Recently watched movies

[Artemis]

On 6/24/2020 at 1:40 PM, Carol the Dabbler said:

In cases like that (where very little time has elapsed), you can simply edit your first post to include the additional information.

I've even been known to go back and edit a post days, weeks, or even months later, if there's a word I want to change.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

2 hours ago, Artemis said:

I've even been known to go back and edit a post days later, if there's a word I want to change

Me too -- years later, even.

But I think there's a difference between tweaking the wording and adding something new.  If you're adding something that you'd like people to see, then it's best to create a new post for it -- unless it's only been a short while since you posted the original.  (I generally check the Who's Online box at the bottom of the page, which tells who's been on the forum in the past fifteen minutes.  If there's nobody but me, then I define "a short while" as fifteen minutes.)

 

[Artemis]

"Lights Out!", a PBS documentary currently available on Amazon Prime.  Discusses how light affects our health.  Very interesting, some compelling science there.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

11 hours ago, Artemis said:

"Lights Out!", a PBS documentary currently available on Amazon Prime.  Discusses how light affects our health.  Very interesting, some compelling science there.

Any bullet points you could share (for those of us too cheap to pay for Prime)?

Added:  I looked for info about the documentary on the PBS website, but all I came up with was info on a book by Ted Koppel about the vulnerability of the American power grid -- was that also covered in the documentary you're talking about?  I did find it listed on Amazon, though, clearly the right one.

[Artemis]

On 6/28/2020 at 12:48 PM, Carol the Dabbler said:

the vulnerability of the American power grid -- was that also covered in the documentary you're talking about?

No, that wasn't discussed.  It delved into circadian rhythm, melatonin, light wavelengths and all that.

On 6/28/2020 at 12:48 PM, Carol the Dabbler said:

Any bullet points you could share (for those of us too cheap to pay for Prime)?

Sorry, I've forgotten some of the details now.  Might be a little complex for bullet points anyway.

 

[Artemis]

I've been watching tons of documentaries lately, all on Prime (sorry, non-Prime people).

"The Dust Bowl", and "American Experience: Blackout".  I've seen these two before.  "The Dust Bowl" is a 2-parter about the drought, dust storms, and irresponsible agricultural habits that nearly turned the Oklahoma Panhandle and surrounding states into a desert during the Great Depression.  I rewatch it every few years, I just find it so fascinating.  "Blackout" is about the 1977 power blackout in New York and the ensuing chaos and destruction.

"Snowdonia 1890".  A miniseries about 2 modern-day Welsh families living for a month on a smallholding in Snowdonia as if the year were 1890.

"Angel of Nanjing".  The Yangtze River Bridge in China is the most popular place in the world to commit suicide.  A man named Chen Si voluntarily spends his weekends patrolling the bridge to stop people from killing themselves.

"One Child Nation".  The impact of China's one-child policy on Chinese families.

"It's a Girl".  Female infanticide around the world, particularly China and India.

"Most Likely to Succeed" (2019).  A filmmaker follows 4 people who were voted 'most likely to succeed' in high school and documents their evolving lives over 10 years.

"Plastic China".  Follows two families working on a rural "plastic farm", where plastic waste from other countries (and their own) is imported and recycled.

"Signs of Humanity".  An artist roadtrips across America, buying and collecting signs from the homeless for his art project.

"Fasting".  The different types of fasting and their health benefits.

"West by Orphan Train".  Between 1854 and 1929, an estimated 250,000 orphans were transported by train from overcrowded East Coast cities to farmers in the Midwest with the hope they would have better lives.

"No Impact Man".  A man and his family devote one year to reducing their waste and living without amenities that impact the environment.  So no electricity (lights, TV, fridge, etc.), no gas-powered vehicles, no throw-away food containers, no eating out (organic, seasonal, and locally-grown food only), no coffee, no toilet paper, no disposable diapers, etc.  This one I had to find on YouTube.

"Just Eat It".  A couple investigates massive food waste and tries to reduce their own waste by living on discarded or rejected food for 6 months.

"Wheat and Tares".  Follows a few of the people who believed the world was going to end on May 21, 2011, with interviews before and briefly after the date.

"Happy".  An exploration of what makes people happy.

"Out in the Cold".  Two filmmakers see what it's like to spend a week homeless in the midst of a Minnesota winter.

"Generation Wealth".  How the single-minded pursuit of wealth has affected society and individuals.  Interesting, but lots of nudity, and will mostly make you sick at the corruption.

