What MOVIES or DVDs have you watched? (PART FIVE - 2012) (ongoing thread) Showing 101-150 of 1,040

[Jackie]

This is why I bribe him with doggie snacks, lol

[Jim]

Those are some mighty teeth! Our dogs are really bad about tearing everything up, too. Marg got a Kevlar squirrel which has survived 2 years now, an all time record for any kind of toy. Well, I guess the horses' Jolly balls last that long, but the dogs chew huge holes in them within months.

[Jackie]

Jim! Where did she get the Kevlar squirrel? That would be perfect for Juneau. When he was a little puppy, he was chewing bricks in the yard, pulverized them more like.
Another photo of the brick-chomping Juneau, wow he was so tiny!
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/1...

[Jim]

It's a catalog called "In the company of dogs".
http://www.inthecompanyofdogs.com/

She says it is pricey, but has some really good stuff. I think what we have is a small squirrel made with Kevlar & that's what Marg remembers, but all I can find is one made with the "tuffut technology". Google that & you'll find a lot of toys & chewies from other sites. You might find a better price.

Here's the squirrel I found:
http://www.inthecompanyofdogs.com/ite...

Here's a better explanation of the Tuffut Technology:
http://hugglehounds.com/tuffut.htm

That might be what we have. She's sure of the store.

[Jackie]

Thanks, Jim, I'll look into it. I generally spend about $20 per toy, I don't mind spending as long as he has it for a little while.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Wow, sharp teeth!

About the thumbnail in the comment box, it's a feature of PictureTrail. They provide the coding. http://www.picturetrail.com/

Here's a sample of one of my free PictureTrail websites:
http://www.picturetrail.com/picture_l...

[Jackie]

Very cool, Joy. Thanks.
Are you watching Season 2 of Downton Abbey?

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "Very cool, Joy. Thanks.
Are you watching Season 2 of Downton Abbey?"

No, Jackie. I've been busy streaming Netflix movies onto my TV screen via my Roku device. Today I streamed a wonderful movie starring Maggie Smith:
"The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne" (1987)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093431/
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/The_L...
NETFLIX DESCRIPTION:
==============================================
"Maggie Smith (who won a BAFTA Award for her nuanced performance) stars as self-effacing spinster Judith Hearne in this emotional drama set in 1950s Dublin. Harboring a secret yearning for her boardinghouse neighbor James (Bob Hoskins), the modest piano teacher is pleasantly surprised to find her affection returned. But the lonely lady is headed for heartbreak when she discovers her new beau is a wily opportunist with ignoble intentions."
==================================================
Maggie Smith is like a magnet (no pun intended). I can't stop watching her act. She's marvelous and this is an absorbing story. I gave the movie 5 Netflix stars out of 5.

Adapted from the book: The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1955) by Brian Moore

[Jackie]

She's been fantastic in the new season. You'll be able to stream it from Netflix soon enough.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "She's been fantastic in the new season. You'll be able to stream it from Netflix soon enough."

Yes, I plan to do that.

I watched the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) awards tonight on TNT. It was also on TBS.
http://www.sagawards.org/
I saw a glimpse of Maggie Smith in one of the clips in the SAG show. She looked as powerful as ever.

The following link shows the nominees and recipients:
http://sagawards.org/awards/nominees-...

[HAD WRONG LINK. CORRECTED IT.]

[Jackie]

Another one you might be interested in is Daniel Deronda http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0321897/
I never heard of it but while at Hugh Bonneville's page on imdb I noticed it. I also like Hugh Dancy who was fantastic in the title role of Adam http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1185836/



Netflix has it too: http://www2.netflix.com/Movie/Daniel-...
I hope the link works.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "Another one you might be interested in is Daniel Deronda http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0321897/
I never heard of it but while at Hugh Bonneville's page on imdb I noticed it. I also like Hugh Dancy..."

