Netflix is limited

For the last few years, whenever I checked out a pawn shop or thrift store I'd browse through the DVD section -- in part because I like movies, but also because we hadn't got around to accessing "movie streaming" technology.

Yesterday The Lady signed us up for Netflix.

It looks promising -- but I won't be selling off my DVD collection:

-They don't have The Last Starfighter
-They don't have Yojimbo
-They don't have Scott Pilgrim vs The World


So:  we'll probably be using the local DVD rental kiosk less, to rent the recent releases.  And I've found a few Netflix series that look interesting.

But movies that are a bit old, or a bit outside the zone of popular tastes?  Looks like I'll have to stay with DVDs.

At least, here in Australia:  maybe there's a wider selection if you live in the U.S.


--GG

One disadvantage of the digital revolution

When I was in college, you could tell what sort of music someone was in to by browsing their CD and/or cassette collection.  In the '70s and before, you could take a glance at someone's record collection.  And from that, get a sense of their compatibility -- for one characteristic, at least.

Nowadays you can't do that:  someone would have to unlock their phone (or hand you their mp3 player), and you'd have to browse through all the listings.

And the further difficulty is that the file structure is often nested -- meaning that you can't just scroll straight through.  Whereas with albums on a shelf, you just at the top left and work your way though.

It's becoming that way with movies, too:  you used to be able to see what movies people liked enough to buy (rather than rent) on videotape -- and later, on DVD.  But with streaming, you can't "see" people's favorite movies.

It's a shame.


--GG

Notting Hill is still a good movie

Yesterday I tried to get The Girl to watch Notting Hill (Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts) with me.  She watched the first ten minutes or so -- and laughed a few times -- but then said that it had too much talking and asked to be excused. 

Eh:  she's still in middle school; maybe when she's older.

But, since I had it running -- I ended up watching the whole darn thing.

Yep:  still like it.  A lotta good scenes.


--GG

My movie review of What If

Last night I watched What If? on DVD, with Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter!!!) and Zoe Kazan.

Guy has a bad break-up, and a year later meets a woman who he completely connects with, but it already in a long-term relationship. But they become friends, and he lives a tortured life for the next year or so.

Somewhat low-key, but good pacing:  I enjoyed it. Reasonably witty, with some good lines. Picked it up used for two bucks, but would probably put it on my “To Buy” list, as I can see myself wanting to re-watch it in the future.

Some implied nudity, possibly some swearing (I didn't specifically notice), and some frank sexual talk.

Worth watching if you like Rom-Coms. Also, I tend to like movies with Zoe Kazan in them (Ruby Sparks, In Your Eyes) – although I don't know if it's because she's a good actor, or because she knows how to choose film projects well.


 --GG

Movie review of That Thing You Do

I just finished watching That Thing You Do with The Girl:  she asked me last night if there was another DVD that we could watch together, so we watched most of it last night, and finished the rest of it tonight during dinner.

It's one of my favorite movies -- partly because it involves a band -- but also because it's well-acted and well-written, with a lot of good scenes.

Basically, it takes place in the early '60s, and a Beatles-y garage band becomes one-hit wonders when they win a talent show because their substitute drummer improved their song by kicking up the tempo.  There's more than that, of course.

I'm pretty sure it's rated "G" -- so I think they say "carp" once, and that's about it.


--GG

Movie review of Dan in Real Life

Last night I watched the movie Dan in Real Life. I liked it a lot: its well-written, well-acted, and had some sweet sections. Steve Carell plays “sad” well.

Steve Carell plays a widower with three daughters. He's a good guy, and a pretty good – but imperfect – dad. On the way to the annual family get-together – with his parents, his siblings and spouses, and their kids (and his kids) – he meets the woman of his dreams. Then it turns out that she's his younger brother's new girlfriend.

It spoke to me: I was in a similar situation, a hundred years ago.


Two quotes from the movie:

“If you want to be completely honest – sing.”
 
“Love isn't an emotion: it's an ability.”


 --GG

Movie review of The Giant Mechanical Man AKA Love is in the Air

For some reason, the movie that I rented last night is called Love is in the Air in Australia -- but in the U.S. it was called The Giant Mechanical Man.  Huh.  The American title actually makes a lot more sense.


