I'm actually very ambivalent about The Prestige Lysander. On the one hand it was a well made movie with a number of great actors. On the other hand, I couldn't root for, or identify with, either of the main protagonists. Ultimately, the film depressed me. It's kind of hard to appreciate a Morality Play that leaves one feeling hopeless , even if it is well done.

Your friend's comment was hilarious . I like both Bale and Jackman as actors, but if I had to choose which one I like as a "character"--it would have to be Jackman. He seems to have a sense of humour and be more down-to-earth. Whereas Bale, in most of his roles, comes across as rather dour.

I finally watched The Green Mile after many years of resisting my curiosity. Generally speaking I have a strong dislike for Prison Movies, unless they feature an exceptional Martial Artist forced to fight in cage matches by Sadistic Guards . Also, I always had the sense that the film would be sad, and as I've already mentioned, I don't care to watch depressing films.

But I like a lot of Stephen King books and films. so I finally let my curiosity get the better of me. Yes, it was a sad film, and I did shed a few tears. But, surprisingly, I didn't find the movie depressing. Perhaps it was the Fantasy element. Or perhaps it was that beneath the surface, it offered a layer of hope. There seemed to be a theme of redemption, or atonement, and a sense of the Miraculous. It actually reminded me strongly of Pan's Labyrinth, even though the stories are so different. It may be that the juxtaposition of the Horrors of humanity with the Beauty of the Transcendent are what make such different films resonate with each other, and with me. The Green Mile is definitely a top notch film, and deserved to win the Oscars it was nominated for.

GB

Despite my upteenth times of watching it, I STILL have yet to find the part where Lizzy "checks out Wickham's backside".

It's in the ribbon shop.

I see I really will have to watch it again soon and take notes so I can compile an exhaustive list of the innuendo. Just because we don't notice it does not mean that it is not there, or that it is innocuous. We are not immune to this stuff, even if we aren't fully conscious of it. The best thing to do is be aware of it when it crops up, repudiate it, and move on to the rest of the film, if what is left is worth it. Sometimes the smut is so entwined with the film's message and characters that we can't separate the two. It's at that point we need to stop watching.

Yes, lys, it's the version with Jimmy Stewart. I'll be sure to give my thoughts when we've seen it.

I haven't seen innuendo in P&P, but then I haven't watched it in a looooong time...I really like the older version of P&P, the one with Colin Firth and Jenifer Ehele. It's my favorite. Even though it takes foverer to watch it, because it's 5 or 6 hours long.

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I actually found Bale more sympathetic than Jackman in The Prestige, GB, but in general I agree—often he can seem rather distant, whereas Jackman is always present and involved.

I'll be sure to give my thoughts when we've seen it.

Please do!

Now, for some thoughts of my own:

As part of my Masterpieces of Film college course, we have started watching a series of great and/or influential films during class periods, and Annie Hall (1977) is the second of that number. I was both excited and nervous about seeing my first Woody Allen film, excited because he and this movie have both become pretty legendary, and nervous because I wasn't sure I would like it; after all, "adult situations" and sex-related humor aren't usually what I look for in a film. In the end, it's not something I'd run out to watch again. Parts of it were hilarious, but other parts were just over-the-top unnecessary, and the worldview was very bleak. (As is fitting for a nihilist writer/director. ) Still, fun to see early cameos from such talents as Carol Kane, Shelley Duvall, and Christopher Walken. 2/5

I've actually seen Hitchcock's 1955 film To Catch a Thief twice this week, once when I needed a little light entertainment at the end of a troubled day, and once when a friend requested to watch it. Admittedly, I suffer from incurable nostalgia when it comes to this film. It was my first Hitchcock, and it started a love affair with the director's oeuvre for me (as well as a slight schoolboy crush on Grace Kelly ). In spite of my love for it, today I am able to see its faults without argument. The dubbing of French-speaking Charles Vanel is awful, Cary Grant should probably have spent a few less hours on the tanning beds, the romantic elements work better than the mystery/suspense, and I do see now that the pacing is rather slow—another five minutes could have been cut here and there and added immeasurably to the excitement of the piece. But then again, its virutes are difficult to deny as well. First of all, this movie is incredibly, undeniably beautiful. It features gorgeous gowns, stunning locations, and beautiful people. The whole thing runs like a fine champagne. (Not that I know anything about fine champagnes, of course ) And most of all, there's the incredible chemistry between Grant and Kelly. It's surprising, going back, to see how much innuendo fills their scenes, but overall it's tasteful, and the dialogue (by John Michael Hayes of Rear Window fame) is snappy and quotable. John Williams, Brigitte Auber, and Jessie Royce Landis also turn in wonderful supporting performances. 8/10
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I still haven't seen To Catch a Thief all the way through yet...but I will have to, because everyone says it's good.