Thanks, Jackie. And thanks for the links too. I watched that adaptation of Daniel Deronda (by George Eliot) in 2010. I gave it 5 stars.
"Daniel Deronda" 2002) TV
NETFLIX DESCRIPTION: "The illegitimate son of a wealthy British aristocrat, Daniel Deronda harbors a secretive past and a ready supply of cash. But when he meets Gwendolyn, a beautiful woman in desperate need of money, things get even more complicated."
FROM: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Danie...

Wish I could remember what I saw! LOL

[Jackie]

And you didn't tell me about it!
I'm so pleased you rated it so highly. We both like these kinds of movies/miniseries.

I see that the cast for Game of Thrones was nominated for a SAG Award. I hope they win it because it truly was the most outstanding series and acting of last year. If it goes by ability, then they'll win. Though I'm really not sure what criteria is used in determining nominatons and wins for these awards.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "... I see that the cast for Game of Thrones was nominated for a SAG Award. I hope they win it because it truly was the most outstanding series and acting of last year. ..."

From the SAG web page, I see that "Game of Thrones" won for:
"Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series".

It got beat out by "Boardwalk Empire" for:
"Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series".

FROM: http://sagawards.org/awards/nominees-...

[Jackie]

Pffft, Stunts.

I can't say as I expected any different. (sigh)

Thanks for the info, Joy. It is appreciated.

[Werner]

I saw that particular miniseries adaptation of Daniel Deronda back when it first aired in 2002, and really liked it! It made me want to read the book, and I still have that aspiration on my agenda. (It's getting around to actually doing it that's the problem. :-( )

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim [edit - oops, I meant Werner], did you say that the problem is getting around to it?
Let me solve your problem:

[Jim]

Both Boardwalk Empire & Game of Thrones were great! We watched Lucky last night & weren't as impressed as we thought we'd be, though. All are HBO shows.

[Jackie]

HBO does a great job with their series. I'd love to see them do a TV series for Dune.
Showtime series are good too, just not as good as HBO.

I'm sorry Lucky wasn't what you hoped it would be Jim. Will you watch a few more episodes and see if it gets better?

[Werner]

Joy, I'm the one who said my problem was getting around to it. Thanks for the "solution." :-) When I visited my father's family's old stamping grounds in North Branch, MN back in the 90s, I found a store that sold, among other things, "round tu-its:" little balls of wood, appropriately labeled, for the person who always says he/she needs to get one. :-) (If only I'd bought one, and solved all my time problems!)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "Joy, I'm the one who said my problem was getting around to it. Thanks for the "solution." :-) When I visited my father's family's old stamping grounds in North Branch, MN back in the 90s, I foun..."

Oooops! Sorry about that, Werner. For some reason the text on my screen has gotten smaller and so have the profile pictures next to the posts. I'm going to enlarge the text with CTRL/+. Now I've done that but the profile pictures still seem smaller than they used to be.

Anyway, that's the reason I mistook your posts for Jim's. About the Round Tuit, I used to have one on my fridge. I wonder what happened it. One of these days it will turn up. That's when I'll get a round tuit again. :)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Tonight I watched "Love Actually" (2003) via a Netflix DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314331/
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Love_...

There were parts I liked and parts I didn't like. I was surprised to see that Ebert gave a positive review and Berardinelli gave a fairly positive review. I had expected them to pan the movie. It was definitely a "feel-good" movie, but somehow it was too over-the-top, IMO.

I managed to find a review which said what I thought:
===============================================
"But Love Actually ... abandons any pretext of sophistication for gloppy sentimentality, sugary pop songs and bawdy humor ..."
... "having to endure a lot of bad music." -Carla Meyer, SF Chronicle
FROM: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article...
====================================================
I'm giving it only 2 Netflix stars out of 5, even though the cast included some of my favorite performers: Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, & Liam Neeson.

[Jackie]

Joy wrote: One of these days it will turn up. That's when I'll get a round tuit again. :)
I laughed so hard when I read that, Joy! Very clever.

I never had the desire to see Love Actually. I know a lot of people who like it.
Can I ask what era of music it had in it Joy? Bad music will make me hate a movie more than bad acting.

