home

Christmas at the Movies

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 12:24:26 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Did anyone else spend the holiday watching movies? I did -- but on my blue ray player, not in theaters. Among those I'd recommend:

I also saw Mama Mia, but I must not have been in the mood as my mind wandered and it was way too energetic and cheerful. Meryl Streep was great though. I also was very lukewarm on Burn After Reading.

What did you watch this holiday? Did anyone see Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Doubt or Valkyrie? [More...]

I really like Jennifer Aniston, but not enough to rush out and watch Marley and Me. Revolutionary Road is probably next on my list, along with Australia.

< Christmas Day Sentiment | Christmas Eating >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Christmas at the Movies | 44 comments (44 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    Looking forward to the Eastwood movie (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Saul on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 09:30:10 AM EST
    Can't believe he is up for best actor again. He just keeps on going.   They claim this is his best acting yet.

    Me too and count me (none / 0) (#16)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 09:44:29 AM EST
    as another one finding the critics words on this film making it hard to sit still.

    Parent
    West Side Story (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by SOS on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 09:49:39 AM EST
    Watched it last night. Haven't seen it since my dad took me and mom to see it in 1958.

    Anecdote: family driving vacation, (none / 0) (#25)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 11:12:58 AM EST
    1958, we are in Rochester, Minnesota.  Have toured Mayo Clinic for educational purposes.  Dad doesn't favor movies on vacation--not why we came, so much else to do, etc.  But I guess he got tired of my refrain re West Side Story so we all went to the movie and he loved it.  

    P.S.  Revival slated for Broadway beginning the end of February.

    Parent

    WSS was on PBS last week (none / 0) (#44)
    by andrys on Sat Dec 27, 2008 at 05:08:52 PM EST
    and, unbelieveablly, in standard definition on a high-definition channel (though shot in expensive 70mm) and in MONO sound.

      Nevertheless, I saw it in its Broadway cast version in the late 50s when it came to San Francisco and loved the music so much I learned most of it on the piano.

      The movie version miscast Richard Beymer terribly as Tony (not exactly a gang leader type -- supposedly he had withdrawn from that but you have to believe he was one, and the dialog, even for a play, doesn't hold up that well.

      But the music!  Every now and then just that music (and the beautiful choreography of the gang dances) had me in tears nevertheless.  But that would be if you had really loved that music a long time ago and suddenly heard it again.  So much good writing in that (musicially).  Chakiris was dynamite, and Moreno was excellent.  

      I've been reading Musicophilia and it describes the impact music can have on you when you don't expect it -- and which it may not have when you do expect it.

    Parent

    Mama Mia (none / 0) (#1)
    by robert72 on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 12:48:15 AM EST
    I had seen the stage show twice in London and liked it very much. I found the movie to be more about the characters (or the actors) and less about the music. I happen to really like ABBA, and found the movie, as you say, overly energetic.... perhaps frenetic, if that is the right word, and was disappointed in it.
    Movies I watched? I watched 'Bridget Jones Diary' - the first one, and then 'Pride and Prejudice', the six part BBC one. It is fun to compare the plots - or plot..... Light entertainment that makes me smile.

    Personally, I loved Burn After Reading (none / 0) (#2)
    by andgarden on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 01:08:45 AM EST
    but I just about haven't been to the movies since I saw it. Lust, Caution interests me, as does Valkyrie.

    I enjoyed Burn. Knew I would, as my (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 01:55:08 AM EST
    daughter had already seen it.

    Parent
    Just saw 'Burn After Reading' at a friend's (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by ruffian on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 09:10:05 AM EST
    last night - I liked it a lot, and more than they did.  It made me laugh out loud many times, which I can't say fro most movies these days. I had heard that it was hard to follow and made no sense, but I didn't find at at all.

    Parent
    I saw Frost/Nixon on Broadway (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 01:56:24 AM EST
    and Doubt in San Diego, when Cherry Jones was in it.  Probably won't challenge my great memories of Frost/Nixon by seeing the movie.  But will probably see the movie of Doubt.

    You saw Doubt onstage? (none / 0) (#14)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 09:38:35 AM EST
    Of all the movies out there right now it intrigues me the most.  I spent yesterday watching the new Batman again for obvious reasons.  It was still very good though the second time around.  As a fan I will miss Heath Ledger so much.

    Parent
    Well, I saw the road show of (none / 0) (#23)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 11:07:50 AM EST
    Doubt at a very large theatre in San Diego.  The only reason I went was because Cherry Jones played the part Meryl Streep plays in the movie version.  Even though I had a good seat, I really don't like seeing plays in this theatre because it is just too big for live theatre.  The playwright directed the movie and he has sd. in recent interviews he was o.k. with changing lines, etc. in the movie.  

