What Are You Watching - Page 52

mlewis78 · 12-09-2022, 02:56 AM

My favorite "Scrooge" movie is the 1951 with Alastair Sim. By far. I did purchase the digital version of the Disney 2009 one with Jim Carrey and Colin Firth (animated). I saw it at the movies when it came out.

I was born in 1951 and we watched Sim's Scrooge when we decorated the tree and it was on most days on the afternoon movie in the 1950s in my area. I have no patience for the other movies. 1935, 1938, 1984, just awful. I might watch the new animated one on Netflix soon.

Hitch · 12-09-2022, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlewis78

My favorite "Scrooge" movie is the 1951 with Alastair Sim. By far. I did purchase the digital version of the Disney 2009 one with Jim Carrey and Colin Firth (animated). I saw it at the movies when it came out.

I was born in 1951 and we watched Sim's Scrooge when we decorated the tree and it was on most days on the afternoon movie in the 1950s in my area. I have no patience for the other movies. 1935, 1938, 1984, just awful. I might watch the new animated one on Netflix soon.

Yes, we watched the Sim version when I was a kid as well. The only "other" version, a bit later--I don't remember the year, but I know I watched it devotedly--was, of course, here in the states, good old Mr. Magoo, which is surprisingly faithful, as @issybird mentioned.

Hitch

cc_in_oh · 12-10-2022, 07:37 AM

We watched Dalgliesh from Acorn which I thought was pretty good though I haven't read the books to make that comparison.

Now that we have Britbox for a month or 2:

The final(?) season of Shetland was insanely great despite the absence of Mark Bonnar. If it's really over they couldn't have ended on a higher note.

Latest seasons of Vera were good as usual, though Aiden is kind of hapless as sidekicks go. Sharon Small in Insp. Lynley was more my kind of sidekick. But there again I haven't read the books to know if Aiden's depiction is consistent with them.

I also have to say that the season-long story lines in Shetland appeal to me much more than the episodic Veras.

So now we've started Father Brown. It's relationship to the books doesn't go much past the name, but that's not surprising - the "real" FB isn't really a TV-adaptable character at all. Hard not to compare to Grantchester but I like FB better, maybe because it doesn't take itself too seriously. Not great by any means but watchable, and gotta love the beautiful '53 MGs they drive..

mlewis78 · 12-10-2022, 05:34 PM

I watched the 1951 Scrooge again last night (first time this season). There is so much good in this. Brian Desmond Hurst was the director. I so love the scene where Scrooge visits his nephew after all. The maid at the door, the singing of Barbara Allen, and he goes in and the music suddenly stops. "Can you forgive an a pig-headed old fool . . ."

Rumpelteazer · 12-11-2022, 04:59 AM

Earlier this week I started watching The Devil's Hour on Amazon, I watched two episodes and I'm not sure I'm going to continue. Most of the characters are not that sympathetic or feel trustworthy and recently I watched too many series where that happened. I might return to it later, but for now it's shelved.

Last night I watched the very first episode of Vera. What struck me was that the budget was obviously low (no steady cam it seems). Also the characters are very different than in later episodes. It'll be interesting to see if that's just for the first, pilot, episode or if it continues longer.

I think that besides watching an episode of Vera each night I'm going to watch movies the next week or so. I just don't seem to have much luck with picking series and at the moment nothing really catches my fancy.

I might start with The Purge series tonight. I think I might have seen the first one, but I'm not sure.

cc_in_oh · 12-11-2022, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

E

Last night I watched the very first episode of Vera. What struck me was that the budget was obviously low (no steady cam it seems). Also the characters are very different than in later episodes. It'll be interesting to see if that's just for the first, pilot, episode or if it continues longer.

.

Vera isn't my favorite mystery series by a long shot - we watched a few then put it aside, but in the last year we've run of ones we like better so we went back and finished up Vera. Sounds like you may be in that same camp...

Rumpelteazer · 12-11-2022, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc_in_oh

Vera isn't my favorite mystery series by a long shot - we watched a few then put it aside, but in the last year we've run of ones we like better so we went back and finished up Vera. Sounds like you may be in that same camp...

I've already seen them all, except for the latest season. I love them, and the books. I just didn't remember it being so different from later seasons.

