Movies (with comments and spoilers)

Jane · July 21, 2008, 02:11:00 PM

It's rare for me to go to the movies / pictures / flicks but while Gary's been away (and during the school holidays while in charge of my niece) I've been visiting the local theatre lots ... and lots!

Second-hand Wedding - NZ movie about a garage sale mother and her daughter who is afraid her mother will give her a 'second-hand wedding'. Lovely movie and very true to life!

Indian Jones and the whatever - I enjoyed this but I was a fan, anyway.

In the Shadow of the Moon - documentary about the lunar landings. Interviews provided all the narrative and it was fascinating. I was the only woman in the theatre! (Would have preferred interviews with non-astronauts, but heck, we would have been there for a week!) Comments about the conspiracy theories as the credits rolled.

Prince Caspian - Prefer the book. Rush through the dawning discovery that this was 'their' castle - a piece in the book I have particularly loved since first reading it as a child. I really loved the jump from dreary war-time England to the beautiful sun-drenched perfect beach scene ... But boy, does recognising the beach spoil the moment! LOL

Kung Fu Panda - Very funny, but then I do get to the top of the stairs out of breath so I had real understanding of Po's issues!

Mama Mia - So, so funny. My friends and I were all of the Abba generation so this was preaching to the converted. This one I'd go and see again in a heartbeat. (As a book-person, though, I have to say a couple of plot points weren't well developed and one was rushed, but heck, who cares!)

So, that's me. What about you guys?

Eimi · July 21, 2008, 03:55:06 PM

The only movie I've seen in the last few months is Prince Caspian and I was kind of disappointed. Taken on its own, it would have been a good movie, but as you say, Jane, the book the definitely better. I could understand their making slight changes for pacing and whatnot, but they changed it to the point where they not only rushed through a lot of stuff, I truly think they missed the spirit of the book. But if I hadn't read the book, I would have really enjoyed it.

Paula · July 21, 2008, 10:01:01 PM

I haven't been in moves lately :( But I'm thinking about taking the kids to watch Kung Fu Panda. Based on ads, it looks like fun movie.

emma · July 21, 2008, 11:28:45 PM

I saw mamma mia, and my cousin and I laughed all the way through it. Really felt like a feel good film - did I mention Pierce Brosnan????

I'll possibly get to see Prince Caspian this weekend, and I want to see Wall-E as well.

Amanda N · July 22, 2008, 04:43:35 AM

The last movie we saw was Kung Fu Panda which was much better than I had expected. I really enjoyed it.

As for a movie beyond that...uh...I honestly can't remember the last movie we watched. We don't get to watch movies very much because we can't afford babysitting. The only reason we got to watch KFP was because we were at my inlaws and they took the children.

Vix · July 23, 2008, 07:14:57 PM

I just got home from seeing Mamma Mia. Pierce Brosnan can't sing worth crap but it doesn't really matter -- the movie was great fun!

Before that I hadn't seen any movies for several months. My daughter and I would catch a matinee just about every other weekend while she was home, so during that time I saw There Will Be Blood, Sweeney Todd, and I forget what else.

Chelle · August 07, 2008, 11:33:51 PM

The Dark Knight: OMG I was waiting for this and I have to say, I am in awe of Heath Ledger. He was one of my favorite actors before, but this just cements it. I am so sad that he's no longer with us.

Mamma Mia!: I've seen this twice already. Of course obssessed with all things Swedish as I am, I was bound to love this. I've tried to see it in theater form twice now, but am always thwarted. I adore Meryl Streep though. heh.. have the original musical soundtrack on CD. Yay ABBA

Some movies I'm waiting on:
The Happening, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, etc

I do a service like Netflix and on DVD I've recently watched...
The Other Boleyn Girl, In Bruges, The Spiderwick Chronicles, etc

Cali · August 08, 2008, 06:34:04 AM

The Dark Knight was fantastic. Easily the best movie of the year.

X-Files was good, but it probably would have worked better as a DTV movie. Still a nice ending for the characters.

Hellboy 2 was pretty neat too. del Toro is such an amazing filmmaker and his pictures always look so cool. I'm really interested in how he does the two Hobbit movies.

Eimi · August 08, 2008, 06:56:18 AM

I just saw the new Hayao Miyazaki movie titled "Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea" in English, and I have to say, I'm quite proud of myself! It was 100% in Japanese and I followed the story remarkably well (as in I probably got 70%). Of course, it was like a five year old's Japanese, but still, I feel ready to enter Japanese kindergarten!

But it was really cute, despite the slightly disturbing discussion of breast feeding... My friend and I were really curious how THAT one will be translated for Western audiences XD

Oh, and I have to say, I'll probably by this movie so that when I return to the states next year I can pop it into my DVD player whenever I feel homesick for Japan since the little town it takes place in is EXACTLY like some of the villiages around where I live.

emma · August 08, 2008, 02:49:58 PM

I'm going to pass on Batman until it's on DVD - I've heard it's really got the wrong rating here(12A - kids under 12 can see it if accompanied by an adult) and they are letting young kids in who are getting really upset by it. Not sure I want to see it with scared kids in the cinema.

Saw Wall-E last weekend and didn't rate it, the short that was on first with the rabbit was much better.

Also saw Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, which was very silly, but fun, even if they did have to change the title (it was originally called Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging but no 12A rating with that title)

Planning a cinema trip this weekend, not sure what we'll see yet.