BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Becca72
Date: 18 Jun 07 - 04:59 PM

Galaxy Quest
The Dark Crystal
Anything by Pixar
Music & Lyrics or anthing else with Hugh Grant in
The original 3 Star Wars
Van Helsing
The Jerk
Clockwise
Time Bandits

I'm sure I could come up with many more...

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: RangerSteve
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 11:49 AM

No, Costner's first was a piece of soft-core porn that he'd rather forget, and I don't know the name. I found this out from a book called "Opening Shots", a book about famous actors and their debuts, the common thread being that the debuts, or the movies, should have destroyed the careers of the actors, but didn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 05:27 AM

AGGGGHHHHH. How could I forget To Kill a Mockingbird?? Another of my all-time favorites.

Trubrit, I haven't seen The Apostle; will have to keep an eye out for it.

Tin Cup is pretty good, and seems to fit the subject. Yes, I confess it, I like Kevin Costner--since his first movie, Silverado (at least I think it was his first one).

Lin

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 11:52 PM

Tender Mercies was just wonderful, and yes, it does make me cry too. I agree that anything with Robert Duvall is usually worth the time....I particularly liked The Apostle (I think that is what it was called -- he played an evangelical Christian minister........) -- a truly wonderful film that I thought would garner all kinds of awards etc but didn't really have much impact......

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: RangerSteve
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 12:45 PM

well, the mention of Robert Duvall brings to mind "To Kill a Mockingbird", his first appearance on film.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 02:51 AM

Tender Mercies, although it always makes me cry. Actually, anything Robert Duvall plays in, he's wonderful. In this one, he even has the "my cowboy boots are done wore out" walk down pat. And speaking of accents, his Texas drawl is perfect, although to my knowledge he's not a Texan. Rambling Rose was another good one for Duvall. Lonesome Dove, too.

Key Largo--love Bogie in that onee. Also in To Have and Have Not. Yep, I know how to whistle!

RangerSteve, you and I must be the only two people in the world who saw Barbarosa, with Willie in the title role and an interesting Gary Busey as his protege--good stuff, much underrated IMHO.

And The Lion in Winter, with Peter O'Toole, Kathryn Hepburn, and Anthony Hopkins as Richard Lion Heart. "There'll be pork in the treetops by morning!" Some great lines in that one!

Gotta quit reading this thread. Makes me want to run out to Blockbuster's...

Lin

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Don Firth
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 10:57 PM

Diana Rigg. A babe?

Oh, yeah!

Indeed!

Oh, My Gawd!!

Still!!

'Scuse me. Gotta go take a cold shower!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: RangerSteve
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 09:40 PM

Don - thanks for the history lesson. I always get Flower and Pynn confused.

The mention of Basil Rathbone reminds me of A Comedy of Terrors - probably a Roger Corman film. Corman did some clunkers, but this one is probably his best. Boris Karloff, Basil Rathbone, Peter Lorre, Vincent Price, Joe E. Brown, and an assortment of full-figured women.
It's a dream cast for old-time horror buffs.

Which reminds me of "Theater of Blood". OK, this one violates my rule of no innocent people dying, but gratuitous death was never more fun in this film. And it has Diana RIgg, fresh from "The Avengers" and still considered a babe here in the U.S. at the time.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 09:07 PM

Ranger Steve -- the Spanish guy who is either ugly or handsome. Antonio Banderas and trust me, he is handsome!

I actually liked Waterworld too -- not as a serious flick, but as a spoof I thought it was great -- Dennis Hopper is so incredibly EVIL.......and so over the top while he is at it.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Gulliver
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 08:21 PM

Oh, I forgot WC Fields. Also enjoyed early Humphrey Bogart movies. Neil Jordan's Mona Lisa I liked 'cos I worked in Soho. And another great German film (IMHO) was Das Falsche Gewicht (dunno the English title, if it was ever translated), based on the book by Joseph Roth. Two funny Brazilian movies: Bye, Bye Brasil and Dona Flor and her Two Husbands. Truffaut's Les Quatre Cents Coups. Better stop now!

