sam
Junior Member
Posts: 62
|
Post by sam on Jun 29, 2010 11:19:41 GMT
Thought it might be nice to have a film review/recommendation thread on the go somewhere.
I watched The Lovely Bones last night and can thoroughly recommend. It is an inspirational film-adaptation of the book by Alice Sebold, though not for the emotionally vulnerable as it's a tear-jerker and a half. Beautifully and creatively filmed though.
A line towards the end of the novel, but also narrated in the film is where the title comes from:
These were the lovely bones that had grown around my absence: the connections — sometimes tenuous, sometimes made at great cost, but often magnificent — that happened after I was gone. And I began to see things in a way that let me hold the world without me in it. The events my death brought were merely the bones of a body that would become whole at some unpredictable time in the future. The price of what I came to see as this miraculous lifeless body had been my life.
|
|
|
Post by anne on Jun 29, 2010 19:46:12 GMT
I think I'd find it difficult, Sam, maybe one to watch curled up on the sofa at home ..? I read the book and agree these words are beautifully written.
I've mentioned elsewhere the most recent film I saw was Alice in Wonderland, 3D version, and I loved it, am a sucker for anything with special effects and think Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp are both wonderful.
|
|
|
Post by Pauline on Jun 29, 2010 20:17:54 GMT
As far as films go, I must admit to being a big fan of Al Pacino. We have quite a few DVDs now with Al Pacino in which I could list but it would take a while to review them all. But the thing about being a fan of any actor or actress is that you also become a fan of others who work along-side. So 'The Godfather' springs to mind as a real classic. For now I'll just pick, 'A Dog Day Afternoon' as it is a film based on a true event. It was an attempted bank robbery which turned out to be a massive blunder. It was done to raise the money for Sonny's (Al Pacino) lover's sex-change operation. It was a great film with plenty of action. And the fact that is was based on real life makes it more interesting. Since watching it I have googled the character played by Al. Sonny Wojtowicz did end up in jail. He has since died. The lover had his operation & lived as a woman in America. I think he also died. Also, The young man Sal was only age 18yrs & was shot at the airport, which I think was tragic. And the actor who played Sal has also died. You know a lot of things come to light with getting involved with films. Some sad stuff really. But I must say it is a good film. And I will watch it again. Think I've seen it about 4 times so far. It's great.
|
|
|
Post by Mark on Jun 29, 2010 22:14:03 GMT
The Internet Movie Database, aka IMDb, is the place to look. It's one of my favourite web sites. Really useful for finding whatever else the actors or directors have been involved with. The reviews can be interesting, and do give a useful idea of how good, bad or relevant a film is.
|
|
sam
Junior Member
Posts: 62
|
Post by sam on Jun 30, 2010 7:53:19 GMT
Yeah, bro (can I call you bro? LOL) - I stumbled upon that the other day. I've been trying to find the name of a film I saw ages ago for years now, and can't believe I didn't know about IMDb. I did a keyword search and it came up in the top 20 of the list.
Anne, I understand.
But agree, Alice was brilliant. Actually, any film with HBC and JD in is usually worth a watch. She is married to the director of the film, and her hubby loves JD so they tend to come as a threesome in movie circles these days.
|
|
sam
Junior Member
Posts: 62
|
Post by sam on Jun 30, 2010 7:55:19 GMT
Actually Anne, have you seen Avatar 3D? I've only seen it 2D (gosh, I'm SO behind the times) and it was wonderful even with a dimension less! I have it on good authority that it is something else in 3D though.
|
|
|
Post by suze on Jun 30, 2010 11:21:52 GMT
yes IMBd is great .. I cant believe you didnt know about it until recently. Sam!
|
|
nat
New Member
Posts: 30
|
Post by nat on Jun 30, 2010 11:40:47 GMT
We watched If These Walls Could Talk 2 the other night, brilliant! It's all about lesbians over 3 different years, 1961,1971 and 2000.... How life was for gay women in the 60's was awful especially if you lost a partner, found the film very emotional.... I agree that Avatar is mint
|
|
|
Post by suze on Jul 1, 2010 8:13:19 GMT
I've got that If these Walls Coudl Talk on order from Love Film, but it seems to be out of stock, or something !
