Author Topic: Movies & Books Into Movies  (Read 592107 times)

marcie

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3400 on: July 30, 2013, 05:27:48 PM »
How many of you have read a book,
then watched a movie that was based on that same book?

Were you disappointed?
Or elated that they hadn't made any significant changes?
Or even surprised to discover the movie was even better than the book?



Join us in an ongoing discussion of this very popular subject 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


marcie

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3401 on: July 30, 2013, 05:27:59 PM »
I've enjoyed the first season of Doc Martins. He reminds me of the Hugh Laurie character on "House" (though not as good looking)   ;)
 It's interesting that he was a successful surgeon until he developed the phobia about blood.

Martin clunes is somewhat odd looking, especially with the short hair cut. I would think, from his face, that he would have a pudgy torso but he looks quite slim in the suit that he always wears on the show. I do like the way he plays his character and I like the show. I've now ordered season 2 from the library. Thanks to everyone who recommended it.


marcie

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3402 on: July 30, 2013, 05:32:42 PM »
Marge re your list of British shows:

DOCTOR WHO  (8.7/10)
SPOOKS  (aka M15)  (7.8/10)
LUTHER  (8.5/10)
SKINS   (8/10)
LIFE ON MARS  (8.2/10)
SHERLOCK   (9.2/10
SHAMELESS   (8.4/10)
THE HOUR   (7.3/10)

I've watched a few episodes of Dr. Who but can't seem to get into the series. I might have to start from the beginning.

I really like "Luthur" (VERY edgy) and Sherlock and I like The Hour too. The acting on all of them is excellent.

I haven't seen the others.


marcie

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3403 on: July 30, 2013, 05:38:01 PM »
The White Queen, based on a trilogy by Philippa Gregory is coming to STARZ TV on August 10. It's being tauted for its emphasis on the role of women in history but hasn't gotten very good reviews. I'm going to check it out for myself.
http://www.starz.com/originals/thewhitequeen

ginny

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3404 on: July 31, 2013, 09:52:18 AM »
Yes Martin Clunes is such an interesting looking person, they almost make him look homely with his hair cut. I keep thinking who would look good with that hair cut and it exposes his ears mercilessly.  I did notice early on the back lighting on those ears which make them even more prominent, they almost have a red  neon glow and attraction  of their own, especially in the first couple of years. It's almost as if they are trying to make him look severe and unattractive.

But offscreen he apparently favors a different look:





I don't think he'll ever be a Clark Gable tho.

I also noticed the slimness in the suit which does not seem to be the case in Season 5 when in his PJ's, but put on the suit,  and it's interesting.  I need a suit like that. hahahaa Possibly all that running up and down those paths in the show, and all those innumerable takes kept him slim.

I am in the last bit of Season 5 now, can't stop watching it and since  they just filmed  Season 6 a month ago, I figure it will take, possibly, a while to get over here.  I'm not sure I'm as enamored of the new cast additions in Season 5 as I could be, but I sure hate to see it end. One keeps hoping that somehow Louisa can break down his protective armor, that's one reason  I keep watching, in hope. :)

 

ginny

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3405 on: July 31, 2013, 10:19:08 AM »
Here's a true story about that little town, called Portwenn on the show and Port Isaac in real life. We stayed there, I keep saying a week but it was 11 days before the show was filmed and it was quite an experience. I believe you can see Doyden House,  the house we rented from the National Trust in some of the breakaway photos of the cliffs, in the distance, because of the folly/little castle type thing: the two buildings have a distinct appearance.

The first night everybody in our party wanted to go INTO Port Isaac and eat dinner. I didn't feel like getting dressed after such a long trip,  so I stayed behind and ate at the house. They came back raving over the food and how we must all go the next night. So I went.  The little restaurant was slap  right on that cove and I think it's the same one with the blackboard outside sometimes shown in the older episodes, but am not sure. I  know you had to wait while they brought up the catch and that's what they cooked, and there were only a couple of tables inside.

So anyway I sat down on on of those benches shown overlooking the cove, waiting for them to decide what they would cook that day,  and after a minute up came a man and said, are you feeling better?  And I said what? And he said I hope you are feeling better and left. And then here came two more who looked like fishermen with the same inquiry and  that started a regular parade of folks, some in twos and some alone, some looking exactly like some of the "characters" in the series do, all hoping I "felt better."   It was like one of those Avenger movies, the old ones with Mr. Steed. One sat down and we conversed quite a while on his own stomach problems, and possible remedies, happily.