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Don Firth
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 05:17 PM

"The Mark of Zorro", with Tyrone Flynn, or was it Errol Power? It doesn't matter, as they were the same person.

The 1940 "The Mark of Zorro," starring Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, and Basil Rathbone.

The saber duel between Diego Vega (Zorro in mufti), played by Tyrone Power, and Captain Esteban Pasquale (Basil Rathbone at his villainous best), in the alcalde's study is the best duel scene in any movie—ever.   [Possible exception:   the rapier-and-dagger fencing match cum duel in the final act of the 1948 production of "Hamlet," fought between Hamlet (Lawrence Olivier) and Laertes (Terence Morgan)]   

The "Mark of Zorro" movie gets no marks for authenticity because Power and Rathbone fought using the modern Hungarian-Italian style of saber-play that depends on light-weight fencing sabers rather than the heavier cavalry-type weapon, and the technique wasn't developed until the early twentieth century (by Italo Santelli, who was the Italian coach of the Hungarian Olympic fencing team at the time), when the period portrayed in the movie was early nineteenth century California. And the sabers the two actors used were straight out of a fencing equipment catalog (from the looks of the saber Rathbone was using, I think it had an aluminum guard, and I don't believe they had aluminum back in early 1800s California;   it was quite probably Rathbone's personal weapon).

But—both actors were practicing fencers. Power had learned to fence from his mother, who had been Ohio Ladies' Champion at one time. And Rathbone (considered to be the best fencer in the movies at the time) had participated actively in fencing competitions in England and later in Southern California. Neither actor was championship level, but they were both very good fencers and knew what they were doing. Also, in relation to most movie duels, in this duel there was no running up and down stairs and no swinging from chandeliers, and a minimum of slipping on carpets and tripping over the furniture. It was two good fencers going at it hammer-and-tongs.

Tyrone Flynn, or was it Errol Power? It doesn't matter, as they were the same person.

Well, actually, it does matter. As noted, Tyrone Power was a pretty good fencer. Errol Flynn, on the other hand, was very athletic and put on a good show, but other than from a Hollywood fight coach, he had never taken any fencing lessons, and in his fencing scenes, he slashed a lot of thin air and looked very dashing and spectacular. But as he was doing all of this, any halfway decent fencer could shish-kabob him a dozen times over. He would prepare for one of his spectacular slashes (sound of blade whipping through the air) by withdrawing his arm, and left himself open to a quick straight-thrust. By the way, in both "Captain Blood" and "The Adventures of Robin Hood," Rathbone played the villain, and since he was the far better swordsman, it was his job to make Errol Flynn look good.

He was flashy, though!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: RangerSteve
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 03:56 PM

I thought Cabaret was a complete downer. Otherwise, that's a good list.

Cabaret led me to think of Chicago, which reminded me of "Roxie Hart", the original, non-musical that "Chicago" was based on. It had a better ending than the remake, too.

Which reminds me that I saw "Roxie" on a double bill with "Mr. and Mrs. North", which spawned a TV series in the '50's, but the movie has Gracie Allen (but not George Burns), doing what Gracie did best, with her perfectly illogical logic.

"To Be or Not To Be', I never saw the Mel Brooks remake, but the original with Jack Benny and Carole Lombarde (I think), and a real yuung Robert Stack.

Tugboat Annie
Duck Soup
A Night at the Opera
My Little Chickadee
A number of short films that W.C. Fields did.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Gulliver
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 02:59 PM

Blue Angel
Cinema Paradiso
Commitments
Cabaret
O Brother Where Are Thou
Twinky (think that's the name, with a leggy Susan George)
Topkapi
The Producers (original version)
The Graduate
Casablanca

Others include most early Woody Allen, also films by a Neapolitan called Totó. Probably lots more, if I thought about it...

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: RangerSteve
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 10:27 AM

"The Mark of Zorro", with Tyrone Flynn, or was it Errol Power? It doesn't matter, as they were the same person. And the newer one with Anthony Hopkins and that Spanish guy who is really ugly or really handsome, I can't figure out which.

