Movies & Books Into Movies

[Babi]

So many movies – how do  you choose what to watch? Reviews?  Recommendations?  Actors?  Availability? Do you choose a movie the same way you choose a book? And where do you like to watch most of your movies? Do you stream movies from Netflix and other places? Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever watched a film?

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Join us in an ongoing discussion of your favorite movies right now.
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Your Discussion Leader: pedln

I appreciate your thinking so, ROSHANA. It would definitely take an excellent
teacher like Ginny to accomplish it, tho.

 "The Piano" is the only one of those films I've seen and I'm afraid I didn't care
much for it. Is it typical of Jane Campion's films?

[MaryPage]

Babi, I have negative sensiblities about THE PIANO, as well.  The filming was magnificent, the acting superb;  but the story left me quite depressed.  I do not enjoy depressed.  Ergo, I have skipped Campion's further movies.  If anyone can assure me one or more of them will lift my heart, I will change my mind.

Pedln, I am SO impressed by your canoe adventure in the mountains.  My favorite mountains.  I am too old for that sort of thing now, but would have loved it at one time.  So, have to admit, I am not only impressed, but terribly envious.  Good On You!

Marcie, I am glad to hear you liked that Jane Eyre.  I had skipped it as making up just a rather overwhelming number of versions I have viewed, but with your input, I will catch it soon.  I can get it as one of the FREE movies on my On Demand from Comcast!

[marcie]

I think (hope) you will enjoy the new Jane Eyre, MaryPage. It starts out of chronological order, unlike the other versions I've seen, but I think that works. If you see it, let me know what you think.

[JoanK]

For a change, how about Movie into book. Did any of you see the movie "Erin Brockovich" with Julia Roberts about a single mother who becomes an environmental activist? The real life Erin Brockovich has written a mystery story, "Rock Bottom" about a murder in the background of an environmental problem. The main character is obviously Brockovitz after the period of the movie. In an interview, she says she realizes that fiction is a way of reaching a lot of people and making them more aware of environmental problems.

It's light reading, but good. 

[pedln]

And Erin Brokovitch is right, isn't she, JoanK.  Fiction is a way of reaching people.  I'll be looking for Rock Bottom.

MaryPage, my trip into the Adirondaks was at least 15, maybe 20 years ago.  (have to check my Quicken file).  The company was Outdoor Adventures for Women over 40, founded by Marion ? who said she went up in  hot air balloon on her 65th birthday.  It was a wonderful trip, there were about 7 or 8 of us, including Marion.  And I learned very quickly that a POND is not always tranquil and gentle.

[Babi]

a POND is not always tranquil and gentle.

  PEDLN, you amaze me.  I thought ponds were quiet and serene.  Currents barely move.  Was
it the wind stirring up this particular pond?

[pedln]

That's what I thought, too, Babi.  This one was the size of a small lake.

[roshanarose]

Re:  The Piano

MaryPage - I know a few people who didn't enjoy the movie either.  But as I watched it somehow my senses were heightened and I could easily discern the beautiful scents of the NZ rain forest.  To me the movie touched on the primeval, especially Harvey Keitel as he appeared to be close to elemental.  Hollie Hunter was superb.  Her senses were so attuned to her environment, to the extent that she was prepared to be guided by the earth, and the forests that surrounded her.  New Zealand can have that effect on you, as can my fair land.  I have been to NZ twice, and as I am very sensitive to environment my senses were on full alert the whole time.  I prefer the North Island, up around the Bay of Islands.  Also loved Lake Taupo, Mount Ruapehu, and the wild East Coast beaches where I think the Piano was filmed.  We stayed at Waitangi for several days and travelled around the area.  Waitangi is where the Treaty was signed between the Maoris and the Pakehas (English).  Lawrence Durrell writes about "The Spirit of Place".  If I could write as well as he, it would be easier for me to describe the whole country, the movie, the spirituality of the place and so much more.  I am afraid I don't do it justice.  Y'all really need to visit (and see me on the way)

[maryz]

roshanarose, I know what  you mean about NZ - although we liked South Island better.  There are definitely places here in the States that are full of the spiritual presence of history - some of our favorites.

[Babi]

 ROSHANA, reading your lovely post, I can't help thinking that you are the one who
is close to the elemental and tuned to the environment. You seem so aware of the
'spirit of place'. Not bad at writing about it, either.

