Have you seen any good movies lately? (Part 1 - begun 11/09/08)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I don't go to the movies very often, but I enjoy the films shown on TCM-TV. Every once in a while a good movie comes along which I try to see.

[Robert]

I caught up with a couple of oldies recently that I'd never heard of (which is rare for an old movie buff like me)--"The Lady Has Plans" (Paramount, 1942) starring Paulette Goddard and Ray Milland, and "Nightmare" (Universal, 1942) starring Brian Donlevy and Diana Barrymore.

"The Lady Has Plans" might best be described as Paramount's version of Hitchcock's "Foreign Correspondent," which was made about the same time. It is a tale of stolen defense plans, painted in invisible ink on a woman's (Maggie Hayes) back, and mistaken identity with a female reporter in Portugal (Goddared). It is very light-hearted. The picture's copyright date was 1941, so it was completed just before Pearl Harbor, and could never have been mmade in quite the same way after December 7, 1941. A lot of the plot revolves around the British and German diplomats in Portugal trying to get Paulette to take her clothes off so they can access the secret plans they think are painted in invisible ink on her back. Quite a lot of fun.

"Nightmare" is more of a thriler--also in the Hitchcock mode. Donlevy plays an American gambler/expatriate in London, whose gambling establishment is bombed out in the blitz. He plans to sail home in a couple of days to
enlist, but he only has enough money for the
boat ticket--and he only has the tuxedo he's wearing on his back. He breaks into a flat to get out of the rain and get something to eat and gets involved with a dead body that keeps turning up after he's supposedly disposed of it. Like "The 39 Steps" the action ranges all over England, and, naturally the spies of the moment who are setting the plot in motion are Nazis.

But quite good films and worth a look if you get a chance to see them.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I haven't seen those movies, but I'll keep my eye open for them. One of my favorite film genres is screwball comedy. I loved "My Man Godfrey" with William Powell.

[Katie]

I've seen Twilight twice in the last week! Its my new favorite. I've fallen in love with the characters and I can't wait for the next movies to be done.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Hi Katie. I see that the movie "Twilight" is based on the Stephenie Meyer novel. Have you read the book? How did the movie compare to the book? Did it follow it closely?

Below is a cover-link to the book:
[image error]

Below is a link to the reviews of the movie:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1099212/e...

[Katie]

Joy,
I've read the books twice through now. While they took out a few scenes, and changed up the locations(the meadow scene was filmed in a rocky hillside, and added a scene or two, I still loved it. They still were able to capture the essence of the book without making it too silly. It would really be kind of boring for them to follow the book page for page, because the whole book is written from Bella's POV, and a lot of it is internal talking and thinking.

I still loved it. I can't wait to see the next ones. They've gotten a bigger budget for the next ones, so hopefully that means they'll live up to the books.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Katie, the "internal talking and thinking" sounds interesting. I think I'll put the book on my To-Read List. I'll try to see the movie too, especially because I've heard so much about "Twilight", both the book and the movie.

BTW, I love comparing books and their movies. I usually like to read the book first. How about you?

[Katie]

I do try to read the books first. Usually the movie can't hold a candle to the book. And I prefer to figure out the "look" of the character before I see the movie.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I feel the same way, Katie.

There was only one time in which I preferred the movie to the book, and that was when I read the screenplay of "The Piano". Below is a link to it at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Screenpla...

I think that was the only screenplay I have ever read. The movie filled out so many of the scenes which seemed flat on the page. I suppose that's the nature of a screenplay.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Katie, you mentioned the "look" of a character as you imagine it while reading. Like you, I prefer to imagine the character's appearance before I see the actor who is cast for the part in a movie.

When I read _Nobody's Fool_ by Richard Russo, I immediately imagined Jack Nicholson in the part of the main character, Sully Sullivan. To me Sully was an animated and witty person, exactly like Nicholson. He was a teaser. This was so very strong in my imagination that I imagined everyone would imagine Nicholson in the part, just like I did.

I asked everyone I knew and not one person had the same feeling that I did. It has always puzzled me. And when the movie came out with Paul Newman playing Sully, I was so disappointed. I love Paul Newman, but he played Sully as a quiet, low key person. I didn't see Sully that way.

Below is a link to _Nobody's Fool_:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/65...

BTW, it was a terrific book and I recommend it. Below is the book cover-link:

[Jackie]

Joy and I met yesterday and went to see Twilight.
It was much better than I thought it would be. I loved the characters of Bella and Edward, how could you not?
Unfortunately I haven't read the books yet. Still waiting on one of my son's out-of-town friends to bring them up for me. I may just buy them or get them from my local library.

I thought it may be too junevile for my liking but it was so good that the film has inspired me to read the series.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

It was fun having a Movie-Meet with Jackie yesterday. We both wanted to see "Twilight". I was very curious about it because I had heard so much about the book series.