And "Barbarosa", a Zorro-like movie with Willie Nelson that didn't get a lot of exposure in the theaters.

I'm glad someone else liked "Waterworld". And the Costner version of "Robin Hood". It would have been a great movie if and English actor had starred in it. Otherwise, it was a perfect movie.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 11:20 PM

Totally agree that Alan Rickman being over the top was the best thing in the Kevin Costner Robin Hood (I can't quite remember the lines but am sure 'Cancel Christmas ...' was one and 'take his insides out ....... with a spoon...' was another.....

And no one has mentioned Spinal Tap or Kentucky Fried Movie---- both great films...

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 12:04 PM

The Entertainers
G

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 11:53 AM

Oh yeah! Galaxy Quest. Wonderfully funny!

And simply because it has Alan Rickman being his special, almost over the top self, the much-maligned "Robin Hood" with Kevin Costner (who couldn't do a Cockney accent if you taped his mouth shut and recorded one for him). Alan was the only justification for that particular movie.

And since I have mentioned Costner, I have to add "Dances With Wolves," "Bull Durham," "The Postman" and "Waterworld" to this list. My favorite line in "Waterworld"? "Here come the Smokers!" Evil, evil, evil--Dennis Hopper had a ball with that role.

Lin

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Llanfair
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 04:20 AM

No-one seems to have mentioned "it's a wonderful life" the ultimate feelgood movie, always makes me cry.

Also "Truly madly deeply" and "Ghost"

Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 03:24 AM

One of the great moments is when she's leading her girls up the stairs and they see the motto, something like "My honour above all" and she sniffs and says "One would have thought *that* would go without saying", or words to that effect, and sweeps on.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Bert
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 02:24 AM

...The Happiest Days of our Lives...

Parts of that were filmd at the school I went to, Churcher's College.
Margaret Rutherford came and opened our sports day one time.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 02:10 AM

I'm very fond of an English film from the 1950s or so called The Happiest Days of our Lives. Sadly, it doesn't seem to be on DVD.

Alistair Sim plays the headmaster of a small English boarding school for boys, and Margaret Rutherford the headmistress of a boarding school for girls.

Through some glitch at the ministry, the two schools have been moved into the same building. For various complicated reasons, they have to live with this - then a set of parents come to inspect one school on the Parents' Day of the other, and both schools have to try to conceal the other from their own set of parents.

It's very funny, with Joyce Grenfell playing a sportive sports mistress, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Micca
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 02:26 PM

I have always had a soft spot for Rob Reiners "The Sure thing" with John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga, it is full of wonderful one liners... like
They are hitching, and stuck in the middle of NOwhere and it is pouring with rain, Cusack is trying (unsucessfully) to break into a place for them to get shelter, Zuniga searches her stuff and says, " I have a credit card" he says " wrong kind of lock to open with a credit card"
She says "Yu dont understand, I have a credit card, but I promised my dad I would only use it in an emergency" (this next line convinced me Irony may not be dead in the USA) He says "Maybe one will come up"

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: GUEST,Seiri Omaar
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 02:17 PM

Robin Hood: Men in Tights
.... "Leave us alone, Mel Brooks!!!"
And, like many, The Princess Bride

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: RangerSteve
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 12:10 PM

Everyone in that movie was excellent, with, of course, K.Reeves, although I noticed he didn't get to say much. They probably omitted most of his lines, and I'm sure he was included in the cast because he looks villainous and they needed someone to attract the young girls to the theaters.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 09:40 PM

I don't remember Michael Keaton in it but Ben Elton was, and was very good...loved your comment, Ranger Steve, about unfortunately Keeau Reeves was in it......the first rule in our house is for a movie to be any good it must NOT contain Richard Gere or Keneau Reeves. (Actually now I remember Michael Keaton was Ben Elton's side kick in it.......)

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Don Firth
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 06:57 PM

That was "Much Ado About Nothing." Michael Keaton ("Beetlejuice," "Mr. Mom," "Batman") was also in that. Small comic role.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: RangerSteve
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 05:06 PM

Another title I've forgotten, (I hope this isn't getting to be a serious problem), but the Shakespeare one, with Kenneth Branaugh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, and, unfortunately, Keanu Reeves.

