Movies & Books Into Movies

[JeanneP]

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.
Pull up a chair, take off your shoes, pour yourself a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, and join in!

Your Discussion Leader: pedln

JoanK.

Do you enjoy going to the movies with a group?  Seem like years when working we did a lot of things with a group but now I like to just either just one to see a movie and that is is we are having either lunch or dinner first.
My best time now is to go to a 1pm show middle of week and then very few people are attending.  I have my favourite seat. Most people have to go close to screen and I am very far sighted and have to go far back to Back row. Was hard to get others to do that.

[maryz]

I've gone with a group, but I like to go by myself.  And like you, I'm far sighted and want to sit in the back row.  Also there's nobody behind you to talk or kick your seat.  The 4 p.m. movie in our area is the cheap, lightly attended showing.

[marjifay]

I saw Hugo (In 3D) yesterday.  The cinematography and special effects were magnificent.  Set in beautiful Paris.  But we thought the story itself was kind of boring and dragged along a bit too much.  If it had not been in 3D, we'd probably have walked out about half way through.  (But I'm sure we're in the minority -- it rated 8.2/10 at Internet Movie Database website.)

We're trying to see all the Oscar nominated films.  So far, Midnight in Paris is our favorite.

Marj

[Babi]

It's like herding turtles.

  JOANK

 

[JoanK]

Since i'm in a wheelchair, I have to sit in the wheelchair row, which is further toward the front than I like. I feel like the movie characters are looming over me. The idea of those huge TV screens they have now gives me the willies!

But I'm lucky they HAVE a wheelchair row.

[roshanarose]

I am curious about the cost of seeing a movie for a senior in the US/Uk/NZ.  

I joined the DENDY Club yesterday and it only costs $7.50 per movie.  I can also take a friend who will only have to pay $7.50 as well.  In Australia this is a pretty good deal, that's why I am curious as to what seniors pay in other lands.

JoanK - we say "like herding cats".  No less problematic than herding turtles, only with a lot more action

[maryz]

roshanarose, the cheapest showing for movies in our area is from 4-6 p.m., all ages for $4.00.  That's cheaper than their usual senior rate (I don't know what that is).

[rosemarykaye]

I have looked up the prices for The Filmhouse, a popular independent cinema in Edinburgh.  They are:

Matinees:  £5.60 full price. £3.60 concessions (over 60s, students, etc)

Evenings: £7.50 and £5.50

I converted these prices to US dollars as:

$8.85/$5.69

$11.86/$8.69

The evening prices at the Odeon in central Edinburgh (this is a chain) are £8.55/£6.90.

Now that I live out in the country, I rarely see a cinema film, as by the time you have added a £6.60 rail fare (or the diesel for the car) on, it is not a cheap outing.  However, many of the local villages around here do show films once a month or so in village halls, etc - obviously there is not the choice that you get in town, and the films they show are older than the new releases, but I think it's a great idea and I intend to support it.    Mostly if we want to see a film we watch it on TV or get the DVD from the library.

Rosemary

[Tomereader1]

Most of the larger chains are $6.00 matinee.  On Tuesdays, $5.00.

Joan, the Regal Cinema chain (multiplex) here has at least one of the screens with an upstairs section (you take the elevator up) and it has space for at least two wheelchairs, and two regular seats on either end,  for whoever accompanies you.  My friend who uses the "Lark-type" elec. cart and her hubby use this area, and I can sit with them if there are no others with carts/chairs, when we see the Met Opera Live in HD.  It is wonderful...way up, but perfect view, great sound, but not overly loud (during the opera).

[mabel1015j]

As a senior i paid $8.50 for the matinee, altho i could have gotten groupon tickets fir $6.00. I too am farsighted and like sitting toward the back, when my friends and i went on Mon, 2 of us sat further back than the other three and yes it is hard to get us together, seems we would have an easier time finding a time since none of us are "working", but some of us are just as busy as ever......

[JoanK]

My daughter gets all kinds of special deal tichets: otherwise it would be about $8.50. Here, there is a wheelchair row about a third of the way back: blank spaces for the wheelchair with seats next so I can sit with whoever I came with. But I rarely go anymore.

I like "herding cats". Much more lively.

[PatH]

And even harder to catch for herding.

[roshanarose]

  Absolutely.  Ohh those cats!  Last night I dreamed that their were four adorable lion cubs (the size of kittens) on a corner of one of the busiest intersection in my city.  The interesting thing was that they had an acacia tree to climb on and check out when it was safe to cross the road to buy some sushi

Thanks everyone for the information about cinema prices in your areas.  I sometimes wish I didn't have to be such a nitpicker about money matters, but since I gave up work I have to be.

