Time for More Movies / Judy

I'd like to concentrate on English costume, i.e. historical films. Here are five of my favorites

Enchanted April

I've posted about this one before, but it is still probably my all-time favorite movie, so I'm going to repeat myself. It's the story of four British women in London in 1920 who want to get away for a month-long, husbandless vacation. They rent a villa in Italy and end up in paradise, spending a month in self-discovery. Some people say it's slow-moving, but I think that's part of its charm. I love it. Available for Instant Viewing on Netflix.

The Importance of Being Earnest

It's a movie adaptation of an Oscar Wilde comedy about mistaken identities in 1890. Two proper Englishmen use the same pseudonym with hilarious results. It's a flat-out comedy, even a farce, and one that the whole family might like. Also on Netflix Instant Viewing.

An Ideal Husband

Another Oscar Wilde film, some funny parts but more of a drama. It also takes place in London in 1895 and one of the fun things about it is seeing the costumes and manners of a very different time and place. Once in a video rental store I asked the clerk, "Do you have An Ideal Husband?" She looked at me horrified and said, "NO. And that's none of your business." Anyway, it's also on Netflix Instant Viewing.

The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain

This one takes place not in London, but in Wales just after WWI. A small Welsh community sent many of its young men to die in France. They find a reason to come together and enjoy life again. It's a charming story and stars a young Hugh Grant at his best. On Netflix Instant Viewing.

The Winslow Boy

Unfortunately this one is only available on DVD from Netflix, but it's worth getting. It takes place in London again around 1910. One reviewer said it is a story that seems to be about one thing, but it's actually about something else. It's fun to see if you can figure out what that "something else" is. One thing I really like about this movie is the way it portrays a loving family and how they interact in a crisis.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

This takes place in 1939 London and shows a significant day in Miss Pettigrew's life. It's funny, cute, serious, and generally delightful. I watched it on Netflix Instant

Favorite Family Movies / Judy

It's time for more movies! You might be more aware of these, unlike the last batch, but this is a list of movies that are just plain fun and enjoyable.

In no particular order, some personal and family

favorites

1. Enchanted April

We'll start with my very own favorite. It's about four women in London in the 1920's who rent a villa in Italy for the month of April and how it changes their lives and also the men in their lives. One critic said it was like taking a mini vacation in Italy. Some people say it's too slow, but that turns out to be part of its charm.

2. The Butcher's Wife

This one is about a clairvoyant who lives with her grandmother on an isolated island. She sees a butcher from New York who is there on vacation, and marries him because she thinks she's seen him in her dreams. They return to the city and she influences everyone around her, sometimes in spite of themselves, and in turn finds the real man of her dreams. For some reason it didn't go over too well with the critics, but it's one of our family's faves.

3. Noises Off

For anyone who's ever been in a play or has seen one, this is for you. We follow a traveling theater group from final rehearsals to opening night to the tour. Eventually, what is going on backstage is much more exciting than what's happening out front. It is hilarious!

4. Tortilla Soup

A family drama that's also about food. A widowed Mexican-American chef has three adult daughters who are trying to find their own way while staying connected to the family. The story is delightful, but the scenes about meal preparation are stunning. You go looking for something to eat immediately.

5. Waking Ned Devine

An Irish gem that I think you'll love. Ned has just won the big Irish lottery, but it's such a shock that he dies. His friends decide to fool the lottery investigator so they can all share the money, in Ned's name of course.

6. Return to Me

When we showed this to my dad, he said, "I guess they can make movies like they used to." I hesitate to tell the plot because it's sort of unbelievable, but the acting, especially by the supporting characters,  is  wonderful and makes you believe it. A happily married woman loses her life in a car accident and her heart is transplanted into a young woman who would have died without it. When she meets the widower, they fall for each other at first sight. (See what I mean about the plot?) Still, it's funny and charming and another one I highly recommend.

7. Joe Vs. the Volcano

I'm afraid Tom Hanks thinks of this as one of his failures, but we absolutely love it. It's fun and a little silly, but it's also got some great lines and images. It's about a working stiff who hates his job. Then he learns he only has a short time to live. Adventure ensues.