Rumpelteazer · 12-13-2022, 02:31 AM

I've now watched two more episodes of Vera and the budget has gone up and there is a steady cam now and the overall quality of the filming is a lot better. Vera Stanhope herself is still behaving differently than I remember from the books. She's never been a polished person, but in the TV series she is callous and almost rude at times. In the books she behaves in a much more thought out way. It's difficult to explain.

The first The Purge film was okay, I did watch it before. I'm not sure if I'm going to continue with the second one tonight or if I'm in the mood for something different.

Hitch · 12-14-2022, 08:36 AM

We are, so far, enjoying Rogue Heroes, the story of the inception of the SAS (EPIX).

Hitch

Greg Anos · 12-14-2022, 12:29 PM

Next week will be the re-watching various British Comedy themed shows.

Black Adder's Christmas Carol
Several Carry On Christmases
Are You Being Served - The Father Christmas Affair.

mlewis78 · 12-14-2022, 04:30 PM

Over the weekend I watched all of The White Lotus season 2. It was set in Sicily. I didn't realize at first that it was so popular and so hyped in the media. Like Season 1, it got ridiculous during the last 20-30 minutes of the finale. It is on HBO Max (aired on HBO Sundays but finale was on Sunday night). Before I the finale came on, I looked it up on youtube and there are so many interviews with actors and Mike White, the writer/creator of the show.

Last night I watched a documentary done in 2007 commemorating 50 years since the desegregation of Central Little Rock High School (HBO Max).

Also started last night George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011) on HBO Max. It's in two parts more than 90 minutes each. Looking forward to seeing more of that.

poohbear_nc · 12-14-2022, 06:34 PM

I am one of the apparently 75 billion people now viewing Wednesday ...

cliche, yes, predictable Addams humor, yes, Thing, yes ... but Jenna Ortega really pulls off the character (she was great in You, too), and it is fun ..

timebug · 12-15-2022, 03:56 AM

Started watching the tv series of 'Willow'. Does not have the magic of the film.

Hitch · 12-15-2022, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timebug

Started watching the tv series of 'Willow'. Does not have the magic of the film.

Color me shocked. Shocked, I tell you. /not

Hitch

DiapDealer · 12-15-2022, 11:21 AM

I find myself amused enough to continue with Willow, the series. It's the same sort of campy, anachronistic soundtrack approach that allowed me to enjoy Heath Ledger's "Knight's Tale". I find myself giggling at lines and singing along to the soundtrack.

Don't get me wrong... I am squarely in the camp that enjoyed the movie more, but I recognize a big part of that is simply nostalgia on my part. I watched the movie again (mainly because Disney is pushing it so heavily) and I still enjoyed it. But it's also not hard to see how newcomers might only see it as a hot, cheesy mess. Which was always a part of its charm if we're being perfectly honest with ourselves.

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12-09-2022, 02:56 AM	#766
mlewis78 Guru Posts: 910 Karma: 6449772 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New York City Device: Kindle Oasis 2 (7"); HDX 8.9"; Ipad2	My favorite "Scrooge" movie is the 1951 with Alastair Sim. By far. I did purchase the digital version of the Disney 2009 one with Jim Carrey and Colin Firth (animated). I saw it at the movies when it came out. I was born in 1951 and we watched Sim's Scrooge when we decorated the tree and it was on most days on the afternoon movie in the 1950s in my area. I have no patience for the other movies. 1935, 1938, 1984, just awful. I might watch the new animated one on Netflix soon.

12-10-2022, 07:37 AM	#768
cc_in_oh Bob's my uncle Posts: 985 Karma: 17073086 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: NE OH Device: Kindle	We watched Dalgliesh from Acorn which I thought was pretty good though I haven't read the books to make that comparison. Now that we have Britbox for a month or 2: The final(?) season of Shetland was insanely great despite the absence of Mark Bonnar. If it's really over they couldn't have ended on a higher note. Latest seasons of Vera were good as usual, though Aiden is kind of hapless as sidekicks go. Sharon Small in Insp. Lynley was more my kind of sidekick. But there again I haven't read the books to know if Aiden's depiction is consistent with them. I also have to say that the season-long story lines in Shetland appeal to me much more than the episodic Veras. So now we've started Father Brown. It's relationship to the books doesn't go much past the name, but that's not surprising - the "real" FB isn't really a TV-adaptable character at all. Hard not to compare to Grantchester but I like FB better, maybe because it doesn't take itself too seriously. Not great by any means but watchable, and gotta love the beautiful '53 MGs they drive..

12-10-2022, 05:34 PM	#769
mlewis78 Guru Posts: 910 Karma: 6449772 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New York City Device: Kindle Oasis 2 (7"); HDX 8.9"; Ipad2	I watched the 1951 Scrooge again last night (first time this season). There is so much good in this. Brian Desmond Hurst was the director. I so love the scene where Scrooge visits his nephew after all. The maid at the door, the singing of Barbara Allen, and he goes in and the music suddenly stops. "Can you forgive an a pig-headed old fool . . ."

12-11-2022, 04:59 AM	#770
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,345 Karma: 27919658 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	Earlier this week I started watching The Devil's Hour on Amazon, I watched two episodes and I'm not sure I'm going to continue. Most of the characters are not that sympathetic or feel trustworthy and recently I watched too many series where that happened. I might return to it later, but for now it's shelved. Last night I watched the very first episode of Vera. What struck me was that the budget was obviously low (no steady cam it seems). Also the characters are very different than in later episodes. It'll be interesting to see if that's just for the first, pilot, episode or if it continues longer. I think that besides watching an episode of Vera each night I'm going to watch movies the next week or so. I just don't seem to have much luck with picking series and at the moment nothing really catches my fancy. I might start with The Purge series tonight. I think I might have seen the first one, but I'm not sure.

12-13-2022, 02:31 AM	#773
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,345 Karma: 27919658 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	I've now watched two more episodes of Vera and the budget has gone up and there is a steady cam now and the overall quality of the filming is a lot better. Vera Stanhope herself is still behaving differently than I remember from the books. She's never been a polished person, but in the TV series she is callous and almost rude at times. In the books she behaves in a much more thought out way. It's difficult to explain. The first The Purge film was okay, I did watch it before. I'm not sure if I'm going to continue with the second one tonight or if I'm in the mood for something different.

12-14-2022, 08:36 AM	#774
Hitch Bookmaker & Cat Slave Posts: 11,503 Karma: 158448243 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Device: K2, iPad, KFire, PPW, Voyage, NookColor. 2 Droid, Oasis, Boox Note2	We are, so far, enjoying Rogue Heroes, the story of the inception of the SAS (EPIX). Hitch

12-14-2022, 12:29 PM	#775
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,531 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Next week will be the re-watching various British Comedy themed shows. Black Adder's Christmas Carol Several Carry On Christmases Are You Being Served - The Father Christmas Affair.

12-14-2022, 04:30 PM	#776
mlewis78 Guru Posts: 910 Karma: 6449772 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New York City Device: Kindle Oasis 2 (7"); HDX 8.9"; Ipad2	Over the weekend I watched all of The White Lotus season 2. It was set in Sicily. I didn't realize at first that it was so popular and so hyped in the media. Like Season 1, it got ridiculous during the last 20-30 minutes of the finale. It is on HBO Max (aired on HBO Sundays but finale was on Sunday night). Before I the finale came on, I looked it up on youtube and there are so many interviews with actors and Mike White, the writer/creator of the show. Last night I watched a documentary done in 2007 commemorating 50 years since the desegregation of Central Little Rock High School (HBO Max). Also started last night George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011) on HBO Max. It's in two parts more than 90 minutes each. Looking forward to seeing more of that.

12-14-2022, 06:34 PM	#777
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 63,637 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	I am one of the apparently 75 billion people now viewing Wednesday ... cliche, yes, predictable Addams humor, yes, Thing, yes ... but Jenna Ortega really pulls off the character (she was great in You, too), and it is fun ..

12-15-2022, 03:56 AM	#778
timebug Ancient Sage Posts: 14,585 Karma: 15493448 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Derby U.K. Device: Kobo Reader	Started watching the tv series of 'Willow'. Does not have the magic of the film.

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12-15-2022, 11:21 AM	#780
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,661 Karma: 205039118 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I find myself amused enough to continue with Willow, the series. It's the same sort of campy, anachronistic soundtrack approach that allowed me to enjoy Heath Ledger's "Knight's Tale". I find myself giggling at lines and singing along to the soundtrack. Don't get me wrong... I am squarely in the camp that enjoyed the movie more, but I recognize a big part of that is simply nostalgia on my part. I watched the movie again (mainly because Disney is pushing it so heavily) and I still enjoyed it. But it's also not hard to see how newcomers might only see it as a hot, cheesy mess. Which was always a part of its charm if we're being perfectly honest with ourselves.