The movie I just saw

I saw the new version of Romeo & Juliet. It is a modernized version of the classic tale. I must confess that I usually prefer the stage version for Shakespeare. But, nonetheless, I kept an open mind and thought this was well done. Very violent, more so than I think Shakespeare had in mind. There also were some parts that did not adapt well to being modernized. In particular, Juliet's father and mother did not seem to be very good parents. So, I thought the words at the end "All are punished!" hardly made any sense. I also felt the symbolism of the water was over done. I did like the image of the false stage on the beach where Mercutio is killed. I also thought the death scene was very effective. I would recommend this movie for people who know this play and don't mind seeing it done differently. My sister in law who is a theater professor really HATED this movie.

Last year it was Jane Austen, this year Shakespeare, what classic writer is in the on deck circle for next year?

Wait a sec...Romeo and Juliet DIE? Oh, thanks for ruining it for everyone!

Next time, how about a 'spoiler alert'?

I just saw Still Breathing Saturday: STILL BREATHING TO CLOSE SXSW FILM FESTIVAL AUSTIN, TEXAS, FEBRUARY 1997 -- The SXSW (South By Southwest) Film Festival announced today that it has chosen STILL BREATHING for the closing night of its third annual event. The picture will screen on March 15th at the Paramount Theatre in Austin. Brendan Fraser (Disney's upcoming GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE) and Joanna Going (Fox's INVENTING THE ABBOTS) head the cast of the magical romance, which will have its world premiere at the SXSW Fest. Also starring in the ZapPictures production are Ann Magnuson, Toby Huss, Angus MacFadyen, Lou Rawls, Paolo Seganti, Michael McKean, and Academy Award� winner Celeste Holm. The film is by first-time writer-director James F. Robinson and is produced by Marshall Persinger. "We are delighted to have STILL BREATHING close our festival," notes director Nancy Schafer. "Since the film was made principally in Texas, it makes a wonderful closing piece." "We love the idea of having our world premiere in Texas at SXSW, and are honored to occupy the same spot that LONE STAR held last year," said Robinson. "The festival provides a rich forum for independant filmmakers and showcases the terrific city of Austin." STILL BREATHING is a lyrical, modern romance about a hopelessly romantic Texas street performer (Fraser) who has a vision of his true love and sets out to find her... only she turns out to be a tough LA con artist (Going) who believes he's her next "mark." STILL BREATHING was recently acquired by Lakeshore International for foreign distribution. Domestic rights are available at this time.

I see you covered *spoiler alerts* months ago in this topic! (see Still Breathing)! Sorry! That IS pretty funny, tho, joshd--like your style.

There's a schedule of upcoming showings of Still Breathing on their website at http://www.stillbreathing.com .

Well, unless I'm going to be in Seattle (wouldn't THAT be nice) or Nantucket (insert your favorite limerick here), I'm fresh outta luck!

On the other hand, what a totally cool web site! Thanks terry. I almost forgive your anti-Jerry Lewis antics!

Whew, I ducked out of that one.

But now I'm getting confused, running between the Still Breathing topic, which isn't anymore, and What I Just Saw, which is! So the last movie I saw was Liar Liar and now you're all laughing at me and you think I really DO like Jerry Lewis. I thought Liar was pretty funny anyway so there! Hope to see Grosse Pointe Blank and...well now my mind's a blank...I'll tell you Monday if I actually made it to any movin pitcher shows. Actually I guess the last movie I saw was Road to Bali on AMC. Those road mov es are such a tonic! Any recommendations among the current releases? I just heard they're re-releasing Das Boot with an extra HOUR of footage. I might go see that!

You mean Still Breathing isn't still breathing. Yikes!

it seems to have metastisized and metamorphisized...we have this effect on topics, terry....

I wish I had more time to promote the Spring, I know how I could get lots of folks here, I just don't have the time with my work and commute schedule.

I know I'm telling everyone in my little circle about my fabulous new home-away-from-home! I'm just enjoying the heck out of it!! I noticed there is an Austen retired toipics...do you do that for some of these when they switch like this? Just a thought--retire it and change its name or something? (Let me barge in late and run the show!)

We can "retire" topics and even bring them "out of retirement" with this here yapp topic.

friday evening is saw AIR FORCE ONE, with many flights of fancy, even for a movie about one of the high-tech planes for the president. it was entertaining fare, for almost anyone. very well played, the villain seems to have had more lines than the lead good guy, the pres. all in all, it was eminently worth watching, strictly for the action, for the suspense and for the fine acting by all players. it is worth a trip to the movies.

On friday opening day i went to see SPAWN. The computer graphics were great and it was an all around good movie. The charicters were well played. The actor that played spawn played him very well. This movie is pretty much like a modern batman movie exept 4 times better. So if you like action movies you will like this one because it is non stop action. Personally i give this movie 2 thumbs up and i think it is definatley worth seeing more than once.

You don'thave any more thumbs to give right? I've read quite a few other good reviews of Spawn. It seems like there's a plethora of sci fi movies out now.

Better late than never? I recommend Contact, and I won't give anything away, guys. But it is a fine sci fi movie, NOT an action-adventure sci-fi melange like so many movies. It makes you think and that's wonderful. Anybody seen "Mrs. Brown?" I missed it at my local cinema and I'm so upset!

Another Dollar Movie Night: Spawn. Eh. It was okay for a buck seventy-five. The best part was I won a free game in the ritual post movie pinball game!

What's the best sci fi movie you've seen this year?

Contact was good, I struggle to think of any other sci-fi s I've seen. You?

I'd have to agree with Contact, I've only gone out to 2-3 movies in the last few months. And I haven't seen any other sci fi movies.

The Devil's Advocate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A must see. Al Pacino is amazing, excellent storyline and fabulous acting all around that made me forget I wasn't watching real life unfold. The THX and great theatre probably helped. Another first run movie! Two in a couple of months -- a definite first.

Siskel and Ebert gave it a mixed review, but generally they liked it. They said Keanu Reeves was excellent.

For the first time, I also thought Keanu Reeves was excellent.

They said that everyone else in the movie had to struggle to come up to his level. Are you going to see/or have you seen "Seven Years in Tibet" yet? *That's* the movie I want to see and talk about. I caught some of Richard Gere's comments and he's out making an impassioned plea for the oppression being suffered by the dissidents at Tianman Square. We talked about this some in another topic, it might have been in the 'spirit' conference.

nope. not yet.

Another $ theatre day. Sunday, when we finally dug out from under our not-so-warm blanet o' powdery white stuff, we headed to Bear Valley to see Conspiracy Theory. I liked it. I have never seen Mel Gibson in the light he put himself in in this movie. Suspense, comedy and of course, conspiracy! AND I won another free game of pinball!

Check out the Ann Bronte movie on PBS tonight, if you can, it will give us something to talk about!

no tv.

Another $ theatre night -- Saturday on the wrong side o' town. We saw "Event Horizon". A freaky cross between Alien and Hellraiser.

Oh and I of course whipped up at pinball and matched for a free game!

Whup 'em up, baybeeee!

GATTACA! A must see. Visually pleasing, emotionally uplifting and gut wrenching plus a really groovy sci-fi/humanitarian plot. Lookit me, going to the first run movies!

Wow. A firstrunner.

Look at her.

No pinball machines at the first run theatres though. *sigh*

Depends on which first-runners one frequents (we have 'em in ours)... Friday night, took my daughter and a friend to see "I know What You Did Last Summer"- appealed to all of my baser adolescent instincts (I loved it). And it was better than "Scream"- which I also loved (what can I say, I'm emotionally stunted)...Last night, my daughter and I watched "Anne of Green Gables" (the 1985, Megan Follows version) for the 117th time (fav. scenes- Anne's initial buggy ride with Matthew Cuthbert, through "the avenue", and past the "Lake of Shining Waters"; and the scene with she and Marilla, after Anne had dyed her hair green). Tonight we'll watch "Anne of Avonlea" (for the 117th time, as well). Have to admit, the final scene- where Anne and Gilbert FINALLY get together- always sort of gets to me...

Thank you for showing us your tender side... I feel trusted, special, warm and fuzzy. Okay, maybe not fuzzy.

*sigh* Guess I'm easily manipulated (treasure some special Flintstone's moments, too)...

women (young and old) usually have some talent in that area.

Quite true. And by the time my daughter begins dating (probably another twelve or fifteen years from now), she will have mastered the art...

Just saw... Boogie Nights. Bizarre. Tarantino-esque. I enjoyed it. AND last night I went to a re-release of the Little Mermaid. WER, you HAVE to take your daughter. It is such an excellent film. The music is fantastic and the characters hysterical.

Hey gud? Where'd your nickname come from?

Starship Troopers! Woo WOO! Great flick albeit EXTREMELY graphic. I loved the big huge, plasma hurling beetle bugs! And some truly freaky bug stampede shots. I am proud to say that I watched the entire movie without putting my hands in front of my face (as a shield). I did however, yell out once or twice. Action, cheesy feel-good and GREAT effects! A movie to please both the chick flick lover and hardened adventure critic! While at the theatre we discussed the WORST movie of 1997 (because there were no pinball machines) and came up with SCREAM, ANACONDA and VOLCANO. Any comments from the peanut gallery??

You didn't cover your eyes for the shower scenes?

nope.

Just as I thought.

Taking my kids to see "Starship Troopers" tonight, probably (assuming, of course, it is showing in a pinball-accessible theater)... Sigh. Have received most undeserved flak from friends due to the fact that I LIKED "Scream" (esp. value Drew Barrymore's potential as brunette)...It was supposed to be stupid-it was intended as camp, and certainly succeeded on that level, I thought... Worst movie of "97 (if it was released this year- I think it was) would for me be "Little Rascals"...Having kids compels me to watch these films, and usually they're watchable, but it was as if the makers of this film didn't even try...

Oh good! You are plugged into yet another genre than I! Did you happen to see GOOD BURGER. Sounds like bad movie potential...

Uhh...what? (haven't seen "Good Burger", definitely seems bad, though)

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've just seen the most amazing film of my life, and I had to log on to share it with you! "Planet of the Apes" - wowwweeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!! Perfectly written, beautifully presented, and with the sort of story that makes you want to scream - it's probably the most profound film I have ever seen. If you haven't seen it, then rent it immediately. If you have - tell me what *you* thought of it.

I never saw the movie, but it was certainly a very interesting, thought-provoking novella.

Yeah, I imagine it was a good book. The movie is unbelievable - the scenery is out of this world. I think the whole story has a lot to teach us!

Yeah, it's one of those thinly veiled allegories of life, like Animal Farm and Adventures of Huck Finn.

Do you think that allegories contained within films make them more interesting/intriguing than more standard films?

Definitely more interesting--but not necessarily more entertaining! Sometimes I don't want to work that hard for a movie; I just want a good laugh or a whodunit. I save my cerebral energy for books.

Yeah...I'm generally the same. I often like to watch non-demanding movies (say, Action Films!!) and then spend my time hassling through books. However, I often find that I can't actually read the "classics" of literature - I'm struggling through Catch 22 at the moment, and I'm finding it a terrible drag. I may rent the film and see what that's like - at least then I'll have some basis for reading the book again. One film that did NOT make the translation from book to movie, though, was 2001. Neither did 2010 IMHO, but it was better than 2001!!

I saw about 1/2 hour of 2001 on TV and was too bewildered to watch anymore. It's hard to get interested when you have no clue what you're watching means. About Catch 22--it was such a scream!! I was working a college internship where they had nothing for me to do, so I would read every day. The day I brought that book I was constantly howling with laughter; at one point I had tears rolling down my cheeks. My boss thought I was a total flake.

Hehehe...some parts of it have been funny, although I'm not that far in. I'm finding it very hard to get to grips with, though. It seems to be thrashing around without a basis for a story at the moment, and without any reason for what's going on...I need a book to have a point, and a direction. About 2001 - get the book, it really is wonderful. 2010 is a great book too :)

that's kind of the point with Catch 22- and there is no reason for what's going on, which is kind of the point, too (hmmm...could've been a little clearer there)... I enjoyed it a lot, too... really disappointed with Heller's later stuff, though... re: "2001"- I thought it was great...thought the opening sequence was astonishing... to this day don't know what it all is supposed to mean (not sure Kubrick knows, either), but it was an extremely well-made, challenging piece of work... don't think you can rea ly approach it as a (per se) film, though... sometimes, you've just gotta do what wm. hurt said, just "let art wash over you"...(of course, he was kidding when he said it)...

Ack! It seems like Catch 22 is going to be very hard for me to read :) No matter - it took me about three months to read "Far from the Madding Crowd", when normally a book of that size would take me a day or so at the most :)

Now that's one I could never get more that a few pages into. I did force myself to finish "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" though I'm not sure I'm a better person for it.

Hahahah!! *smile* That's often the feeling I get from classic books - I've read it, and I can tell people that I've read it, but did it really mean anything to me?

don't know that Hardy really enjoyed writing novels (because if he did, that sense did not translate)... actually seemed more polemics than literature (though the tragedy of "Tess..." is an enduring one, and there's much to recommend "Jude the Obscure", as well)... his poetry is quite fine, though, very accessible, and filled with genuine feeling... and yeah, very often "classic books" require a great deal of effort... sometimes (Joyce's Ulysses, for ex.) it is energy well-spent... others (anything by Fenimore Cooper, to use a safe example) it is energy depleting...

Wow! Blast from the past with the Planet of the Apes. I enjoyed it many a year ago... Just saw G.I. Jane (dollar theatre heydey with free games by the pinball master!!!) Fairly good movie. Entertaining and a bit involving. No Starship Troopers though!!