And speaking of bad music, I'll have to endure Joan Jett's music this weekend with Anthony because he rented The Runaways. A biopic about the 80s girl band of the same name. Oy.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1017451/

[Jim]

Jackie, yes, we're going to watch a few more episodes. Hopefully it will get better & this first one was just setup. Unfortunately, there are 4 characters that seem central to the plot that we just don't care about at all.

------

Round-to-it's & honey-do's, life is full of them. Marg was just saying how glad she is that I keep the list small. We were looking at some of the farms & houses as we went to get Chip, not to mention the place he was at. How people can leave trash on the ground & not mow their fields is beyond me. If you won't take care of basic stuff like that, you should live in an apartment.
:(

[Jana]

Joy H. wrote: "Today I streamed (from Netflix) the movie "Carrington" (1995). It's a movie adaptation of Lytton Strachey: The New Biography by Michael Holroyd.

My review is at:
http:..."

Yes, it was an interesting movie and Emma is such a great actress.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie, to answer your question about the music in "Love Actually", I'm not sure what era the music was from but mostly it was definitely kids' music from current times as opposed to classic tunes or music of my time years ago. The music during the closing credits grated on me so much that it was like torture until I grabbed the remote and turned it off! Loud and grating.

Glad you enjoyed the play on words. It's a painful pun but it does come in handy sometimes. For example, I haven't bothered to take our Christmas tree down yet; it can stay there until I get

.

Of course, the tree is still up because I spend too much time online!

About the "Honey Do" play on words, there's a local business here in Glens Falls which uses that expression:
Click on thumbnail.

http://hdman-glensfalls.com/about.php
BTW, why isn't the above link hyper-linked? Does it have something to do with the .php ending? What does .php mean?

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jana wrote: "Yes, it was an interesting movie ["Carrington" (1995)] and Emma is such a great actress."

Jana, thanks for reminding me about that movie, "Carrington". I can't believe that I watched the movie and posted the review only 2 weeks ago! I had forgotten about it until I reread my review and vaguely remembered writing it.

Goes to show how helpful our Goodreads shelves are. They are such a great record of our past readings & viewings, not to mention all the thinking we've been busy doing... instead of taking down our Christmas trees.

Which reminds me of a poem I once wrote which contained the lines:

"For I ask you, which is lesser,
Writing a poem or dusting the dresser?"

That goes for writing reviews too!

'Nuf said.

[Jackie]

Jim, most times I don't mind when the first couple of episodes of a new show doesn't grab me right away; I take into consideration The Set-up. With HBO's track record, I'm sure Lucky will get better quickly.

Joy, Thanks for the info. I'm not a fan of contemporary music the kids listen to today.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "... I'm not a fan of contemporary music the kids listen to today."

As I see it, their music has hardly any melody and there's too much repetition of phrases, over and over again, in the lyrics. They don't seem to be clever enough to think of clever lyrics. So instead, they repeat the same words over and over. Think of Cole Porter's witty lyrics and those of composers like Stephen Sondheim. We won't be seeing many composers like them again soon.

[Jackie]

Not until time some time passes, then maybe we'll see great composers once again.

This week a few movies came out on DVD, and we rented all the ones we wanted to see.
The Thing, which I was excited for. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0905372/ This prequel turned out to be more of the same as the original, not much we didn't know already. Stick with the old Kurt Russell one: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084787/

Dream House: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1462041/
Mostly predictable with a small twist in the end.

In Time: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1637688/
Pretty good action movie if you can tolerate the typical Hollywood preachy-ness about the haves and the havenots. I'm bored of the subject rammed down my throat.

I also finished Daniel Deronda which was very good.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "...This week a few movies came out on DVD, and we rented all the ones we wanted to see. The Thing, which I was exc..."

Thanks for the links, Jackie. Glad you liked DD.

I remember The Thing. It was really scary at the time.

As for those other movies, I don't usually like to watch spooky movies or movies about crime. I know there's a big audience out there for them though.

[Nina]

I love your poem, Joy. I don't know the answer but hope it's dusting the dresser.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote [referring to Message #127 above]: "I love your poem, Joy. I don't know the answer but hope it's dusting the dresser."

