|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
deej
Tol Eressea
Feb 18 2013, 3:35pm
Post #1 of 55
(473 views)
Shortcut
|
What movies did you watch this weekend?
|
Can't Post
|
|
Tell us about them here!
"The Hobbits bowed low. 'Most gracious host', said Frodo, 'It was said to me by Elrond Half-Elven that I should find friendship upon the way, secret and unlooked for. Certainly I have found no such friendship as you have shown. To have found it turns evil to great good."
|
|
|
The White Wizard
The Shire
Feb 18 2013, 3:50pm
Post #2 of 55
(350 views)
Shortcut
|
This weekend I watched Jurassic Park 2 and 3. There is a fourth one coming out sometime next year. I also re-watched the Fellowship of the Ring and will soon be re-watching The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
True courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one.
|
|
|
Magpie
Immortal
Feb 18 2013, 4:20pm
Post #3 of 55
(455 views)
Shortcut
|
Total Recall (2012); Wreck-it Ralph; Downton Abbey (spoilers)
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Total Recall: I remember liking the Ah-nald version although I don't remember a ton about it. I am not totally opposed to frantic action movies. They are what they are and they serve a particular kind of entertainment purpose. At least for some of us. But the ratio of action to plot seemed ridiculously high. Lots and lots of lots of running and chasing and shooting and fighting and very little dialog and plot. But then, I've been told this movie did very well in foreign markets where translating dialog such that plots are developed well just means more work and production costs. I can't recommend it... even as a mindless action movie. But then, I'm a old lady so perhaps a different demographic would consider it worth it even as a mindless action movie. Wreck-it Ralph. I've heard good things about this and was hoping to really enjoy it. I didn't not enjoy it but it wasn't anything spectacular. I think I liked Rango, Brave, and ParaNorman more. However, the whole video game premise is outside of my generational experience (although my kids had some experience with them) and a lot of what I liked about the three I listed was the design of them and this design was either not as edgy or just skewed toward the gaming theme such that I didn't properly appreciate it. I was moved by scenes and had most eyes during a few. And I liked sitting in a theater full of kids. After Ralph wrecked the race car and Vanellope stalked off, a young child called out "She's sad." I love that sort of reaction from kids. Downton Abbey. I liked: Morris Dancing - although, there was a point when you could hear clacking sticks but the dancers were flicking hankies... then a moment later, clacking sticks (these are two different types of dancing: one with hankies, one with sticks) Scottish Country Dancing: Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeants, Eightsome Reel. I've danced these. :-) Branson's break down. Nicely done on the actor's part. O'Brien - that actress is very consistent with her portrayal of that character. It might not always be written consistently but the actress pulls her off as a believable character. Mrs. Hughes - she's just such a likeable character, isn't she? Daisy - she's getting quite a head on her, isn't she? I like that contrast to the other flighty or stodgy characters downstairs. On the fence about: Thomas' seemingly changed character, his sacrifice, and then the reconciliation of friendship between him and Jimmy. It seemed a little pat. Perhaps I'll buy it more next season if the writing of Thomas is consistent. Didn't like: The whole maid seducing Branson line. The way the death was handled. It was just too abrupt. But then, perhaps it was necessary due to the availability of the actor or some uncertainty at the time it was filmed or something. But I think this is more style. Mary goes 'oooh'. She's shown anticipating birth (while sitting up all composed). She's shown sitting up holding a child (apparently Anna has been in to do her hair and touch up her makeup. I haven't seen any woman look that good after childbirth). A bit abrupt. I kind of get that sometimes, we don't need to see stuff to know it happened but after all the lovey dovey stuff they filled this episode with, they just cut to black and that's it? I wasn't left with an extreme anticipation of 'next season' to find out what happened. I was just left with a vague disappointment and a feeling that dealing with it differently was beyond the writing capability of Fellowes. Even if they had shown someone standing at Mary's door looking at her, it would have let us feel a bit more from the characters' point of view.