Can't say I fancy Demi Moore as a SEAL, myself :)

I just saw the 'Full Monty' ... recommended!

Very much so - a very good film, although a few too many naked blokes for my liking *grin*

Another cheap movie night... but we got there between showings and ended up playing pinball for 2 hours missing the next set of movies!

haha...nice one :)) Oh well, I guess it was still a good night out. I'm having trouble going to the movies these days, as the cinemas around here are either rubbish (awful screen and sound system), or ridiculously expensive (i.e. 5UKP and up) :/

went to see Flubber and Mr. Bean. Both had their (very) funny moments, but Bean just did his usual routines only in movie format. What can I say about Flubber? Loved it. Actually was howling with laughter there for a while. Think we have discovered the new "in" toy (slime will have to be a bit thicker). Want to watch the Titanic, but am worried a bit about being stuck in the theatre for 3 hours.

I didn't bother going to see Bean - the first couple of TV shows were great, but after that it was very boring. Tell us about Flubber, Wolf?

my fav. bean scene is the swimming pool with the high dive! Flubber: well, Robin Williams is great. Can't remember what the original story line was (The Absent Minded Professor), but it was just a plain fun movie. Showtime was just packed. The little flubber dudes were what helped the movie and the fact that Robin is such a good actor. A lot of work had to go into the interaction with the flubber and the actors. Not really a movie for little kids, but third graders and up would get a kick out of it.

watching "the maltese falcon"... now THAT'S a great movie...

I'm hopefully going to be seeing Tomorrow Never Dies, the new bond movie sometime soon!

Cheap, Fast and Out of Control!

Well??

It was great. To talk about what's in it would kind of be a spoiler. I loved the way you can make your own connections in this movie and the parallelisms. Definitely worth seeing.

(ya'll don't jump on me) but, who's in it?

At this time of year, I watch Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story. Anybody else take part in traditional movie-watching?

Speaking of Christmas, check out our http://www.childrenstory.com Christmas story section and let me know what you think of Katrina's reading of the "night before christmas"? ok? Who's in Cheap, Fast and Out of Control? Just some extraordinary folks, not actors. It's a movie about ideas. The four principles are totally absorbed in their passons to the extent that nothing else matters. Animals are plants, wild is tame, etc. there are so many parallels and contradictions. It gets to the very heart of what it means for something to be what it is.

More pinball!! Racking up the free games in Phoenix this weekend!!! No movies... but the two are inextricably related in my mind!

quite so...

hey you!

Wolf, it's not officially Xmas if I haven't seen the Grinch like 10 times.

and heat meizer, cold meizer (or however the heck you spell it)

headin' to the cheap flicks tonight. All alone and can't bear the shopping extravaganzas!

Didja have fun? How was da pinball?

Ah HA! Haven't gone yet. Wanted to check in once more to say, "hi!" and give you a hard time.

I suppose I'm to say something like, "But I'm supposed to do that to you!", right?

Of course I was 'spectin' you to get the extra added meaning! No movie though. Wrapped presents and sent cards. Found out I'll be living solo for one MORE night so I wanted to get the mundane stuff outta the way and maybe get out and about tonight.

If anybody ventures out tonight to see the Titanic, let me know if it's worth it or should I wait for video......thanks in advance, ya'll

i think everyone dies at the end, or something (downer)

Thank you for spoiling it for me (sheesh)-just wanted to hear about the movie, afterall, it took 3 years to make.........

sorry

(for some reason, i think you rather enjoy spoiling it for everybody *grin*)

you have discerned the heart of the matter

yeah, am real perceptive today (ha)

i'm somewhat perceptive, but trust that to diminish, as the day wears on... (can still distinguish shapes, colors, etc...)

sorry, but gotta go. might be back later......you?

doubtful have a good evening don't talk to strangers etc... (seeya)

If you're gonna put out a spoiler, put out a spooiler alert in advance if you care to do so. Like this *** spoiler alert **** The butler did it.

Do we really need a spoiler alert for the Titanic?? Certain death is a foregone conclusion...

So how was the movie? Anybody see Titanic yesterday? (Besides the well known fact that everybody dies in the end)

My husband, his sister and his niece went. He's a big historian, so he wanted to see technical stuff. However, he was disappointed that it was just a love story that employed every stereotype imaginable. He did report many tears from the female contingent, though.

hey, thanks, Autumn. Will wait for video so I can bawl at me leisure ;)

Isn't there some other sappy film out right now? You can wait and rent them both and have a sobfest.

saw Air Force One. enjoyed it. certainly worth $1.75 However, while at my parents' abode, I watched Mighty Aphrodite. A Woody Allen flick WELL worth the time and cost of a movie rental. Hell, I woulda paid full price!

though i love both woody AND mira, have yet to see that film (go figure)... fixing to see "everyone says i love you", however, in just a few minutes... watched "emma" (the gwynneth paltrow vehicle, not the a&e) tonight, with my daughter, and found it WONDERFUL, enough to induce even me to want to read it... taped aforementioned a&e version when it premiered, but have yet to watch it... after seeing paltrow's performance, though, it is difficult to imagine anyone else in the role, even kate beckinsdale (msp., i'm sure), who is a fine actress (esp. excellant in "cold comfort farm")...

everyone says i love you was good. Cold Comfort Farm was mighty interesting (I enjoyed it) "Thars something in the woodshed..."

watching "mighty aphrodite" tonight... my appetite for woody is whetted, now, and i'll probably deplete my library this weekend... "everyone says i love you" was far better than i expected (and far better than many critics led me to believe)... the music was interesting, though the seams did occasionally show, but i respect woody for attempting it... highlights for me ranged from the grotesque and fascinating (the dance of the spirits, in the funeral home, which i also found uproarious) to the stylishly funny (the dancing grouchos, performing "hooray for captain spaulding, en francais, was inspired) to the sweetly beautiful (every re dition of gus kahn's "i'm through with love"). also had moments of profundity- woody has finally ascertained the root of one of the ages most perplexing mysteries (political conservatism has it's origins in blocked arteries, you know... always assumed it was spastic colon, maybe, or gas, but that never occurred to me)...

Nick, it starts innocently enought with "Emma"...next thing you know, you're watching A&E's "Pride and Prejudice" and firthing away! By the way, I preferred Kate Beckinsdale to Gwyneth Paltrow's Emma. But I couldn't stand A&E's Knightly.

i shall watch kate's version at earliest opportunity, and report back... must tell you, i'd only seen paltrow before in "seven" (and was singularly unimpressed), and was prepared for 2 hours of sneering at her (NOT jane austen, mind you... paltrow... would like to be able to leave this conference alive)... but she won me over, early on... obviously i'm not an austen afficionado, but i thought this movie quite fine, especially compared to most of the drivel emanating from hollywood these days... i loved "s nse and sensibility", too (and more than "emma", for many reasons, not least among them emma thompson, easily one of the Hottest Babes on the Planet, you know), though to an austenite it probably would inevitably be found wanting... one (other) undeniable fact in favor of "sense and sensibility"- it induced my thirteen year old daughter to read jane austen (and that is achievement enough to justify any film)...

Hello! I rented STRICTLY BALLROOM last Sunday and I absolutely fell in love with it. I've watched it everyaday ever since. I have the video now and the soundtrack and all I do is watch the tape and listen to the soundtrack 24/7. Has anyone seen it? It's become one of my favorite movies of all time: It's right up there with Much Ado about Nothing and A Streetcar Named Desire. I've been trying to find Strictly Ballroom webpages or a Paul Mercurio (he's the actor/dancer in SB) webpage but I've found zip. All i've f und are reviews. Anyway, if no one has seen it, Go rent it! I've really come to love dance movies. I watched Shall We Dance a couple of months ago and I enjoyed it tremendously also. It was the best movie-going experience for me. I'm plannig to see The Tango Lesson. Also, I have to rent Dirty Dancing. Everything is dance, dance, dance for me!

That is very interesting--most people get on a jag where all they see is a certain actor (like Tom Cruise) or author (like Austen), but you have actually picked a theme! I like that idea! Let's see, there's "Last Tango in Paris", "Footloose", "Sat. Night Fever"...am running dry. Can anyone think of anymore?

That is very interesting--most people get on a jag where all they see is a certain actor (like Tom Cruise) or author (like Austen), but you have actually picked a theme! I like that idea! Let's see, there's "Last Tango in Paris", "Footloose", "Sat. Night Fever"...well is running dry. Can anyone think of any more?

"fame"... "flashdance"... "a chorus line"... "dancers"... actually seen none of these movies, nor any of those y'all mentioned, with the exception of "last tango...", which, really, is descriptive of another type of dance, i think...and could actually be better described as an "oleo-movie" (or "cineme margerine", as bertolucci himself might say)...

There was one about that Latin fad dance, what was it called? The, uh, Macarena. There was a C grade movie about this but it had great dance sequences. Dance of Love or something like that. I seem to remember taping it but can't find it in my tape collection. The best dancing I've seen was on Steve Winwoods music video "Higher Love" but of course this isn't a movie. Great theme!

oh, i have one, "dirty dancing".....went kinda nuts on this one by buying both soundtracks.....boy that patrick, he was tres bon....... did see flashdance and chorus line.......liked the first.......

Hey, I just got this message: Warning: a comment slipped in ahead of yours at 121! Ya beat me!

And then I got: Warning: a comment slipped in ahead of yours at 123!

Guess what? Right after I posted my first message I saw STRICTLY BALLROOM yet again. I swear I'm addicted to that movie. I don't think I'll ever get sick of it. I've come to the point where I watch it like a zombie. I just watch, nothing registers in my mind. Isn't that weird? I should move on to other movies. In addition to dance movies, I also like 80's brat pack movies like SIXTEEN CANDLES, THE BREAKFAST CLUB, PRETTY IN PINK, and more. They all have great soundtracks as well. I also just saw SAY ANYTHING, but I didn't like it as much as the previously mentioned films.

Better off Dead in that mix too, Alicia? Good 80's sound track as well......

great movie! Sorry I blew up your mom, Ricky.

Two Dollars!

I just saw THE TANGO LESSON. It's a very artsy film. It was nice to watch all the dancing. And enjoyed seeing some of Buenos Aires in the movie. I was born there and I haven't visited the place for 9 years. The film boasts of an awesome tango soundtrack.

Hey, Alicia, you really carry your love of a movie all over the conferences! Don't those tango sound tracks just make you want to go out dancing, tho? Anyway, to add to your list of things to rent, for 80's brat-pack stuff, how about "The Sure Thing"? And for dance movies, how about "All That Jazz"?

I for one am still waiting for "Higher Love-The Movie" starring Stevie Winwood.

Tango sounds sexy...am gonna look for that soundtrack *grin*

Tango has always been in my blood since I was born in Buenos Aires. I used to watch it on tv all the time but when I came to the US it was completely gone out of my life. I guess now that I've been seeing all these ballroom dance movies recently, it's re-kindled my passion for tango and dance in general. Unfortunately, I have two left feet so I can't dance but I enjoy immensely watching it. One of my favorite annual events is watching the Ballroom Championships on PBS. All this tango talk has really made me nostalgic for Argentina. I guess that's the reason I'm so enraptured with Strictly Ballroom and Shall We Dance? is because of Argentina. I'm getting too analytic here. I guess it's that psychology course I've been taking.

well nick? what did ya think about Mighty Aphrodite? Saw Money Talks at the cheapo theatre last night. Worth $1.75 for humor! Reminded me of some of my students... "Ms. Vura, that's TIGHT!"

"mighty aphrodite" was quite good... the aechylus stuff was a little distracting at first, but became funnier and funnier (i thought) as the film rolled on... and mira was tremendous... planning on seeing "bananas" and "play it again, sam" this weekend... what is "money talks"?

Can I comment, Ms. Vura, or should I just be quiet?

*smile* wer, even if I said 'no'... would it matter? *grin* Money Talks -- silly flick with Charlie Sheen and Chris somebody or another. Completely unfathomable in real life but deals with all the Hollywood topics like love, money and ridiculous coincidence. Saw Alien Ressurection last night. Good effects. Plot still lacking. No pinball *frown*

Can you start giving pinball ratings to movies you see? eg one pinball, two pinballs, ... five pinballs?

*grin* I'm too scattered and inconsistent to rate accurately against other films!

If you ever say, "no", I promise to do as you say.

Saw a nice little movie last night, "Unstrung Heroes," with Andie MacDowell, John Turturro and Seinfeld's "Kramer." It's about a young boy coming to terms with his family relationships during his mother's terminal illness, especially with his dad and his two dotty, certifiable (literally!) uncles. It is heartwarming, touching, funny and sad. It is a rare film that can make me laugh and cry! It is a very special movie.

I'll have to rent that now. I've seen the video several times, but never knew anything about it. Thanks.

Alicia, I am a Tango fan, am trying to learn to dance it, and have a great interest in Argentina. Do you know any news group or conference where tango is discussed?

I just rented Ghosts of Mississippi. Very good flick. (I'm a big time Whoopi fan)

Just saw "Live Flesh", a spanish film directed by Pedro Almodovar, based on an english mystery book by Ruth Rendell. FABULOUS!!!! Has anyone else seen it?

Not I...

No, first I've heard of it, pip. Sounds like something you'd rent at Vulcan Video or catch at the Dobie or Village (our local foreign flick outlets).

Watched Satyricon (Fellini film) and Donnie Brasco over the weekend. Two good and very different (from each other) movies. It had been awhile since I'd seen a Fellini film, but all the old memories came flooding back! And Al Pacino is just excellent. A week or two ago I took myself to Titanic. Rarely do I see first run flicks by myself but this was really calling me. And I throughly enjoyed and recommend it! BTW, Titanic surpassed ET in gross profits already and is catching (albeit not too closely) up to Star Wars!

means there should be a pinball game out soon...