You're right, Nina. "That's lesser". (IMO).
Click on thumbnail.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Yesterday, on TV, I caught the last part of "Mamma Mia" (2008).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamma_Mi...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795421/
"The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular '70s group ABBA."

I saw the show on Broadway a while ago. I might have even seen the movie before but I have only vague memories of it. I had forgotten how great the music was. The music was by the Swedish group, ABBA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABBA
I learned from Wiki that ABBA stands for the first names of the group's members: Agnetha, Benny, Björn, & Anni-Frid.

Below are some of the terrific songs in the film:
"I Have a Dream"
"Honey, Honey"
"Money, Money, Money"
"Mamma Mia"
"Dancing Queen"
"Lay All Your Love on Me"
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
"SOS"
"The Winner Takes It All"
"I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"
"Take a Chance on Me"
"I Have a Dream"
"Dancing Queen"

I really enjoyed hearing that music again!

[Werner]

Though I've owned it for some time on VHS, I got a chance to watch M. Night Shyamalan's 2004 film The Village for the first time last night. (Here's the IMDB link: www.imdb.com/title/tt0368447/ .) My initial reaction is highly favorable! (I want to watch it again to pick up nuances, snatches of dialog and details here and there that I didn't fully catch; but I think that will enhance my estimation of the film rather than lower it.) The IMDB description gives you the basic premise, but you're involved from the beginning in layers of spooky mystery which are very gradually uncovered. Saying much more would involve spoilers, so I'll just say that (as in Shyamalan's earlier movie Signs, there is some serious thought content here, on several levels, and the story ends exactly at the point where that thought content has maximum impact. The acting is terrific, and I will say that if you're a guy viewer, you'll probably fall seriously in love with Ivy Walker. (Since she's an imaginary movie character, your Significant Other won't mind. :-) ) Her character is played by Bryce Dallas Howard, who's really the main protagonist here, though some of the better-known thespians like Sigourney Weaver and John Hurt are given higher billing.

[Jim]

I remember that Marg & I liked The Village, Werner. I can't say we ever wanted to rewatch it, but it was good the first time through. I never cared for Signs, but Marg & Erin liked it.

We watched Luck again last night & it was a little better. Enough that we'll watch another episode. One problem with it is there aren't many likeable characters. They're all severely flawed or just plain nasty.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "Though I've owned it for some time on VHS, I got a chance to watch M. Night Shyamalan's 2004 film The Village for the first time last night. (Here's the IMDB link: www.imdb.com/title/tt0368447/ .) ..."

Werner, your post made me curious. I've added it to my Netflix queue even though I'm not a fan of thillers.

Here's what Netflix says:
============================================
The Village
2004 - PG-13 - 108 minutes
"When a willful young man tries to venture beyond his sequestered Pennsylvania hamlet, his actions set off a chain of chilling incidents that will alter the community forever in this atmospheric thriller featuring a star-studded cast."
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Brendan Gleeson, Cherry Jones, Celia Weston, Judy Greer, Charlie McDermott
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Genres: Dramas, Thrillers, Mysteries, Psychological Thrillers, Supernatural Thrillers, 20th Century Period Pieces
This movie is: Dark, Suspenseful, Scary
FROM: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/The_V...
=================================================

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim mentioned the problem of unlikable characters. I think that would be a drawback for me unless there were at least one character I could like. Being in the company of too many unlikable people isn't conducive to peace of mind, IMO. So I'd rather avoid them, in stories or in real life.

[Jackie]

I didn't care for The Village, Signs, or Devil. I much preferred M. Night Shyamalan's writing in Lady in the Water, The Happening and The Last Airbender. And of course, The Sixth Sense.
It's hit or miss with his work. I generally watch his stuff though, because I never know until I try it if I'll like it.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Ah, "The Sixth Sense", that's one movie I DID see! A bit weird but interesting. Wiki says that the director, Shyamalan, usually has a twist at the end of his movies. That movie sure had a good twist!