"Consumed".  The psychology behind consumerism.

"Drying for Freedom".  People who are fighting for the right to dry their clothes on lines instead of in a dryer.

 

[Artemis]

As for movies that aren't documentaries, lately I've seen:

"Hamilton".  Excellent, excellent excellent.  Deserves all the praise it's received.  And I don't like too many musicals.  Available via Disney+.

"The Story of Robin Hood".  An older version of Robin Hood I'd never seen before, and one of the better ones, in my opinion.

"To Walk Invisible: The Bronte Sisters".  Quite good, but ends rather sadly.  I never knew they had such a tumultuous family life.

"The Help".  Been wanting to see this one for a long time, and liked it.  Sad subject, but I knew that going in.

"My Spy".  I had a few chuckles, but I'd hoped it would be funnier than it was.

"Cosmos".  I loved this movie at the start, much more than I expected to.  I thought I was turning on a sci-fi popcorn flick about aliens, and ended up with a story about healing a friendship, life's disappointments, and the love of discovery, with a sci-fi bent.  It was long and slow, but not so much that I was bored, and that's what I was in the mood for anyway.  I was really liking it until the last half hour or so, when it got super cheesy and melodramatic.  That kinda ruined it, but I liked the rest enough that I would still give it a high rating.  It was also a pretty movie, for those who appreciate good cinematography.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

7 hours ago, Artemis said:

"Angel of Nanjing".  The Yantze River Bridge in China is the most popular place in the world to commit suicide.  A man named Chen Si voluntarily spends his weekends patrolling the bridge to stop people from killing themselves.

Just call him Clarence, eh?  That is so awesome!

7 hours ago, Artemis said:

"Drying for Freedom".  People who are fighting for the right to dry their clothes on lines instead of in a dryer.

I had no idea that was illegal!  Or is it against the rules of some homeowners' associations?  Alex and I had thought of buying a few acres for a house, until we discovered that we'd be required to keep the whole thing mowed.  We ended up buying a four-acre lot in a different subdivision, and are allowing the edges to revert to meadow and forest.

6 hours ago, Artemis said:

"Hamilton".  Excellent, excellent excellent.  Deserves all the praise it's received.  And I don't like too many musicals.

I'd heard it was good, but had no idea it was a musical!  Sounds odd, but apparently it works.

6 hours ago, Artemis said:

"The Story of Robin Hood".  An older version of Robin Hood I'd never seen before, and one of the better ones, in my opinion.

Do you mean the 1952 version with Richard Todd?  I'm reasonably certain that some years later they showed this movie as a "miniseries" on the Disney TV show.  I didn't like it as well as the British production that was running on TV at the time, but I was young, and suspect that my preference was largely influenced by Richard Greene's dimples.

 

[J.P.]

9 hours ago, Artemis said:

"Drying for Freedom".  People who are fighting for the right to dry their clothes on lines instead of in a dryer.

Is this a thing?

[Carol the Dabbler]

Apparently so, at least in the US and Canada.  I just looked it up and found this Wikipedia item.  I am pleased to see that my state has a law forbidding communities to ban clotheslines, although the subdivision where we live has no such prohibition in any case.

 

[Valkyrie123]

Has anyone watched Hamilton? Is it good? I'm considering getting Disney + to watch it. (We're on the waiting list but the average wait is 3 years). I like a good musical and when I was younger I considered myself a bit of a theatre geek.

[Caya]

It's ... different, imo; not my kind of music but it was a good watch anyway because of the sheer energy and because I felt it was a fresh new take on musicals. Ymmv, of course.

As for Disney+ in general, we got it at the special preorder rate back in March (it started later here) when it was 49 bucks for the first year. I feel I've easily got that money's worth out of it (via the National Geographic part alone, and I love the Imagineering series) but we're not sure if we'll take it a second year. Will depend on how much new content they keep bringing.

[Valkyrie123]

I don't think I'm actually prepared to pay, I'm a broke student, but what I can do is sign up for a free trial, to watch it.

However, I am 5 years old in the sense that I love Disney movies. They're my guilty pleasure. 

If my financial situation changes in the next month, I might consider buying Disney plus.

[Caya]

I'm really into Disney too, both the parks and the movies, but that wasn't my main reason for taking Disney+ (not as if I hadn't seen almost all of them before and had like half on DVD, after all ). Still, it's nice having access to the Pixar shorts and such.
 

