Between the Wars discussion

I just watched Avalon, which someone probably recommended to me right here on this site. It was a period movie -- the true action of the film begins just past WWII, but reflects back to the early 20th century, American immigrants, building their lives, etc. It is a nicely filmed movie and touched me in several ways.

I think any of us children of the 20th century with parents of the early 20th century may see some familiar stuff. (I suppose that is one reason we all might be interested in our group here to begin with? ha ha)

Anyone else watching movies at home lately? I haven't seem many at the theater, but at home I watch a few.

We just watched Little Women, with Wynona Ryder. Great performances; six hankies!

Another good American story. One that I have been meaning to re-watch.

I haven't been to the cinema in ages. I don't really enjoy going because there's always the crinkling of the crisp packets, the slurping of drinks etc. and whoever I go with always ends up asking 10 thousand questions.

I much prefer cosying up at home with a DVD.

Last film I saw: Amelie (for the 3rd time) with my elder sister.

Hi Fiona and Welcome to the group. Movies are expensive everywhere, but when I convert your prices to US$ I am stunned! We go to the early shows on Sunday which are empty and even cheaper!

I haven't watched much anime in Japanese, but a lot of the blogs I've read say that the subs are better than the dubs, possibly because of having to sync the lip movement. I do know that they are different sometimes.

From Studio Ghibli we liked:

Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Castle in the Sky, Whispers of the Heart, Cat Returns, and Castle of Cagliostro.

(I didn't realize how many I really enjoyed from Ghibli!)

Grave of the Fireflies sounds very sad, but beautiful. You might try Millenium Actress -- very interesting story and well done, too.

Hi can I just suggest that you look into Europa Cinema Group.The Gft is part of this group and I know I might be tooting the horn a bit but youy do get much better service and communication from the staff.
There are branches all over the world.......

We just watched "My Boy Jack" about Rudyard Kipling's son and he very short service during WWI. Very interesting, very sad and very well done.

Fiona wrote: "Was that the one with Daniel Radcliffe?"

Yes. I didn't get to see it when it aired.

Jeannette wrote: "We just watched "My Boy Jack" about Rudyard Kipling's son and he very short service during WWI. Very interesting, very sad and very well done."

Yes, I thought so, too!

I hate when commercials intrude too, Fiona!

Yeah, that's why I really prefer to watch movies on the channels without ad breaks.

Agreed, Susanna. Yay for PBS and TVOntario!

Turner Classic Movies is also great.

Fiona wrote: "I really liked it too - but I watched it when it was aired on ITV and they had some of the most inappropriate advert breaks. Sad moment suddenly cut of by woohoo furniture sales!!!"

We had the dvd from Netflix, so we also watched the cast interview (both without ads). I always like learning little things I didn't know about "famous" people.

I'm watching the "extras" tonight, as I was too tired after the movie. I bought this one on Amazon.ca - interestingly it wasn't in stock on Amazon.com, but was still shipped from the U.S. - ???

It might only be available on pbs.org in the States. Who knows? It is very funny, but the actor playing Kipling does look very much like Kipling! And Kipling and George V died about a week apart, and were born in the same year. (More arcane factoids.)

Sorry - floating in cyberspace. I was talking about ICTC! I wish I could see the extras for"My Boy Jack". Back to making dinner!

Maybe that's why I can't remember the extras from ICtC. lol

My Boy Jack is indeed available on Netflix.

Jeannette wrote: "We just watched Little Women, with Wynona Ryder. Great performances; six hankies!"

I most especially love the wedding - the most simple and beautiful I've ever seen - everyone gathered in the the garden, the couple in the center, everyone takes hands and the couple is joined. That's the sort of wedding I'd like to have (if someone were ever to marry me).

I finally got to see "The Young Victoria." I really enjoyed this film! The actors were good and I didn't know the story, so it was very interesting, too

I really liked it too, Jeannette. It was very sumptuous too.

Yes, that is a good word to describe it! :)

I love those kinds of movies. Wish there were more around.

I didn't think much of it - it felt rushed to me. Also I don't rate Rupert Friend much as an actor. I s'pose Emily Blunt was quite good at conveying Victoria's chilly nature with vulnerability beneath.

