FILMS to watch: Recommendations

[Tigger]

FOOLS GOLD: Comedy - Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson...
Modern day treasure hunt set in the Caribbean (where else) with a (as always) love interest angle. Matthew who has a good bod seems to have it written in his contract that he MUST expose his chest at every oppo - bit overdone maybe. Good film actually. (12.)

CASHBACK: Whimsical (and norty) day dreams... being replugged at the mo by Michele Ryan (ex-Eastenders.... and ex-Bionic Woman). Had this film a couple of years . Never actually released in the UK - now has a sponsor and it should be in the cinemas (or DVD) pretty soon. A guy gets a job in a supermarket as a night stacker and daydreams that time stands still - especially with one female co-worker. A very warm glow type of fil really - softie ending. Dont know if there is gonna be two versions of this film - one for the pictures and one for DVD as it is a tad norty (and NO.. it wasn't obtained for that reason...lol). (18.)

GONE BABY GONE: This is more of a cops vs cops film... but has a great little twist near the end. Out in America last year - but only just out in the Cinema's in th UK (due to 'similarities' - not really - to the McCann nightmare)

IN BRUGES: with Colin Farrell, Bredan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. Farrell loves this films - as he gets chance to swear like a Trooper.. and then some. Its a macabre but very funny film - bit slow in parts.. but thats to create the atmosphere.

SYDNEY WHITE: Wellllllllll... its sort of like 'Enchanted' but Sydney (Snow) White is VERY modern and (again) very American (set in 'freshman year'). A few good laughs - ideal for the very young female teens.

SHUTTER: This could spook you... from the same guy who brought you 'The Ring' and 'The Grudge' just about says it all. Just give those sweet little photographs a closer look - but not TOO close mind.

NIMS ISLAND: Jodie Foster has aged a tad... but I would lay a table for her anytime . The backdrops in the film are sometimes a little surrealistic and the a lot of the sub plots tend to fizzle out when you expect a little more, but on the whole this is a nice easy going film. And suitable for 9 to 90 year olds.

SUPERHERO The Movie: A couple of the visual and verbal jokes are a bit lame - almost boring.. but on the whole this is (nearly) a laugh a minute film.. plenty of slapstick comedy... and watch out whats going on in the background.. which is even funnier.

AUGUST RUSH: I predicted the end of this film within 20 minutes of it starting - what I didn't predict was the roller coaster ride of emotions that I would feel whilst getting to that beautiful ending -for softies everywhere.. WATCH IT.

[Tigger]

STEP UP 2:... Finally.... I got around to watching this follow up to the much underrated Step Up. Whilst the music is sound and the dancing is pretty good I couldn't help but thinking I'm watching a sort of High School Musical - The Next Generation. There was no real buzz there. The film was full of clichés and deja vu's which is a pity 'cos the acting is a little better in 2. The kids will love it though.

[bluejohn]

go on google video and watch loose change (final cut) . i guarantee your outllook on life will change forever. also watch (police state!,2 and 3 also matrix of evil all by alex jones who is a true american patriot)

[Tigger]

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT.... phewwwwwww!!... I reckon they might give Heath Ledger an Oscar out of RIP sympathy... but they would be quite wrong... 'cos this guy deserves the Oscar simply because his role in this film is breathtaking. Brilliant. This is one of those films that actually lives up to the 'hype'. Stranger is the fact that the film before this - Batman Begins also lived up to the hype. This hasn't happened since the 'Superman' films. The film does tend to jump from scene to scene... and could leave one or two scrating their heads. 11/10 - its that good.... as far as I'm concerned.

[lin]

HI TIGGER..I HEARD HOW GOOD THE FILM WAS FROM A FIREND, BUT THEY ALSO SAID IT WAS TOO LONG, AND THE BATMAN WAS THE SCARIEST THEY'D EVER SEEN.. ;D ;D ;D

[Tigger]

Hi Lin,
Lengthy... yep.. around 2.5 hours., but this time around my eyes never left the screen - didn't want to miss anything!!.
As for the 'scary'.. depends on ones own personal definition. But for those thinking its might be like the 'old' Batman movies - forget it.. realistic is a word that comes to mind.
Spend a fiver and make your own mind up - thats the best way.

[marie fernandes]

hI Tigger,
Hoping to see Heath Ledger in his last film tomorrow. Seen all his films up to now and have been a fan from the start. Great actor but all the characters he played in his films were very intense. I never got interested in all the other Batman films - my children loved them but I found them hammy like the comic books. I am only going to see Heath Ledger so I hope I wont be too disappointed. When I saw him in "Ned Kelly" he reminded me of my 25yr old grandson so I had a soft spot for him from the start, although it was a very sad and depressing film. This will be the first time I have been to the cinema in years as films I have watched have either been on TV or DVD so we might even stretch to some pop-corn tomorrow.

marie

[Tigger]

Hi Marie,
I agree. A fine actor indeed. Strange isn't that the film that brought him more to the public eye was 'A Knights Tale' and his last film 'The Dark Knight' had a quite obvious connection.
Ned Kelly - brilliant film.. and may I add one that gave a truer insight into the 'outlaw', though Mick Jaggers portrayal was a close(ish) second. A sad loss to a lot of people.

[june]

never been into Batman , my sons wen't to see this the other day youngest son thought it was very good ,hope you enjoy it Marie

[marie fernandes]

Made it to the cinema for 7pm came out at 10pm. A long time to sit upright in one place, but the film was good. We were both on back row, incidentally marked DISABLED so I had lots of room to put the crutches at the side. iT was very noisy and quite violent, but I managed to enjoy it. Suprised no interval like there used to be with the ice cream lady coming around. Now you buy all your sweets,drinks etc. when you get your ticket. TIGGER mentioned a fiver our tickets were £6.50 each, perhaps we should have gone on an OAP day!!

Anyway I enjoyed Heath Ledger's portrayal of the JOKER albeit weird and scary. There were a few moments when I had to bury my face in hubbies arm to miss some of the grizzly bits of killing and I am usually the one in the family who is not scared of horror films, blood and gore etc. But something about the shock tactics of this pyscho Joker seemed so evil.

I didnt see the cast names, Tigger, but was that Garry Oldman playing the detective? Ive seen him as Frankenstein in a film, his off screen mother has a part in Eastenders, but I dont watch Eastenders. Glad I went anyway, I dont know how long it will be before I visit the cinema again, one thing I didnt like was queueing to get in. I will book online if I go again.

marie.

[Tigger]

Hi Marie...

Is there not a 'showcase' cinema at Pilsworth... £6.50 sounds rather steep. I know 'evening' sessions are usually a little dearer.... but six and a half quid... AND as you say... no interval (yeah.... I remember those two reeler films.... days of yore)

...and yep... Gary Oldman was the Detective - brill actor

[lin]

Can anyone remember a film that was on tv in early 1970's?

I can't remember who starred in it now, or what is was called...but it was about a newspaper reporter who wanted to go to prison and experience what it was like, so he could do a write up about it for the papers.

He was to go in and none of the inmates were to know why he was really in there so he had to be treated like the rest of them by the prison wardens etc...

Anyway its a long story but to cut it short as I can...it was done so good that he even went on death row...when it came to him going in the electric chair and the bag going over his head he was fine, they actually pulled the switch but there was obviously no power on...but he actually died in the chair of a heart attack.
Was a really good film.

[june]

can't remember that one lin will ask Ray when he comes in ..

have seen Mama Mia film ,thought it was great..also seen the musical of it at the Palace theatre last year brill ,dancing in the isle's ;D

[lin]

HI JUNE..YES I HEARD MAMA MIA WAS GOOD...THAT FILM WE ONLY EVER SEEN ONCE, BUT IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS I HAD EVER SEEN, ESPECIALLY FOR BACK THEN,

[Tigger]

Hi Lin,

It wasn't a film... but the final chapter of an 8 part mini TV series called "Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected" . The show dates from 1977.

A reporter goes into prison to see what it is like on death row. The Governor is the only one who knows he is not guilty of anything but the Governor 'dies' (or does he). They eventually put the reporter in the electric chair with a sack over his head, and at the last minute remove the sack and ask him what it felt like to really believe he was going to die - only to discover he had died of fright.

Just found this....

"Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected" . 'The Final Chapter' featuring Roy Thinnes as a reporter who is steadfastly opposed to the death penalty. A plan is hatched between Thinnes and a prison official to allow him to go undercover on death row as an inmate. While there though, a guard who knows who Thinnes really is (and bears a grudge against him) switches his prison uniform so that the reporter's clothes now bear the number of an inmate set to be electrocuted. In what must be the performance of his career Thinnes is absolutely "electrifying" as he desperately tries to get everyone to realize the mistake that's been made- but of course, who would believe the ravings of a death row inmate, right? So, he is dragged out of his cell kicking and screaming like an animal and strapped into the awaiting chair. Every single second of this heart pounding struggle is riveting to watch, right to the black cloth mask being placed over his face and the switch being thrown and then prison officials and the guard who set him up step out from behind the scenes. They inform Thinnes that this has all been concocted to show him what a condemned man really goes through. They're all opposed to capital punishment and want him to continue in is crusade to end the death penalty. The conniving guard is even the one who unties the straps. But when he removes the death mask, in an absolutely bone chilling moment of revelation the guard finds himself looking into the staring, lifeless eyes of a corpse. Trauma has caused the reporter to die of fright.

[lin]

THAT SOUNDS A BIT LIKE IT BUT THE GOVERNER DIDN'T DIE, AND THEY ACTUALLY PULLED THE SWITCH BUT THERE WAS NO POWER ON AS HE HEARD THE SWITCH HE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK....THE ONE I SEEN WASN'T A MINI SERIES THOUGH...I KNOW COS I USED TO ALWAYS WATCH TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED...

