What's on in the pictures?

bensnana So glad you liked Kevin, I did too. crimson The Awakening was very scarey, not to say highly convoluted. I don't think I ever quite understood the toings and froings between the past and the present. It did look wonderful though. I wish I had waited u til the end of the credits to see if they told you were it was filmed.Amazing house and grounds. I didn't go for Dominic West in The Hour, but thought he was good in this. Have always liked Rebecca Hall, ever since The Camomile Lawn. Maybe don't go on your own! Clever use of spooky dolls' houses, quite sinister.

Breaking Dawn next week, that looks quite scary too in its way, not to mention gynaecological!

Have been to see "We need to talk about Kevin" at The Kino Cinema in Hawkhurst recently. Fantastic film (although not something I would recommend if you wanted to see a light hearted film) and a fantastic venue. I have read the book twice and found it really good. The film is certainly worth seeing.

Having a bit of a sabbatical at the moment, as we seemed to be at the cinema all the time a couple of weeks back. Going to the Ken Loach talk on Wednesday. The Awakening does look scary; I have to be careful with things like that as I live on my own for most of the week. Wuthering Heights soon. Got loads of dvds to watch; bought Water for Elephants the other week; a bit chickflickish I imagine, but I love elephants! May see the American Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but only because I found the second and third films in the Swedish version a bit disappointing.

em You obviously didn't make The Ides of March. I wouldn't worry too much. Did anyone else see it? I missed Contagion, was it any good? Hoping to see The Awakening this week. The trailer looks good, but scary. Any teenage Gransnetters out there waiting with bated breath for Breaking Dawn? Comes of having a teenage GD!

Planning to see Ides of March tomorrow, Ganja. Will get back to you!

Ides of March anyone? I was looking forward to this, but hated it. I know politics is a dirty game, but this was just skulduggery from beginning to end. Not a patch on Primary Colors, which I loved. At least that had a couple of characters with some morals.

I'm still not sure what I thought about Kevin. I haven't read the book and I wasn't expecting it to be a barrel of laughs due to the subject matter but it was more harrowing than I thought it would be. I do think Tilda Swinton was amazing [as ever] but a lot of things didn't add up. Ganja, can I pm you about something I need an answer to? Don't want to discuss the plot [or variations between the book and the plot] in case people haven't seen it or read it. It's still on my mind after several days, but almost in a 'Tideland' way. Perhaps it's an adaptation of a book that does need to be seen after reading the book. May have to miss out on anything to do with Mrs T on principle. Read the other day that she and Mr Major have both benefitted to the tune of @ half a million because of something that Mr M introduced when he was in power [the taxpayer footing the bill]. Dear old Tony has only had £250,000 [so far.....]. Makes my blood boil!

See The Help a wonderful book and a terrific film. Unlike some films from books it keeps to the original really well. I gave Jane Eyre a miss, there have been so many film and tv versions - enough already!! I love the old version with Joan Bennett and Orson Welles - he was such an over the top actor. The Iron Lady is due out in the New Year with that wonderful actress Meryl Streep playing Maggie Thatcher - looks great.

I loved 'The Help' as a novel and am always reluctant to see films of books I've enjoyed in case they conflict with the images I've built up in my mind. So maybe I won't go to see that on. I loathed 'We Have to Talk about Kevin' which is a deeply disturbing book with a horrific ending. As far as I can recall, there is no leavening of humour at all. I won't go to that film either because I know what is going to happen in the end which would mean there would be no suspense for me. Not that I like suspense anyway!

Our cinema trio (me and two very good friends) went to see 'The Help' yesterday afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is set in Mississippi during the 1960s and tells the story of three women, Skeeter-just home from High School to find that Constantine, the coloured help-who had brought her up from a baby has been sacked from her job with the family after 20years as she was no longer required, and Aibileen and Minny, the 'help' with two local families. Skeeter,an aspiring writer, decides to write a book about the lives of the 'help',but needs the assistance from Aibileen and Minny. She encourages them to tell her everything although this can be very dangerous and frightening for all of them in the racist atmosphere of the south. It is a story of acceptance and crossing social barriers that are destined to be crossed. The film is very moving and brings the town face to face with the changing times but has some lighter moments and I can really recommend it.

[GoldenGran] Did you ejoy Midnight in Paris? The city did look ravishing didn't it? I have just come back from a weeks holiday and found FIVE films I want to see at our local multiplex - choices, choices. They will never tell you what is going stay on next week, which infuriates me. I went for Kevin, which I really wanted to see. It's not a film you can say you enjoyed exactly, it's pretty harrowing, but I thought it was marvellous. Tilda Swinton is fantastic, so much better than that trendy Italian film I last saw her in. The boys they cast as Kevin were very good too, beautiful but somehow sinister. Do read the book first if you have time, I think I would have missed a lot if I handn't, though it was ages ago when it first came out. Not a book one forgets.

Also took DH to Anonymous last night. Absolutely bonkers but great fun. Even the fulminatimg historians and Shakespeare scholars had to admit that the scenes of Tudor London, the aerial shots of the frosty Tower and the frozen Thames (not historically accurate) were stunning. Nice to see Rhys Ifans has risen to the ranks of the aristocracy at last. Spike RIP!

Despite your hating it GanjaI think I will go and see midnight in Paris, although I haven't thought much of his last few films. Want to see We Need to Talk about Kevin, but someone told me to read the book first. Am going to take my GD to Horrid Henry next week.