The Australian dollar is currently enjoying near parity with the American dollar.  As for the English pound, I think it will be higher in value for a long time to come.  I bet the Brits are congratulating themselves on never having taken on the Euro.  The Greeks believe that they would be better off with the drachma now.  Not saying that their financial woes would have been any different though.  In 2004 when I visited Greece they were all appalled by what the Olympics had cost, and all I spoke to about the Euro wanted the Drachma back.  Είναι αύτη η ζωή.  ie C'est la Vie.

[Babi]

 ROSEMARY, again you have raised up an old memory. Back during WWII, we lived in a 'village' established for workers at a torpedo plant. They would have movies on occasion at the community center. I think admittance was probably a nickel, or maybe a dime, and the films were mostly for the children. I was about five, and this was my wondrous introduction to film.

 ROSAHANA, you do have interesting dreams! Lion cubs, trying to cross the street to buy sushi!  I would love to sit down with you and try to untangle that one!
  I thought countries competed to hold the Olympics, because it brought
in so much income.  In addition to the honor, of course. Does anyone know whether the Olympics really help or harm the local economies?  Or was the Greek event perhaps poorly managed?

[JeanneP]

Our ticket prices are for seniors  $5 if before 6pm.   Now if a special one that additional $2.50

No I like the idea that is up where my friends live in Yorkshire UK.  On a Wednesday afternnoon Senior showing are 3 pounds but they get coffee and biscuits served. Nice.

Now our theatres (Most of the 15). We have wheelchair openings at both ends of the rows for about the Back row forward about 8 rows.  I think it has gotten to be a Law in our County.  When it comes to serving people with disabilities  our city was voted no one.  Our University also . amazing how much we have done last 10 years.

[JoanK]

" I sometimes wish I didn't have to be such a nitpicker about money matters," Tell me about it! I think most of us Seniors in this country are in that situation.

Here in the US, laws about the handicapped are often (not always) state laws. I found out the differences when I moved from Maryland (DC area) to California. There, I always had to call ahead to find out if someplace was wheelchair accessable, and half the time when they said it was, when I got there, it wasn't. Handicapped parking places always had non-handicappeed cars in them.

Here in Southern California, I can go anywhere whithout calling, and have never been turned away. And never seen a car without a placard in a handicapped space.

I think the difference is in enforcement, not in the laws themselves.

[roshanarose]

babi - I have always had strange and vivid dreams.  I often dream about snakes and lions in particular.  The Indians say it is good luck if a snake bites you in your dream, I think Freud says it is a sign of sex/sexual frustration.  Others say snakes symbolize enemies.  I haven't check out the symbolism of lions yet.  That's why I like Plato's quote below.  My waking life is a whole lot less interesting than my dreams

babi - I have also done a bit of a whip-around on the Internet to see if the Olympics were part of Athens' financial catastrophe.  Indeed they were/are:

"2004 Athens Olympics cost nearly $11 billion by current exchange rates, double the initial budget. And that figure that does not include major infrastructure projects rushed to completion at inflated costs. In the months before the games, construction crews worked around the clock, using floodlights to keep the work going at night.

In addition, the tab for security alone was more than $1.2 billion."

The Athens Olympics was one of the biggest games regarding the number of competitors.  Housing them would have been very costly.

Many of the Ancient cities and sites were spruced up for the huge influx of Olympics' visitors.  Towns like Marathon and Olympia were but two of these.

A new Airport was built, also a new Metro (fabulous), a new bypass highway, and a new transit and light rail system to shuttle people from one Olympic venue to another. 

But, even with this huge expense, many pundits say that the Olympics were just a part of Greece's financial crisis.  It is difficult to find out exactly what WAS.  One hears all kinds of stories, but the media is not to be believed on this matter, evidently.

[Babi]

 ROSE, my suspicious mind can't help thinking that fiasco indicates
either very poor management, OR, some people have gotten much richer off the whole thing.

[roshanarose]

babi - methinks you are so very right!

[rosemarykaye]

Well you can imagine how most people here feel about the ridiculous amount that the coming Olympics are costing us.  But you have only to open your mouth in comment and some politician will shoot you down in flames for being 'unpatriotic'.  As you say Roshanarose, it'll all be about somebody's profit.

