What MOVIES or DVDs have you watched lately? (PART FOUR - 2011) (ongoing thread) Showing 501-550 of 1,136

[Jim]

I agree, Jackie.

[Earl]

Netflixed The Fighter
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The...

I gave it 4 stars out of 5. Funny thing, the fight scenes don't look as real as Rocky. I know nothing about boxing, I do know that movie boxing is smoke and mirrors. And I read Mark Wahlberg did a fanatical amount of physical training to do the boxing in the picture. Anyway, the character's gritty family like and troubles made the difference for me I guess, I liked it.

Netflixed Downton Abbey
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Maste...

I gave it 3½ stars out of 5. I guess these English historical pics are growing on me.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Earl, I haven't seen "The Fighter" yet.
"The Fighter" (2010)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0964517/
"A look at the early years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s."
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams
The following two won Oscars:
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Christian Bale
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Melissa Leo

I enjoyed Downton Abbey.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

PS: Earl - Was there a lot of boxing to watch in "The Fighter"?
That would make it boring for me.

[Jackie]

Joy, some boxing but I didn't think it was a lot. It focuses on the family relationships within the Ward family. I generally do not like boxing movies but this one I did.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Thanks, Jackie. I might give it a try.

[Arnie]

"Boxing" in movies is just ridiculous---it's like every punch lands on the kisser---not one blocked.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I can't stand boxing.
I can't stand bull-fights either.
Or any other kind of fights, for that matter.

[Nina]

Now young women; age fifty and younger take up the sport of boxing; they use a bag rather than another person. Supposed to make them healthier; tighter muscles etc. Sometimes I am glad I am an old lady and lived back when I did. Not up to all this.

[Jackie]

My SIL does kickboxing and lost 30 lbs. I don't the energy or desire to do something like that.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

About exercise and desire, I have the desire to dance, but the stamina is gone and, because of osteoporosis, I'm afraid of taxing my bones too much. The back starts hurting very quickly even if I stand too long. So walking is my best choice of exercise these days. I used to be very athletic but those days are gone forever.

[Werner]

A Girl of the Limberlost, the classic novel by Indiana naturalist and writer Gene Stratton- Porter (1863-1924), published in 1909, has had at least four film adaptations. (The Limberlost Swamp was a vast wetland in southern Indiana, almost totally destroyed in the early 1900s by commercial logging, but partially restored in places since 1991.) The most recent was a 1990 made-for-TV movie, starring Heather Fairfield (who's perfectly cast for her role!). Barb and I had the privilege of watching the VHS version of this one this afternoon, but it's also available on DVD from Netflix; the link is http://www.netflix.com/Movie/A-Girl-O... . I have nothing but praise for this film! Not having read the book, I can't evaluate how faithful an adaptation it is. (Although I'm going to remedy that; it's made me add another title to Mount TBR. :-) ) But considered as a movie in its own right, it has a wonderful storyline, vivid characters brought to life in excellent performances, important social messages which are as relevant now as they were in 1908 when the events take place, a serious exploration of the dynamics of family (specifically a mother-daughter relationship) and what makes for dysfunction and healing, and some fine cinematography. Highly recommended; two thumbs up! :-)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

This week I watched a Netflix DVD of the film adaptation of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1940) by Carson McCullers. I've never read the book and have always wondered what it was about. It has some serious themes and is on the list of the The Modern Library's 100 Best Novels.

FILM: "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" (1968)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063050/
http://movies.netflix.com/Search?v1=T...
"Alan Arkin earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of John Singer, a deaf and mute man who comes to live in a small Southern town and ends up touching the lives of many in this film based on the novel by Carson McCullers."

At first I was drawn in by the touching story about a deaf-mute, but then it became a bit long and drawn out. Parts of it weren't plausible. For example, the protagonist, John Singer (the deaf-mute played by Alan Arkin) wears the same suit and tie throughout the entire movie which covers a good bit of time. However, it was interesting enough to make me stick with it until the end, even though I took a few long breaks from watching. I didn't like the ending at all. I gave the film 3 stars out of 5.