    Parent
    I. too will miss Heath Ledger (none / 0) (#31)
    by Amiss on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 01:31:41 PM EST
    and watched The Dark Knight yesterday evening.

    Parent
    I hope to see Frost/Nixon (none / 0) (#5)
    by TomStewart on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 02:12:27 AM EST
    soon. I'm watching the Frost Interviews DVD as I type this. Might go see The Spirit, but it would probably just break my heart to see Will Eisner's great comic strip ruined by Frank Miller's outsized ego. I met Eisner a few times, and interviewed him once for an article, and I know he would not be happy with what has been done with his work. Grand Torino is on the list, as is Ben Button and Marley and Me.

    Wow, watching Nixon lie his a$$ off is amazing, and this time I don't have to sit through the Alpo commercials. And you can hear planes in the background.

    Add this to your reading list: (none / 0) (#6)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 02:16:58 AM EST
    The Conviction of Richard Nixon:  The Untold Story of the Frost/Nixon Interviews.    By James Reston, Jr.


    Parent
    I've Frost's book (none / 0) (#7)
    by TomStewart on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 02:23:02 AM EST
    but not Reston's. I'll pick it up. Thanks!

    Parent
    "The Reader" (none / 0) (#8)
    by bob h on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 06:55:43 AM EST
    is not a great movie, with a somewhat implausible story line, but is very much superior to typical Hollywood product and quite moving.   Ralph Fiennes is my favorite male actor, and I will go see anything with Kate Winslet in it, particularly when she spends so much time in the buff.

    Looking forward to this one (none / 0) (#12)
    by ruffian on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 09:17:19 AM EST
    They are my two favorites also. I'm a straight female, and Kate is certainly a work of art I can appreciate! I go hot and cold with finding Fiennes attractive (I think his makeup and wardrobe in 'Bernard and Doris' might have killed any chance there), but he is certainly my favorite actor.

    Parent
    I think Fiennes is a hottie (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 09:41:10 AM EST
    I even loved him in Bernard and Doris but then I loved him as a creative hottie :)  You have to admit it was a great shawl too.

    Parent
    I saw him on Broadway from (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 11:10:08 AM EST
    maybe the 4th row.  So intense.  The play was "The Faithhealer."  Cherry Jones was also in it.  Marvelous.

    Parent
    Kung Fu Panda (none / 0) (#9)
    by WS on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 08:07:23 AM EST
    was surprisingly good!  

    Seven Pounds (none / 0) (#11)
    by ruffian on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 09:13:22 AM EST
    Saw this last night and liked it well enough to recommend it.  It was a little on the sappy side, and I figured it out before I think I was supposed to, so it did not have the emotional wallop some people have reported. I'm kind of resistant to forced emotion in movies, so my eyes were pretty dry, though some scenes I came close. The love story is very beautiful in the times they spend together.

    So I give it thumbs up, and maybe 3.5 stars out of 5. Will Smith is excellent.

    House marathon most of the day yesterday (none / 0) (#19)
    by addy on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 09:55:02 AM EST
    not to forget Alvin and the Chimpmunks all morning. We're going to see Burn After Reading on Netflix streaming today.

    Revolutionary Road (none / 0) (#20)
    by BRockNYLA on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 10:10:18 AM EST
    is a fantastic drama based on the great novel by Richard Yates.  It isn't a film for the faint of heart or those looking for an easy get-away. I like movies that keep me thinking long after I've left the theater and this one delivers in spades. Kate Winslet is incredible, as usual.  DiCaprio improves as the story progresses.  But, the stand out, for me at least, was Michael Shannon.  WOW.  This guy nearly stole the film from all of the above.

    Highly recommend.

    Life is a movie (none / 0) (#21)
    by SOS on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 10:11:27 AM EST
    And we're all actors in the play
    I hope you're not (none / 0) (#22)
    by oldpro on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 10:25:29 AM EST
    getting us into "Yes, but" territory.

    You know..."Yes, but who's the director?"

    And..."Yes, but who wrote the script?"

    Watched Ben Hur on TV yesterday and got a full dose of both the medium and the message...not to mention the actor.  TEN Academy Awards!  Hollywood in spades.

    Parent

    Oh no (none / 0) (#33)
    by ruffian on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 01:51:57 PM EST
    you must have seen 'Synecdoche, NY' too! My sympathies!!!

