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Anyone seen any good films recently?

125 replies

Fionn · 02/09/2002 23:22

While we're on books and music, any other cinephiles out there? Have just come back from seeing Almodovar's Talk to Her, anyone else seen it?

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PamT · 03/09/2002 06:58

I watched Enigma on DVD the other night. Its a far fetched love story based on the Bletchley Park code breakers story. It was a bit hard to follow with who was who and what they were all up to but I did enjoy the film overal. I don't often get to the cinema - the expense, babysitter trouble and the nuisance of having other people there put us off. We usually buy the DVD if we really want to see something. We're looking forward to Monsters Inc coming out at the weekend - all highly intellectual stuff of course!

Lucy123 · 03/09/2002 10:03

Oh Fionn - please tell me about Talk to Her. As I'm learning Spanish I have been meaning to catch one of Almodovar's film for ages - just haven't got round to it yet (and don't know which one to go for first).

Best film I've seen all year is Amelie (had to wait for it from the UK - the Spanish DVD doesn't have English subtitles). What a fantastci film! I love the little observations about the characters and the cinematography.

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Fionn · 03/09/2002 11:06

PamT - I saw Enigma. I really like Dougray Scott (sexy or what! even as a mad mathematician) and Kate Winslet, but thought it was a bit dull. Fascinating story though.

Lucy123 - I used to live in Madrid and love Almodovar's films - the shots of Madrid in most of them make me nostalgic. Talk to Her is an amazing film IMO, very thought-provoking, moving and funny. His earlier films are funnier, in a very black way. I'd recommend something like High Heels or Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown first, but do see Talk to Her, it's a very good film.

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SoupDragon · 03/09/2002 11:10

I saw Spiderman and Austin Powers - Gold Member recently. Thoroughly enjoyed them both but they're a bit low-brow for this conversation so I'll slink away, embarrassed...

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Fionn · 03/09/2002 11:14

SoupDragon - I'd like to see Austin Powers but will wait until someone buys the video later, I don't think I'd use up a valuable cinema visit on it! I read a very interesting article with Mike Myers saying how all the AP films were his tribute to his English father and his sense of humour.

Lucy 123 - PS, I enjoyed Amelie but it wasn't as fantastic as I'd been led to believe, a bit too whimsical for my taste. I preferred Chocolat which I saw around the same time.

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PamT · 03/09/2002 11:32

Soupdragon, I don't think I could handle anything too intellectual after a mindnumbing day with the kids. My brain seems to take such a beating trying to keep up with them that I just want to vegetate when it gets to 8pm. I prefer not to have to think about things by that time of day - and there's no chance of watching something that needs any concentration when my 3 are tearing around.

SoupDragon · 03/09/2002 11:35

I have to confess both those films were on pirate videos - last film I saw at the cinema was LoTR!

aloha · 03/09/2002 12:02

Is the Panic Room any cop? I quite fancy is as exciting if mindless entertainment.

sjs · 03/09/2002 12:41

I'm not a cinephile but do enjoy a good movie now and then. I went to see About A Boy at the weekend. Had quite low expectations but really enjoyed it.
Thought Hugh Grant was better in this than anything else he has been in recently. His character had more of an edge.
The little boy who played Marcus was v. good.
Also reasonably thought provoking. How one person can make a difference in your life, but in everyone's case you need to take some responsibility too. Some excruicatingly embarrassing moments in it too and some good music. Worthwhile if it's on and would be good on video too. (If anyone else has seen the movie and read the book, I'd be interested in knowing if the book is worth reading now...)

Fionn - I enjoyed Chocolat too. But think Moulin Rouge is one of the best movies I've seen recently. Unfortunately saw it on video Wish I'd seen it on the big screen.

Chinchilla · 03/09/2002 13:50

Saw 'The Mothman Prophesies' at the w/end. Excellent, and very spooky. Richard Gere is less sexy now though!

Also loved 'Serendipity' with Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack - if you want a love story.

bundle · 03/09/2002 14:06

this is making me realise I haven't been to the cinema for AGES. last thing I saw on video was The Others - couldn't see what all the fuss was about to be honest, and Nicole Kidman was much better in Flirting.

star · 03/09/2002 14:09

This reply has been deleted

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PamT · 03/09/2002 14:49

How does the film of Chocolat compare to the book? I enjoyed the book but don't think DH would want to watch the film. Oh and is it compulsory to eat the stuff whilst watching? Its a good job that smellyvision hasn't been invented, I don't think I could bear to take in the chocolate aromas for over an hour without eating some myself.

