Tag Archive | movie
December 29, 2019  

‘Little Women’ (2019) Movie — Masterfully Crafted & Shot, And Yes, Heartwarming Too.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE.

Click image for IMDb.com listing.

The 2017 U.K. BBC produced 2-part TV mini-series
shown on PBS ‘Masterpiece Theatre’ this last Summer.

The cinematography & production was masterful. A visual treat. The quality of the imagery was breathtaking. That is what saved this long (i.e., 2-hour, 10-minute) movie for I. I was just totally taken in by the artistry.

Of course we all know the story — though I, who didn’t grow up in the U.S. — had not read the book. But, I had seen the TV series — just this last Summer. And therein lay the problem. It was déjà vu repeated (SMILE). The BBC production, in terms of quality, was not that dissimilar. Watch the YouTube trailers above. Different casts, though as equally good I think, but very similar — and the ‘Masterpiece Theatre‘ showing had the advantage that it came in two-parts.

The movie is long. Teischan (13) who wanted to see it, though she had seen the PBS version, said that she got bored! Not good. But, 85% of that was that we had just seen the other less than 6-months ago. Our fault.

So, first and foremost. IF you saw the PBS version wait until this movie is available on ‘TV’. Go see something else. There is no shortage of decent movies right now.

IF you haven’t seen the PBS version I am sure you will LOVE this movie. Great story and the movie is immaculately produced. It cannot be faulted on its own — just when compared to the other production from just 2-years ago. Why you would spend all this money to make a movie when the BBC had done a TV version, basically in the same timeframe, is a mystery.

But, overall, I enjoyed it. So, I have given you the parameters.

Enjoy. Happy New Year.

Related posts:
Category ‘Art’.

by Anura Guruge

 

December 10, 2019  

‘The Glass Castle’ (2017) Movie — Powerful, Haunting & Heartning.

by Anura Guruge

Click to access the Amazon Prime Video listing.

Click image for IMDb.com listing.

The autobiography the movie is about. Click to ENLARGE and read here. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeannette_Walls

What a story!

Wow. What a story.

This movie is all about the story. Nothing else. It is said to be ‘real life’ and true to life. At the end they include some ‘home movie clips’ and a video made in the late 1980s. That all adds together. I don’t think she embellished her story. She probably didn’t have to.

Wow. It is so disturbing. And I know, alas, that stuff like this happens. Breaks my heart. Wish I could help each and every child who is suffering as such.

I am going to buy the book. I want my 13-year old to read it. It will do her good.

The movie had, unfortunately, some critical gaps. Rather vague on how the kids started going to school in Welch, West Virginia and how the parents supported them in that endeavor. basically nothing in the movie about that. That intrigues I.

Also how the eldest, ‘Lori’, made it to New York. I am sure all of this has by now been documented and treaden over. It was all new to I since I do not follow trends, best sellers, book clubs or book lists. So, I didn’t know how famous this book was. But, now I do.

I totally recommend the movie. Must watch. In the end very heartening — folks with the gumption, talent & fortitude to overcome seemingly impossible adversity..

Related posts:
Category ‘Art’.

by Anura Guruge

 

November 27, 2019  

‘Lost & Found’ (2019) Irish Movie — Alas NOT Another ‘Waking Ned Devine’.

by Anura Guruge

Click for ‘Amazon Prime Video’ listing.

Click for IMDb.com listing.

There have been quite a few good — and in some cases outstanding — movies that have come out of Ireland. This is NOT one of them! Though billed as such, it is definitely not a comedy and nowhere close to being another ‘Waking Ned Devine‘. And it is also not ‘Crying Game‘ though towards the end I was nearly ready to cry that I had wasted my time watching this tripe.

What drew me to it was the ‘7 interconnected stories‘ pitch. I like that genre and as you must know there have been some very clever and compelling movies of that type. This, alas, is not one of them.

Not a clever movie. Not profound in any aspect. I might even say it was bloody awful.

I did, however, enjoy seeing the trains! Never realized that they had such fancy and large (as in length) trains in Ireland. Also freight trains full of wood. Wow. That was about the highlight.

Do not get me wrong. It might appeal to some. Not I. So, I just wanted to give you a heads up on that. SMILE.

It was FREE. So, all I lost was 90-minutes of my time and some dignity — though I did do 23-minutes of pedaling my stationary bike while watching this. So, it wasn’t time totally wasted.

 

Related posts:
Category ‘Art’.

by Anura Guruge

 

October 27, 2019  

‘The Current War’ (2017/2019) Movie — It Was ‘OK’, But Far From ‘Great’.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE and admire.

Click to access the IMDb.com listing.

We were the first!

It (i.e., the DC vs AC ‘war’) is a subject that fascinates I, and one I would love to learn more about IF (alak) I had the time. Plus Nikola Tesla just has me in awe (and it has nothing to do with me having been an early investor in Tesla car stock). I have seen a couple of documentaries on the subject but they always left me wanting to know more. So, when I saw the trailers for this movie — on CNN & MSNBC — I sure wanted to see it — plus I wanted to take my 13-year old because I had taught her about Tesla as part of her homeschooling. We enjoyed going to the opening night of ‘Downton Abbey‘ last month and I thought we would do a rerun of that — especially given that this too was opening on a Friday.