Same here, Stacey, I just don't see many first runs, but Titanic was spellbinding.

i haven't seen it yet, boo hoo.....

Pip, I haven't seen/heard of that movie, but I'm a big fan of Ruth Rendell's writing...you? "Anna's Book" was my favorite (written under pseudonym Barbara Vine)

Just saw Michael...really liked it......

hey... are you there?

yes........

you okay?

hmmm....you?

(do you have java?)

jest tarred...

me too, stressed.......wanna talk? or?

didn't i tell you that story? about kirt the computer geek screwing up my computer and all? well, he still hasn't fixed it... and last week, he bought an old winnebego, and painted it comouflage colors (with the words "desert storm war wagon" emblazoned on the sides), and departed for washington, d.c... (to singlehandedly teach 'em a thing or two, you understand)... so, prospects aren't looking good...

sure... whattaya wanta talk about?

yes, i remember that....probably see him on the highway when i go to VA next week.......

what's been going on? (forgive me?)

(he'll be the guy with his arms wrapped tautly about himself- in a strait-jacket, you know... oh, and he'll be wearing a pocket-protector)...

nice touch

*grin*

just working a bunch... writing when i can... (working on something substantial, kinda)... very little time for social stuff (though it is quality time, must say)... (fergit it... nothing to forgive) have you been like talking (TALKING-talking) to gypsy?

yeah, we share tips on webpages and stuff, why?

just wondered... she's sort of flipping out on me, you know... my fault, of course... rather at a loss re: how to handle it...

re: flipping out, haven't noticed. have you been to the planet? maybe you should talk to her or something.....no, i don't know anything about it being your fault, what the heck happened?

it's bad... (didn't you read "aftermath of the dragon", or whatever the hell that thing was called? and the one written after it, which totally chilled my blood... thought maybe it was written by glenn close or something)... i shouldn't have let things go as far as they did... must've been out of my mind...

did read those and knew something happened, but think about that time you clammed up on me.....she has feelings and she believed you, she expressed herself the way she knew how..... why have you been so scarce?

hello?

ouch... suppose i did behave rather badly... hard to explain... i mean, it was just a poetry thing... got out of control... distinctions blurred, and all... flidais says SHE (gypsy) sort of ambushed me... says she's just being dramatic, not to worry about it... hope she's right... (guess i will talk to her, when i figure out what to say)... been scarce because i've been working lots, i guess... have you read "tale of the planet"? what the hell is that all about? paula wrote me about it earlier... wondering who she is, in that scenario... you figure it out?)

figured out 2 of them, kinda interesting though...recognize the name flidais, does she post at the planet? haven't read any of paula's stuff in a while, course, have been rather scarce there... (you've been avoiding me *wolfy grin*

do you think flidais is right? paula still posts, just not as much... haven't been avoiding you... just haven't been on-line much... and i can't seem to go back to the planet... and besides, i haven't written much poetry lately... hard to, from this point of view... been doing mostly prose, nothing planet-friendly...

where do you post the prose? would like to take a look... don't know if flidais is right, don't have enough facts, really thought what happened was brought on by the both of you... funny, i haven't written hardly a thing lately either....

haven't been posting the prose... sure, i guess i could send you a little... your probably right... hope you understand... ("hardly" anything... did notice something posted today, however)...

you saw that, huh? hey, it took me two weeks to work on that and it's only part of the whole thing (cuz the rest isn't written yet, and maybe now, it won't need to be)

there's nothin' for me to understand, NOMB, unless it involved me in some scandalish way.........

(hmmmm... sounds like it was taking an ominous shape)... (prose thing is on the way, incidentally)...

really? (no that piece was sad and curious and asking for an answer of some sort)

just meant, like, being that she's your new buddy and all...

(wondering if the next sound i hear shall be my head seperating from my neck)

what??? we don't sit up nights and talk bad about you, sweetie, you're silly!

re: 186, stuff you're not talking about? why would your head roll?

kidding... just needling you... (of course, there's always the glenn close thing, y'know... and she knows where i live)...

guess you gotta move! did you give her your number too? gotta change that too, unless you have a deathwish er somethin'

oh wait, you do, with all those people livin' in your house, how silly of me!

yeah, she has my number... just don't answer the phone anymore (in the daytime)... thank god "the one" (remember her?) is at school weekdays... (and sometimes it pays dividends having one's ex-wife around, to answer the phone... been getting at least one hang-up phone call a day, actually)...

promise it's not me. so the one isn't, eh?

oops, i get it, sorry, too early in the am for me. gotta go, will read your prose....talk to you soon?

sure... (but "the one" is assuredly "The One")... g'night...

good! g'night

I went to see Good Will Hunting, great flick. With Robin Williams, who I always enjoy seeing in his roles. After this "feel good" movie, I was waiting for my date outside the ladies room when my cellular, Pocketnet email started going beep beep beep. It was an email from a Seattle lawyer offering $20,000 for the name spring.com. A bit of a surprise! Anyway, since then I've registered the name spring.net and we may be all going to http://www.spring.net soon.

woweeeee!! does it cost anything to get a domain?

So give us the full story behind the domain saga, terry. Why does this mysterious Seattle lawyer want spring.com, and are we able to get any more money out of them for it?

probably wants it cuz he sees how much fun we have and he wants to monopolize the whole thing (dunno, just a guess)

It costs $100 to get a domain, what I'm paying for spring.net from the Internic. I may ask for $50,000 and hope for $30k at least. We'll see, I'm looking for a new attorney right now as Mike Godwin just backed out. Too bad, I had high hopes for Mike. Monday morning, I have my work cut out for me in negotiations and finding a lawyer. I hope spring.net is fine with y'all. The Spring needs the money to build the place up, as nice as the spring.com name is and all. You can live with spring.net can't you?

sure, as long as all of us come along!

ok, need some help---am watching the rock on tv (free movie channel) and need to know the guy's name who's holding everyone up in alcatraz....can't think of his name, gimme an answer pleeeeze!!

spring.net is cool, (you own it, call it what you want, big guy), man, all those search engine links down the drain... Don't know, Wolf, but the wife said he is the little girl's father in Contact, also...

ed harris, had to wait til the end to find out (haven't seen contact) but thanks wer!

watched the China Syndrome over the weekend. Must've been the 5th or 6th time I've seen it but wow! did everyone look especially young this time!

very good film... (and excellent as liberal propoganda, which is cool with me 'cause i'm a liberal and all)... most memorable for me because of jack lemmon (one of my favorite actors, esp. pre- "irma la douce"... i.e., "mister roberts", "it should happen to you", and especially "some like it hot" and "the apartment"... "that's how it crumbles... cookie-wise"...)

boy, am gonna have to rent the whole video store just to keep up with y'all *grin*

if you haven't seen "some like it hot" or "the apartment" (or "mister roberts", for that matter), you should do so immediately... well worth the time...

like, right now? did see ransom last night, but they cut out all the yucky parts. wait, saw the rock too. man that sean connery-----

(like, why not?)

cuz then i'd miss out on talking with you, (uhoh, was that a hint er sumthin?)

(do know that one... sabbath, right?) ("paranoid")

*giggle*

("wipeout"?)

can you drum that out with your fingers? (heard it was just a guy thing, i've tried it but to no avail)

(okay... i'm stumped)...

you have no fingers? *giggle* (wolf lets out a sly smile-note that she bares no teeth)

(hee-haw?)

silly goose *smile*

(definitely brian wilson)

guesso

my, are we getting surly?

dunno, are we?

harumph... (well, you are shockingly off topic)...

does that really surprise you, dear?

("uh-huh")

da da daaaa, da da daaaa, ich liebt du nicht, du liebt mir nicht, da da daaaa

("ich bin eine berliner")

lol

(well, it was a surly laugh)

is this a vocab lesson?

(does it need to be?)

yes

what, are you changing the rules yet again? ("fragile"?)

Terry, now you're going to have to update that logo again! Just toss a butterfly net over the whole thing.

Right we're spring dot netters. !! Lot's going on behind the scenes right now. Stay tuned !!! My lawyer says mum mum mum right now.

Probably advisable to not discuss bargaining strategy right here on the spring!

Yep, that's what he told me!

imagine that! *wink*

*raises hand shyly* umm... i...um.. saw a movie. Is it okay to um post it here in this topic gone awry? *smile* Saw "I know what you did last summer" not as predictable but not that great either.

Go for it, quick!

saw "it's a family thing" last night on video at the pseudo-rents house. With Richard Dryfuss and James Earl Jones. Billed as a comedy but less than hysterical. Pretty good movie, just don't expect too many belly laughs, it's really not intended to be funny.

currently watching "body heat", with wm hurt and kathleen turner... (that is one mean broad)...

Saw Leaving Las Vegas for the first time a couple of nights ago when I couldn't sleep, enjoyed it and didn't find it anywhere near as depressing as Barflys...Almost got to see all of Independence Day for the first time as well, but had to go work on the inlaws' computer. Oh, well...

I just watched the first half-hour of "House of Spirits" (based on the Isabel Allende novel), with Jeremy Irons and Meryl Streep. So far so good!

Very good. I saw that and would see it again.

loved the book. hate to see movies based on books I really loved.

Saw the other half (*sob*), now I'll have to read the book!

no movies lately but since this is where I give the pinball update... 3/17 spent with two pitchers of green beer and the EarthShaker! (now, now ladies, it's just a machine) (NO, not THAT kind of machine... a pinball game!) Sometime in the night, the waitress came by and told us to go up front to get free stuff -- shamrock ears, green necklaces, flashy/blinky pins and free beer. We were to into the game to leave so she brought it all back to us! Stellar performance by yours truly earning 7 free games that evening! And one match!

You go, girl!

My husband brought some of those "blinky ears" home from happy hour--finally figured out how to turn 'em off! (little clicky thing near light)

Saw "Always" (directed by Steven Spielberg) the other day (Richard Dreyfus(s?), Holly Hunter). Boy did it cheer me up. Was having a bit of a low spirited day, for some reason, and I needed a slightly cheesy "feel-good" movie with lots of humour, and by george that turned up :-)

I've never seen it, but I really like Holly Hunter.

As part of the birthday extravaganza, we saw a first run movie last night (in a stadium seating theatre no less!) City of Angels. All those who don't want to cry, or struggle with fairness... STAY AWAY! A good movie IMHO!

I can't wait to see that! While I was out, saw Boogie Nights. WooHoo!

now everyone has seen his penis!!

I haven't... Did, however, see Lord of Illusions the other night.

*LOL*

Watched "Il Postino" the other night--checked it out of the library, actually--and found it very charming. The scenery was breathtaking. I much prefer dubbing to subtitles, they're so distracting....

once i get into the movie, opera or whatever... subtitles are okay by me. SOmetimes dubbing is better, sometimes it's worse.

that's me, too. depends on the film. farewell my concubine had a lot of subtitles and it wouldn't have been the same had it been dubbed. dubbing has a tendancy to not match the mouth movements (obviously) and that bothers me something fierce......

It doesn't bother me as much as hearing two people jabbering away in Italian for 2 minutes and seeing 2 sentences by way of explanation! I just hate dropping my eyes to the bottom of the screen and looking away from the action; it's exasperating!

OK, I got another sub-titled one this week: "Ridicule", all about the clever wit used by the courtisans at Versailles to get ahead and find favor with the king. I really liked it. Also saw "LA Confidential" (good, but a bit violent for my tastes) and "The Full Monty". My husband's out of town, in case you haven't already guessed...(he would've hated 2 of the 3)

saw "born on the fourth of july" this evening. not sure what to make of it. kinda powerful, but also kinda self-indulgent, and all a bit fluffy n apple-pie american.

oliver stone a creator of apple-pie americana? (maybe prepared with extra-RED apples... after all, it's well known, hereabouts, that he's "one o' them holl'wood lib'rals"... and a certified member of the "BLAME AMERICA FIRST" crowd)...

I really liked "Born on the 4th of July", it was just about the only Vietnam-era flick I could sit through, actually. The "apple-pie" sentiment sort of reflects the innocence of the era's expectation of war, I thought...so ideological and patriotic at the same time (like WW2). And it goes without saying that Tom Cruise could make any picture watchable...

too true. tom turns me on more than i think is healthy :)

Me too!! :-)

I like Deep Impact because no one spoiled it, not Siskel and Ebert, not Aint It Cool News, not Gene Shalit, it was a total surprise. There were still a lot of surprises. And some good performances by Morgan Freeman and Robert Duval. Tense, gripping movie.

Chasing Amy. Quick, witty, deep, emotionally draining, uplifting, tearjerking, close to hom (er homE) "enchanting" movie. "Damn that was a great movie"

Saw "Umbrellas of Cherbourg" last night. Very interesting!! A restored French film from the fifties, it features the classical story of two young lovers whose timing is off--and here's the interesting part--every word of dialogue is sung. But it's not a musical! They all just sing their lines like I used to sing the psalter in church, using the same 5 notes. A very young Catherine Deneuve is spectacular.

