Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 248

wendybeth · 09-21-2007, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

I've seen the movie and I wasn't a huge fan, though I recognize it as a pretty impressive achievement of its time.

I've not read GwtW but did read some other (supposedly lesser) novels from the same general school of thought and style back in school for a class on the Civil War and popular culture and hated them pretty uniformly.

But I bought The Godfather at lunch today and despite being told that the book is pretty unimpressive the first 100 pages have been very readable in a John Grisham/Stephen King sort of way.

It's been years, but I thought The Godfather was a great novel on many levels. I'll probably re-read it now and think it's ****, but at the time I really liked it. GWTW was okay, but I wanted to smack the crap out of most of the characters, particularly Scarlett, Melanie and Ashley. It's nothing special- just a precursor to Rosemary Rogers and her ilk.

innerSpaceman · 09-21-2007, 07:10 AM

Kinky Boots has really good songs.

Movies in theaters right now I'd really like to see, but life demands I wait for Netflix: 3:10 to Yuma, Eastern Promises and Across the Universe. Fine.

Snowflake · 09-21-2007, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendybeth

It's been years, but I thought The Godfather was a great novel on many levels. I'll probably re-read it now and think it's ****, but at the time I really liked it. GWTW was okay, but I wanted to smack the crap out of most of the characters, particularly Scarlett, Melanie and Ashley. It's nothing special- just a precursor to Rosemary Rogers and her ilk.

Well, I feel that way in the movie, too. I appreciate it for what it is, I loved it last time I saw it on the big screen. I've got the DVD and have never watched it.

Gemini Cricket · 09-25-2007, 05:23 PM

Stayed home today. Feelin' ill.
I watched Parenthood today. Gosh, it's such a well written movie. Lots of characters and they were pretty well fleshed out.
I think it's my favorite Ron Howard film.

LSPoorEeyorick · 09-25-2007, 05:36 PM

310 to Yuma is solid. Enjoyable. Something about it keeps me from saying it's excellent, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Good writing, good acting, generally... good.

Ponine · 09-26-2007, 09:10 AM

The fact that its a re-make maybe?
I love Bale.. I do. But Glen Ford........................................

its hard to achieve excellence when you're re-making Glen Ford. imo

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 10-01-2007, 07:54 PM

3:10 to Yuma met, then surpassed, my high expectations. I love Westerns and this wasn't in the least disappointing. I immediately wanted to see it again *and* watch The Magnificent Seven. Russell Crowe was in top form, as is Bale, but Bale rarely ever misses and Crowe - though a solid performer - sometimes chooses material that isn't really my cup of tea. But a lovable rogue is something he was born to play - oh my. I will probably go see this again.

I also recently watched on cable Goodbye Mr. Chips, the one with Robert Donat (who won the Oscar that year, instead of Clark Gable for Rhett Butler). And for some reason, I broke into hysterical sobs at the end of it. Donat was fantastic. And the story is FAR more gripping than I would have thought, having only seen the embarrassing version with Peter O'Toole. (I should add that I've never read the book.)

Rounding things out, I watched Sunshine, and Donny Boyle pretty much blew my mind in the best way possible. It was visually astounding and had a well developed story.

Alex · 10-01-2007, 08:45 PM

I loved 3:10 to Yuma. But have not seen the original.

The Kigndom was two good movies that don't go good together. The first part is a serious look at international relations and the difficulties of working on issues of terrorism in conflicted states. The second part is an action movie. Both halves are done well but they don't belong in the same movie and subtract from each other.

Also, the movie ends with a comment on how we're more alike in our base behaviors than we might like to think. Not a horrible sentiment but not at all supported by the previous 120 minutes of movie.

Eastern Promises is good but a bit too understated. The events happen but there wasn't really any investment in them or their outcome. I never felt concern for anybody or doubt about outcomes. That said Viggo's fully nude (without any effort to hide the, quite literally, wobbly bits) was pretty intense.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 10-02-2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Eastern Promises is good but a bit too understated. The events happen but there wasn't really any investment in them or their outcome. I never felt concern for anybody or doubt about outcomes. That said Viggo's fully nude (without any effort to hide the, quite literally, wobbly bits) was pretty intense.

That is pretty much exactly how I felt. Though something definitely fell short, I felt my money was well spent for two reasons. Viggo's performance and the bathhouse fistfight. Not just because Viggo was naked - though, bonus! - but because it really was one of the most intense on-screen fights I've ever seen. It was filmed so, so well.

innerSpaceman · 10-02-2007, 12:46 PM

Ugh, I can't get to the movies. So.many.I.want.to.see. 3:10 and Easten Promises tops amongst 'em.

09-21-2007, 07:10 AM	#2472
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Kinky Boots has really good songs. Movies in theaters right now I'd really like to see, but life demands I wait for Netflix: 3:10 to Yuma, Eastern Promises and Across the Universe. Fine.
	Submit to Quotes

09-25-2007, 05:23 PM	#2474
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Stayed home today. Feelin' ill. I watched Parenthood today. Gosh, it's such a well written movie. Lots of characters and they were pretty well fleshed out. I think it's my favorite Ron Howard film.
	Submit to Quotes

09-25-2007, 05:36 PM	#2475
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	310 to Yuma is solid. Enjoyable. Something about it keeps me from saying it's excellent, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Good writing, good acting, generally... good.
	Submit to Quotes

09-26-2007, 09:10 AM	#2476
Ponine Virgin Ears Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,075	The fact that its a re-make maybe? I love Bale.. I do. But Glen Ford........................................ its hard to achieve excellence when you're re-making Glen Ford. imo __________________ There's something strange, There's something wrong. I see a change - It's like when love dies.
	Submit to Quotes

10-01-2007, 07:54 PM	#2477
Eliza Hodgkins 1812 Sputnik Sweetheart Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,685	3:10 to Yuma met, then surpassed, my high expectations. I love Westerns and this wasn't in the least disappointing. I immediately wanted to see it again and watch The Magnificent Seven. Russell Crowe was in top form, as is Bale, but Bale rarely ever misses and Crowe - though a solid performer - sometimes chooses material that isn't really my cup of tea. But a lovable rogue is something he was born to play - oh my. I will probably go see this again. I also recently watched on cable Goodbye Mr. Chips, the one with Robert Donat (who won the Oscar that year, instead of Clark Gable for Rhett Butler). And for some reason, I broke into hysterical sobs at the end of it. Donat was fantastic. And the story is FAR more gripping than I would have thought, having only seen the embarrassing version with Peter O'Toole. (I should add that I've never read the book.) Rounding things out, I watched Sunshine, and Donny Boyle pretty much blew my mind in the best way possible. It was visually astounding and had a well developed story.
	Submit to Quotes

10-01-2007, 08:45 PM	#2478
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I loved 3:10 to Yuma. But have not seen the original. The Kigndom was two good movies that don't go good together. The first part is a serious look at international relations and the difficulties of working on issues of terrorism in conflicted states. The second part is an action movie. Both halves are done well but they don't belong in the same movie and subtract from each other. Also, the movie ends with a comment on how we're more alike in our base behaviors than we might like to think. Not a horrible sentiment but not at all supported by the previous 120 minutes of movie. Eastern Promises is good but a bit too understated. The events happen but there wasn't really any investment in them or their outcome. I never felt concern for anybody or doubt about outcomes. That said Viggo's fully nude (without any effort to hide the, quite literally, wobbly bits) was pretty intense.
	Submit to Quotes

10-02-2007, 12:46 PM	#2480
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Ugh, I can't get to the movies. So.many.I.want.to.see. 3:10 and Easten Promises tops amongst 'em.
	Submit to Quotes