LOTR soundtrack website ~ magpie avatar gallery TORn History Mathom-house ~ Torn Image Posting Guide
|
|
|
Annael
Immortal
Feb 18 2013, 4:21pm
Post #4 of 55
(352 views)
Shortcut
|
The Words - highly recommended - and The Deep Blue Sea - not recommended
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I missed The Words in the theater despite being told to see it by many people, so grabbed it as soon as it came out on DVD. Very good movie with a great cast and great acting. It's got a story within a story within a story and goes in unpredictable ways. After seeing Silver Linings Playbook and now this I'm becoming very impressed with Bradley Cooper. He could have gone the heart-throb route but he's choosing much more interesting roles. The Deep Blue Sea stars Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston, so I expected good things, but gah. Depressing, boring, uninteresting characters, made even worse by an overwrought score (mostly screeching violins) - I had to turn the sound off and watch some scenes with subtitles because it was so annoying. And then I just started fast-forwarding. But there's no reward for sticking it out to the end.
The way we imagine our lives is the way we are going to go on living our lives. - James Hillman, Healing Fiction * * * * * * * * * * NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
|
|
|
imin
Valinor
Feb 18 2013, 4:23pm
Post #5 of 55
(345 views)
Shortcut
|
Was originally going to see Django Unchained with a friend but plans fell through so went to see Beautiful Creatures with partner. Neither of us had read the books but we had seen the trailer on TV and it looked right up her street as she likes magic/fairytale kinda stuff - her fav movie is Labyrinth with David Bowie. OK so the movie was alright - their accents took me by surprise to begin with - seemed really Southern, i don't know if people talk that Southern but sounded kinda fake. Also the lead actor is 23 years old playing a 16 year old and doesn't look 16 at all, in fact he looks older than me! I thought it was acted pretty well and was really cheesy but i figured it would be from the trailer so it was actually quite funny in parts. Some of the sets were really nice, like her house. It is being compared to Twilight a lot and i can definitely see why, though for my partner and myself we both preferred this film as it was more funny and could laugh at the actors trying to do the accent and generally better acting (not hard to be Kristen Stewart though, lol). Shame i didn't get to see Django as it's meant to be awesome, just hope i can catch it in the cinema before it goes, if not dvd is out already!
|
|
|
imin
Valinor
Feb 18 2013, 4:28pm
Post #6 of 55
(355 views)
Shortcut
|
I always thought Deep Blue Sea
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Was meant to be like Snakes on a Plane - a comedy with some action. That is how i always looked at it and its so bad and cheesy it makes me laugh. I can remember the first time i watched another film like this - Drag me to Hell - i thought it was meant to be a proper horror movie, so when it finished i was annoyed and thought it was terrible. When i realised it was meant to be a joke, then i thought it wasn't too bad as it actually accomplished what it set out to do - make me laugh. To enjoy deep blue sea, i think its one of those movies you need to know before hand is bad, so you can more just laugh at it than be totally into the movie if you know what i mean?
|
|
|
silneldor
Half-elven
Feb 18 2013, 5:08pm
Post #7 of 55
(356 views)
Shortcut
|
with Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Sean Astin and Dan Aykroyd. I did not want to watch this saturday morning (the wife had it on) but i got caught up in it and could not, not watch it, ha. I loved it. It was touching and funny and unpredictable.
|
|
|
macfalk
Valinor
Feb 18 2013, 5:39pm
Post #8 of 55
(337 views)
Shortcut
|
I think you are referring to another movie with the same title
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I looked it up on IMDB and there are two titles for "Deep Blue Sea", one is from 1999 and the other one is from 2011
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
|
|
|
macfalk
Valinor
Feb 18 2013, 5:41pm
Post #9 of 55
(333 views)
Shortcut
|
A somewhat generic murder thriller with Anthony Hopkins. I don't know... I felt like I've watched dozens of these types of movies and they all almost seem to blend together. It wasn't a bad movie at all, it just wasn't anything special to me.
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
|
|
|
Annael
Immortal
Feb 18 2013, 5:49pm
Post #10 of 55
(332 views)
Shortcut
|
Basically Weisz plays a woman who apparently has no inner resources at all, falls in love with a guy who doesn't love her in the same way, and gets suicidally depressed. Not a lot of laughs.