Not having seen many fantasy movies, I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this one. (I must confess that during "Star Wars" I fell asleep.) (lol)

I don't want to say too much about the plot of the movie because I might spoil the story for those who don't know about it.

One thing I will say though, is that Robert Pattinson, the actor who played the lead character, is strikingly handsome, especially the way he's depicted in this movie. One of the reviews likened him to James Dean in his behavior. I can see that similarity. See pics here: ====>
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http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1500155/me...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Despite some negative statements in the external reviews at IMDb.com, I found the movie to be very well done as far as building suspense and sustaining it. There was some great cinematography as well. I loved the panoramic scenes from high altitudes. Although the plot is simple, there are quite a few angles to it which keep the viewer engaged. A few sections dragged a bit for me, but they may be just the parts that appeal to the kids. There was enough variety so that everyone may find something to like about the movie.

The icing on the cake for me was meeting Jackie. I enjoyed her company very much.

Another member had scheduled a Movie-Meet with me, but sickness caused us to postpone our plans.

I'm looking forward to our next Movie-Meet.
Please post at the following topic if you are interested: ====>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6...
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[Jackie]

I followed the link you provided and I can't believe I didn't recognize Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! He looks so grown up in Twilight. I also read at IMDB that there will be a second movie in the series New Moon which I am looking forward to seeing in 2010.

I agree with Joy on all counts! The panaramic views were breath-takingly stunning.

We had such a good time! I'm looking forward to our next Movie Meet!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I'm looking forward to it too, Jackie.

I didn't see "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". So I searched for pics of Robert Pattison online just now. Below are links to 5 good ones I found:
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http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808475...

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808475...

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808475...

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808475...

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808475...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pattinson's face has matured quite a bit in 3 years.

[Katie]

Well I loved the movie. It was filmed in Oregon near where I grew up, so I loved seeing the scenery in the movie:) Robert Pattinson is my new celebucrush! :)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Hi Katie - That Oregon scenery was gorgeous. At one point it reminded me of the views we see from the Top of the World Golf Course on east side of Lake George. Below is a link to their website: ====>

http://www.topoftheworldgolfresort.com/

I wonder what movie Pattinson will be in next.

[Katie]

I saw a preview of "Little Ashes" where Rob Pattinson plays Salvador Dali.

Here is the wikipedia site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_A...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Thanks, Katie. In my view, Pattinson is too handsome to play the part of Salvador Dali, who was far from handsome. It's not believable casting. I wonder if any of the critics will bring up that idea.

Thanks for the link to the Wiki webpage. It says:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The movie title is taken from Salvador Dalí's 1927-28 painting Cenicitas (Little Ashes). It was originally called The Birth of Venus, before being changed to Sterile Efforts and then finally Cencitas (sic)."
Above is from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_A...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I searched and found a picture of Cenicitas. Below is the link: ====>
----------------------------
http://www.abcgallery.com/D/dali/dali...
----------------------------

No comment on the painting. (g)

We were just talking about Botticelli's Birth of Venus in another thread. Coincidence, I guess.

[Katie]

I agree, he's too handsome. I'm not sure I'll see that movie. The only reason I would go see it would be to watch Robert...LOL!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I can't blame you, Katie.:)
Let's see what the critics say.

[Jackie]

Katie,
You are so lucky to have lived in that area! I've always want to go to Oregon, especially Three Sisters Falls. The scenery enhanced the movie, so much so, that I think if it were filmed anywhere else it wouldn't have been so spectacularly beautiful.

[Earl]

Hollywood Video is now renting Traitor, which I don't believe showed in Glens Falls. A good adventure flick. NO CAR CHASES.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Hi Earl - Welcome to our group! Nice to see you here.

Below is a link to IMDb's webpage on "Traitor". ====>
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988047/

Roger Ebert had some good words to say about the star, Don Cheadle.
Below is Ebert's review: ====>
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...

Below is a link to James Berardinelli's review: ====>
http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_t...
I've always liked Berardinelli's reviews. His writing is always so clear, intelligent, and understandable. He says:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Traitor is an uncommonly intelligent espionage thriller that explores the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by agents who go deep undercover in the service of their country."
...
"At the center of Traitor lies the difference between "standard" Islam and the fundamentalist variety that underlies the philosophical motivations of many terrorist organizations."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Right away, the reader is oriented as to what the plot is about. I like that.

Thanks for calling our attention to this movie, Earl.

[Becky]

I think Don Cheadle is one of the best actors currently out there.I think I just put this movie on my netflix list....


next week season 2 of The Tudors comes out!!!! Ya!!!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I just checked IMDb.com on "The Tudors". ====>
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758790/
It describes it as "A dramatic series about the reign and marriages of King Henry VIII."

