At the flicks

Hello - I haven't posted on this forum for ages although I have seen plenty of movies - none of which I would recommend! Except HP6 of course, and even then it wasn't my favourite HP movie.
What I wanted to ask was - is it just that I'm getting old and grumpy or are movies aimed at younger people getting smuttier! I have been going to the movies with a friend of mine most(cheap) Tuesdays. She likes to vet these movies first before she lets her 14yo daughter see them. Almost without exception she decides not to let her go. It seems so unnecessary to have to listen to young people discuss bodily functions, private parts and sexual proclivities in what is supposed to be everyday conversation. Some that I have seen have been 'The Hangover' - good except for the smut, 'I love you, Man' - so-so with or without, 'The Ugly Truth' again so-so, 'The Proposal' no smut but oh so contrived - good scenery of Alaska, that's all I can say.
The clincher came at the weekend when hubby and I, searching for something to watch on TV came upon an Adam Sandler movie called 'Don't mess the the Zohan'. It was the most offensive movie I have ever seen. It has an M rating which means that children could have seen it. Uggghhhh!
BTW - thanks for steering me in the right direction on what is good. Saw a preview of 500DoS - looks good and I remember and like JGL from 3rd Rock. Hope to see 'Young Victoria' later in the week. It will be a relief after the rubbish I have seen lately. Has anyone seen it?

JGL is adorable in DoS.
Re general state of the movies, don't know whether they're getting worse b/c I see so few new movies. For perspective, when my 20-y-o was an adolescent, he begged me to let him see True Lies b/c he was dying to see a movie with The Ahnold, I acquiesced against my better judgment. I'd seen previews and knew a bit about it. Kid checking us out in video store looked at my son and asked me if I "knew" about the "racy" scene with Jamie Lee Curtis. "You mean the one where a scantily clad -- but clad! -- woman does a sexy dance for her own husband? That doesn't offend me as much as watching people get stabbed in the eye. Sexuality in marriage is a natural part of life. The latter is not!" I indignantly said. Half-way through the movie, after about 40 killings, there was a stab in the eye and my 12-y-o turned to me and said, "Sorry, Mom." So I am NO ONE to discourse on the appropriateness of films for the young.

And I avoid Adam Sandler movies as a matter of principle unless the reviews say, "Wow! This is not the usual Adam Sandler movie!!!" E.g., Spanglish and Punch Drunk Love. Liked both very much. Reign Over Me also good. Very touching.

Looking forward to DoS. Won free tix to Valentino the Last Emperor. Wouldn't have chosen to see it if I had had to pay...but interesting look at a VERY different world. Could get you very angry if you thought about the waste of resources going in to such a vacuous enterprise...still I guess they do employ people....

Won free tix to Stone Bros. On one level it was an indigenous Cheech and Chong-style road movie, but it offered so much more. It had moments of genuine humour, non-PC but gentle, with a wonderful cast of mainly indigenous actors. The writer/director and leading actors answered questions and the best part was that this was a WA production, the road trip going from Fremantle, my local town, to Kalgoorlie, about 600kms away. I hope it does well, it deserves it.

Hello - after my complaints recently about smut in movies, I thought I should come back to report that I have now seen 2 lovely movies in the last week or two. One was, of course 'The Young Victoria' which I loved, although not necessarily historically accurate, I really enjoyed it and the sets, costumes, jewellery and acting were good. Highly recommended. The second was Charlie & Boots, an Aussie road trip movie with Paul Hogan about a bereaved father and his estranged son driving from Victoria to Cape York. It's had mixed reviews but I liked it and Hoges played the grumpy old man perfectly as did Shane Jacobsen as the son. I did also see the kids Pixar movie 'Up' with all 5 of my grandies earlier this week. Top marks from them and not too hard for we adults to sit through. And no smut in all 3 movies.

Gosh, Mary, how do you win all these free tickets?

Het CynB, I would like to say sheer genius.....but my local arthouse cinema is showering them like confetti...not that I'm complaining!!!
Glad you have seen some goodies.

Sunshine Cleaning was a surprise. Much darker than I anticipated given the casting. A movie about and for grownup girls about settling and the resulting disappointment. A la' Hollywood, it ended on a high note, which disappointed me not at all. I like walking away from a movie not worrying about the characters.

Hi CynB. Glad to hear your faith is somewhat restored. I like Paul Hogan as well and enjoyed his Croc Dundee character ("Now THIS is a knife!").

