Recently watched movies

[Magpie]

Just finished watching "The Colour Of Magic" and am pleasantly surprised.

Despite hearing a lot of criticism about it, I think the producers did a fine job of taking two of the weakest of the Discworld novels and molding them into a bloody good movie.

And Tim Curry is brilliant, as always.

[mariab]

The last flick I went to see at the movies was Never let me go, from the book by Kazuo Ishiguro (of The remains of the day fame). I think it opened in the US last fall, and it just opened in continental Europe last week. It was OK (although I can't claim I enjoy Keira Knightly as an actress). Pretty much of a downer, most obviously and clearly written by a Japanese (all that passivity and “acceptance“). Not sure if it had much of an impact on me though. I walk out of the movie theater, go shopping, get 2 pairs of boardshorts for free from my sponsor, have a nice cappuccino outside, and it's already “movie? like, what movie?“.
Scream IV just opened in Berlin. The reason Scream I keeps playing on German TV whenever one turns it on, all weekend.

[c.d.]

I read that Andy Griffith swore never to play a similar role again. Apparently, he got into the character so much that some of his character's personality spilled over into his home life. I can believe that.

c.d.

[sdreid]

Regarding A Face in the Crowd

I don't want to mention any names but there were several TV personalities from the 1950s who were not as they seemed and that this movie could have been based on.

Tennessee Ernie Ford was the big TV Country personality of that era and I will say with confidence that it was not based on him, if he's the one who comes to anyone's mind. I believe he was actually a distant relative of mine through my paternal grandmother but I would have to check that for sure with my parents.

[c.d.]

Just saw "A Face in the Crowd", a 1957 movie directed by Elia Kazan and starring Andy Griffith and Patricia Neal. I read the description of the film and it said a "powerfull drama." I thought how the hell could Andy Griffith star in a movie like that? You know, good ole boy Sheriff Andy from good ole Mayberry. All I can say after watching the movie is holy **** does he turn in a powerfull performance as a southern drifter who can sing a little and play a little guitar. He lands a job with a local TV station and soon becomes a hit with his corny jokes and folksy ways. I won't tell you the rest of the plot but it is an excellent movie and very relative to today.

c.d.

[Sally]

Death Race 2 was surprisely good, once you get past the shaky start

It was surprising, wasn't it? I liked it too. I watched The Book of Eli the other night, which was quite entertaining so long as you didn't ask too many questions. I felt it had just missed being great - but still ok.

[Magpie]

I watched Saw 7 and Death Race 2 this week

Saw 7 finally saw the franchise jump the shark. Not bad, but woefully below the standard of the previous ones.

Death Race 2 was surprisely good, once you get past the shaky start.

[sdreid]

I watched Pushover last evening starring Kim Novak and Fred MacMurray which I liked. It's a film noir type story that isn't shot in a film noir style. Kim's the femme fatale and Fred's a good cop who goes bad.

[mariab]

Hello all. Anybody's seen Made in Dagenham, because it just opened in Berlin today. Not sure that I want to see it, though. It sounds a little bit “fluffy“/chickflicky.

[mariab]

Sorry to hear it. Somehow I didn't get wind of it (I was working so hard all December, until Xmas). I hope that German TV comes around to doing a retrospective about him, since they play the Naked gun series pretty often anyway. The Germans love it.
I've never seen any of his old movies, only the comedies.

[c.d.]

Hi Maria,

Yes, I am sad to say that he died about a month ago.

c.d.

[mariab]

Wow. I've heard that before Airplane he used to do action parts, and then turned to comedy.

[corey123]

Hello Maria,

Sadly, yes.

[mariab]

To C.D. and Corey:
He he. I mostly loved Rick Moranis playing with his dolls.
And - "Roger.“ - “Huh?“ And the Saturday night fever spoof.
Wow, is Leslie Nielsen dead?

[c.d.]

"and don't call me Shirley."

Leslie Nielsen in Airplane. May he rest in peace.

c.d.