I saw 'Shadowlands' about a week ago - yeah, I know, I'll probably see Titanic the day my first grandchild is born! Anyway, Mr. C. had to do a certain amount of backside-licking to get me that far (I find the 'getting into' a movie almost unbearable - all that sitting still, I suppose), and I only gave in when the name Anthony Hopkins came up, but I loved it. Especially the bit before it turns sad. The dialogue was wonderful, witty and intelligent (a rare gem in movies, I find. . .), Anthony Hopkins, that hunk-a-man, is as stunning as ever, and his co-star (sorry, I've forgotten her name already) made a strong impre sion on me as well; she was the first actress I have seen acting opposite him without being completely eclipsed by his on-screen charisma. I found her a great deal better than both Jodie Foster and Emma Thompson - even more intelligent somehow. But perhaps it was just the role. Who is she again? Are her other films good as well? I would like to see more of her work, but I don't want to have to sit through 90 minutes if it's not going to be good.

hmmm... backside licking from Mr. C convinced you to go to a movie... he must've not been doing it right!

preach it, sister!!! (oh, the visions...) ((maybe he was, and promised to finish after the movie...hmmm))

He does it so right, I just wanna skip the movie altogether and get down to the sex part.

enough visuals already *wink* while i was on "vacation", saw The Quick and The Dead, ConAir, Andre, My Best Friend's Wedding, One Fine Day, and that one with Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford. might be a wee bit behind on those flicks but i DID see the Titanic!!

Am watching LA Confidential as I type...

Can't have been that interesting then . . . Wolf, I only saw that one with Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford - no, I can't remember the name either. But I thought it was good.

How was Titanic? An hour and a half is long . . . Seeing the Titanic will be like going to a Wagner opera - just can't face it!

Try 3 hours, Riette. It goes quickly though. Went to see X Files, The Movie, yesterday! Hot damn, was it good. True to form. Only thing is now I have even more questions.

Everest. An IMAX movie filmed before/during/after the tragedy in May 1996 but concentrating mostly on the strength and stamina of the human spirit. I read Jon Krakaur's article in OUTSIDE in August of that year and have heard several NPR interviews/reviews about the film but nothing could describe the beauty, vastness, desolation and love within this film.

i love imax movies. Lemme see, went to see Speed (not with Keanu Reeves) but about man's obsession with fast things (it was in Ohio at the Flight Museum) and something about exploring the ocean depths at the Virgian Marine Science Museum. Both were very good. we don't have imax here yet, but i've heard that it's on its way....

IMAX??? What's that?

really, really, big

Oh! Do you know, Chris does that really, really big thing when I kiss him. Would that be called and imaxion?

i believe that is an excellent use of the word in verb form!

quite accurate, imho, also...

An imaxation, not a minimaxation? By the way, why did the condom fly through the room? It got pissed off.

Saw "Donnie Brasco" last night--Al Pacino is always mesmerizing! It's a gangster flick, plenty violent, but with a lot more of the human element than most. And Al Pacino & Johnny Depp on one screen...need I say more? "Forget about it"!

Al Pacino is a wonderful actor. I saw Devil's Advocate the beginning of this year. Loved it.

caught donnie brasco myself, it was good. OK...*rubbing hands together*, went to see Saving Private Ryan, Disturbing Behavior, Dr. Doolittle, A Perfect Murder, and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Saving Private Ryan was so good. If you can sit through the first half hour, you're good to go. Spielberg did an excellent job at making me feel like i was there, lemme tell you. i cried just about through the whole thing and so did the guys who went with. Disturbing Behavior was rather disturbing. Too much of getting you there then having to rush through the rest. Dr. Doolittle, IMHO, is not a kid's movie, but it did make me laugh. A Perfect Murder was good and suspenseful. I Know What You Did Last Summer was something. And there's gonna be a sequel. not that any of you were interested in my reviews.....

Thanks for the input, Wolf! My husband really wants to see "Pvt. Ryan," but I've been afraid it would be too graphic. Who's in "A Perfect Murder?" We're going to the drive-in (remember those!) tonight to see "Mulan".

Damn, why don't I know any of those titles? Except Dr. Doolitttle, because Eddie Murphy is in it, right? I luv him - he is so grossly funny.

Saw "The Wedding Singer" with Adam Sandler... set inthe 1980s, the images and hot topics in this movie were a riot to relive but I thought Adam Sandler would've been reason enough to go see it! Funny, funny, funny and sweet!

I've been wanting to see that, Stacey, just for the 80s flashback. The local theatre is second-run and all the seats are $2. "Sliding Doors" is showing there as well--I should blow $4 sometime and see them both.

Saw "Eat Drink Man Woman" last night on video and really enjoyed it. Tonight we're watching "Raise the Red Lantern" (I'm really on a Chinese kick!)

You should see "The Lover" and "Farewell My Concubine", both with subtitles but very good....and "The Joy Luck Club" is another...all are tear jerkers, though..

"Farewell" has been highly recommended. Loved "Joy Luck Club"! It was even better than the book, and that's high praise coming from me. Never heard of the first--I'll have to look for it on the video store's shelves.

The Lover is explicit (as a lot of foreign films are) but it's almost essential to understand what is going on (no below-the-belt frontal body parts that i can recall). That's funny about Joy Luck Club, have the book (because i love Amy Tan) but didn't read it after i saw the movie (which i just bawled my eyes out while watching)

did you see that? i hit 300!! woohoo....what did i win, what did i win?

A sheep.

Baa! Just finished watching "Trees Lounge"--loved it! It was my kind of movie.

Then you'll love "The Opposite of Sex", "Henry Fool", and "Buffalo 66". And you'll love me, because I'm more like all 4 of them than they are, that's including "Trees Lounge", except they're more real than me---I'm more like just some film going round and round through or past the projector's lense, in a small dark room that has no honest modest exits. Er, uh, wait, what am I doing here? I don't belong here. I'm lost. REALLY lost---I seriously can't find myself....I'll just go right on back outside o Spring and keep lookin'. This little room [BONK...owwww!!] really has no doors, though, and all the walls are powerfully against me.....I mean POWERFULLLLLLEEE.

Jim, how ya doin'??? I've really missed you. You're quite the movie-goer. Those titles just happen to be on my must-rent list, but as they're still in theatres, I'm not likely to see them anytime soon. So there are parallels between your life and those of Steve Buscemi, etc.?? I'm intrigued.....

Yeah, we were both chasing Amy one night and we ran into each other. Amy just walked off laughing, but Steve picked me up off the pavement, using both hands, and we finally got to meet each other. I'll tell ya one thing, we both really like Chloe Sevigny (she still tests HIV positive and she was at the lounge Steve walked me over to). We were all sitting around the same table off and away from everything, where the light was low and lower (only about knee-high). Anyway, I just wanted to remember to te l ya that we were all reminiscing about our best times with you, Autumn. I mean I had no idea. How did you meet THEM? As you might imagine, we didn't say goodbye to each other until dawn. Let me put it this way---we ALL really miss you.

Hi Jim! just to interject...can you two tell us something more about those movies? i mean, haven't even heard of Trees Lounge, what is it about, who's in it?

hola, Wolfie, how nice to see your warm, furry face and sharp, long tooths. I gots some information overload here for ya. Everything that follows came from these 3 addresses: http://us.imdb.com/search http://www.auschron.com/current/screens.film.html I'll put the third address in Response #309, because I forgot to get it, and I don't know how to go out and get it right now without losing everything in this pretty picture window. THE OPPOSITE OF SEX D: Don Roos; with Christina Ricci, Martin Donovan, Lisa Kudrow, Lyle Lovett, Johnny Galecki, Ivan Sergei. A 16-year old girl (Ricci) runs away from a troubled home in Louisiana and comes to stay with her rich half-brother (Hal Hartley regular Martin Donovan). There she messes with the lives of everyone from her brother's new boyfriend to his sexually repressed best friend (Kudrow, stretching her acting muscles). (July 3) HENRY FOOL D: Hal Hartley; with Thomas Jay Ryan, James Urbaniak, Parker Posey. Hal Hartley's new film pairs an unassuming garbageman with an egomaniacal writer to examine the responsibilities of influence and the possibilities of originality. (August) BUFFALO '66 D: Vincent Gallo; with Gallo, Christina Ricci, Anjelica Huston, Ben Gazzara, Mickey Rourke, Rosanna Arquette. Actor Vincent Gallo (The Funeral) made quite a splash at Sundance when he debuted this new film, which he wrote, directed, stars in, and composed; the mordant story follows the dramatic and comedic prospects of a young man suffering from extreme alienation. (July) This next review gives alot away about what happens in the movie, so you might want to skip over it if you're like me, and like to be more surprised upon watching the movie and what it's about to be for you as it unfolds: BUFFALO '66 D: Vincent Gallo; with Gallo, Christina Ricci, Ben Gazzara, Anjelica Huston, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Corrigan, Rosanna Arquette, Jan-Michael Vincent. (Not Rated, 120 min.) "Indie! Indie! Indie!" is the unspoken mantra behind enfant terrible Gallo's directorial debut (he was previously seen in Palookaville as well as a series of Calvin Klein ads), and though independent cinema in America has, at this stage, been almost completely co-opted by the major studios (and anyone who thinks Miramax isn't a major these days is kidding themselves), Gallo's battle cry makes for a fiercely humorous slice of unreality that soars even when it's crawling in the gutter and puking on itself. Gallo has recruited a stellar cast and then played them down into the depths of his tale's depravity so much that you hardly recognize Huston or anyone else. In a film populated by the hapless dregs of society, there are no star turns, and yet every character is cleverly portrayed, fully fleshed out and functional, and frequently downright creepy. Gallo is Billy Brown, a scrawny, pale wingnut who, with his flared floodpants, red faux-leather disco boots, and too-tight tube tops, looks for all the world like God's loneliest toothpick. As Buffalo '66 opens, he's fresh out of jail (featuring an extended, painful, semi-comic sequence which involves a desperate search for a bathroom) and on his way to his parents' house. Before going in the joint for a five-year stretch necessitated by a botched $10,000 bet on the Buffalo Bills, Billy told his parents he was married to a beautiful woman and worked a secure, government job. Lies, all lies, and upon his release, he promptly kidnaps Layla (Ricci) and forces her (well, sort of forces her -- she seems liable to go along with anything) to pretend she's his better half. After a protracted and Lynchian nightmare meeting with his family, the pair split up briefly while Billy goes in search of the Bills place-kicker who lost that long-ago bet for him. But the real crux of Gallo's film is the reconciliation with one's childhood, and, sentimental thug that Gallo is, the search for Love. Gallo populates the film with the oddest of oddballs, least of which is naif Billy. Ricci, batting .400, pulls off yet another delicious, subversive turn, while Gazzara and Huston are everybody's Hell Parents: Billy's mom has never forgiven him for being born during the Buffalo Bill's only Superbowl win, and his old man (the title fits him like the sweaty white T-shirt he wears) couldn't care less about him. Comedy is birthed of tragedy, I know, but this is ... ouch. Gallo packs the film with odd, endearing flourishes that detract a bit from the storyline but add to the overall whole: his father, crooning an old love song to Ricci, Billy's mildly retarded buddy Goon (Corrigan, of all people) who only wants to be called Rocky, and the whole, hyper-seedy look of the picture that makes you want to scrub with bleach once you get home. In the end, it's a love story after all, but a peculiarly Gallocentric one -- cheap, nasty, but salvageable nonetheless. (8/7/98 Trees Lounge DIRECTED BY: Steve Buscemi REVIEWED: 12-18-96 Indie acting stalwart Steve Buscemi tries his hand at writing and directing. The result is this odd episodic tale of a terminal loser (Buscemi) in suburban New Jersey. Our hero hangs out in a bar, gets a job as an ice cream truck driver and hangs out in a bar some more. That's about it. Guest stars (Debi Mazur, Samuel L. Jackson, Chloe Sevigny) liven up the proceedings occasionally. As far as comedies go, it's pretty depressing. More like a Tom Waits song come to life than a full-blown Bukowskism, though. Movie Quotes for Trees Lounge (1996): Tommy: If I win, I get to take you home. If you win, you can go home with me. Crystal: What kind of deal is that, huh? I don't know it doesn't make sense to me. Tommy: It's a good deal. It's a good deal for me! Marie: You don't go to work every day. You go to a bar every day. Tommy: He's a little old man. Can't you take some of the wrinkles out? You've given birth to Mr. Magoo. Steve Buscemi (Director / Writer / Tommy Basilio) Steve Buscemi, a Brooklyn native, is a veteran of American independent film. His career began in the early 80's when he collaborated with friend and fellow actor / writer Mark Boone Junior on numerous theater pieces. It was during this time that director Bill Sherwood spotted him and cast him as a musician with AIDS in "Parting Glances." Other film roles followed. In 1989, he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his role in Jim Jarmusch's "Mystery Train." Three years later, he won that award for his landmark portrayal of "Mr. Pink" in Quentin Tarantino's debut film, "Reservoir Dogs." Buscemi has consistently worked with some of the finest directors in the film industry including Martin Scorsese ("New York Stories") and the Coen brothers ("Miller's Crossing,""Barton Fink," Fargo"). In 1995 alone, Buscemi enjoyed success in three feature films: Tom DiCillo's critically acclaimed "Living in Oblivion" (Sony Pictures Classics); Robert Rodriguez's "Desperado" (Columbia) with Antonio Banderas; and "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead," directed by Gary Fleder for Miramax. Earlier this year, Buscemi again received critical acclaim for his role in Joel and Ethan Coen's "Fargo" (Gramercy). He can be seen in John Carpenter's "Escape from L.A." and is currently shooting "Con Air" with Nicholas Cage, due out in 1997. Buscemi first tried his hand at writing and directing for film with a short entitled "What Happened to Pete," in which he also starred, which aired on Bravo. "Trees Lounge" marks Buscemi's feature film writing and directorial debut. Chloe Sevigny (Debbie) In 1995, Chloe Sevigny launched her career in the critically acclaimed, highly controversial film "Kids," directed by Larry Clark and written by Harmony Korine for Miramax. "Trees Lounge," in which she plays Debbie, Tommy Basilio's 17-year-old carefree girlfriend, is her second feature film. She's next set to shoot a cameo for "Gummo," written and directed by Harmony Korine, for which Chloe will also serve as costume designer. Tommy Basilio (Steve Buscemi) is a 31-year-old barfly, an unemployed auto mechanic with quick wits and a huge chip on his shoulder. A master of verbal repartee, he spends most nights at his favorite bar, Trees Lounge, hunched over a shot of Wild Turkey or trying to pick up one-night stands. When he loses his pregnant girlfriend (Elizabeth Bracco) to his best friend and former boss (Anthony LaPaglia), he makes an attempt to put his life back together. He finds temporary salvation driving his deceased uncle's ice cream truck, but gets dangerously close to his 17-year-old helper, Debbie (Chloe Sevigny). Lessons aren't learned easily by Tommy, but he does find a disturbing truth about himself in the last place he expected, Trees Lounge. With a cast that also includes Mark Boone Junior, Eszter Balint, Carol Kane, Daniel Baldwin, and Mimi Rogers with special appearances by Debi Mazar, Seymour Cassel and Samuel L. Jackson, TREES LOUNGE marks Steve Buscemi's feature film debut as a writer/director. The film is executive produced by Nick Wechsler and Julie Silverman Yorn, produced by Chris Hanley and Brad Wyman, and co-produced by Kelley Forsyth and Sarah Vogel. LIVE Entertainment will release TREES LOUNGE in October, 1996.

http://www.austin360.com/enter/movies/search/search.htm wow, Autumn was right---something she told me some time ago: you really DO only have to type it (web address) in and it becomes a highlighted link. Feel like I just stepped into Alice's Wonderland (there must be a magic mirror or rabbit hole around here someplace). I guess this means I can from now on unconditionally trust Autumn with everything she says that I would have barely even preconsciously started to come alive to and possibly dimly conjectured over or vaguely speculated about.