Rosemary

[pedln]

Well, Netflix for three DVDs at a time is about $17 with tax, but my popcorn is cheaper, bathroom breaks are easier, and if I fall asleep they’ll let me in the next night for free.

JoanK, in spite of it all, I think we’ve come a long way with facilities for handicapped. Assistive listening in theatres, curbless sidewalks at intersections, lifts on buses – NY is great with this.  Years ago I read Journey by Robert & Suzanne Massie, about their son’s hemophilia. The public schools didn’t want him, nor did Radio City Music Hall want his wheelchair.

I came across this while looking for Time’s Dickens Top Ten List -- Time Magazine and Time Entertainment’s contest about the Best Oscars of All Times.  Beginning tomorrow you can vote each weekday for what you think  is the best Oscar.

Best Oscar Contest

What nominees have you all seen for this year?  I’m still waiting for The Help – Babi, have you returned it to Netflix? I’m going to write them and tell them that my friend from Texas got her copy almost a month ago.  

  Last night I finally got to see my first film from that long list of nominees, and was slightly shocked.  THIS – The Tree of Life – is an Oscar nominee for Best Picture?  If you’ve seen it, what’s your take?  I don’t know what I was expecting, but it is a very different kind of film. (Maybe I was getting it confused with another recent film – The Tree)  Afterwards I started reading reviews and it appears to be one of those films that people either love or hate.  I give it three Netflix stars – for like.  I didn’t dislike it, but didn’t love it either, and doubt that it will get the Best Picture Award.  Though  Terrence Malick could very well get one for Best Director.

Awards Night is three weeks from tonight.  Who and what is going to win?

[JoanK]

The Olympics have a spotty financial history: several of them have been  financially disasterous to the hosts. I remember years ago, when the US hosted one, just after one that had been particularly bad, and hearing about all the cost cutting of non-essential expenses (like not hiring celebraties) that were done to prevent this. I hope the English organizers have their eye on this.

[Babi]

 Good luck with that, PEDLN. Actually, I put my name on the list
as soon as I heard the book had been filmed. I've never heard of
"The Tree of Life".  But then, since the list goes back to 1923
there will probably be a good many I've never heard of.

[JoanK]

There was a wonderful program on PBS last night about the Underground Railroad. It was based on a book by an operater of one of the biggest stations in Philadelphia. He kept a journal of the people who pssed through, and their stories. This was a very dangerous thing to do: if it had been found, he and his fellow "conductors" would have been toast. After the Civil war, he published his notes as a book, which I was able to get for free on my kindle. William Still "The Underground Railroad"

[maryz]

Thanks, JoanK - I've just gotten that for my Kindle, too. 

[JoanK]

It's rough letters and journal notes, not a polished book, but it gives the feeling of the times. The story of the mother, who knew she could not escape with all of her four children and had to decide which ones to leave behind brought tears to my eyes.

[pedln]

Where is everyone?  It's been a while -- has anyone seen anything good recently?  How are you coming along with watching all the Award nominees, Marjifay?  

I found The Help online for $9, so snapped it up.  After reading the comments about movie theatre prices, it seemed to be just a tad more.  Hope it comes before the Awards

This morning I watched an interview with Max Von Sydow who is up for Best Supporting Actor in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.  His is a non-speaking part.  Has anyone seen this? The film itself sounds like a winner, is up for Best Picture, and is from a book.  von Sydow is 82 years old, is a French citizen and makes his home in Paris.  I didn't catch it all, but he said something about really being too busy to work much because of all the good books to read and films to see.  It sounds like he'd fit in well here.

Just realized I have Beginners here from Netflix, so tonight will watch Christopher Plummer who's also up for Best Supporting Actor.

[marjifay]

Hi Pedln -- I've seen about all the Oscar nominees I want to see except The Ides of March.  Was disappointed in Hugo (except for the 3D cinematography) and The Iron Lady.

Still want to see the foreign film nominee (from Iran), A Separation, which is supposed to be very good.

The best film I've seen lately was The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (American version).  Very good.  I'd read the book and also seen the French film version.  The gal who plays Lisbeth was excellent.  Christopher Plummer has a main role in this also --he's really busy for an old guy, isn't he?

Marj

[roshanarose]

marjifay - Your comment about Christopher Plummer reminded me of an old joke told by David Niven. My enduring memory of Christopher Plummer was in the play "Oedipus Rex".  He was so good.