Tyrannosaur was amazing, but I couldn't recommend it to anyone..incredibly violent [the S.O. struggled with it]. Annoyingly Paddy Considine gave a talk at our cinema that I missed [he's a local lad]. My taste must have changed, because I could never stomach films like Dead Mans Shoes a few years back. There was such a warmth and humour to it as well, though. Olivia Colman deserves an Oscar for her portrayal of Hannah. The Way of the Morris was very sweet but I felt I should have been watching it at home on the telly [it was just a 60 minute documentary]. Time to start going to the theatre again, I think; we don't go much as it's so expensive but I've realised it's the only time I ever get to wear something nice! It's very subjective, the cinema, isn't it. A lot of people were dismissive of Avatar; I nearly didn't go to see it cause I had my 'I watch films with subtitles y'know' head on, but I loved it! My definition of a good film is one that a] doesn't have me wondering how much longer it's going to be on for;and b] stays with me till the next day. I think my current love of Paris and wanting to still be there has clouded my view of Midnight In Paris! He does seem to make films with the city as the star these days.

crimson I can't believe it I thought Thanksgiving had come, biggest turkey in years. It was buttock-clenchingly awful. Bunuel, I'll give you an idea for a film!! But I grant you that Paris itself looked beautiful, washed in a lovely golden light. I wish you joy of Tyrranosaur,sounds too gory for me.

Oh, it was wonderful it..real escapist lovelyness! Saw Troll Hunter the same day [great fun]. Going to see Way of the Morris [I love Morris dancing!] and Tyrannosaur tomorrow. Not sure about the latter....Melancholia and We Need To Talk About Kevin. I do like a bit of misery, me

crimson what did you'd think of midnight in Paris?

I went to see "Johnny English Reborn", last Friday. It is a spoof of a Bond film and Rowan Atkinson plays the lead part.

Despite my best efforts not to enjoy it, as I am not an Atkinson fan, it did make me laugh and I would recommend it.

I've watched 'Frozen River' a couple of evenings ago - winner of Sundance Film Festival 2008.

Unrelentingly gritty and a very thought provoking movie.

"...It raises questions about the borders we construct between countries, communities and each other....."

It's set in a North American/Canadian border town/trailer park.

Terrific.

Going to see troll Hunter and Midnight in Paris today. Watched the Lovely Bones the other night; total abomination of what was a beautiful book..the S.O. asked how I could read such a book, and I replied that the film wasn't the film of the book I'd just read. However, my daughter who hasn't read the book thought the film was ok. I didn't enjoy The Guard at all I'm afraid, but very much want to see In Bruges.

I watched The Guard on the plane. (on my travels again) - quirky Irish film . If you like Irish/British inde. it's worth a look. A bit like a lighter funnier version of In Bruges, set in the West of Ireland.

Calling all fans of the Met Opera films. Wasn't Anna Bolena the most sensational start to the season? Glorious music, fabulous staging and costumes. We are so lucky To be able to see these in our local cinemas, and I love knowing that there are millions of people all over the world watching with us. Give peace a chance - go to the opera!
If you think you don't like opera give one of these films a try. It's only a night at the movies, and you don't have to wear a tiara. Maybe best not to start with Wagner though. Mozart or Verdi might be better.,.

* Butternut* not if you have to pay top whack evening prices and an NCP car park! Yes I did see The Lives of Others, it was a revelation wasn't it? First film I saw when I joined the Cheltenham Film Society.

* Crimson* What a lucky escape! Sorry you did not like The Guard, I enjoyed it. Also The Skin I Live In. Interestingly my DYD's friends (in their 40s) all hated it though they are Almodovar fans. Heard Jane Garvey interviewing Kirsten Dunst on Womans' Hour, by the way does anyone know if she is Martha Kearney's sister? Their voices are identical. So went to see Melancholia, another over-hyped over-blown film. One or two amusimg scenes in first half, driver tryi g to get stretch limo round tight corner with stone blocks on each side, John Hurt pinching spoons and Charlotte Rampling dissing marriage at a wedding, but the rest of it just seemed pointless. Second half much better, KD gives terrifying picture of depression and Charlotte Gainsbourg is touching as sister tryimg to help her.

Looking forward to The Help, have had book highly recommended.

I might watch the American remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but only because I found the second and third films disappointing after the first one which was an unexpected delight [in a gory sort of way]. I didn't go to see the remake of Let the right One In because they were just trying to improve on perfection. Bitterly disappointed with The Guard; another Independent rave about film, but loved The Skin I Live In. Missed The Lives of Others. Coming up soon, Tyrannosaur,The Way of the Morris, We Need to Talk about Kevin and The Debt.

I often think that these films that win at Cannes are rubbish because people are scared to admit that they make no sense and are tedious! Got a quote I read about Uncle Boonmee 'a young man has sex with a monkey spirit and ends up in a bad gorilla suit with red lights for eyes'. NOW are you glad you didn't have to sit through it ? Maybe we should take it in turns to see this sort of film so only one of us has to suffer! It had a 5 star rating in the Independent for weeks. Didn't get to see Drive in the end and it's finished now at my cinema. I'd forgotten that I'd seen the Tree of Life.....it was watchable but forgetable.

I'm thoroughly enjoying all your comments on the films you've seen. I was interested to read you thought Archipelago a 'turkey', Ganja. I'd read a review and it is on my list of films to watch out for - but the review centred on the restaurant scene. So my question - is it worth going to see it just for that??

Has anyone seen The Lives of Others - a brilliant film. A fascinating insight into the lengths and depths that the East European government went to in order to keep tabs on the lives of it's population in the 80's. A great depiction of morality and politics and when the lines between compassion and orders become blurred.

Keep the reviews coming.....please. :-))