 sj |
||
|
||
BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film.
|
|
|
Subject: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Rick Fielding Date: 15 Feb 03 - 10:15 PM I AM a snob about this stuff, so if you wanna pull my chain it won't work. Blame it on my parents....the fact that I became President of the "Film Society" in school....or whatever.....but even when I was 12, I thought Jerry Lewis was revolting. So I go off to the Video store tonight. It's freezing cold in Toronto...I DON'T want to think about Iraq for the WHOLE day...I just want to get a GOOD film. Here's where the problem starts. Everyone else at the store is happily grabbing up Richard Gere Films, Mel Gibson Films, Harrison Ford films, Gwynneth P. Films, Rene Z. films, Arnold S. films, and so on, and so on. Not me....I'm too much of a snob! I want some: A. Reality. B. FUNNY Comedy.... that doesn't seem to be written by the people who put "Friends" out. I'm sorry but I just don't GET Adam Sandler. C. or something "DARK" (like Fargo, or Being John Malkovitch) Now most of the popular films seem to be in a very narrow number of categories: Like: "Black and white Crime fighting" Buddy films. These worry me 'cuz I figure after a hard day of fighting crime (domestic or extra terestrial) Does Mel offer Samuel L. a lift home out to the burbs? I DOUBT it! I've known quite a number of cops, and they generally don't look for "mixed neighborhoods" to reside in....so where does Samuel L go after getting splattered with blood all day? His Momma's? "Julia Roberts and Hugh Grawnt" films. Holy cow! Before Notting Hill is one tenth over, Hugh has "touselled" his hair thirty eight times and stared shyly at the floor thirty seven (I'm not sure what happened to one of the tousells) Julia has looked at the floor twenty times and then broken into the cutest most adorable toothy (she has 127 teeth) smile imaginable. It takes her about forty seconds to go from "partial tooth to complete toothieness", so that DOES take up a lot of the movie. Then Hugh tousells some more. All that touselling and toothying drove me crazy before it was half over. Now one film that was positively FLYING OFF THE SHELVES caught my attention (there was one copy left) On the cover there seemed to be a picture of Pappy Yokum, if he pumped a lot of iron. Pretty wizened, but obviously popular....I grabbed it for a look....My Gawd it was "Swept Away"....not even the old pretentious one with Gianini (I'm not a total snob, cuz I HATED the original) Poor Madonna! I'm not a fan, (although I love Weird Al's versions of her songs) If that new husband of hers talked her into THAT, he should marry Wynona Ryder next. (but keep an eye on the silverware!) Awww poop, what I really want is those great Ealing comedies from the fifties. Or one of the two or three GREAT films that Woody Allan made, or some French "Film Noir" stuff with Belmondo, or Bergman, or Fellini, or Kubrick,..... By then the line up was half an isle long.....so I just went home and said "Screw it, I'll whine on Mudcat instead". Cheers Rick |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 15 Feb 03 - 10:33 PM I'm with you, Rick. I, too, loathed Jerry Lewis and still do. True humor and true wit are rare and evanescent. Therefore the media do one of two thing: substitute mere vulgarity or set up a victim, a character who is stupid, and ridicule that person. I'm sure there are some actually humorous films somewhere, but I don't know where. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: SINSULL Date: 15 Feb 03 - 10:40 PM I too despise Jerry Lewis movies, but what do I know? I am equally appalled at the Three Stooges. Notting Hill is on TV tonight. I watched it with the mute button on for a little while - almost bearable. Hugh Grant does nothing for me but I did like "The Man Who Went Up A Hill And Came Down A Mountain". |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: DonMeixner Date: 15 Feb 03 - 10:40 PM Rick Something Dark, Funny, Brilliantly acted, Urbane yet gritty. Only one film can fill that bill for me. "The Lavemder Hill Mob". Don |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: michaelr Date: 15 Feb 03 - 10:55 PM Try a later Terry Gilliam film such as "Brazil", "The Fisher King" or "12 Monkeys". Or "The Stunt Man" with Peter O"Toole. Cheers, Michael |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Jim Dixon Date: 15 Feb 03 - 11:01 PM Rick, I sympathize. I too find it frustrating that the video stores will have 30 copies of "Scooby Doo" and zero copies of, say, "Blood Simple." Maybe it would cheer you up to hear about 2 good movies I recently rented: "The Good Girl" - starring Jennifer Anniston. She is much more versatile than you'd think from Friends. "Trees Lounge" - written, directed, and acted in by Steve Buscemi. I won't bother with a detailed description. I'm sure you have other sources. But I'd highly recommend either of them. I hope you can find them. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: catspaw49 Date: 15 Feb 03 - 11:24 PM Gawd, I'm so pathetic.......I'm a schlock addict. No, not Jerry Lewis, what an ass........I get hooked on actors or films for weird reasons that I can't figure out. I've seen everything James Woods has done, some many times.....same with John Turturro. One of JW's true schlockies called "Diggstown" is one of my favorites. How weird does it get when you have Woods and Bruce Dern in the same film? Turturro has done some funky and interesting things like "Barton Fink" and a different take on Sam Giancana in "Sugartime." You might get a kick out of "Quiz Show" based on the quiz show scandals of the 50's. I love "The Birdcage" with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. what made me think of it just now is that Hank Azaria is in both Quiz Show and Birdcage and the two characters couldn't be more different....helluva' character actor. And of course all of Chris Guest's films......some brilliant schlock there. HEY! I think I just thought of one that was decent!! Have you seen "A Beautiful Mind" with Russell Crowe? I hated Crowe til I saw this one. Also, if you want a headache trying to figure out what the hell is going on, try "Memento"......It;s about a guy with no short term memory and is told in a series of reversed flashbacks. Never take my advice on a movie......I've seen "Harlem Nights" 75 or 80 times. Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Homeless Date: 15 Feb 03 - 11:29 PM Rick, since you've noted my sense of humor, I'll recommend one film that makes me laugh just upon remembering a couple lines from it. "Escanaba in Da Moonlight" It's got some bathroom humor, but with an intellectual twist. The one key to this movie to take it from a weird, bad comedy, to an incredibly entertaining story is to realize that you are seeing one man's perception of life and these events. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Sorcha Date: 15 Feb 03 - 11:36 PM The Deaf Lady doesn't do much TV or films. I have no clue what you are talking about,but Jerry Lewis (and friends) is NOT funny. "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Fried Green Tomatoes" were funny but not very dark. Sorry. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: DonMeixner Date: 15 Feb 03 - 11:40 PM Well, what do I know, I liked WaterWorld. Don |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: GUEST Date: 16 Feb 03 - 12:14 AM time bandits! under the rainbow! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 16 Feb 03 - 12:48 AM It is VERY DIFFICULT to believe this thread is from a past "president of a film society"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely, |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Sam L Date: 16 Feb 03 - 01:27 AM Rick, I always try to help with this stuff, forgive me if I err. Anybody may have already seen anything, but on the odd chance, I throw things out. I believe I'm the only person who ever saw The Stone Boy, which is a good movie. Tomorrow--from the Faulkner story, similar to the Lena Grove thread in Light In August. Black Robe is good, if you missed it. Storytelling which may be the funniest darkest smartest movie I've seen this century. Um, the original The Vanishing, without Keiffer Sutherland. The Return Of Martin Guerre... those foreign things that got remade as Hollywood junk. Um, Camille Claudel. Lawn Dogs isn't exactly great, but is good, and different, odd. The Last Picture Show. Gummo and that vein of stuff. Can't think of anything, might try again sometime when I'm not sleepy. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Feb 03 - 01:27 AM A film that is dark and very funny is the Cary Grant movie Arsenic and Old Lace. I'd enjoyed it when I was a kid, but hadn't watched it in years until I found it at the public library and brought it home for the kids to see. It was wonderful to see how well that film holds up, how really funny it is, and how much my kids liked it (they're 10 and 14). I have also recently borrowed Dr. Strangelove and another Peter Sellers movie that is very funny and dark is the film adaptation of the Jerzy Kozinsky novel Being There. As you can see, for us the trick is to not expect much of current films and recent releases. Some of the films I've seen many times but still get lured into watching again if I pass them when flipping channels: Rear Window, Dial M for Murder, Strangers on a Train (obviously a big Hitchcock component in my list), and one you don't see much but that really is pretty hilarious is The Trouble With Harry. Most of my film viewing these days is based on what I find at the public library--and here in Fort Worth they have a very nice collection. I refuse to resubscribe to the local cable company (Charter--they STINK!) and haven't gotten around to setting up satellite yet, when I'll get American Movie Classics and a couple of the other non-premium movie channels. Hope this list helps! SRS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Marion Date: 16 Feb 03 - 01:53 AM I may have been the only person to ever see "The Legend of 1900" (see my review in this thread); it's worth a try. And speaking of films flying off shelves, I went to the public library catalogue to request a copy of "From Here to Eternity" (because I want to stare at Merle's hands while he plays Reenlistment Blues, naturally) and found that of the seventeen copies in the Toronto library system, not one is currently in. Marion |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: allanwill Date: 16 Feb 03 - 08:55 AM I think I got into trouble in a previous thread because I said I don't like a lot of "todays" movies because of the cartoonish speial effects. Give me the classic 60's - 70's movies anyday. However, Rick, one truly GOOD recent movie is "Dead Man" starring Johnny Depp. A back-and-white, semi-western with a very dark storyline, but tempered by a very droll "Indian" character very reminiscent to Chief Dan George's role in Josey Wales. Oh, and a soundtrack by Neil Young. Allan |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Jeanie Date: 16 Feb 03 - 09:07 AM If you don't know this one, hire out: 'Truly, Madly, Deeply'. Main roles played by Alan Rickman and Juliet Stevenson, so it's superbly acted. It's a wonderful story about grief, loss, letting go and moving on. Anyone who has ever seen Juliet Stevenson's moving outpouring of grief in this film will never forget it. If you want realism, Rick, it's here alright. But it is also full of humour, too. Very well and cleverly filmed, with all kinds of echoes and patterns to the various shots, the more you look for them. Filmed mainly in Highgate, North London. I won't say any more and spoil it for you ... - jeanie |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Lepus Rex Date: 16 Feb 03 - 09:25 AM Dammit, someone already said "The Trouble with Harry." Hmm... Oh, if you love Weird Al, Rick, you've probably already seen it, but rent "UHF," starring Al, Michael Richards, Victoria Jackson and... I forget the rest right now. But Billy Barty's in it. Al takes control of a tiny UHF station, wackiness ensues, evil corporate guys try to crush him, Al saves the day, etc. One of the films I judge people by, based on their opinion of it. :) ---Lepus Rex |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Amos Date: 16 Feb 03 - 09:48 AM Well, Spaw, don't feel bad -- we've watched "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" about six times. And there are two others we always come back to again - "Baghdad Cafe" and the one about the Candian writer --"Joshua, Then and Now". Chacun a son whacky gout, eh? A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Sam L Date: 16 Feb 03 - 09:49 AM Mm, I'll second Truly Madly Deeply. It also contains a nice arrangement of an odd old 60's song. If you missed Strictly Ballroom, it was the feel-good movie of it's decade. I was in a video store once and a young couple was nosing around when the guy said The Gods Must Be Crazy! That's the funniest movie ever! She looked at him skeptically. I had the urge to tell her, Listen, trust the guy, just this once. I usually recommend Fitzcaraldo as a movie by a monomaniac, about a monomaniac, for monomaniacs. Fairy Tale is a good movie with Harvey Keitel as Houdini. About two girls who took photographs of Fairies, and stumped everyone. A riddle with an elegant solution. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: harvey andrews Date: 16 Feb 03 - 10:20 AM Rick, if your video players played the same system as ours i could send you over a boxful! Thing is they're all European movies. American movies seem to my family to be made for young adolescents, and made badly at that. The best Hollywood period was the Noir time, and they were films that had a great deal of input from emigrant Europeans! We seem to be getting more world cinema films on various tv channels over here in the UK and we've got a cupboard full we've taped but haven't watched yet. Generally there are no special effects, no gory deaths, no gung ho patriotic crap..it's mostly character and relationships and good plotting. Try the subtitled section...if your shop has one!! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Rick Fielding Date: 16 Feb 03 - 10:24 AM GARGOYLE YOU SILLY GOOSE! Of course we didn't get videos in High school! Film all the way! "The Great Caruso" avec Mario Lanza (that's the one that got me dumped! The one about the "Bouncing Bombs"......remember all that "heavy water"? Ooooh ya, "Dambusters" wasn't it? Richard Todd I believe "The Lavender Hill Mob" Jeez, I didn't say I was a GOOD president!! Cheers, haven't heard from you in a while! Damn, this was a good idea! I've written down about ten suggestions. Now Sorcha, I really did find "Driving Miss Daisy" kinda dark. Great film....some strange and wonderful acting. Lotta subtlety from Jessica, Morgan.... but especially from Dan Aykroyd. Haven't seen "Beautiful Mind" yet, but the problem is, (as has been pointed out) They only (now) have multiple copies of New Arrivals and two thirds of them are on DVD (which we ain't got) An apology to Madonna for saying that she looked like Pappy Yokum on steroids. Lots of folks like those "pumped -up" women. Cheers Rick |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Rick Fielding Date: 16 Feb 03 - 10:27 AM Hi Harvey. I WISH the video systems were similar but they're not. BUT....what about DVD? Same format in Britain and Canada...or States? Rick |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: harvey andrews Date: 16 Feb 03 - 10:34 AM Oh...complicated!!! Our son's flat was burgled on the first day of his weeks holiday with us on Thursday so he had to go straight back to London. They only took his DVD player.Having broken in through a window they couldn't open the doors to get the stuff out. He went on Saturday to buy another one and asked for the top assistant. he then said he wanted a player that did three things, same as the one he'd had stolen. One of these things was playing American standard I believe. The shop assistant handed him a player with a confident. "Here's the one!" My son got it home and it doesn't do any of the things he wanted! What can you expect when you see a sign in a shop window in a small market town in herefordshire advertising for; "A garment technician...to interface with our customers." Why can't they say "Shop assistant in a clothes shop" for Gawds sake! If there's one thing I'll NEVER forgive America for it's what it's doing to our lovely language! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Bat Goddess Date: 16 Feb 03 - 10:51 AM Well, Rick, I'm a film snob too, really preferring even foreign dreck to Hollyweird product. But a coupla films I've seen this past year that I didn't think were going to be my particular cup of gin turned out to be some decent entertainment. "Spy Game" with Robert Redford (still going strong) and Brad Pitt (whom I really am not crazy about) and filled with politics inside the CIA on Redford's character's last day before retirement. Kept Tom's and my attention throughout. "Sexy Beast" was another seen on a friend's recommendation -- a most elegant crime flick with Ben Kingsley as the bad guy -- and a great bad guy he was. "Serendipity" isn't just a chick flick. As a matter of fact, it was my former employer (very male) who recommended it to me. John Cusack being, well, John Cusack. Lots of great lines, very funny, and you feel good after watching it, silly grin and all. Speaking of John Cusack, I also loved "High Fidelity" with Cusack running a quirky, money losing record shop. I have no intention of ever watching the remake of "Swept Away" -- and, actually, my favorite Lina Wertmuller film was "A Joke of Destiny." Oh, and since my religious experience of last year was "Run Lola Run", we finally got around to seeing "Princess and the Warrior." Now I have to order a copy. Also really enjoyed a Dutch-Belgian-French production (in Flemish) called "Paulette and Pauline." Sweet, but dealing with some serious issues. We watched "Chung King Express" last night. It had some incredibly imaginative & exciting camera work and technique, some intriguing characters & philosophy (mostly about love), but somehow the STORY(s) didn't come across. Glad I watched it, but . . . (prolly should have watched "Land Girls" instead). (Actually, what with the current temperature, I think I want to rewatch "Heat and Dust," "Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures" and "Sheltering Sky." -- or best of all, "The Man Who Would Be King" except my copy was borrowed by someone who didn't return it.) Linn |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Amos Date: 16 Feb 03 - 11:12 AM "The Piano" and "The Red Violin" are two deathless favorites you'd probably like, Rick. A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Jim Dixon Date: 16 Feb 03 - 11:23 AM Harvey: Don't blame America for "garment technician." Never heard that term over here. Even "shop assistant" sounds kind of pretentious to me. Why can't y'all say "sales clerk?" |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: SINSULL Date: 16 Feb 03 - 11:45 AM Babette's Feast Raise The Red Lantern Red Sorghum The Haunting (Julie Christie not the noisy new one) Jaws (warch for the shooting stars at sea.) Do NOT. I repeat DO NOT bother with "SIGNS". Giant snooze. Nothing happens and then it's over. But of course there are enough close-ups of Gibson's face to enable me to map out his pores. The Producers The Producers The Producers |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Peg Date: 16 Feb 03 - 12:02 PM some very good filsm mentioned here! I love DEAD MAN. Speaking of chacun a son gout, a wonderful French film from last year might suit: THE TASTE OF OTHERS. Other recent ones that I have enjoyed: DONNIE DARKO SESSION 9 RATCATCHER URBAN GHOST STORY ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS FAR FROM HEAVEN THE KING IS ALIVE TREASURE PLANET ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU PUNCH DRUNK LOVE (Adam Sandler must be seen to be believed in this one, and no, I was not a fan before except for the Hannukah Song) and old faves: WITHNAIL AND I HENRY AND JUNE THE WICKER MAN PRACTICAL MAGIC HAIR FIVE EASY PIECES HOUSE OF GAMES |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: belfast Date: 16 Feb 03 - 12:13 PM There are about thirty postings on this site and nobody has yet mentioned The Third Man or Casablanca. What the hell is the matter with you people? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Metchosin Date: 16 Feb 03 - 12:22 PM Hi Rick You might have to search farther afield than your local megavideo outlet, but the following are worthwhile: The Australian film "Bliss" "The Coca-Cola Kid The Ruling Class" which is classic Peter O'Toole "The Wrong Box" "Mr. Klein" "Il Postino" "Cinema Paradiso" "Night on Earth" "My Life as a House" "The Crying Game" "Consuming Passions" "Babette's Feast" "The Bad Girl" (German) and Fassbinder's "Kamakazi 89" (also German) along with the others listed above, this should at least keep you busy until the snow thaws back there. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Feb 03 - 12:51 PM Harvey, perhaps someone in that shop has a sense of humor?
