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I went to see The Railway Man this evening. I thought Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth did fantastic jobs. Just a heads up for anyone considering seeing this film - it is based on the true story of a man who worked on the Burmese railway in WWII, which I had realised beforehand. It includes scenes set on the railway in WWII as flashbacks, which I thought would probably be the case. What I hadn't realised was that it would be as brutal as it was. Maybe I'm naive, but it was more full-on than I had anticipated! I'm fairly familiar with reading these kind of scenes, but movies can seem very life-like.
But certainly a brilliant movie.
Liam wrote: "Myep.Voter apathy, congratulations on making Australia a worse place."
I second that sentiment, Liam:)
Kathryn wrote: "I went to see The Railway Man this evening. I thought Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth did fantastic jobs. Just a heads up for anyone considering seeing this film - it is based on the true story of ..."
That's good to know Kathryn and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I want to go and see it and a friend of mine wants to as well. We've just got to find the time when we are both free. I'm quite looking forward to it now thanks for letting us know :)
I haven't been active this year in the group but just wanted to say a thanks to mish to all the effort you've put into the group. I still read posts from time to time and you're interesting and helpful. Welcome to Sharon for stepping up into the role. All the best.
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Blue Eyed Vixen wrote: "I haven't been active this year in the group but just wanted to say a thanks to mish to all the effort you've put into the group. I still read posts from time to time and you're interesting and hel..."Thank you and thanks for dropping in its lovely to hear from and feel free to drop in again if you get a spare moment we'd love to hear from you :)
Kathryn wrote: "I went to see The Railway Man this evening. I thought Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth did fantastic jobs. Just a heads up for anyone considering seeing this film - it is based on the true story of ..."
Glad you enjoyed it Kathryn. It's interesting that before this film and the book The Narrow Road to the Deep North I knew so little about the POWs working on the Burma railway or the "death" railway as it was known. It truly was horrible what these poor men endured. It's a part of our history that's not really talked about, yet the suffering was so immense. I think I would like to see the film. And possibly even read the book. Well the other way around actually....read then watch.
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Just a heads up for anyone considering seeing this film - it is based on the true story of ..."
Thanks Kathryn, I'm really keen to read the book. I might have to borrow it from the library! (What was I just saying in the TBR thread O__O!!!)
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Hi Vix!! Great to see you again:)
Sharon and Elaine, I'm not sure I did "enjoy" The Railway Man, I'm not sure I'd have gone if I'd known what it would be like, but I'm still thinking about it, and I still thought it was brilliant. And, like Elaine and Brenda, I think I might like to read the book (but not right now - I still need to think about it, and I need to let the rawness of the film mellow a bit before I tackle the book!).And I was considering going to see The Book Thief even though I was probably the only person in the world who wasn't all that enamoured of the book (I thought I might find something in the movie that I'd missed in the book), but i think I've had enough films about war for a little while!
I probably should link the books that these movies came from, since we're talking about them!
The Railway Man by Eric Lomax
The Book Thief by Markus ZusakAnd I agree, Elaine - there's a lot about our war history (and other nations', as well) that seems to have been pushed aside or hidden and only comes to light sporadically. As the friends who I saw the movie with discussed afterwards - these men were told to go home and not to bother family and friends with their experiences, family and friends were told (when they were told anything at all) not to bring up the subjects because of causing distress and so no one said anything about it. I guess there wasn't a lot known about psychology and counselling etc then... :-(
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Thanks Kathryn, a very interesting post...
Kathryn wrote: "Sharon and Elaine, I'm not sure I did "enjoy" The Railway Man, I'm not sure I'd have gone if I'd known what it would be like, but I'm still thinking about it, and I still thought it was brilliant. ..."Thanks for clearing that up Kathryn :) I find that very interesting that you thought it was brilliant but not sure if you enjoyed it. That makes me want to see it more. But I just found out they are not showing it at local cinema :( But we'll go to the next nearest one :)
I'm not sure if I can explain it any better, but the first thing I said to my friends afterwards was, "That was awful, brilliant, but awful." I'll be interested to see what you think after you see it, Sharon.