[roshanarose]

Maryz and Babi - thanks for tuning in

[MaryPage]

Roshanarose, re The Piano, I did say the filming was gorgeous;  it was the story and only the story that depressed me.  Feel as you do about this planet;   enjoy and revere every type of scenery.

Have a granddaughter in New Zealand as I write.  She lives in St. Louis, Missouri and has already been there for 2 weeks and will have one more week.  She attended the World Cup Rugby game between New Zealand and Canada in Wellington last week.  Have always wanted to go there myself, but never made it, and now it is too late.  Will travel no more forever, to adapt a phrase.

[roshanarose]

MaryPage - "I, too, will travel no more forever" apart from within Australia.  I just can't cope with the long flight to Europe or US any more.  If I had the money to travel first class it would probably be a different matter.

Gumtree - How long does it take to fly from Perth to Sydney?  

Following link gives more info about the Treaty of Waitangi

www.nzhistory.net.nz/category/tid/133

[pedln]

MaryPage, I feel about the Piano much as you do -- gorgeous filming, depressing story. But certainly magnificent cinematography.  Do you remember if it got any awards for that?

A few years back I saw the Australian film Jindabyne, which I liked very much and it made an impression on me.  The only familiar (for me) actor was Laura Linney, whose performances I always admire.  Roshanarose and Gum, is Jindabyne near either one of you?  The song about the Jindabyne Fair frequently runs through my head.

I got to thinking yesterday, has anyone heard about when we're going to get the second season of The Killing -- with M. Enos, et al.  What network/channel was that on?  I keep thinking PBS, but I know it's not that.

[MaryPage]

Well, it won 3 Oscars.  Mebbe this tells which;  mebbe not!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107822/

Roshanarose, my attitude precisely.  If I could afford First Class, mebbe I'd fly to Florence, Italy.  Even better, if I could afford to hire one of those private jet companies!  Way to go!

Nope.  Looked it up.  Holly Hunter won Best Actress and Anna Pacquin won best supporting and the film won for best screenplay.

[Tomereader1]

"The Killing" is on AMC.  But I couldn't find when it comes back again.

[marcie]

I couldn't find out when THE KILLING will resume either. Since the first season started last April. I'm assuming that season 2 will be sometime near that timeframe in 2012.

I did find the following info about the series, which is based on a Danish series:
"Sud also points out that only 13 days have passed in the show’s story since this high-profile murder investigation started. Though she won’t give any spoilers (including whether Sarah Linden’s next case is based on season 2 of Forbrydelsen, which jumped forward two years and centered around the murder of a female attorney), Sud does promise the Larson case will be solved next season. Sources say the likely plan is to launch a new mystery near the start the season and have the two cases overlap before switching over entirely to the next case — thus avoiding a full-fledged storyline stop and restart."

See the article at http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/06/19/the-killing-season-finale-two/

[MaryPage]

Ha!  Just another sales gimmick to assure them an audience for the beginning of the NEXT season!  I still feel betrayed.

[roshanarose]

pedln - Re Jindabyne.  Jindabyne is to be found in the snow fields of New South Wales in the Snowy River region which is about 3 hours from our capital, Canberra, ACT. The surrounding countryside reminded me of my home town, Armidale, NSW, which is also high country.  Gorgeous in Spring and Summer, bloody freezing in Winter.  I would say that Jindabyne is closer to Brisbane than Perth, but that doesn't mean it is nearby.  I would guesstimate about 2 days (or more) drive from Brisbane.  Gum would probably prefer to fly.

I agree the movie "Jindabyne" is very good with an excellent cast.  I thought that Jindabyne was depressing, but don't let that turn you off it.  It's just my opinion.  The film also has a score and a song by Paul Kelly, one of my favourite songwriter/performers in Australia.  Below I have included the wiki link to Jindabyne and the song from it.  My apologies to those who don't appreciate wiki, but imho it had the best description of Jindabyne.

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jindabyne,_New_South_Wales

www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858585006

This song needs to be heard to appreciate its true pathos.  I have just given the lyrix.

The "meanings" of the song as interpreted by listeners can be found by scrolling down.  I could have done without the first one, though.  BruceBayliss is right on the money.

