Last Movie You Watched

[Ron Beron]

Yesterday on Turner Classic Movies they had a showcase of Henry Fonda films... The first was "Advise and Consent"... about Wash DC politics and the nomination of a new Sec of State with all the drama behind the scenes as the process proceeds.

The second one was "The Grapes of Wrath," based on the John Steinbeck novel about the Dust Bowl, and the migration of hundreds of families who lost their farms, packed their belongs into old "jalopies," and headed west along Rte 66 to California... and the turmoil in the lives of the migrant workers, "the Okies," in particular the Joad family with Fonda as Tom Joad... heart wrenching...

And the last that I watched was "Fail Safe," starring Fonda as U.S. pres, about an accidental computer glitch that caused U.S. jets to head to Moscow with nuclear bombs... the film follows the U.S. attempts to turn back the jets, which have been trained to ignore ALL such attempts unless a secret code is given, no matter when or who tries to do so, and particularly once they reach a "point of no return" in Soviet airspace... what follows is a tense contact between the US pres and Soviet chairman as they try to stop the inevitable... During the time before the jets reach the "point," the Pres can't reach the planes because the Soviets jammed radio contact frequencies. So the inevitable continues. In order to prevent all out nuclear war, the U.S. pres and Soviet chair come up with an agreement... one that has devastating impact and results for both countries yet prevents full war... At the end of the film there is an on-screen statement that because of numerous layers of safeguards, such a scenario cannot happen... this of course is before sophicated "hackers."

GG

edit to add: No swear words, no crashing cars, no sex (some innuendo)... just good storytelling drama.

You missed Spencer's Mountain. I loved that film and it reminded me of how much I miss such a charming and strong character.

[bluebell]

I watched the original "The Women" on TCM a few weeks ago. I love that movie. The remake was, frankly, an embarrassment.

[altersteve]

I saw Planes today and walked out smiling. My expectations were VERY low, so I guess I was just pleasantly surprised. It's nothing groundbreaking and the story is completely generic, so it definitely could have been a LOT better, but there's still that Disney charm to it that's undeniable. I laughed quite a few times too, especially at a cleverly subtle joke about reincarnation (which of course will go way over kids' heads) that I for some reason got a big kick out of. I also really liked Dane Cook's vocal performance as the lead character.

Take your kids to this one.

[Ron Beron]

I saw Planes today and walked out smiling. My expectations were VERY low, so I guess I was just pleasantly surprised. It's nothing groundbreaking and the story is completely generic, so it definitely could have been a LOT better, but there's still that Disney charm to it that's undeniable. I laughed quite a few times too, especially at a cleverly subtle joke about reincarnation (which of course will go way over kids' heads) that I for some reason got a big kick out of. I also really liked Dane Cook's vocal performance as the lead character.

Take your kids to this one.

How about my inner kid?

[Tacenda]

I saw "The Butler", and recommend it! If even to learn some history that I hadn't paid attention to in my earlier years. It is a true story, as true stories go in the movies. Also, good because I lost all track of time, plus even if you don't care for Oprah in real life, which I do, she's a darn good actress!

[Calm]

 It is a true story, as true stories go in the movies....

Ain't that the truth!  (that "true"in movie talk is a bit different than in everyday talk).

Edited August 16, 2013 by calmoriah

[altersteve]

Just got back from watching Jobs, the new Steve Jobs biopic starring Ashton Kutcher. It's been receiving negative reviews so far, but I disagree with the critical consensus. It's more about Apple than Jobs' life, and yes, it's formulaic, but it's a sensitive movie that inspires and moves the audience, and honestly, I'm a sucker for movies like that. My respect for Steve Jobs has always been through the roof, but this film gave me a greater appreciation of what he went through in the process of changing the world. I aspire to do something like that someday. Kutcher, in one of his rare non-comedic roles, has also received some criticism, but I thoroughly enjoyed his performance. Not only does he look, sound, and even walk like Jobs, but he also clearly understands and has great respect for the material. His loving portrayal won me over completely. This, along with 42, a similar movie, is one of the best films of the year.

 

The film is rated PG-13, and has some drug use. Language is also an issue and includes two uses of the F-word.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Finally, Star Trek Into the Darkness. :) :) :)

[Garden Girl]

The film is rated PG-13, and has some drug use. Language is also an issue and includes two uses of the F-word.

 

 

Altersteve... I've noticed this about PG-13 movies recently... they've been on a steady path of including more questionable language and contents for some time now, until now I see you note the use of the F-word.  That's disappointing because I always try to avoid "R" and have been glad when a movie such as this one was a PG-13... now this seems to be questionable...  sigh... 

 

GG

Edited August 21, 2013 by Garden Girl

[altersteve]

There's nothing very questionable in Jobs. The F-words in the movie are very brief and one of them is barely noticeable, and other swear words are infrequent and fairly mild. The movie is actually quite inspiring and makes you want to go build something. I think it's a great film for teenagers. The drug use in the film is never explicitly shown and it's ultimately put in a negative light.

[Garden Girl]

I tuned into a movie the other night on the Lifetime? channel titled "Escape from Polygamy" just to see what it was like... they portrayed the religious group generally without mentioning "Mormons" but alluded to their Church being "Christ's church."   

This was Hollywood's interpretation of a polygamy group with the absolute obedience to the "prophet" without question... no matter what he said or proposed (I suppose that's what people think we do). 

Anyway, it was the same old thing... a young girl being told to "Stay Sweet" when she balked at being married off to the much older prophet when she loved a younger boy.... and what an honor it was to be chosen to be his next bride... sort of a continuation of another such movie called "In God's Country" (this one with the  prairie dresses and long braided hair, etc).

I thought to myself... Ha! If polygamy was ever legalized in the same way same sex marriage is being approved in some states... just let our leaders try to institute it through coercion... good luck with that...

 

GG

[Stargazer]

Just so you haters know, it is acknowledged in the story in the last book that the werewolves are actually shapeshifters.

 

You think this changes anything?  That's even worse!

 

OF course werewolves are shapeshifters -- if nothing else they shift from wolves to men and vice versa.  This is why Stephanie Meyer should be beaten with a long piece of spaghetti.

[Stargazer]

No, it looks to be one of the worst films out this year.

 

I really enjoyed the Lone Ranger trailers, but I am not going to watch the flick.

[Stargazer]

I just watched blood diamond. I can honestly say, I never want a diamond after watching this movie,

 

Diamonds are actually quite common these days.  But that South African company keeps the market value up by buying as many as possible from anyone, and sequestering them so they don't dilute the market.  That's the only reason why the price is as high as it is.  If De Beers were to put its great store of diamonds onto the market, there would be no more blood diamonds.  The market would collapse.

[Stargazer]

I didn't get home until 19:15 tonight. There was a wreck on I-5 south that had traffic backed up from Woodland to Kalama. So what's on when I get home? Rebecca! I haven't seen it in a while. My son and my wife were just finishing. Anyway...yeah, great taste Garden Girl.

That Joan Fontaine...My wife isn't threatened I hope, because all of my other loves are either dead or a 100 years old! Heh.

 

Wow, another Pacific Northwesterner!

[strappinglad]

I really enjoyed the Lone Ranger trailers, but I am not going to watch the flick.

A friend of mine watched Lone Ranger with a couple of his grandkids. He said he laughed so hard  the tears flowed. I'm not sure if that's good or bad but he did say he would see it again.

[bluebell]

I tuned into a movie the other night on the Lifetime? channel titled "Escape from Polygamy" just to see what it was like... they portrayed the religious group generally without mentioning "Mormons" but alluded to their Church being "Christ's church."   

This was Hollywood's interpretation of a polygamy group with the absolute obedience to the "prophet" without question... no matter what he said or proposed (I suppose that's what people think we do). 

