Films

[giraffe]

We have a currently reading thread about books, how about a film thread.

I don't get to the cinema very often and the last grown ups only cinema outing was to Lost in Translation, which has to be one of the worst films I've ever seen. Bits of it were amusing, but they had ALL without exception been in the trailers. Nothing happened.

I do however love watching films, and we have recenntly signed up to Love film. It seems to work really well, the one drawback being that you don't know which film from your list you are getting next. (Which adds to the excitement I suppose, although if the children have friends over it would be nice to be able to specify a film they would enjoy).

So what are your all time favourite films? What do you recommend for an evening curled up with cocoa and a duvet?
I'm forever hearing films mentioned on the radio in the car and think "I wouldn't mind seeing that" or "I enjoyed that 10 years ago, I'd like to see it again", but by the time I've got home it has gone from my mind.

[Laura]

Well, I'm a sucker for a happy ending, so if it has Hugh Grant or Colin Firth in it (or preferably both!) then I figure I should be fairly safe!

[gill216]

And that was post number 15000 Laura.

[giraffe]

The only trouble with Hugh Grant is the draught he creates with all that eyelash batting! I'm all for a soppy film though.





(Just waiting for Scurra to list several other objections, because I said "the only")

[Bunnylump]

I'm a big fan of Cohen Brothers films. A bit different.

I do sometimes watch the soppy variety, but have to be in the right mood for them. One I quite liked in that category was PS I love you.

Oh well, and obviously anything with George Clooney or Johnnie Depp, so that I can letch. (Being a letcherous old woman, like).

[giraffe]

The book of PS I love you is much better than the film, but I did enjoy the film. The problem is when you've read a book and they totally change it for the film it's hard to not compare them. The book is very English, the film is very American.

[Bunnylump]

The thing which did annoy me about the film was the bloke who died's really really carp Irish accent. I haven't read the book, so couldn't comment. I don't normally watch those kinds of films. I just thought it was better than some others I'd seen.

[Looby]

If I'm going to be sobbing out loud I'd rather do that at home. If I go to the cinema I like to watch a thriller when the good guys win at the end!
I want to see Angels and Demons but almost everyone I know has already seen it.
Last one I went to was the latest Star Trek and before that Mama Mia.

[gill216]

I like this thread. I don't go to the cinema anymore- I fall asleep and miss the film.

My choice of DVD's will no longer be hit and miss

[Bunnylump]

I haven't seen Angels and Demons yet. Has anyone else? If so, is it good?

I doubt if OH would go to see that though, so I'll probably have to drag a mate along.

[strep98]

I should stay away from Mark Kermodes reviews really as I've started to use his names for people like Miley Cyrus is now known as smily Virus in this house.

He slates Angels and Demons and I must admit I haven't seen it as I was so disappointed in the film of the Da vinci code (loved both books though). I expect Harry Potter will be the next one that my daughter and I will see. Last one was night at the museum 2 (loved the first one, not too sure about the second)

[Scurra]

Well quite a lot of the time Mark Kermode is right
And he's certainly right about Angels and Demons - it is rubbish. But it's enjoyable rubbish. (And a vast improvement on the movie version of The DaVinci Code, although that's not exactly difficult!) And compared to Transformers 2, it's a total masterpiece.

I try to get to the cinema a couple of times a month because films are made to be seen in the cinema. I don't care how good your home telly is, just try watching something like Master and Commander and see the problem. (I actually think that's a good example of a film that missed out on quite a lot of awards because the judges only saw DVD versions of it.)

That's not to say I don't watch lots of films on DVD (or even on the telly if I happen to catch them.) But it's called the "big screen" for a reason... I don't see a lot of "chick flicks" (like PS I Love You) at the cinema though, so I'm not much use at recommending those. I have to confess that if the name Hugh Grant appears in the cast I am more likely to avoid the film than seek it out.

Best film I've seen this year: Frost/Nixon although oddly that would probably be better on tv!
Other contenders include: Coraline, Slumdog Millionaire, Let The Right One In and Star Trek, all of which were brilliant.
Worst film I've seen this year: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Although Transformers 2 is an equally terrible movie, at least it isn't pretending to be good!

[LAT]

If I'm going to be sobbing out loud I'd rather do that at home. If I go to the cinema I like to watch a thriller when the good guys win at the end!
I want to see Angels and Demons but almost everyone I know has already seen it.
Last one I went to was the latest Star Trek and before that Mama Mia.

I haven't seen it...........

[giraffe]

Scurra I'd love to see them at the cinema, but I just don't get the chance.

I took Kingsley to see Pride and prejudice at the Cinema a couple of years ago (With Ikea Knightly in it) and was really disappointed. The film was really well made in some ways with lots of detail from the book, but totally ruined by the camera work. I felt seasick. Camera looking into the sun and spinning round on a swing. I also find the sound often too loud in the cinema and unless I'm in the back half struggle with the picture too. Maybe our local multiscreen has screens (I mean the rooms the screen is in) that are just too small to do justice to the films.

I've made sure we are quite a long way back for HP. I notice they charge extra for the back 3 rows, so perhaps that is the only bit where the sound and picture aren't overwhelming.

[Scurra]

Oh yes, and don't get me started on the "multiplex" which tries to squeeze eight screens into a space that some people might store brooms in

I'm really fortunate in having a local "arthouse" cinema that is exceptional, and a multiplex that has two fairly decent screens which means that I have the chance to see most things if I keep an eye out. (A few years ago, I was able to go and see the wonderful Howl's Moving Castle at the cinema in the original Japanese with subtitles and then, the following week at the multiplex in the English dubbed version!)

I agree that sound is a problem - these days too many directors think that just drenching the audience with sound effects and music will disguise other shortcomings - often the script... One of the best films of last year (WALL-E) is practically a silent movie for the first half-hour or so, and yet it is still enthralling.

[LAT]

I know what you mean about being too near the screen Giraffe. We are now booked for HP too so I hope OH hasn't got us seats too far forward. For a long time (about 16 years at least) we only went to films that we would take the offspring to and have only recently realised we could go to the cinema ourselves (enjoyed Slumdog Millionaire). When they were young it seemed too much of an indulgence to book a babysitter just to go to see a film so we used to wait for them to arrive on TV.

[Bunnylump]

I don't tend to go to the cinema because my OH is almost invariably either drumming, working, or snoring. I do very occasionally go with the girls, but the trouble is they tend to consume vast quantities (i.e. family size bag of Revels each) of chocolate. And I end up eating it when I shouldn't. HOW unfair is it that THEY are both thin?

[Scurra]

HOW unfair is it that THEY are both thin.

I don't know, how unfair is it?
...
...
Oh, wait... that wasn't a question, was it?

[gill216]

Duck Scurra, very quickly if I was you

[Scurra]

I'm in a permanent state of duckage, Gill.