Enough Politics, Now Movies & Books / Judy

In my last post, "When Lloyd& I Started this Blog," I recommended 4 lesser-known films that both Lloyd & I watched. I don't know about your lives, but it's rare that we have time together. So besides those movies that I enjoy, I'm also on the lookout for ones we'll both like. The themes and pace are more for adults than children. "The Big Miracle" from the last post would be one for the whole family.

 Here are five more films that I recommend with shared popcorn 

1. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

This is a quirky British movie ("quirky" and "British" are often synonymous). Although it's not as funny as the trailer promises, it has more heart. It's about a visionary sheik from Yemen who wants to establish salmon fishing in his country and goes to Britain's Academy of Fisheries, or something, for help. It stars two of my favorite actors: Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor. No subtitles of course.  Netflix DVD, not instant.

2. Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Another British entry. This one is longish (2 hrs 5 min) and leisurely, but it builds and by the end has exerted a compelling charm. It's about several British retirees who travel to India to live in an exotic hotel that is not nearly as wonderful as the brochures describe. All their stories are interwoven around the hotel manager and you really care about these people, at least I did. Again, Netflix DVD, not instant.

3. Queen to Play

This one is French and has subtitles. It's unrated, but again it's okay. It's about a motel maid on the island of Corsica who one day sees an American couple playing chess on the balcony of their room. She becomes intrigued with the game and asks an American (Kevin Kline) to teach her the game. She becomes very good at it. In fact, she becomes so good that it changes her life and everything around her. It is available on Netflix instant.

4.  The Women on the 6th Floor (Subtitles)

A French comedy, but bear in mind their comedies are not like our comedies. You never know what's going to happen next. It's about a Parisian couple in 1960 who hire a Spanish maid. All the maids live on the 6th floor, and the husband finds he likes being up there more than in his own apartment. It's unrated, but okay. I have to warn you about one scene where the husband sees the bare back of the maid as she takes a bath in their apartment, but that's it. It is available on Netflix instant.

5. Take Me Home

This is a little gem I discovered under the Watch Instantly column on Netflix. It's obviously an indie film because I've never heard of any of the actors, but they are really good. It's a fun story about a woman in New York who hears her father is in a hospital in California, and she hires a cabby to drive her there. Turns out to be quite a road trip. Also available on Netflix instant.

And that's it, unless I see another intriguing movie I have to talk about. The next blog will be about some books I've recently enjoyed. 

When Lloyd & I Started this Blog / Judy

She Says, He Says

When Lloyd and I started this blog several years ago, we named it "He said, She said," because we thought we could take an issue and state our different views on it. But we found that not only did we have different views, we had entirely different issues. For instance, I find the current elections somewhat interesting, but I certainly don't feel consumed by them. 

Now on to the interesting stuff -- movies and books. For this blog I'll talk about recent movies we've seen and that I recommend. I'll do books the next time.

I've chosen movies that you may not have seen or heard of (I assume everyone knows about the big, more popular ones). I'll mention a little about them, provide a trailer, and give their availability on Netflix.

Domestic Movies

1. The Big Miracle

It's a true story starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski about a village in Alaska that tries to rescue a family of whales. The whales are trapped beneath the ice and not only does the whole town get involved, but the media learns about it and it becomes a huge media event all over the world. Netflix DVD, not instant.

Enjoyable Foreign Films with Subtitles

2.  Heartbreaker

It's a French movie and unrated, but okay. It's the story of a man and his sister and her husband who own a business where someone pays them to "save our loved one from the wrong boyfriend." So they go to great lengths to break up a bad relationship. The problem is that the guy falls in love with their unknowing client while trying to get her to leave her fiancee. Caveat--the one scene you have to fast-forward is where her crude friend comes into the protagonist's room and tries to seduce him. It doesn't last very long because he's saved by his brother-in-law, but while it lasts it's not good. (I was reminded about the crude friend in the move Fifty First Dates and how every time he was in a scene it was ruined.) Netflix instant/DVD.

3. Romantic's Anonymous

Another French movie, also unrated but okay, from 2010. Delightful movie about two VERY, even pathologically shy people who finally get together. He owns a chocolate factory on the verge of bankruptcy and she is some sort of genius chocolate maker. Netflix instant/DVD.

