merry
Regular Diner Patron
Posts: 85
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Post by merry on Jun 9, 2010 9:59:35 GMT -6
I watched The Changling the other night. This is NOT the Catherine Zeta Jones version. This is the horror movie with George C. Scott and Trish Vandevere.
It is a good old fashioned haunted house movie. I lovvvvvvvvvvvvve those kinds of movies.
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Post by filmnoirfanatic on Jul 2, 2010 21:57:38 GMT -6
Films that I watched or plan to watch... The House of Wax The Original version precode version entitled...Mystery of the House of Wax...By the way, the women clothing in this film were beautiful. (The film was tinted too)Anastasia (Animated version) and Coco Before Chanel... A couple of Shhh...Screeners DVDs that my friend sent to me...Chloe, The Headless Woman and Kick-_ss) Films in my cart... Obsession(1949)Caught and Fear in the Night (Thanks, to Diane, I plan to seek both films out to watch.) DeeDee
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Post by Midge on Jul 3, 2010 2:57:48 GMT -6
I just watched a movie called Flying High (1931), an early musical comedy starring Bert Lahr and Charlotte Greenwood. The songs are nothing memorable, and the plot is silly, but the eye-catching choreography by Busby Berkeley was fun. I thought Lahr's overly broad comedy style was way over the top, but I am a huge fan of Charlotte Greenwood so I sat through it in order to see what she was like in her younger days.
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Post by Hedvig on Jul 4, 2010 5:06:56 GMT -6
Ooh, an early pre-code Busby Berkley moive. I thínk those musicals lost something by 1934. But before then they were great. Though this sounds like a less sophisticated affair. How was Charlotte Greenwood?
I'm in a Brontë-mood, so I think I will watch a TV adaptation of Jane Eyre.
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Post by Midge on Jul 4, 2010 15:42:38 GMT -6
Charlotte Greenwood was almost unrecognizable because she is a lot younger and thinner and has dark hair. She plays a gawky, wide-eyed misfit dressed in comically unflattering attire such as dresses with ruffles from top to bottom. She doesn't do any of her trademark high kicks in this move, which disappointed me. There is a lot of physical comedy that capitalized on her height and long legs.
I hope you enoyed Jane Eyre.
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Post by Hedvig on Jul 5, 2010 12:59:55 GMT -6
That sounds a bit typical of Hollywood, especially Hollywood of the 30's. A girl could be considered homely if she wasn't photomodel-gorgeous, and that would be made fun of. I don't know how much times have changed, I guess it isn't PC any more, though Sarah Jessica Parker got digs about a having a horse-face in Ed Wood.
I love Jane Eyre!
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Post by dvdjunkie on Jul 5, 2010 16:28:07 GMT -6
Turned the clock back in the Junkie Home Theater as we watched both American Graffitti and its sequel More American Graffitti. Forgot exactly how much I can relate to things that happened to the characters in these films. America was introduced officially to Harrison Ford in the first film along with Richard Dreyfuss and a grown-up Ron Howard. Also featured in the film is Paul LeMat, Charlie Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark and in a quickie, don't blink, role, Johnny Weismuller, Jr.
The second film contained members of the original movie and basically takes places a couple of years down the road.
;D
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Post by dvdjunkie on Jul 20, 2010 8:37:12 GMT -6
The 2010 Television season just got a little brighter with Food Network's new season of The Next Food Network Star. I have been following this show since its inception, and this season looks to be very challenging.
My favorite shows on Food Network include "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" with Guy Fieri, "Chopped" with Ted Allan, "Ultimate Recipe Showdown" with Guy Fieri. Actually there are a lot of shows on Food Network that I watch periodically, but those listed above are on my DVR, so I don't miss any episode.
