The Last Movie You Saw On DVD or VHS or TV.

Thanks - I'll do that!

Watched "Taking Chance" with Kevin Bacon as Lt Col Michael Strobl, last night about a high ranking officer who escorts the remains of a Marine who died in Iraq back to a small town in Wyoming. Although Col Strobl didn't know the Marine, he learns first hand the reverence, dignity, affection, and gratitude of those who come in contact with "taking Chance" home - at the airports, and while driving four hours to the small town in Wyoming.

Excellent movie which was originally shown on HBO. It was based on a true story.

I recently watched two movies--"The Iron Lady" and "My Week with Marilyn"--which both involved gifted actresses portraying real life, and familiar, and famous women. Unfortunately, despite these superb performances, I found neither film particularly revealing about the women portrayed, nor particularly engaging on a dramatic level, because both films essentially re-plowed the rather familiar ground of what was already known about these people.

Michelle Williams had a formidable task in trying to capture Marilyn Monroe, because, I think, she totally lacks the charisma, and sensuality, and vulnerably, and physical appeal, that made Monroe radiate on the screen. That Williams was able to create the illusion of having any of it, and was able to capture some of the personal complexities and ambiguities of this legend, is a testament to her skill and craft. On the other hand, I didn't, for a moment, believe that Kenneth Branagh was Sir Laurence Olivier. That one seemed too much of a stretch for me. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Judi Dench and Derek Jacobi in their supporting roles, both fine, as always. But there just wasn't enough that was new or revealing, or sufficiently interesting dramatically, to keep my attention from wandering during this movie.

I think Meryl Streep is just amazing. Her ability to morph into, and fully inhabit, any character she plays, is just astounding--and this film is no exception. She's helped by prosthetics, and make-up, and hair, but she really became Margaret Thatcher for me because of her art. With any other actress, I'm not sure I would have bothered watching this film--her performance dominates it. The film, which draws on the recollections of an already old, and somewhat demented, Thatcher, creates an emotionally moving and poignant picture of aging and loss, but, because of that format, it also presents Thatcher in a diminished light, as a greatly reduced figure, from the very beginning of this movie. I found that not entirely fair to Thatcher, regardless of what opinions one holds of her. Do her rise and accomplishments matter any the less because we are continually reminded she is headed for her eventual dotage?

Both of these films, despite the dramatic weaknesses of their scripts, are well made, and are well worth watching simply for the lead performances of both Williams and Streep, and the generally fine supporting cast in both movies.

You wrote,

I agree! She's one super actress. Some consider her the greatest living film actress.

Count me among that group.

Watched Tae Guk Gi about the Korean War made by Koreans. It has subtitles in English.
It proves how any culture can become their own worst enemy in the war against an enemy. "The enemy of my enemy is my best friend" is revealed by the conflicts within one country and one family where one can become a hero and an enemy depending on the circumstances of the moment. In this case, it's about two brothers where the older brother does everything to protect his younger brother from the war. The older brother wins the "Medal of Honor," but the younger brother sees his older brother chasing medals over everything else, and hates his brother's achievements in war.

You must watch the movie to appreciate the full story of the conflicts that this family experiences during that war.

The movie is almost 2.5 hours long, but worth every minute!

Agreed.The 2 disc DVD has been on my shelf for years.The Brotherhood Of War is a great movie!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386064/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1

Me too. Dirty Dancing is a top drawer "feel good" flick!

I just streamed the 1990 British version of the "House of Cards". Ian Richardson is simply magnificent as the sociopathic politician who will do just about anything to get what he wants. His facial expressions are wonderful. You can practically see into his soul with just a glance, or a slight smile.

I understand that Kevin Spacey is has done an updated version set in the U.S. That is next on my "must see" list. Dying to make comparisons.

Hi Phoenix,

Haven't seen you around for a while!

House of Cards - brilliant film, I agree. Didn't know there was a new version out - must try and see it when it's available on dvd.

Watched Seabiscuit again today. Wonderfully inspirational film about a horse that brought hope to a nation in the American Depression.

Watched "Unforgiven" with Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris, about three guys who kill a guy who disfigured a whore for a $500 bounty. Gene Hackman plays the tyrant brutal sheriff who rules the small town in Wyoming with an iron fist. I think I hit snooze land after 1AM.

I've been watching some old cowboy movies on VCR. I'll write down the names of the movie and the actors in a day or so.

When we were kids in Sacramento, a guy used to treat me to see cowboy movies on a regular basis. Must have seen hundreds of them over the years.

Still enjoy watching them.

Stranger Than Fiction with Will Ferrell


Awesome movie. Seriously cannot say enough how much I loved this movie.

I'm watching "99 Years of Love" produced by Toyota and Panasonic produced in Japan about Japanese Americans. The story begins with a boy coming to the US on a ship to find work and start a new life in the early 20th century. It was the period when the US government limited Japanese immigration to the US, and the Japanese were hated by the caucasians in and around Seattle, and treated badly.

It's fictional, but it sort of combines the story of many Japanese families who came to the US, and started out working on farms as laborers. The story concludes when one surviving son welcomes back her sister who was sent to Japan just before the war. It's a pretty well done story.

It's a rather long movie - with five discs. I'm not sure if you can watch it for free by searching the net.

I also liked that movie. Dressing Brosnan in a slightly too small jacket made him look down on his luck. Again, late to this thread but love films.

I try to catch Munich every time it comes on cable. Never get tired of it.

I saw Behind The Candelabra, the HBO movie about Liberace and his much, much younger lover, Scott Thorson. Michael Douglas as Liberace, and Matt Damon as Thorson, both deliver simply great performances--they're fantastic! Douglas, in particular, is amazing in the way he is able to capture Liberace without being overly campy or cliché. And so is a great supporting cast that includes Rob Lowe, Debbie Reynolds, and Dan Aykroyd.

It's a very good, very well made movie, that manages to embrace both comedic touches and the dark side of human nature. I'd give it 2 thumbs up.

Speaking of never tiring, I have been watching and rewatching a couple of PBS offerings: Secrets of the viking Sword and a program about Neanderthal DNA. The shows are so fascinating, I don't care how many times I see them, particularly when the blacksmith pulls the sword out of the oil in which he quenched it.

I liked the Liberace story also. Douglas did a phantastic job, he made Liberace a person and not a cartoon.

Thanks for sharing that trailer. I'm an admirer of both Douglas and Damon.