The movie is about two people who are in their early 30s (I think), and are kind of lost.  The guy is a performance artist, where he dresses up in silver paint and walking stilts, and is a giant mechanical man.  The woman just got fired from her temp job.  And they both answer an ad for "various jobs available" at the local zoo.


It's a sweet movie, although rather low-key.  A few good lines.

For a variety of reasons, it spoke to me and where I am at the moment.


As you might know, I collect good quotes.  There's a quote that takes place at a birthday party, and is paraphrased later in the movie:

"It only takes just one person, just one person, to make you feel special, and valid, and like you belong in the world."

AND

"It just takes one person, just one person, to make you feel like you belong -- to make you feel special."


I think the second version is a little punchier.


Some swearing, and implied sex (i.e. they end up in bed, obviously naked under the covers).  No violence that I recall.


It has a sweet ending, which is a happy ending -- so, yay!  :)


You might, or might not, like it.  But I did.


--GG

Movie Review - Singing in the Rain

Each weekend we have "Family Movie Night", where we have a roster for whose turn it is to choose the DVD from the fairly large pile of unwatched movies.

Tonight it was my turn, and I chose Singing in the Rain.  I wasn't sure that the kids would sit through it -- especially my youngest boys (B1, B2), who are six.  Particularly the musical numbers.

But, they were actually engaged.  I was impressed.  And I was also impressed with how well the movie has aged:  it didn't seem "dated" at all -- which, of course, is why it's such a "classic".


Just in case you don't know the story:  it's about a movie star (Gene Kelly) around 1927, just as silent movies were transitioning to "talkies".  His recurring co-star/leading lady has a horrible voice, which causes difficulties in re-working a half-finished movie to make it sound-compatible.

There's more, but that's enough -- except that I'd forgotten how fun Donald O'Connor is.  :)


The kids each had a favorite musical number, which they were comparing after the movie ended (B2's was "Make 'Em Laugh", if I recall correctly).

So, yeah -- a success.


I recommend you re-watch it.  A good movie.


--GG

Love that movie

I often watch a DVD, or some YouTube clips, while I'm eating dinner.  I was in the mood to watch some of my favorite scenes from She's Out of Your League.

I ended up watching basically the whole thing -- although I skipped over a few scenes, here and there -- so more like half of it.  I guess I must like the movie.

Actually, it's one of my favorites:  it's sweet and funny and well-written and well-acted.  There's a fair bit of swearing, and a few fairly-direct sexual references.  But, I'm old enough.  :)


--GG

My review of the movie About Time

Saw the movie About Time.  It was a good movie, and I'd recommend it.

The basic notion is that a kid from a fairly well-off family -- they live in a huge house that's a short walk to the beach, have afternoon tea on the beach every day, and his dad was able to quit work at 50 to spend more time around the house -- and his dad informs him after the son's 21st anniversary that the men of his family have the ability to travel back in time.  But, only through their own timelines.

That means that the rest of his life can be lived as an infinite set of "do-overs".  He spends the rest of the movie exploring the possibilities.

I noticed one logical contradiction -- but only one.  And I won't annoy you with pointing it out:  just enjoy the movie.

It's not my lifetime best-ever-favorite-movie -- but it's a sweet movie with many humorous bits, plus some sad bits, and a reasonably tidy ending.

Oh -- and the woman he falls in love with is written (and played) as someone you could see him falling in love with.  A much nicer person than a the woman he has a crush on elsewhere in the movie.

Some naughty language; some implied sex; no nudity that I recall.


Addendum:  I found a few websites (blog entries?  movie reviews?) that complain that About Time is full of logical errors and breaking the self-stated "rules" about time travel.  I disagree with most of them -- as do the comments under those entries.

Addendum, Oct 6, 2015:  For a while I was watching at least parts of this movie about once a week.  Then I went for a few weeks without watching it.  And then I couldn't figure out where the heck I put the DVD -- which was disappointing.  But today I was in a shop that sells used DVDs, and they had a copy for three bucks.  So I picked it up.  And I'm re-watching it.


So, yeah -- I've added the tag "Favorite movies" to this blog entry.

 

-GG