At the flicks

Billy, my daughter loved Pan too.Her friend had warned her about the gruesome bits so she was able to avoid them.

Celia - the director had originally wanted Cate Blanchett for the role of Miss Potter but she had to pull out due to other commitments. How was Reneé? Was her accent convincing?

Mary - still haven't got around to seeing Pan, looks like Perfume and the Last King of Scotland will be the winners this w/end.

so what does ring your bells Billy?

Dingle (or Quasimodo?),now I have that Amy whateverhername is singing 'you can ring my beeeeeeee-eelllllll, ring my bell....' as to what rings my bells, geez a bit of a personal question wouldn't you say? But a nice slice of gorganzola will generally do it...

I, too, saw 'The Queen' and loved it. Helen Mirren was spot-on for the way I think QE behaves. I enjoyed the costumes and the sets, also, but is 10 Downing Street so small, cluttered and in need of paint? Doesn't the PM have servants? The actor who played Prince Charles lacked a bit of fogginess, but he looked so much like Edward who abdicated.

Barb and I are big Helen Mirren fans. She was great in Lizzy I. Also the mystery series as a detective were superb. Rome on HBO is quite good.

Billy-Get Fuzzy is a comic strip. Not as good as Calvin & Hobbes was. But what is?

Because I Said-I have not spoken to one women who liked this film.

Children of Men-9.9 My kind of movie. All happy.
The pursuit of Happyness-Heard very good things about this one. Two nice for me.
Volver-8.5

Did anyone see Little Children?

Ruby-Your reviews are spot-on.

Ed - Children of men i would have given 8.5, Clive Owen is one of my favourite actors.
Have not heard of Because I Said or Little Children - but shall look out for them.
I'm also waiting on Atonement.

Hi All: regarding movies I have seen: I loved Peter O'Toole in VENUS; thought NOTES ON A SCANDAL was terrific. Looking fwd to QUEEN and am seeing DEPARTED tomorrow. I have gotten mixed reviews from my friends on BABEL, but you folks seem to like it. How about Little Children?

Ed: I am a big, big fan of Get Fuzzy, but don't know where the names come from...please enlighten us.

Susan B - I really liked The Departed, but I know a few people who really did not. Leonardo DC surprised me, thought he was very good.
I'm seeing Perfume this arvo. Babel has very mixed reviews, I thought it was beautifully filmed as well as being a thought provoking film.

Billy-hope you enjoy Perfume. Look forward to your review.
I loved Children of Men but then I would watch Grass Grow if Clive Owen was in it!!!

Perfume - am always apprehensive when watching a movie from a book that I have enjoyed. I read Perfume (Parick Suskind) a good 10 years ago and it became one of my top 10 reads ever. The film did not disappoint. Ben Wishaw was brilliant as Jean Baptiste. The setting (C18th)seemed so authentic and I was amazed how scenes depicted, were what I had imagined. The final scenes could so easily have turned the film into a farce had it not been handled correctly. Loved it, 9.5/10. I have not read any reviews as yet and don't know what the critics think of it. Dustin Hoffman was a delight to watch.

Saw the shorts to Little Children and Notes On a scandal - both 'look' good. Venus coming soon. Is it just me,? It seems we are inundated with a crop of so many good films to see for a change.

ooops - Patrick not Parick...I'm tired...

Hi All: to report that I have now seen DEPARTED and thought it was very very good. A wonderful cast, but very violent. If you like GOODFELLOWS, you would like DEPARTED.

Ed, Ed, Ed.....such an easy question about 'Get Fuzzy'. Rob, the owner (maybe roommate is a better word), is a huge sports fanatic. Both animals got their names from legendary baseball players, Satchel Paige and Buck O'Neil. Love that comic!

Ed, also, Bucky's snaggletooth has been mentioned in the comic several times as a reason for his name.

I'll skip the popcorn!

We saw Pan's Labrynth last weekend. It was very good, but too violent and too sad for me. I did not come away with a good feeling, and I had to close my eyes at some parts.
The Departed is sad, too, but I liked the unpredictability of the story.

Leonard Cohen-I'm your Man was a great doc. It made me start seaching for more of his material.
Stranger than Fiction had a lovely ending and posed some interesting questions, but not a great movie.

Mary - L/C got 4 stars in the paper today, so did Stranger than Fiction. I will see it just for Dustin H I think.
Haven't seen anything written about Perfume.

So you rub the gorgonzloa all over? You should try white castello.

OFFICIAL WARNING: Perfume is weird, ok. Sorry Jaz for perhaps giving you a bum steer - hope you've recovered. It will not be everyone's 'cup of tea'.

Dongle, Dangle, Dingle, Dungle - introduce yourself...

