Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
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Movies, DVDs, and Theater
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What MOVIES or DVDs have you watched lately? (PART FOUR - 2011) (ongoing thread)
Jim wrote: "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 replace..."Jim, when you bought your new TV, was it a special one with fancy sound? Or are all new TVs like that? Sounds like a nightmare! Glad to hear that you finally got it squared away but, as Jacki indicated, it makes a person dread buying a new TV.
They all seem to have fancy sound, Joy. Special everything. I wanted a TV I could connect my computer to without changing the video card & that was easy enough to find, but I wound up having to change my satellite system. That got done for free, but I had to threaten to go to the competition to do it. Dish gives all new customers 'Free HD for Life', but existing customers who pay their bill they want to charge $10, the buggers. I will say they had a new dish & box in place before I got home from work the next day, though.
Just now getting back onto this thread --I've got so much catching up to do after getting back from vacation. Red Riding Hood and Cowboys and Aliens are definitely going on my to-watch list!Good luck with your technology woes, Jim! We'll have some of our own soon; Tony and Rebekah gave Barb a DVD player for her birthday, so we plan to TRY to hook it up to the TV along with our current DVD/VHS unit, which works fine for the VHS. Now, maybe we'll actually be able to watch DVDs at will instead of reading, "disk error." (And then again, maybe not... :-))
Hope you had a good vacation, Werner.No technology woes here. All worked out just fine. It was just getting there that was tough. The colleges are going to have to start giving classes on consumer electronics. To make a decent decision is tough. The knowledge base, choices & options are just huge.
Thanks, Jim; we did have a wonderful time with our extended family (and came home with a dozen bargain books).Glad your new TV hook-up worked out and everything is fine; kudos! That gives us encouragement that there'll be light at the end of the tunnel here, too. :-) If Bluefield College ever offers a course on consumer electronics, I believe I'd take it!
Just saw a funny movie. I can't remember when I have laughed out loud at one lately. It is, "Hello, Goodby.: I recommend it to all of you. nina
Nina wrote: "Just saw a funny movie. I can't remember when I have laughed out loud at one lately. It is, "Hello, Goodby.: I recommend it to all of you. nina"Nina, is that the 2008 French movie with Gérard Depardieu?
"Hello, Goodbye" (2008)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160012/
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Hel...
BTW, I rec'd the following e-mail from Netflix:
===================================================
"We are separating unlimited DVDs by mail and unlimited streaming into two separate plans to better reflect the costs of each. Now our members have a choice: a streaming only plan, a DVD only plan, or both.
"Your current $9.99 a month membership for unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs will be split into 2 distinct plans:
"Plan 1: Unlimited Streaming (no DVDs) for $7.99 a month
"Plan 2: Unlimited DVDs, 1 out at-a-time (no streaming) for $7.99 a month
"Your price for getting both of these plans will be $15.98 a month ($7.99 + $7.99). You don't need to do anything to continue your memberships for both unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs.
"These prices will start for charges on or after September 1, 2011."
================================================
That's a huge jump in pricing. If I accept the change, it will mean that I'll be paying about 16 dollars a month instead of my current 10 dollars a month (for the very same service). (Add tax to that and it really adds up!)
On the other hand, I could save 2 dollars a month by cutting out the streaming (which I've hardly been doing lately because I'm so busy outdoors). Personally, I prefer using a DVD instead of streaming. There's more control when "rewinding" a DVD and there are captions allowed as well. However, it's nice to have the option to stream films, especially during the cold months when I stay home more.
I have until September to decide. But July is flying by!!! Hate to see summer go by so fast.
Joy, That's the movie and it is funny but a but sad at times. Acting is great! And we too are deciding about Netflix' we don't want to pay for streaming. Why does everything go UP instead of Down?
Nina, I put "Hello,Goodbye" on my Netflix queue. Thanks for telling us about it.
I was considering joining Netflix. I was going to wait until the late fall, as I watch more in the winter.I prefer DVD's so that is the option I will probably take.
On a Doctor Who binge, I just finished a three part story arc. "Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords".A really mixed bag. Some great scens and some really bads ones. Sir Derek Jacobi (of Brother Cadfael fame) as the Doctor's archenemy, the Master. Then replaced by John Simms as the younger Master! NO! Sir Derek Jacobi was much better--they should have kept him.
Fun, though.
I liked Derek Jacobi better. Those 3 episodes were so good. Such excellent writing on DW.I recently did an "all things Capt Jack" marathon, gearing up for the new season of Torchwood. Every DW ep Jack was in and all of Torchwood to date. Including these 3, which is where we find out Jack is The Face of Boe.
Has anyone read, "The Elegance of the Hedgehog?" It is interesting.
Mary JL wrote: "I was considering joining Netflix. I was going to wait until the late fall, as I watch more in the winter. I prefer DVD's so that is the option I will probably take."Yes, Mary JL, I watch more in the winter too. I hate going out in the cold!
Nina wrote: "Has anyone read, "The Elegance of the Hedgehog?" It is interesting."Haven't read it, Nina. Here's the link:
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.
What did you find interesting about it?
Mary JL mentioned "Brother Cadfael". I remember reading the books by Ellis Peters with Cadfael as a main character. The books I read were: _St. Peter’s Fair_,_The Leper of St. Giles_, and _The Holy Thief_.
Wiki says:
====================================================
"Brother Cadfael is the fictional main character in a series of historical murder mysteries written by the linguist-scholar Edith Pargeter under the name "Ellis Peters". The character of Cadfael himself is a Welsh Benedictine monk living at Shrewsbury Abbey, in western England, in the first half of the 12th century. The historically accurate stories[1] are set between about 1135 and about 1145..."
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadfael
============================================
I remember watching the film versions of the Brother Cadfael stories but I didn't enjoy them as much as the books. The books had a wonderful atmosphere about them. You felt as if you were actually being taken back to medieval times.
(I liked both the Brother Cadfael books and the series, but I've only read two of the former.)Both Barb and I were very pleased with the final Harry Potter movie! It's very faithfully and effectively adapted from the book, mostly with only such changes as needed to condense the plot into the movie time-frame, action-filled, and brings out the author's messages (including the subtle Christian symbolism) quite clearly.
Werner, Eric and I went to see it Saturday. We thought it was great.
I was too caught up in the movie to analyze, can you give examples of Christian symbolism?
In order to ultimately defeat evil and save the day, Harry has to die --and voluntarily goes to his death-- thus fatally weakening Voldemort (who serves very well as a Satan symbol). But (with the aid of the Resurrection Stone, one of the titular Deathly Hallows), he comes back from the dead to defeat evil once and for all. There are definite echoes of the central New Testament motif there. Rowling, of course, is a practicing member of the Church of Scotland, who cites both Tolkien and C. S. Lewis as major literary influences --all of which makes it ironic that some members of the evangelical community have been among the most vocal (and poorly-informed) detractors of her and the entire series.That's really the only distinctly Christian symbolism there. Other things --the emphasis on standing up to fight against evil, Dumbledore's comment on those who live without love, Harry's abjuration of absolute power when he breaks the Elder Wand-- reflect ethical ideas that would be held by Christians, but shared by other moral people, both religious and nonreligious. (And of course all of the latter would also agree that some things are worth dying for.)
Thanks Werner. I didn't notice religious symbolism, it does occur to me to look for it. When watching a movie such as HP, I'm in the moment caught up in the action and drama, I don't think. It's great having someone like you who is so adept at noticing and analyzing movies and books. It adds layers to an already fantastic experience.
Joy, Thanks for your helpful advice. I will see if this goes through. Please let me know. I keep getting messages that my email is wrong. It isn't. They keep bouncing it. I verify it and they pay no attention whatsoever. Frustrating. Some days don't you wish you could talk to a real person and not the computer? nina
Nina wrote: "Joy, Thanks for your helpful advice. I will see if this goes through. Please let me know. I keep getting messages that my email is wrong. It isn't. They keep bouncing it. I verify it and they pay n..."Yes, Nina, your post came though to our group here just fine.
Yes, talking to a real person is certainly easier and quicker, but nowadays everyone seems to prefer the Internet. It has its advantages.
Werner and Jackie: About religious symbolism, I always wonder if the authors intended it to be there or if readers picked it up by themselves from the story.
Netflixed Get Lowhttp://movies.netflix.com/Search?v1=G...
I give 3 stars out of 5. Great actors, but the movie got suddenly a lot less interesting after Felix's secret was outted.
Netflixed Waiting For Superman
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Wai...
2 stars out 5. Lots of boring time wasted taking pictures of various kids. Surprisingly, they did lay most of the blame for the school system on the teacher unions, which I agree with. What really torqued me was when they said that American kids had gotten so dumb that high tech companies had to recruit in the third world for science-savy. Morons. Of course corporations went there to get labor cheap. Sheesh!
Netflixed The Rite
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The...
I gave it 4 stars. I was surprised, as most Netflix reviews were luke-warm. I thought it was very well done, without the cgi to simplify it for idiots. Too dark for my tv screen though, made it a bit hard to follow.