David Niven was in the lift of a posh hotel in Paris.  He was going out to dinner and had preened himself accordingly, and thought that he looked rather spiffy.  The lift stopped to allow another guest in.  She was a very attractive brunette.  David gave her one of his most charming and disarming smiles.  She looked closer at him and gasped:  "Weren't you David Niven!"

[rosemarykaye]

 

[PatH]

Ouch.

[pedln]

Roshanarose   

Speaking of David Niven, years ago I read his memoir, The Moon's a Balloon. An interesting bit there showing some differences between UK English and the English slang in the US.  Niven was making arrangements to meet a woman for lunch or tennis or whatever, and said, "OK, I'll come by and knock you up."  Obviously there was a bit of a misunderstanding at first.

[JeanneP]

Pedlin.

Yes, I left many people with a gaping mouth when I first came to the US.  One of the 'Knock you up" expressions I had used for years without thinking anything wrong with it.
In my part of Lancashire they were still using that service way into the 1960s  My family use it daily as a child.

[roshanarose]

JeanneP - I just looked up Lancashire on Wiki and realised, not for the first time, how little I know about England.

Talking about misunderstandings with words, phrases etc., I was interested in seeeing the variety of foods and food names in the Lancashire entry.  I liked this one:

Fag Pie: pie made from chopped dried figs, sugar and lard. Associated with Blackburn and Burnley where it was the highlight of Fag Pie Sunday (Mid-Lent Sunday).

Maybe from faggot for a small piece of wood.  But in my younger years when I used to smoke (shock! horror!) and my cousin and I would retreat to the outside toilet to have a "fag" (a cigarette).  It now has other meanings, as I am sure you know.

[JeanneP]

Rochannerose.

Yes, Even thought England is such a small country.  It was amazing how little we knew about other counties.  Londoners to us in Lancashire were like foreigners.  Lancashire being pretty close to Scotland then we did know a little about them.  Why even we lancashire and Yorkshire were so different.
Now people travelled so much and TV came in showing everywhere.  Just not the same.
Now lookout though if at a Soccer Game.  Bitter enemy's

I don't hear them Mention Fag Pie and more. There are lots of special dishes that only seem to be known in Lancashire.  I still cook that way.

[pedln]

Roshannarose, --  from "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit BAg" -- which I learned as a little kid when my mother would sing it on long car trips.  -- "While you've a Lucifer to light your fag,  Smile, boys, that's the style."

[roshanarose]

JeanneP - My father was born in Bromsgrove, not too far from Birmingham.  He didn't remember anything about it as he and his family came to Australia when Dad was 4.  Dad still retained a bit of an accent, or rather pronunciation on different words.  He always said "orf" instead of "off", and "reesoles" instead of "rissoles".  What I like about England is that all the places are so close together in terms of travel time.  In Australia it is not like that at all.  Our cars get much more wear if we travel a lot.  For instance, if you want to drive from Sydney to Brisbane it is about a fourteen hour drive.  It should be really done in two days for comfort and safety.  I live in Brisbane, and if I want to visit a friend who lives on the other side of the city, the drive would take me about 2 hours+.  Set out early on a camel, we joke!

[roshanarose]

Just for You pedln   WWI Marching Song.

Pack up your Troubles

First Verse
Private Perks is a funny little codger
With a smile a funny smile.
Five feet none, he's and artful little dodger
With a smile a funny smile.
Flush or broke he'll have his little joke,
He can't be suppress'd.
All the other fellows have to grin
When he gets this off his chest, Hi!

Chorus (sung twice after each verse)
Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,
And smile, smile, smile,
While you've a lucifer to light your fag,
Smile, boys, that's the style.
What's the use of worrying?
It never was worth while, so
Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,
And smile, smile, smile.

Second Verse
Private Perks went a-marching into Flanders
With his smile his funny smile.
He was lov'd by the privates and commanders
For his smile his funny smile.
When a throng of Bosches came along
With a mighty swing,
Perks yell'd out, "This little bunch is mine!
Keep your heads down, boys and sing, Hi!

Third Verse
Private Perks he came back from Bosche-shooting
With his smile his funny smile.
Round his home he then set about recruiting
With his smile his funny smile.
He told all his pals, the short, the tall,
What a time he'd had;
And as each enlisted like a man
Private Perks said 'Now my lad,' Hi!

[Frybabe]

I just saw a blurb on the net that Judi Dench has macular degeneration. I am looking forward to seeing her in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Also in the cast are Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, and Tom Wilkinson.

[Babi]

 Judy, Maggie and Penelope in one movie?  I can't wait!!