At the flicks

Magnolia is definitely worth a watch, Billy. Tom Cruise playing himself -- an over-the-top superego.

that shouldn't have been a strain

OMG...you have to help me ladies...I can't believe I did what I did..... I was staying in a hotel on the weekend and the in-house movie was.....the dreaded double M...The Movie That Dare Not Speak It's Name. I swear I only watched about 10 mins...I swear...and now I'm bopping to Super Trooper...HELP!!!!

Thanking you kindly billy...It has been bothering me for weeks.

Thanks Terry - I'll just add it to my growing must-watch-dvd-before-i-die list...

A E Neuman - my pleasure is quadrupled knowing that i have stemmed the tide of bother for you.

To all users (4? 5? 6? of us?) of ATF please be assured that any queries, dilemmas, bothers, will be addressed in the blink of an eye, a cramp in the foot or a dislocation of a shoulder - yes! as quick as that!!

"Yes, I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?"

Sorry, Mary, but I couldn't resist.

AARRGGHH

Mary - consider yourself fortunate - a quick lyric search failed to find the words for, cover your ears, 'Supertrooper'!
Glutton for punishment that I am, I took my 4 eldest grandchildren today to see 'Madagascar 2' - their rating 5 stars, my rating 2 1/2 stars, it would have got 3 but, as is so often the case, the good jokes/scenes were in the preview. Not one I'd go to see without children in tow.
BTW - I asked their opinion on the previous movie we saw 'High School Musical 3' (Uuuuggghhhh!!!!) - all 4 of them, aged 7-10, including one boy, gave it 5 stars. They have no taste and I blame my children and their spouses - there must be something wrong in their upbringing!! Cheers and HNY to you all.

Thank you CynB. Believe me, I appreciate small mercies.
It is never your children's fault, because you raised them...therefore it has to be the pernicious influence of the in-laws!

PS Ditto

"The History Boys", a BBC drama written by Alan Bennett. Wonderful indeed. A story about eight intelligent young boys who are determined to gain a place at Oxford. Great humour. And Richard Griffiths as 'Hector' played his part beautifully.

Thanks, Andre'. The Assassination of Nixon. Free on On Demand on Comcast, so available on DVD. Didn't get any attention when it came out so it may have been straight to video. Too quiet and wierd for most, I guess. Sean Penn totally in control as a true nutcase, and Don Cheadle in a throwaway role -- I'm guessing before he became recognized as one of our greatest actors. Naomi Watts with little more than nothing to do. That's a waste. Good flick, though.

Bought the movie Eagle Eye. Has mixed reviews which means I will either love it or hate it.

Yes, billy, bothers are a nuisance indeed. They seem to be leaving me alone now. I must thank you for that.

A promotional quote from sources unknown for those of us for whom TPOEIAR 'Rickman is droll with dazzling perfection'. The movie is called Bottle Shock...that's all I (need to) know...

So Angie...which is it???

Mary, what's TPOEI?

How quickly one forgets...The Point of Everything is Alan Rickman....
The movie should do well in the US as I believe it is about how New World wines are better than the French ones.

When my friend and I were introduced to Woody Allen movies back in the good old days at Uni, we made a pact to see every WA movie that came out. Little did we think we would still be going 30+ years later (and maybe we shouldn't be). This latest effort, like too many of his recent ones, was just ok. The scenery was lovely, the Spanish bedroom eyes of JB to die for, PC was great. However the voice-over was irritating, unnecessary and excessive, the story humdrum and pointless and it left us feeling 'so what'. Pity really...

I'm married to a Woody Allenphile. I can't stand him since his fling-turned-marriage, and with the exception of Hannah and Her Sisters, have found his movies to be a big yawn.

TPOEIAR indeed. Thanks for the heads up on the flick.

Ladies of this forum - I know this is frivolous and I obviously have too much time on my hands, but I just wanted to treat you to some eye candy -
Enjoy!

ooooooh yeah, thanx CynB Now I WAS going to say something deep and meaningful....but what the heck...

I'll try this again - it wouldn't accept last time. I reviewed the movies I saw over the Christmas break on DVD.
Last years blockbusters -
Get Smart - I can't think why they bothered, not funny, boring and I dozed off.
The Dark Knight - Oh I hated this one- far, far too long and didn't even think highly of Heath Ledgers performance.
Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull - Hated it more than The Dark Knight and fell asleep only to wake up and see the ending. Unbelievable tripe is all I can say.
Run Fatboy Run - love Sean Pegg and quite enjoyed this movie.
Death at a Funeral - laughed myself silly, bit slapstick at times.
27 Dresses - typical chick flick but OK.
PS I love You - loved this movie, even though Hillary Swank was the lead (she leaves me cold)
Ten Canoes - unclassifiable - I kept watching to see if anything would happen.
Well, that's probably my movie watch until next Christmas but keep up the good work so I know what to bother to take out on DVD.
I can't do Mamma Mia - ABBA music reminds me too much of the 70's(saw the stage show because the ticket was a birthday present otherwise I would have stayed home).

Really liked Gran Torino. I'm not a CE fan...have never seen any of his movies (the trailers were enough to put me off) but this one was different. It was real and funny and sad. Mostly sad. Left me feeling like I had seen a movie that said something important...a rare treat...

I had an embarrassing moment the other night. Friend called about seeing The Changeline, "the new CE movie." I thought Gran Torino, and it wasn't until the opening scene with Angelina Jolie that I realized where I was. I don't do child abduction movies. I offerred to go to the mall and let her finish but the friend left with me. She called yesterday after returning to the theater to see The Changeling and said she was sorry she did.

Hey Terry, I agree. Before Kids I used to be able to watch anything. Then after the birth of my daughter I couldn't watch anything involving little girls getting hurt....boys? no worries, didn't bother me....and THEN...when I had my sons I turned into a basket case...can't watch anything bad about kids. Thank goodness the problem didn't age with them or I wouldn't be able to watch anything at all

You and me both, Mary. I don't even think The Changling worries about the little boy Angelina Jolie receives instead of her son. I would be a basket case screaming at the screen, "Why aren't you trying to get that child home?" I don't know how the movie actually resolves that situation, and don't want to know, thank you very much.

Just saw Blow Dry for the first time (2001) and don't know why given that TPOEIAR. Rachel Griffiths, Miranda Richardson and Bill Nighy costar along with a couple of Americans, one of whom inexplicably doesn't even attempt a British accent. The movie's not sure if it's comedy or a sticom version of melodrama, but must be forgiven for its shining cast and fabulous closing scenes. Fans of The AR, enjoy.

Saw I've loved You for So Long, a French movie with Kristen Scott-Thomas. She was fantastic in a moving portrait of despair.Not for anyone looking for a little light relief.

Waltz with Bashir, an incredible animated Israeli movie about the Sabra and Shatila massacres...harrowing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button....curious. The make-up people should win an Oscar. How ever they made the maturely good-looking BP into a ravishing 20 y-o...I want some of that...oh, and BP too! The acting was terrific, the settings fantastic, but it just didn't grab me. A touch long-winded perhaps?

Valkyrie...based on a true story. Tom Cruise (I always see Cruise playing Tom Cruise and not the part he is supposed to be portraying), Bill Nighy being Bill Nighy - wonderful, and so many others, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Izzard, Terrence Stamp etc. The filming took place in Germany in orginal locations and that gave it a bit of an edge but English accents are 'de rigeur'. I read afterwards about the true circumstances of Stauffenburg(TC)and his feelings towards the Jews at the start of the war, however, this film addresses issues he and others had when they saw the true extent of the attrocities being committed in the name of Hitler. This film attempts to show the turmoil of some of the German people, including Stauffenburg, being trapped in a country at war, obligated to follow the wishes of their leader and the course they must take to try and stamp out Hitler and redeem themselves to the rest of the world. I'd give it 8/10. Well worth watching.

Benicio is going to be on the 'Jonathan Ross' show - BBC, this week...oh my...be still my beating heart x

oooooh, Benicio!!!!!!!!!

yoohooo all! i love bill Nighy - did any one see 'the girl in the cafe'on telly?

Saw Doubt with the Meryl and the Philip, a bit like watching an act-off between the two of them, but i thought the oscar should go to the African American/black lady who played the boy's mother - brilliant. Engrossing, but the ending...not sure about it - seemed a little weak.

Went and saw CHANGELING today..have noted Terry & Mary's comments and have to add my 2 bob's worth. For those not in the know it is:

"Provocative thriller based on the actual incident in Los Angeles, 1928, that rocked California's legal system, 'Changeling' tells the shocking tale of a mother's quest to find her son, and those who won't stop until they silence her."

It is a long'ish film that had me riveted to the screen in horror...it must be every mothers nightmare. Won't give away the ending... An extremely good film but not something you can exactly say that you enjoyed. At he same time it isn't a film to be missed / that will be forgotten in a hurry. I am glad that I saw it.

Billy...I really enjoyed 'The Girl in the Cafe' but why did it have to be on so late at night...didn't mean to watch it but once I started there I stayed!

I watched 'Snow Cake' on DVD the other week. Alan Rickman and Sigourny Weaver (she was so good, and of course so was he). A beautiful, simple film. The ending was so right. Loved it. Can you say 'so right'? well I just did.

Oh bother I left her 'e' out. Sorry Sig!