    Parent
    Oh, so you must be the other (none / 0) (#34)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 01:57:22 PM EST
    person who saw that movie!  I missed a lot of the subtle stuff and though of seeing it a second time but didn't muster enough interest to do so.

    Parent
    Milk has not come her yet (none / 0) (#26)
    by TeresaInPa on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 11:24:06 AM EST
    I would like to see it, but I am going to see Marley and me tomorrow mostly because I loved the book.  I hope it is not all doggy sight gags.

    I want to see doubt because I love both stars, but I have been very severely stressed and depressed (over money and a bad relationship that has turned out to be more of a drain than a help in my life) and so I have to try and do things that will make me feel better not worse.

    I saw Mama Mia when it came out and it was fun, Streep doing an amazing solo towards the end.

    Has Slumdog Millionaire (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 11:29:21 AM EST
    reached your area yet?  Good movie.  

    Parent
    Yes, I saw it. (none / 0) (#42)
    by andrys on Sat Dec 27, 2008 at 05:01:39 PM EST
    Gritty reality meets fable/fantasy, and I loved it.

      You have to suspend disbelief and have a rather strong stomach in the first 2/3rds.

      It had a big impact on me for a few days.  And that's longer than most movies ever last with me due to diminishing memory, I imagine.  I highly recommend it.  Filmed in India.

    Parent

    Very creative. (none / 0) (#45)
    by oculus on Sun Dec 28, 2008 at 12:17:57 PM EST
    I also saw Danny Boyle's "Trainspotting" (1996) and "Shallow Grave" (1995).


    Parent
    Slumdog Millionaire (none / 0) (#28)
    by g8grl on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 12:20:57 PM EST
    was really excellent, although some parts were hard to wathc.  I would like to see "Boy In The Striped Pajamas" but I'm afraid it might have a bad ending.  Anyone know?

    Lust, Caution (none / 0) (#29)
    by KeysDan on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 12:27:22 PM EST
    is great, but I am still thinking about the ending.   Some favorite foreign films:  The Edge of Heaven (2007) a Turkish/German film, Apartment Zero (1988), British/Argentine with a young Colin Firth, Europa Europa (1990) German, and Tell No One (2008) French  Hope you got to watch Ovation Channel's Nutcracker Grudge Match,  Hard Nut was the winner and deservedly so.

    The Lives of Others. German. (none / 0) (#35)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 01:58:22 PM EST


    Parent
    Yes, (none / 0) (#36)
    by KeysDan on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 02:08:38 PM EST
    a really good movie; to be included in any foreign film list. It was sad to learn that the powerful actor (Ulrich Muhe) who played the Stasi captain died shortly after the movie's wide release.

    Parent
    Have you seen A Christmas (none / 0) (#37)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 02:10:55 PM EST
    Tale?

    Parent
    A Christmas Tale, (none / 0) (#38)
    by KeysDan on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 02:33:40 PM EST
    got very good reviews and award considerations, but so far I have not seen it.  Catherine Deneuve, alone, is probably  worth the price of admission.  Thanks for the tip.

    Parent
    The actor who plays Denueve's (none / 0) (#39)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 02:34:40 PM EST
    husband is also quite fine.  Worth seeing.  Not a mood-elevator though.

    Parent
    Recently Saw (none / 0) (#30)
    by squeaky on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 12:44:43 PM EST
    Wake in Fright.

    It is on you tube in parts.

    Almost had to stop watching at one point, but in the end worth it. Dark movie.

    I saw 'Milk' two weeks ago (none / 0) (#32)
    by ruffian on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 01:49:29 PM EST
    and forgot to mention it earlier. Call me Ms. Short term memory. Best film I've seen so far this year, by far. Sean Penn is soooo good.

    I can't believe we both (none / 0) (#43)
    by andrys on Sat Dec 27, 2008 at 05:02:25 PM EST
    mentioned fading short-term memory within a note of each other.

    Parent
    MST3K (none / 0) (#40)
    by TomStewart on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 03:44:04 PM EST
    Had a marathon of MST3K on Christmas, as my wife got a set, and I got the movie. Now a have a couple of taped episodes from the 1st year running while I clean up the place (though I should be doing research on an article). Fun show, almost forgot how much I enjoyed it.

    TransSiberian (none / 0) (#41)
    by RhythmIsIt on Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 08:16:45 PM EST
    I am surprised this film is not receiving more attention.  Yes, it was a very intense movie, with the suspense of an Alfred Hitchcock film.

    Christmas at the Movies | 44 comments (44 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment