What is the last movie you saw? and rate it.

[Sir Bartholomew]

Magnolia - 3.5/4.0. Too long, and people bawl a lot. I like the frogs though.
Vanity Fair (Nair version) - 2.0/4.0 Not good. Why make Becky nice?
Monsoon Wedding - 4.0/4.0 Lovely makes you want to go there.

[AimusSage]

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - 8.5/10
I like the psychedelic aspects. And the acting by Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro

[Janine]

Watched "The Shop Around the Corner" with my husband last night. A lovely film. I adored Jimmy Stewart in that one.

5/5

Antiquarian, I knew you would love this film. Yes, wasn't Jimmy Stewart young and adorable? Wonder just how old he was. I recall seeing the woman; was her last name O'Sullivan, in other films; I will have to look them up for you. One film is about a woman who works in a movie theater and it is a very good film; I love it. I wish I owned the film "The Shop Around the Corner", because it is one of those type classic films you long to see at least once a year; especially nice at Christmas. I also love at Christmastime, the film "The Human Comedy". I think the shop owner acts in that film also; he plays a clerk in a busy telegraph office during the war years; for certain he is in the "Wizzard of Oz". I will check those out for you, too.

Quote by AimusSage

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - 8.5/10
I like the psychedelic aspects. And the acting by Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro

AimusSage, I haven't seen this film yet, but I really do like Benicio Del Toro; did you see him in "21 Grams" and "The Hunted"(I'll check that last title to make sure it is correct)? He is an amazing actor.
Of course, I like Johnny Depp very much, but must admit I have not always liked the films he has been in - not all; in fact I tend to like some of his more obscure roles the best. I just saw him in "Blow" which I have seen before. I liked it best the first time around, because one did not know what to expect next, so it had the quality of surprise and suspense. I did feel the film was good, but has some flaws. I would probably rate it an 8/10, after seeing it twice. I like the fact it was based on a true story and watched the extras this time around on the DVD - very interesting.

[AimusSage]

I like the fact it was based on a true story and watched the extras this time around on the DVD - very interesting.

Good extras are a real bonus to a film. It can give good insights into the making of, and in this case, the real story, often in the form of a documentary, that shows what really happened, rather than the romanticised version of the film. And yes, Blow is a good film. Never seen any of the extras though.

[Janine]

Janine,

Jimmy Stewart was born in May 1908 and "The Shop Around the Corner" was released in January 1940, so he must have been only thirty or thirty-one when it was shot. He was terrific, just adorable in the film.

Antiquarian, now that is a surprise. I thought he looked even younger than thirty. He certainly was cute when he was thirty-ish. I loved the little quirpy exchange between the characters and she played it so coy with him and the meeting in the cafe was really something. I loved that film. I think I must get it from my library and see it soon. The ending was just terrific!

The woman he fell in love with was Margaret Sullavan, who was married for about a year to Henry Fonda. Personally, I'd take Jimmy Stewart.

Yes, you are absolutely right - it was Margaret Sullavan and I just looked up her other films on Amazon. I did not know she was married to Henry Fonda; interesting. Yeah, I would take Jimmy over Henry any day. She also played in a film I like very much "The Good Fairy" - that is the one I referred to, where she works as an usher, at a movie theater. Every once in awhile, it comes into my library and I watch it.
Frank Morton, who played the shop owner, was in "The Human Comedy" - I just checked that out. Have you seen that film? It is interesting and sometimes overly sentimental, but if you read the book (tiny fast read) it is written as a sort of 'fable' and so depicts an ideal place or micro-world. I read the book and loved it; it is a very touching 'family' story. There are some wonderfull memorable scenes in that film. Mickey Rooney plays the son who goes to work in the telegraph office and he plays this role very seriously. Frank Morton was in many other old films, as well.

It's just a terrific movie.

Definitely so. I agree!

[ben.!]

Alien, I just bought the Alien Quadrilogy boxed set a few days ago.

I haven't seen any of the Alien franchise, however I must say the first was extremely good, subtly filmed, atmospheric and suspenseful, and pretty creepy too. Made me jump a couple of times, which films these days don't do for me usually.