Of course it is a difficult subject to cover in a movie. I knew that going in. Not sure they did the greatest job getting the story across in a cognet form. Yes, I knew that Thomas Edison had made a HUGE deal that AC will KILL whereas his DC current was ‘benign’ but the movie really went to town on what I consider a (crowd-pleasing) aside, i.e., the invention of the electric chair. Yes, it added drama and helped keep some of the audience awake though I did see a gentleman (kind of my age) fast asleep long after the movie had finished.

Sure, I learnt a TON. For that I am glad and appreciative. What the trailer had NOT made clear was that this was the war between Edison and Westinghouse and NOT between Edison and Tesla. After the movie I realize that that was the real war but that was never fully made clear at the beginning — which did show Tesla arriving in the US by ship. So, that was confusing.

Definitely a movie for the subject enthusiast! If you have no interest in AC/DC (outside of its sexual connotations) this movie will leave you cold and badly in need of a jolt of something.

If you want to see it, my recommendation is that you wait until it is available on ‘TV’, e.g., Amazon Prime, and I am sure that this will be within the next 3-months.

Don’t get me wrong. It is not a bad movie. Very well put together. Some nice, compelling shots. But, it is long, i.e., 2-hours, and for at least 40% of the time you are going to be desperately trying to figure out ‘what is happening’ or ‘what just happened’. Would be much easier if you had REWIND and Playback. SMILE.

Also, and I can’t stress this enough, a movie for ‘the buff’. SMILE.

Related posts:
Category ‘Downton’.

by Anura Guruge

 

October 16, 2019  

‘The Current War’ THE MOVIE — I Am Real Eager To See This As Soon As It Comes Out.

by Anura Guruge

Click image for IMDb.com listing.

Click to access the official Website.

This is a story that continues to intrigue and enthrall I. I know the basic plotline and, of course, who won. Nonetheless, I am a huge fan of Tesla (and for the record, of the car company too — and yes, I am a shareholder). I have watched a couple of documentaries — though I have yet to read a book on it.

I had heard about this movie. Then it fell off my radar. Then this last week I kept on seeing trailers for it and each time it was ‘yes, yes, I want to see it‘. So, I am going. Not sure where it is showing. But, I have time. It is next week.

I did some quick Googling. I was not familiar with what had happened, i.e., it getting shelved, sold etc. Wow.

Well, let me go see it first. I will, of course, share with you. SMILE.

 

Related posts:
Search ‘movie’.

by Anura Guruge

 

September 21, 2019  

‘Downton Abbey’ THE MOVIE — Shameless, Gleeful Pandering To The Adoring Fanbase.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE.

Click to ENLARGE.

When we got there 30-minutes ahead of the start.

At the end.
It was in their largest theater. It was NOT full. Maybe not even 1/2 full.
Maybe 120 people.

I am at a loss as to how you could be critical or even objective about this movie.

It gave the punters 120% EXACTLY what they were hoping, what they were expecting, what they were salivating about.

It was entertaining, amusing and, per the ‘Downton’ trademark, beautifully crafted.

How can you complain.

The audience loved it and there was (near thunderous) applause at the end (– which I was expecting & at the same time dreading).

Our 3 tickets cost just over $33 (mainly because I get a STEEP senior discount). $11 for 2-hours of escapism? You can’t beat that.

It was British Bollywood.

It was shallow, superficial and ‘they’ (i.e., Julian Fellowes & his fellow writers & producers) were having FUN with the audience. They actually were taking the mickey out of the audience — in particular the Americans. But, ‘taking the mickey’ is a popular British (contact) sport. So, it is fair game.

That message in the trailer said it all.

It was British pantomime. They gave the audience the punch lines they wanted. The audience loved it — and that is ALL THAT MATTERS.

This a movie, unashamedly, for ‘Downton’ fans like US. Teischan loved it, though she said that some parts were boring!

It is not a movie for those that are not already fans. They will be confused.

Yes, the sequel is already in the works and will star Branson — the Irish ‘republican’.

IF you are a ‘Downton’ fan you have NO CHOICE. You have to see it.

IF you are NOT a ‘Downton’ fan go see ‘Hustler’ instead. SMILE.

Related posts:
Category ‘Downton’.

by Anura Guruge

 

September 12, 2019  

“The Doctor’s Wife” By Elizabeth Brundage — Wow, Quite The Story; Would Make A Gripping Movie.

by Anura Guruge

Click to access the Amazon listing for this book.

Quite the book. Quite the story. I just checked IMDb.com. I can’t find a movie of this book. That is pretty amazing. IF a book was made to be a hit as a movie it has to be this. C’est la vie. Maybe it is still in the making.

It is an ‘old’ book. It had come out in 2005. Deanna had picked it up at our ‘Swap Shop‘. I heard so much about it while she was reading it that I too had to read it.

Very topical. Very powerful. Does make you think and wonder.

She is an incredibly gifted writer. No denying that. She had me in AWE with her writing. I was, thus, amused to see that she won a ‘James Michener‘ award. So, she has to be good.

I will confess that the book was amazingly two-paced — maybe, very intentionally. The first & last chapter are classic page-turners. You can’t wait to see what the next sentence holds. But, parts of the middle were hard going — possibly even a tad boring.

But, definitely a book to read. I might even order one of her others. I am glad I serendipitously stumbled across her.

Related Posts:
Check Category ‘Books’.
Search on ‘Michener’.

by Anura Guruge

« Older Posts
%d bloggers like this: