Book Loving Kiwis discussion

Your space to discuss movies...

I saw Marigold Hotel recently. I just loved the way all the characters grew through the story. It was so much a story about how we need never stop growing and never stop learning until the day we die.
It was about the older generation but I adored the young characters too, especially they young Indian hotelier. Never never never have I seen such a mobile and expressive face on any human being. He wasn't particularly good-looking really, but he was such an open book you couldn't help just adoring him. He had a line that will stay with me forever:

"Everything will be alright in the end and if its not alright, its not the end."

The storytelling in this movie had much to teach any novelist.

I saw that one on Friday night, Tui, and loved it! that line about it being alright in the end is surely a winner.
I discovered today it is based on a book, but sounds as if it has been adapted quite heavily. Here's the original book These Foolish Things. I'm quite fascinated, and have ordered it from the library.
Seriously, I'm not trying to turn this into a book discussion...

Darkpool, you saw it the same night I did. But we saw a 5.50pm session, (quite early)As we exited the theatre, I was preparing to turn left to go to the car but my bloke steered me right towards my favourite restaurant which happens to be Indian and so reminiscent of the Marigold Hotel and full of wonderful hospitable Indian people. So we had a romantic Indian dinner after seeing THAT movie. Made it into a night to remember.

Crikey, the Marissa Sammy review of the book is pretty damning! There are plenty to contradict her though.But might be enough to persuade me to stick with the film, especially because she says that in the book the characters don't grow. Their growth in the film was what I most liked about it.The Maggie Smith character was such a racist at the beginning but not at the end at all.

Wow, you scrolled a bit further than I did on the book page. That review is certainly damning. Maybe I'm not so fascinated by the differences between book and film as I thought.
Your evening sounds lovely tho, and better than mine: sitting in an eatery wondering why our meals were taking so long to arrive - on finally enquiring we were told there had been a mix up in the kitchen and they would be along in 10 min... ah, sorry, that's too slow, we have a movie to go to. So, dinner had to wait until after the film - some time after 10pm. Thank goodness for Burgerfuel still being open!

I saw The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel on Sunday night with a group of 10-12 people and every single person loved it.

Another memorable line was one of Muriel's (Maggie Smith) who said she was far too old to plan ahead and added, "I don't even buy green bananas."

I did not know the movie was based on a book until the credits came up. When I saw that I gave a silent shout for authors. I would be very interested, Darkpool, in your comments when you have read the book.

I congratulate the director on his title, far more enticing (with apologies to the author) than These Foolish Things. JB :-)

"Once Were Warriors" is an amazing film. "Boy" is really good too.

Kiwi film "Two Little Boys" is out at the movies now.

When Nige finds himself in a spot of bother after a series of unfortunate incidents, he is forced to ask Deano for help. The problem is Deano is not really the kind of guy you should turn to in a crisis.

Might go see this later today :)

So, have we all see the new Star Wars film yet? I went in the middle of the day today, which was a bit of a tactical error as there were lots of kids. The row of wee boys seated directly behind us were hilarious tho - said the most cute things to each other, and clearly knew their star wars stuff. When one of the ageing stars of the original film appeared on screen one lad said "he's soooo old! Like, he's 45!!!!"

Haha that's hilarious. I've never seen any of the Star Wars films so not planning on seeing this one but my partner and his brother went to the midnight screening last night. There was also a pre-screening Star Wars theme part at the cinema which sounded like a laugh

I meant party* :)

Awwww super cute young Star Wars fans! My partner and I planned to go in January, miss the super full theatres. One friend said he had to wait for about 20mins of cinema ads and trailers before they would even start the movie...so I'm glad I skipped the midnight release screenings.
So excited to see it though :)

I'm thinking about it. I loved the original Star Wars movie & The Empire Strikes back was one of my favourite films of all times, but the other films were such big disappointments.

So we'll see. The problem is the sound is so bad in our local theatre, so I would want to see in somewhere else.

I hope you get the chance to see it somewhere decent, Carol. And it is much, muchmuchmuch better than episodes I-III. I'm gagging for the next one already.

