I think Niam meant romantic comedies.Quote:
Originally Posted by Janine
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I think Niam meant romantic comedies.Quote:
Originally Posted by Janine
Just watched V for Vendetta (again, lol). I love this movie, and I give it 10/10.
For the girls who are ailing with this virus, my sympathies once again, and try all or any of the following 'cures':
chicken soup, lots and lots; hot tea with plenty of lemon and honey; hot baths, long and luxurious followed by hot tea; early to bed with hot water bottle where warranted; lounging in one's robe all day with nothing stressful pending.... (or was that Utopia... ahh well, wishing the best to y'all!) :)
"Saints and Soldiers" -- classic war film (WW II) with attention to personal issues of a small group of soldiers. Interesting interactions.
How funny, Niamh meant watch a Romantic Comedy. I wondered if her spelling or typing was off some.
Well instead I watched a romantic, serious film based on a true story
"I Dreamed of Africa". I saw it before, but it was interesting enough to watch again. I love movies that transport you to a new location such as Africa and the wilderness, so I enjoyed it second time around very much. The scenes were beautifully shot although I only own a tape. Kim Basinger plays a divorced woman who takes her young son and moves there with her new husband. I don't know the actor's name, but he is nice to look at - really handsome and appealing, Italian actor, I think. I think Kim's performance was good and quite intense at times. I would probably give the film an 9 out of 10, since there may have been a few things I thought a little unrealistic, but who know - maybe those really happened. All in all I liked the film, and it is a bonus that it really happened to real people. That always interests me. Some people live such interesting lives.
byquist - "Saints and Soldiers" sounds like a good war film. I like war films if they are done well with "interesting interactions", as you put it. Did you see "Thin Red Line" by Terrance Mallick? It is an interesting war film with interaction and thoughts being revealed in some of the soldier's minds.
Kiz - thanks so much for that nice paragraph - instructions on getting better from our colds, but mostly thanks for your concern and sympathy. It means a lot really. I have tried mostly everything on your list I think. Very thoughtful of you.
Lily Adams, "Keeping Mum" sounds like a riot. I like films like that. I loved the film "The Man Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain"- ever see it? Takes place in Wales. Slowpaced but quite humorous and really happened I believe. "Keeping Mum" sounds something like the American film "Throw Mamma From the Train" - that movie was too much, continuous laughs!
Just saw the movie 300, and I think they dropped the ball on that one. The whole premise of the movie is great, but then it falters when it pays more attention to style than substance. 5/10 mostly for the imagery.
The recent movie the Pursuit of Happyness is based on the life of Chris Gardener. Will Smith stars as Chris Gardner and it tells the story of a man, affected by poverty after his wife leaves him with his son and he has to tend for himself while looking after his son and trying to succeed in the business world. The movie does more then just being a story it tries to render the audience through the sad, and traumatised life and triumph in the end adds to the sense of a persistant, inspiring and truly moving film. Its not just any film but a moving one.
4 stars (4/5)
Euro Trip
I know its not recent but its a film that lacks in substance yet appealing in its American Pie style. It tells the predictable story of Scotty who is dumped by his girlfriend. He meets penpal on the internet but after thinking that she is a guy he tells her he doesn't want to meet. The story is pretty straight forward, as the friends travel Europe to reach Berlin but encounter problems along the way. While the film is funny and often ridiculously silly, it still will manage to be an entertainment film rather than a film of substance, and meaning. Yet i found it entertaining, discounting the fact of the lack of substance in the film.
3 stars out of 5
Having finished the book i was reading for the last 2 months -"The count of Monte Cristo"- I looked for a film adaptation. I always do that when i read a classic. I had already seen the one with Chamberlain which was tolerably good
prior to reading the book, so i rent the one with James Caviezel. So to make a long story short, after excrutiating pain and a total waste of 130 valuable minutes of my life, i have ended up having seen probably one of the worst movies of the said life (and believe me i have seen a lot) 2/10. I give it a 2/10 instead a 0/10 for some really good actors in supporting roles.
To purge myself i watched "High and low" last night, by Akira Kurosawa.10/10
Manolia, I was just curious since you hated this film so, what other people/critics said in reviews on Amazon. It seems everyone likes this film, but you. There was not one review that did not give it less than 5 stars. I was surprised. I also saw the older version with Chamberlain. I loved that one. I have seen this newer version, but I can't remember too much about it now. I thought it was good, I believe, but it seemed a bit contemporary, yet entertaining, light. I don't think I thought it a total waste of time. I still liked the other version better. It seemed closer to the actual book, more serious, but then I have not read the book so I should not judge.Quote:
Originally Posted by manolia
I just looked it up on the movie website - forget the name of it. The data base (mdhb - not sure that is right) - anyway same thing there - good reviews. They rate it about 7 1/2 on a 10 scale. One reviewer - only one listed gave it a 10/10
I would list it up there with swashbucklers like "The Three Muskateers", "Pirates of the Carribean", films like that - that genre. Maybe you just don't like that type film.
Akira Kurosawa's films are so much different than this type film - who can compare?
I watched Million Dollar Baby with my family last night.
I was rather disappointed. Both he and she took the cheap way out of it.
Sideways, for the fourth time. Great characters. Just makes you want to eat good meals and drink good wine. Modern classic. 10/10
A Merry War ~ stars Helena Bonham Carter, Richard E.Grant
This film is based on the novel "Keep the Aspisdistra Flying" by George Orwell
I find this film quite witty and amusing. I have seen it several times now, but it remains very enjoyable to watch. I think I would like to read the book by Orwell. Grant and Carter do a good job in their roles and are confincing as the middle class couple working together for an advertising firm. Grant is really funny, especially when he lashes out at the middle class plant, the aspidistra, that his landlord cherishes in his rented room. He burns it with a cigerette and stabs it with his pen, taking out all his pent up frustrations as a thrawted writer. If you like poetry and Orwell you will appreciate this quiet little film with it's humor, satire, and deeper underlying themes concerning the money god and class distinction; love, loyalty,and priorities play prominently into the scheme of things. Strong performances and a really clever script. I love really this film! A small gem. 9/10
Perhaps it was just not memorable enough. :p I saw it a year or so ago. It was entertaining, but I really liked the older version. 5/10 and 9/10, respectively.Quote:
Originally Posted by Janine
The Virgin Spring - Bergman
I watched this the other day, and have still not quite decided if I like it. Some things about it hold some interest, such as the savage girl Ingeri, but it seems to me that there is some terrible oversight in the way the father handles things when he finds out his daughter was raped and murdered. His thoughts here would probably have the most potential for interest, and yet he just sort of finds out and goes to work, so to speak. I guess that stuff sort of comes afterward, at the end, when he prays, but only about two of his lines seem to really hold any weight. And earlier, when they're going to find the body, and the wife says, "I loved her more than God himself. Then she turned to you and I began to hate you," I was expecting this to go somewhere. But no. The only real depth to the film is just knocked aside completely. I don't get it.
Anyways, I just read in an interview that he actually wound up not liking it as his career progressed, so maybe I'm not just a tasteless loser... That's always nice. :) Kind of reassuring, too, since I have definitely liked the other Bergman films I've watched lately. I'm glad to know this one's more the exception than the rule.
6 /10
I'd still say it's really worth seeing once, though, anyway.
Oh, it sounds like a good movie! Am I allowed to see it though? Is it R13? Or PG13? if so, I could watch it! The Virgin Spring.... I think I'll mmention that to Toni, she might know what it is.
oops its supposed to say watch a rom com. as in romantic comedy like notting hill or well anything with Hugh Grant in it basicly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Janine
I tried and i stumbled.... Poshies are posh people, you are right.
I agree with you....not quite memorable enough. To me it was just entertaining, also, at the time of viewing....no thoughts much after.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamesian
Jamesian, thanks for this good review of the film and your personal observations and opinions. I hope I can see it someday. It does sound interesting, but I can see your point. Sometimes a film just does not connect or something - like the characters are not fully fleshed out or believable.Quote:
The Virgin Spring - Bergman
I watched this the other day, and have still not quite decided if I like it. Some things about it hold some interest, such as the savage girl Ingeri, but it seems to me that there is some terrible oversight in the way the father handles things when he finds out his daughter was raped and murdered. His thoughts here would probably have the most potential for interest, and yet he just sort of finds out and goes to work, so to speak. I guess that stuff sort of comes afterward, at the end, when he prays, but only about two of his lines seem to really hold any weight. And earlier, when they're going to find the body, and the wife says, "I loved her more than God himself. Then she turned to you and I began to hate you," I was expecting this to go somewhere. But no. The only real depth to the film is just knocked aside completely. I don't get it.
Anyways, I just read in an interview that he actually wound up not liking it as his career progressed, so maybe I'm not just a tasteless loser... That's always nice. :) Kind of reassuring, too, since I have definitely liked the other Bergman films I've watched lately. I'm glad to know this one's more the exception than the rule.
6 /10
I'd still say it's really worth seeing once, though, anyway.
J, can you believe it - I have never seen a Bergman film - a total disgrace, isn't it? I would certainly like to see one. In the US they are not so readily available, I think. One would have to go to an arthouse theater or a college to see them. I have never seen any come in my library but they do get a lot of artsy type films and indy and foreign classic films, etc. I will keep an eye out for it.
Niamh - that's ok - I figured it out and laughed. I did watch something that night that was not that heavy. So it is Hugh Grant you are in love with? With me it is Kenneth Branagh, and you know he is really Irish. Last night I watched one of his early obscure films that makes me laugh everytime. It is set in Greece - some remote area and island - so pretty there. The film is called "High Season" and stars a very young B and the stunning Jacqueline Bisset, James Fox, Irene Papas. One has to see the film for the midnight swim scene with Ken and Jacqueline in the moonlight. It is a very amusing film.Quote:
Originally Posted by Niamh
Anyway, I love Hugh Grant. He is so cute and so funny. I can't think of a role I did not like him in. He was great in the film I mentioned earlier "The Man who went up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain" - that one is set in Wales. By the way, is that the longest title for a film you ever heard? I loved "Notting Hill" and many other rom coms he was in.
Last night I also watched "A Merry War" but I already wrote some words about that last night.
Niamh, how are you feeling? I did not see you on here yesterday and was worried about you. I feel like a shadow right now - sort of numb and tired and in a fog from the whole ordeal this week of this nasty cold/flu/virus thingie. Hope you are getting better, too. J