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What movies did you watch this weekend?

Aunt Dora Baggins Immortal Nov 26 2012, 12:26pm Views: 703 What movies did you watch this weekend? Tell us about them here! (Deej asked me to sub again this week.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories leleni at hotmail dot com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aunt Dora Baggins Immortal Nov 26 2012, 12:37pm Views: 596 We saw "Lincoln", "When Worlds Collide", Rankin-Bass "Hobbit", and "Don't Bother to Knock" We meant to see "Life of Pi" and got there for the first showing, a ten o'clock matinee the day before Thanksgiving. But when we went into the theater, it was pitch dark; they hadn't turned on the lights or even the running lights on the aisles. Then the trailers had the wrong aspect ratio, and the Hobbit preview was in 3D but our movie was supposed to be in 2D. After half an hour of false starts they canceled the movie and gave everyone vouchers for two more. So we went and saw "Lincoln". It was *very* good. I didn't know what to expect. It was mostly a legislative drama about trying to pass the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery. In substance it was a lot like "1776", but of course much more serious. On Thanksgiving evening our grown children watched movies at home with us. We started with "When Worlds Collide", a classic about an impending asteroid bringing about the end of the world, and the attempt to build a spaceship to rescue a handful of people. Lots of drama and surprisingly good special effects for 1951. The best part was seeing the differential analyzer at work. Wow! Then we wanted to lighten up, so we watched the old "Hobbit" cartoon. We hadn't seen it in probably 20 years, though our kids may have seen it more recently. They, of course, grew up with it. It was so much fun chanting some of the lines in unison along with the movie, like "Nothing but mutton to eat. How I long for a bit of manflesh!" Last night we rented "Don't Bother to Knock" as part of our ongoing viewing of Marilyn Monroe movies. This one was much, much darker than her other ones. It was a thriller about a mentally unstable woman who is hired as a babysitter in a hotel. A man who has just broken up with his girlfriend starts pursuing her, driving her over the edge. Because a child was in peril, we were both on the edge of our seats. It was an amazing performance, but not the kind of movie I really enjoy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories leleni at hotmail dot com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (This post was edited by Aunt Dora Baggins on Nov 26 2012, 12:42pm)

Otaku-sempai Immortal Nov 26 2012, 3:01pm Views: 562 We watched the new DVD I purchased for my wife (don't laugh).... My Little Pony - Friendship is Magic: Adventures in teh Crystal Empire. Okay, laugh. 'There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.' - Gandalf the Grey, The Fellowship of the Ring

silneldor Half-elven Nov 26 2012, 3:35pm Views: 582 I saw Channel 7's (ABC) movie review of 'The Life of Pi' and i found myself enthralled. The wife and i go to so few movies but this one is must-do. I suggested to my son to take a date and see it. He is already ahead of me on the plan. Geech, with TH we will actually squeeze two movies into this year.

Hamfast Rohan Nov 26 2012, 3:53pm Views: 562 Prometheus and Kuroneko Prometheus - I've always been a big fan of the Alien franchise, and while Alien 3 & 4 are pulp monster movies at best, I think Prometheus is a fine bookend to his original sci-fi masterpiece 'Alien'. The backstory, special effects, action, and tension are all there, and keep the film moving right along at a satisfying pace. Michael Fassbender is great as the cyborg David, and Noomi Rapace does a well enough job to earn more work, but the supporting cast is woeful. Charlize Theron's character seems forced into the plot, and the captain and crew are caricatures of every spaceship journey you've ever seen. I look forward to watching this again for the geeky details and extras on the blu ray. Kuroneko - This is a Japanese black and white movie from 1968 about ghosts and samurai. Kuroneko means 'black cat' in Japanese, which is appropriate considering the plot centers around a mother and daughter who are raped and left for dead in a burning hut, only then to be visited by a black cat that turns them into spirit demons . The mother/daughter spirit demons proceed to lure unsuspecting samurai into their lair, only to rip out their throats. The film is drenched in shadows and fog filled bamboo groves, providing amazingly spooky atmosphere. I particularly enjoy the images of the mother/daughter floating like ghosts through the frame. Suprisingly, there is a rather touching love story at the center of the film as well, and some have seen the film as an early treatise on feminism in Japan. I learned of this movie from a youtube video of Guillermo del Toro citing his favorite ghost movies, found here.