The way we imagine our lives is the way we are going to go on living our lives. - James Hillman, Healing Fiction * * * * * * * * * * NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
|
|
|
Veridandir
Rivendell
Feb 18 2013, 6:26pm
Post #11 of 55
(338 views)
Shortcut
|
Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wreck-it Ralph and The Hobbit (1977)
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Fantastic Mr. Fox was delightful. 4 / 5 Wreck-it Ralph I loved! Such a creative plot, well structured story with twist and turns and most importantly a good message to the young kids: The world is not black and white, things are not only good and bad. Hope it wins the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. 4.5 / 5 Also watched The Hobbit from 1977 for the first time. Oh my god was it awful! Felt like nothing but a rushed summary. No depth, no nothing. Such a shame. 1.5 / 5
|
|
|
Otaku-sempai
Immortal
Feb 18 2013, 8:33pm
Post #12 of 55
(325 views)
Shortcut
|
We've received 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Killer' from NetFlix
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
It will be a couple of days before my wife and I can watch it together.
'There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.' - Gandalf the Grey, The Fellowship of the Ring
|
|
|
Lily Fairbairn
Half-elven
Feb 18 2013, 8:42pm
Post #13 of 55
(332 views)
Shortcut
|
Downton Abbey (spoilers again)
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I enjoyed the Scottish dancing because I'm familiar with the music---I've never actually danced the dances. The castle was Inverary Castle, which isn't "outside Inverness" but is NW of Glasgow, on Loch Fyne. No matter. I've been there and love the surrounding countryside. I was tickled to see Shrimpy and family and their piper all wearing Campbell tartan (Inverary is the seat of Clan Campbell). I agree with your estimation of the characters. For once it wasn't O'Brien's fault the other maid took a disliking to her and tried to sabotage her drink. It was a bit pat with Thomas and Jimmy, yes, but I think that story line's run its course and I was glad to see the positive end. I, too, disliked the maid going after Branson, although Allen Leech does a great deer-in-the-headlights stare. I've been really pleased how his character has grown and changed. The scene with him and Mrs. Hughes was lovely. So the lesson is that any women whose name starts with "E" will be unlucky in love at Downton Abbey? Edith, Ethel, Edna.... Although it looked as though the now more-mature Edith was preparing to take matters with Michael into her own hands. As thin as Mary is, she should have looked enormous at eight months' pregnant. And yes, even stoic Mary would have show a bit more, er, discomfort and been more disheveled. But.... I've known for quite some time that Dan Stevens was quitting the show (why, I don't know) and how they'd write Matthew out. Even knowing that, I thought it was all incredibly abrupt and seemed deliberately planned to manipulate the viewer into the greatest shock. You'd expect to see some scene of the family being informed, and trying to decide how best to break it to Mary, but no. Yes, bad things happen, and I remember a similar situation actually occuring in this area some years ago, but it was not at all satisfying dramatically. OTOH, we're certainly talking about it!
|
|
|
The Prancing Pony
Rivendell
Feb 18 2013, 9:12pm
Post #14 of 55
(323 views)
Shortcut
|
Ahhh, yes, there was a certain movie on TV, yesterday. Something called "The Return of the King". I was a bit sceptical first, but I thought I'd give it a chance. Turned out to be pretty amazing . Ah, well, I don't normally watch LOTR on TV because of the ads, but it had been a while since I last watched it, so I just couldn't resist.
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
|
|
|
Patty
Immortal
Feb 18 2013, 9:31pm
Post #15 of 55
(343 views)
Shortcut
|
I've read that Julian Fellows...
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
faced with the knowledge that Dan Stevens was going to leave the show waited until pretty much the last minute of filming to go ahead and write him out, hence the abrupt ending. He had hoped he would change his mind, and at least agree to appear occasionally, so he would be posted out of the country. Fellows said that with a person that young and with as much in love as he and Lady Mary were, he had to kill him off, because nothing else would be believable. What's really scary is that the actress who plays O'Brien is said to not have renewed for next season. She's one of my favorites! Oh well, moving forward I hope Downton is able to survive this. The Internet is rife with haters, many directing their anger at Fellows instead of at Stevens where it deserves to be, if it should be anywhere. Magpie, I thought of you during the Morris dancing and the reels...