Which also brings to mind, "Shakespeare in Love".

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Don Firth
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 01:59 PM

Barbara and I were going to watch "My Cousin Vinnie" last night, but wound up watching a movie I had never heard of instead. Barbara found it on the NetFlix list and, being a bit of a Joan Plowright fan, she ordered it and we got it in the mail yesterday afternoon.

If you're looking for "pleasant, satisfying movies," this one should fill the bill. Now, there are undoubtedly some who would find it a bit sentimental, perhaps overly so, but those are the sad folks who need their minimum daily requirement of shoot-outs and car-chases. Barbara and I thought it was a thoroughly charming movie, and, indeed, pleasant and satisfying.

Low budget, but a cast of superb British actors. Joan Plowright as the dignified, lonely widow, Rupert Friend as the young aspiring writer who more-or-less supports himself by busking and comes to Mrs. Palrey's aid when she has an accident in front of his basement flat. There are veteran actors playing some real "characters" who inhabit the Claremont Hotel. Lorcan O'Toole, Peter O'Toole's son, plays Mrs. Palfrey's real grandson (and a real dork!) who finally shows up at a most inopportune time. And Anna Massey is an absolute snort!.

Check it out. "Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont."

Try it. You'll like it.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: JennyO
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 08:36 AM

Has anyone mentioned Dr Strangelove yet? If not, I will. Now there's an ending!

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 08:22 AM

But wasn't the dodginess of Dick Van Dyke's accent supposed to be funny? A kind of in-joke, testing Julie Andrews' ability not to crack up every time she heard it.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: kendall
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 07:16 AM

I agree that Dick Van Dyke was perfect for that role, but that accent....It's almost as bad as Tom Bosley in "Murder she wrote".

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: JennyO
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 06:54 AM

There's another one I'd forgotten, that Kim C mentioned - Raising Arizona. I find I like a lot of Nicholas Cage movies. Birdy was another one I liked, with NC and Matthew Modine as Birdy. Won't give anything away, but I liked the twist at the end.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: RangerSteve
Date: 07 Jun 07 - 05:45 PM

Don, you're going to love the movie.

Kendall - Dick Van Dyke's accent may have been terrible - I wouldn't know a good one from a bad one, but I can't imagine that role being played by anyone else. That was a perfect cast all around.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 07 Jun 07 - 03:08 PM

"Ernest Hemingway's Adventures Of A Young Man"

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Don Firth
Date: 07 Jun 07 - 12:51 PM

HAH! Ranger Steve beat me by ——>||<—— that much!

My wife and I saw it a few years back and thought it was hilarious. We just got the DVD in yesterday's mail from NetFlix and we're planning on watching it this evening.

"My Cousin Vinnie."

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: kendall
Date: 07 Jun 07 - 12:26 PM

Mary Poppins, except for Dick Van Dyke's awful Cockney accent.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: RangerSteve
Date: 07 Jun 07 - 11:50 AM

Trubrit, thanks, I'm getting bad at remembering titles.

"My Cousin Vinnie". Fred Gwynn is one of the great underrated characther actors. (I guess that should be "Was one of the great....")

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Mickey191
Date: 07 Jun 07 - 01:22 AM

How could I forget "Simon Birch?"

This movie is fantastic!! I do not think anyone would be disappointed with this fine film. Ian Michael Smith plays Simon, Joe Mazzello his best friend.
The kid is witty, unafraid & does not suffer fools.

RENT IT! Your whole family will enjoy it.
___________
Following para. is from the IMDb site:
It is a story of a 12 year old extremely undersized boy who is a freak to many, a best friend to another and ends up being a hero. All through the movie he talks of God having a plan for him and that his small stature is a part of that plan.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 10:13 PM

Ranger Steve -- the movie with Tim Allen was Galaxy Quest -- it was wonderful-- Alan Rickman was (as ever - excuse me - I am a huge fan) wonderful...... Sigourney Weaver was superb too. Totally funny - loved it.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Alba
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 09:38 PM

Lady and the Tramp ~ The Triplets of Belleville

Oh and this makes 100 posts..smile
Jude

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 09:16 PM

The four seasons with Alan Alda, Carol Burnett and Jack Weston.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: RangerSteve
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 08:15 PM

McGrath - There really are no rules for what makes a pleasant and satisfuying movie, except that you find it pleasant and satisfying.

