain is most malleable in our youth. Although we can learn when we are older, the process isn't as quick and easy as when we were kids.
I've always enjoyed reading information about the brain. The idea of forming "brain paths" is intriguing. I understand that our brain keeps forming new paths any time in our life, especially when we're learning new things.
Anyway, I must say that I do appreciate music and proper music backgrounds, but the music has to be to my liking. But that's a whole new subject! :)
I just watched 'Everybody's Fine' with Robert De Niro and Drew Barrymore. It was good but mostly sad. Worth seeing. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780511/
A widower who realized his only connection to his family was through his wife sets off on an impromptu road trip to reunite with each of his grown children.
Jackie wrote: "I just watched 'Everybody's Fine' with Robert De Niro and Drew Barrymore. It was good but mostly sad. Worth seeing. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780511/
A widower who realized his only connecti..."
Jackie. I think I've seen a trailer or clip of that movie.
"Everybody's Fine"(2009)
http://www.netflix.com/Search?v1=Ever....
It's in my Netflix queue. Thanks for the reminder. I have so many movies in my queue that they all get lost and I forget about them. Some of them are such serious movies that I have to be in the mood before I can watch them.
Tonight I streamed a lovely movie from Netflix:
"Ladies in Lavender"(2004) with Judi Dench:
http://www.netflix.com/Search?v1=Ladi...
I gave it 5 stars out of 5. It was a touching and beautifully filmed story. The violin music alone (performed and also in the background) is worth the watching. I was completely absorbed in the film from start to finish.
I think I saw Ladies in Lavender. Did the foreign violinist go out with a girl from the village and the townsmen got angry, assaulted him?
About Everybody's Fine. It was serious but not heavy, if that makes any sense. I found it very realistic in terms of how our kids grow up and have lives of their own which we aren't really a part of anymore. Once you see it, let me know what you think.
Jackie wrote: "I think I saw Ladies in Lavender. Did the foreign violinist go out with a girl from the village and the townsmen got angry, assaulted him?"Jackie, that sounds vaguely familiar but doesn't stand out in my memory very well. The film, "Ladies in Lavender", starts out with two old ladies finding the unconscious body of a man who washed up on their beach. They take him in and nurse him back to health. Hope that rings a bell. I don't want to post a spoiler.
Jackie wrote: "About Everybody's Fine. It was serious but not heavy, if that makes any sense. I found it very realistic in terms of how our kids grow up and have lives of their own which we aren't really a part..."Jackie, I will probably have no trouble watching "Everybody's Fine". As you say, it's serious, but not heavy. Yes, our kids do necessarily have lives of their own apart from us and we become marginalized in their lives to some extent. However, once we accept that, we can enjoy the small part we play in the margins of their lives and perhaps, by our own positive actions, we can make those margins enjoyable for both us and the kids.
In the movie I remember, a man washes up on shore and he's nursed back to health. I can't remember if it's one person or two. The boat he was on sunk, and many people died and were buried there. I'm trying not to give out spoilers either. Both scenes I mentioned are minor. I'm pretty sure this is the same movie, if it is, then it was very good and highly recommended.
Jackie wrote: "In the movie I remember, a man washes up on shore and he's nursed back to health. I can't remember if it's one person or two. The boat he was on sunk, and many people died and were buried there. ..."RE: the film: "Ladies in Lavender":
Jackie, I don't remember at all the part about the other people dying and being buried. There is only one person washed up on shore.
OK, then it must be another movie. They didn't actually show the people dying, only he washed up, but later they showed him where everyone was buried.
As far as I can remember, they never explained how or why he was found washed up on shore. That was the puzzling and unsatisfactory part. But the rest of the story was great! Do you remember a scene with a large concert on a stage and a large audience?
No. We must be talking about different movies. But the plot is very similar. I'll have to rent Ladies and see if I've seen it already. At $5 a pop, I'm not sure when that'll happen.
I just went to imdb and watched the trailer and I did see Ladies in Lavender. I remember the part when they find him on the beach. That other movie I mentioned was a different one, different actor who washed up. Odd how similar they are, yet completely different.I don't really remember much about this one either, LOL But both actresses are wonderful in everything they're in.
Jackie, thanks for following up. It sure is odd how similar the stories are.Judi Dench and Maggie Smith are great. And Natascha McElhone is radiantly beautiful in this movie! Here's her IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001523/
The movie: "Ladies in Lavender" (2004):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377084/
I saw her in Solaris and she is remarkably beautiful.
Jackie wrote: "I saw her in Solaris and she is remarkably beautiful."Didn't see that one.
"Solaris"(2002) PG-13
Netflix description: http://www.netflix.com/Search?oq=&...
==================================================
"Steven Soderbergh's sci-fi thriller finds Dr. Chris Kelvin (George Clooney) aboard the space station Prometheus, whose crew had been investigating the planet Solaris and subsequently ceased all communications -- without explanation -- with Earth. Dr. Kelvin finds out exactly what happened and is given a chance to revisit an old love (Natascha McElhone) … but can he really go home again? Based on Stanislaw Lem's novel."
Genre: Sci-Fi Dramas, Romantic Dramas, Sci-Fi Thrillers
This movie is: Romantic, Scary, Mind-bending, Cerebral
=====================================================
How scary is it? :)
(Based on book: Solaris by Stanisław Lem )
It wasn't scary to me at all. Mysterious, yes.
Jackie wrote: "It wasn't scary to me at all. Mysterious, yes."Good! I've put "Solaris" on my Netflix queue.
Returned "Hurt Locker" without watching more than a few minutes of it. I couldn't handle the stress of it. Eddie watched it instead.
The Hurt Locker 2008
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Hurt...
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
Books mentioned in this topic
Thinner (other topics)Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister (other topics)
Mirror Mirror (other topics)
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (other topics)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (other topics)
More...
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)
More...
**** SPOILER ALERT!!! *****
Seriously, if you haven't seen the movie, the discovery of what it is about is half the impact, so don't read below.
When people murder their wives, after their children are born, & replace them with robots that obey their every command, I think that's pretty much horror! The climax in the big old house was very horror movie like, wasn't it?