Movie fans and film recommendations -- old or new?

[NYC Native]

Gee Native.  I hope you didn't give anything away here.  I've yet to see Star Trek.  Message to Native ---->     

Hey Chuck...wait any longer you'll get it on DVD.. :2funny:

[NYC Native]

Last Chance Harvey

A lovely story of a man who has somehow failed to take advantage of most of the opportunities life had given him. Dustin Hoofman (Harvey) was somehow lost in this flick and he didn't convince me he really wanted to make it happen for himself at last.  Ema Thompson (Kate) was really good in the film and probably outshined Hoffman.  The story takes you through almost no background on Harvey's life and times.  I think they failed to make us connect and relate with Harvey.  While it was nice to see lots of open feelings I couldn't understand the immediate openness they had with each other after a few minutes of dialogue.  The story had all the elements for a great passion filled movie but did not deliver. 

Harvey who was about to get fired, was divorce and somehow the ex and child (Now an adult female about to get married) ended up living in England.  The daughter was getting married and even had her "step dad" give her away in her wedding instead of her real dad.  Well, that was hurtful, even I felt that one!  When he stood up to take over what was going to be her step dad's attempt to take his place in the toast I expected a really spirited speech.   I guest I expected bigger words and deeper emotions to prevail and once again the movie failed me.  Another thing, why was Kate down so much as well?  Maybe it should have been Last Chance Kate and Harvey!  It's like both of them chose a life of solitude and depression.

[Chuckster]

Hey Chuck...wait any longer you'll get it on DVD.. :2funny:

O.K.  And you still would have blown the movie's plot for me. 

[Queenskid]

Last Chance Harvey

A lovely story of a man who has somehow failed to take advantage of most of the opportunities life had given him. Dustin Hoofman (Harvey) was somehow lost in this flick and he didn't convince me he really wanted to make it happen for himself at last.  Ema Thompson (Kate) was really good in the film and probably outshined Hoffman.  The story takes you through almost no background on Harvey's life and times.  I think they failed to make us connect and relate with Harvey.  While it was nice to see lots of open feelings I couldn't understand the immediate openness they had with each other after a few minutes of dialogue.  The story had all the elements for a great passion filled movie but did not deliver.  

Harvey who was about to get fired, was divorce and somehow the ex and child (Now an adult female about to get married) ended up living in England.  The daughter was getting married and even had her "step dad" give her away in her wedding instead of her real dad.  Well, that was hurtful, even I felt that one!  When he stood up to take over what was going to be her step dad's attempt to take his place in the toast I expected a really spirited speech.   I guest I expected bigger words and deeper emotions to prevail and once again the movie failed me.  Another thing, why was Kate down so much as well?  Maybe it should have been Last Chance Kate and Harvey!  It's like both of them chose a life of solitude and depression.



I actually liked it more than I thought I would.  There was something adult about it.  Of course, I saw it on a plane after a long delay which I spent at an airport bar.  Still, it wasn't bad.

[toddg]

I filled a major gap in my film-watching career and watched Pinocchio with my son yesterday.  Great Father's Day movie!

[Chuckster]

Turner Classic Movies has created a set of posters celebrating some classic movies they'll be showing during the month of August.  Check out the posters...they're amazing!

From Yahoo Movies -- Photo Galleries:

Turner Classic Movies' "Summer Under the Stars" Festival

[Griswold Contessa]

Three that come to mind......

O Brother, Where Art Thou? 
 
Raising Arizona

The Station Agent

[Chuckster]

Turner Classic Movies is showing Rear Window right now.  This is the Alfred Hitchcock film that's rumored to have been filmed at the Belvedere Co-op in Jackson Heights.  Rumor?  Anyone have any new information to report on this?

I did catch some of the window scenes, and the garden area does look vaguely familiar.  Keyword = vaguely.  I think the movie started at 10:00 pm in case anyone is interested in tuning in.

[NYC Native]

Movie is about the cataclysmic events to come around December 21 in the year 2012 AKA the end of the world as we know it according to Mayan calendar.  The special effects are Eye-popping and you will not want to leave your seat for fear you'll lose some breathtaking moment.  The story...well a bit dicey and traumatic to be believable, but hey - that's Hollywood.  I went to see it today, I didn't realize it was so long but you'll keep all your senses on high alert for most of it.  The story could have been made more believable but the same can be said of Noah's ark...hehe.  John Cusack  and Danny glover were great...Adrian Helmsley and Oliver Platt  we great as well.  Go see it, You'll enjoy it (I think)

[toddg]

I just saw "The Visitor" on Netflix -- I highly recommend it.

[Chuckster]

The Walking Off the Big Apple blog has an interesting blog entry highlighting a few classic movies that were filmed in New York City.  Among them is Alfred Hitchcock's, The Wrong Man, a film in which the main character, played by Henry Fonda, is a resident of Jackson Heights.

The blog also includes a link to its entry on the the Marx Brothers' Paramount Pictures soundstage that was located in what is today the Kaufman Astoria Studios.  Here's a direct link to the Astoria entry:

A Visit to Astoria, Then & Now:  The Marx Brothers at Paramount Pictures and Notes on Contemporary Attractions

[Chuckster]

YourNabe.com has an interesting run-down of movies throughout the decade that were filmed in Queens, either on the streets or at the Astoria Kaufman movie studios.  Jackson Heights is mentioned for Maria Full of Grace and Spiderman 3.  I wasn't aware of the latter having parts filmed in the neighborhood, so I'll have to rent it and take a closer look.  There's also mention of Paraiso Travel, but I haven't seen that yet.

The Reel Queens: Queens locations appeared on screen more this decade

Currently in my possession from Netflix, Woody Allen's, Whatever Works, filmed on sets at Kaufman Astoria.

[NYC Native]

The story of a homeless teen that is adopted by a well-to-do family and develops to become the football star of his school.  It was a nice movie but more like one of those "made for TV" movies if you ask me.  The story is somewhat tired in my opinion for the big screen.  My 17 year old son says "read the book"  My opinion, don't go out of your way to see the movie, but if you have a couple of hrs to burn go see it, hey - It's not bad, just "OK".  Sandra Bullock is eye candy, the socialite that takes "big Mike" in and molds him into a success story.  Lot's of feel good melodramatic scenes - a few football games, cute "all American" kids being unrealistically pleasant and a few hard moments in Michael's old neighborhood. 

The more I write about it the more I agree with myself...hahaha.  This would have been a great HBO movie or a TV movie.  In fact, I would have made one of those mini series out of it.

[Shelby2]

Here is an interactive map that lets you click by zipcode to see what the top 10 netflix rentals are. 
Click on 11372 and see what your neighbors are watching!

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/01/10/nyregion/20100110-netflix-map.html?ref=nyregion

[Marlene]

Temple Grandin: Amazing story, Great movie!!!

http://www.hbo.com/movies/temple-grandin/index.html#/movies/temple-grandin/synopsis.html