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Post by Midge on Jul 20, 2010 16:06:33 GMT -6
We love Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins too, but it always makes me hungry to watch that show! My other Food Network favorite is Unwrapped. Al likes Good Eats, but Alton Brown's personality gets on my nerves. Will you please stop trying to entertain me; just show me how to cook the darn food! The other night I tried to watch The Seventh Seal, an Ingmar Bergman film that is supposed to be one of the greatest movies ever made, but I just couldn't get into it.
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Post by dvdjunkie on Jul 22, 2010 10:36:54 GMT -6
Movie night in the Junkie Home Theater and we watched a couple of Disney films, Old Yeller and Swiss Family Robinson, because we have our three oldest grandkids with us until July 26. They really enjoyed the films.
After they were tucked in bed we watched my early birthday present (from me to me): The Runaways starring Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie. This is the story adapted from the book "Neon Angel" by Cherie Currie, about the beginnings and failings of the first all-girl Rock and Roll band. Under the mis-guidance of Kim Fowley, who is played here by Michael Shannon, this film graphically shows the bands beginnings, their introduction to drugs and alcohol, at the young age of 15 and 16. Fowley, to this day, is despised by most of the Recording Industry's elite, but he was responsible for a lot of big stars in the 70's.
Movie follows the group on their first show in front of an audience, and their first tour our of the U.S. to Japan, where to this day the group is revered as the catalyst of the punk rock movement in Japan.
Very graphic in its language, and drug use, this film is not for the squeamish, but is a very good film and rates a strong 3.5 stars in the Junkie Movie Meter. If you are interested in the success and failures of one of the pioneer female rock and roll bands, then this film is for you.
;D
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Post by filmnoirfanatic on Aug 26, 2010 20:25:46 GMT -6
I usually, post what I plan to watch over the week-end, but I guess a change this one time is okay... Coming Up: Inception, The Ghost Writer, and Psycho. (As part of a blogathon...and for those non-bloggers who aren't aware of what a blogathon is...Well, it's when one blogger feature a celebrity, whether the celebrity is an actor, actress, director, or producer...to focus on for a month. (In which other blogger contribute a piece about the person being focused on for the entire month.) This particular blogathon that I'am participating in is called... 31 Days of CrAzY and I plan to feature Hitchcock's Psycho.)Films That I Watched... "Secret of Convict Lake, " "N.Y. Confidential," "The Iron Curtain," and "Obession." I hope to watch Aronofsky's "The Black Swan." (I have been told that it's neo-noirish in nature. The trailer for the film kind of, "freaked" me out!) DeeDee
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Post by Midge on Aug 27, 2010 1:46:13 GMT -6
The blogathon sounds interesting, Dee Dee. I was wondering which celebrity would tie in with Inception, The Ghost Writer and Psycho? Last night Al and I had a friend over for dinner, and we watched Puccini's Madama Butterfly on TV. This was the first HD stereo presentation in a series of four that are being produced by the San Francisco Opera. It was a treat to see it in HD on our new wide-screen TV. Al didn't even fall asleep, so I guess he must have liked it. When we used to go to the opera house, I would have to nudge him every so often.
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Post by filmnoirfanatic on Sept 5, 2010 14:26:54 GMT -6
The blogathon sounds interesting, Dee Dee. I was wondering which celebrity would tie in with Inception, The Ghost Writer and Psycho? Midge, there is no tie in between Inception, The Ghost Writer, and Psycho. Unless there are people who act "crazy" in Inception and Ghost Writer? :unsure: :unsure: :unsure: :unsure: I plan to watch Inception and The Ghost Writer over the holiday weekend....separate from the1960 film Psycho and the blogothon. Last night Al and I had a friend over for dinner, and we watched Puccini's Madama Butterfly on TV. This was the first HD stereo presentation in a series of four that are being produced by the San Francisco Opera. It was a treat to see it in HD on our new wide-screen TV. Al didn't even fall asleep, so I guess he must have liked it. When we used to go to the opera house, I would have to nudge him every so often. Ha! Ha! Midge, all I can say, is helloooo! HD TV!!!! Take care! DeeDee
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Post by Midge on Sept 6, 2010 1:32:37 GMT -6
Thanks, Dee Dee! Back to the topic, it's the middle of the night and I'm watching the Jerry Lewis Telethon. This is not so much for the "entertainment" as to and see how Old Jerry is doing. He looks better than he has in past years when he was all puffed up from the medications.