�visciously rummaging through a dictionary in search of meaning�

Jim, if I could just get you to repeat that last part for my husband... (by the way I LOVE Tom Waits)

Oh, by the way Jim, are you as knowledgeable with art as with movies? Terry posted a painting into the 20th century arts topic earlier today - an interesting, strange work - but neither of us can make out who the painter is, or what the history around the painting is. I maintain that something bothers me about it, and I don't know what, and it would be immensely helpful to us if somebody knew something about the painting. And you are quite welcome to stay once you're there. Terry is there, Wer, Autumn Wolf, Nan, and there are some other interesting people coming as well. There's an art gallery for our/our children's art - I still remember how you once talked about innocence, and the children's art in the picture gallery topic is just fabulous! Then there are discussions about arts from the different movements and periods, with pictures coming in for them, which we will then discuss more in detail. The whole thing is turning into great fun. Please come - and more often; we all miss you, I'm sure.

Hi, Autumn!!!

Hey, girl, you're on awfully late, aren't you??

Uh, Autumn, be ready for things at home to be gettin' a whole lot better very very soon, cuz I believe your husband is really startin' to come around now. He only a minute ago emailed me this website (it has all Tom's lyrics, some interviews, and some other TW links)---I took a song and an interview off of it for you, though you probably been there, seen & done that: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/7587/start.html (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night Well you gassed her up Behind the wheel With your arm around your sweet one In your Oldsmobile Barrelin' down the boulevard You're looking for the heart of Saturday night And you got paid on Friday And your pockets are jinglin' And you see the lights You get all tinglin' cause you're cruisin' with a 6 And you're looking for the heart of Saturday night Then you comb your hair Shave your face Tryin' to wipe out ev'ry trace All the other days In the week you know that this'll be the Saturday You're reachin' your peak Stoppin' on the red You're goin' on the green 'Cause tonight'll be like nothin' You've ever seen And you're barrelin' down the boulevard Lookin' for the heart of Saturday night Tell me is the crack of the poolballs, neon buzzin? Telephone's ringin'; it's your second cousin Is it the barmaid that's smilin' from the corner of her eye? Magic of the melancholy tear in your eye. Makes it kind of quiver down in the core 'Cause you're dreamin' of them Saturdays that came before And now you're stumblin' You're stumblin' onto the heart of Saturday night Well you gassed her up And you're behind the wheel With your arm around your sweet one In your Oldsmobile Barrellin' down the boulevard, You're lookin' for the heart of Saturday night Is the crack of the poolballs, neon buzzin? Telephone's ringin'; it's your second cousin And the barmaid is smilin' from the corner of her eye Magic of the melancholy tear in your eye. Makes it kind of special down in the core And you're dreamin' of them Saturdays that came before It's found you stumblin' Stumblin' onto the heart of Saturday night And you're stumblin' Stumblin onto the heart of Saturday night Playboy Interview (1988) 20 questions Most people know singer-songwriter Tom Waits as the poet of late-night metropolitan areas, the bard of smoky lounges and cue-ball moons. But lately, Waits has been experimenting, both on his past three albums, which have included songs nailed together from pieces of 'found sound"--deafening jackhammers, sirens, strains of an Irish jig--and as an actor ("The Cotton Club," "Down by Law," ' "Ironweed"). Writer Steve OBey showed up at a favorite Waits hangout, a seedy caff on the fringes of downtown L.A. "Waits, now 37, arrived looking wild-haired and mystic eyed and dressed in a parson's black suit and tie," he reports. "He was insistent upon talking into a tape recorder for fear of being misquoted, but he began the conversation with the warning, 'I'm going to pull your string from time to time.'" 1. PLAYBOY: In spite of the fact that your albums have won you a loyal following, your work is rarely heard on the radio. What kind of payola do you think it would take to get disc jockeys in Des Moines to play a few cuts from Franks Wild Years? WAITS: Send them some frozen Cornish game hens. That would probably do the trick. Or maybe some Spencer steaks. The people who succeed today essentially write jingles. It's an epidemic. Even worse are artists aligning themselves with various products, everything from Chrysler-Plymouth to Pepsi. I don't support it. I hate it. So there. 2. PLAYBOY: Early in your career, some of your songs--for instance, Ol' '55, which the Eagles covered--became hits, and almost all of them, no matter how unconventional, relied upon pretty melodies. But lately--especially on your past three albums -- you've moved from hummable tunes to what you call "organized noise." Why? WAITS: I was cutting off a very small piece of what I wanted to do. I wasn't getting down the things I was really hearing and experiencing. Music with a lot of strings gets like Perry Como after a while. It's why I don't really work with the piano much anymore. Like, anybody who plays the piano would thrill at seeing and hearing one thrown off a 12-story building, watching it hit the sidewalk and being there to hear that thump. It's like school. You want to watch it burn. 3. PLAYBOY; To create a marketable pop song, do you have to sell out? WAITS: Popular music is like a big party, and it's a thrill sneaking in rather than being invited. Every once in a while, a guy with his shirt on inside out, wearing lipstick and a pillbox hat, gets a chance to speak. I've always been afraid I was going to tap the world on the shoulder for 20 years and when it finally turned around, I was going to forget what I had to say. I was always afraid I was going to do something in the studio and hate it, put it out, and it was going to become a hit. So I'm neurotic about it. 4. PLAYBOY: Who was Harry Partch, and what did he mean to you? WAITS: He was an innovator. He built all his own instruments and kind of took the American hobo experience and designed instruments from ideas he gathered trayelirig around the United States in the Thirties and Forties. He used a pump organ and industrial water bottles, created enormous marimbas. He died in the early Seventies, but the .Harry Partch Ensemble still performs at festivals. It's a little arrogant to say I see a relationship between his stuff and mine. I'm very crude, but I use things we hear around us all the time, built and found instruments-things that aren't normally considered instruments: dragging a chair across the floor or hitting the side of a locker real hard with a two-by-four, a freedom bell, a brake drum with a major imperfection, a police bullhorn. h's more interesting. You know, I don't like straight lines. The problem is that most instruments are square and music is always round. 5. PLAYBOY: Considering your predispositions, which modern artists do you like to listen to? WAITS: Prince. He's out there. He's uncompromising. He's a real fountainhead. Takes dangerous chances. He's androgynous, wicked, voodoo. The Replacements have a great stance. They like distortion. Their concerts are like insect rituals. I like a lot of rap stuff, because it's real, immediate. Generally, I like things as they begin, because the industry tears at you. Most artists come out the other side like a dead carp. 6. PLAYBOY: What do you think of when you hear the name Barry Manilow? WAITS: Expensive furniture and clothes that you don't feel good in. 7. PLAYBOY: In your musical career, you've tried to retain maximum creative control; yet within the past few years, you've become more and more involved in the most collaborative of all media, theater and film. What's the attraction? WAITS: It's thrilling to see the insanity of all these people brought together like this life-support system to create something that's really made out of smoke. The same thing draws me to it that draws me to making records--you fashion these things and ideas into your own monster.It's making dreams. I like that. 8. PLAYBOY: In Ironweed, you worked with Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep. What did you learn from them? WAITS: Nicholson's a consummate storyteller. He's like a great bard. He says he knows about beauty parlors and trainyards and everything in between. You can learn a lot from just watching him open a window or tie his shoes. It's great to be privy to those things. I watched everything-watched them build characters from pieces of things in people they have known. It's like they build a doll from Grandmother's mouth and Aunt Betty's walk and Ethel Merman's posture, then they push their own truthful feelings through that exterior. They're great at it. 9. PLAYBOY: Have there been musical benefits from involvement in theater and film? WAITS: Just that I'm more comfortable stepping into characters in songs. On Franks Wild Years, I did it in I'll Take New York and Straight to the Top. I've learned how to be different musical characters without feeling like I'm eclipsing myself. On the contrary, you discover a whole family living inside you. 10. PLAYBOY: Three years ago, you made much ado about leaving Los Angeles for Manhattan. You praised New York as "a great town for shoes," but now you're back in California. What happened? WAITS: I was developing tourette syndrome. I was blurting out obscenities in the middle of Eighth Avenue. I turned into an eraserhead. But it's been arrested. With research, there is hope. 11. PLAYBOY: If you were to give a tour of L.A., what sights would you include? WAIts: Let's see. For chicken, I suggest the Red Wing Hatchery near Tweedy Lane in south central L.A. We're talking both fryers and ritual chickens. Hang one over the door to keep out evil spirits; the other goes on your plate with paprika. For your other shopping needs, try B.C.D. Market on Temple. Best produce in town; also good pig knuckles, always important in your dining plans. Ask for Bruce. Below the Earth, on Hill Street, is the best Spot for female impersonators; then you're going to want to be looking into those pickled eggs at the Frolic Room, by the bus station. Guy behind the bar has the same birthday as me, and his name is Tom. Finally, you have to take in Bongo Bean, who plays the sax on the sidewalk in front of the Hotel Figueroa. We're talking Pennies from Heaven time. Bongo is tall, good-looking, there most every night. Accept no substitutes. 12. PLAYBOY: While L.A. may be your stomping grounds, your other great love is the wee-hours world of America's big cities. From all your travels, what have been your favorite dives? WAITS: The Sterling Hotel, in Cleveland. Great lobby. Good place to sit with the old men and watch Rock Hudson movies. Then there's the Wilmont Hotel, in Chicago. The woman behind the desk, her son's the Marlboro man. There's the Alamo Hotel, in Austin, Texas, where I rode in an elevator one night with Sam Houston Johnson. He spit tobacco juice into a cup while we talked. Let's see: The Swiss American Hotel is San Francisco's insane asylum. The Paradise Motel, right here on Sunset in L.A. It's nice in the summer when there's a carnival across the street. And, oh, the Taft. I think they're a chain. You can probably get off a train in just about any town, get into a taxi and say, "Take me to the Taft Hotel" and wind up somewhere unsavory. Yeah, say, "Take me to the Taft, and step on it." 13. PLAYBOY: Despite your reputation and songs that glorify hard living-and carousing, you've been married seven years and have two children. How do you balance your domestic and creative lives? WAITS: My wife's been great. I've learned a lot from her. She's Irish Catholic. She's got the whole dark forest living inside of her. She pushes me into areas I would not go, and I 'd say that a lot of the things I'm trying to do now, she's encouraged. And the kids? Creatively, they're astonishing. The way they draw, you know? Right off the page and onto the wall. It's like you wish you could be that open. 14. PLAYBOY: Do you do all-American-dad things, such as go to Disneyland? WAIT: Disneyland is Vegas for children. When I went with the kids, I just about had a stroke. It's the opposite of what they say it is. It's not a place to nurture the imagination. It's just a big clearance sale for useless items. I'm not going back, and the kids won't be allowed to return until they're 18, out of the house. And even then, I would block their decision. 15. PLAYBOY: Your songwriting technique is very unusual. Instead of sitting down at a piano or synthesizer, you hole up alone somewhere with nothing but a tape recorder. Why do you work that way? WAITS: I don't want to sound spiritual, but I try to make an antenna out of myself, a lightning rod out of myself, so whatever is out there can come in. It happens in different places, in hotels, in the car--when someone else is driving. I bang on things, slap the wall, break things--what-ever is in the room. There are all these things in the practical world that you deal with on a practical level, and you don't notice them as anything but what you need them to be. But when I'm writing, all these things turn into something else, and I see them differently~almost like I've taken a narcotic. Somebody once said I'm not a musician but a tonal engineer. I like that. It's kind of clinical and primitive at the same time. 16. PLAYBOY: While you may strive for musical crudity, lyrically you're quite sophisticated~interior rhymes, classical allusions and your hallmark, a great ear for the vernacular. In a sense, you're the William Safire of street patois, rescuing such phrases as walking Spanish--inebriated saunter--and even coining some pretty good lingo of your own, such as rain dogs: stray people who, like animals after a shower, can't find their markings and wander aimlessly. What are some of your other favorite bits of slang, phrases you'd like to see get more everyday use? WAITS: For starters, I'd like to see the term wooden kimono return to the lexicon. Means coffin. Think it originated in New Orleans, but I'm not certain. Another one I like is wolf tickets, which means bad news, as in someone who is bad news or generally insubordinate. In a sentence, you'd say, "Don't fuck with me, I'm passing out wolf tickets." Think it's either Baltimore Negro or turn-of-the-century railroadese. There's one more. Don't know where it came from, but I like it: Saturdaynightitis. Now, it's what happens to your arm when you hang it around a chair all night at the movies or in some bar, trying to make points with a pretty girl. When your arm goes dead from that sort of action, you've got Saturdaynightitis. 17. PLAYBOY: You have said that you'd rather hear music over a crackly AM car radio than over the best sound system. What's the matter with a good CD player? WAITS: I like to take music out of the environment it was grown in. I guess I'm always aware of the atmosphere that I'm listening to something in as much as I am of what I'm listening to. It can influence the music. It's like listening to Mahalia Jackson as you drive across Texas. That's different from hearing her in church. It's like taking a Victrola into the jungle, you know? The music then has an entirely different quality. You integrate it into your world and it doesn't become the focus of it but a condiment. It becomes the sound track for the film that you're living. 18. PLAYBOY: Your score for One from the Heart was nominated for an Oscar. Did you enjoy writing it enough to try another? WAITS: Working on One from the Heart was almost a Brill Building approach to song-writing--sitting at a piano in an office, writing songs like jokes. I had always had that fantasy, so I jumped at the chance to do it. I've been offerred other films, but I've turned 'em down. The director comes to you and says, "Here, I've got this thing here, this broken toy." And in some cases, he says, "Can you fix it?" Or maybe he just wants interior decorating or a haircut. So you have to be sure you're the right man for the job. Sort of like being a doctor. Rest in bed; get plenty of fluids. 19. PLAYBOY: You've remarked that Franks' Wild Years is the end of a musical period for you, the last part of a trilogy of albums that began with Swordfishtrombones. Have you turned a corner? Is this album your last experimentation with the scavenger school of songwriting? WAITS: I don't know if I turned a corner, but I opened a door. I kind of found a new seam. 1 threw rocks at the window. l'm not as frightened by technology maybe as I used to be. On the past three albums, l was exploring the hydrodynamics of my own peculiarities. I don't know what the next one will be. Harder, maybe louder. Things are now a little more psychedelic for me, and they're more ethnic. I'm looking toward that part of music that comes from my memories, hearing Los Tres Aces at the Continental Club with my dad when I was a kid. 20. PLAYBOY: How far would you go to avoid getting a star on Hollywood Boulcvard? WAITS: I don't think it works that way. It's pretty much that you pay for it. I'm not big on awards. They're just a lot of headlights stapled to your chest, as Bob l)ylan said. I've gotten only one award in my life, from a place called Club Tenco in Italy. They gave me a guitar made out of tiger-eye. Club Tenco was created as an alternative to the big San Remo Festival they have every year. It's to commemorate the death of a big singer whose name was Tenco and who shot himself in the heart because he'd lost at the San Remo Festival. For a while, it was popular iu Italy for singers to shoot themselves in the heart. That's my award.

