Now Watching, Films/ movies discussion Options

[Olen]

We have a music discussion thread but seem to lack a film (movie if you're from that bit of the world) discussion. The idea's pretty self-evident: what films have you seen recently, what did you think of them? Fairly similar to another thread really...

To start, I watched Gomorrah (2008) for the second time last night. It's a really good bit of Italian film-making and centres arouind the problems faced by Naples throught the stories of a few people whose paths cross with the organised crime there. It certainly doesn't pull punches in terms of the gritty reality from the first scene and a fairly grim ending.
Some of the settings are brilliant too, there are scenes shot in some buildings which look seriously run down in Naples which leads to a good degree of accuracy.

Overall I'd give it 8/10.


So what's anyone else watching?

[SubRosa]

Thanks to Grits' Home For The Holidays, I have been watching Jane Austen movies in between episodes of Kung Fu. I watched the 2007 version of Persuasion last week, Becoming Jane earlier in the week, and the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice a few nights ago. I am still hankering for more, but am not sure what to watch next. I kind of want to do the "real" version of P&P (the 1995 epic), but it is a really big commitment in time. Or I am thinking of watching Lost in Austen again, or perhaps Miss Austen Regrets.

Or maybe something else. Has anyone ever seen the 1999 or 2007 versions of Mansfield Park? I tried the 1983 version last summer, and just could not get into it. What about the 2007 version of Northranger Park?

I am just not in the mood for Emma, or Sense and Sensibility right now, as I watched both back in the summer as well.

[mALX]

the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice a few nights ago.

Er...was that the one with Colin Firth in it as Mr. Darcy?

[SubRosa]

the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice a few nights ago.

Er...was that the one with Colin Firth in it as Mr. Darcy?

No, Colin Firth was in the 1995 version. The 2005 had Keira Knightly as Elizabeth Bennett, and Donald Sutherland as her dad. I have no idea who played Darcy. Which is kind of strange, since they got star power for many other parts. You would have thought they would have got a well-established actor for him too. At only 2 hours, it rushes everything along too quickly. You cannot tell that story in so short a time. It even completely cut the Darcy in the lake scene. I guess because they knew they could not hope to compete with Colin Firth there. I tried watching it once before, but never finished. The 1995 is by far superior.

Here's a thought, who would be an interesting modern or past actor to play Mr. Darcy? Some ideas:
Clint Eastwood, when he was in his prime. (Of course in this version Wickham would die).
Gregory Peck, again in his prime. With is quiet, but powerful charisma he would have really rocked in his role.
Christian Bale He strikes me as probably the best modern-day actor to fill Darcy's shoes. He's tall, put together, and has a reasonable amount of charisma.
Gerard Butler Just to hear him scream "THIS IS PEMBERLY!" in Elizabeth's face!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Dec 25 2010, 12:15 AM

[mALX]

the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice a few nights ago.

Er...was that the one with Colin Firth in it as Mr. Darcy?

No, Colin Firth was in the 1995 version. The 2005 had Keira Knightly as Elizabeth Bennett, and Donald Sutherland as her dad. I have no idea who played Darcy. Which is kind of strange, since they got star power for many other parts. You would have thought they would have got a well-established actor for him too. At only 2 hours, it rushes everything along too quickly. You cannot tell that story in so short a time. It even completely cut the Darcy in the lake scene. I guess because they knew they could not hope to compete with Colin Firth there. I tried watching it once before, but never finished. The 1995 is by far superior.

Here's a thought, who would be an interesting modern or past actor to play Mr. Darcy? Some ideas:
Clint Eastwood, when he was in his prime. (Of course in this version Wickham would die).
Gregory Peck, again in his prime. With is quiet, but powerful charisma he would have really rocked in his role.
Christian Bale He strikes me as probably the best modern-day actor to fill Darcy's shoes. He's tall, put together, and has a reasonable amount of charisma.
Gerard Butler Just to hear him scream "THIS IS PEMBERLY!" in Elizabeth's face!

I forced myself (out of desperation) to watch the version you are talking about - I came in halfway through and only got as far as the scene by the lake that never happened - I don't think any of the actors performed to the standards set (for me) by the version with Colin Firth. And it is not JUST because Colin Firth is in it, either. I thought Jennifer Ehle was Awesome in her role - the rest of the cast were well above standard in their roles.

The 'Sense and Sensibility' that is out right now with Alan Rickman (another favorite of mine) playing Col. Brandon is my favorite making of that book. Emma Thompson has maintained the position as my favorite female actress for quite some time now.

'Emma' is my least favorite of the movies made from the books. The version with Gwyneth Paltrow is good, but can't match the appeal or immersion of the others. Paltrow did a wonderful job, but just can't match the caliber of Thompson, Ehle, Winslet (IMHO).

This post has been edited by mALX: Dec 25 2010, 01:30 AM