Gransnet forums

TV, radio, film, Arts

What's on in the pictures?

(180 Posts)
JessM Fri 29-Jul-11 06:49:02

According to gransnet we only do TV and radio... But some of us do, occasionally, remember the location of the cinema surely? We even get the occasional reduced-price ticket! Or take our grandchildren to see the latest kids movie. Or get the DVD if we have missed something.
What have you seen lately and what did you think? I saw Bridesmaids which was funny, and was all about women, for a change. 4 stars.**
I also walked out of Horrible Bosses which did not get any stars at all in the first 20 minutes.Horrible film more like.
It's kids blockbuster season, so come on, who's seen HP8 or whatever it is, or Transformers 3D?

em Fri 07-Oct-11 10:26:02

I enjoyed 'Jane Eyre'. Was wary about the film as it was my favourite book for ages. Took a little while to adjust to the change in the timeline but really think that this change enhanced the story. Fantastic use of the landscape too. Recent favourites have also included the Dragon Tattoo trilogy but am not too sure about the english remake. Will see it though, if only to check out Daniel Craig's performance.

Ganja Fri 07-Oct-11 08:08:47

* crimson* Thanks for your verdict on Uncle Boonmee, I was rather disappointed to have missed it, but maybe it was a merciful escape.My recent turkeys: Archipelago, apart from brilliant scene in restaurant; Tree of Life, big disappointment as I love Mallick's first three films. The boy was very good though, made a note of his name, but lost it. I am sure we will see him again.I have a shelf of old vids I call my ironing movies. Old favourites like Steel Magnolias and Fried Green Tomatoes. Have just watched Primary Colors, will be interesting see how Ides of March compares.

Delighted we are going to have proper Topic of our own. Sure we will attract loads of followers.

Love to hear what you thought of Drive.

MaggieP Thu 06-Oct-11 23:29:03

Back from seeing Tinker, Tailor...... Thought it an excellent , well acted film. Great cast, ponderous but not a problem.
What I found scary was that 1973 looked SO old fashioned and I only got married in that year, I don't remember it being like that!! Older than I thought, obviously.confused

crimson Thu 06-Oct-11 12:56:38

HECK; You've reminded me to book tickets to see him next month. Hope they haven't sold out....

Butternut Thu 06-Oct-11 11:55:58

I'll vote for a Films topic, too. Love film.
I shall look forward to hearing everyone's views on the films they see. As I live in France I have to wait to see the 'Version Original' ones. At the moment am waiting to see Jane Eyre and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
Our local cinema is tiny - and I love it. I buy my tickets from a little french lady sitting on a school chair behind a little table, with an old fashioned petty cash box. Very minimal and charming.
When I want the whole 'cinema experience' I visit the larger towns.
French films with english sub-titles are great for improving my language skills.
Still prefer English movies though. Am a Ken Loach fan and see there is a retrospective thing going on of his work, currently showing in London..........

JosieGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 06-Oct-11 10:58:11

We think a Films topic is a great idea - we'll move this thread there once it's up and running.

Hope that's good news for you film buffs!

susiecb Thu 06-Oct-11 09:06:04

Oh yes Benedict C - one of the best Sherlock Holmes ever barring Baisl rathbone that is. Did u know he is Wanda Ventham's son - another fine actress we dont see enough of. He was great as the young Stephen Hawkins apparently they have made three more Sherlocks.

MaggieP Thu 06-Oct-11 08:58:20

Going to see Tinker, Tailor......tonight , looking forward to it as everyone says it is good but slow, but sorry to say we don't get tea and biscuits in our cinema, susiecb!

Ganja Thu 06-Oct-11 08:04:03

susiecb Hallo fellow Benedict Cumberbatch fan. I first saw him as Stephen Hawking in a biographical film on BBC and immediately thought he would go far. Have you seen Starter for Ten? it's a charming little film anyway, by chap who wrote One Day, but BC is hilarious as totally up himself team captain. I'd love to see him in a romantic role.

crimson Wed 05-Oct-11 13:40:46

..Oh, this is the film section blush...

crimson Wed 05-Oct-11 13:37:33

I think most films are made to be watched at a cinema in darkness and complete silence; it's never the same watching them at home. Having said that, there are some that I define as 'seeing at home films'. Avatar had to be seen 'big' [I was very sceptical about that one, but absolutely loved it], as did Lord of the Rings. The Time Travellers Wife was ok for home viewing. Pre internet I used to keep the Observer film reviews, try not to read them in case they gave the plot away, and then read them as soon as I got home. I now go straight onto the Time Out or Empire reviews as soon as I get home to compare notes. I've seen some awful films; Uncle Boonmee who can Recall his Past Lives and Meeks Cutoff to name but two. Thankfully I've forgotten a lot of the others [oh dear, I've just remembered The Headless Woman...]. I think I'm going to give Drive a go, but if I do I'll have to go tonight on my own [the S.O. is away], but I'm going to check out a few reviews first. I think we've got a film section somewhere, Ganja..I'll see if I can root it out. Never heard of the Hedgehog film, carbon, but you've got me interested now!

goldengirl Wed 05-Oct-11 12:26:49

We rarely go. It's a lot of money and all the hype never seems to justify the expense. That said I wouldn't mind watching the Kings Speech at some point. I feel such an idiot too if it's a 'weepie' as I always succomb and I'd rather have a good cry at home - as long as noone else is watching blush

susiecb Wed 05-Oct-11 08:26:43

I went to see Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy the story is dated now but it had a host of stars including Colin Firth and the wonderful Benedict Cumberbatch - a slow start but worth persevering. We go to the cinema as often as we can but so few films appeal. this is defitnely one for a DVD though so you can get up and get a cup of tea in the slow bits (our cinema serves tea and biscuits Bliss!).

Ganja Wed 05-Oct-11 08:20:07

crimson Don't you think we should have a proper thread of our own called Film or Cinema or something , rather than just being a sub-thread of tv? Took me quite a long time to come across it, and I am sure there are masses of Gransnetters out there dying to share their views on current films.

I saw NLMG, then read the book, which clarified quite a lot, then saw the film again. Big fan of Carey Mulligan, though shan't go to Drive, can't stand crash, bang, wallop films or endless car chases. Of course she should have been Emma in One Day. Would have been perfect. Surely British films have proved their quality sufficiently to stop this silly pandering to the Americans by importing their stars for parts they can't play.

I thought the book of The Lovely Bones was good, but the trailer of the film made it look sleazy, so did not go, and suggested DGD did not either. A bit near the bone for her.

carboncareful Tue 04-Oct-11 23:04:06

If you have read "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" the film of the book with the truncated title of "The Hedgehog" is an absolute treat. Perfect casting, perfect design, perfect everything. Visually an exact match with what was in my head from the book. Don't expect any hedgehogs though.

crimson Tue 04-Oct-11 13:57:50

Ganja; I loved Sarah's Key [Kristin Scott Thomas is one of my favourite actresses]. No one moved at the end of the film; I couldn't because I was crying so much [the ending wrong footed me as well]. I was very disappointed with both Jane Eyre and Tinker Tailor.Just come back from Paris and our local cinema is showing Amelie and Midnight in Paris soon; although I saw Amelie when it first came out the S.O. hasn't seen it at all so it will be nice to see it at the cinema. Ken Loach is giving a talk soon as well. Have you seen 'Never Let Me Go'? I bought the dvd as I missed it at the cinema. I want to re watch it, but it left me so raw I don't think I can. Also watched the dvd of The Time Travellers Wife recently, having just finished the book. Loved it. I'm currently reading The Lovely Bones and shall watch the film of that as soon as I've finished it. Looking forward to War Horse, but it can't ever be as good as the play. Cinema and horse racing are my absolute passions these days. We go to the cinema at least once a week. Troll Hunter next, but it will probably be at a multi plex with my son, as our lovely little cinema doesn't do 3D.

Ganja Tue 04-Oct-11 09:05:21

Just remembered one more thing on my mind. That Orange ad, about two minute phone breaks? Every half hour? It is a joke? Isn't it?

Ganja Tue 04-Oct-11 08:53:33

So glad to have found a film chat thread. I'm addicted, and have Unlimited card to local multiplex. To their credit they are doing the live transmissions from the Met, and also some from London theatres which are marvellous. Saw Henry IV, Pts 1and 2 and Henry VIII from Globe recently, absolutely glorious. Real proper Shakespeare. I also go to the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury. Small, friendly and shows great selection of foreign films. Nice bar, only drawback just three ladies loos. On popular nights that can be dire!

Best films seen recently: Sarah's Key, very moving story about the roundup of French Jews in 1942. Kristin Scott Thomas very good as modern day journalist trying to trace fate of one family whose flat her in-laws had moved into. I also thoroughly enjoyed The Debt. Very exciting account of wartime Mossad operation that went wrong, and it's aftermath. Helen Mirren great, as ever.

JessM Our cinema advertised West is West, but never showed it so I bought the DVD. The director's commentary was incredibly moving, saying the whole story was basically autobiographical. That's what I love about modern DVDs, you get so much more. Am also huge fan of Kristin Scott Thomas.

crimson Sun 31-Jul-11 23:50:29

Saw a trailer for Beginners and wasn't very impressed. Didn't help that I found Ewan McGregors last film rubbish [I'm always waiting for some of his Scottish accent to slip out as well!]. Arrietty is supposedly the most faithful adaptation of The Borrowers so far; our cinema is showing it dubbed in the daytime and with subtitles at night. Very much looking forward to that one.

em Sun 31-Jul-11 20:33:53

Plan to take GD to see Arrietty - based on the Borrowers. Last night saw Beginners with Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor. Interesting idea but I found it just too disjointed (although my friend thoroughly enjoyed it!)

JessM Sun 31-Jul-11 13:58:04

Yes we made it to HP 7.2 last night. 7.1 is a bit of a preamble really and could almost be skipped. 7.2 was good and as usual a fairly faithful representation of the book. Never, in the history of human endeavour, has an author ever exercised as much control over so many films as our own dear JK. Or have books and films so melded in our collective minds.
And yet again i had a magnum and got the chocolate on my clothes.

Baggy Fri 29-Jul-11 21:09:28

There's a new Studio Ghibli film out this month based on The Borrowers. That should be fun.

goldengirl Fri 29-Jul-11 20:31:58

DH and I saw Horrible Bosses last week as we thought we ought to know what our staff thought of us!!! It was awful. We stayed hoping it would get better, but it didn't. Not one sentence was spoken without swearing. I'm not prude but.....And the dialogue was that of teenagers being spoken by 40+ year olds - pathetic. There were a couple of funny bits but it was all very crude. Jennifer Aniston was in it - she must have been desperate! DH's comment was 'Thank goodness we only paid seniors' rates'. Not recommended.

JessM Fri 29-Jul-11 20:23:24

We are just settling down to watch HP7.1 on the TV...

Hattie64 Fri 29-Jul-11 19:55:22

The last film we saw was 'True Grit', but we have decided to go more often. We have a nice small cinema nearby which shows a lot of foreign film, which I really like. So tomorrow we are off to see 'Potiche' a french film.
There are so many films for the younger generation and usually spin offs as well. I do admit, i wouldn't mind seeing the last Harry Potter film though.