"The title of the book comes from a poem by William Sharp, with the lines: 'But my heart is a lonely hunter that hunts / On a lonely hill.' ... McCullers's original title for the book was The Mute."
FROM: http://www.readinggroupguides.com/gui...

After I watched the movie, I went to the SparkNotes website and found some interesting information about the "Themes, Motifs, and Symbols" in the novel. The page is here:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/lonelyh...
One of the main themes is "Man's Struggle Against Isolation".
"Each of the five main characters in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter strives to break out of his or her isolated existence. ... John Singer is a symbol of hope throughout the entire narrative"

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "A Girl of the Limberlost, the classic novel by Indiana naturalist and writer Gene Stratton- Porter (1863-1924), published in 1909, has had at least four film adaptations. (The Limberl..."

Thanks, Werner. I've added it to my Netflix queue.
Here's the Netflix description as a reference for others:
=================================================
"A Girl of the Limberlost" (1991)
"In 1900s rural Indiana, country girl Elnora (Heather Fairfield) yearns to attend high school, against the wishes of her widowed mother (Annette O'Toole). But Elnora finds a kindred spirit and mentor in naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter (Joanna Cassidy), who shares the girl's thirst for knowledge. This unique adaptation of Stratton-Porter's beloved book is the first to feature the author as a character in the story."
========================================================
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/A_Gir...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099662/

[Werner]

Thanks for the Netflix description, Joy! When you watch it, I hope you like it (I think you will).

[Arnie]

Joy, I think "Heart is a Lonely Hunter" was a touching and ultimately heart breaking film.
Maybe not a great film, but certainly a good one (

Besides from Arkin's great performance, I particularly remember Cicely Tyson's breakout performance.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "Thanks for the Netflix description, Joy! When you watch it, I hope you like it (I think you will)."

Werner, I'll try to let you know when I watch it.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Arnie wrote: "Joy, I think "Heart is a Lonely Hunter" was a touching and ultimately heart breaking film. Maybe not a great film, but certainly a good one ..."

Arnie, I agree that the performances were good. That dead-pan expression on Alan Arkin reminded me of Peter Sellers in "Being There" (1979) (which was adapted from the book, Being There by Jerzy Kosinski).
FILM: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078841/
In the film "Being There", Peter Sellers character's "simple TV-informed utterances are mistaken for profundity."

In "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" (1968), Alan Arkin's character seems be an empathetic listener simply because he listens and doesn't talk. So he's thought of as being an understanding person.

So I see a similarity in the roles of Sellers and Arkin. Both protagonists simply had to "be there" and people saw in them what they wanted or needed to see. It's an intriguing concept.

[Arnie]

Interesting analogy between the two films--- you might find it interesting that Sellers was tryng to find an accent for Chauncey that would not betray which part of the world he was from---he finally chose his hero, Stan Laurel.
Also, Sellers went ballistic at the director, Hal Ashby, for including those hilarious outtakes over the closing credits---he thought it ruined the film's illusion and cost him an Oscar.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Arnie, thanks for those interesting tidbits. Peter Sellers is an interesting person to read about. He had so many different personalities. I understand that none of them were his own. He remains a mystery.

[Arnie]

Yeah, Sellers really felt like he had no defined "self".

One story about Alan Arkin---I remember he was on the Tonight Show after "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" came out and Carson asked him how he was able to so convincingly portray a deaf man,

Arkin said, "Huh??"

[Joy H., Group Founder]

LOL - Arnie. Great comeback from Arkin! There's nothing like LIVING the part. :) I love anecdotes like that.

[Earl]

Netflixed the 2010 True Grit
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/True_...

It was a great story, even without John Wayne, who was seemingly MADE for the part of Rooster. I gave it 4 stars out of 5. It was a little disappointing in that it WAS the same story.