Billy-I thought the ending in Stranger was terrific but my teenage boys thought it was a cop-out!Dustin was great-his face when he has read the draft and is talking to Will Ferral is wonderful. Check out the book he is reading in the swimming pool! I would rate it as a sweet movie-worth seeing but not 'great'.

Goodness - Mary, which movies do I see??? Last King of scotland, Notes On a Scandal, Stranger Than Fiction, Volver, Pan, little Children, Miss Potter??? I've never been so spoilt for choice before - what the hell is going on? The film industry acknowledging that the film-going public have a modicum of intelligence? Surely not...

No I wouldn't think so...just a brief moment of serendipity perhaps? Enjoy it while it lasts.

Angie-Correct answer. Good job. Now were did the name Get Fuzzy come from?

Billy-love to read your very smart comments.

Mary-Leonard Cohen just recorded a new album. It's in Barb's car, I'm to tired to go get it. Watch the movie McCabe and Mrs. Miller, music by Leonard Cohen. Billy-Did you see that movie?

I'm having trouble staying awake. Catch you wonderful people later.

I hear Venus is quite good. Might be a little to soft for me. The two part Criminal Minds just televised was great. Love that show.

Good night.

Ed - you got me there. I could probably find the official answer on Wikipedia or a similar site, but I think I will pass. I am going to guess that it is in reference to the animals and Rob's interactions with them. Do you know the answer, or were you hoping that I did?

Billy: Perfume, yes, well! I was going to see Marie Antoinette but a friend told me the ending lol so, I decided to see Perfume, instead. The words 'bizarre' and 'beautiful' come to mind, but still, I can't say that I enjoyed it. It's not exactly an entertaining movie, more a work of art to be admired and looked at.
If I had to compare Perfume to any movie it would perhaps be The Girl With the Pearl Earring in that it's kind of a dark, brooding film, beautiful to look at. Aside from the tone, however, it is pretty much a unique film, almost a genre onto itself. And the ending has to be seen to be believed lol My friend and I walked away saying “where have we been for the last two hours”. I have not read the book, so cannot compare.
I will see Notes on a Scandal ~ Cate Blanchett, Judy Dench (opens Feb 15)

Ed - I'm pretty sure I've seen McCabe and Mrs Miller, I can't imagine my film studies teacher not showing it at school as he was a huge Altman and western fan. Having said that, the soundtrack eludes me too! It was a long time ago - does that excuse me?

Jaz - i do wonder whether you should read the book? I do agree - it is not a film to be enjoyed but perhaps 'experienced'? By the way, i loved the Girl with the Pearl Earring too, again another good book. Didn't think it was weird, but certainly dark/brooding.

Stranger Than Fiction - Like you Mary, I really liked this movie even though it's not a great film. For some reason it really touched me, I thought all the performances were good, loved the humour.Was the book Lord Fauntleroy? Wasn't sure if that was what Dustin was reading. Love the 'little did he know' spiel.
The Jam's 'That's Entertainment' song was just brilliant - forgot how good that song was and I hadn't heard it in yonks. 6.5/10 - just a nice/gentle film that Ed probably shouldn't see.

Billy, It stared Warren Beatty and Julie Christie. Set in a western mining town, big on hookers and drugs. There was much more but I tell you that to help you remember.

Angie, Angie, Angie, The name Get Fuzzy was the name of Darby Conley's brothers band in Athens Georgia.

Ed - i'm going to have to watch it (again?).

Just been to the flicks and it was hard choice between Last King of Scotland and Little Children, after much deliberation over which choc-ice to buy we went with Little Children.
Whoah! This film had so much happening in it, disturbing, funny and strangely moving. Loved the Book club scene. The credits caught my eye, in the list of cast members was 'oddly familiar man' - not sure if I'd want that on my resumé.
DEFINITELY NOT FOR EVERYONE - disturbing themes and scenes. 8/10

Did you mean that I probably would not see? Probably not. Good Numbers (tv) last night.

I think I'm losing interest in Boston Legal. You would know the most gentile tv show I watch would be the one that is starting to bore me. I need help.

Good nite. I'm tired. It's 1:15 am. I sleep less and less. I just never want to go to bed.

Let us know what you think of M&MM if you watch it again. I'm out of here. Love all of you.

ooooh oooooh so excited!!! Running With Scissors has been made into a movie!! But still have about another 5 to catch up on - so little time...so much to see...will I get sick of eggs benedict?

Billy-is that a silly question? No-one can get sick of EB!

Billy Again-Hot Choccie and thermal undies (though we won't be checking on the latter) in June.

Mary - You can check - I like my t/undies - they're the multi-striped ones that come in pretty colours - i have been known to display them in public, a bit like 'where's wally' - the wally is pretty obvious...but June is fine and appropriate for both H/C and T/U.