I'll certainly let you know Kathryn :)
Kathryn wrote: "Sharon and Elaine, I'm not sure I did "enjoy" The Railway Man, I'm not sure I'd have gone if I'd known what it would be like, but I'm still thinking about it, and I still thought it was brilliant. ..."I understand what you're saying Kathryn and "enjoyment" might not have been quite the right word. It is quite a disturbing event and to watch the atrocities would be even harder than reading about them. I know there were times when I was reading The Narrow Road to the Deep North that I was cringing and found it difficult to read on. Flannagan says the same in his book...these men were not encouraged to talk about what happened to them and yes of course there was no counselling.
Blue Eyed Vixen wrote: "I haven't been active this year in the group but just wanted to say a thanks to mish to all the effort you've put into the group. I still read posts from time to time and you're interesting and hel..."Alex wrote: "Thanks Mish and welcome Sharon.....it's a great group :)"
That's nice...Thankyou very much Vix and Alex :)
In 2009 & 2010 my wife & I visited Thailand and we rode the train across the ‘new’ bridge across the river Kwai (although the correct name of the river is the Mae Klong, which was changed in the 60’s to Kwai due to the huge success of the film Bridge on the River Kwai). There isn’t any trace of the original wooden bridge. The current metal bridge was bombed by the Americans and you can see the difference between the original part and the repaired part. During our visits we were shown a large cave that was used as a hospital (by the prisoners) as the they built the viaduct. The current train still uses this viaduct. The cave is now a Buddhist temple out of respect for those who died building the railway. The following year we went round the Hellfire Pass museum and walked down to the cutting through the rock which the prisoners hacked out with hand tools and some explosives. They didn’t have any mechanical gear to help them and they had to hack holes in the cliff for the explosives by hand. It was called Hell Fire Pass because they worked around the clock, and at night it was by the light of flaming torches. A small part of the original line is still visible, as are the rock markings made by the hand tools. It was very still, as if even the birds respected the past horrors. I’ve posted a few pictures of our 2009 visit on my web site, but the Hell Fire Pass pictures that I have, are from the 2010 visit, which I have yet to post.BTW a visitor is warned that they must be reasonably fit to walk down to the pass and climb back up to the top, due to distance and the high humidity and heat.
Geoff wrote: "In 2009 & 2010 my wife & I visited Thailand and we rode the train across the ‘new’ bridge across the river Kwai (although the correct name of the river is the Mae Klong, which was changed in the 60..."In the movie, the main character asks one of his captors the name of the river - I didn't catch the name at the time, but I think Mae Klong might have been what he said, which now makes sense. I bet that would have been an emotional journey, Geoff. Did you know anyone who worked on the railway?
Unfortunately No, - but I was honoured to meet (in the 80's) Weary Dunlop. I met him at an Australian / Japanese friendship group.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_D... check this man's life - what a man!
Considering what happened to him during the war he later became a driving force behind 'forgive & forget' etc I don't know if I would have had the courage to do the same.
Brenda wrote: "OMG! How lucky were these people!!!!http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2014..."
That is scary and sad.
My visitors have gone back to Melbourne, loved having them but it did slow up my reading! A week of reading catch-up then I'm gearing up for the next lot to arrive on 13th Jan from USA - bringing new season of Downton Abbey with them:)
Bette wrote: "My visitors have gone back to Melbourne, loved having them but it did slow up my reading! A week of reading catch-up then I'm gearing up for the next lot to arrive on 13th Jan from USA - bringing ..."I thought you'd been fairly quiet on GR for a good while, Bette! Enjoy your week of peace!
And still jealous that you get to see the new Downton Abbey mid-Jan! I half-heard an advertisement last week that I thought was advertising that the next Downton series would start mid-Jan and I thought that seemed unusual - they were advertising Downton replays mid-Jan so that we can catch-up before the new series! I thought it seemed to good to be true!
Kathryn wrote: "Bette wrote: "My visitors have gone back to Melbourne, loved having them but it did slow up my reading! A week of reading catch-up then I'm gearing up for the next lot to arrive on 13th Jan from U..."Kim's been warned; if she doesn't bring it, she's back on the plane:)
My 7yo niece has been commandeering my laptop so it's been hard to visit GR. The house is lovely and quiet again not that I don't love having them here, I do but I don't get much reading done.