And here I am, having grown up in the big cities of the urban North in the US,  where you don't converse with perfect strangers who approach you strangely  on the street asking personal questions.   There seemed to be a LOT  of very nice  people passing by, and a great number of them were inquiring over my health. Since I felt fine and at the time was walking/jogging  9 miles a day, I couldn't understand it, and when we took a seat inside, the friendly inquiries  continued from the wait staff.

Seeing the look on my face, my friends explained that.. the previous night, for some chatty reason they had felt compelled to explain who they were and  my absence,  and,  to explain  why I was not there, they had said I felt sick.

I think of that sometimes, fondly, because  it does show the small village character of the place as it once was, which was kind of extraordinary,  and charming. It also points out Agatha Christie's observations about life in a small village.


marcie

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3406 on: July 31, 2013, 10:10:12 PM »
Ginny, what a GREAT story! It fits perfectly with the Doc Martin series. It's wonderful that you visited that interesting little town.

LOL re the lighting of his ears in early episodes.

ginny

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3407 on: August 01, 2013, 08:06:10 PM »
:) Thank you. .

I was reading an article on Martin Clunes yesterday and somebody asked him what kind of a father he thought Doc Martin would be and he said "Appalling." hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa I know there's a redemption coming.  I can't wait for you all to finish the series, so we can discuss some stuff!!!

MaryPage

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3408 on: August 01, 2013, 08:42:45 PM »
I think the character Clunes plays, Doc Martin, is extremely endearing, and I base that on my experience of watching a boy grow up from age 0 to now in his twenties, the son of a dear friend's daughter (in other words, her grandson) who was diagnosed with Asperger's when he was 4.  I think Doc Martin has Asperger's, or something very close.  In short, he is an extremely intelligent savant, with absolutely no people skills or understanding of how to have them.  He does CARE, but that is all.
I just adore it and really crack up when he tells people the absolute truth in situations where nornally no one would feel they COULD do so!
As for his suits, I have often watched him striding down the village streets and thought how expensive those suits he wears are.  They are extremely well tailored and most definitely NOT off the rack!

marcie

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3409 on: August 01, 2013, 11:52:07 PM »
Yes, it seemed to me too that he does have something like Asperger's. In the last episode of season 1, his not-quite "girlfriend" kicks him out of the taxi when he diagnoses her, after their first kiss, with bad breath!

ginny

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3410 on: August 02, 2013, 07:22:25 AM »
? I am trying to recall seeing Doc Martin kiss anybody in the first season. :) Are we watching the same program? I'll have to watch that episode again.

It's entirely possible that something is wrong with my disks and I may be missing some key episodes. Apparently I am because I am at the end of Season 5 and  there has certainly not been a marriage that others have said they won't mention for fear of spoiling the plot, and I thought I saw that Season 6, coming up, is supposed to settle that question once and for all.

I wonder if I have some kind of bootlegged DVD's here.

 

MaryPage

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3411 on: August 02, 2013, 09:56:43 AM »
I remember well the episode Marcie mentions.  It is obvious that Louisa is pleased that he kisses her;  in fact, she has been maneuvering to have exactly that happen.  And it is all a surprise and a delight to him, but he says the first thing that pops into his mind, just exactly as Marcie reports!  And we should, and do, feel sorry for her, but I felt even sorrier for him because he never has a clue what he did wrong!  And the poor man really adores her and wants everything to be RIGHT and lovely!

JeanneP

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3412 on: August 02, 2013, 07:33:58 PM »
As a person.  Does he have the biggest ears.  Not seen him since season 5 but It seems to stick in my mind that he does.

ginny

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3413 on: August 03, 2013, 11:29:26 AM »
Not as big as Prince Charles, who manages to conceal his by his haircut. Of course they don't film him lit from behind all the time, either. They are tryiing to call attention to the ears here by the severe hair cut,  combed forward: it's obvious in real life you'd not notice them at all or think them odd.  It's hard for men with that really short  hair. We have a woman celebrity in the US whose ears are bigger than anybody I've ever seen but you'd never  know it. And you'd be surprised who it is.