[Jackie]

It did! I was so surprised, yet when I thought about it later, he gave me all the clues, I just didn't put it together.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Same here, Jackie.

[Earl]

Netflixed Cowboys and Aliens
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...

I was disappointed since I'd heard good things. I gave only 2 stars out of 5

I tried Smash on NBC,
http://www.tv.com/shows/smash/

only because I really hate finding out I hate a show after it's been running for 3 months. I didn't expect much, but I was surprised that I didn't hate it. I mostly detest musicals. I'll give it a couple more tries, at least.

[Jackie]

I loved C & A; I'm sorry you were disappointed. Doesn't that suck when you have high expectations and they fall short?

I didn't try Smash, I don't have to time to add to my list and I'm not a fan of musicals. A lot of people like it so far.

I deleted Alcatraz off the DVR, more of JJ ABrams' drag things out and I'm not looking for another Lost type scenario. I gave it 5 episodes and I'm not closer to knowing what happened, nothing, not even a tiny hint.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Thanks, Earl. I've added the "Smash" show to my Netflix Instant queue. The subject matter is interesting to me.
"NBC picked up this musical-centric series about the making of a Broadway play..."
FROM: http://www.tv.com/shows/smash/

NETFLIX: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Smash...
"Smash" (TV Series 2012) NR Season 1
"A talented theatrical team endeavors to stage a Broadway musical bio of Marilyn Monroe in this sizzling dramatic series. Backbiting, catfighting, creative woes and personal demons are all part of the process as the show struggles to go on."
Netflix also says: "Watch the sneak preview of Smash until February 23 instantly on Netflix!"

IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1825133/
Smash (TV Series 2012):
"There is more drama behind the scenes than on stage, as the team prepares an ambitious Broadway musical on the life of Marilyn Monroe."

It stars Debra Messing. I like her.

As for "Cowboys and Aliens", the genres are: "Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Westerns, Action Sci-Fi & Fantasy."
Not my cup of tea but I do have it in my Netflix queue. I like Harrison Ford.

[Jackie]

You won't like C & A, Joy. And Harrison Ford is not a good guy in this, unusual for him so that was interesting to see. I doubt you'll finish it, I'm learning what you like after spending plenty of time with you here. And Jim too, I've got a good handle on what he would like. Generally speaking, of course. You could both still surprise me though.

I like Debra Messing too. Long before Will and Grace she was on a scifi show called Prey, which was really good but didn't last long.
And who doesn't like Will and Grace? That was one funny show.

[Jim]

We like Cowboys & Aliens, but it didn't quite live up to expectations. That would have been hard to do, though. The commercials & cast for it were just too awesome. I would probably have liked it better if I'd just seen it without waiting around for so long building it up in my head.

[Jackie]

I can understand that sentiment, Jim. Lucky for me I only watch one preview and then no more, it goes on The List to be forgotten til it's DVD time.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "You won't like C & A, Joy. And Harrison Ford is not a good guy in this, unusual for him so that was interesting to see. I doubt you'll finish it, I'm learning what you like after spending plenty ..."

You're probably right, Jackie.

Right now I'm in the middle of watching "Atlas Shrugged" Part I (2011):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480239/
"A powerful railroad executive, Dagny Taggart, struggles to keep her business alive while society is crumbling around her. Based on the 1957 novel by Ayn Rand."
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Atlas...
"Ayn Rand's controversial bestseller is the basis for this potent drama about Dagny Taggart, a fiercely independent railroad tycoon determined to use innovative technology and enterprising partners to revive her business, no matter the personal cost."

"This movie is: Cerebral, Controversial, Suspenseful,"

Not sure it's my kind of movie. There are too many undeveloped characters and it's hard to remember who is who. The plot is more about intrigue and business shenanigans rather than relationships. I prefer more of the latter. I'll be back with my final verdict.

P.S. - Of course, it adapted from: Atlas Shrugged.

[Jackie]

I loved Atlas Shrugged Pt 1. I doubt Part 2 will be made as it didn't make much money. It's an excellent story, apt for the way things are going in our own country.