Anyway, it was the same old thing... a young girl being told to "Stay Sweet" when she balked at being married off to the much older prophet when she loved a younger boy.... and what an honor it was to be chosen to be his next bride... sort of a continuation of another such movie called "In God's Country" (this one with the  prairie dresses and long braided hair, etc).

I thought to myself... Ha! If polygamy was ever legalized in the same way same sex marriage is being approved in some states... just let our leaders try to institute it through coercion... good luck with that...

 

GG

I've seen that show. 

 

I didn't take as commentary about LDS polygamy, but rather about FLDS polygamy.  I'm sure there are some poor souls who have yet to figure out the difference between the two who think it's an expose' on us though. 

[altersteve]

The World's End. Lots of strong language, but VERY funny. I laughed out loud several times. I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard and that often in a movie.

[Calm]

We are very annoyed about the language issue with these movies, they sound hilarious but the amount of editing needed.....

 

I hope they made it.  

[EllenMaksoud]

"Sucker Punch"   Having watched the movie, I have difficulty justifying my actions. On one hand some extremely important things got said in the Movie, especially for a survivor. On the other hand, I am really glad that my Bishop was not there with me. At times the story was hard to handle, but seeing how she dealt with her circumstances, made me want to stand and cheer for her. Spoiler Alert: This one I'm going to spoil, a girl sees her mother and sister murdered by her step father and then she is put in a sanitarium until he can pay people to do a frontal lobotomy on her.

 

She is left in limbo after the proceedure, but one girl does escape.  I am afraid that in the pre 70's era, unspeakable things happened. I hope it does not happen now. I guess they are still using Electro Convulsive Therapy, though I do not think they do Lobotomies any more.

 

I still feel creeped out for watching it.  Astonishingly, it was rated PG !

[EllenMaksoud]

The World's End. Lots of strong language, but VERY funny. I laughed out loud several times. I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard and that often in a movie.

I don't think so.

[altersteve]

The World's End, after seeing it a second time, is now my favorite film of the year so far. Yes, there's lots of swearing and drinking, but it's also the funniest, smartest, and most utterly heartwarming comedy film I've seen in a very long time, and certainly one of the downright weirdest. And there's more heart and intelligence in this movie than countless non-comedies I've seen.

 

The movie, which stars Simon Pegg (Scotty from Stark Trek) in what may be the best performance of his career, alongside Martin Freeman (Bilbo from The Hobbit) and other wonderful actors, is about a group of childhood friends who reunite and return to their hometown for an epic pub crawl (a quest to drink one pint at each of the 12 pubs in the town), which they initially attempted in high school but failed to finish. There they discover that the town has been overtaken by alien robots and their quest becomes one to save the world. And underneath all that is a surprisingly poignant message about friendship and standing up for yourself. Yes, I know it sounds completely ridiculous, and it is, but that's the point. It's vibrant, touching, completely fearless, gleefully silly, and wonderfully reckless, all with an irresistible sense of joy, and I loved every minute of it. It's magnificent.

 

Seriously, I can't remember the last time a movie knocked me off my feet like this one did. If you're okay with some pretty strong language and fairly constant alcohol use, go see it, stat.

Edited September 7, 2013 by altersteve

[Ron Beron]

A bit dated, but good was "Donnie Brasco".  Pacino is so remarkable in his presentation as almost sympathetic and lonely soldier in the Mafia.  And, for once I really enjoyed watching Johnny Depp.

[Garden Girl]

I'm getting free promotional package of Cinemax and HBO... so I finally watched "Life of Pi."  Really enjoyed it... I may have to watch it again, at least the last part... it was unsettling as the story about Pi and the tiger may not have been the real one, but a more painful memory he chose to push down and instead told the tiger version.

Anyone here know?  I had fallen asleep and woke up just as he was saying how he told the Japanese men the tiger story and they didn't like it and told him to tell something else... so then he told a different, more painful experience for him.  Was that the reality? 

 

GG

[strappinglad]

GG , a little research into the book and making of the movie will help a lot. Life of Pi needs to be watched twice, once before you know much about it ,and once after.