Alien 5 stars out of 5. An awesome film. Can't wait to watch the sequel, Aliens, with my brother and father tomorrow!

[Janine]

Hi Janine,

I have not seen "The Human Comedy." Thanks for the suggestion. But I have seen "The Good Fairy." It's a charming film. I think it was directed by William Wyler and strangely enough, Sullavan eloped with him shortly after the film was made. She was only married to Henry Fonda for about a year. She was such a charming actress, but I think she had a difficult time combining marriage and a career.

My husband and I were going to watch "Atonement" last night, but I just wasn't in the mood. It was too late. Maybe tonight.

Antiquarian, hi, glad you liked my suggestion; it is a sentimental type movie but then, I like that sometimes. I don't think one can go wrong with any of those old classic films, do you? Have you seen "Our Town"? That is a good film, too. I like so many, it would be impossible to remember or name them all. I love movies, period! Thanks for the biop information on Sullavan. I think I may have read that about her before. Yes, I think she might have had some problems juggling a career and marriage; some do.

Wow, you must let me know how you like "Atonement". My friend loved it and I am dying to see it.

[manolia]

"Bolwieser" Rainer Werner Fassbinder 9/10

[SleepyWitch]

Persuasion (1995 BBC version) 9/10

[Janine]

Persuasion (1995 BBC version) 9/10

SleepyWitch, I love that BBC version of "Persuasion"; in fact, I recently broke down and bought the DVD to keep in my collection. I love period films and I liked Ciaran Hinds as Captain Wentworth so much. I love the book, too. I love Hinds in the newer version of "Jane Eyre" too. Ever see it? Samantha Morton plays Jane. She is fantastic; they both are!

[Sir Bartholomew]

Last Tango in Paris - 4.0/4.0 Big fan of this movie, great soundtrack
I saw Crash (Cronenberg's 1996) again, a repulsive movie that I find "fascinating". Now I saw its NC-17 cut I consider it as one of my favorites much to my confusion. 4.0/4.0

[Luce]

I watched "The assassination of Jesse james by the coward Robert Ford" and I really enjoyed it! Great music (Nick Cave) and great photography.

[DeathAngel]

oy, ok i actually saw a couple of movies that came out in the theatres,
"I am Legend" pretty dern good, i want to know what the alternative ending was,
"Sankofa" from Karibu book store that just closed down, deep slavery movie, scary...

Sweeny Todd!
"poppin pussys into pies"-loved it.

[Janine]

Hi Janine,

I think I remember watching "Our Town" at some time or other, but I'm not sure. The title sounds familiar, but I really can't remember the film.

It is kind of fable-like and symbolic - sort of about this small town, like a microcosm of the the real world. I don't recall too much about it now, and I never read the play - it was a play, wasn't it? Thorton Wilder, I believe. I happened to pick up the used VHS tape at my library for a buck so I should review it and then write a review and description. I connected to it right away because I live in a small town and grew up in a small town. The town in the film reminded me of my own town, where almost everyone knows each other, or a person's relatives, or did at one time; definitely so in the 1950's.

My husband and I watched "Atonement" tonight. It was cinematically gorgeous, with gorgeous costumes, but my husband thought it got off to a slow start and he didn't particularly like the way the film was structured. He found it a bit confusing.

Antiquarian, you are enticing me want to see this film, even if it is confusing. I love cinematically gorgeous films and costumes. I can put up with some boring or slow-moving parts, if I have something sumptuous to look at. Did they tell the story out of time sequence? That sometimes throws me off-balance, too and I find it confusing to follow. It seems a popular device or trend in films these days. What happened to films, where we did not have to think so hard?

I didn't, as I had read the book. I enjoyed it immensely. It's not one I'll watch again and again, like "The Remains of the Day," but it was overwhelming sad and tragic. Very well done. I thought the acting was superb and oh, that house!