I have the same problem Carol :( Hometown cinema is 'not so great'. The hubby and I tend to drive to Taupo if we want to see anything on the big screen.

So it was good then Darkpool? Loved the trailers but yeah...those prequel movies were pretty bad >.<

I didn't even like the Return of the Jedi that much! I think the first two were so awesome that it just couldn't measure up to them.

Last time we went to the cinema in Ak was a bit of a disaster with my husband & the car getting stuck in the Victoria St Car park (the tale of woe is in a thread here somewhere) We might try The Tron.

Kathleen wrote: "Has anyone seen the trailer for 'The Little Prince'? It looks like it's being done beautifully"
No, I have not! and didn't even know they were making it into a movie.
.... and now that I've found the trailer online and watched it I totally agree. Gorgeous.

I am an anti-American language use grump.

Movie stands for moving pictures! Duh! I know that they are moving pictures so I watch films. I can tolerate the flicks or pics but not movie!!!!

We are very lucky in Oamaru in that we have an independent cinema so we get a lot more than Hollywood. We have just enjoyed the Nat Theatre Hamlet and the Met Opera- latest! We get the film festival stuff too.

I know I enjoyed several very good films this year and I cannot remember one of them by name which is classic old age creeping up!!!!

Oh, that's great re the independent cinema. I saw that Hamlet back at the start of December and thought it very good. Some of the RSC stuff is also excellent; I hope they get their stuff in as well.

Yes, we've got it all coming through. Have just enjoyed the National Gallery/RijksMuseum Renoir film which I am going to see again as it is wonderful!! And I learnt a lot too. We've had the Impressionists, and Matisse films and Van Gogh and the Girl with the pearl earring are next up.

Also enjoyed the Aussie indie 'The Dressmaker'. Anyone else seen it? It couldn't quite make up its mind if it was black comedy or serious but the script and the actors were good.

Waiting the Dench /Branagh 'Winter's Tale' though. I gather it's a commercial effort but with those two acting it can't be too dreadful surely? I've seen some shocking Hollywood Shakespeares.

I've got copies of the following books on the way from various sources: The Danish Girl, Carol, and The Dressmaker. The movies look so great so I imagine the books are brilliant!

Who wrote the Dressmaker? S/he's got a great ear for dialogue and knows small town people.

Author is Rosalie Ham.

Thank you.

Weather is lovely and rainy but not good for outside work. I've been watching DVDs to catch up films I missed. Just enjoyed 'Miss Potter.'
Heading for the Girl with the Pearl Earring at the cinema - National Gallery film. I do enjoy all the good stuff we get in that little cinema. It's proudly independent.

I do beg anyone who likes painting to see these National Gallery films.

I had always thought the Girl with the Pearl Earring was a bit unreal. Now I understand about tronies I can see why. She's a representation of an ideal not a real person. Ha! Now I can enjoy the painting without the niggle.

Been using my cinema pass again. Saw a sweet French film about a family who are deaf and rely heavily on their one daughter who can hear. She wants to sing but feels responsible for helping her family.
It's actually funny and touching and a nice warm Ah sort of film.
The Belier Family is worth watching.

We finally made it to the Star Wars film - & we loved it! I did wonder if the actors that played Poe & Rey were going to be up to the job at the start, but they settled into their roles nicely.

Oh no, Carol! It was so fake and cheesy. I had to endure it with my grandson who also loved every bit of it.

P.D.R. wrote: "Oh no, Carol! It was so fake and cheesy. I had to endure it with my grandson who also loved every bit of it."

But I have really low brow tastes! I'm just glad they had got rid of that doom laden dialogue that started with the Return of the Jedi.

Only thing (view spoiler)[ I wonder how much Mark Hamill was paid for 5 minutes of screen time? (hide spoiler)]

Who? See I am hopeless. If it isn't a Shakespearean actor I don't know her or him.

I sat and watched To Kill A Mockingbird today and that film is still as good as it ever was. For me one of the few times where I think the book was really well translated to a visual form.