4. Where Do We Go From Here?

I've saved the best for last. If you don't see any of the others, see this one from Lebanon. It's about a village surrounded by land mines. Day to day, the Christian and Muslim neighbors are sociable. But when something negative happens, the men blame "the others" and get all stirred up, while the women try to calm them down. The women go to great lengths to keep the men distracted from the greater "war outside" and are sustained by deep friendship  and a poignant humor. The ending is incredible, but you have to experience the entire movie to fully appreciate it. Netflix DVD not instant.

More Movies / Judy

1. Just last Friday we saw Hugo. It was amazing! It was directed by Martin Scorsese and I understand it's his first PG movie in 18 years. I guess when you're good, you're good because this movie has it all--great visuals, wonderful cast and a great story. You never know what's going to happen next, which is sort of rare at the movies. The 3D here was how it's supposed to be; it enhances the movie without detracting from it. In fact, you hardly know you're watching 3D except you are in the scene. I heard that when James Cameron saw this movie, he said the 3D in it was better than he'd done in Avatar.

 Sometimes the pace is leisurely and sometimes it is almost too intense, but just know that there is a very happy ending. If I'd known that for sure I would have enjoyed it even more.

2. Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part 1. Of course we had to see this one and Lloyd and I liked it a lot. The reviews were scathing, but I'm glad we didn't pay any attention to them. The first part where Bella and Edward get married was beautiful and very romantic. Lloyd says the reason the critics don't like this movie is because it portrays waiting for marriage and then shows how incredible marriage is and that's not a popular notion in Hollywood.

When Bella is pregnant, she looks really terrible and much too skinny because they say the baby is taking all her nutrients. I can't imagine how they made her look like that, but it's very effective. So the bottom line is that next to the first Twilight movie, I liked this one the best of the four.

3. Unknown with Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger.

I think this one is probably out on video now and I would recommend it for the grown-ups. It has an intriguing story and I was totally surprised at the explanation at the end so I won't tell you what it is. But do check it out.

4. Tower Heist with Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Matthew Broderick, etc.

This one was okay, but I think they put the funniest parts in the trailer. I liked the cast, which is always a good thing if  you're going to spend some time with them and Eddie Murphy was the best. We forget how funny he can be because he's in so many dumb movies. But I would wait to see this one on video and don't waste your money in the theater.

Movies! / Judy

We've been to several movies lately so I thought I'd give you my opinion on them. I'll go alphabetically:

1. The Big Year with Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black.

It's about competitive bird watching, if you can imagine such a thing. It's called "birding." These three men have decided to have a "big year," which means they are going try to see/identify the most number of species during a calendar year. If they see the most, they get written up in bird watching magazines and get bragging rights, but not much else.

I thought it was a very enjoyable little film. We saw it in the theater, but it didn't last long there so it will probably come out on video at some point. I'd highly recommend it. The reviews I read didn't like it because they were evidently expecting a broad comedy with big laughs, but it wasn't like that. It was more that you just had a smile on your face all through it (with the exception of one uncomfortable scene where one of the men blows it with his wife).

2. Footloose (the remake) with Julianne Hough, Kenny Wormald and Dennis Quaid as her father.

I liked this movie a lot! Maybe even better than the original with Kevin Bacon because I thought Julianne Hough was way better as Ariel. The story follows the original pretty close but now it takes place in the South. Of course the dancing is the best part and it was great. They did a couple numbers almost exactly the same, but there was new, more modern stuff too. The best part was probably when they were teaching Willard to dance--absolutely adorable scene. I think at the prom at the end, both Ren and Ariel are wearing the same clothes as in the original.

3. Hannah with Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, and Saorsie Ronan

I think this one came out last summer or even longer ago than that. I thought I'd put it in to warn you. It was a thriller and I didn't like it at all. It was too depressing. Lloyd said it was as if it were made by and for Germans, to give you an idea. Roger Ebert said it well when he said, "It is a cross between a Grimm fairy tale and a high tech action movie." And he called it a "first rate thriller about the drawbacks of home schooling."

