saemo Posted February 4, 2014 Posted February 4, 2014 I was heartbroken to hear about Philip Seymour Hoffman yesterday morning. He was one of my favorite actors. It seems to be a plague of our times. I have known, or known of so many, dead because of drugs.
Garden Girl Posted February 5, 2014 Posted February 5, 2014 I was heartbroken to hear about Philip Seymour Hoffman yesterday morning. He was one of my favorite actors. I was very sorry also... particularly since he had been "clean" for 20 or so years and apparently had a relapse only recently. It's always such a waste, particularly when the person is younger as he was at 46. His role as Capote was spot on... GG
Tacenda Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 I saw "12 Years a Slave", it was a hard movie to watch, just as "Schindler's List" was, but felt it important. Hopefully the horrible, horrible crime of slavery will never be forgotten. I'm glad movies like this are made and will support them. It wasn't very big at the box office I'm afraid. The content was very difficult to witness, but was needed, for their memory. We should never forget these crimes in society. I just can't believe how Christians could do this, even in our church it was accepted, there were slaves in Utah! Hopefully they were treated well. I need to do more research, but were we Americans the first to bring Africans to our country solely for the purpose of owning them? I really wasn't a very good student I'm afraid.
strappinglad Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) The current world has millions of slaves in it. Just because they are not openly being sold on the streets does not mean they are not being bought and sold as I type. If you don't believe it ,just Google ' current slave trade ' and see what pops up. Edited February 8, 2014 by strappinglad
Tacenda Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 The current world has millions of slaves in it. Just because they are not openly being sold on the streets does not mean they are not being bought and sold as I type. If you don't believe it ,just Google ' current slave trade ' and see what pops up. Oh I believe that, but it isn't legal like it once was. God is probably wishing he didn't have to give us our free agency.
Calm Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) I need to do more research, but were we Americans the first to bring Africans to our country solely for the purpose of owning them?No, the slave trade has been going on probably as long as there have been people attempting to get gain through others' misfortune. African slaves showed up all over, including China: Indian, Malay, and Black African slaves were also sold to the Chinese. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_China http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_Africa Edited February 8, 2014 by calmoriah
bluebell Posted February 9, 2014 Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) Like Cal said, America wasn't the first to transport Africans as slaves. Until the beginning of the African slave trade though, most slaves had nothing to do with race. People became slaves typically because they were conquered, lost a war, or something similar. Sometimes they were sold into slavery by family members to pay a debt or something. These kinds of slaves usually had a chance to work towards their freedom in some way and once freed, were accepted into the society they used to serve (sometimes even as equals). This is how slavery worked in Rome, for example. They had a thriving slave trade, but it has nothing to do with race. However Africans were seen as inferior, and thus slave-worthy, because of the color of their skin. That wasn't something invented by America, but it does show how the slave trade changed significantly over time and really blossomed right around the time when America was growing into her own. Once countries like Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, etc., started to spread out and colonize other areas, they needed a cheap work force to make those areas productive and worth the effort to maintain them. Natives served at first but when those local populations were decimated, new sources of slaves were needed. And Africa, sadly, was seen as the perfect place to get them because blacks, like native Americans, were inferior and so it was ok to exploit them. Edited February 9, 2014 by bluebell 1
altersteve Posted February 9, 2014 Author Posted February 9, 2014 The Lego Movie is the most delightful film I've seen in years. 1
cinepro Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 The Lego Movie is the most delightful film I've seen in years. I was expecting to enjoy it, but I was totally unprepared for my completely emotional reaction to it. I saw Toy Story the weekend it came out back in 1995, and I can remember having a similar reaction. The Lego Movie, like Toy Story, works on so many different levels, I'm just absolutely amazed. I can't wait to see it again. Everything is awesome.
Grudunza Posted February 10, 2014 Posted February 10, 2014 The Lego Movie is the most delightful film I've seen in years.I saw it Friday. To be honest, the previews for it didn't look very good to me, but it was indeed very clever and charming. Best movie of it's kind since Wreck-It Ralph, I'd say.
Deborah Posted February 14, 2014 Posted February 14, 2014 I saw "The Monuments Men." What an enjoyable movie. We need to get back to some of the values of that period. 1
Garden Girl Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) I saw "The Monuments Men." What an enjoyable movie. We need to get back to some of the values of that period. Oh good, I'm looking forward to seeing this movie... GG Edited February 15, 2014 by Garden Girl
altersteve Posted February 15, 2014 Author Posted February 15, 2014 I saw "12 Years a Slave", it was a hard movie to watch, just as "Schindler's List" was, but felt it important. Hopefully the horrible, horrible crime of slavery will never be forgotten. I'm glad movies like this are made and will support them. It wasn't very big at the box office I'm afraid. The content was very difficult to witness, but was needed, for their memory. We should never forget these crimes in society. I just can't believe how Christians could do this, even in our church it was accepted, there were slaves in Utah! Hopefully they were treated well. I need to do more research, but were we Americans the first to bring Africans to our country solely for the purpose of owning them? I really wasn't a very good student I'm afraid. It actually did very well at the box office. It brought back about five times its budget.
Ron Beron Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 I saw "The Monuments Men." What an enjoyable movie. We need to get back to some of the values of that period.The true behind this movie is pretty amazing as well. I remember when Iraq went down we sent in art historians to reclaim the bombed out museums. America has an obligation not only to its citizenry, but to the world as well to preserve beauty and culture wherever it might be.
bluebell Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 I watched The Conjuring last night. That is one scary movie!If you enjoy scary movies I recommend it, but don't watch it alone!
Garden Girl Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 The true behind this movie is pretty amazing as well. I remember when Iraq went down we sent in art historians to reclaim the bombed out museums. America has an obligation not only to its citizenry, but to the world as well to preserve beauty and culture wherever it might be. This reminds me of the outrage I felt when that huge Budda statue was destroyed by Al Quieda(?) or Taliban(?)... several govts tried to dissuade them but it was an "idol" so of course had to be destroyed... nevermind that it was historic... thousands of years old. They went right ahead... and it is lost forever... I watched The Conjuring last night. That is one scary movie!If you enjoy scary movies I recommend it, but don't watch it alone! I rented this not long ago and had to turn it off... I didn't want to invite that type of paranormal activity into me... every now and then I see it at the rental kiosk and am tempted because I know it's a good movie... Turner Classic Movies has been featuring Oscar winning stars/movies this month, and last night I watched a favorite from 1953... "Marty" starring Ernest Borgnine (best actor Oscar)... about a 34-year old butcher who is on the heavy set side and not particularly good looking... who lives with his mother (who is always pressuring him to get married, when she doesn't understand that he'd love to find someone but the girls pass him by... brush him off...) Finally one night he and his other single friends go to a dance hall and he meets a mousy, shy school teacher his friends call a "dog." It is a delightful story about Marty, his family, and the schoolteacher...Note: The younger people here on the board don't remember the big ballrooms and dance halls where on Sat nights you could go to dance and hear the big bands... the Dorseys... Glen Miller... Harry James... Woody Herman... Ray Anthony... Les Brown... etc etc. There would be jitterbug contests... and some of the most fabulous dance music ever... they were a place to socialize and meet new people... huge dance floors polished almost like mirrors... Yes, I could heft a foot with the best of them... Ha!! GG 1
Deborah Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 I watched The Conjuring last night. That is one scary movie!If you enjoy scary movies I recommend it, but don't watch it alone! I never watch these movies as I live alone. I think there are evil spirits and I don't want this influence in my home. I like scary zombie or monster movies (ie Alien) however. The last really scary movie I watched was when I went with my son to see "The Ring." I hid my head in his shoulder most of the time but then I had to go home by myself and try to sleep. I used to watch these all the time but no more. Years ago I watched "The Brood" with my daughters. They ended up getting in bed with me that night and I was glad to have them there. Those little deformed "kids" crawling through the cupboards freaked us out!
Garden Girl Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 I never watch these movies as I live alone. I think there are evil spirits and I don't want this influence in my home. Exactly... that's just how I felt when I turned off The Conjuring...When I moved into my little house, I had it blessed by one of my ward brothers... GG
altersteve Posted February 15, 2014 Author Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) I must be the odd one out because scary movies don't affect me like that. The Conjuring and Sinister were the only movies that creeped me out a little, but that feeling went away pretty quickly both times. Edited February 15, 2014 by altersteve
bluebell Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 Exactly... that's just how I felt when I turned off The Conjuring...When I moved into my little house, I had it blessed by one of my ward brothers... GG The movie is just 'dumb' enough that the scariness of it doesn't translate, for me, to real life paranormal situations. For example, the evil entity in the movie was a woman who was a witch in the 1800s, proclaimed her love for satan and then hung herself, and henceforth haunted everyone who moved onto her land. (Though the movie is based on a true story, this storyline never actually happened, and the real life woman in question lived until she was in her 80s) I don't believe in witches, and i don't believe that evil people have power over the living once they die, or that they can hang around hurting people beyond the grave. Plus, i know a little bit about the Warrens (the paranormal investigators who are featured in the movie) and they have never impressed me-a lot of their 'info' is based on Mrs. Warren's psychic ability, which i also don't have any faith in.... So short story long, though the movie was super scary in the moment (and i would not want to have to be by myself right after watching it), it doesn't make me worry about inviting evil things into my home. Now, there are movies (and books) that do worry me with that-I can't stand anything having to do with the Amityville horror because that is based on a true story, and is about demons. The same goes for anything with the Exorcist. That is too close to 'reality' for me. 1
bluebell Posted February 15, 2014 Posted February 15, 2014 I must be the odd one out because scary movies don't affect me like that. The Conjuring and Sinister were the only movies that creeped me out a little, but that feeling went away pretty quickly both times. Sinister was just too dumb for me. It has some scary moments but is so far outside of my idea of paranormal plausibility that i was more confused than frightened by it. Wait, maybe i'm thinking of Insidious? I get those two titles confused, though i've only see one of them.
Tacenda Posted February 16, 2014 Posted February 16, 2014 I ordered Netflix recently. Any favorites to check out to watch on TV/internet?
strappinglad Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 I ordered Netflix recently. Any favorites to check out to watch on TV/internet? There's all kind of TV series that you probably never heard of but are quite good. I like the British crime dramas. For the lighthearted ,you might try " The IT Crowd " Quirky British comedy.
Tacenda Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 Ok Strappinglad, I'll check it out, thanks. I hear "The Rules of Engagement" is funny, have you seen that?
strappinglad Posted February 17, 2014 Posted February 17, 2014 Haven't seen 'Rules' . Just watched 'Cowboys and Aliens' . Not as bad as the critics would have us believe. Good actors, strange plot.
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