Permanent address: Into the West
(This post was edited by Patty on Feb 18 2013, 9:34pm)
|
|
|
Lily Fairbairn
Half-elven
Feb 18 2013, 10:42pm
Post #16 of 55
(335 views)
Shortcut
|
That Fellowes kept hoping Stevens would change his mind, that is. Seems to me Stevens is really shooting himself in the foot, but then, I know nothing about his future plans. I could have bought, barely, him going out to India or wherever, with voice-over letters and a reunion with wife and son in the last episode. As for the next season, I'll watch, but warily. I wonder if they'll start the next season five minutes after the end of this one or five weeks or five months later? I can't see a soap opera passing up the chance to show the horrible news arriving at Downton and everyone reacting and trying to decide how to break it to poor Mary. As for O'Brien, it looked to me as though they were setting up her leaving Cora and signing up with Susan, Mrs. Shrimpy, and going out to Bombay as HER lady's maid.
|
|
|
imin
Valinor
Feb 18 2013, 11:41pm
Post #17 of 55
(298 views)
Shortcut
|
yeah i got the wrong one, lol. I was thinking to myself - its not depressing, just really bad, lol. My bad!
|
|
|
Magpie
Immortal
Feb 18 2013, 11:45pm
Post #18 of 55
(315 views)
Shortcut
|
I thought the same thing about O'Brien
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
but I was curious why she would want to go to Bombay. Was she unhappy at Downtown? And I agree that waiting till the last minute about Stevens makes sense - kind of. I mean, if the story suffered by Fellowes waiting, that wasn't the best outcome. But I could see why he would do it. But I never get why people are upset when people don't decide to renew contracts. That's what contracts are for. Two parties make a pact for a determined amount of time. Neither is obligated beyond that and the employing parties on the end of the actors' contracts could have dropped them all after 3 years with not penalty. But no one should be considered obligated past their commitment.
LOTR soundtrack website ~ magpie avatar gallery TORn History Mathom-house ~ Torn Image Posting Guide
|
|
|
N.E. Brigand
Half-elven
Feb 19 2013, 12:18am
Post #19 of 55
(312 views)
Shortcut
|
"THE DEEP BLUE SEA ... has often been revived. It has a substantial leading role for a woman, and several eminent actresses have wanted it".
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I haven't seen this movie based on Terence Rattigan's play, which was first filmed in 1955, but this review may offer insight into the appeal it has for some people. A darker Brief Encounter, apparently.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Discuss Tolkien's life and works in the Reading Room! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= How to find old Reading Room discussions.
|
|
|
imin
Valinor
Feb 19 2013, 12:35am
Post #20 of 55
(311 views)
Shortcut
|
Brilliant isn't it? :) Took me right back to my childhood, i hope it wins the Oscar as well.
|
|
|
Patty
Immortal
Feb 19 2013, 1:50am
Post #21 of 55
(307 views)
Shortcut
|
Fellows said it will start six months after the end of the Christmas special...
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
So the funeral would be over etc.. He wants to have brief mourning remaining for Lady Mary and then moving onto a new love interest.
Permanent address: Into the West
(This post was edited by Patty on Feb 19 2013, 1:56am)
|
|
|
Annael
Immortal
Feb 19 2013, 2:12am
Post #22 of 55
(299 views)
Shortcut
|
it certainly allows for scenery-chewing
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
but I wanted to slap her and say "he's not worth it! Go find something to DO with your life!" And as I said, the score was equally overwrought. The link doesn't work, btw.
The way we imagine our lives is the way we are going to go on living our lives. - James Hillman, Healing Fiction * * * * * * * * * * NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
(This post was edited by Annael on Feb 19 2013, 2:16am)
|
|
|
Patty
Immortal
Feb 19 2013, 3:12am
Post #25 of 55
(285 views)
Shortcut
|
I think that Fellows is a big one for what he called Greek tragedy, where everything happens offscreen. I really wanted to see Matthew and Mary take their wedding vows. But no. No funeral for Sybil, either. No wedding for Sybil and Tom. But what he does show can sometimes be very heart-wrenching i.e. William's death and Sybil's death in childbirth, and Thomas' meltdown in the shed or Lavinia's death. I get very emotional over all that stuff. I had tears in my eyes at the scene between Mrs. Hughes and Tom Branson in the library where he broke down because he missed his wife. Great acting here.
Permanent address: Into the West
|
|
|
|
|