Elberbeth Tol Eressea Nov 26 2012, 4:24pm Views: 558 Ironman I know, I know, late to the party as usual, but I liked it and hubby even managed to stay awake through the whole thing. What's that? Three more to go? "There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark."

Aunt Dora Baggins Immortal Nov 26 2012, 5:04pm Views: 547 I'm not laughing. Heck, my husband collects fairy figurines, and I take stuffed animals along when we hike. There's nothing wrong with being a kid at heart. How was it? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories leleni at hotmail dot com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aunt Dora Baggins Immortal Nov 26 2012, 5:06pm Views: 544 I am really looking forward to that. I read the book and loved it, and the movie looks amazing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories leleni at hotmail dot com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ataahua Forum Admin / Moderator Nov 26 2012, 5:45pm Views: 596 Breaking Dawn part II (spoiler marked) Well, it was better than part one but that's not saying much, and it's a pretty poor example of storytelling. It feels like the film is going by the numbers and there isn't much of an effort to make it stand up as film on its own merits. On the good side, Jacob's revelation to Charlie is shown rather than told (I really like how they played it for laughs), and the vampire look suits Kristen. SPOILER AHEAD . . . . . . . . However the film ignores the rules set up in the books (and the previous films) about the limitations on Alice's precognition - to set up a cheap fake-out involving the wolves. I know they had to change the ending from the all-talk book version, but what they came up with was nasty and designed for pure shock. I came out of the movie relieved that we've come to the end. Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. Ataahua's stories

Alassëa Eruvande Valinor Nov 26 2012, 6:31pm Views: 545 Rise of the Guardians The Eruvandes needed a break from all the Thanksgiving hoopla, so we went to eat Italian food and go to the movies. No turkeys allowed! RotG was really good. Also, I didn't realize GdT had a hand in it. The guardians are a buff, tatooed Russian Santa Claus, a boomerang-wielding Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, with her hummingbird-like helpers, the Sandman, and the reluctant Jack Frost. They've got to band together to save the world's children from Pitch Black, bringer of nightmares and stealer of hope. It all hinges on whether or not children believe in the Guardians, which was good for Little Eruvande to hear, since I think he is on the cusp of believing and disbelieving. If he ever announces that he no longer believes in Santa, etc., I'll just remind him of this movie. I am SMAUG! I kill when I wish! I am strong, strong, STRONG! My armor is like tenfold shields! My teeth like swords! My claws, spears! The shock of my tail, a thunderbolt! My wings, a hurricane! And my breath, death!

elevorn Lorien Nov 26 2012, 7:21pm Views: 525 eh I bailed half way threw on a family viewing of "Bridesmaids" I had seen it before so all of the shock value comedy was lost on me. Hoping for more movies very soon. "clever hobbits to climb so high!" Check out my writing www.jdstudios.wordpress.com

Kimi Forum Admin / Moderator Nov 26 2012, 7:33pm Views: 561 Skyfall I enjoyed it. Lots of nods to the earlier movies, and some enjoyable subverting of the familiar tropes (the "Q" section being a notable example). It was especially good to see Judi Dench getting more screen time. At home, re-watched a couple of favourites: State of Play (the British series) and Gosford Park. *Every* time I watch Gosford Park I notice a new detail. The Passing of Mistress Rose My historical novels Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there? - A Room With a View

Otaku-sempai Immortal Nov 26 2012, 10:12pm Views: 515 As someone who has given up on finding much worthwhile on most kidvid... I have to admit that the current My Little Pony series (Friendship is Magic) is charming and has a surprisingly strong streak of adventure in it. The show is sweet without the impression that it will cause tooth-decay in its viewers. According to my wife (a long-time MLP collector) I probably qualify as a 'brony'. 'There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.' - Gandalf the Grey, The Fellowship of the Ring

