Last Movie You Watched

[Damien the Leper]

No you don't.

Anyway, Star Trek Into Darkness was great. Not as good as the first, which I think had a stronger story, but still very good. Benedict Cumberbatch is, as usual, insanely good (and THAT VOICE of his, holy crap), and we do see a lot more emotion from Spock this time around. Tons of action too, a lot more than the first film, but not as much humor. And I'm not a huge Trekkie, but there are a few nods to the original series, like in the first film, that had even me smiling throughout.

I loved it.

[Tacenda]

Debating on going to "The Great Gatsby", I didn't like the first one with Robert Redford. Has anyone seen the new one? I'll probably go and check it out. Wish I could say I was a Trekkie or I'd be seeing the new Star Trek movie or a Hobbit fan and go see that one, I didn't read the book, but remember it being in the back pocket of guys in High School. What's wrong with me and my hubby, we can't get into Star Wars either. We have friends that are into those types of movies. I did like the Indiana Jones type movies. Not much, IMO, at the box office to see. We saw the movie Mud a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it, along with Safe Haven. Oh, and Iron Man 3 is supposed to be really awesome, but I can't seem to pull myself there, without my grandson, even though I know adults love this film! ETA: I liked "The Great Gatsby", my husband was falling asleep, but he does that all the time.

Edited May 19, 2013 by Tacenda

[altersteve]

You don't have to be a Trekkie to enjoy the new Star Trek movie, nor do you have to have seen the first one.

[thesometimesaint]

Saw Lincoln last night. Two thumbs up. :good:

We all know how it ends, but it still chokes me up.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Saw Lincoln last night. Two thumbs up. :good:

We all know how it ends, but it still chokes me up.

I have watched it four times now...it is great.

[Garden Girl]

I just watched Jack Reacher starring Tom Cruise... and have mixed feelings about it, although it was quite a good, fast-paced story. I found the way Cruise portrayed his character almost annoying... he played him as super cool, macho, etc., practically strutting when he walked...

There was lots of violence, but no profanity thank goodness (PG-13).

All in all, it was quite entertaining... I did notice that Cruise is starting to show his age (that happens... sigh)

GG

[altersteve]

I liked Cruise's performance in Jack Reacher. I enjoyed the humor he brought to the character. I was expecting more an action film, though, not a mystery/thriller. But I still enjoyed it.

[changed]

I watched "The Way" lastnight on Netflix:

For some reason the idea of taking a few months off, and walking across a country somewhere appeals to me - it's one of the things on my bucket list. This movie would bore children, but adults might like it.

[Stargazer]

Saw Iron Man 3 just about a week before last. I liked it! One of the few reviewers I trust, Michael Medved, did NOT give a good review of it, and while some of his points were well-taken (how much physical abuse can a human body take and still function, for example), but "muddled, mediocre movie" is not how I would characterize it. He insists that it is "tired and tawdry", the plot doesn't make sense, and the special effects are only occasionally impressive. We should avoid it, according to him.

But I beg to differ. First of all, what superhero plot makes any sense? Not to mention the almost complete and utter disregard of the laws of physics, IM-1, IM-2, The Avengers, and Thor, for example, all get good reviews, even from Medved, but NONE of them make any freaking sense. Asgard? Captain America and his unbelievable shield? And let's not leave out Dr. Bruce Banner and his good friend, The Hulk. O.M.G. Oh, yes, and whatever in the heck was anyone thinking when the radioactive spider bit geeky Peter Parker and turned him into Spider-man? NONE of these films make any sense whatsoever. You have to suspend a few tons of belief to get past any of them.

But once you do, and Iron Man 3 is no exception, the movie is a hoot. I greatly enjoyed it. It was fun.

[thesometimesaint]

If someone can't suspend reality and just go with the flow of the movie they are better off just staying home.

[Thunderfire]

I watched "Life of Pi" last night. Visually stunning is an understatement. It is one of the most beautifully filmed pictures I have ever seen, period!

[volgadon]

If someone can't suspend reality and just go with the flow of the movie they are better off just staying home.

Perhaps, but if the movie makers and actors can't persuade you to suspend reality and disbelief, then perhaps it is they who should go home.