I'm super excited for The Brothers Bloom. I didn't get a chance to see it while it was in theaters, I didn't even hear about it until the past month or so. Apparently it comes out Oct. 6, and I'm buying it right away . Anyone else heard of it/seen it/have an opinion on it?

Has anyone ever seen any Deanna Durbin films? I absolutely love her and I think she's a fantastic singer as well as being extremely talented and spunky.

One of my favorite movies is It Started With Eve. If you like old movies I highly recommend it! It's a wonderful romantic comedy!

*waves* Fellow Deanna Durbin fan here! I love her movies! "It Started With Eve" is probably my most favorite with her, though I do love her "Three Smart Girls", "Mad About Music", "Lady on the Train", and "Three Smart Girls Grow Up" as well. Which ones have you seen? I've seen all the ones that I can get my hands on.

Yay! It's not often I meet Deanna Durbin fans!
I've seen pretty much all of them except a few which are not on video or are too expensive for me to get my hands on. on eBay. Our library system had some but many of them were suspiciously missing. Due perhaps to their great value on eBay perhaps? As for the ones I didn't see, I think For the Love of Mary was one of them and then her only Technicolor movie and some others.

I really like First Love (Cinderella stories are wonderful! ), Lady on a Train (because it's a mystery and it reminds me a little bit of Bonita Granville as Nancy Drew which I also love!), and Spring Parade (That one isn't on video I don't think but I bought it off eBay as a copied DVD. It's not copyrighted so you are allowed to make copies of it apparently. If you have never seen it, I recommend it! ) I always like her movies with Robert Cummings best for some reason!
The Amazing Mrs Holliday was also very good although I haven't seen it in ages. The ones you mentioned were wonderful as well!

Last night I watched Something in the Wind. It was alright but definitely not one of her best. The script and the plot was poorly written. It needed serious help. Donald O'Conner was fantastic in it though and so was Deanna. I just wish the it had been written and put together better. It just seemed a bit sloppy and quick.

I really like "First Love" as well...a bit cheesy, but a definitely cute version of the Cinderella story.
(I love Bonita Granville as Nancy Drew!! )

I have seen "Spring Parade", though I wasn't too impressed by it. It was cute, but not a fav. of mine. I really like Robert Cummings, so he just adds to the charm.

I agree, "Something in the Wind" was lacking something...I'm a big fan of Donald O'Connor (totally loved his songs), but as you said, it was poorly written.

"For the Love of Mary" is cute, but not a huge favorite...the only of Deanna Durbin's movies that I didn't like was "Can't Help Singing"...I found it so annoying. lol. There have been several that I didn't care much for, but enjoyed bits and pieces from...such as "Up in Central Park" and "One Hundred Men and a Girl".

Hmm...I'm looking at her movies on imdb, and I realized that really the only one I haven't seen is "Hers to Hold" and I HAVE seen part of that one.

So, yes, big fan of Deanna Durbin!

I take it you're an old-time movie fan? What else do you like besides Deanna Durbin and the old "Nancy Drew"? Have you seen the "Thin Man" series?

Wow! You've seen a lot more then I have! But I'm working on it!....

Oh yes! I love old movies. I've never heard of the Thin Man series before. I just had to go look it up on google. They look really interesting! I'll definitely have to see if our library system has them. Is there any specific one you would recommend watching first? (I take it there are more then one.)

I actually really liked the Andy Hardy series with Mickey Rooney! I think they are hilarious as silly as they may be! Mickey Rooney always makes me laugh. I especially love his movies with Judy Garland. They make the most wonderful team. They had an amazing chemistry and you could really tell that they loved working together! So Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney movies are some of my favorites.