Talking of Queen V., has anyone seen Mrs Brown?

I saw Mrs. Brown some years ago and thought it was quite good.

What? You don't like Rupert Friend, Lauren???

Gabriele wrote: "I saw Mrs. Brown some years ago and thought it was quite good.

What? You don't like Rupert Friend, Lauren???"

He's so bland! And I can't forget his corny performance as Ludo in Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont. He's not a terrible actor but he doesn't deserve the success he has, IMO.

I have to admit I haven't seen him in much.

I compare him to Orlando Bloom. Rupert Friend is getting a few decent roles. I hope he'll get more depth as he matures.

He does look a lot like Bloom, doesn't he. I thought he was Orlando when I saw him in Pride and Prejudice.

They are both about the same caliber of actor, too. I think Rupert Friend might be a bit less "flaky" personally than Bloom, so maybe that's why I like him better. :)

I haven't seen Bloom is anything for quite a long time. He's a local lad actually (comes from Canterbury) and I know someone who used to babysit him. There's a bit of useless information! I tend to think, still, that he got where he is as a result of his looks (which personally do nothing for me).

Anyway, I watched Inglorious Basterds a couple of nights ago. I quite liked it. Anyone seen it?

Loved INGLOURIES BASTERDS...so much so I have seen it 5 times...It is just so perfect.
I know a lot of people found it overly violent but I day in those circumstances BRING IT ON!!

Hi all, I just watched Young Victoria. I liked it, although it leaned toward romance a lot. May sound funny, but I liked that it was short and not padded and long -- some plots of this type movie just get too long.

I am a fan of Rupert though and actually Mrs. Palfrey made me one -- shows all our differing tastes! ha ha

Lauren, I liked the Orlando Bloom babysitting story. Makes our world smaller, doesn't it? :)

I think he's quite lovely - he was also in Cheri with Michelle Pfeiffer

Maggie wrote: "I think he's quite lovely - he was also in Cheri with Michelle Pfeiffer"

What did you think of Cheri, Maggie? It is in my queue on Netflix.

Hi Sorry to but in but having seen CHERIE twice I am afraid that it did not completely satisfy. So I went and got the Book.

DJ wrote: "Hi Sorry to but in but having seen CHERIE twice I am afraid that it did not completely satisfy. So I went and got the Book."

Why did you watch it twice, DJ? Was there something in it you liked, or were you hoping to get more out of a second viewing? :)

I've read the books and enjoyed them and really enjoyed the film. Sometimes you just have to forget you've read the book and just judge on its own merits - in which case the film was good.

Thanks, Maggie. I do like Rupert Friend, even if he isn't a great actor. :)

Yeah, he's not brilliant but there's something so likeable about him - unlike his girlfriend Keira!

Maggie wrote: "Yeah, he's not brilliant but there's something so likeable about him - unlike his girlfriend Keira!"

Didn't they break up finally?

Oh I don't know - didn't mean to sound bitchy but I really don't rate her as an actress etc

i wouldn't mind him - but I think I'm old enough to be his mother!!!

Were Rupert F and Kiera Knightly a couple? Celeb couples are too hard to keep up with. Yes, I think Rupert has good screen presence, but I haven't seen many of his roles. If he is playing good roles and good scripts, I think he has a career. Those are big "ifs" in show business today though. I'm with the late Paul Newman in believing scripts don't give actors much of a chance -- which I am sure scripts being so under control of the "industry," I am not blaming it on writers either.

Who knows, Maggie, he probably technically could be my son too! ha ha Maybe what we notice is he seems a little bit timeless in his attraction.

Ok, I looked it up, maybe not motherhood, but I could have babysat him, like in Lauren's Orlando Bloom story. ha ha

Awh, I really like Keira Knightley! She's gets so much stick.

Sarah wrote: "Were Rupert F and Kiera Knightly a couple? Celeb couples are too hard to keep up with. Yes, I think Rupert has good screen presence, but I haven't seen many of his roles. If he is playing good r..."



Paul Newman - now you're talkin' :D