Alibubbles · 03/09/2002 15:32

I loved the film Chocolat. so did DH, a bit easier than the book!

A tub of Ben and Jerrys choc chip cookie dough goes with it nicely! - Why do Blockbuster have to put it at the checkout, almost as bad as sweets for kids!!

Willow2 · 03/09/2002 16:00

I loved Chocolat too - although Johnny Depp's accent was just awful.

SueDonim · 03/09/2002 16:08

Sjs, yes, it's worth reading the book as they left a big chunk out of the film.

I thought it was a shame they changed the character in Chocolat from the priest to the mayor. It had more frisson when it was the priest ranting on about Lent.

We have AP Goldmember on DVD but I haven't seen it yet. I sat through Episode 2 of Star Wars for the second time at the weekend....zzzzzzzzzz. Otherwise Scooby Doo was the last film I saw!

The films I missed and want to see are The Shipping News, Iris, and A Beautiful Mind. Must go to the markets here and see if I can pick them up - DVDs are so cheap in Indonesia - we complain if we have to pay more than three quid!!

sjs · 03/09/2002 16:38

Re. Chocolat.... Did I make this up or did they also change the child's imaginary friend from a kangaroo into a rabbit.
I loved the book but because it was about a year between reading it and watching the film, I enjoyed the film too. If you haven't seen the film and you enjoy a good read, then I'd recommend it.

Enid · 03/09/2002 18:50

star, I loved minority report!

I am looking forward to seeing Insomnia next week when we grab an evenings babysitting.

I watched the Blair Witch Project (film four) ON MY OWN on Friday night while dp was out - I am still trying to recover.

karenanne · 03/09/2002 19:14

for all you cinephiles with a good speed pc try KaZaA peer to peer file sharing..my partner downloaded it and so far we've watched american pie 2 ,scooby doo, minority report,triple xxx ,reign of fire and signs all from the comfort of our living room.thhey can take a while to download but all the files we've downloaded have been great copies and perfectly watchable .we've actually just bought a cable to connect our pc to our tv so we havent got to watch them on our laptop screen.its great for music too by the way.

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Fionn · 03/09/2002 20:59

sjs- I thought that Moulin Rouge was fabulous, but also know people who didn't like it at all. The sight of Jim Broadbent singing Like a Virgin was side-splitting! I also saw About a Boy recently and thought Hugh Grant was a revelation. You'd enjoy the book if you liked the film - the film was quite true to it. Thank God it wasn't made in Hollywood, imagine what schmaltzy ending they'd have spoiled it with! Though the US film of High Fidelity wasn't too bad. I thought it kept the spirit of the book but how ridiculous that the protagonist's favourite music had to be changed from soul to rock to appeal to an American white audience.

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WideWebWitch · 03/09/2002 21:41

Fionn, agree about High Fidelity, thought it was faithful to the book and liked John Cusack, ditto Hugh Grant in About a Boy: he suddenly got sexy from Bridget Jones' Diary onwards. (oh no, now I sound like sad lechy old housewife!) I didn't like Minority Report much, I thought it started well and looked really promising and got worse really. Agree about the spiders scene though, jumped out of my skin. Would like to see Amelie and Talk to Her too.

jenny2998 · 03/09/2002 22:42

I lurved Moulin Rouge and I lurve Ewan Mcgregor.

About a boy was a great film, but have to disagree about Hugh Grant.

allatsea · 03/09/2002 22:57

Saw Gosford Park recently, a lovely who's who of British theatre, a lovely to look at, beautifully acted film perfect for a brain numbed evening.

emsiewill · 03/09/2002 23:04

Moulin Rouge is my favourite film ever - it's just fab. How anyone can say it's boring is beyond me. Agree that it's much better on the big screen, although the start in the can-can hall made me feel a bit dizzy, it was spinning around so much. Never fancied Ewan before that film, but now I think he's mmmmmmm. Also didn't have much time for Nicole Kidman before, but she was great in it. Must watch it again soon, actually.
Saw The Guru the other week - it was good, and also had lots of singing and dancing, but not a "traditional" musical.
Trying not to draw dd2's attention to the fact the Monsters Inc is out on DVD - would ideally like to get it her for Christmas - can we last that long?

SueDonim · 04/09/2002 07:00

I'd forgotten that, Sjs. What was the significance of changing the rabbit to a kangaroo??? Bizarre!

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