[Tigger]

Sorry that I didn't know the story word for word - scene for scene. I'm not as good as some people remembering things or looking them up (which I did for this) - reckon I'll let someone else answer next time 'eh.. ;D

As soon as I read that it was Roy Thinnes who played the reporting I remembered that I too watched it... but it seems this is not the same one as the one you watched... spoooooooooky.

[lin]

HI TIGGER..THANKS FOR THIS, NO ITS NOT EXACTLY THE SAME..SPOOKY THOUGH. WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS?

[Tigger]

Hi Lin,

I found the information on the computer. I'm lucky to have the same facilities/search engines as all the members on this site.
Just type in key words and then sift through the given information.
Its always handy during discussions that one can back up a point made with factual information. Whever people choose to use/accept that information is entirely up to them.

[lin]

HI TIGGER...I KNOW HOW TO SEARCH ;D ;D I JUST WONDERED IF YOU HAD THE LINK I COULD GO TO...I ALSO FOUND SOME INFO BUT NOT WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR.

[Tigger]

Hmmm...

Now fellahs dont seem to have this problem... ..

ok... key words to watch out for are.....

Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected

[Tigger sighs and thinks....] .. ;D

Lin, there are so many links to this particualr subject, a lot being odd bits of info about either one or two of the episodes in the mini series.... use the key words (just cut 'n paste to Google) and you can see 'em all.

[lin]

TIGGER..DUH!!! I KNOW THIS, AND DONE THIS..BUT ITS NOT THE ONE I AM TALKING ABOUT...CAN'T SEARCH FOR THAT ONE UNLESS I KNOW THE TITLE ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D WHY FOR MEN NO LISTEN ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Tigger]

Blimey woman!!!!!!....

some more keys words.....REPORTER-ELECTRIC CHAIR-FILM-INNOCENT........ aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

[lin]

DON'T NEED ANYMORE WORDS, BEEN THROUGH THE DARN ALPHABET...BEGINNING TO FEEL SORRY I EVEN BOTHERED ;D ;D ;D; D ;D YOU CAN'T TELL ME ANYTHING THAT I'VE NOT ALREADY TYPED IN...I GET THE ONE YOU ARE ON ABOUT..BUT NOWT ELSE, SO FORGET IT ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Tigger]

WHAT!!... you have given up...already..

I take it you have gone through it systamatically then.... starting with key words.... can you remember if the film was in colour or black and white... can you remember what TV Channel it was on (was there any adverts)... was it a 'film' as in cinema or a tv film (was it introduced - a'la Hitchc*cks half hour shows...or the Twighlight Zone).......

[lin]

NO ADVERTS AND IN COLOUR..I THINK IT WAS A FILM FOR TV I THINK.....IT WAS NOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH HITc*ck OR TWILIGHT ZONE, IF IT HAD OF BEEN I WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT IT WAS COS I WAS A BIG FAN OF WATCHING THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

[Tigger]

Lin,

Not saying for positive but I reckon the 'QM' series film 'The Final Chapter' is indeed the film you watched - everything coincides. There was two (cinema) films films out in the 1930's and 1950's which the tv film was based on ('The Man Who Died'/ 'Beyond A Reasonable Doubt')... but these were in black and white. As far as I am aware, looking through film listings, they have not been shown on UK tv.

There is also no connection between Roahld Dahl's and Quinn Martins 'Tales of the unexpected' though some people do get confused (especially as the QM one consisted of only eight 'films')

Here is the link for the theme music and opening (the text was not for The Final Chapter')

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqWoxzPgo1A

[lin]

TIGGERROG BEEN ASKING AROUND AT WORK TODAY, PPL KNOW WHICH ONE WE ARE ON ABOUT BUT ITS NOT THE SAME ONE...FOR A START THEY ALL AGREE IT WAS VERY EARLY 1970'S CERTAINLY WAS NOT 1977 BECAUSE WE WERE LIVING SOMEWHERE ELSE WHEN WE SEEN IT, AND WE DIDN'T MOVE HERE UNTIL 1977.

I KNOW THE LINK COS I HAVE ALREADY BEEN ON IT THANKS...I AM THE BIGGEST FAN OF ANYTHING WITH A TWIST TO IT, OR ANYTHING SPOOKY ;D ;D LOOKED UP THE PHOTOS OF ROY THINNES, AND IT WAS NOT HIM WHO WE SEEN IN THE FILM..WE CALLED UP ITV HERE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT COULD BE..SAID THEY WERE CERTAIN IT WAS NOT ON AN ITV CHANNEL, WE TRIED THE BBC AND THEY CAN'T GIVE US AN ANSWER EITHER..BUT I KNOW THERE WERE NO ADVERTS.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS FILM, I'VE HAD IT NOW, GOT TOO MANY OTHER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT ;D ;D ;D

[Tigger]

Hi Lin..

Not knowing a films name is nowt to worry about... double spooky with this one is the fact that Quinn Martin actually died on Saturday just gone.....

[lin]

HI TIGGER....DID HE REALLY? HOW SPOOKY IS THAT? I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ON THE NEWS.