Movies

[tdw]

I'm not a great movie goer. Apart from DVDs at home I see more movies on aeroplanes than I do sitting in a theatre. Recently , however, Ms Wombat has taken to bringing home a constant stream of DVD's so I'm seeing more movies than usual.

I thought perhaps a thread on movies (as this is off topic let's call this a non sailing movie thread) could be interesting.

Last evening me and the good lady sat down and watched Goodnight and Good Luck. Yes, I know it's been out a while now but there you go, call me slow if you like.

The McCarthy era is one of the most interesting in the history of the USA but I was too young to understand what was going on back then and I'd never even heard of Ed Morrow until the movie came out. Interesting character and if the movie is at all accurate then certainly someone I could happily admire.

I'd need to do further reading before I could vouch for the movies historical accuracy but taken at face value it was a story well worth the telling. The movie itself was rivetting. Not a bad performance from any of the actors and filming it in b&W in no way detracts from the result.

[sailingdog]

Several movies I've seen recently:

Children of Men—The movie is set in a world where women have become barren and pregnancies unknown for almost 20 years. The plot revolves around a young woman, who has miraculously become pregnant, and the efforts of people to control her. My favorite scene is the one where she is trapped in a building with the rebels, and the army is about to storm the building and she and the protagonist, exit the building. Both sides come to an immediate, but very temporary cease fire at the sight of the pregnant woman.

Stranger than Fiction—A story about a man who starts hearing a voice narrating his life. The voice turns out to an author writing a book, and he is the central character in her book. Very interesting conflict in the movie, where the author has written that he must die at the end of her book, and how knowing that he is an actual person changes her view of her writing.

The Guardian—An excellent movie about US Coast Guard, which revolves around an aging rescue swimmer and his motivations for doing what he does.

The Prestige—A movie about two competing magicians, and the depth of the competition forces them to resort to murder. A couple of very interesting plot twists.

The World's Fastest Indian—Based on a true story about a New Zealander Burt Munro, and his quest for a land speed record on his ancient and highly modified Indian motorcycle.

[SailorMitch]

Last night we saw The Departed -- great flick, plot grabs you. Wish I had kept count of how many people died in it (thus, the title.) Worth best director for Scorcese. Nicholson, Di Caprio, Damon, and Wahlberg all give fantastic performances, too.

Tonight we saw Al Bore's Inconvenient Truth. I have to say it makes a convincing argument about global warming, not to start up that topic here since I avoid the ongoing thread about it.

We also saw Little Miss Sunshine not too long ago. Funny movie worth seeing, but I can't believe it was nominated for best picture.

We also recently rented Hollywood Land. About the life of George Reeves, who played SuperMan on the old TV show and whether he did or did not commit suicide. Also worth seeing.

We also see far more movies on DVD than in the theater anymore.

[sailingdog]

The Departed was excellent, and takes place in my hometown of Beantown.

[sailaway21]

Just watched The Departed and World's Fastest Indian. Both were quite good. Little Miss Sunshine was one of those movies that was mildly entertaining but, by the end of it, I wished I'd spent my time otherwise. I can't believe they were talking about an Oscar for it. Then again, maybe I can.

[tdw]

Originally Posted by sailaway21

Just watched The Departed and World's Fastest Indian. Both were quite good. Little Miss Sunshine was one of those movies that was mildly entertaining but, by the end of it, I wished I'd spent my time otherwise. I can't believe they were talking about an Oscar for it. Then again, maybe I can.

I've not seen the Departed yet but Ms W saw World's Fastest Indian and thought it was pretty damn good except for the snoring.

Little Miss Sunshine had it's moments I guess but not my speed. Had sprogs in it, Wombat not like movies with sprogs. Alan Arkin was good as was the fella playing the suicidal brother and the son. Other than that not much was memorable. I think it was trying to be a Royal Tenenbaums (sp?) type of movie but didn't really succeed.

(In case any of you are wondering the snoring was a certain Wombat who fell asleep before the opening credits and missed the entire thing.)

[sailingdog]

TDW-

The snoring of the wombat should not reflect poorly on the movie...

[tdw]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

TDW-

The snoring of the wombat should not reflect poorly on the movie...

My friend , the snoring of Wombat was no reflection on the movie. I was trying to stay awake to see the damn but just didn't make it. I do emphasise that we only have a women's word on it that this little brown Wombat snores at all. Personally I doubt it. I've certainly never heard me snoring.

[sailingdog]

Trust me... if she says you snore... you snore... my sister-in-law used to say it was a true sign of her sister's love for me that she could sleep next to me snoring...

[bestfriend]

The motion picture association has released a new rating system. Its called the snoring wombat system, the more snoring wombats, the worse the movie.