Joy H. wrote: "Nina wrote: "Has anyone read, "The Elegance of the Hedgehog?" It is interesting."Haven't read it, Nina. Here's the link:
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by [author:Muriel Barbery|643..."I thought it interesting premise; that sometimes we don't really see people we see who we think they are; preconceived notions. Especially the upper classes in European nations who are so class conscious they only see the outer garments of the lower classes and would be amazed at what they really are inside.
As to, "The Elegance of the Hedgehog," I listened to a talk by the owner of an independent bookstore yesterday and her referrence to this book was this, "Either people love it or hate it." I was among the lovers. Another suggestion of hers was the book, "Night Circus." She has to read hundreds of books and she said if that book wasn't her favorite of all she's ever read, it was at the least, the best one this year. She guarantees that if you read the first page you won't put it down.
Earl, thanks for your comments. I've been slow about watching the Netflix DVDs I receive. It takes me few days to be in the mood to watch the full DVD. I watch each DVD a bit at a time.Right now I have "Edward the King" (1975).
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/70107...
"John Gielgud and Annette Crosbie star in this Emmy-winning British miniseries about the life of King Edward the VII, from his young years as a prince to his dramatic transformation into a grown man and, eventually, a monarch. The program recounts the historic tale of the son of Queen Victoria who, despite a mere nine-year rule, had a profound and lasting effect not only on his nation, but on the monarchy itself."
For the history buffs, here's what Wiki says about Edward VII:
===============================================
Reign: 1901 – 1910
Predecessor: Victoria
Successor: George V
[NOTE: George V, who reigned from 1910-1936, was the son of Edward VII and the father of the Duke of Windsor who abdicated in 1936.]
"Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. He was the first British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, which was renamed the House of Windsor by his son, George V.
"Before his accession to the throne, Edward held the title of Prince of Wales and was heir apparent to the throne for longer than any of his predecessors. During the long widowhood of his mother, Queen Victoria, he was largely excluded from political power and came to personify the fashionable, leisured elite.
"The Edwardian era, which covered Edward's reign and was named after him, coincided with the start of a new century and heralded significant changes in technology and society, including powered flight and the rise of socialism and the Labour movement. Edward played a role in the modernisation of the British Home Fleet, the reform of the Army Medical Services, and the reorganisation of the British army after the Second Boer War. He fostered good relations between the UK and other European countries, especially France, for which he was popularly called "Peacemaker", but his relationship with his nephew, Wilhelm II of Germany, was poor. Edward presciently suspected that Wilhelm would precipitate a war, and four years after Edward's death, World War I brought an end to the Edwardian way of life."
FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_V...
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Nina wrote [about [book:The Elegance of the Hedgehog|2967752]]: "I thought it interesting premise; that sometimes we don't really see people we see who we think they are; preconceived notions. Especially the upper classes in European nations who are so class conscious they only see the outer garments of the lower classes and would be amazed at what they really are inside. ...... Another suggestion of hers was the book, "Night Circus." ..."
Nina, that IS an interesting premise ("preconceived notions"). I guess we're all guilty of that at times.
Thanks too for the recommendation of Night, Circus (1990) by Mark Corcoran.
Hmmmm, there is another book called: The Night Circus (expected publication: September 13th 2011) by Erin Morgenstern, but I assume you are referring to the book by Corcoran.
PS-On the other hand, perhaps you meant the book by Morgenstern, since you wrote that someone said it was "the best one this year".
Earl wrote: "... Netflixed "Waiting For Superman" ... 2 stars out 5."Earl, about "Waiting for Superman". I think the title of the movie is very misleading because it isn't about Superman. It's a documentary about America's school system. I wonder who thought up that title and who approved it. I never would have chosen that as a title for a documentary.
A freind gave me Season 1 of the TV series "Smallville" so I have tried two of the DVD's. It is very 'light' entertainment, but some good preformances.Michael Rosenbaum makes a nice enigmatic young Lex Luthor. Tom Welling is a bit bland a Clark Kent, though!
Aslo, went last weekend and saw the last Harry Potter movie. It was good.
I just watched The Young Victoria. It was good.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0962736/
Mary JL,
I came late to Smallville also. My nephew insisted I borrow his collection and I'm glad he did. I loved the early Lex Luthor and his relationship with Clark. Keep watching, Welling gets better. When he started Smallville he was just a model with no drama training. He remedied that and it shows. I enjoyed the series a lot.
Mary JL wrote: "A freind gave me Season 1 of the TV series "Smallville" so I have tried two of the DVD's. It is very 'light' entertainment, but some good preformances.Michael Rosenbaum makes a nice enigmatic ..."
Here's the Netflix description of Smallville:
"Smallville"(2001) TV-PG
This wildly popular fantasy series recounts the adventures of Kansas teen Clark Kent (Tom Welling), who uses his still-emerging superpowers to fight crime even as he copes with the normal growing pains of adolescence, young love and family dramas. As he matures during high school and college, Clark falls in love with Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk), accepts his alien origins and becomes enemies with former friend Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum)."
Jackie wrote: "I just watched The Young Victoria. It was good. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0962736/ "I gave it 3 stars at Netflix, Jackie. Now I'm watching the middle-aged Victoria in a DVD of "Edward VII" (her son). Her relationship with Prince Albert is interesting. Full of ups and downs.
Joy, I'll have to try that one if the vid store has it.
Jackie wrote: "Joy, I'll have to try that one if the vid store has it."The full title is "Edward the King". See my message #579 above.
Joy, I am still having trouble with Goodreads but to answer your question, the author of "Night Circus," is Morgenstern. nina
Joy H. wrote: "Nina wrote [about [book:The Elegance of the Hedgehog|2967752]]: "I thought it interesting premise; that sometimes we don't really see people we see who we think they are; preconceived notions. Espe...""The Elegance of the Hedgehog," has two protaganists; one, a twelve year old girl who is quite intelligent beyond her years and a fifty four year old consierge. They both live in a luxury apartment in Paris. It is a bit heavy at times, but I am sticking with it. I sometimes had to look up words in the dictionary. nina
Jackie wrote: "Thank you, Joy." Joy is always a great help. I know from experience. nina
Nina wrote: "Joy, I am still having trouble with Goodreads but to answer your question, the author of "Night Circus," is Morgenstern. nina"Thanks, Nina.
A GR member (Tatiana) said in her review about the book (The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern):
"The book is good 80% description of various circus tents, performances, dinners and pretty, visual acts of magic. I enjoyed it for the first 40 pages or so, but then it got tiring and felt indulgent on the author's part."
Her review is at: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
PS-Keep enjoying _The Elegance of the Hedgehog_.
That was an informative review. I am surprised that the independent book store owner raved about how good it was. She must have been one of the ones the reviewer referred to as someone who would give it five stars. Now, I am not so sure I want to read it but I am on the list so will just see for myself which one I agree with. I finished "Hedgehog," and was sad to do so.
Nina, you might enjoy the following review of the Hedgehog book: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Netflixed Inside Jobhttp://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Ins...
about $700 billion taxpayer bailout of the financial criminals who caused it. This event has been studied by all the experts, after the fact, and could have been succinctly explained in about 3 typewritten sheets. What the movie does is collar some of the low-level criminals, who only stole several million, (and of course go unpunished) buttonhole them with 60 Minutes-like questions on camera. In other words drag it out as long as possible. I fell asleep. One thing new, to me, that the movie told me as how deeply our university economic gurus are in bed with the financial industry and how richly they profit from it.
I gave it 2 stars.
I agree Earl--- the film was tedious and repeated basically what we already knew from the countless films and books that have ensued since the crash in '08.
Earl wrote: "Netflixed Inside Jobhttp://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Ins...
about $700 billion taxpayer bailout of the financial criminals who caused it. This event has been studied b..."
I haven't seen it, but here's the Netflix description for those who aren't Netflix members:
"Inside Job" 2010:
=============================================
"From filmmaker Charles Ferguson comes this sobering, Oscar-winning documentary that presents in comprehensive yet cogent detail the pervasive and deep-rooted corruption that led to the global economic meltdown of 2008. Through unflinching interviews with key financial insiders, politicos, journalists and academics, Ferguson paints a galling portrait of an unfettered financial system run amok -- without accountability. Actor Matt Damon narrates."
===============================================
IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1645089/
"Takes a closer look at what brought about the financial meltdown."
Netflixed The Eaglehttp://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The...
I gave 2 stars out of 5. Typical Netflix rating was 3.5 they say. I dunno, I just found it kind of boring. The plot premise LOOKS good but it just didn't entertain me.
Netflixed The Way Back
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The...
I gave 3 stars out of 5. The plot premise looks good, though extremely unlikely (escape from Siberia). To me the most interesting part of the movie take place in the gulag itself. And that's where the tv screen is the darkest, and they're all wearing every clothing item they can get their hands on to try to keep from freezing to death (which many ARE doing). This made it very hard for me to distinguish between characters, very annoying. After the escape it was one humongous long slog, which they TRIED to make interesting with various plot devices that barely kept me from getting bored.
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As complicated as the TV itself was, the sound was worse, believe it or not. I found it hard to believe, but the offerings are all so proprietary that it's very difficult to compare them. Reviews vary widely, too.
Well, this setup better last another 10 or 12 years. Then I'm going to just make the kids figure out what we need & they better get it right.
;-)