I see that Jonathan Rhys Meyers is up for a Golden Globe for his role as King Henry VIII in The Tudors. (Actor in a TV series, Drama)

The awards will be handed out in Los Angeles Jan. 11.
See the following link for a complete list of the nominations: ====>
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b7280...

[Jim]

We just watched 2 movies over the holidays; "Grosse Point Blank" & "Indiana Jones & the Crystal Skull". We've seen the first before, although never in its entirety & always on TV before this. A very funny movie.

The Indiana Jones one was better than I thought it would be. Better than "The Temple of Doom" but not as good as "The Lost Ark" or the third one with Sean Connery. Still, it was fun.

I got "Charlie Wilson's War" for Xmas. I've never even heard of it, but will try to watch it soon. Maybe tonight or later today. It's warm here, 55 right now, but wet. It rained all evening & into the wee hours. Unless it dries out, I won't be able to do half of what I had planned; hay & bedding moved for the horses & getting some wood out of the woods to turn. I have a big Sugar Maple log & a Slippery Elm that have a date with my lathe, when I can get in there to get them out.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Gee, Jim, even *I* had heard of Charlie Wilson's War. :) But I haven't seen it, or any of the movies you mentioned.

Isn't Charlie Wilson's War with Tom Hanks? Wait, I'll check...
Yep, Here's the link: ====> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472062/
Description: "A drama based on a Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan..."

Reviewer, James Berardinelli, says:
"With its rapid pace, smart screenplay, and top-notch acting, this is one of the 2007 Oscar season's most appealing and compelling adult motion pictures."
Link: ====> http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_t...

Gee, maybe I should watch it too, Jim. :) Sounds good.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Coincidence... right now on TCM-TV, they're showing a 1933 film called "The Private Life of Henry VIII" with Charles Laughton as Henry.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "Unless it dries out, I won't be able to do half of what I had planned; hay & bedding moved for the horses & getting some wood out of the woods to turn. I have a big Sugar Maple log & a Slippery Elm that have a date with my lathe, when I can get in there to get them out."

Jim, everytime I read about the farm and the dogs in the Edgar Sawtelle book, I think of you. Seems a hard life, but you must get a lot of exercise. It's good for your health.

We won't see 55 degrees for a while here. Enjoy it. :)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

PS-Henry VIII must have been a real ogre! Incredible.

[Jackie]

I thought Traitor would be a lot better, mainly because Don Cheadle doesn't choose his roles lightly. He always picks great roles and great movies. I felt this was entirely too predictable, and way too long before they finally reveal what I knew all along. Cheadle's performance was exceptional, as usual.

Charlie Wilson's War, I felt that was just a propaganda movie. What we did for Afghanistan, what we should have done in Afghanistan. How the job wasn't full completed, in a way justifiying the Afghanis current actions. All the while paving the way for what we will surely be doing soon in Afghanistan. Rapid pace? OK, if he says so, but to me it was slow, and ultimately dull.

I haven't seen The Tudors but I will one of these days. It looks good. Has anyone seen it?

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Hmmm, Jackie, you make me curious to see the movies and judge for myself. :) That's what I like about Goodreads. It motivates me and makes me curious about so many things.

Quotation: ""Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life." -Eleanor Roosevelt

[Jackie]

Neither movie was 'bad', and I don't regret watching them.

That's the best part about these conversations, sparking others' interest.

We all have different views from different perspectives. It would be a very boring world if we all thought, felt and acted the same.
I think it's our ability to communicate those differences that make us an intesting species.

[Becky]

I rented season 1 of The Tudors from Netflix-it is a Showtime series & we don't get showtime-I loved season 1, could not wait for each disc to arrive. I will be getting disc 1 of season 2 this week!!!

[Jackie]

All my TV Programs come back this month, but in the Spring when they are over, I'll see if Hollywood vidoe has it.
I don't get Showtime either but I'm addicted to Dexter. I download it because I simply cannot wait for it to come out on DVD.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

You've made me curious again. :)
I've never heard of Dexter. So I googled and found:

"Dexter is an American television drama series based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay and adapted for television by Emmy Award-winning screenwriter James Manos, Jr., who wrote the pilot episode. Set in Miami, the series centers on Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a serial killer governed by a moral code who works for the Miami Metro Police Department as a blood spatter analyst."

Above from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexter_(...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I just realized that the series mentioned above were/are on the Showtime Channel. No wonder I hadn't heard of them. I don't get the Showtime Channel.