[Calm]

I just saw Iron Man 3. I liked that it didn't feel like so much of a "suit" movie as the other ones. It would have been too repetitive. Other aspects that I thought were repeats were also new twists so it kept me involved rather than just waiting for the next scene as some too predictable movies do to me. Some aspects could have been developed more (I would like to have gotten a bit more involvement in the motivation of the villain, it seemed rather lame just as it was) but if the movie was too much longer, it would have been too long imo and sacrifices must be made as if they filled in all the possible background and implications it would take as long as it would to watch in 'real time' (as if people were really living it as opposed to the highly edited, speeded up, highly condensed version of life that movies are).

Edited May 28, 2013 by calmoriah

[Garden Girl]

Well, as most of you know from my posts here, I'm an "oldie but goodie" gal, because of the depth of the stories and characters ... yesterday I watched "The Best Years of Our Life" starring Myrna Loy and Frederic March... a story about several servicemen and their return from war and adjusting to their life situations.

But one favorite I want to recommend is "Zandy's Bride" starring Gene Hackman and Liv Ulman... she plays a mail order bride from the east (Scandanavian immigrant), who comes to the Big Sur country of early California... a beautiful but wild and rugged area of the northern California coast. "Zandy", (Hackman) is trying to build a ranch and sends for her so he can have sons and leave a legacy. But Zandy is just as rugged as the countryside with only the example of his parents' marriage... a marriage and family dominated by a harsh, controlling father.

Of course Zandy behaves in a similar manner... until... until she starts to tame him and they finally begin to build a life together...

GG

[thesometimesaint]

Perhaps, but if the movie makers and actors can't persuade you to suspend reality and disbelief, then perhaps it is they who should go home.

Some of the best movies are spoofs of earlier movies.

"Airplane" was a spoof of "Airport".

Edited May 28, 2013 by thesometimesaint

[EllenMaksoud]

Say what you thought about the film, who's in it, what's about, etc., and try to include the rating and the reason for its rating in your review so that the parents here can be informed about whether or not they should take their kids to go see it.

Last movie I saw was Warrior, for the third time. An amazing and intense film starring Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, and Nick Nolte about two brothers who enter a mixed martial arts tournament, both for a good reason, and their strained relationship with each other and with their father. The intense fight scenes and the acting are phenomenal. I strongly suggest watching it, even if you're not a fan of MMA (I'm not, and I still loved it), because the mixed martial arts fighting is not the focus of the film; it's message is about the bonds of family and the power of forgiveness, and if it doesn't make you cry (or at least get a little emotional) or cheer, then you probably don't have a heart. Highly recommended. (It's PG-13 for "sequences of intense mixed martial arts fighting, some language and thematic material," so it's not for young children. The fight scenes are very brutal at times, the themes are mature and emotional, and the language is brief but strong.)

I plan on seeing the new Hugh Jackman film Real Steel tonight. I'm an avid movie watcher and I work at a movie theater, so I get to see movies there for free, so I may be posting here a lot.

I just watched "Jodhaa Akbar" on Netflix. This is mostly a "chick flick", but I am told that significant parts of it depict Indian history around 1500 AD. Brace yourself, it is 3 hours long. For the guys Aishwarya Rai is in it and she delivers a lovely performance. Her husband, (Sigh) is portrayed by Hrithik Roshan, and is the prince Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar. In one scene, he turns his naked sweaty back to the camera...

It is closed captioned in English but Ms Rai speaks in an obscure Hindu language and our Prince speaks flawless classical Arabic, some of which I recognized. It was all together intellectually challenging and fun.

[Tacenda]

Well, as most of you know from my posts here, I'm an "oldie but goodie" gal, because of the depth of the stories and characters ... yesterday I watched "The Best Years of Our Life" starring Myrna Loy and Frederic March... a story about several servicemen and their return from war and adjusting to their life situations.

But one favorite I want to recommend is "Zandy's Bride" starring Gene Hackman and Liv Ulman... she plays a mail order bride from the east (Scandanavian immigrant), who comes to the Big Sur country of early California... a beautiful but wild and rugged area of the northern California coast. "Zandy", (Hackman) is trying to build a ranch and sends for her so he can have sons and leave a legacy. But Zandy is just as rugged as the countryside with only the example of his parents' marriage... a marriage and family dominated by a harsh, controlling father.

Of course Zandy behaves in a similar manner... until... until she starts to tame him and they finally begin to build a life together...

GG

I watched when I was quite young the movie "The Best Years of Our Lives" and still remember the guy who came back crippled and needed to be in a wheel chair. My mom and I use to watch old black and white movies together all the time. I miss her terribly, thanks for bringing that movie up! I love the movie "Stella Dallas" with Barbara Stanwyck, a tear jerker was the scene at her daughter's wedding.

[Garden Girl]

I watched when I was quite young the movie "The Best Years of Our Lives" and still remember the guy who came back crippled and needed to be in a wheel chair. My mom and I use to watch old black and white movies together all the time. I miss her terribly, thanks for bringing that movie up! I love the movie "Stella Dallas" with Barbara Stanwyck, a tear jerker was the scene at her daughter's wedding.

Yes, a wonderful movie...

[Tacenda]

My husband and I went to Oblivion yesterday. Is it just us, or is there a plot to this movie? I also noticed that there are several similar type movies that have something to do with the world coming to end as we know it. What's up with that?

[volgadon]

I just watched "Jodhaa Akbar" on Netflix. This is mostly a "chick flick", but I am told that significant parts of it depict Indian history around 1500 AD. Brace yourself, it is 3 hours long. For the guys Aishwarya Rai is in it and she delivers a lovely performance. Her husband, (Sigh) is portrayed by Hrithik Roshan, and is the prince Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar. In one scene, he turns his naked sweaty back to the camera...

It is closed captioned in English but Ms Rai speaks in an obscure Hindu language and our Prince speaks flawless classical Arabic, some of which I recognized. It was all together intellectually challenging and fun.

I caught bits and pieces of it when my wife was watching. Not bad, but the final duel scene was a bit overdone.

[EllenMaksoud]

I caught bits and pieces of it when my wife was watching. Not bad, but the final duel scene was a bit overdone.

Yes, a real man would not be caught watching a chick flick. I just looked at the review again and apparently the history part is recorded as fact. I really enjoyed hearing Arabic again, though I could not follow all of it.

[Ron Beron]

Well, as most of you know from my posts here, I'm an "oldie but goodie" gal, because of the depth of the stories and characters ... yesterday I watched "The Best Years of Our Life" starring Myrna Loy and Frederic March... a story about several servicemen and their return from war and adjusting to their life situations.

But one favorite I want to recommend is "Zandy's Bride" starring Gene Hackman and Liv Ulman... she plays a mail order bride from the east (Scandanavian immigrant), who comes to the Big Sur country of early California... a beautiful but wild and rugged area of the northern California coast. "Zandy", (Hackman) is trying to build a ranch and sends for her so he can have sons and leave a legacy. But Zandy is just as rugged as the countryside with only the example of his parents' marriage... a marriage and family dominated by a harsh, controlling father.

Of course Zandy behaves in a similar manner... until... until she starts to tame him and they finally begin to build a life together...

GG

I have seen them both. I particularly like Hoagy Carmichael's playing of the piano and the scene where the Dana Andrews walks out among the airplane graveyard. What a great scene.

I have also seen Zandy's Bride. I am from Monterey and love the scenery and the story. Gene Hackman was among the best.

[volgadon]

Yes, a real man would not be caught watching a chick flick. I just looked at the review again and apparently the history part is recorded as fact. I really enjoyed hearing Arabic again, though I could not follow all of it.

I actually rather like Mughal history, but can't remember what I was busy doing at the time.

[EllenMaksoud]

I actually rather like Mughal history, but can't remember what I was busy doing at the time.

I find it fascinating also. I just think that the first man in history to put women's rights into writing (The Constitution of Medina) had something going. I think that Muhammad PBUH was an uncommonly good man. Sadly, Rasool allah (the prophet) wanted Ali to rule after his death but Abu Bakr and Omar perverted Islam. Gee aren't the parallels to Christianity fascinating? Was Paul part of the perversion of Christianity? Muslims think so.

Somehow satan got control of the early church. But how did that happen? You'd think that someone would have studied early church history enough to be able to take a guess. For me, this is like doing an autopsy on the early church.

So, that's what I do. I study religious things in a critical manner.

No, I am not even going to go into when or if the Mormon church will ...

Edited May 29, 2013 by EllenMaksoud

[Garden Girl]

I watched "The Impossible" last night...the true story of one family's experience in the tsunami... what a miraculous, impossible seeming outcome for this family and what they went through... I can't imagine what it must have been for those that survived, having only the clothes on their backs... the local medical facilities overwhelmed with people needing care...

Many people that did survive the initial wave hitting were then lost as the wave drew them out through tons of debris, slamming them against objects that opened wounds and injuries that then resulted in their deaths.

The film gave such a realistic re-creation of the events... harrowing...

GG