The Favourite Movies Thread

[Carol the Dabbler]

Wow, you've been ill awhile now, I hope you're seeing some improvement.

 

Thanks, I am. In fact, I am going back to work tonight.

Hurray -- glad you're better!  But as Arcadia says, please take it easy for a while, till you're all better.

 

I think I understand what you mean, but I do not agree with you. I love that scene and the entire ending. I love how Frodo finally, finally is himself again, the way we met him at the beginning: young, innocent, "pure" if you will. When he gets on the ship, the ring's power over him ends. Of course it's also a terribly sad scene because this wasn't possible for Frodo during his lifetime. I mean, he's basically dying, they all are, Gandalf (okay, he was already dead), Galadriel, Bilbo. "Going into the West" is just a euphemism for dying. Poor Frodo. He just couldn't recover from carrying the ring, not in life, anyway. I like that he looks back, that he remembers his friends and shows them he's okay now, they can stop worrying about him and live their lives. Especially Sam. Like Frodo says, he can't "always be torn in two." (Btw, somewhere in the many appendixes in the books, Tolkien hints that because he bore the ring for a short while too, Sam will also be able to go into the West after he dies, so actually, he and Frodo will meet again in the afterlife - if that's something you want to believe in. I have no clue about us here in the real world and am rather doubtful about things like heaven, but I am perfectly happy to accept that in the Lord of the Rings, universe, there is such a place and our friends can be happy ever after there.)

 

There may be a connection between the common euphemism "going west" and this scene in both the book and the movie -- but if so, Tolkien structured the entire geography of Middle Earth around it!  Even though it had been some time since I'd read LotR, so that I was mostly accepting the movie on its own terms, I interpreted that scene pretty literally, that they were going somewhere physical.  (I mean, if they were simply dying, why would they need a ship?)  So I don't see any distinction between the book version and the movie version in that regard.

 

More recently, I have re-read Tolkien's explanation and discussed it with Martina.  The ship is sailing to the Undying Lands, so called because the Elves are physically immortal there.  That doesn't apply to Bilbo and Frodo.  They are inherently mortal beings and will eventually die, but as Arcadia says, in the Undying Lands they can achieve true peace before moving on to their afterlife.

 

[Arcadia]

 

... I interpreted that scene pretty literally, that they were going somewhere physical.  (I mean, if they were simply dying, why would they need a ship?)  So I don't see any distinction between the book version and the movie version in that regard. ...

 

Except for this; I think it was Philippa Boyens (but it could have been Fran Walsh) who explicitly stated that the ending (of the movie) meant that Frodo dies; just the opposite of what Tolkien stated about the novel. But I agree that if you didn't know about those two statements, you're pretty free to interpret the ending as you see fit. Although I'm old enough to remember when "Frodo Lives" was a catchphrase (representing what, I'm not sure.... :p ) so I was really surprised when Boyens and/or Walsh said that.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I think it was Philippa Boyens (but it could have been Fran Walsh) who explicitly stated that the ending (of the movie) meant that Frodo dies; just the opposite of what Tolkien stated about the novel. But I agree that if you didn't know about those two statements, you're pretty free to interpret the ending as you see fit. Although I'm old enough to remember when "Frodo Lives" was a catchphrase (representing what, I'm not sure.... :P ) so I was really surprised when Boyens and/or Walsh said that.

Well, all I can say is, if that's the way they meant us to interpret that scene, they sure did a crummy job of it!  I've never heard of anybody walking unaided onto a ship and sailing off -- just so they could die.  So I think I'll just ignore that comment, since it wasn't in the movie (or the book) anyhow -- strictly non-canon.  Of course, whoever it was may have been responding to people (like me) who thought that going to the Undying Lands meant that Bilbo and Frodo would never die, but didn't make that clear.

 

The first I ever heard about Tolkien and his books was when a friend mentioned having given someone a "Frodo Lives" button.  I said "Who?"  She told me, and next time I was in the bookstore, I picked up a paperback copy of The Hobbit and quickly fell in love with it.  Then I went on to read LotR, of course, but my heart has always belonged to Bilbo Baggins.

[Arcadia]

Well, it IS metaphorical. Or is that allegorical? Analogical? ;)
 
My heart's always belonged to Faramir......

[T.o.b.y]

I have always thought of Lord of the Rings as highly allegorical / metaphorical / whatever that isn't literal. It makes little sense on a literal level (and isn't much fun either).

 

My heart belongs to... Sam. Meaning Sam is the one character in Lord of the Rings whom I would actually marry (I think I'd make a great Rosie Cotton :P ). Sam has no natural advantages whatsoever, he isn't clever or handsome or important or even naturally brave, yet in the end, he's one of the greatest heroes in the story. And he can fight if he must, but he only does it to protect people he loves and then he goes back to the peaceful, quiet life in The Shire where he raises children and plants trees. One thing I sorely missed in the film was the little box of earth Galadriel gave him.

 

I am a big fan of all the hobbits, though. And I feel so terribly sorry for little Frodo. Frodo's plight really touches me, to the point where I start bawling when he first appears on screen because I know what's in store for him. (Another reason to love Sam: he looks out for Frodo).

 

Of the humans, I must say Boromir is my favorite (or rather Boromir as played by Sean Bean). He's so... human. Faramir and Aragorn are too perfect to interest me much.

 

Gandalf is also a big favorite of mine, and so is Galadriel. Galadriel because she is such a gray, murky, beautiful and wise but not-all-good character, and also because she resists the ring in spite of being strongly tempted by it. And Gandalf because he's just awesome.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I wonder how the story would have gone if Frodo's parents had had more good hobbit sense than to go messing about in boats.  Sam felt a good deal of affection for Bilbo, and I suspect the reverse was also true, so who knows, Sam might have been Bilbo's direct heir, class system (and the Sackville-Bagginses) be damned.