CynB beat me to the punch, Mary. I was wondering about all those free tix as well.

I twas wondering too how Mary ends up with soo many Free Tixs.
My son's girlfriend's mum went and saw UP she said it was great.

I wanted to see SC but didn't get around to it.
Sorry Rolanda...but 'My son's girlfriend's mum' doesn't cut it.....

well that is as close as to a film that I have been in a while....

been ?? seen !!!

Not good enough, my dear.....now get out there and enjoy yourself!!!!

on second thoughts...school hols have started...stay in with a good dvd!!!!

If it's worth seeing, it is or will soon be on dvd. Stay in with a good pinot.

and some choccie....

Yes, always some choccie....

Toujours le Chocolat...what a fantastic name for a....well.... anything really....

Saw An Education, a lovely film set in swinging London in the 60's. Based on a memoir by Lyn Barber it tells of a young girl bound for Oxford, who gets 'distracted' from her studies by a sophisticated older man. A quality film...enjoyed it very much.

Just finished watching a documentary on David Lean, BBC Four, it was quite wonderful, Doctor Zhivago...one of my all time favourites. He was a remarkable man with such vision in his professional life (his private life probably a different matter). I don't know if anyone can get BBC Four abroad though.

Hey Andre, not here unfortunately. The BBC usually blocks their internet sites as well....very annoying! We should get it...eventually...still waiting the No.I Ladies...

Finally got to see (and enjoy) (500)DoS. Agree that it's a lovely film and JG-L is his usual adorable self........but..... Autumn?????????????

Did I MENTION I don't mind a happy Hollywod ending?

you surely did, Terry......at the very least it gave us cause for an eyeball confrontation with the AJG-L...

Mary I was listening to 720 yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, they had the movie buff person on, and she was talking about the movie Education.. sounds like a good movie!!

sure was Rolanda

Mary you will be so pleased with me.. a gold star sticker for moi.
I went to the movies yesterday afternoon, with my nearest and dearest. Tell you what, Hoyts Carousel needs 'up grading', looking a tad tired, broken seats ....
Anyhoo. the movie.. went and saw Julie and Julia. Both Hubby and I enjoyed the movie. Good fun, light entertainment, based on 2 true stories. Feel good movie. Meryl Streep was excellent.

Yo Rolanda....the first of many more????
I believe The Meryl always puts in a good performance.
My daughter has expressed an interest in seeing it with me....a bonding exercise to relive all our culinary exploits in the kitchen together??? I think NOT!!!

Well!!! I would like to yes to 'first of many' but with the way the diary is filling up, between now and C ...
I really wanted to see Mao's Last Dancer, but was outvoted, and 2nd choice got in.
Guess I will have to wait to see Mao on DVD

Saw a fab sci-fi called Moon. The graphics were glorious...very atmospheric. It was a psychological mystery, had 6 actors in it and one actor's voice..a very creepy Kevin Spacey as the robot. I actually paid to see this one and it was worth it!

Kevin Spacey is a master of creepy. Less creepy role for him, and one which I liked a lot, was in Shipping News.

I really liked SN. I thought he was excellent in that role. I heard funny stories at the time that the cast and crew really did have to eat the local staples (seal-flipper pie et al)as there was nothing else on the island. At least KS and JM aren't as precious as other Hollywood 'stars'.

Though they are adorable (particularly JM).

hey babe-a-bellas, just thought i'd pop in and say i haven't seen a movie in months. but having said that, I did see Moon in July (UK)and loved it too...one of the best sci-fi films i've seen in yonks...AND Mary did you know...bet you do...that Bowie's son directed it?
love youse all
x

Yonks!

...Hello Yarnky lady billybuststhrough xxx...

I was thinking today of a film/drama that was on the TV many years ago, written by Deric Longden. It was called 'Lost For Words'. It is a poignant look at the authors own mother, following the deterioration of her memory. I'm not sure how well it translates, but it is a gentle reminder of how fragile we all are, the soft humour helps to ease the pain that must surely follow when someone you love becomes unwell. If you can, get a copy. Wonderfully written.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-YwT8KTQpo

Hello, Goldencarp. My son is in Vermont where he is proud to be a cheesehead. Was at UVM, but plans to transfer to west coast next year for a degree program he wants that's offered here. Killing time working at big cheese maker there while girlfriend gets closer to her degree....