4. Midnight in Paris with Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams

This is the best Woody Allen film I've ever seen. If you don't see anything else on this list, see this one. It is still in theaters around here and has been for a couple months at least. It is funny and has a wonderful, imaginative story. An engaged couple are in Paris with her parents. One night he is able to travel back in time to the Paris of 1920 and he meets several of the literary giants of the time. Also his little adventures show the cracks in the couple's relationship. I loved the costumes of the 20's. Roger Ebert said, "this film is a sort of daydream for all of America's lit majors."


5.The Muppets with Jason Segal and Amy Adams and the Muppets.

Delightful movie! Very fun and innocent and I thought it really showed up movies like Shrek, which are all snarky, wink-wink. The Muppets show how to be entertaining with being snide. Also, I really enjoyed the musical aspect. It's just fun to watch singing and dancing and they included some of the good Muppet music along with some new stuff.

This is all for now since it's kind of a long blog. Next week I'll talk about four more recent movies.

Fourth of July...Lest We Forget / Judy

I recently saw an amazing film called "Taking Chance." It was an HBO film on DVD starring Kevin Bacon as a Lt. Col. who volunteers to be an escort to take a fallen marine home. It's based on the true story that the real escort wrote from notes about his trip taking the remains of the dead marine back to his hometown. The film is quiet and VERY moving as it shows the reactions of all the ordinary people he encounters along the way.

Here is the site to go to for the trailer:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi113247001/

Hope you can see it because even the trailer is wonderful and really gives you a sense of this movie, which seems appropriate today.

Star Trek Forever! / Judy

We just saw "StarTrek" and my life is complete. I loved, loved, loved it! The reason we didn't see it until today is because I wanted to see it with Lloyd and this is his day off. When the big title came up I grabbed his hand in excitement. And when the Enterprise suddenly appeared with all guns blazing, I laughed out loud. Then with the old theme music at the end my joy was full.

So everybody go see it, even if it's the only movie you see this year, and you might begin to understand my undying love for it. Besides, the more people who see it, the more they'll plan others, maybe even another TV series. Right now I feel like anything is possible.

When the last TV series was canceled four years ago, I said, "If anyone thinks there is still money it in, it will be back." With the large fan base (which I know about personally because I've been to the conventions) of course there is still money in it. And now there is a whole nother world they can explore so hold onto your hats. In fact, I heard the next movie is already green-lit and they plan to make at least a trilogy. Hallelujiah!

Chicken and a movie / Judy

We recently saw the new DVD of the movie, "Bottle Shock." I loved it! It's about the time in 1976 when there was a blind taste test in France between French wines and California wines from Napa Valley. It's a great true story but the best part is that it's filmed in Napa Valley which looks just like HERE. The scenery and the light and the whole thing is gorgeous and so much fun to watch because it looks so familiar. And like I said, the story is also intriguing. I recommend it, with the caveat that there is some crude stuff in it.

And now I was inspired by MaryRuth's recipe for a good chicken dish so here are a couple of my own. This first one came about when Lloyd and I went for lunch at the Fat Cat cafe. With the fries they brought a bottle of malt vinegar and this recipe was on the back of it. It has a Caribbean taste--something a little different:

PEACHY CHICKEN

1. Drain 1 large can of sliced peaches, reserve juice.

2. Brown boneless, skinless chicken pieces in 1 Tbsp. oil.

3. Combine peach juice, 1/4 cup frozen orange juice (thawed), 1/4 cup malt vinegar, 1 Tbsp. brown sugar, 1 tsp.  basil, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. each ground cloves and cinnamon, 1/8 tsp. pepper and pour over chicken.

4. Cover, simmer for 30 min.

5. Add peaches, heat through.

6. Combine 2 Tbsp.  each cornstarch and water, stir into pan. Heat, stirring till thickened.

7. Serve over rice.

CROCK POT ASIAN CHICKEN

1. In skillet, heat 1 Tbsp. oil, add boneless, skinless chicken pieces and brown on both sides.

2. Tranfer the chicken to crockpot and add: 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup ketchup, 2 tsp. fresh grated ginger. Stir thoroughly.

3. Cover, cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. In the middle of cooking, stir to coat the chicken. When done, remove chicken and reserve 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Combine this with 1/2 cup Hoisin sauce, and 1 Tbsp. lime juice and drizzle over chicken. 

