What's on in the pictures?

I'm so lucky to have the best cinema in the country 15 minutes drive from my house. The Quad. Best food, best films, best staff, great exhibitions. State of the art design; solar panels to conserve energy, and they use concrete instead of air conditioning [don't ask me to explain that!].

Where is that then?
MK City of Culture eat your heart out!

...would you believe, Derby!

Has anyone managed to catch Wrecker anywhere? It came out in mid Dec I think but seems to have sunk without trace. Lots of disappointed Cumberbitches out there. [ sad]

That's on in Derby, but haven't got time to see it. The Quad has too many good films on, if I wasn't working/childminding I'd all but live there!

Sex in the City is a cool kind of film.

Was never a devotee of Sex and the City on tv but was persuaded to see the (?) 2nd film. It was without doubt one of the worst films I've ever seen! Pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the new 'Girl with..' but was a bit taken aback by the switch to London - took me a moment to figure it out! Marginally preferred the original.

Did anyone else see The Enchanted Island, from The Met, last night? I think it was probably the most incredible production I have ever seen. Met productions are always fantastic, but this one had back projection as well as the usual great scenery. Mermaids floating in the sky, shipwrecks, the mouth of hell, all totally amazing. I didn't quite "get" the first act, Baroque opera is a newform to me, but
With the second act I realised it was really a pantomime. Helena and Hermia were the Ugly Sisters, the Principal Boy was a countertenor, and it was even written in rhyming couplets! I never thought I would almost cry over Caliban, but that white clown face was incredibly moving. Sorry, this won't mean a thing if you didn't see it, and can't now, but I would love to hear from anyone who did.

Went to see Descendants last night. Sad theme (wife in coma) but there was quite a lot of humour. I am usually the loudest laugher in the cinema. Take after my Gran who used to get stopped in the street with a "Heard you laughing in the pictures last night Beatty" in the days when one went to the pics twice a week, every week.
If you don't like swearing (esp swearing teenagers) then you will object to this.
If you have the hots for Cluny, then you will like it, even if he does a great comic turn of man trying to run downhill in flip flops while in a rage.

Finally got to see War Horse last week, and found it far too sentimental. The puppet horses in the play were more real than the real horses in the film. Thought the latter part of the film was the best and wondered how I would have felt if I didn't know the story and the ending, but it didn't 'stay' with me afterwards. Don't know what this Enchanted Island is that you talk of, Ganja, but it sounds good! Going to see a few more gritty things now; Shame next week. Thankfully, my cinema are showing Hugo in a few weeks time; missed it when it was on before Christmas.

And there is a welsh film with Minnie Driver coming up. Chance for me to wallow in accents and spot locations. Topic not greatly original - a school musical, but there will undoubtedly be singing.
Thinking of downloading Tinker Tailor tonight. Anyone seen it?

JessM if you mean the film ( not the T.V. series) yes, and I thoroughly enjoyed it but had to concentrate!!!
Minnie driver in a welsh film.... They usually concentrate on S.Wales (valleys especially) and I'm from the north!

oh spy stuff. you do have to pay attention. but it is not on the apple store yet.
yes it did look like the south from the trailer.

I was fascinated by the period detail, although they had a speed bump in the road at the start of the film which I'm sure wouldn't have been there at that time. I was disappointed with the film, possibly because it was over hyped and I expected too much. Another film that I'll probably enjoy more watching at home with a cup of tea. The Ghost is on telly tonight [I think]. Didn't enjoy that at all. I liked 'Dreams of a Life' which I saw the other week. Perhaps I only like miserable films . Looking forward to The Artist.

crimson Does your marvellous cinema not show the live transmissions from the Metropolitan Opera in New York? The trouble is that because they are live, they are on for one night only. the Enchanted Island was a mash-up of The Tempest and Midsummer Night's Dream, with baroque music from various composers. I enjoyed it a lot.

On Friday I am finally getting to see Wuthering Heights. It's at 11.15 so I hope it is a Senior showing and not a Scream as I haven't got a baby to take! I'll get back to you with my views on it.

They show National Theatre plays, i think, but I haven't been tempted to go as yet because I find part of the 'theatre experience' is actualy being in a theatre. Also, although I tend to enjoy most films that I go to see the theatre sometimes doesn't work for me. To be honest, I usually enjoy plays aimed at children; Swallows and Amazons being thenext play we're going to see!

crimson I finally got to see what I noticed I had put in the calendar as Withering Heights on Friday. It really wasn't very good was it? Some of the landscape shots were wonderful, but the characters didn't seem to relate to each other,and had no context. If I didn't know the book, though I have always found the plot confusing, I would have been really lost.

We took DD and DGCs to War Horse yesterday and I so agree with you about it. They all loved it, but it did not even remotely compare with the magnificent and deeply moving play. As for that architectural pig's ear of a Devon farmhouse - I lived in Devon for 16 years and never saw the like of that!

Go and see Carnage, it's HILARIOUS!

Gosh; that's interesting..I was going to give Carnage a miss, as wasn't impressed with the trailer. Sort of the opposite of what I said about the plays shown at the cinema, Carnage being [I understand] a film of a play, that doesn't pretend to be anything else. Will have a rethink about seeing it. Some strange films coming up, none of which appeal to me but could surprise me; J Edgar and Coriolanus being a couple of them. Shame was awful. I'm quite happy to see what appears to be a semi pornographic film about two souls damaged by an abused childhood, but I was expecting some clues as to what that childhood had been and, for once, Carey Mulligan [my favourite actress these days] disappointed. Not a film to watch with your kids or parents etc. In fact, not a film to watch. Period. The Artist was [and I have never used this word before, ever, but there is no other word suitable!] DIVINE. A joy. Some people in the cinema seemed to nod off, but not moi! A bit marmite, but, if you like it you'll really like it. Saw Mark Kermode's review of War Horse and am probably prepared to have a re think, as I'll never know how I would have felt had I not been so familiar with the story [he CRIED; headlines all over the world 'Kermode Cries...']. the Devon farmhouse was straight out of a Hollywood 1950's film. A lot of disappointed American tourists over the coming years, I think, although the unnatural sky in the film was supposedly straight from nature. A girl who works at the cinema said that the lad who played Albert wasn't quite right for the part, and I think she's right [hadn't thought about it before]. Very pretty, he was, but perhaps the emotion wasn't quite there?

I am really looking forward to "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" - I loved the book, and I just hope thay haven't ruined it!

I also fancy "Coriolanus" - "Oh mother, mother, what hast thou done to me?"

I hope that comes to our local cinema, Ariadne! A wonderful cast!

I do hope Marigold Hotel will be a great success, Looks just what we all need to cheers up these cold dark days. I am so pleased for Deborah Moggach too. Her Tulip Fever, which I am sure would have been a great film, was just about to go into production when Brown pulled the government help for the film industry overnight. So disappointing. Roll on the new one. Shall definitely take DH.

DH and I went to our new cinema last week and saw War Horse and I really enjoyed it,it was the first time for a long time that we had gone to the cinema and I was really surprised at the cost,we went on a Wednesday evening to take advantage of Oranges,"Orange Wednesday" deal where by if you are on their network they text you a code and you give it in at the box-office and you get a really good reduction this plus over 60's discount brought the total entrance fee to £4.50 for both of us so guess where we will be spending Wednesday's in the near future.

Has anyone seen The Artist yet ? Waiting to hear reviews from ordinary mortals rather than the critics.

Loved it, some people said it was so-so , but we thought it was enchanting, and two beautiful c0-stars -plus amazing dog. See it, it's lovely.

I agree GG. It was an ingenious idea that really worked. And the dog was a star! Highly recommended.