Indeed! Anyone who sews knows that interfacing is a structural part of the garment, used here as a wicked pun. Rick, last week a local Dallas film critic spoke on our university campus about his new book about movie producer Marty Jurow (Breakfast at Tiffany's, Terms of Endearment, etc.). He told lots of stories, dished lots of stars, and when asked, said that his favorite all-time movie is probably The Lady Eve with Stanwyk and Fonda. I picked a copy up at the library to view this weekend. When I finish fixing the plumbing problem in the back bathroom this afternoon I may have a few minutes left in the day to watch it. I'll let you know what I think! SRS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Micca Date: 16 Feb 03 - 01:01 PM Rick, try Kieselowskis trilogy Three colours red, Three colours White Three colours Blue Or a German Film called "Schtonk" about faking the Hitler diaries!! very funny, or the original french version of "Nikita" if you want Dark!! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Bat Goddess Date: 16 Feb 03 - 01:08 PM Jeez, I didn't BEGIN to get into films older than a year or two (other than "A Joke of Destiny" 1984, and "The Man Who Would Be King," of course). "Diva" "A Thousand Clowns" "Paths of Glory" (oh, sorry, you wanted to get your mind OFF governmental stupidities . . .) "The Hunger" "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (Errol Flynn) "A Question of Silence" (Dutch) "Zulu" "King of Hearts" "Cafe Flesh" "Liquid Sky" "The Shout" "What's Up, Doc?" "The Best Years of Our Lives" "The Thin Man" "Day for Night" "Auntie Mame" "Dirty Dozen" "Blithe Spirit" "Virgin President" "Dr. No" "Play Misty for Me" "Benny & Joon" "The Secret Garden" (1949) Anything by Peter Greenaway, Luis Buñuel, John Waters, David Lynch, Alan Rudolph, Francois Truffaut . . . Hey, there's waaaaay too many! I've been making "Top 10" lists for the past 30 years, but it depends entirely on what mood I'm in at the moment. Linn |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: BuckMulligan Date: 16 Feb 03 - 01:09 PM Gosford Park Waking Ned Devine |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Jim Dixon Date: 16 Feb 03 - 01:22 PM I have a question for those of you who have recommended old films you love: Have you checked recently to see whether these films are available in your local video store? I'd bet that 90% of them are NOT at Blockbuster. I've tried downloading Roger Ebert's yearly top-10 lists, going back several years, and taking them to the shop with me, and I find that once the lists are 3 or 4 years old, 8 or so of the 10 are not in the shop at all. Fat chance finding anything that is more than 5 years old, unless it's a classic with wide appeal, like "Frankenstein" or "Star Wars." Which proves Rick's point. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Metchosin Date: 16 Feb 03 - 01:31 PM Oh yeah and the Japanese film "Tampopo" and definitely "Ghengis Blue" and "Gadja Dilo" (or the Crazy Stranger) all films that I listed are available at a number of local video strores, but as noted my local video store is not Blockbusters. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Metchosin Date: 16 Feb 03 - 01:36 PM sorry dropped the "s", that should be "Ghengis Blues". |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Metchosin Date: 16 Feb 03 - 01:38 PM and I forgot "Happy Texas" is a hoot. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 16 Feb 03 - 01:49 PM Real libraries, where you can borrow actual books, normally have videos and DVDs as well, and they are more likely, even these days, to hold on to them a bit longer and have some older fims than the commercial video stores. There are various differencess between DVDs in various parts of the wolrd desiubned to make them incompatible with each other. I gather the film companies insisted on this, to stop people importing DVDs of films thta hadn't been released in film theatres yet. And I believe the same applies to videos. However for DVDs I gather you can very easily instruct your player to accept all the foreign DVDs, you just have to key in a code - Google around on the net and it's all easily available. Ten fairly recent films to look for: Amelie Life is Beautiful Road to Perdition About a Boy (I know it's got Hugh Grant, but it's still good - funny with a serious point to make as well) Bend it like Bekham Monsoon Wedding Anita and Me The Shipping News Iris Chocolat (apart from Johnny Depp's Irish accent...) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Bat Goddess Date: 16 Feb 03 - 01:53 PM I didn't like "Shipping News" as much as I enjoyed the book. The film was a lot darker. How about "Margaret's Museum"? Linn |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Feb 03 - 02:09 PM Jim, The Blockbuster chain is based in Dallas, and one of the VP's is a family friend of a family friend. We've discussed this over birthday cake and Thanksgiving turkey a couple of times. I asked why they don't keep a few of the older movies, and he said they don't make any money on them. I would like to see a rotating collection at Blockbuster, perhaps for three months at a time, for those of us who are fans of various types of older movies. Meanwhile, the common source theme in this thread is "Public Library." They have a pretty good collection of vidoes. Haven't seen many DVD's there yet, but then they don't have many books on CD either, they're still mostly on tape. I think they're resisting change on this, but the change in both venues would be beneficial. SRS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: harvey andrews Date: 16 Feb 03 - 02:22 PM Jim, in England a clerk is someone who keeps books (financial) and records. The shop was a a labour exchange and it was a serious job description of totally barmy gibberish and jargon. . My complaint about American is its insidious takeover of English by employing obfuscating words and long words and three words where one will do. It's getting bad over here and I'm afraid I'm turning into one of those sad old men who shouts at the radio when he hears something truly terrible! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: banjomad (inactive) Date: 16 Feb 03 - 02:41 PM never mind all that crap, best three films in the world are 1 Oh Brother Where Art Thou. 2 The Blues Brothers 3 Blazing Saddle end of |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Bat Goddess Date: 16 Feb 03 - 02:47 PM The only reason I ever go into Blockbuster is to buy "previously viewed tapes". My closest video store, while not perfect (until the current manager, they purchased foreign films that were dubbed in English, not subtitled), recognizes that they have a niche in the older films, so their collection isn't bad. It's far from perfect, but better than most. Tom and I owned a niche video store in the late 1980s specializing in foreign films, classic films, and as much of the odd stuff (I guess you'd call them Cult Films) as we could lay our hands on. Needless to say, we're not in business anymore. (The shop hung on for almost 3 years, done in by an economy in the toilet and the arrival of Blockbuster.) Even with the local university, there really wasn't enough traffic to support it, or even pay the rent. Linn |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: leprechaun Date: 16 Feb 03 - 03:11 PM McGrath - I second the motion on "About a Boy." Here are some others that most likely played in the converted-funeral-home/artsy-film-patchouly-oil-and-body-odor venue: Like Water for Chocolate The Official Story Ran Seven Samurai The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez El Norte The Samurai Trilogy |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: harpgirl Date: 16 Feb 03 - 03:12 PM ...how about one of my favorites, "Jean DeFlorette?" |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Jeri Date: 16 Feb 03 - 03:22 PM What's Eating Gilbert Grape - another Johnny Depp film. Slaughterhouse 5 (mentioned in the Kurt Vonnegut thread) - if you haven't seen it, DO IT. This has one of the best dark-humor scenes I can remember. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: Deda Date: 16 Feb 03 - 03:24 PM I'm lucky enough to live in a town that has an indie video place, called "The Video Station", which carries hundreds of very old movies, plus PBS movies (I rented "I, Claudius" there), foreign films, etc. We almost never go to Blockbusters. My picks: Network (with Faye Dunaway) As Good As It Gets One that may be too idiosyncratic for anyone else is "Trembling Before God", about orthodox Jews who discover, with great pain and shame, that they are gay / homosexual / lesbians. I saw it twice, last fall. It is a very beautiful movie -- but I particularly loved the music, because I was married into an orthodox family for 15 years. I would see it again in a heartbeat. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: WARNING! SNOB THREAD. Renting a film. From: SINSULL Date: 16 Feb 03 - 03:24 PM Oh yes, Harpy and Manot of the Spring, the sequel. The Lambert Worm with Hugh Grant is good for a laugh too.Very tongue in cheek. Dr. Strangelove is timely. And "The Mouse That Roared". |