Recent films...

[Tinkerdog]

I agree - Life on Mars is great. My sister just got a Region 2 DVD player and bought the 2 seasons. We heard rumor that the US was going to try to create the series in the US but that was about a year ago - I don't know that it could be pulled off here.

[catdishy]

. I had to see There Will Be Blood to see why Daniel Day Lewis got the Golden Globe. Well, it must be at least because you get to do all sorts of stuff when you're in every scene for most of 3 hours. He seemed to be channelling John Huston, as someone else suggested. Not that he isn't versatile and watchable. The soundtrack annoyed the heck out of me but I guess it was supposed to.

[ruthy]

Anyone planning to see Sweeney Todd? I usually loathe musicals but can't wait for this one. And what a cast!

[uncorked]

I saw Sweeney Todd--I'm a huge Sondheim fan and did not think that I would like it--but I loved it despite the fact that no one is a true "singer" and Sondheim's music is usually difficult. I saw Sondheim interviewed and he said he would rather have actors that can sing than singer that can act and that surprised me. They cast was incredible as was the costumes and the set design. It was typical Tim Burton gruesome and I love how everything is pretty much blues and grey's except for the candy apple red blood...and the credits were fun. They never played the title song--even at the end. I go to the movies every week and that has been one of my fav's along with Juno (which I saw twice) I saw Atonement and I thought the first 1/2 of it was almost choreographed to the music and I loved that , but the rest of it was semi torture.

[acousticgirl]

Has anyone seen " Once " yet? I just rented it and really loved it. I got the soundtrack today, it is so great.

[quoll]

I just went to see The Jane Austen Bookclub and I really liked it. I am a girl who likes fluff (in the nicest possible way, of course) and that was a really pleasant feel good movie. Also of interest is that both Maria Bello and Amy Brennerman are in it. I assume it was filmed before DN but they should probably have done it after so that they could have had a bit of lightness in their lives!!! I hated the book - I never got into it at all and was really disappointed in it. I think the author was trading on the JA name but (IMHO) lacked the literary skills to match.

[catdishy]

Last night, I saw Juno, and that is one of the sweetest, funniest films I've seen in awhile...not fluff, by any stretch...pretty real, but hugely entertaining. Ellen Page is a gem.

[catdishy]

Last night, I saw Up the Yangtze, a documentary about the THree Gorges Dam flooding plan and the luxury cruiseships plying the Yangtze.I found it educational, touching and fun, and just gorgeous scenery and music.

[ukelelehip]

Ever since seeing the episode of "Around the World in 80 Days with Michael Palin" where Palin goes down the Yangtze, I've wanted to see the river. When will they flood the area?

[catdishy]

Its happening gradually, but the dam is supposed to be completed by 2009. In the film, you see the rising water level and the effects on one family who must relocate along with the 1.3 million others.

[maxx02]

The Other Boleyn Girl--

Pretty pretty Eric Bana and likable too considering what he happens to be doing. Not enough of him, however as he was more or less the only interesting thing in the picture.

I like Natalie Portman but she needs a new schtick. Her scene with Clive Owen in the strip joint in Closer was some of the best work I've ever seen her do. This is not. Her performance is dull and contemporary. She lacks the vivacity and subtlety to pull off what they seemed to be going for. Most of the time she just comes off like a spoilt Valley brat.

Scarlett Johannsen, did what she always does in something like this. She looked doe-eyed and kind and was most empathetic. And as usual if she hadn't said she was in love with Henry, I never would have guessed it. There is a very pared down love scene between her character and Henry. I suppose they didn't want it to look like child molestation, I don't know...

The tone of the film is very dark. I have no idea why they chose to ignore the obvious joy these people must have felt at various moments in the story, but they have. If you're looking for something like Charles forget it. Neither of the two women, who are the focal point of the story, are talented enough to pull something like that off.

I'd skip it unless you are a hardcore fan of one of these actors. Instead rent Anne of a Thousand Days. The strikingly one note Geneviève Bujold and the scenery chewing Richard Burton make it a much more interesting tale.

[quoll]

, just got to see the new Sense and Sensibility. Wonderful! Far better than the Emma Thompson version (she was just too hard for me to take her as Eleanor). I even liked David Morrissey as Brandon - even better than Alan Rickman in fact. This was an Andrew Davies adaptation and in true AD fashion is a classic!

[GreenEyesToo]

It was terrific, wasn't it, Quoll? I liked Janet McTeer as the mother, too.

[quoll]

I watched it again last night! I think I am beginning to be in lust with Colonel Brandon! Yes Janet McTeer did a good job and Hattie Morohan really grew on me although I didnt like that she sounded very much like Emma T - that rather nasal quality to some of her intonation. Surprised me but David Morrissey can do the wide range of emotion with barely a facial flicker as well. I loathed him in OMF but, then, I was supposed to!

[GreenEyesToo]

quoll said:

Hattie Morohan really grew on me although I didnt like that she sounded very much like Emma T

Yes! Exactly what I thought. Charity Wakefield as Marianne was very good, too - but she also reminds me of someone. And I'd seen Dominic Cooper in The History Boys just before this began (it was a series in the UK), and he was unrecognisable (although just as nasty a character).

Has Cranford (aka The Cranford Chronicles) been shown in Oz yet? Another treat.