tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post2432050729358975314..comments2024-03-17T02:20:03.772-05:00Comments on Riding With The Top Down: Kathleen -- Monday Morning ReviewKathleen Eaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13561028604927993773noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-88110991374462072022007-04-16T17:24:00.000-05:002007-04-16T17:24:00.000-05:00Man, I feel so behind in my movie watching! I did...Man, I feel so behind in my movie watching! I did love Batman Begins and Son 1 and his girlfriend really enjoyed Blades too. <BR/><BR/>Copying Beethoven. Making a note to rent this. The dh was a music major so he'll enjoy it, I'm sure.Christie Ridgwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17036552271272402052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-10209524364669661012007-04-16T16:24:00.000-05:002007-04-16T16:24:00.000-05:00Funny, I don't find Bale physically appealing, but...Funny, I don't find Bale physically appealing, but he can play a grumpy part terribly effectively. <BR/><BR/>Saw Keeping Mum last night...a dark comedy Brit film. It keeps you wondering and I like that.lois greimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05758677401591191607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-70605302340667032342007-04-16T15:08:00.000-05:002007-04-16T15:08:00.000-05:00Betina--Great! I've really wanted to see STOMP TH...Betina--<BR/><BR/>Great! I've really wanted to see STOMP THE YARD. I'm okay with the formula plot. I just wanted to be sure there was something besides a few minutes of interesting footwork to keep me interested! I almost rented Saturday night after my workshop and didn't. Wish I had now.Debra Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03992776098849029414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-72301269321998107432007-04-16T14:50:00.000-05:002007-04-16T14:50:00.000-05:00Yes, Kathy-- too darn much stuff is passed off as ...Yes, Kathy-- too darn much stuff is passed off as "humor" that isn't humorous at all.<BR/><BR/>And Deb. . . Stomp the Yard was formulaic but still quite interesting to me. Funny, I went with my 64 yr old brother-in-law (and his wife, my sister! who was in ROTC in what had once been a primarily black college. Imagine my surprise when he and my sister started reminiscing about how the "Pershing Rifles" (military honorary) "Stomped the yard" with the rest of the frats on campus and really got down. Geez. Who knew. But then. . . I remembered my sis talking about their drum beats and routines. . . how stirring it all was.<BR/><BR/>So, we really liked the movie. . . the stomping was cool and the guy who played the lead was sharp and altogether believable. I'd recommend it!Betina Krahnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11379124690406269848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-33571224691801181792007-04-16T13:04:00.000-05:002007-04-16T13:04:00.000-05:00Hi, mshellion!The Prestige is a good one for watch...Hi, mshellion!<BR/><BR/>The Prestige is a good one for watching at home. I had to review parts of it and would be willing to watch it all the way through again. Fun to watch with someone and compare notes right after ward.<BR/><BR/>I loved Stranger Than Fiction, too! As for Talledaga, I got tired of the redneck stuff--I'm tired of rednecks, actually--and Ferrell running around the race track in his whitey-tighties. The sports send-up is a good theme, and I love that Ferrell satirizes macho-ism. But for me he's a lot like Chevy Chase--really good at what he does, but it can get old. I think you buy into the venue (is that the word I want?) and it carries you along. <BR/><BR/>Interesting reflecting on the nature of humor, especially in light of the past week. I truly think the dialogue about the appeal of "shock jock" stuff has been a long time coming. Humor influences us in so many ways, "on so many levels." As does language. Fascinating!Kathleen Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13561028604927993773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-50556411821583301002007-04-16T12:42:00.000-05:002007-04-16T12:42:00.000-05:00Kathy-- You guys are killing me. I've now added ...Kathy-- You guys are killing me. I've now added both Copying Beethoven and The Painted Veil to my queue at NetFlix. <BR/><BR/>I thought Christian Bale nailed Batman as well. Perfect. This was the first Batman I saw in which I said, "I hope they do this again." The tone was right. The humor was right. The cast was excellent.<BR/><BR/>Has anybody seen STOMP THE YARD? Part of me wants to see it and I want someone to tell me it's worth the investment of time.Debra Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03992776098849029414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-75002326174801667852007-04-16T10:31:00.000-05:002007-04-16T10:31:00.000-05:00Thanks for the recommendations! I remember seeing...Thanks for the recommendations! I remember seeing something about Copying Beethoven--and then totally forgot again. *makes note this time*<BR/><BR/>I loved the Talledaga Nights as well as Blades--I think my least favorite Will Ferrell is probably Kicking & Screaming. I watched his "serious" funny movie again this weekend--"Stranger Than Fiction". Boy, do I love that movie. It appeals on every level for a writer, I think...it's almost perfect.