[Arnie]

Earl, I thought the Coen's version was very overrated and that the original with John Wayne was better---but I guess that's what makes horse races.:)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I saw the 1969 version of True Grit with John Wayne. I don't see how anything can top that. But some day I'll watch the new version just to compare. Here's the Netflix description of the 1969 version:
====================================================
"John Wayne landed one of his last great screen roles as crusty lawman Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn, who reluctantly helps teenager Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) pursue her father's killer. True Grit is more a character study than many of Wayne's formulaic Westerns. The rousing final showdown between Wayne and the villains adds to the Duke's long list of outstanding movie moments."
FROM: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Tru...
=======================================================

[Earl]

Netflixed Boy in the Striped Pajamas
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/The_B...

I gave it 4 stars out of 5. The plot was a bit contrived but the drama outweighs that consideration. Sad but not a tear-jerker.

Also just started the True Blood series
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/True_...

I can't say I'm really into it in the first two episodes. Hopefully it'll grow on me enough to keep me going.

[Jackie]

Earl, It took a little while for True Blood ot grow on me. With all the hype, I was sure it'd be better...then somewhere along the way, I found myself looking forward to each new ep. Now I'm hopelessly addicted.

Some of the movies I've seen lately are:
The Adjustment Bureau, it was good but with a stupid end. It felt as if they couldn't figure it out so they gave an implausible 'happy' ending. Ruined it for me.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1385826/

Beastly, an updated version of Beauty and The Beast. Typical teen drama, nothing impressive but not bad either. I watched it to see the make up on the beastly boy and that was fantastic. I didn't even recognize Marry Kate Olsen as the 'witch'.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152398/

But the big surprise was Red Riding Hood. I expected teen drama, a T&A fest, and a crappy story but it has a wolf so of course I had to rent it, right? What I got was a great story and done very well. It was only as I watched it that I recognized famous actors in it, such as Julie Christie, Virginia Madsen, Gary Oldman. I'm really glad I watched it and will undoubtedly buy it so I can see it again.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1486185/

I'm doing a Torchwood marathon, gearing up for it's new season next week.

I'm reading The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks, sort of a sequel to The Notebook. It's making me want to watch The Notebook for the billionth time, which I will do this week.

[Jim]

Thanks for the recommendation about 'Little Red Riding Hood', Jackie. We were planning on skipping it.

[Jackie]

Anytime, Jim.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Earl wrote: "Netflixed Boy in the Striped Pajamas
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/The_B...
I gave it 4 stars out of 5. The plot was a bit contrived but the drama outweighs that consideration. Sad but not a tear-jerker."

Yes, Earl, it was a very sad movie.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie, thanks for the reviews. Thanks, too, for the links. They help me keep up with what's out there. Wow, am I behind! Good to hear from you.

I've put _The Wedding_ on my "Keep-In-Mind" shelf. Sparks usually tells a good story, even though I'm not a fan of his writing style.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I recently finished watching "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (2007), an incredible story.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401383/
"The true story of "Elle" editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffers a stroke and has to live with an almost totally paralyzed body; only his left eye isn't paralyzed."

The movie was adapted from the book: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
GR description: "This memoir was literally composed with a blink of an eye. By turns mischievous, angry, and wistful, the former editor [of the] French [magazine]"Elle" shares the joys and sadness that crept over him when he became afflicted with a disease that left his entire body paralyzed -- except for his left eye, which he learned to use with a blinking alphabet to communicate with the rest of the world. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is an unforgettable account of Bauby's own determination to live as fully in his mind as he had been able to in his body."

I thought the title was too much of a stretch. Perhaps the book did a better job of explaining the metaphor than the movie did.

PS-I still have to watch the Bonus section of the DVD. I'm sure it will be interesting.

[Jackie]

Joy, was it depressing?
I've been around, but not doing much, nothing important to report.
If you want my copy of The Wedding, let me know. If you don't want it, then it's going to the library before the week is out.