 

... my heart has always belonged to Bilbo Baggins.

 

My heart belongs to... Sam. Meaning Sam is the one character in Lord of the Rings whom I would actually marry (I think I'd make a great Rosie Cotton :P ).

 

 

Tell ya what -- I'll marry Bilbo, and he & I can adopt Sam.  Then I'll be your mother-in-law!

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

Tell ya what -- I'll marry Bilbo, and he & I can adopt Sam. Then I'll be your mother-in-law!

I know it's not, but it sounds incestuous.

(Not Sam and Bilbo, but Carol and T.o.b.y XD)

[Van Buren Supernova]

Anyone watched In The Heart of The Sea? Based on story that inspired Moby Dick.

 

Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston was considered to play captain Pollard (I'm glad they didn't).

It's a flop, but a very decent watch.

[T.o.b.y]

Anyone watched In The Heart of The Sea? Based on story that inspired Moby Dick.

 

Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston was considered to play captain Pollard (I'm glad they didn't).

It's a flop, but a very decent watch.

 

I wanted to see it, but I wasn't feeling well enough that day. I saw the trailer and thought it must have looked magnificent at the cinema. Please tell me all the bad stuff so I can be glad I didn't go. :P

[Van Buren Supernova]

I'm not a fan of 3d, but it was only available in 3d where I watch. Didn't regret it, especially for underwater scene.

 

While it's enjoyable and worth to catch, there are two things I categorised as 'bad stuffs' :P:

 

 

If I remember correctly, the trailer kind of emphasizing on 'monster'. In the time when many potential audience don't know about Moby Dick, I imagine it sounds like they are trying to sell some kind of godzilla/beast/monster movie, and imho, it cheapens it in a way, but that's me. At least that's what I thought in the beginning of the trailer before I knew about the inspiration source.

 

 

And this

 

 

It fails to make me care about the characters. Didn't root, didn't really care for them. In fact, I don't find a single reason about why the young character would be so fascinated/indebted and admires Chris Hemsworth's character. At all. No reason. Really.

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

I just treat this as general movie thread.

 

Anyone watched Ex-Machina?

I am a sucker for sci-fi and quite enjoyed it.

 

What about The Big Short?

I'm not into this kind of movie but I enjoyed it, if only I could whack the cameraman's head for unnecessary shaking and zooming.

 

P.S: This is one horrible shallow review. XD

(Just in case no one is watching, I don't need to waste my breath)

[Arcadia]

I've never even heard of either of them. I am soooo sadly out of the loop ...

[Van Buren Supernova]

I guess I watch a lot of movies as revenge for not being able to watch TAB on a cinema..

[Detective]

I've never even heard of either of them. I am soooo sadly out of the loop ...

What?

Ou my... They're both nominated for oscars.

[Arcadia]

It wouldn't surprise me. I'm really really out of the loop.......

[Van Buren Supernova]

Errr.. actually I don't know they are nominated. Watched Big Short just because wanted to sit down for a while and naturally chose that compared to others that were available, didn't even know it's based on true story until I started to recognize the case and the plot, and enjoyed it more. (But silently cursed for the camera)

[Arcadia]

Ohhhhh... that's what Big Short is. I remember now. I'd kind of like to see that.

[nakshazia]

yaeh!!!

great job. this movie is really very intresting and i really love to see it.

[Van Buren Supernova]

You are talking about Big Short?

 

Anyway, hi, Nakshazia, welcome.

[TheSnowGirl]

Just watched "Spectre". Loved it like all previous episodes with Daniel Craig. 

[Bluebell]

I've recently re-watched 'God's Army' (I think the american title is 'The Prophecy'...?), which came back into my mind since I started watching 'Supernatural' (The TV-Show).

Love Christopher Walkens acting, he's always playing so weird, scary and funny stuff, it's just cool.

Did you know Viggo Mortensen plays Lucifer in the first film (There's a couple of sequels...) ? Didn't actually recognize him before watching 'Lord of the rings', though I have seen 'Gods Army' before that...it's just like I've seen Martin Freeman in other films before, but didn't realize before 'the Hobbit'. :facepalm:

 

[J.P.]

You wouldn't recognize Viggo in many films :D (says a fan with more than 10 years of practice)

[Inge l-w]

I and the family are enjoying a hot and rather humid end of July by watching Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, the Gary Oldman version on TV. Now, as it is generally known in this fandom, Peter Guillam is played by dear old BC. So far, so nice, especially with his blonde hair, which is much closer to his natural colouring, young and talented and even then a good driver, when in a reminiscing scene of a Christmas past, Peter is ordered to play the Russian anthem, and an uncredited proboscis of a nose holds a lady by the arm! Just imagine, discovering the British Government in a walk-on part, while bratty younger brother is prim and proper actual MI6, HM SIS or whatever. The mind boggles!

P.S. I do hope everybody here remembers that Percy Allelyne is played by the incomparable Toby Jones, of TLD fame also! 

[Douglas]

THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD (1965: BLACK AND WHITE): based on the John Le Carre' novel (1963) of the same name; starring that brilliant Austrian actor OSKAR WERNER; along with English actors RICHARD BURTON and CLAIRE BLOOM: great movie! 

[Arcadia]

Hey, I remember that one! I think I was too young to really enjoy it when I saw it, though.

I just discovered I can get an old movie channel on my digital TV. A lot of them are really well known films, like the Thin Man and Close Encounters. I may have finally found a channel I like to watch!