Thanks, everyone who contributed, there are a lot of films I have to check out.

I'll add another, one that a lot of people hated, but I liked enough to buy it and see it about once a year - "The Fifth Element". It remeinds me of "The Outlaw Josie Wales", which someone already listed, in that every character is interesting and probably worthy of their own movie.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 07:46 PM

That Thing You Do
Life is Sweet
Harry in Your Pocket
Intermezzo
The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Odd Couple
The Man who would be King
Deathtrap

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: pdq
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 07:28 PM

Another vote for Cat Ballou and American Graffiti.

Charlton Heston did a nice little western called Will Penny. Good cast and good acting.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Don Firth
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 06:38 PM

Hmm. Okay, if we're thinking musicals, then I nominate "An American in Paris." All the music by George Gershwin (much underrated in the United States, at least until fairly recently, much more appreciated in Europe, so I've heard). The long dance sequence was choreographed by Gene Kelly himself, and I've recently heard it said that, in terms of quality of choreography and performance, even though it's more akin to modern dance than classic ballet, it's right up there with the finest of classic ballet sequences). Kelly is at his peak, the very young Leslie Caron (18 at the time, I think) is thoroughly charming, and the love story is both poignant and engaging. In addition to a bravura job of playing "Rhapsody in Blue," Oscar Levant's schticks are a riot!

Good movie!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 06:05 PM

Lots of good movies in here, and a good number I've never come across that I'll look out for.

It's a list that could go on for ever. But I wonder, does anyone feel like elaborating about what they see as making for a "pleasant satisfying" movie.

RangerSteve started us of with: "No car chases, no edge-of-your-seat suspense, no one got killed, the villains and good guys all got what they deserved. There was no deep message, and I was left feeling happy." But that was in respect of a particular movie, quite a lot of the movies in this thread that quite properly fall into "pleasant satisfying" wouldn't have all those characteristics.

Quite a few where there's a modicum of suspense, and quite a few killings. Otherwise there wouldn't be any Westerns in the list, for example. And deep messages (love your neighbour, for example) aren't uncommon.

...the villains and good guys all got what they deserved... and I was left feeling happy. Those are the ones that seem to be the central requirements. And I'm inclined to think that one ingredient that I tend to look for is that there's some kind of ethical journey involved - for example in a film such as The Apartment or Uncle Buck. A flawed hero who sorts himself out in teh course of the film.

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: Kim C
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 05:29 PM

Cars
The Incredibles
Monsters Inc.
The Great Race
Love Actually
O Brother Where Art Thou
Raising Arizona
Amelie
Tootsie
A Christmas Story
Princess Bride
Willow
Revenge of the Musketeers
All the Harry Potters
Shrek I & II
Chocolat

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 05:12 PM

Captains Courageous. (The original with Lionel Barrymore)

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 03:22 PM

The Graduate [my favourite film]
The Goodbye Girl [my second favourite film]
Some Like it Hot [ film with the best closing line ever.]
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Pleasant, satisfying movies
From: RangerSteve
Date: 06 Jun 07 - 03:14 PM

Don Firth's argument for "Zorba" makes sense, and since I started this thread, I'm going to allow it, even though the scene where Irene Pappas' characther gets murdered is still vivid in my mind after all these years.

I'm getting bad at rmembering titles, but the one with Tim Allen as the star of a "Star Trek" type TV show who gets unwillingly recruited to help in a real outer-space war should be on this list.

And "Enemy Mine", not much humor, but a good escapist story anyway.

"The Incredibles"
"Finding Nemo"

Not much in the way of musicals posted here, but 'The Music Man" and "My Fair Lady" are two of my favorites.

Just remembered, The musical version of "Little Shop of Horrors".