Bette wrote: "My 7yo niece has been commandeering my laptop so it's been hard to visit GR. The house is lovely and quiet again not that I don't love having them here, I do but I don't get much reading done...."Of course - always lovely to have visitors, but nice to get back to "normal" again and slip back into your familiar routines!
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Thanks Brenda, and thanks to everyone else for the great opportunity :)
That's a shame, Sharon - I think you'd have been a great moderator :-(
Thanks Michael, and thanks for the opportunity I really appreciate it. You're all a wonderful group of people to work with :)
Kathryn wrote: "Bette wrote: "My visitors have gone back to Melbourne, loved having them but it did slow up my reading! A week of reading catch-up then I'm gearing up for the next lot to arrive on 13th Jan from U..."As someone who lives over here in Europe I've seen the latest Downton series when it aired in the UK in the run-up to Christmas. All I can say is that you won't be disappointed and there's a controversial storyline that nevertheless was done extremly well in my opinion. the show is still going very strong!
I missed this thread somehow. Joining in the thanks to Mish!
Sharon wrote: "Thanks Michael, and thanks for the opportunity I really appreciate it. You're all a wonderful group of people to work with :)"I totally understand Sharon & thanks for giving it a go :)
Tanvi wrote: "I missed this thread somehow. Joining in the thanks to Mish!"Thanks Tanvi :)
Mish wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Thanks Michael, and thanks for the opportunity I really appreciate it. You're all a wonderful group of people to work with :)"I totally understand Sharon & thanks for giving it a g..."
Thanks Mish :)
Good on you Sharon for giving it a go.... :)
David wrote: "As someone who lives over here in Europe I've seen the latest Downton series when it aired in the UK in the run-up to Christmas. All I can say is that you won't be disappointed and there's a controversial storyline that nevertheless was done extremly well in my opinion. the show is still going very strong!..."Sigh. David, that doesn't help - it just makes me more envious!
Is anyone else having trouble with the notifications on their iPhone app? Mine won't load properly.. frustrating!
Thanks Angela:)And yes I am having problems with the app on my iPad :(
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I'm also having problems, laptop, phone and iPad:( Bugs again I suspect!!
So glad it's not just me. I hope they fix it soon - I might go into withdrawals! Damn this Goodreads addiction haha!
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I'm having problems getting to my notifications on my phone - glad to know it's not just me!
Good on you Sharon. Those of you having trouble with laptops etc, know how you feel. We have not had internet from before Christmas and have just been restored to the technical world tonight. So I have been reading books but now need to catch up on what has been going on with Goodsreads. How much we rely on the techical world now.
I know I am a little late saying this, but I hope you all had a great new year and lovely christmas.. :) Please spare a thought for my mother who has nearly been in hospital for 4 months now.
The family and I are wishing her well and cannot wait to see her come home.. It's been to long already!
The weekend is almost upon us. Have a great weekend ahead everyone! :-D
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Please spare a thought for my mother who has nearly been in hospital for 4 months now.
T..."
All the best to your mum Liz, I hope she is better soon, and able to return home. Hoping your Christmas wasn't too bad under the circumstances.
Brenda wrote: "Liz wrote: "I know I am a little late saying this, but I hope you all had a great new year and lovely christmas.. :) Please spare a thought for my mother who has nearly been in hospital for 4 mo..."
It was my first Christmas without my mum being home. It wasn't quite the same.. But we made Christmas what we could..
She has been in there for My birthday, My Wedding Anniversary, My brothers birthday, Christmas, New Year…
When she comes out she will have to make up for all of that. :)
Morning Alex, I haven't seen the film, but have heard that it is very good, so it is on my 'to see' list. My wife & I are off to Asia in March so if I miss it at the pictures, it might be available on the aircraft . . . or I'll buy it in Malaysia.
I also saw 'The Railway Man' this week and thought it was very well done. It reminded me very much of a memoir called One Fourteenth Of An Elephant.Terribly sad. But I thought Colin Firth did an amazing job and can understand how many people and families are affected long after a war is over.
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