[Earl]

Jim wrote: "Thanks for the recommendation about 'Little Red Riding Hood', Jackie. We were planning on skipping it."

Ditto, Jackie. Netflix forecasts they'll have Red Riding Hood in a couple of weeks. I put it in queue.

[Mary JL]

We WERE going to go see "Green Lantern" but circumstances decreed otherwise.

We ending up renting some DVD's and watch "megamind"--an animated superhero flick. Basically a spoof of Superman but worth watch once---moderately funny.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "Joy, was it depressing?
I've been around, but not doing much, nothing important to report. If you want my copy of The Wedding, let me know. If you don't want it, then it's going to the libra..."

Hi Jackie. I was surprised that the movie ("Diving Bell & Butterfly") wasn't depressing. It was interesting and sometimes fascinating, even though what happened to the man was sad. I also enjoyed the bonus features, which included comments by the director and a Charlie Rose interview with the director as well. I tend to avoid sad movies, but this one didn't bother me. It was an intellectual approach, in a way. You are left amazed and wondering how the man was able to find the strength and positive attitude for coping with his tragedy.

Please save the book for me (_The Wedding_). That's so nice of you to offer. We will call and stop by to pick the book up soon... on one of our trips to town. Thanks!!!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Mary JL, speaking of Superman spoofs, here's a NYer cartoon which made me laugh:
http://www.cartoonbank.com/2007/did-y...
(Scroll down at the page to see the explanation.)

[Jackie]

Joy, that's good then. Depending on how it's done, it can be inspiring.

I'll hold onto The Wedding for you. It'll be great to see you again!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Earl wrote: "Ditto, Jackie. Netflix forecasts they'll have Red Riding Hood in a couple of weeks. I put it in queue."

For those who don't subscribe to Netflix, here is their description of "Red Riding Hood" (2011) (It will be available from July 12 on.):
============================================
"In this horror-fantasy reimagining of the classic tale, young Valerie juggles a difficult romantic decision with feelings of fear and grief as her town is terrorized by a legendary werewolf, which has killed her sister and hungers to feast again."
FROM: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Red_R...
============================================

The IMDb description says: "Set in a medieval village that is haunted by a werewolf, a young girl falls for an orphaned woodcutter, much to her family's displeasure."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1486185/

Maybe I'll watch it. Maybe I won't. You've got me curious again.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "Joy, that's good then. Depending on how it's done, it can be inspiring. I'll hold onto The Wedding for you. It'll be great to see you again!"

Thanks, Jackie. Yes, it will be nice to touch base with you again. One of these days I'd like to see Linda again too. Time goes by too quickly.

[Jim]

I saw an ad for a new movie that looks too weird, a must-see. It's called Cowboys & Aliens. It has Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig & that chick that plays 13 on House. Alien go-bots roping cowboys & such. Fun!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "I saw an ad for a new movie that looks too weird, a must-see. It's called Cowboys & Aliens. It has Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig & that chick that plays 13 on House. Alien go-bots roping cowboys &..."

"Cowboys & Aliens"(2011) NR
Netflix description:
============================================
"Scott Mitchell Rosenberg's graphic novel series leaps to the screen as amnesiac gunslinger Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) stumbles into the Wild West town of Absolution, where he's confronted by potent enemy Col. Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) and a terrifying problem: invading aliens. Aided by the lovely Ella (Olivia Wilde), Jake rallies a posse of the townspeople, Dolarhyde's minions and local Apache warriors to fight off the extraterrestrial threat."
http://movies.netflix.com/Search?oq=C...
==================================================

IMDb: "A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. A posse of cowboys are all that stand in their way."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409847/

[Jackie]

Jim, I definitely want to see Cowboys & Aliens. It looks like it could be a lot of fun. Even Eric wants to see it.

[Jim]

Marg said the movie was every boy's dream movie. She was laughing at me when she said it, but she does have a point. What could be cooler? I'll just have to rope & hogtie my logic for the duration.
;-)

[Mary JL]

I hope to see Cpwboys and Alines as well. It seems like just the offbeat type of thing I would like.