[Jackie]

It's my favorite TV show. They do an excellent job of getting into the mind of a serial killer. It's strange because you find yourself hoping he doesn't get caught. You actually like Dexter.
I highly recommend it.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie, just THINKING about serial killers scares me. :)

IIRC, there are other stories in which the villain is a likeable character and the reader/audience roots for him. I can't remember any specific books or movies, but I know I've heard of the idea. It's intriguing. In fact I recently read a quote to that effect. I'll be darned if I can find it or place it.

Below is a quote expressing the frustration of not being able to find a particular quote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I suppose every old scholar has had the experience of reading something in a book which was significant to him, but which he could never find again. Sure he is that he read it there, but no one else ever read it, nor can he find it again, though he buy the book and ransack every page." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Jackie]

In the real world, I wouldn't be a fan of a serial killer, and would probably die of a heart attack if I ever encountered one.
That's what so great about reading, watching movies, it's fantasy and when it's over, it really is over.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

That's a good attitude, Jackie. But it didn't help me when I read _The Firm_. The story made me so tense; it was terrible. I'll never forget that experience. Couldn't wait for the story to end!

[Jackie]

There were tense moments in The Firm. I was afraid he'd get caught.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I don't even remember THAT! LOL I just remember being scared. :)

[Jim]

I did get the Xmas stuff out to the barn (wish we had an attic or basement!) & got a load of hay. Kind of wish I hadn't. Last night something tore in my shoulder when - of all things - I dried my back after a shower. I lifted my right arm & flipped the towel behind me & something went. Picking hay bales up above my head was NOT fun. The shoulder clicks & scrapes a little, just in certain positions in the front of it.

Getting old sucks, although it is better than the alternative. I need glasses now for carving & woodburning. Yuck.

It is too wet to get into the woods today. Warm though. Must be 60 out. I guess I'll watch the movie.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Hope your shoulder will be OK, Jim.
Relax and enjoy the movie.

[Jim]

The movie, "Charlie Wilson's War" was very good.

Saturday, I had to take care of the animals in the evening while the girls were out a banquet dinner at the Church Hill Downs Museum in Louisville. Erin got Reserve Champion for the state in her division, horse riding/showing. Anyway, while taking the dogs for a walk, I took along the camera & got a couple of good ones of Pixie, our new puppy. One is in mid leap off a log.
http://www.wysiwygwood.org/pictures.html
Thought you might get a kick out of them. She really is cute.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Loved the pics, Jim. Thanks! I love all the doggies.

I'm impressed with the equestrian photos. That's another world for me. Congratulations to Erin on her award. I love all the snappy looking clothes the riders are wearing. The horses are so handsome.

I saw your woodworking photos. You do beautiful work, Jim. Where do you find the time? How did you get started in woodworking?

You might be interested in my next post which is about a carving I gave as a Secret Santa gift this Christmas.

Give me some time to post it.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

ABOUT THE WOOD CARVING I MENTIONED ABOVE:
Below is a message I wrote about a Secret Santa gift which I sent to France as a Christmas gift:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I hope you will enjoy the little duck. The ironwood felt so smooth and polished. I couldn't stop touching it. I found it in a gift shop in Bolton Landing, NY, near where we live.

Below is link to a photo of the duck I sent: ====>
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj...

I felt it was representative of Lake George because we see so many ducks on the lake when we go boating.

The Ironwood itself comes from one place and one place only, the Sonoran Desert, located in southwestern US and part of Mexico, according to the following webpage: ====>
http://www.pima.gov/cmo/sdcp/species/...

The following site tells about Ironwood as it's used in carvings. ====>
http://www.cactuslands.com/shop_ironw...
I had never heard of Ironwood before this."
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[Jim]

Thanks, Joy. I'll try to look at your links tomorrow at work - remind me! I'm on dialup right now, so looking at pics takes way too long. I'm sure they're neat.

Wood work is SOOOO cool. I have some links you should see too. There's a couple of Italians that carve stuff out of wood, like an entire room with hats & coats hanging on the wall - all life sized. He also has an amphibious working car he made out of wood.

My step father was a contractor in order to make money to support the farm, so I grew up being a remodeler. Computers became a hobby in the 80's so when my arm went bad & I couldn't hammer all day any more, I turned it into my work, while woodworking became my hobby. I already had most of the tools after 15 years fixing farms & building new houses. I have added a few lathes since then - all paid for by selling my bowls! It's great when a hobby actually pays something back.

I try to spend an hour fiddling every day, including every evening after work, although I try to get in a few during the weekends, if not better. It's amazing how fast it adds up. I think I have a few dozen bowls ready to go now. Hopefully a local store will buy them by the end of the month.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim, it's amazing how many skills and interests you have. What finish do you put on your wood bowls? Are they usable or for decoration only?

I know how slow dial-up is! How well I remember! It was excruciatingly slow.

I wonder what percent of people on the Net are still using dial-up. To me it's like horse and buggy.