Jim, you just made my night. That is one of the best interviews with anyone that I've ever read, and "Heart of Sat. Night" is one of my all-time favorites Have you seen "Ironweed"??? I read the book several years ago (excellent!), but didn't know it was a movie--Tom Waits and Jack Nicholson sound like perfect casting to me. (Imagine Ratso Rizzo in the 30s.) thank you thank you thank you

Tom Waits...hmmmm....wasn't he the guy in Dukes of Hazard, uh, Luke?

Bite your tongue, Wolf!!

sorry....who is he then? any pics? huh huh huh?

In another interview, Tom said he looks at your pics every night, Wolfie---I think it was the one in Time magazine.....in the next breath, he even said he looks at alotta different pics of Luke, too, quite regularly. You're welcome welcome welcome, Autumn. Now you know how my EVERY day is when I read any of your responses anywhere. If you could be a professional responder, you'd be awesome. I mean the JOB would be awesome, you'd just be Autumn all year long as you always are.....you'd be a big piece of the truth, you'd fall with the leaves and turn colors in people's minds, you'd be awesome awesome awesome. Only seen a couple minutes of the end of "Ironweed", and it was on some tiny TV in a bar cafe in Kentucky while passin' thru (on my way for Quebec), lookin' fer gas, food, and Namibian chicks, if ya know what I mean. Haven't read the book. The book about stray Namibian chicks, rain dogs they were, actually, who kinda got lost in Kentucky? Naw, not that book, the book called "Ironweed" is the one I still ain't read---the Kentucky Namibian rain dog chicks book I most certainly HAVE read, and it knocked me off ma butt....had to read the whole thing standin' up---nuthin' like it, nuthin' like it, nope, nuthin' even close. Ummm, and Ratso Rizzo in the 30's would sure have my midnight cowboy back up on his horse, alright.

And will he be galloping over to the Arts conference every once in a while?

Jim, I'm laughing so hard I'm going to fall off my chair! Wolf, back up to response 315 and click on the highlighted website for a peek at Tom Waits...

cool, thanks!

been there and boy was i waaaaaaay off! thanks for straightening that 'un out *smile*

Haven't seen a movie since the Wedding Singer... keep trying to get to a cheapo flick but the times are all wonky. For instance... 7:15 is a perfect movie time. AFTER dinner but you're out in time to get to bed early. 9pm... after dinner and late enough that you could throw a load or two of laundry in beforehand, dig a garden and plant the potted flowers that have been hanging around for three days now, hand wash all of the dinner dishes, etc. etc. But 6:15?!?! No time to go home and change clothing, nevermind grab a bite to eat (a dinner of popcorn, soda and Junior Mints does NOT sit well for long). And 10:15?!?!?! I can't even hold my head up after 11:30 unless I'm completely jacked up on sugar and caffeine, in which case I cannot sit still to watch a movie... Ahhhh... life has become so complicated... (Jim, gave to see you have the SPRING in your step once again!)

Stace, good to see all that expensive electricity zippin' around in your house now. I think that in Colorado it's at 8:20 they show their unwonkable cheapies, and the audiences don't really feel quite right unless you're there with them, all pinballed out. You're funny, though, to watch, doin' all those things you do around the house, fitting everything in somehow....it's an intense action flick.

Electricity isn't quite zooming about the house yet...(I'm at work) it's more like zoming. No more surges but no capacity yet either... Hmmm... me as an action flick!?!? I think I'm more comfortable with me as a Discovery channel documentary feature... sandwiched between coverage of last year's Iron Man late finishers (the tearjerker tales) and Shark Week!

can you go on saturdays?

That's Stacey's Everest climbing day, Wolf!

*laugh* ...(bemused) now that WOULD be a great way to spend a Saturday! bummer it takes an average of four weeks to ascend (safely) to the final pre summit camp...

I just say "There's something about Mary" and it's the film of the year. If you haven't seen it, then go because it's just hilarious. One of the best films I've ever seen, without a doubt!

really? my husband and i guffawed through the previews of this film when we went to watch the x files. we laughed soooooo loud. i think it was the little dog that did it.

it's so good, i'd go so far as to call it the Film of the Year!

Saw Pi a couple of weekends ago... Fantastic, truly inspiring of (and inspired by) some freaky dreams. A premise that we've all touched on at one time or another.

yeah, that's a film i'd love to see...waiting for it to come out over here...

Pi? as in the algebraic 3.14---- used to calculate area of a circle kind of pi? what sort of movie was this? i've, obviously, never heard of it! as for movies i've been watching-ummmm, been catching up with cinemax, lemme think here.... The Beautician and The Beast Solo Dave Picture Perfect Fools Rush In Conspiracy Theory just to name a few.....

Pi (1998) ---reviewed by James Berardinelli RATING: *** OUT OF **** United States, 1998 U.S. Release Date: 7/10/98 (limited) Running Length: 1:25 MPAA Classification: No MPAA Rating (Violence, profanity) Cast: Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman, Pamela Hart, Stephen Pearlman, Samia Shoaib Director: Darren Aronofsky Producer: Eric Watson Screenplay: Darren Aronofsky Cinematography: Matthew Ubatique Music: Clint Mansell U.S. Distributor: Live Entertainment PI, the letter, is a character in the Greek alphabet roughly equivalent to the English "p." PI, the mathematical notation, is commonly used to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. PI, the movie, is Darren Aronofsky's debut feature (and the winner of a directing award at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival), an independent science fiction thriller that combines questions about God and infinity with the personal struggle of one man to regain control of his life. PI is actually the second low-budget, no-effects science fiction movie I have seen this year. The other, Hilary Brougher's THE STICKY FINGERS OF TIME, will be released by Strand Releasing during the Fall. I must admit to liking the approach embraced by PI and STICKY because the monetary limitations have spawned creative scripts with unique solutions. Without ILM and a $100 million budget to fall back upon, film makers who venture into this arena must be prepared to truly engage the minds of their audiences instead of relying upon a DTS sound system and state of the art visuals to generate oohs and aahs. PI is the story of Max Cohen (ably portrayed by Sean Gullette), a computer geek with a genius for mathematics. Socially, Max is completely inept. Aside from occasionally showing off his arithmetic abilities to a girl who lives in his apartment building, he avoids all human contact, including any interaction with his attractive next door neighbor (Samia Shoaib), who shows an interest in him. Max lives by three basic principles: (1) mathematics is the language of nature, (2) everything can be represented and understood through numbers, and (3) there are patterns in nature. His objective is to use his home-built supercomputer, Euclid, to analyze the patterns in the financial markets to predict the exact performance of every stock. During the course of his studies, he encounters a mysterious string of 216 digits, and, when a Jewish numerologist (Ben Shenkman) becomes aware of this, he confides in Max that "the pattern in the Torah is 216 digits," and this discovery may hold the key to unlocking God's true name. Max, who doesn't believe in God, is more interested when his mentor (Bark Margolis) reveals that he once encountered a "bug" of 216 digits when he was investigating pi. Max's mathematical brilliance comes at a price, however: he has frequent, debilitating headaches and seizures that send him into a bizarre state of consciousness. During those episodes, he encounters people who stalk him then disappear, and, on one occasion, he discovers a brain lying on the ground in a New York City subway station. The key to Max's genius and pain appears to be a mark on his skull, and, perhaps in order to eliminate the one, he must sacrifice the other. Although the plot of PI is eccentric (even for a science fiction effort), Aronofsky's message is actually quite simple: life does not fit into neat patterns, and complete control is impossible. Oddly, this is also the underlying premise of the two JURASSIC PARK movies, proving that certain concepts are universal. However, the central theme is only one of many fascinating subjects tapped into by the screenplay. For example, Max's quest to use numerical patterns to model every aspect of the universe reveals some interesting facts about the Hebrew language. (In Hebrew, all letters have a numerical equivalent. The number for "man" is 3. The number for "woman" is 41. 41+3=44, which is the number for "child.") In addition to all of its intellectually-stimulating aspects, PI also works as a character study of an obsessed individual whose single-minded goal blinds him to everything else, including health, friendship, love, and even sanity. Aronofsky elected to shoot the film in black-and-white, which lends a dream-like atmosphere to all of the proceedings. PI transports us to a world that is like yet unlike our own, and, in its mysterious familiarity, is eerie, intense, and compelling. Reality is a fragile commodity, but, because the script is well-written and the central character is strongly developed, it's not hard to suspend disbelief. As the movie draws to a conclusion, it perhaps becomes a little too ambitious in trying to unify all the great questions of existence. At that point, PI slides with only limited success into an exploration of metaphysics and spirituality. Nevertheless, I prefer movies that take risks like this, even when they're flawed, to those that try for a safe, formula-driven resolution. So, while I didn't necessarily buy everything that transpired in the final fifteen minutes, I was surprised by much of it, and Aronofsky never lost my attention. For anyone who wants a movie to feed their intelligence and imagination more than their eyes and ears, PI is a solid choice. It probably deserves 3.1416 stars, but since my scale doesn't support that, I'll round it off to three.

I didn't like Pi. It was just too aberrant. I liked Pi. It was just so experimental and mentally inciting. Wanna see his next film, this Aronofsky guy, the director---and it's called "Proteus"---comes out next year. The main character was going insane---did he actually pound a nail in his head? (maybe that was just another hallucination)---I felt like the whole movie was forcing more and more water into this balloon, and ya knew it was gonna burst. Some of the scenes bored me more than anything, like the jewish cabalistic run-ins and the visits to the mentor....they dragged, for me---but they spread the movie out some. But the movie was just so different, I was willing to put up with alot. I wanted to see how he (Aronofsky) would make each spot in the film circumstantial---the atmospherics, the pacing, the intensity, how sound mixed with facial expressions and the angles his cameras got and then what that would lead to next....and I really liked the most bizarre sequences. At least his main character was real convincing and stuff.

Thanks for posting the review Jom, I sure as hell couldn't have explained it that well! I don't think he actually shot a nail into his head but the symbolism sure came screaming through (that scene triggered a very loud reactionary inhale from me!)

ok, i watched Protocol Wind yeah, big whoopdeedoo, but that's how i spent my columbus day (oh, not to mention the 4 hours in the courthouse for jury selection and then told to come back Wed-same bat time, same bat place--and they only picked 6--and held trial, what's up with that? isn't a jury made up of 12 members?)

