Last Movie You Watched

[Deborah]

I saw "Maleficent". I loved it and Angelina Jolie was perfect in this role.

[Kenngo1969]

I’m kind of a weird cat when it comes to watching movies. (Only when it comes to watching movies, Ken?  Yeah, yeah, yeah; alright.  What’s your point? )  I’m not sure why I do this, but I’ll go on a kick where I’ll watch the same movie several times in a row, even if it’s one I’ve already seen.  A few months ago, it was Radio, the story of James Robert “Radio” Kennedy, a developmentally disabled young man who was befriended by a town, a high school, and the school’s football team.    (I think I mentioned it earlier in the thread, on page 1,765. )  As someone who is developmentally (though not cognitively) disabled, Radio speaks to me in a way I can’t explain.  I’d like to meet The Real Radio someday: http://www.radioandcoachjones.com/.

 

Lately, it’s been Richard Dutcher’s God’s Army.  I’ve always had a bit of a challenge trying to put my mission into perspective.  (Frankly, I feel that way to a lesser extent about pretty much everything I’ve been asked to do in the kingdom: “I know this isn’t what you were hoping for, Lord, but hopefully I wasn’t totally useless!”)  Anyway, while I wonder whether I’ll ever put my mission in perspective – Do we even know the magnitude of what we ask when we send our young people out and expect such gigantic things of them? – God’s Army helps … a lot.  It was the first treatment of missionary service I ever saw that acknowledged that, “Nope.  Missionaries aren’t perfect – far from it.  But God still finds ways to use them anyway.”  Here are more of my thoughts on the subject:  http://greatgourdini.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/gods-army-and-my-own-mission/

Edited June 2, 2014 by Kenngo1969

[Calm]

I saw "Maleficent". I loved it and Angelina Jolie was perfect in this role.

Is she actually evil or do they try to change her into a misunderstood freedom fighter? Sometimes evil is just more fun to watch.

Edited June 2, 2014 by calmoriah

[Leelee]

My father lives with us (dementia) so we don't "go" to movies but watch them on TV.  We watched My Fair Lady last night.  Fun, pretty show. 

[Kenngo1969]

I had resisted (re-)watching God's Army 2: States of Grace because of the differences in tone between it and its predecessor. There's more sex (granted, it's just implied) and violence in the latter than in the former, so perhaps it wasn't appropriate for Sunday-night viewing (or, some would argue, for viewing period).  Holly showing up during the manger scene and holding Elder Farrell's hand before he holds the Baby Jesus strikes me as more than a bit of dramatic license.  Had I been the mission president, I would have given Elder Farrell an armed guard to keep them apart.  Then I thought, "Well, that ship already has sailed; perhaps the thinking is that, well, the 'damage' already has been done on that score.")  I still like the original the best, but I have to admit that the themes of sin, of repentance, and of redemption through Christ's Atonement are powerfully portrayed.  A couple of my favorite lines:

 

Elder Lozano, when he and Elder Farrell are debating giving Louis shelter in their apartment: "Are we going to keep the rules, or are we going to keep the commandments?"

 

Holly to Elder Farrell (aka "Scott"; I mean, if you're gonna do The Old Hippity-Dippity with someone, you'd better be on a first-name basis with him or her, right?  Sorry; ) when the latter is in the hospital following his suicide attempt: "You don't have to die for your sins, Scott.  I think somebody already did that."

 

And of course, the manger scene is powerful.  More dramatic license, because if I'm a new mom, I ain't lettin' strangers hold my child, much less pass him or her around (if you look at the credits, Baby Jesus was played by a goyl ), but, still powerful.

Edited June 2, 2014 by Kenngo1969

[Tacenda]

I love "The Best Two Years", but Gods Army 1 and 2, were good as well. I wonder when Richard Dutcher had his faith crisis. I have listened to his podcast, on MS I believe, but can't remember.

All three movies do humanize the missionary as you have mentioned something similar in a previous post.

[Kenngo1969]

I love "The Best Two Years", but Gods Army 1 and 2, were good as well. I wonder when Richard Dutcher had his faith crisis. I have listened to his podcast, on MS I believe, but can't remember.

All three movies do humanize the missionary as you have mentioned something similar in a previous post.

I haven't paid much attention to what Dutcher has said about his "faith crisis," if you can call it that, over the years.  If I remember what little I've read correctly, Dutcher has said that he pretty much had his career trajectory planned out, and that fans of his earlier work would have been disappointed if they'd known that he planned to make such films as Falling and Evil Angel all along.

 

(I'm not trying to be unfair to Dutcher here; I welcome correction from anyone who knows better.)

[bluebell]

I wasn't aware that Dutcher had anything to do wit "The Best Two Years".

[Tacenda]

I wasn't aware that Dutcher had anything to do wit "The Best Two Years".

No, I was talking about God's Army.

[bluebell]

No, I was talking about God's Army.

 

[Deborah]

Is she actually evil or do they try to change her into a misunderstood freedom fighter? Sometimes evil is just more fun to watch.

 

Evil but with reason. Not a misunderstood freedmom fighter, lol.

[strappinglad]

I've been watching the documentary called " The West" by Ken Burns on Netflix. There are a couple of segments on the Mormons. What I found very interesting was just how much the west has changed in just 150 years. Also ,how poorly the various tribes of natives were treated , even those who made the most effort to meld with white society. It is an excellent series but each episode is about 90 minutes long and there are about a dozen episodes. Lots to absorb .

[bluebell]

Ken Burns is awesome.  His series on the civil war is amazing!  

[Deborah]

Also didn't he do the one on the Dust Bowl?

[bluebell]

Probably. He's done quite a few documentaries I think.

[johnNewingtonn]

A sampling of some excellent films of the world, all are subtitled.