[Earl]

Netflixed Hereafter
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Herea...

I didn't expect much of this one, as I think Jackie panned it? and Netflix reviews were spotty. I was pleasantly surprised! I give this thing 4½ stars out of 5. Nothing happens. In that there is a very foggy view of the supernatural, hardly any cgi., The 'foggy' part usually turns me off too, but somehow Eastwood/Damon made this work for me.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Earl wrote: "Netflixed Hereafter
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Herea...
I didn't expect much of this one, as I think Jackie panned it? and Netflix reviews were spotty. I was pleasantly..."

Thanks, Earl. I've added it to my Netflix queue. Sounds interesting. Now I'm curious.

"Hereafter" (2010):
=================================================
Netflix description: "Clint Eastwood directs this supernatural thriller about three very different people and their responses to death, including a hesitant American psychic named George (Matt Damon) who may be able to help the others find answers and peace. Marie (Cécile De France) is a French journalist caught up in the aftereffects of the devastating 2004 tsunami, while in London, young Marcus (Frankie and George McLaren) seeks to contact his deceased twin brother."
FROM: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Herea...
==================================================

IMDb description: "A drama centered on three people -- a blue-collar American, a French journalist and a London school boy -- who are touched by death in different ways."
FROM: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212419/

[Jim]

Marg & I watched it, but I can't remember much about it, even after just a few months, so I guess my rating was 'eminently forgettable'.
;-)

[Jim]

Everything's gotten complicated & expensive! Aaagh!

Back in February, our old TV died, a 32" CRT. It was 10 or 12 years old, the size of the Titanic, but had good sound & picture. So I replaced it with a 47" LED LCD. That was tough to figure out, but luckily I'd done some research & had my daughter's techy boyfriend here to help.

The sound sucked on the new TV, though. Not surprising. It's about an inch thick for all it's height & width. (I've also had to do a hard reboot on it because it's as complicated as a Windows PC.) Our old ears just couldn't understand a lot of the low voices, even after we played them back several times. Apparently the new, built-in speakers don't reproduce low, male voices well. They just don't have the frequency range.

Anyway, I started trying to figure out how to fix the sound. First stop, a sound engineer at work. OMG! Who knew sound was so complicated!!! I had to make a drawing of my living room & give him pictures plus he spent hours discussing 'Midnight Mode', various surround sound algorithms & how they worked depending on what we watched: TV shows vs movies or listening to music. Apparently each requires a different mode to sound good.

After 2 weeks, I finally got a sound bar with a wireless bass speaker that has two back satellite speakers coming off of it. It fits the room great since the sound bar goes in front of the TV & the bass goes directly opposite in the back of the room. The wires for the satellite speakers were easy to toss behind bookshelves, no need for batteries or pulling carpet or anything.

So then I tried to use it. Marg & I spent a couple of hours over 2 days trying to figure out the best way to do it, but weird things kept happening. Turns out I had forgotten to turn off all the sound algorithms on the TV itself & set it in 'fixed' volume mode. That means we have to use a second remote for sound (at least for now), which sucks, but the sound quality is amazing.

We watched some of Indiana Jones & the Crystal Skull last night & it was great. We could hear & understand whispers, but commercials & explosions didn't blow us away. We could feel the explosions, though. Very cool. A branch cracking as someone snuck up from behind sounded like it came from behind us! Wow!

I guess it was all worth it, but I now have $1300 invested in a freaking TV set, not to mention $75 each month for Dish satellite service & the PC that's hooked up. That's a ridiculous amount to spend on TV & we're not done yet. We still don't have a Blu-ray player, just the old VCR/DVD combo that won't do a full sized screen. It's a good thing we only have 1 TV in the house. I couldn't afford more.
;-)

[Jackie]

Wow. Thanks for the heads up, Jim, our TV is quite old too and sooner or later, we're going to need a new one. I'm dreading it already.