Just watched the Vincent Van Gogh film. Brilliant and breathtaking. These art films are superb and well worth finding.

Spotlight is worth a view but it is not really an outstanding film. Just a shocker because of its subject matter.

I found the specialist information from the physch expert really amazing. He claimed the Catholic church structure actually encourage the behaviour.was actually

No one found a film worth watching?

I'm using the last of my concession ticket to watch The Importance of Being Ernest with David Suchet as Lady Bracknell.

Reports are good.

Anyone seen the Dad's Army Film? The radio critic was rude but I have a feeling he missed the point.

Do see the Lady in the Van. It's a chuckle and a masterpiece of great writing and great acting.

P.D.R. wrote: "Do see the Lady in the Van. It's a chuckle and a masterpiece of great writing and great acting."

I want to see this one, but I'm waiting till I'm next in Auckland. Sound really bad at our local theatre & I'm quite deaf in one ear.

P.D.R. wrote: "Do see the Lady in the Van. It's a chuckle and a masterpiece of great writing and great acting."

Of course it's good - got Maggie Smith in the lead roll! She just gets better and better.
Watched Quartet again over Easter.

Alan Bennet is a brilliant writer. The film is also sad as well as funny and all the acting is great. I nearly fell out of my seat when I saw the Clothkits pinafore dress the young Mum was wearing - she's the one with the recorder playing children. Perfect for her and the time. I've still got all my clothkits clothes, especially the ones I made for my kids. I miss 'em! And I don't want to give them away or cut them up.

We went to Lady in the Van this afternoon. At our local cinema so I didn't quite catch all of Smith's lines, but I could make out all the other actors' dialogue. Tragicomedy really.

There were shorts for 2 other NZ films but if I couldn't make out what some of the characters were saying in the shorts then watching the entire film would be too frustrating. Next time I'm in Auckland I'llsee if I have time to go.

Yes, I would watch it again I think just to get the dialogue fixed in my head. Doesn't your cinema have hearing enablement? Or nice small rooms?

P.D.R. wrote: "Yes, I would watch it again I think just to get the dialogue fixed in my head. Doesn't your cinema have hearing enablement? Or nice small rooms?"

It was in one of the smaller rooms but old cinema & sound has always been bad.

Sad. I love our local cinema. I often go in the morning and have the tiniest room all to myself. Really enjoyed the Beethoven journey in solitary splendour.

Off to see the National Theatre's As You Like it. Can't wait. I miss Shakespeare plays. I reread them but I want all the voices. and the action on a real stage!! That's best..

New set of Arts films in. Met Opera, National Theatre and Monet, Bosch and a couple of others.

Just seen 12th Night which was a production using the play to look at gender, sexual roles and attitudes towards 'em. Interesting with a female Malvolio called Malvolia and all tech stuff. Modern setting and played for laughs but the audience was roaring with delight. Made one think but changing gender of Malvolio unbalanced the play which was not quite what Shakespeare wrote!

I saw The Breaker Upperers yesterday

I really liked it, but it has been over-hyped. The film owes a bit to The Bridesmaids, which wouldn't be obvious (other than for one scene) except Jackie von Beek's performance & appearance is so like Kirsten Whig.

It is fun looking for the well known Kiwis in smaller roles.

But the funny parts are very funny & Madeleine Sami & James Rolleston just light up the screen! Best scene stealer is Rose Matafeo, best performance is Ana Scotney.

I'd give it 4★

Can't face it. Seen so much hurt and pain over marriage break ups!

But did enjoy the Guernsey Potato Pie film.

I loved Guernsey. Really wanted to see The Bookshop but our local independent cinema was flooded after some water pipes burst and has been closed the last three weeks. Fingers crossed they are opening again this weekend.

Also saw The Breaker Upperers. I thought it was OK.

Worth enjoying, Angie.

Finally got to see The Bookshop over the weekend.

Not the happiest of tales, but Bill Nighy is wonderful and the portrayal of small-town clique-ey-ness (sorry, I know it's not a word) is spot on.

I haven't read the book so can't tell you how true to the book the film is.