[pedln]

Thanks for the song words link, Roshanarose.  Interesting comments there, too.  I either didn't know or had forgotten than the film Jindabyne was based on a Raymond Carver short story titled "So much water so close to home."

On the news this am it mentioned Sony has the rights to produce the film Steve Jobs, based on the Walter Issacson biography due out later this month. To be produced by Mark Gordon, whose earlier work included Saving Private Ryan.

[MaryPage]

Last night I pulled out my DVD of the movie RECOUNT.  The further away we get from those dramatic events during the closing months of 2000, the more the whole thing seems to jell into a coherent story.  I feel this has been true of my perspective of History all of my life.  Basically, facts that get left out of newspapers, news magazines, radio and television at the time of any event or series of events finally find their way into the holes in the story until such a time comes about when we can actually see the whole thing from every angle and understand better what human passions have wrought.

There have already been over 30 books written on just this small time in history.  I expect that election will continue to fascinate and generate books long after I am dead and forgotten.

[JoanK]

Here is Paul Kelly singing the song. (it cuts of in the middle of a phrase, but near the end. you can finish it yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMqDUETmekA

[roshanarose]

Slipping in another Australian segment.

Evidently Spielberg has recently finished directing "War Horse"

The woman who trained all the horses for the main role is Australian.  Her story was on TV last night.  Between her sad life, remembering how horses have suffered so much in war, and the woman's  love for one of the horses in the film (called Abraham), I went through several soggy tissues.

www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/michael-morpurgo/war-horse.htm

I am a bit torn about seeing the film though.  Movies about horses make me very sad, and just now I am trying to remain happy.  Don't get me wrong - it's not that I am unaffected by the terrible consequences of war on people, it's just that horses are my Achilles' Heel.

[rosemarykaye]

Roshanarose - I could not possibly watch War Horse, even though I know it's said to be wonderful.  I haven't even ever read Black Beauty.  Like you, I want to keep my spirits up - it's not that I don't know all these things happened, I just don't want to read about them.  Maybe I was traumatised by Bambi 

Rosemary

[Babi]

 Oh, dear, ROSEMARY.  You would not like the TV show, "Animal Planet" at
all.  It's based on the work of the SPCA, and shows the actual work taking
place. I like to see the animals gotten out of bad situations, treated, fed,
healed, comforted and found new homes.  BUT, seeing the situations they
come out of can be shocking, even horrendous.  It's hard to believe people
can be so ignorant, or callous.  And the homes of the hoarders...they aren't fit for people, never mind pets.  Some of them are beyond salvage; they can
only be condemned.

[rosemarykaye]

Babi - we have something called Animal Hospital, presented by Rolf Harris - it shows you the work of the RSPCA (I think, haven't seen it for a while).  I don't actually find that so bad to watch, because most of the cases do have good outcomes.  In one of the episodes, an RSPCA officer found a Staffordshire bull terrier (the yobs' dog du choix at the moment) locked up in a cupboard under the stairs of a block of flats - she only found the dog because other people complained about the barking.  When they scanned the dog it had been microchipped - they traced the owner, who turned out to be a very nice lady from whom the dog had been stolen.  She lived alone and had some health problems, but was able to look after the dog fine.  To see the two of them reunited was just wonderful, you certainly could tell that the dog had a happy home.

It is truly terrible what some people do to children and animals.   I also feel very strongly that some dog breeders are very much to blame, in selling these poor Staffies to such dreadful people.  I wish the RSPCA had more powers to punish them.

Rosemary

[pedln]

Wow, sometimes I think I've been living under a rock.  Until now had never heard of War Horse, didn't know it was a book by M Murdago(?)  and it was a play that got FIVE Tonys and now it's a Steven Spielburg film.  Has it been released in the US?

The reviews at Netflix are fascinating, a variety of comments, including one like yours, Rosemary, with reference to Black Beauty.  Too sad.  Another read the book 25 times.  Another comment that children who like horses should NOT see this film.  I'll add it to my queue, but no doubt it will be a while before the DVD turns up.