Asperger's Syndrome.  The disease du jour. A few years ago it was ADD and hyper kids.   Here's an interesting article on it from a British Medical Journal written by  a British  physician who has been diagnosed with it. Strangely enough I don't see the "we" thing in Doc Martin, which apparently is one of the major signs?

http://www.aspergertechnical.org.uk/index.php?page=news/aspergerdoctor.html

I'm not questioning anybody's personal experience with Asberger's nor the symptoms they pick up, but I'm  seeing something else in the Doc. He may have some of the traits, he may not. A lot of surgeons seem an awful lot like him. I think his rudeness is exaggerated for effect and I expect a change. I thought... I can't talk about series 5 till everybody has seen it.  I have a real problem with labels on people because they act in a particular way, tho. May be just me.

ginny

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3414 on: August 03, 2013, 09:12:10 PM »
Oh I SAW the kissing episode! You are absolutely right,  and it's hilarious. And I am so grateful to you for mentioning it because somehow it seems I have missed an entire disk of episodes!!!!!  I  have a very strange set of DVD's. They don't agree with my DVD player and they skip around  and jump about, and apparently I never even SAW this disk at all, but went right to the 2nd season!! So I've put them now on another DVD player.

Oh and when she puts him out of the taxi, and he starts across the field toward Port Isaac, I've been there! And done that! He's going toward the  coastal walk which is pretty well known tho he's going across to it thru the high grasses or whatever they are,  and it's a heck of a walk and a lot farther than it looks! We called it "Hell Walk." hahahah Nearly killed us all. That road ran right TO where we stayed, and the coastal path (I wish I could think of the interesting name it had) WAS a path and a well walked one too.

He'd have been a  lot better to keep to the road, in the  long run it's a lot shorter and more direct. What memories that brings back.

I am SO glad I found out I missed it. I'm going to start again from the beginning and watch them in order.

marcie

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3415 on: August 04, 2013, 12:46:20 PM »
I'm glad you found your lost episodes, Ginny. It should be interesting to watch all the episodes again. I'm still waiting in line for Season 2 from my library.

That must be fun to have visited the locations in Doc Martin. You've got your own memories to bring to the series.

MaryPage

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3416 on: August 04, 2013, 12:55:04 PM »
What fun for you that you have actually been there and done that.

When you have finished the series, THEN tell me Martin is not strangled with some version of autism.  Brilliant beyond belief (wait til you see him save the life of a woman he does not even LIKE, and against the diagnosis of other doctors!), but almost totally unable to deal with people in an ordinary conversational sort of way.  Also, he thinks if he tells people the TRUTH, they will be glad of it!  Woo hoo, he hasn't a CLUE!

When that pharmacist who is smitten with him goes off her rocker and he has to listen to his Auntie (Joan is dead by now, and it is the other one, played by that marvelous actress, Eileen Atkins) who is a psychologist, and try to convince Mrs. Tishell that he returns her adoration, he is actually full of smarts enough to play the actor and he pulls out of himself the true feelings he has for LOUISA and expresses them to whatshername, Mrs. Tishell.

JeanneP

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3417 on: August 04, 2013, 07:19:26 PM »
Well tonight I don't have to pick what going to watch on PBS at 8pm.  Can now watch "Unforgettable" PBS is showing Peirot X1. For some reason I just don't like that show. He drives me crazy just the way he is. He plays the part well but not for me.

I have watched 4 hours so far of a very good BBC Police show.  Almost as good as "Morse" its called "Midsummer Murders" I had never heard of it before. Got 4 Disc on this set.

 50.129.97.210

JeanneP

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3418 on: August 04, 2013, 07:23:07 PM »
Rosemary will know it.  It seems like it is based around a Village. Not large like Oxford.
Think maybe this village name is "Midsummer". Would like to know which Village in UK it was filmed in.  Not up my area of the North because of all the thatched Roofs.

They are from a Author's books. Caroline Graham.  Not heard of her either. Written quite a few. I am going to see if I can find any in Large Print.

MaryPage

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3419 on: August 04, 2013, 07:51:23 PM »
Oh! Oh! Oh!
There is a brand new, beyond excellent show on BBC AMERICA called Broadchurch.  Starring DAVID TENNANT.
As far as I am concerned, David Tennant did the best Hamlet I have ever seen.  Yes, he beat Kenneth Branaugh, who I think beat Laurence Olivier.  And he has the MOST adorable Scottish accent and is handsome to boot.  Plus the show is really great.  Try the first show on YouTube or by googling it or on ON DEMAND.  Simply too marvelous.

Jeanne, Midsomer has a whole lot of different villages in it.  I have been watching that series for years and years and own a lot of the DVDs, though not all of them.


http://www.itv.com/midsomermurders/

Frybabe

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3420 on: August 05, 2013, 07:51:03 AM »
Holy Cow! I didn't realize Midsomer Murders is still running. I haven't seen any in years. I'll have to see if I can find any of them.

jeriron

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3421 on: August 05, 2013, 09:19:48 AM »
I have Midsomer Murders too but not the early ones because the discs have no captions.  I stopped buying them when Barnaby left and his cousin took over.

MaryPage

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3422 on: August 05, 2013, 09:34:13 AM »
Does it strike your memory as well that Midsomer seemed to have no end of villages?  I mean, it was Midsomer This and Midsomer That and Midsomer The Other.  All looked alike to me!

jeriron

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3423 on: August 05, 2013, 10:18:32 AM »
Me too.  and there were an awful amount of deaths for a supposedly small village

JeanneP

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3424 on: August 05, 2013, 03:49:40 PM »
Yes.in the one I watched last night on "midsummer " there were 4murders. Solved them all. I was brought up in village. Never a crime. We weren't all rich I guess .

Frybabe

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3425 on: August 05, 2013, 06:45:40 PM »
Quote
and there were an awful amount of deaths for a supposedly small village

I was just thinking something similar about the Kate Sugak series that Dana Stabenow writes. Seems to me there can't be that many people living in the park area. There were nine murders in book two (10 if you count an unborn child). Of course she could branch out to other areas, and there are always the tourists, hikers, and hunters from "outside". I'm in the cue for book three at the Library; they don't have book four at all; book five is an audio CD only. Stabenow is up to 19 Kate Sugak books.

Since the library has the Liam ?? series also, so I want to read it too.

pedln

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3426 on: August 06, 2013, 10:37:27 AM »
I recently watched a Midsommer film for the first time in years -- yes, jeriron, the caption thing. It just seemed a bit insipid.  Maybe too gentle.

Am now waiting for Disc 4 (the last) of House of Cards.  I'm enjoying it.  Kevin Spacey doesn't come across as evil as Ian Richardson, but he is one mean, nasty character. Cold-blooded, too, who will get his way no matter what.  His wife and his flunky (Stamper) are two characters I find most interesting -- are they villains or victims?

Today Morning Joe interviewed author Joseph FInder and leading man Liam Hemsworth, of the book and movie Paranoia.  Has anyone read or seen it -- about corporate espionage?  That brought to mind an oldie -- Michael Crichton's  Rising Sun -- book and film.

Yesterday I started watching Death at a Funeral and got totally caught up in it.  What a hoot.  I laughed all the way through it.

Tomereader1

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3427 on: August 06, 2013, 11:42:05 AM »
Marilyne, I have read "Paranoia" when it was first out, and our Mystery Book Club is reading it for this month. I can't say that I enjoyed the book, seemed like a lot of technical/financial stuff going on, which can be deadly dull.  And I understand the producers have taken "great" liberties with the film.  Don't think I'll see it unless our group decides to go to the movie together.  From input so far, not a lot of the group is "enjoying" the book.
Guess I will have to put House of Cards on my Netflix queue. I watched Major Crimes last night and DVR'd "King and Maxwell" as well as last night's episode of "Under the Dome".  My story about "dome' is that I started the book as a tie-in to the TV movie and was kind of enjoying (?) it, but the first 2 episodes on TV they had changed up the story so much that it wasn't even close to what I had read.  Decided then I would just DVR and watch all of them later.  I mean, they had 13 hours of time, and they still changed, carved and sliced the book from it's, what? 900 pages? 600 pages?
The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.


André Maurois

marjifay

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3428 on: August 06, 2013, 01:27:05 PM »
I read Joseph Finder's PARANOIA in 2004.  I gave it a 5/5 rating.  Have liked several other of his books.  Didn't know there was a movie of it. Will look for it.

Marj
"Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill."  Barbara Tuchman

Tomereader1

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3429 on: August 06, 2013, 02:18:25 PM »
The movie is just now coming out, maybe in theatres on Friday?  I liked his other books, too but this one didn't do it for me.
The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.


André Maurois

MaryPage

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3430 on: August 06, 2013, 02:59:33 PM »
I watched Major Crimes and King & Maxwell last night, as well.  I love these 2 crime shows because they are funny.  The old folks in the Major Crimes episode were a hoot and a half.  What IS the name of that oh so very well known actress who played the old blonde with the glasses?
And King & Maxwell is from the books by David Baldacci.  That Edgar is one of the funniest characters going.

Tomereader1

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3431 on: August 06, 2013, 04:30:14 PM »
The old blond with glasses played Raymond's mother on "Everybody Loves Raymond".  Also,
Happy Days star (name please?).  The tall black gentleman who was playing such a gay role, what was his name, and what was he in? 

Just love Edgar in King/Maxwell!!!
The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.


André Maurois

MaryPage

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3432 on: August 06, 2013, 05:38:19 PM »
I knew I knew her, just could not place from where or the name.  I have never seen that Raymond show, but I have seen her in a lot of things.  As for the other old folk, and there were 4 of them, I think I have seen them all in eons past, but cannot place them.  Nice of the show to give these ancients a chance to strut their stuff again.  Did last night's plot remind you just a bit of Murder On The Orient Express?

salan

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3433 on: August 06, 2013, 05:58:15 PM »
The tall black gentleman used to be on Barney Miller.  It was good to see all those older stars coming together.
Sally

Tomereader1

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3434 on: August 06, 2013, 07:00:31 PM »
The Barney Miller guy is Ron Glass.  The Happy Days actress is Marion Ross.  Everybody Loves Raymond - Doris Roberts.  We all know Tim Conway.  Now the other older gentleman, I have no idea what show he's from.  He's been in a lot of TV series.
The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.


André Maurois

MaryPage

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3435 on: August 06, 2013, 08:08:01 PM »
Doris Roberts!  That's the name!
She was great.
Didn't you get the feeling they were having a LOT of fun?

JeanneP

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3436 on: August 06, 2013, 08:18:31 PM »
Marion Ross. Still has that Red Hair.  Maybe redder now.  Looked good.

maryz

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3437 on: August 06, 2013, 08:43:11 PM »
We recorded Major Crimes and just watched it.  The other guy was Paul Dooley.  He's been in lots of things - just can't think of any right now.

We like this show even more now.  There's no way they'd have done this type show when it was The Closer.  We laughed out loud.
"When someone you love dies, you never quite get over it.  You just learn how to go on without them. But always keep them safely tucked in your heart."

Frybabe

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3438 on: August 07, 2013, 09:52:05 AM »
While looking for (and finding) Midsomer Murders I ran across The Last Detective starring Peter Davison. I watched the first one, almost turning it off after 10 or 15 minutes. I stuck with it because first episodes are often a little weak as they try to introduce and establish the leading characters. It got more interesting as the program progressed. Davison's character is somewhat hangdog and depressed. He appears unsuccessful in job advancement, he has no ambition to be more successful, is picked on by his co-workers, his boss dumps all the uninteresting and mundane cases on him, and he and his wife are divorcing   (she has custody of the dog). I am not sure how many of them I can stand to watch if he doesn't perk up some.

ginny

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Re: Movies & Books Into Movies
« Reply #3439 on: August 07, 2013, 02:52:01 PM »
OH my word! Ok I've just watched the last episode of  Doc Martin. I promise I won't say one more thing, about staying there, but I just  have to say this. You know how I've been going on about staying in Port Isaac?  Well the last episode is filmed at the "Castle," which is Doyden "Castle" which is part of the property of Doyden House, where we stayed!!!!

I couldn't believe my eyes.  I KNEW that was it in those long shots over the cliffs!    Doyden House which is not visible in the shots, they were very careful to leave  out,  (and it took some doing) but the "Castle" is as close to Doyden House  as our barn is to me typing this.  You had to go thru the gates of Doyden House and pull up to it to get to the  Castle. There's a dirt track to it.  You can't park at the Castle, but you can stay long enough to unload, and then you have to park your car at Doyden House, so they are very connected.

 Watching the last episode is  as good as staying there, you can see the view and the cliffs, oh man!!!  And that view that the two of them have looking out to the left IS the view we had from our kitchen window: magic.

I forgot whoever said I should watch this program, but I sure thank them, because not only do I love the show but this is just too much of a coincidence!!!  hahahaa