[Carol the Dabbler]

3 hours ago, Valkyrie123 said:

Has anyone watched Hamilton? Is it good? I'm considering getting Disney + to watch it. (We're on the waiting list but the average wait is 3 years). I like a good musical and when I was younger I considered myself a bit of a theatre geek.

Haven't seen it (though I've heard good things about it).  Just wanted to say I like your new name, Val -- it's distinctive.  There are a whole bunch of SherLOCKED this-and-that's around here, for some reason.

 

[Valkyrie123]

5 minutes ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

Haven't seen it (though I've heard good things about it).  Just wanted to say I like your new name, Val -- it's distinctive.  There are a whole bunch of SherLOCKED this-and-that's around here, for some reason.

 

Thanks, I realised that my name was a bit cliche and decided to change it. I've always loved the concept of Valkyries so there you go. 😄

[Fantasy Lover]

Onward

Me and three other friends watched this film, all four of us related to the film. Two of them because the last memory they have of a relative is them dying with tubes, the third because he saw it as an allegory of how people lost touch with nature and I because I relate to the main protagonists. You see, I grew up without my paternal grandparents. There is this void in my life that will never be filled, questions that will never be answered. I would do anything to be able to spend 24 hours with them, so I can get a glimpse of how my life would be if they were still alive. This movie made me realise that 24 hours is not enough, I'll always want more. So a 7/10 for the movie.

[Artemis]

On 7/24/2020 at 1:25 PM, Fantasy Lover said:

You see, I grew up without my paternal grandparents.

Virtual *hugs* to you.  I also grew up without my grandparents, maternal and paternal (although I did get a little time with my paternal grandmother).  I don't know most of my family.  I didn't notice a void when I was a child, but I feel it now as an adult.

I liked "Onward" too, it was a relatable film with a good message, I thought.

 

[Fantasy Lover]

Thanks for the hugs[mention=2761]Artemis[/mention].

 

Anyhow, no movie review today but a review of 2 Dutch documentaries.

 

Dare to ask 8/10

 

If you ever wanted to ask something to someone that was inappropriate, this is for you. They asked people with dwarfism, addicts, people who are into BDSM, Muslims, wheelchair users, polygamists, priests and people with eating disorders. It had questions that I expected, but some questions that I expected would be asked weren't in it.

 

Season 2 which will air soon will involve early dementia, nuns, people with HIV, Jews, obese people, and nobles. I'm curious already.

 

 

Procreation 8/10

 

It involved more than why people procreate or not, it covered how in 60 years time our society changed: it went from being encouraged to have like 10 children to being criticised if you have as much as 3 children, how some people see pregnancy and children through rose-colored glasses and get PPD when they find out it's not filled with cupcakes and rainbows, whether or not it's selfish not to have children (it isn't), whether or not it's inconsiderate towards people who are infertile (also no), how the concept of a biological clock came to be and the infuriating dubbel standard that when you ask someone who has children why they wanted them, the vague answer "Because I wanted to." is acceptable whereas if you ask someone who doesn't want children the answer "Because I don't want one." isn't acceptable and you still get the bs "But who will take care of you when you are old?" and one person they interviewed pointed out the naked truth that few people actually take care of their relatives at old age, they put them in a nursing home and visit them a few times a year.

 

There are 2 things that annoyed me about it: they interviewed teenagers who were like 11 or 12 if they wanted kids or not, and at that age you have romanticised view of the future. I'd prefer it if they interviewed people in their early 20's because they are more realistic. and at one point they interviewed someone who conducted a research about the happiness of children who grew up with same sex parents and concluded that they had the same happiness as children who grew up in a "traditional family", which kind of unintentionally implies that children of single parents, divorced parents and parents who remarried are less happy, which is bs of course.

 

I only wish this documentary was aired last year because last year a handful of women I know got pregnant and I felt guilty about my decision to remain childless, I felt like there was something wrong with me, I was pissed about the fact that my biological clock was frozen solid in a 10 inch cube and showing absolutely no signs of thawing, and felt that I disappointed my mother by not giving her grandchildren. But some time after that we had a conversation about about it and she said it was okay that she wouldn't get grandchildren, you can imagine a huge weight fell off my shoulders.