Most were or are available on Netflix

 

Japanese (subtitled):

 - Departures (Netflix) 

__________________

 Chinese (subtitled):

- Aftershock (Netflix)

___________________

Korean (subtitled):

 Castaway on the Moon

 Welcome to Dongmakgol

 Poetry

 *Mother (a darker film which has a scene of violence and some foul language)

______________________

French:

  Jean De Florette

  Manon of the Spring 
  La Vie En Rose 

__________________

 Iranian:

Children of Heaven

____________________

Sicilian:
Mafioso (1962)

__________________

[Ron Beron]

Since it is the 70th anniversary of the landings at Normandy what films are you going to watch.  My suggestions

Saving Private Ryan

The Longest Day

Band of Brothers

Big Red One.

 

Other films I have seen recently on the end of WWII are Emperor, The Sun, and Downfall about the last days of HItler (great film)

[bluebell]

I really enjoyed Downfall, even with the subtitles.

[Garden Girl]

Since it is the 70th anniversary of the landings at Normandy what films are you going to watch.  My suggestions

Saving Private Ryan

The Longest Day

Band of Brothers

Big Red One.

 

Other films I have seen recently on the end of WWII are Emperor, The Sun, and Downfall about the last days of HItler (great film)

 

I cannot stand to watch Saving Private Ryan... I can't tell you the intense emotion I feel of anger and disgust  because of the little coward who had all the ammo around his neck to give out to our fellows that were fighting.  The fighting became particularly intense and guys were running out of ammo in which case this fellow was supposed to take them more... but instead he was so cowardly that he hid in part of the ruins and wouldn't venture out to where our guys were even though they were calling for more ammo.  So he remained safe while our other guys were being shot and killed because they couldn't return fire and the Germans just overran them... I know it's only a movie but it affected me so deeply with such anger  at the unnecessary loss of life caused by his cowardice that I simply can't watch it...

 

GG

Edited June 6, 2014 by Garden Girl

[Ron Beron]

I cannot stand to watch Saving Private Ryan... I can't tell you the intense emotion I feel of anger and disgust  because of the little coward who had all the ammo around his neck to give out to our fellows that were fighting.  The fighting became particularly intense and guys were running out of ammo in which case this fellow was supposed to take them more... but instead he was so cowardly that he hid in part of the ruins and wouldn't venture out to where our guys were even though they were calling for more ammo.  So he remained safe while our other guys were being shot and killed because they couldn't return fire and the Germans just overran them... I know it's only a movie but it affected me so deeply with such anger  at the unnecessary loss of life caused by his cowardice that I simply can't watch it...

 

GG

Not that it is of any solace, but he did regain his nerve later.

[Garden Girl]

Not that it is of any solace, but he did regain his nerve later.

I think I remember that, but by then there was so many unnecessary deaths because of him that I guess his new found nerve didn't register...

My hubby was in the South Pacific campaign... Phillipines... and made some really horrendous landings, particularly on Leyte and Mindanao... He was shot but went back into combat when healed (as medics were hauling him off on a stretcher, there was a film crew that was featuring Lew Ayers (actor) in a PR spot and he held dh's hand as they carried him toward surgery ... because of battlefield promotions, my dh was a S.Sgt at 20...and remember the famous picture of MacArthur walking ashore and fulfilling his prediction of "I shall return!"  My husband was standing right there with his group watching him walk ashore...  

 

GG

[strappinglad]

All who romanticize war need to watch the first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan. Enemy at the Gates was another movie that seemed to present the unvarnished reality of war. I understand why most veterans are very reluctant to speak about their experiences in battle.

[Storm Rider]

I just watch an old Jimmy Stewart movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.  Gosh it was great seeing him on the screen again.  I enjoyed the innocence of the the main character and his commitment to moral positions.  The corruption was all too real.  This would be a great show to show young people again.  

 

It really was a great way to pass the time.  

[bluebell]

All who romanticize war need to watch the first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan. Enemy at the Gates was another movie that seemed to present the unvarnished reality of war. I understand why most veterans are very reluctant to speak about their experiences in battle.

 

I agree.

 

I think most teenage boys should watch those scenes especially since that seems to be the age group that struggles the most with war romance.

[bluebell]

I cannot stand to watch Saving Private Ryan... I can't tell you the intense emotion I feel of anger and disgust  because of the little coward who had all the ammo around his neck to give out to our fellows that were fighting.  The fighting became particularly intense and guys were running out of ammo in which case this fellow was supposed to take them more... but instead he was so cowardly that he hid in part of the ruins and wouldn't venture out to where our guys were even though they were calling for more ammo.  So he remained safe while our other guys were being shot and killed because they couldn't return fire and the Germans just overran them... I know it's only a movie but it affected me so deeply with such anger  at the unnecessary loss of life caused by his cowardice that I simply can't watch it...

 

GG

 

I agree about that scene.

 

I actually kind of liked how they used that character though.  Earlier in the movie we learn that he was a lot more compassionate and merciful than the other people in the group (of course, it comes back to bite everyone in the butt we can't really blame the evilness of the German soldier on him), showing that he had more character in that moment than the other men.

 

And then later, we see that in other ways he had a lot less character than the other men.

 

And perhaps the best revelation is that it is the horror of war that both weakened men's character and also strengthened it.  It was because those other men had had so much sadness and loss and experience with war that they were unwilling to let the German soldier live-war had created weakness.  It was also because of those same horrors and experience that they were able to do what they needed to do when they needed to do it, and the one boy who hadn't ever seen combat wasn't-war had created strength.

 

It was after the boy came to terms with what war meant that he was able to shoot the German soldier and finally do his duty.  He had to lose one way of looking at the world, and gain a new one, and then he was able to be a soldier.

 

It's a very interesting treatment of how war changes people, and what those changes mean.