I also liked Jimmy Stewart in Mr Smith Goes to Washington (Fabulous!) and of course It's a Wonderful Life. I never really liked him in Westerns though. I thought he did much better in movies like You Can't Take it with You and the Shop Around the Corner. I don't know why it is but I can't ever get used to him as a Cowboy! Which reminds me of John Wayne (I love The Searchers! It's such a powerful film!) and Steve McQueen in The Magnificent Seven and the Great Escape....Now I'm just rambling.

I'm also a huge Errol Flynn fan! The Adventures of Robin Hood is one of my favorites of his as well as Captain Blood, Dodge City and many more! I think he was a fantastic actor! Definitely one of my favorites! Olivia de Havilland was wonderful with him. Tyrone Power in The Mark of Zorro is another favorite. I always wished it was Errol Flynn instead though!

Recently we watched the old Black and White version of Father of the Bride (With Spencer Tracy) and it's sequel Father's Little Dividend. I really enjoyed those as well.

And of course musicals which I could go on about for a while. I think I should stop talking now.

We recently watched Son of Rambow. What a cute, bittersweet, complicated little film! Though I didn't like how biblical truth was mixed with the legalism of the Plymouth Brethren cult. The part where the preacher is talking about temptation and how God doesn't tempt us, it's our own flesh that does it — all that is very true, and right from Scripture! But the Bible doesn't teach the legalism and ascetism of that group .

There is also a little language in it; nothing major but I never like hearing that stuff from a child's mouth . Not that I enjoy it from anyone, but there's something particularly troubling about a child using profanity. But I think it's intended to be, in the context of the film.

Besides that, it was quite fun. Will Poulter was great, of course. Didier was hilarious... but also a bit dark. I loved the tiny glimpse we get of him on the bus on the way home; could it be that his massive self-confidence was just a way of coping with his unpopularity among the other exchange students? Solid performances all around.

I don't think this will ever be a big favorite with us, but it is certainly worth watching.

I'll have to get Son of Rambow on my Netflix list.
Just recently watched The Holiday and surprisingly, I liked it. It was actually like watching two separate films with an overlapping beginning, middle and end. I could have done without the Amanda (Cameron Diaz) parts but the Iris (Kate Winslet) story was very charming.
I think it's one I'll want to see again.

Just finished watching Gojira (Godzilla) from 1954. It was the original Japanese cut with English subtitles. I enjoyed it far more than the horrible dubbed American release, which I saw when I was a kid (I didn't understand the fuss and thought it was incredibly cheesy). That was the only English version available until quite recently.
Yes, Gojira was a man in a rubber suit and yes, it would have been better if they had more time and money (he wasn't state-the-art even then) but the noir filming style, the great (but sparse) music, the human drama and most of the acting are what help it rise far above the several weakness. Gojira is rarely shown and when he is, it's only for several moments. The parallels with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (this was only made 9 years after) grounds the movie and helps to keep it haunting and sombre.
Gojira was much improved in it's original form.
The formula has been repeated endlessly and become a huge cliche and that hurt my opinion of it somewhat, also Gojira looks a bit silly at times, but the character focus makes it all worth it.
I'm giving it a 7.5/10

I watched the Americanized version of Godzilla with Raymond Burr when I was a kid myself W4J. I was too young then to realize what a hatchet job it was, and I still have a soft spot for it today . But I had the fortune some years ago to see the original with subtitles (I think it was a bootleg) that a Japanese exchange student loaned me.

Gojira is everything you say. It has so much more depth emotionally, and sociologically. The apocalyptic scars of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are apparent (and they continue to inform Japanese Art and Film). It's a lot easier to get past the corny rubber suit in the original version. And I still love the miniature sets .

GB

I watched 2 movies over the weekend:
Beverly Hills Chihuahua: Ok, the trailer was pretty misleading. I was expecting a musical starring chihuahuas. But it was okay; not the best talking animal movie made ever, but it was kinda cute. My sister was the one who wanted to watch it.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Very, very, very sad. The acting was really good. Just made me think. A lot.