 

 

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

7 hours ago, Fantasy Lover said:

2 Dutch documentaries.

Dare to ask 8/10

If you ever wanted to ask something to someone that was inappropriate this is for you. They asked people with dwarfism, addicts, people who are into BDSM, Muslims, wheelchair users, polygamists, priests and people with eating disorders. It had questions that I expected, but some questions that I expected would be asked weren't in it.

Season 2 which will air soon will involve early dementia, nuns, people with HIV, Jews, obese people, and nobles. I'm curious already.

That is a brilliant idea!  We have a friend who was born completely blind, so any time I have "blind" questions, I ask her.  But I sure wouldn't go up to a stranger (or even an acquaintance) and ask them analogous questions about their situation.  I'm assuming they asked for volunteers to both ask and answer the questions, so there was no impoliteness involved.  And presumably the askers were genuinely curious and the answerers were happy to clear up misconceptions, so everyone was happy.

7 hours ago, Fantasy Lover said:

when you ask someone who has children why they wanted them, the vague answer "Because I wanted to." is acceptable whereas if you ask someone who doesn't want children the answer "Because I don't want one." isn't acceptable

Same thing with weight.  If a friend says "I'm worried about you because you've lost so much weight lately," that's fine, but if I say, "I'm worried about you because you've gained so much weight lately," that's considered rude.  Odd, isn't it?

10 hours ago, Fantasy Lover said:

you still get the bs "But who will take care of you when you are old?" and one person they interviewed pointed out the naked truth that few people actually take care of their relatives at old age, they put them in a nursing home and visit them a few times a year.

Oh, goodness, how true!  When Mom was starting to lose her memory, my cousins were pressuring my brother and me to put her into a "home."  They actually seemed to think we were abusing her, simply by not doing so.

11 hours ago, Fantasy Lover said:

they interviewed someone who conducted a research about the happiness of children who grew up with same sex parents and concluded that they had the same happiness as children who grew up in a "traditional family", which kind of unintentionally implies that children of single parents, divorced parents and parents who remarried are less happy, which is bs of course.

I don't think they intended to imply that (or that they did imply that).  The only comparison they made was between kids with same-sex parents and kids with a mother and a father, which says nothing at all about other types of families.  It's hard enough for a research study to do justice to just one comparison.

11 hours ago, Fantasy Lover said:

... last year a handful of women I know got pregnant and I felt guilty about my decision to remain childless, I felt like there was something wrong with me, I was pissed about the fact that my biological clock was frozen solid in a 10 inch cube and showing absolutely no signs of thawing, and felt that I disappointed my mother by not giving her grandchildren.

Hey, it's hard enough to do a decent job of living your life the way you think you should, without trying to plan your own personal life around other people's opinions.  (Yeah, I know, easier said than done.)  But I'm glad that your mother eased your mind later on, and that the documentary also helped.

 

[Artemis]

"The Old Guard".

A team of world-weary immortals protects the world in secret.

 

 

 

[Artemis]

"Project Power".

A revolutionary new drug endows you with a superpower for 5 minutes.  Results may vary.

 

 

 

[HerlockSholmes]

Apologies for going off-topic but I’ve just finished watching the HBO series “I’ll Be Gone In The Dark” about one woman’s quest to bring the Golden State Killer to justice. I’m certain that you know the story. Great series of 6 episodes if you haven’t seen it. The book was recommended to me a while ago so I ordered it from Amazon with 25% off and guess what? I still had some Christmas voucher money to be deducted so I saved a huge....68p. 

Hey, every penny counts.🙂

Edited September 14, 2020 by Carol the Dabbler
Moved here from another thread.

[Hikari]

Herl,

After the discussion of the Enola Holmes film, I watched Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows again over the weekend.

Still good!  I have really warmed up to RDJ's Holmes.  He is definitely not in the classic mold of Sherlocks of the past.  Unrelentingly Extrovert and definitely  not lanky and skinny.  Holmes may be a pugilist in practice, but RDJ is built like one.  He's got excellent Sherlock hair, and what I think makes him successful overall is that Holmes esprit of indefatigable self-confidence & enthusiasm for the game afoot.   He tends to be very nasty to Mrs. Hudson, and she takes the exasperation to a new level . . I think we miss the maternal indulgence of her relationship with her troublesome tenant, and I do not recall Sherlock of canon every being intentionally rude.  Demanding, yes, but he always makes it up to her.  I think Mrs. H. has come 'round to accepting that life without SH living upstairs would be a lot more peaceful, but a lot more dull.

The chess showdown with Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls is the highlight of that film, and for me, personally, I think it's the highlight of RDJ's performance as Holmes across both films.  We've seen him have a great romp and chew the scenery and do the disguises with relish--but when it's just he and Moriarty in a room having a quiet, if malignant conversation, finally we see the gravitas and heroism of Sherlock Holmes, in his 'final sacrifice'.  And unlike the story of Dr. Watson, he truly does go over the Falls with his adversary.  No trickery here--he sees his duty through to the end.

And then turns up in Watson's flat in his urban camouflage.  Sherlock Holmes is, as ever, truly indestructible.  But as RDJ plays that final scene, Sherlock Holmes has accepted that he is falling to his death--an acceptable price for taking Moriarty out.  Jared Harris's Moriarty is, in my opinion, and absent any cinematic rendition of Michael Kurland's Moriarty, the most fully-realized Moriarty we have ever had on screen.  He is bad to the core, but ultimately, views himself as a businessman.  He's got zero desire for fame or recognition as a criminal mastermind--he just wants obscene sums of money profiting off death and destruction.

As an Englishman, please offer your judgement on Mr. Downey's British accent.  It sounds passable to me as a relatively posh accent but it could totally suck.

[HerlockSholmes]

18 hours ago, Hikari said:

Herl,

After the discussion of the Enola Holmes film, I watched Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows again over the weekend.

Still good!  I have really warmed up to RDJ's Holmes.  He is definitely not in the classic mold of Sherlocks of the past.  Unrelentingly Extrovert and definitely  not lanky and skinny.  Holmes may be a pugilist in practice, but RDJ is built like one.  He's got excellent Sherlock hair, and what I think makes him successful overall is that Holmes esprit of indefatigable self-confidence & enthusiasm for the game afoot.   He tends to be very nasty to Mrs. Hudson, and she takes the exasperation to a new level . . I think we miss the maternal indulgence of her relationship with her troublesome tenant, and I do not recall Sherlock of canon every being intentionally rude.  Demanding, yes, but he always makes it up to her.  I think Mrs. H. has come 'round to accepting that life without SH living upstairs would be a lot more peaceful, but a lot more dull.

The chess showdown with Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls is the highlight of that film, and for me, personally, I think it's the highlight of RDJ's performance as Holmes across both films.  We've seen him have a great romp and chew the scenery and do the disguises with relish--but when it's just he and Moriarty in a room having a quiet, if malignant conversation, finally we see the gravitas and heroism of Sherlock Holmes, in his 'final sacrifice'.  And unlike the story of Dr. Watson, he truly does go over the Falls with his adversary.  No trickery here--he sees his duty through to the end.

And then turns up in Watson's flat in his urban camouflage.  Sherlock Holmes is, as ever, truly indestructible.  But as RDJ plays that final scene, Sherlock Holmes has accepted that he is falling to his death--an acceptable price for taking Moriarty out.  Jared Harris's Moriarty is, in my opinion, and absent any cinematic rendition of Michael Kurland's Moriarty, the most fully-realized Moriarty we have ever had on screen.  He is bad to the core, but ultimately, views himself as a businessman.  He's got zero desire for fame or recognition as a criminal mastermind--he just wants obscene sums of money profiting off death and destruction.

As an Englishman, please offer your judgement on Mr. Downey's British accent.  It sounds passable to me as a relatively posh accent but it could totally suck.

The RJD version did take a couple of watches for it to grow on me but it did. I think his accent was fine and much better than some American accents by English actors. It didn’t come across as too exaggerated like the famous Robert Duvall version.

My initial reservations were around the level of action in the first movie and the fear that Downeys Holmes was going to turn out to be a freakishly intelligent John Rambo type. There’s enough of the ‘real’ Holmes there to keep everyone happy though and I did like Stephen Fry’s Mycroft too. I wonder what Doyle would have made of Mycroft having a nude scene? 

I totally agree about Moriarty too Hikari. Jared Harris is both menacing and creepy. My favourite Moriarty (perhaps unsurprisingly) is Eric Porter but he’s not on screen enough but he does like like the Paget drawing the most (not that that’s  a major consideration though)

Im looking forward to the third movie especially as we are in a Holmes vacuum at the moment (apart from Enola of course) Elementary seems to go on forever but I’ve only watched the first 3 series (although I have series 4 on dvd) so we need some Holmes. 

What will come first? Holmes 3 or Sherlock 5? My money’s on the former.