4. Optional: sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions.

5. Serve over rice.

The movie Taken—edgy, cautionary / Lloyd

At its end I wished I hadn’t seen the current, popular movie Taken.

It does drive home the reality that if we don’t keep the covenants we’ve made, the world has a wide open maw ready and capable of consuming us.  I see this reality week days at the state hospital and then on Sunday’s at the prison.  And the prognosis for recovery is bleak.

Book, Movie and Gifts / Judy

the book

I just finished reading Twilight and although it was very good, much more detailed than the movie, I still preferred the movie. It was so visually stunning and emotionally powerful, that I didn't feel the same reading the book. Lloyd is reading it now and he says he likes it much better than the movie. He'll have to do his own post about it.

the movie

Last Monday we saw Australia. We liked it a lot, and it really was a grand, sweeping epic move. But there were some scenes where I could just hear the director saying, "We need this shot to project this idea." And it seems to me that the viewer shouldn't be able to tell that kind of stuff; it should be seamless and invisible. Kristen says probably most people wouldn't see that--that I see LOTS of movies. True. You all will have to see it too so we can compare. I do have to say that I was drooling over Hugh Jackman and his character alone made the movie worth seeing.

the gifts

In the paper today was a list of gifts that cracked me up. They were mostly for sci-fi fans and here are some of my favorites:

An R2-D2 Aquarium. A sleek, 20" tall replica of the droid with an aquarium in his middle section. It costs a mere $129.95 and the domed head rotates on spoken demand, there's a built-in periscope and LED lights change from red to blue to green.

Capt. Kirk's chair. A full-size replica of the captain's chair from the original Enterprise. It swivels, makes numerous sound effects, plays Kirk's entire opening-credit monologue and sells for $2,700. A bargain.

Battlestar Gallactica toaster. The sleek ebony $65 toaster burns words like "Cylon" into your toast.

Now, even though I am a big sci-fi fan, please don't give me any of these!

Three Specific Movies & in General / Judy

twilight and movies in general

Anyone who knows us knows we like movies and we see as many as we can on Lloyd's day off. We like summertime blockbusters and holiday movies, but generally don't like the serious spring and fall (adult) movies that are usually rated R anyway. Yesterday we saw "Twilight"--again--and liked it just as much as we did the first time. It really is amazing and romantic and beautiful and we thought the acting was superb. I read that the director is not going to do the next movie because they want to get it out by the end of next year and she didn't think that was enough planning time.

four christmases

On Saturday I went by myself to see "Four Christmases" because I thought Lloyd probably wouldn't like it. I didn't like it much either. I know it's been the top movie for two weeks in a row, but I'm not sure why. Of course I really like both the stars and there are some very funny moments in it, but somehow extremely dysfunctional families are just not that humorous for me. I must be out of sync with the rest of the country (no surprise there) but I think sad families are just sad.

prince caspian

Then last night we saw "Prince Caspian" on DVD and really liked it. We kept commenting that the situation in the kingdom appeared to be right out of the Book of Mormon, (not the talking animals, minotaurs or dancing trees part of the movie.)

Twilight and more / Judy

twilight

So on Monday, Lloyd's day off, we saw "Twilight." Knowing it was a cultural phenomenon, we knew we had to see it, but frankly, I wasn't expecting too much. Well, we both LOVED it! We've been thinking about it a lot, which is always a good sign, and last night we agreed we want to see it again on the big screen (we'll probably buy it on DVD) so we'll go again next Monday. I thought the casting was inspired, the story gripping (I couldn't believe how incredibly romantic it was, meaning it made you FEEL for and with the people), and the beautiful setting was as important as another character. I hadn't read the books before, but now I'm so ready to read them. And now I can't wait for Monday when we can see it again.

and others

I saw another movie recently that I also liked (though not as much as  "Twilight")--"Fred Claus." I know it was completely panned by the critics and when I read the "user comments" on IMDB, I saw that no one liked it. But I did. As I've mentioned before, I love movies about smart people and also, evidently, about con men. Maybe because they have to be smart to be good ones and when they are conning someone, I think it's hilarious (not sure what that says about me). In that vein, I also loved "Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels," and "Opportunity Knocks" with Dana Carvey.