I love "The Remains of the Day" and wish I owned it. I do own "Shadowlands" and like that so much too although it is sooo sad. I guess I always connect those two films because of Anthony Hopkins. That and "Howard's End". I like all three.
I have not yet read "Atonement". I hope to see the film and read the book eventually.....way down the line on the reading part, I am afraid.

I'm not generally a fan of Keira Knightley, but I thought she was perfect in this movie.

You know, neither am I and I can't quite put my finger on why. She did seem to look different in this film and I wondered if she would act in a different way or if she had progressed with her acting skills. To me she never seemed to have that much range but then who am I to judge. I just instinctively thought it, maybe from her role in the newer "Pride and Prejudice."

4.5/5

Well, that is a pretty high mark for the film. I must see it now.

A, I am slowly but surely catching up on my emails....sorry the delay...

[Janine]

Oh, yes! Now I remember "Our Town," Janine. I'm quite sure it was a play. In fact, I think it was originally written as a play.

Yep, that is the one. I want to rewatch it but I can't seem to figure out my VHS connections right now and my son promised to stop by and see why I can't view (two-either) VCR's - says 'check connection'. The film is in black and white and starts out with just one man speaking, which is an interesting introduction to the town. I just recalling that it was quite different and had some notable old stars, although I can't name just who.

"Atonement" "sort of" goes back and forth in time, but not throughout the entire film, just during the first third, I would guess. Something happens, and it's misinterpreted, and then we're shown what really happened. It helps if you've read the book. If you have, it's not confusing at all. Since you haven't, maybe watch the extra about making the movie first. After my husband watched that, he said he wasn't confused at all. I'm not an "extras" person myself, but I know you are. So are my husband and older brother.

Oh, maybe that is why your poor husband (who did not read the book) said he thought it dragged at first. I guess it would be hard to understand the time sequence and series of events. Yes, you pegged me; I love those extras on the DVD's. I have to blame that on my overly inquisitive mind. Funny how some people hate those and some love to view them. I am of the later persausion. I have to see just how they put the story together and like to analysis it, dissect the film, see the director and actors behind the scenes, the actual historical or novel references. I often watch those extra features twice, or thrice! I will probably tackle the movie straight on and see if I understand it and then watch the features. I don't want to know the ending before-hand. Then, no doubt, I will rewatch the film. I am still waiting for it to come into my library, unless it did and is checked out. I will investigate that today, on their online site. Everytime I go to the video rental, rent a newer movie, a few days later the same movie comes into the library; so I learned now to be patient.

Keira Knightley "fit" her role in "Atonement" perfectly, in my opinion. I couldn't imagine anyone else in the role of Cecilia and the girl who played Briony was terrific, but I couldn't like her or forgive her until she was in her seventies, at the end of the film. I didn't like Knightley in "Pride and Prejudice," though. She wasn't "Lizzy Bennett for me. She seems too wooden for that part. I greatly preferred the more animated Jennifer Ehle.

I totally agree with you on "Pride and Prejudice" - I much preferred the BBC drama with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. It is a classier production and closer to the actual book and text. The other newer one is updated and too modernised for my taste.

I've read Howard's End but haven't seen the film yet, but I have seen "Shadowlands." You're right, so sad! And I agree, I, too, love "The Remains of the Day." It's a beautiful book and film and there's an actor with range - Sir Anthony Hopkins. It was hard to believe the gentle, shy, self-effacing butler in "The Remains of the Day" was the same person who portrayed Hannibal Lector with such realism.

The movie is very good of "Howard's End" and better yet, if you had read the book; I also did. I love Forster's novels. Have you read "Passage to India" and "Room With a View". I have the soundtrack to the last - simply wonderful! I like both of the last films emensely, too but have a few qualms with "Room With a View" although I have seen it dozens of times now. It is still far better than some junk that is presented to us these days. I love Judy Davis in "Passage to India". I liked her in Woody Allen's "Celebrity", though that is really changing gears; I will tell you something funny about that an the herb suppliment eccunashia (sure I spelled that wrong)

I watched "The Shop Around the Corner" again yesterday. Loved it even more the second time.

I could watch that film dozens of times - so great and the interchange between them was just perfect. Cute film.