Aunt Dora Baggins Immortal Nov 26 2012, 10:17pm Views: 513 Thanks, that's interesting. I haven't watched any real kid-vid since my own kids grew up years ago. But when they were little there were some amazing shows on, like Animaniacs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories leleni at hotmail dot com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Otaku-sempai Immortal Nov 26 2012, 10:27pm Views: 514 My first encounters with the good stuff... My first exposure to good cartoons/animated programing was in the mid-1960s with such shows as The Flintstones, Jonny Quest and Hanna-Barbera's action/adventure Saturday-morning line-up (Space Ghost, Galaxy Trio, the first Fantastic Four series, Herculoids, etc.. Not to mention Warner Bros. shorts on television before anyone had started butchering them to 'protect' the wee-ones. Animaniacs was a worthy successor. 'There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.' - Gandalf the Grey, The Fellowship of the Ring

Annael Immortal Nov 26 2012, 10:50pm Views: 526 I saw "Skyfall" as well and enjoyed it. There were several times when I laughed aloud as I realized that Bond was about to pull a classic Bond maneuver, and one point in the first chase scene where the audience and I all gasped and then cheered. Judi Dench is now the ultimate "Bond girl" in my book. 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

Kimi Forum Admin / Moderator Nov 26 2012, 10:58pm Views: 569 I actually ducked in that first sequence :) Nice accolade for Dame Judi. :) She owns the screen whenever she appears. I'm so glad I managed to avoid any spoilers before seeing the movie. It would have weakened the emotional impact of those later scenes. The Passing of Mistress Rose My historical novels Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there? - A Room With a View

wendy woo Rivendell Nov 26 2012, 11:57pm Views: 506 A marathon of all the Call The Midwife episodes I hadn't seen all of them and enjoyed re-watching the ones that I had. (This post was edited by wendy woo on Nov 26 2012, 11:57pm)

wendy woo Rivendell Nov 26 2012, 11:59pm Views: 520 You're not alone. While I don't claim to be a fan, I am aware that there is a convention out there for "Bronies". It was 4000 strong about two months ago.

sevilodorf Tol Eressea Nov 27 2012, 12:26am Views: 515 Looper It handled the paradox situation fairly well... though it didn't quite keep to its own rules. The ending was definitely a shocker but showed the character's growth. Was it me or was there three alternative time tracks created? Fourth Age Adventures at the Inn of the Burping Troll http://burpingtroll.com

Tweezers of Thu Rivendell Nov 27 2012, 1:30am Views: 495 Argo Finally. I have been itching to see this for some time now. The opening scenes of the riots in Tehran were chilling as I well remember those events. Hometown boy Ben Affleck continues to impress as both actor and director in this based-on-a-true-story of the cooperative effort of Canada and the US CIA to rescue 6 US diplomats from Tehran. The pacing was good, supporting cast worked well. I really enjoyed John Goodman and Alan Arkin's performances. And yes, Canadians really are the nicest people in the world. A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature. ~~ Henry David Thoreau

Tweezers of Thu Rivendell Nov 27 2012, 1:32am Views: 483 Call the Midwife! I love it! Chummy is brilliant. Call the Midwife sort of tided me over until the third season of Downton Abbey starts. A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature. ~~ Henry David Thoreau

imin Valinor Nov 27 2012, 1:37am Views: 490 Judi Dench in Skyfall Brilliant actress as always, i think she is great in whatever she is in. Her character in this though was different to how we have seen her before. We learnt what she did to the bad guy and to be honest if she had done that to me i would have wanted revenge as well, she totally sold him out and left him for dead! Was there any reason for this as i watched it a while ago now so cant remember, was he a bit of a loose cannon or something?