Were they playing just half-court? I dunno how just that is, but if they only had one basket case to shoot at......oh and look at that ball sail----SWISH!----it's another 3-pointer for that one jurist who can't seem to put up a shot that misses----would that be what's up with that....? Hope ya get to play on Wednesday. Show 'em some woman-to-man defense that'll put all the attorneys on notice about their zones and their pick-and-rolls. It can be a very effective defense to use, or to watch from the bench or the stands or the jury box. Post pictures of any of your slam dunks, especially if it's a game winner, Wolfie.

well, this little wolf wasn't selected as a juror. the last dude just pleaded guilty. probably saw the big wolfie teefers i sport and figured he had a better chance in jail!

I saw the judge slow-dancing with the court reporter. The guilty party got 8 hours of community work: but the party lasted 10 hours and everyone at the trial was invited. You elected not to go, Wolfie?

Star Trek was last night but I saw ANTZ on Saturday night. Loved it! Much more adult in its humor than A Bug's Life and just as fascinating witht he graphics... all computer generated?!?!?

Saw A Bug's Life and loved it! oh, and to catch up on my cinemax movie going, recently watched: The Devil's Advocate Addicted To Love (luv meg ryan and matthew broderick--he's so cute!) The Edge In & Out well, that's the extent of my movie reviews so far. hopefully i'll be able to catch up during this holiday break (yeah, i actually got one)!

Oh Wolf, I LOVED In & Out! What did you think?!?!

it was hilarious! especially with tom selleck as the reporter! haha. i really liked the woman who played klein's fiance'. what's her name again? the part after her non-wedding when she goes to the bar!! (btw: hi stacey!)

Hi Wolf! That was Joan Cusack (John Cusack's sister)

YES!! She was so funny in this.....

she's always a gas!

Hurly burly ... quite the Penn performance certainly gets you thinking about lotsa random shit that you shouldn't necessarily be thinking about. Note to Mike: DO NOT go see this movie... could be as catastrophic as reading the Razor's Edge while depressed.

Last night I saw Shawshank Redemption. Pretty incredible film, although I turned away for some parts (not good to see men hanging themselves at the moment...)

i liked 'shawshank' a great deal... the bit with the music over the intercom will stay with me forever, i think... saw 'thin red line' last night... was even more disturbing than i thought it would be... not sure if the whole was the equal of the parts, but all in all it was superb... was a little bizarre, for me, witnessing this film in a theater filled with (pacifist, commie-leaning, largely godless) canadians... some of the people around me made comments during the film pertaining to what they perceived as the violent natures we yanks possess... didn't say anything, but it bothered me (felt sort of like the chris eigamen (msp.) character at the party in 'barcelona', if anyone's seen it)...

we saw 'wilde' last night (saw it at the hollywood theatre, an old venue downtown, and the house was nearly packed, which is a little curious, considering that this film is out on video in the next few days)... the film was a little uneven, i suppose... and perhaps a little tedious in places, for those not among oscar's admirers... i loved it, though... steven frye was simply wonderful, everything i've imagined oscar was... the scenes in prison were devestating, esp. the visit from his wife... (looked over at that point and paula was crying... not me though, i swear)... only criticism i would offer was that the film didn't feature enough of his work, or even a good enough sense of it... i suppose the makers of this film figured (rightly, i'm sure) that those in attendence would pretty much already be persuaded of oscar's greatness... still would've been nice to have seen more of it rendered... while flawed, 'wilde' was, all in all, an honest, elegant, and quite beautiful film (much like the man himself)...

I just saw "Pi". Incredible. Go and see it *immediately*.

ok

civil action....not on my top ten....no incentive for the characters.....didn't understand why we had to go through all that and then get the ending we got.....

because it was a true story, i imagine (that's why i'm not planning to see it... sounds like such a downer) (you doing okay?) (thinking bout going to see... something... maybe 'shakespeare in love again'... if i can get my lazy ass going)

I just came back from seeing "The Opposite of Sex". Quite a good film toward the end, but completely lame in the middle...I nearly fell asleep. Some good jokes. Worth the money? Probably not.

shakespeare in love was excellent! had never seen joseph fiennes before and he was good (as was gwyneth).... elizabeth was another stunner (jf in it too). never heard of the actress cate something but she was good. both of these films will be in my to-buy list! (nick-am doing well, homesick right now though)

saw "The Thin Red Line" last night... zzzzzzzzz....

Really? That bad?

not necessarily bad, just slow... made Titanic seem like a commercial break (got the impression it is probably one helluva book, though, something along the lines of Red Badge of Courage and Johnny Got His Gun...)

maybe they were trying to compete with tom hanks war film.....

At First Sight...moving parts but val talked like his teeth were too big for his mouth. he made the blind character seem retarded. not one of his best films. mira was good (but isn't she in everything she does?)....wait til it comes out on video....

saw City of Angels on satellite...

still haven't seen it.....

saw U-turn on satellite, as well... what a psychotic movie! (even for my tastes...)

that's the one with richard gere, right? i saw it too and it was bizarre...

last week we saw 'still crazy' (loved it... best film of the week)... and- even though as rule i detest action pictures... we saw 'enemy of the state'... (big fan of wil smith, and especially gene hackman... and this was a nice twist on his role from 'the conversation', if anyone's seen it)... it was a good film, weak in places, but overall worthwhile (and it has helped to politically energize paula, which is a welcome development)... also saw 'something about mary', for the third time (it was a weekend m dnight movie, and we were kind of bored... the theatre was actually two-thirds filled)... this week we're gonna see 'little voice' and 'life is beautiful', i think... oh, and the james whale picture, too, if we can find it (what's that called? can't seem to remember... with ian mckellan)... really looking forward to seeing some of those sundance films, hope it's not too awfully long before they're distributed...

am a fan of will smith too. but will probably wait for the video to come out. i'm not sure about the james whale picture. guess i don't keep track of directors!

'gods and monsters' (just remembered) (i think)

have seen that title a couple of times but no previews. what's it about?

Virus -- certianly not worth the big money, first run prices we paid last night.

just know it's about james whale, among my favorite directors from the thirties... (and the previews i've seen look excellent)

i'll have to look out for it then...

saw 'little voice', night before last... it was quite good, better than i thought it would be, actually... (and michael caine was amazing) (as always)

haven't heard of that one, either. saw gattica on max a few days ago. was interesting.

saw 'office space' friday... though i enjoyed the film (and it had tremendously funny moments), all in all it disappointed me... maybe because coming from mike judge, i expected so much... the film seemed...underdeveloped, i guess... cartoony, which isn't necessarily bad... just a little unsatisfying... (best scene- interview with the bobs- 'and what is YOUR favorite michael bolton tune?') thursday, we finally saw gods and monsters... it was quite fine, very moving, worth the wait... best of all, we saw it in a beautiful old theater, as the front end of a double feature...with bride of frankenstein... always wanted to see it on the big screen, and it was wonderful...

whereabout in Seattle do you live now?

wait, i forgot, who's in office space? (and i'm still waiting to see contact and city of angels)...oh, caught murder of the crows with cuba gooding jr., good flick....

just got done watching "Devil's Advocate," enjoyed it more than one should, probably... definately very intriguing...

I thought that was indeed a fantastic movie... oh man guys... we found a new dollar theatre (since they closed out old one down!) not only does it have a working pinball machine... the tickets are 50 cents!!! (popcorn and cokes are still outrageously expensive but 50 cents for tickets!! We saw Enemy of the State... okay... high action which I enjoyed but very contrived and kinda missing pieces a lot had to be assumed and a lot didn't jive but for 50 cents!!!!????? I'd see it again.

Lucky Stacey. They just closed down the last discount theater in South Austin. The only ones are now in the northern 'burbs and can't be reached by bus. Matinees are now $4, which enters the "is it worth it?" price zone. You can see anything for $1.50, ya know what I mean? Alamo Drafthouse downtown (Colorado between 4th and 5th)has $2 movies and food and beer. "Waterboy" is playing there now. Might go see it if it's there next weekend. Nothing wrong with a little stoopid fun.

certianly nothing wrong with that (a little stoopid fun!) sympathies for the ridiculous movie prices...

saw In Dreams lastnight for 50 cents!!!!! woo woo! Horrible camera guy... kept seeing the microphone drop into scenes from the top. Unbelieveable. Like a spoof The movie was okay. Robert Downey Jr. plays a fabulous psycho. So does Annette Benning for that matter. But the microphone holder (does he have a real name/title) sucked and it kept breaking the spell.

he would be the best boy or gaffer, methinks.

well he was the WORST best boy and somebody shoulda gaffed him with the damn mic!

*lol* it was the director who shoulda told him to keep his mike outta the frame! they probably couldn't edit it out once they noticed it there. maybe they figured others would be so engrossed they'd not have time to notice details!

I almost always notice when someone's mike is stuck where it doesn't belong, especially when it's out in plain sight, Wolf...

it's a deal killer...

*smile*

*lol*

on the plane... at first sight pleasantville at the cheapo theatre while jet lagging... a civil action in Germany... Gattaca (dubbed) oh yeah... I forgot the other plane movie was Star Trek Insurrection...

and the not-so-plane movies were?

cute... they were mostly plain...

thanks... oh...

i saw Star Trek on the plane, too

where were you going?

new york

good trip?

yup. met my future in-laws. saw things. came home.

glad things are still going well!

me too. how'd you like the big apple mike?

like it is in films. and the jewellery is disgustingly gaudy. apart from that...just like another place. underwhelmed is probably the word i'd use.

mike, when you post do you mark them as 'hidden'?? I always miss your posts unless I log on right after and they're still on the "latest posts" list. So when I telnet, I miss em altogether cause they never show up as new... glad you had a good trip... how long did ya stay?

Matrix. A cyberpunk novel visualized. The concept was fantastic. THe special effects were incredible. The acting was well... Wolf could back me up on this one... Keanu Reeves is NOT my favorite actor as far as talent goes... he wasn't bad. I actually liked him in the movie The script incorporated a lot of his natural casualness... he made a pretty good cybergeek turned messiah-like It was full priced and I don't have any regrets about the seven bucks. (of course B paid for it so...)

i dno't think my posts are hidden stacey...certainly not intentionally, anyway. i stayed for about 4 days i think

short trip for such a long flight... when do you go back?

don't know

Ca is coming back here at the beginning of june, though. and she'll be staying with a view to staying permanently

woo woo!

woo hoo!! i'm waiting for matrix to come out on video.

guess what i just saw? ok, i'll tell. i just watched "something about mary" and laughed my arse off the whole film. the part that really cracked me up was mary's hair when she finally went out with ted!! oh my, i laughed so much my throat hurt. gonna buy that one!!

funny that, wolfy, cos my friend and I rented it again at the weekend - superb film!

MUMMY opens tonight... I think we're scraping the $7 bucks together for first run tix

mummy???? oh, the hubby rented species 2 but said it wasn't nearly as good as the first one. (when are sequels ever? except on those rare occasions)

oh, midsummer's night dream opens tonight or this weekend (methinks)

MUMMY... Pandora's Box type horror/action involving a... you guessed it! MUMMY! We first saw the previews during the Superbowl and have been waiting MONTHS for it to open... High expectations usually mean letdown... Hmmmm... maybe we shouldn't go. *furrowed brow*

don't worry about it. go!

speaking of sequels, I heard a rumour they're making Toy Story 2 - MORE ALIEN FOOTAGE!!! Woo-hoo!

I hardly ever pop in here, but I had to mention that I just saw The Blair Witch Project, and it is a definite must see. It just opened here in Boston on Friday and is selling out like hotcakes! It will open nationwide on July 30. For an original, extremely creepy, scary time (sans blood, guts and chainsaws), this movie will stay with you forever.

who's in it laura? i haven't heard of it.

This movie was the darling of the Sundance Film Festival, no one you've ever heard of is in it. I don't want to give away the premiss of the movie, but this web page will clue you in. www.blairwitch.com It's a creepy, scary webpage. The movie is brilliantly done. blurs fiction and reality together. Very intense.

thanks....

Hi, Laura, thanks for dropping in!

saw General's Daughter on Sunday night -- Good, disturbing scenes in some places but good movie saw The Blair Witch Project on Monday night -- I enjoyed the break from typical films... documentary style, believeable... kinda spooky but not like modern fright flicks...no special effects, just playing on fears...

Sunday night I went out to see "Plan 9 From Outer Space", a horribly cool C- or D-Movie from Ed Wood. THAT Ed Wood, right. And featuring Vampira and some leftover shots of Bela Lugosi, great stuff! Plus a new theatre, one I haven't been to before - but I will come back to that one!

i've heard clips on the radio of folks who were darn-right scared after watching the blair witch project. i saw a show on the making of it (actually an interview with one of the actors) and the way it was filmed would be hard to watch, i think. have to wait for video on that one. we watched inspector gadget in the theatre *grin* with the kids last weekend. great flick if you want good squeaky clean fun. i love matthew broderick anyway, and he did a great job with this role considering all the special effects. the kids probably won't catch the asides towards some other films (like evil gadget's teeth-what a close resemblance to the mask and something about mary's matt dillon's dental do up). what i really liked was that they stayed with the cartoon as far as penny, brain, and the claw go (he even had his cat!).

Nobody into Bela Lugosi? Or the All-American Non-Hero, Ed Wood?

saw Austin Powers 2 last night... just as inane as the first IMHO... I liked it!

saw Sixth Sense a couple of weeks ago... really got into it saw Stir of Echoes a few days ago... similar, but different

just watched the mummy. now who played the mummy? he was fine! the hubby thought he was billy zane but i don't think so. anyway, the story was good and romantic. loved brandon fraser and he will be added to my babe list (along with the mummy).

oh, speaking of brandon fraser, do not, i repeat, do not waste your money on dudley dooright. it stunk big time. can't stand sarah jessica parker anyway and this film didn't change my views at all. poor brandon, the story didn't get any juice until dooright had to go doowrong. *thumbs down*

Brendan Fraser (a decent comedian) will never be associated with excellence in cinema.

Brendan was at his best in the obscure movie called "Still Breathing" which is topic 13 in the movies conference. I thought that was worth seeing more for the music, the mood and the region (it was done locally in San Antonio) more than anything else. And I was at the premiere in Austin and got to meet the folks in the movie.

He was also terrific in "Blast from the Past." He actually got to play a guy with brains, class, and terrific ballroom dancing skills. I was impressed. I always thought of him as a decent physical comedian, an impressive physical specimen, and not much more.

yes, still breathing was a good one! haven't seen blast from the past yet...

oh yeah, he was also in with honors (think that was the name of it).

In the last month and a half I've seen... "Forces of Nature" -- kinda cute "Deep Blue Sea" -- groovy effects and neat idea but pretty cheesy "Bringing Out the Dead" -- get ready to be depressed... good movie with a VERY slow start "Stigmata" -- Woo Woo! great movie... of course "The Seventh Sign" is one of my faves too... they're pretty similar

Isn't there a Bergman movie called the "Seventh Seal"?

Yes!

I'll have to check out Stigmata, could you give us a review, Stacey?

toy story 2 was great! i must tell you i laughed my rear off!!

I sit in front of the cinema-plex in our biggest Mall when I am tending the Angel Tree for the Salvation Army, and I stare at the posters for the movie. It looks funny! Is it much funnier than the first one?

I saw an intriguing movie with Robert Deniro, Helen someone (old, famous actress, help me), Gwyneth Paltrow and the lead guy whose name I can't remember. The two grow up as children and romp around in the old dowagers mansion and then have various intriguing encounters as they grow up. Help me on those names. The guy was the lead in that movie where he had to fake his dna to get on the rocket flight.

ethan hawke...now as to helen..... marcia, i found ts2 to be much funnier than the first but i loved the first just as much!

Did you feel like you needed to be a guy to sit with the guys in this one, too, or did you not experience that fun phenomenon?! (Gotta go to the movies without the college crowd cramping my style next time!)

The movie was "Great Expectations" and I missed the beginning, so I'll watch it again on the sat dish. Has anyone read the Dickens book?

yes, and i've seen the movie a couple of times as well.

I have as well - several versions, in fact (the movie - the book has only one version which I also have...)Have you checked http://imdb.com/

Great Expectations (1998) Page 1 of 29 Directed by Alfonso Cuar�n Writing credits Charles Dickens (novel) Mitch Glazer Video (VHS) DVDs Soundtrack Books Auctions zShops Genre: Drama / Romance (more) Tagline: Let desire be your destiny. User Rating: 6.2/10 (1864 votes) Plot Outline: Modernization of Charles Dickens classic story finds the hapless Finn as a painter in New York pursuing his unrequited and haughty childhood love. (more) User Comments: A Creative "Attempt" at a Literary Masterpiece (more) Cast overview, first billed only: Ethan Hawke .... Finnegan Bell Gwyneth Paltrow .... Estella Hank Azaria .... Walter Plane Chris Cooper (I) .... Uncle Joe Anne Bancroft .... Ms. Nora Diggers Dinsmoor Robert De Niro .... Prisoner - Lustig Josh Mostel .... Jerry Ragno Kim Dickens .... Maggie Nell Campbell .... Erica Thrall Gabriel Mann .... Owen Jeremy James Kissner .... Finnegan, age 10 Raquel Beaudene .... Estella, age 10 Stephen Spinella .... Carter Macleish Marla Sucharetza .... Ruth Shepard Isabelle Anderson .... Lois Pop

yes and did you notice they didn't call finnegan "pip"?

I did note that and wondered why. Any idea? I have not heard...

maybe to modernize it or something.....i don't remember estella and pip getting together in the end either......

No. It was implied but never settled as I recall. Must check and report back.

It was pretty ambiguous. It left a lot to the imagination.

saw you've got mail this morning. i don't want to give it away, but the one night that meg leaves work and looks back and sees her mom and her twirling just tore me up. good movie though, meg and tom have good chemistry on screen.

want to catch anna and the king. love jodie foster and have only just discovered mr. phat (sp?). caught him in a movie with mira servino and can't remember the name of it.

Did you notice they had A&E's Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth in one of the shots??? (in "You've got Mail" of course)

yes i did and they referred to it several times and now i know where mr darcy comes from! *grin*

*sigh*...am delighted you noticed. You have not seen it (P&P2)? *gasp*

um, no, haven't, it's something i should rent, huh?

Gadzooks, girl! I should send you a care package. I have all sorts of them (John has my off-the-air tape) and I have the 6 volume set and I have a Drool tape with just the best of Darcy on it...*sigh* I am going to get the DVD, too. If you have trouble renting it, let me know!

Um...to answer your original question, it will change your life. Please find a way to see it - it was recently re-run on A&E. I shall let you know when they show it again.

Just saw Fight Club ... way freaky weird... an 'out there' film in the style of Tarantino mixed with... a Zen zelot... certainly not what I expected

Sounds like a thumbs up?

ummm... if you're the kinda guy that can handle the violence and enjoys strangeness...

I just saw Snow Falling on Cedars and thought the movie was as good as the book.

Who's in it?

another ethan hawke film. i wanted to see the movie but when i heard how good the book was, i thought i'd wait. usually the books are better. so the movie was true to the book, sheryl?

saw snow day in the theatre, it wasn't too bad.... ok, and now the movies (if i can remember them all) that i've watched on t.v. if these walls could talk 2: the first act was rather sad, and the third was a bit risque for my taste. the whole film was good though.... equinox: kinda weird until you see it the second time, then you get it. matthew modine is in this one... the evening star: sad but not a tear jerker like terms of endearment (tho i haven't seen the whole (terms) thing yet).... a night at the roxbury: loved it, must've seen it six times....the wild brother made me think of prince (oh, the artist formerly known as prince, sorry)...i could see him doing a parody of prince's music/videos.... the thin red line: i mentioned this in babes (under male babes)....seemed like they were trying to follow along saving pvt ryan, with philosophical narration from different soldiers...and then to watch the credits and find out just how many popular and well known folks were in it. left me wondering where in the heck they all were. good flick but violent.... once around: (danny aiello, gena rowlands, richard dryfuss, and the gal from the piano, man if i can't remember her name) good movie, left me wondering what dryfuss' character was up to....i cried but briefly..... the godfather: didn't get through the whole thing but couldn't believe how young al pacino was! my goodness!! wasn't nearly as violent as i thought it would be..... and that saps my memory so far.....

ok, been awhile since i've posted here and, looks like, anybody else. so let's recap some of my most recent films: erin brockovich: good movie, julia was great as a working, say it like it is, single-mom and whomever the guy that played her boss was excellent! return to me: david duchovny and minnie driver played off each other well. i liked this movie and completely forgot that dd is fox mulder on t.v. why his movies don't do better is beyond me because this was great albeit off to a slow start. no naked bodies and no cussing. it was great!! forces of nature: i liked this one, but i like sandra bullock (except for the speed films). ben affleck was great as well. modern vampires: (or something like that) with james woods. it was out there. matrix: about the 3rd time, but each time, you get closer to what's up. (and they're working on matrix 2) and a bunch of other films on tv that i can't think of right now.

Wow, Matrix 2! Havne't seen the other ones yet. Are any of these on video yet?

no, not on video yet (at least the first two). matrix is out on video.

oh, and mummy 2 is in the works as well (arnold vosloo will be the mummy again, yummy mummy)

Just watched Loch Ness for the third time. i enjoy it every time. The scenery's great, i love the nessie story, and it's so uplifting.

just came back from rocky and bullwinkle. i loved it and really can't compare it to the cartoon because, due to my military brat status, we spent most of our time in germany. i laughed out loud and loved the selection of actors for the villians. they did a good job. much better than dudley dooright, IMMHO. and i caught boys don't cry. didn't expect the ending it had (but won't give it away here). it was good and the gal (sorry, don't remember her name) who played the main character deserved that oscar. she did an excellent job!

The actress's name is Hilary Swank.

yes, thanks cheryl!

watched part of the blair witch project. didn't care for it. didn't find it scary but can understand why it would be. didn't finish the whole thing though. got tired of hearing that gal's voice!

but i must say it was cleverly done and behaved like a real documentary.

and am catching arlington road right now.

Blair Witch didn't do anything for me.

and i was floored by arlington road. didn't expect the ending and just sat there with my mouth agape!

wild wild west: hated it. (though i love salma hayek, will smith, and kevin kline)

the iron giant. loved it!!

the love letter was great too!

went to see the kid last weekend. great movie!

i know you guys are out there watching movies! eyes wide shut was stupid (sorry tom cruise, but ya let me down) just came back from the cell-great flick! wonderful costumes, wonderful special effects, some pretty gross stuff too. but it was a good movie.

got something to add about the cell: they mentioned some things during the movie but i don't think there was time for them to explore those issues. could've been left out and it wouldn't have affected anything. and the end was left like there could be a sequel. anyway, the movie has an interesting theory if you're into psychology. oh, and the whole madonna thing wasn't a play on the Holy Mother. she was trying to be non-threatening and secure for what was going on at the time.

what lies beneath: at one point, everyone in the theatre jumped! this was a good one.

Dragonheart 2 .....really enjoyed it ..some very funny bits too ....but I did love Sean Connery as the dragon in Dragonheart 1 ..this dragon was a bit 'twee' ..still, made a nice family evening.

American Beauty (missed the middle of it but with the beginning and the end, put it together)....liked kevin spacey (very sexy in this one)and annette benning. um....Three To Tango, great chick flick!

U-571--good show, forgot that was jon bon jovi in there too (and MM was HOT) What Lies Beneath--hated that they were dead but the movie plays on theories about the hereafter and it was good. Grinch--i enjoyed it but hated the stupid wait and got seats on the outer edge of the screen. we had to sit sideways to watch it. i enjoy the cartoon better but they did a good job on sticking to the story.

Rugrats in Paris--I was hohum but the kids enjoyed it and the theatre was nearly empty--maybe 15 people tops!

As mentioned in the Babes conf., I saw Double Jeopardy with Tommy Lee Jones and Ashley J-J-J-J-J-Judd...mmmmmmmmm...she made up for the fact that it was a total chick flick :-)

Fried Green Tomatoes, I loved it, another chick flick! With Kathy Bates. A classic.

i've seen that several times and loved it each time!!

Maybe I need to do some self-educating, huh?!

yesterday, while convalescing, i watched a french movie (had subtitles and everything)....it was really good! Horse on the Roof with Juliette Binoche and some really handsome man. i love JB and now the man that played opposite her has a new fan. will have to find a pic of him and then let you guys in on JB in babes!

ok, i need to correct myself, while searching for the elusive actor in the above film, the correct name is The Horseman on the Roof. the gorgeous leading man was played by Olivier Martinez....he was pretty though, but also very manly!

oh yeah, caught Rules of Engagement and High Fidelity. The first one was excellent and a great military film concerning the differences between the world and military justice. high fidelity stunk and i like john cusak (btw, his sister is in this movie too).

Superstar--it was alright but Night at the Roxbury was way better.... The Patriot--good movie, reminded me a lot of Braveheart...... Emperor's New Groove.....this was funny and I was the only one in the theatre laughing (i think).

Gladiator--yes, i finally caught this flick. it was good, but i must say, the way they did the beginning, too much jerky camera movement. overall, this is a great film and is right up there with the epical patriot and braveheart!

Notting Hill and Runaway Bride....i liked runaway bride better than notting hill but, Julia was great in both of them...glad they didn't do the pretty woman thing between julia and richard gere. hugh grant was also great playing a nobody against julia's very famous actress character, although, i was thinking that a "very famous actress" would be much older and so i was wondering how this younger actress would have earned such a title...but hey, it's just a movie!

oh, the supporting cast in notting hill was great! they really made the movie fun!!!

Cast Away. It's great but I won't comment on it till I hear some other folks here have seen it.

big momma's house--this was good but i couldn't help seeing a bit of eddie murphy and robin williams in it!

Anywhere But Here with Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman. Of course I cried!

Chicken Run, finally caught it and it was great! Anna and the King, what a moving film. Love Jodie Foster and Mr. Fat, they played well opposite each other. He is a commanding presence in his own right and then to have JF too, just wow!

I finally saw the Millenium Man with Robin Williams last night, after I watched a rerun of Temptation Island (tv conference topic), I loved it. I think there may have been times when I might now have enjoyed it on some occasions, but I was in the mood for a movie like this last night. (watching the Bush swearing in on tv, they're singing God Bless America)

I went to a Bush protest this morning. I feel that we have no president for the next four years. We have the resident (in the White House), but no president. My Mom says that when ever the "resident" arrives the band will play "Hail to the Thief". I loved "Chicken Run" though. Has anybody caught Chow Yun Fat in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"? Great movie!

Haven't seen it. I saw Cast Away, have you seen this yet Cheryl? Clintons still talking at Andrews Air Force Base.

Caught Gone in Sixty Seconds last night. Since I love Nicholas Cage, this was just another one of his good ones. Cheryl, I'd like to see that one (crouching tiger)....