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Post by Hedvig on Sept 13, 2010 15:40:14 GMT -6
I've heard of Jerry Lewis, but never seen him. Do you find him funny, is it something I should explore?
I've watched the film Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day. The movie is based on a popular English book from 1938, which I read when I was in England. It's an escapist fantasy where a poor out of work governess named Pettigrew who meets a wealthy showgirl, makes friends with her and somehow helps her fix her love life. In return, Miss Pettigrew gets to "live" for a day, experiencing the kind of fun and excitement she has only seen at the movies.
The film is enjoyable, like the book, but much of it is kind of fast-paced and hysterical - again, like the book, but in the book it worked better. The book also had the constant tension when Miss Pettigrew kept waiting and dreading having to return to her normal life of drudgery. The movie doesn't have that. It does however add some gravitas by putting emphasis on the depression-era aspect of Miss Pettigrew's economic problems - she has to visit a soup kitchen to get her food - and by her being one of the "surplus" women from the WWI-era. You could almost say those themes are too heavy for such a light escapist fare. The author of the book probably didn't know or believe the world was on the cusp of the most devastating war in history when she wrote the book in '38. This movie is all too aware of that fact. Still, it's good entertainment, and I rather liked the actress who played Pettigrew. Amy Adams, as the showgirl, is lovely. The movie does after all capture the escapism of the book.
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Post by Midge on Sept 13, 2010 17:28:51 GMT -6
Hedvig, I saw Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day and agree with everything you have said. I hadn't read the novel, but I had a feeling that something was missing in the story, but I couldn't articulate it. Still, it was an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours. The actress who plays Miss Pettigrew, Frances McDormand, is best known as Marge, the female cop in Fargo.
Last night I saw A Student Prince in Old Heidelburg again. It's a delightful movie which seems to improve with repeated viewings.
Jerry Lewis is what they call "an acquired taste." You either like him or you don't. His manic comic style with exaggerated mannerisms can be grating. Personally I don't care for his movies at all, not even the ones he did with his former partner Dean Martin. Jim Carrey is sometimes said to be the modern-day Jerry Lewis, so if you like his work you might also like Jerry.
Outside of his role as an entertainer, Lewis is primarily known for his work on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. For over 40 years he has been hosting an annual telethon to raise money for this charity, which serves people who have wasting muscle diseases.
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Post by Hedvig on Sept 14, 2010 16:04:27 GMT -6
I greatly missed the whole tension Miss Pettigrew was feeling. It wasn't a brilliantly written novel, but the bits where you were inside her head and felt her anxiety were well done and they were very important. It made her whole Cinderella transformation all the more wonderful. Then again, that's just a short-coming of the film medium isn't it? Otherwise the movie wasn't all that different from the book.
I saw Now Voyager today, another Cinderella story, but with quite a few twists. I was surprised - and pleased with the fact that I was surprised. It wasn't a conventional story.
A Student Prince of Old Heidelburg, was it the silent version?
I'm not too fond of Jim Carrey really. I think Jerry Lewis's charity work sounds very admirable, he seems to have devoted a lot to it!
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Post by Midge on Sept 14, 2010 16:41:17 GMT -6
Dramatic tension was definitely missing, I have to agree even though I haven't read the novel.
Now Voyager is a favorite of mine. It was daring for the 1940s because Bette Davis is allowed to be a happy, independent woman who has a relationship with a married man. In those days if a woman strayed from the social norm, she was always punished in some way.