[Tomereader1]

Yes, pedlin, "War Horse" is a book, I downloaded it to my Kindle, but haven't finished reading it (got so many more I'm trying to read!).  It was also that wonderful Broadway Play (CBS Sunday Morning did a piece on it and how they made the (I will say "Puppets" but they're not, they are life-sized, with men inside who do all the walking/etc.; made with metal framework and leather) beautiful to behold them working, but also sad as they portrayed the "bad" parts too, you could see how they slogged thru mud on the battlefields, etc.  I would love to see that show live.  I will be going to see the movie when it comes out!

[PatH]

Pedln, is there room under your rock for me?

[CallieOK]

I saw the "trailers" for the War Horse movie recently - not something I want to see, either.  Scenes are just too graphic these days.   I didn't know the back story.

[PatH]

Now I'm remembering I saw the NYT description of the play, and the clever costuming and staging.  I'd forgotten the name.  It was really impressive, but left me feeling it might be too strong for me.

[Frybabe]

I just saw the trailer for the WhiteChapel series. It will start airing on October 26 on BBC America. It revolves around someone recreating the Jack the Ripper murders and the police who are trying to catch the killer. Looks like it ran in the UK in 2009 and 2010. It stars Rupert Penry-Jones who you might remember from the lead in the recent TV Movie (I believe PBS aired it, if I am not mistaken), 39 Steps.

[Babi]

 There are laws in the States now imposing various fines,ROSEMARY, and even imprisonment for
proven cruelty. The difficulty often lies in proving intent when it comes to cruelty.
It may have been sheer ignorance. Then, aside from the laws concerning care of animals,
activities like cockfighting and dogfighting are illegal in most States and carry much
heavier penalties.

[pedln]

Yes, Babi, like one of the pro football players who spent 18 months in prison for dogfighting. Apparently he is now an animal welfare activist.  One would hope so.

Just saw somewhere, Season 2 of Downton Abbey begins Jan. 8th.  Guess I'll refresh my memory a bit and view at least a few of the episodes -- from Netflix.

I'm  not familiar with the WhiteChapel TV series.  Is it historical (time of Jack the R) or set in modern times?  Oops -- just checked Netflix -- modern.  DVDs not yet available.

Poetry lovers might be interested in a Korean film, Poetry.  Watching it was kind of like watching paint dry, but still caring about the characters and wanting to know was going to happen.  A grandmother who is beginning to "lose words" decides to take a poetry class to enhance her life. The film moves between class sessions and the woman's everyday life as she works as a maid and cares for an obnoxious, troubled teenage grandson.

[JoanK]

PEDLIN: that sounds interesting. Life in the slow lane -- I know it well!

[pedln]

Where is everybody?  Been watching playoffs?  Now the series?  I may have to watch the Cardinals beat the Rangers tonight.  At least for part of the game.

Last night I started a Japanese film -- Yasujiro Ozu's: Good Morning  Set in suburban Tokyo in the 1950's. Two young boys nag their parents to get a TV until they are finally told to be quiet. They take the order seriously and adopt a vow of silence, which causes all kinds of problems at home and in the community. Also shows the effects of gossip and misunderstandings among the residents.

Was it here that someone first mentioned The Hour?  It's a TV series?  BBC?  It's a mystery about a BBC News Team in London in the 1950s, including murder, hanky-panky and class differences.  I've just watched the first three episodes and immediately put the next three at the top of my queue.  A really good show.  Does anyone know, is the new season currently showing on TV?

Do any of you have problems keeping characters straight or differentiating the different characters.  I'm running into that with the housewives in Good Morning -- they seem to look alike, but I also have the same problem with US or British films when there are say, two tall, dark and handsome male characters.

[rosemarykaye]

Pedln - I invariably get characters in films muddled up, so many of them look almost the same to me.  It's even worse in some radio plays, the voices are just so similar. 

Rosemary

[PatH]

Me too.

[marcie]

Me too. It must be some kind of ploy for directors to have cast members look alike. It sure is confusing.

Pedln, I recently watched the first season of THE HOUR on BBC America. It was great. The actors were all wonderful. I'm looking forward to more.

BBC America has some good shows. Others I've watched/am watching include Torchwood, Law & Order: UK and Luther. Primeval Season 5 premiers Saturday, November 12. Frybabe, WhiteChapel sounds like another potential good one.

[Babi]

 Thanks for mentioning Primeval, MARCIE.  Val and I enjoy that one.