I watch quite a lot of films, but not many that are good enough to recommend! LOL
|
|
|
Post by Pauline on Jul 1, 2010 18:33:21 GMT
Last night I watched 'Psycho 1V', which is the last disc in set.
Just thought I'd have a change of pace from the usual viewing. As it was a long time ago when I last saw it, it was quite good again. The music is haunting. And I spotted a bit in the film I can't remember seeing before. That does happen sometimes.
It is difficult to recommend any film really, as it is down to personal taste. Also, there are some films that you may not wish to see twice. But I find there are others that can be enjoyed a few times, with a gap in between of-course.
|
|
|
Post by Mark on Jul 1, 2010 22:02:27 GMT
Avatar is a pleasure. I bought it on DVD and Blu-ray bundled together, but the Blu-ray disc doesn't run on our Sony Vaio Blu-ray drive.
I am getting a Sony 3D internet tv next Saturday, it's a bit of a pig in a poke really because I don't know how much 3D stuff is going to be available yet. The in store demo was amazing, the image seems to float somewhere between you and the screen. All very sharp and the viewing angle doesn't seem to matter either. So, I look forward to plenty of fun watching films (and playing on the PS3).
I am with Pauline about film recommendations, all too subjective and depends on the mood or life experience at the time. Some films definitely only need to be seen once, maybe most, as you say Suze there are not many anyone should seriously recommend. OK, put on the spot I would say American Beauty or Usual Suspects. So that's Kevin Spacey and Kevin Spacey.
Others I like are: Leon; Crash; Kill Bill; The Warriors (original version); Ferris Bueller's Day Off; Bladerunner; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; Donnie Darko; Hot Fuzz; and, just about anything with Clint Eastwood! OK, there are loads of others, but that's enough. Apparently The Godfather is a classic, but I don't enjoy it at all.
p.s. Sam, call me what you like, but my name is Mark.
|
|
|
Post by suze on Jul 2, 2010 7:41:09 GMT
ah, yes Mark, two of my two faves and watch-agains would be Kevin Spacy and Kevin Spacy .. both of those are really good, and Kill Bill but I really didn't get that Eternal Sunshine one, it didn't click with me at all, which was surprising since you recommened it to me ...! but then I'm no fan of Clint Eastwood either!
Hot Fuzz was funny, and I quite like a few others of he English comedy camp, the one about male strippers and was there another one about brass bands? Kinky boots is funny too in the same sort of genre,
Billy Elliot, too, I esp like the blend of stories with the family dramas and the coal-strike in the background ..
|
|
|
Post by Mark on Jul 3, 2010 1:12:38 GMT
Rob Roy is another good one, not pretty in all its parts, but it is an incredibly satisfying film.
|
|
|
Post by Pauline on Jul 3, 2010 8:12:09 GMT
One of my favs is 'Donnie Brasco' which is based on a true story. It stars Al Pacino & Johnny Depp. A brilliant mafia film. The thing about a good film is that it may lead to a follow up read, as in my case. I did get the book about the real life Joe Pistone, from the library. He was the undercover FBI agent played by Johnny Depp. A good read. .......... I also enjoyed 'Carlito's Way' staring Al Pacino & Sea Penn. Another great classic. It is interesting to watch the 'Bonus material' which comes with the DVD. ............. And I think becoming a fan of any movie star, which in my case is Al Pacino, does bring with it interest in the people working alongside the favoured star. This expands to books written about the films or the stars, or the real life events of certain films. Yes it keeps the mind active.
|
|
|
Post by Mark on Jul 4, 2010 0:42:12 GMT
I have to admit, you don't get many surprises with Clint, but I never said everything I like is good. For instance, I even enjoyed the Sponge Bob Square Pants Movie.
Pauline: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, and Sean Penn are all good. Also great is Susan Sarandon. Which explains why I also liked Dead Man Walking. In fact, is there anybody who doesn't like Susan Sarandon?
|
|