A Student Prince in Old Heidelburg was the silent version starring Ramon Novarro and Norma Shearer. It's the only version of that story that I like.
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Post by Hedvig on Sept 19, 2010 16:57:14 GMT -6
You're right about Now Voyager, I didn't think of that when I saw it but her relationship - no matter how apparently chastely it was depicted on screen, and the audience wouldn't have been naive - would have been very controversial at that time. Joseph Breen of the production code must have let it pass, I wonder why. I'm glad he did though. What a great role for Bette Davis.
I haven't heard of any other versions of Student Prince, I've seen clips of the silent version but not the whole film. Did you get it on TCM?
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Post by Midge on Sept 19, 2010 17:17:35 GMT -6
Yes, Hedvig, the Student Prince was shown on TCM. They often show silent films on Sunday night. There was a musical version, The Student Prince made in 1954. Mario Lanza, a huge star at the time, was to have played the prince. He had a weight problem, however, so only his singing voice is used in the film. A handsome but forgettable leading man named Edmund Purdom took his place with Ann Blyth as Kathie, the barmaid. This version is in color and is entertaining enough, but in my opinion it doesn't have the charm of the silent version. There were two even earlier silent versions in 1915 and 1923 which I don't know much about. The 1915 version starred Dorothy Gish. Getting back on topic, there is another Ramon Novarro silent playing on TCM tonight. It's The Red Lily (1924) co-starring Enid Bennett. If I can pry the remote control from Al's hands, I may try to watch it.
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Post by Hedvig on Sept 27, 2010 15:27:06 GMT -6
Ah, the 1915 version with Dorothy Gish. I think that's the one where she played opposite Walace Reed and didn't want to kiss him on the mouth because she was afraid of germs? That's all I know about it.
Did you see The Red Lily? It's supposed to be good.
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Post by Midge on Sept 27, 2010 17:49:46 GMT -6
Yes, Hedvig, I saw The Red Lily and I thought it was excellent. The story of two lovers who run away to Paris together but are separated by fate was absorbing from beginning to end with great performances from the cast. I would highly recommend it. Last night I saw Ramon Novarro in another silent, Scaramouche, but I came in late then fell asleep in the middle of it, so I'm afraid I can't tell you whether it was good or not!
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Oct 4, 2010 15:20:33 GMT -6
Going to watch A Night to Remember (1958) tonight, the good movie with all the facts about the sinking of the RMS Titanic, based on the novel of the same name by Walter Lord. A friend of mine has never seen this movie, and his wife is as much a Titanic fanatic as I am; I've told them all about the movie so we're all going to get together tonight at his house and watch it. The best thing is that he has a big screen TV and a theater-style popcorn machine so, after the pizza we'll have the movie and popcorn night!!! ;D :thumbsup: Prior to the movie, however, we're going to sit around and discuss our plans for the end of the month. Their anniversary was a couple weeks ago, and mine and TC's anniversary is at the end of this month; we are combining our anniversaries together to take a trip to Branson, MO at the end of the month to see the Titanic Museum!!! Therefore, we will be working on our travel itinerary tonight, as well!!! :jump:
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Post by Midge on Oct 4, 2010 18:55:07 GMT -6
That's exciting, Larry! I hope you and TC have a great time on your anniversary trip. A Night to Remember is an excellent film, and I am sure that after you have seen it, you will agree that this is the most authentic, the most respectful and I think the most moving version of this historic tragedy.
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Post by dvdjunkie on Oct 6, 2010 7:20:17 GMT -6
With All Hallows Eve lurking around the corner in just a few weeks, I have joined with some other friends on another site, to watch 31 Horror Films in just 30 nights!!!
At first I thought this would be pretty easy, then after someone laid the rules down I thought, to myself, these people weren't even around when the GOOD horror movies were being made. So I started watching my Horror Films in my collection and here it is the 6th of October and I already have nine films watched.