<BR/><BR/>I also saw The Prestige (I will need to see again, I think, to truly understand it...but I think I liked The Illusionist better, simply because it strikes me as something that COULD have happened...and The Prestige was almost too sci-fi...)--but it was good and I did like it alot.Hellie Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933713255844695337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-45583014603964485672007-04-16T10:11:00.000-05:002007-04-16T10:11:00.000-05:00Loved Kinky Boots. I checked that one out after D...Loved Kinky Boots. I checked that one out after Deb reviewed it here. I've thought about Wild Hogs and steered away because of the reviews, but the premise and the cast, how can it not be worth seeing? Will do. The Painted Veil has been on my list, too, but must be one of those "limited release" numbers because it hasn't reached any of my 'burban multi-plexes. <BR/><BR/>I agree heartily on Wm Macy and Edward Norton. They're both good in anything. They never overact (which I have to say Harris does once in a while).<BR/><BR/>I always come to a point in the writing where I have to avoid almost everything in the real world, but I can use movies to clear my mind for more writing. Isn't that weird?<BR/><BR/>I did send the ms in last week. I'm not celebrating because I'm still working on the last chapter. But it's done. Whew.Kathleen Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13561028604927993773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-26497141078869062382007-04-16T09:44:00.000-05:002007-04-16T09:44:00.000-05:00I'm so glad you mentioned Copying Beethoven, Kathy...I'm so glad you mentioned Copying Beethoven, Kathy! I've had my eye on renting it, but for some reason keep passing it over. Don't know why. I'm always so hungry for costume dramas. It's going on my list for my next rental.<BR/><BR/>I watched Wild Hogs at the theatre and Kinky Boots (video) this weekend.<BR/><BR/>I've heard a lot of poor reviews for Wild Hogs, but I tell you, I really enjoyed it. Just a lot of laughs. And is William Macy a comedic genius? I love that guy. He's such a chameleon. <BR/>Kinky Boots was a cute Brit story about a down-on-its-luck shoe factory. The son inherits after his father dies and realizes how in debt they are. In an effort to boost sales and moral at the factory, he gets the idea to make high-heeled sexy boots for male drag queens. It was just a cute show to watch, and made me think 'yeah, good idea that someone is taking care of the drag queens in this world. Not at all easy for those men to wobble about in women's shoes.' :-)<BR/><BR/>Ah, Christian Bale can make any movie rock. <BR/><BR/>MicheleMichele Haufhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12255612473985897103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-81653781568660580472007-04-16T07:47:00.000-05:002007-04-16T07:47:00.000-05:00I've never heard of Copying Beethoven, Kathy. Sou...I've never heard of Copying Beethoven, Kathy. Sounds interesting and I love Ed Harris. You hit it when you said he's so good because you forget you're watching Ed Harris.<BR/><BR/>Has he ever been nominated for an academy award?<BR/><BR/>Funny, I liked Talladaga Nights better than Blades of Glory.<BR/><BR/>Some good suggestions, Betina!Helen Brennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08680081195181747377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-56085330209876905382007-04-16T06:41:00.000-05:002007-04-16T06:41:00.000-05:00Wow, Kathy-- new stuff to look forward to! I hadn...Wow, Kathy-- new stuff to look forward to! I hadn't heard of the movie "Copying Beethoven," but I sure will look it up now. And I'm glad to hear you liked "Batman Begins" as much as I did. Great movie-- probably the best in the Batman series. It made Batman so plausible.<BR/><BR/>I've seen a lot of movies lately-- most of which were. . . meh. But I loved "The Painted Veil". . . a romance of a very different sort, but oddly very satisfying. And Edward Norton in all his splendor. And I adored "The Lives of Others," the German subtitled movie about the East German Stasi. <BR/><BR/>And of course, "Miss Potter," which was lovely and so "period". . . and of course a real romance with heartbreak thrown in. <BR/><BR/>Last Friday, went to "The Perfect Stranger" in which Halle Berry tried hard but had a horrible story and even less chemistry with her co-stars. And I hate seeing Bruce Willis as a bad guy. The story had plot holes big enough for the MOON to blow through without disturbing the doily on the coffee table! Why, Hollywood?Betina Krahnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11379124690406269848noreply@blogger.com