grammaboodawg Immortal Nov 27 2012, 1:46am Views: 490 I was wondering how it would turn out ;) I wasn't a fan of the original, but I was curious about this one only because they filmed it in the city near where I grew up ;) My sister, who still works there, told us about going out on lunch break and smack dab into the middle of the filming. A couple of co-workers and she ended up being some running, screaming townies ;) I really need these new films to take me back to, and not re-introduce me to, that magical world. TORn's Observations Lists Unused Scenes

imin Valinor Nov 27 2012, 12:20pm Views: 462 Wreck it ralph I was excited to see this from the reviews on here - especially as i feel i am the perfect age for when those games were actually around and i was a little kid. brought back some nice memories and was just generally a good movie. My sister went to see it (she's 11) and she thought it was fantastic, and wanted to be just like the little girl in the movie - princess who liked racing, lol. Recommend to anyone who has kids/is a kid at heart :)

DanielLB Immortal Nov 27 2012, 12:50pm Views: 221 The Lorax! Another animated film for us ... it's becoming a reccuring theme ... I wasn't paying much attention to it. Seemed good though. Want Hobbit Movie News? Hobbit Headlines of the Week! (This post was edited by DanielLB on Nov 27 2012, 12:52pm)

Annael Immortal Nov 27 2012, 4:20pm Views: 213 her reason (spoiler) yes, he was a loose cannon, which is why . . . . she traded him for six other agents who'd been captured. She also made the call for Eve to shoot even if she might hit Bond. It reminds me of the concept that "Star Trek" often brought up, that you can't be the captain unless you are able to make the call to sacrifice one or more crewpersons to save the rest. Same thing happens in "Master & Commander." Yes, if you're the person sacrificed, you would probably be bitter, but from her point of view it was the best option. 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 Nov 27 2012, 4:24pm)

imin Valinor Nov 27 2012, 4:50pm Views: 209 ah ok forgot about that, i thought she just kinda let him get captured and didnt try and rescue him. Makes more sense now, lol. really enjoyed Skyfall, for me it is one of the best bond films. About a million times better than QoS!

grammaboodawg Immortal Nov 29 2012, 3:04am Views: 183 Last weekend... 7 Hallmark made-4-tv movies :} I spent the weekend with my BEEEEEautiful 91yo Mom. She really like the Hallmark movie channel. *respectfully pauses* omg... BUT, then I came home! I finally sat and watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless MInd for the first time in about 2 years... and I was instantly reminded why I love it. I'm not a big Jim Carrey fan, but he does an amazing job in this film. Kate Winslett (fantastic!), Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood... a great cast! But the story, filming and editing are great! You have to pay attention as there are many things going on at the same time, but the concept is intriguing. I think it's one of the best love stories I've ever seen. I really love this film! I really need these new films to take me back to, and not re-introduce me to, that magical world. TORn's Observations Lists Unused Scenes

Patty Immortal Nov 30 2012, 7:52am Views: 199 I agree. This is a very good series./   Permanent address: Into the West

Patty Immortal Nov 30 2012, 8:28am Views: 253 Downton Abbey series 3 (I actually watch it a couple of weeks ago, but I'm behind in posting) very enjoyable. No spoilers, see? But seriously, don't go on twitter or youtube...there is massive potential for spoilage of a major plot point. I had my girlfriend over and she and Mr. Patty and I had tea (well, brandy alexanders and tea time food) and watched the first episode. She left, cause she had to get home to let the dog out, then Mr. Patty and I finshed it. I mean, who could wait on her? I'll be FORCED to watch it again with her because, like me, she didn't want to wait till it comes to the States, but unlike me she doesn't have a region 2 DVD player. Permanent address: Into the West

Alassëa Eruvande Valinor Nov 30 2012, 3:08pm Views: 189 *hyperventilates* Ack! I've just been organizing a You Tube play list of the DA soundtrack to tide me over. You're so lucky that Mr. Patty will watch it with you. I've begged Mr. Eruvande to watch it, but he won't. About those spoilers...have you seen anything about everyone's favorite heir returning for a fourth season???? I am SMAUG! I kill when I wish! I am strong, strong, STRONG! My armor is like tenfold shields! My teeth like swords! My claws, spears! The shock of my tail, a thunderbolt! My wings, a hurricane! And my breath, death!

Patty Immortal Nov 30 2012, 10:21pm Views: 191 Check your PMs , A.E. I'm trying hard not to give too much away. Permanent address: Into the West