Among them my favorite Hammer films - Scars of Dracula, Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, and Horrors of Dracula, and for a little bit of fluff I have watched Abbott & Costello Meet The Killer, Boris Karloff and my favorite, Abbott & Costrello Meet Frankenstein. The sixth film, which I watched last night, was one of my favorite William Castle chillers called 13 Ghosts.
So with all this going on, I will ask this question. Do any of you have a favorite Halloween-themed Horror Film, or one that you generally try to watch every year around this time?
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Post by Hedvig on Oct 22, 2010 16:59:40 GMT -6
I'm thinking of finding a Hammer-horror movie for my sister, she loves old-fahioned horror. I watched Peter's Friends recently. It's from 1992, and deals with topical issues of that time. It's very rooted in 1992. I don't see that as a bad thing, although I've heard the film described as dated. That might well be the case for some of its topics, as I said, but its emotions are pretty timeless. A bunch of old university friends reunite after not having seen each other for a few years. Old emotions are stirred, and old arguments rekindled, but they are still tightly bound together. There's something special about university friendships alright. I could see myself in these people a bit, sometimes not in a very good way... Lots of famous British actors feature in this one. I think the ones that acquit themselves best are Imelda Staunton and Hugh Laurie. It's worth seeing.
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Post by dvdjunkie on Oct 24, 2010 7:57:24 GMT -6
In my quest to watch "100 Horror Films in 31 Days" I am up to a grand total of 75 as of yesterday (Saturday, Oct. 23).
In my quest to watch this many movies I have tried to avoid the "remakes" and "junk" horror films out there and have surprised myself at how many I actually own on DVD.
Have watched all of the Boris Karloff films including the Frankenstein series and the Mummy series of films. They don't make them like that any more, either.
;D
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Post by Midge on Oct 24, 2010 15:08:34 GMT -6
Have watched all of the Boris Karloff films including the Frankenstein series and the Mummy series of films. They don't make them like that any more, either. You got that one right. Those early B&W horror films had style. Staying on topic, I haven't been keeping up with movies because of the baseball playoffs, but I hope to get back on track. Murnau's Nosferatu will be shown on American TCM tonight.
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Post by filmnoirfanatic on Oct 29, 2010 16:09:11 GMT -6
Have watched all of the Boris Karloff films including the Frankenstein series and the Mummy series of films. They don't make them like that any more, either. You got that one right. Those early B&W horror films had style. Staying on topic, I haven't been keeping up with movies because of the baseball playoffs, but I hope to get back on track. Murnau's Nosferatu will be shown on American TCM tonight. Hi! Midge and dvdjunkie... I agree with you both...I'am discovering "classic" horror films...I like them because they are more psychological it seems than just your run-of-the-mill slasher-dasher films. As a matter of fact, I just watched Shelly's Frankenstein for the first-time and all I can say it's a... classic.Starting this evening and over the week-end, I plan to re-watch some film noir...Such as: Betrayed, Stranger On The Third Floor,The Bad Girls of Film Noir (box set 1 & 2) and Sherlock Holmes (2009) (Even though a fellow blogger, claimed that Sherlock Holmes (2009) was boring)...I guess that we can agree to disagree...because I enjoyed watching it thoroughly. I most definitely, plan to check out the two silent films The Prisoner of Zenda and The Magician that a fellow blogger sent my way! Coming up this Halloween weekend... The Wolfman, The Mummy, {One Karloff's best films) The Mummy Hand, and The Mummy Tomb.No pun intended, but I guess I can say that's a "wrap"... Ouch! ;D I hope everyone here at the diner have a nice and pleasant weekend too! DeeDee
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Post by Midge on Oct 30, 2010 0:56:31 GMT -6
Thanks, Dee Dee, same to you. Last night Al asked me, "What's going on with TCM? Why are they showing nothing but Frankenstein movies?" Umm, because this weekend is Halloween? Yeah, that's it!
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