Valerie is a 42-year-old, single, Reformed Christian lady who lives in Baltimore. She doesn't remember a time
before she knew and loved Jesus, but she does remember accepting John Calvin into her heart in March of 2000.
Valerie is a member of Christ Reformed Evangelical Church in Annapolis.
Though her career aspiration is to be a housewife, Valerie has not yet found anyone suitable who wishes to hire
her for employment in that field (or, more properly, anyone suitable has not found her), so in the meantime she
earns her daily bread working in communications -- editing, writing, print design and website management.
Movie Recommendations, Please
As an aid to crocheting, I've decided that watching a few more movies than usual would be a reasonable investment of time. Knowing whatever it is you know about me, dear reader, please use the comments section to recommend some DVD flicks I might enjoy. Hints: No horror, intense suspense, excessive vulgarity, syrupy sentimentality, or bad adaptations of Jane Austen. Both comedy and drama are acceptable. I'm not a huge animation fan. Subtitles and anything else requiring intense visual concentration are not conducive to crocheting. Thanks!
Posted by Valerie (Kyriosity) at 10:59 AM
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19 comments
19 Comments:
On March 7, 2008 12:38 PMDeborahwrote... Oh, I can come up with lots of ideas! This is the time of year(Jan until the thaw kicks in) we watch movies. We like the Firefly series--a cowboy space series that was on TV. The later ones have skin and inappropriate suggestive sex but the early ones are great fun. Bride and Prejudice is a fun adaptation of you-know-what from a continental Indian POV. Wonderful movies: The Spitfire Grill. Ushpizin. The Cave of the Yellow Dog. The recent Oliver Twist, the new Jane Eyre (2006, I think--Masterpiece theater), Bella. Miss Potter, Amazing Grace. And the Harry Potter series. You have probably seen that.
Not so much interested in TV series because of the addiction factor. ;-)
I've seen Spitfire Grill -- one of my faves. Bride and Prejudice was fun, too (nope, I don't consider that a bad adaptation). I have the Roman Polanski Oliver Twist...is that the one you're thinking of? Is Miss Potter an accurate biopic, or a fictionalized account à la Shakespeare in Love? I've seen some, but not all of the HPs, so that's a good suggestion, too.
On March 7, 2008 2:05 PMAmberwrote... Wives and Daughters and North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell. You might want to read them first though...
We liked Amazing Grace and The Painted Veil. If TPV hadn't been reviewed in World mag, we might have never heard of it. Reading their review might help you to know if it's your type of movie.
On March 7, 2008 2:28 PMmagistramaterwrote... Dear Frankie, Sweet Land, Mostly Martha, 84 Charing Cross Road, The Railroad Children, Akeelah and the Bee.
Cheers,
Carol
On March 7, 2008 3:27 PMKim Barneswrote... I know you said you like to stay away from TV, but I'm going to recommend Monk and Psych anyway. One of the things I like about these shows is that they're not "serialized". You can watch an episode in the middle of a season and not be lost. Each episode is basically self-contained. For me, that minimizes the "addiction factor".
Happy crocheting!
On March 7, 2008 4:11 PMnonnobis1wrote... Witness for the Prosecution (Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich): A good old Agatha Christie whodunit that still holds up after 50 years.
The Manchurian Candidate (the original, not the remake): Some suspense, but more of a political thriller. Ol' Blue Eyes could act!
Sullivan's Travels (or The Lady Eve, Miracle of Morgan's Creek, or anything directed by Preston Sturges): Smart comedy. Really smart comedy.
To Be Or Not to Be: More sophisticated comedy, directed by the great Ernst Lubitsch. Jack Benny didn't like his acting in this movie, but he's hilarious in it. With Carole Lombard (she made this one just before her tragic death) and a very young and handsome Robert Stack. (Mel Brooks made a decent remake in the 90s but it's a little naughty).
One, Two, Three: A Cold War comedy directed by Billy Wilder ('61 or 62). Some great political satire riffs by James Cagney in the last film he appeared in (until 1981's 'Ragtime.'), which takes place in, where else, Berlin.
Just a few to start, you may have seen these already. I have a bunch more to recommend....I actually do watch movies made after 1963, believe it or not...but not many. Happy viewing! -EB
On March 7, 2008 5:52 PMAngiewrote... As you know, I'm partial to comedy; here are some of my favorites: What About Bob?* Groundhog Day* Hudsucker Proxy* The Three Amigos* Jeeves and Wooster (Fry/Laurie) My Fair Lady The Lavender Hill Mob (w/ Alec Guinness) Cold Comfort Farm (wait--you told me about this one!)
Other movies I've particularly enjoyed: The Desperate Hours (w/ Humphrey Bogart) The Hunt for Red October The Bridge on the River Kwai A Face in the Crowd The Mission
Movies that violate your avoid animation or subtitles rule that I want to mention anyway: Ratatouille* Babette's Feast* Jean de Florette*
If you aren't too tired of Oliver, you ought to see the 1968 movie* version.
* indicates ones I have; let me know if you want to borrow any!
On March 7, 2008 10:26 PMEleanorwrote... Any of the Dickens- David Copperfield, Bleak House (it isn't bleak!), Tale of Two Cities, Our Mutual Friend. I can't recommend Oliver Twist because Sykes is just too much of a psychopath. Ick.
We also loved The Irish R.M.- hilarious! You'd love the Irish subtlety and the English dryness. I also liked He Knew He Was Right, and The Way We Live Now, which has to have some of the most stupendous acting in it I've ever seen by David Suchet. You'd never guess he plays Poirot. Also Carrie's War, is good. And Island at War, about the invasion of the Jersey Islands-- very good with regard to the portrayal of German-British relations.
Middlemarch is quite good too! And The Mayor Of Casterbridge. And Far From the Madding Crowd (the one with Julie Christie).
I also recommend "Archangel," starring Daniel Craig and set in modern-day Russia -- not a bad low-budget action/adventure flick.
"North by Northwest" with Cary Grant and produced by Freddie Hitchcock (we are on nickname terms) is, of course, about the greatest movie ever made.
On March 8, 2008 2:51 PMAngiewrote... >>I can't recommend Oliver Twist because Sykes is just too much of a psychopath<<
But what an awesome psychopath! I think it's a great production; humorous, suspenseful, fun & well done.
On March 8, 2008 7:07 PMAnonymouswrote... Yes, Sykes is a memorable character, but Valerie said she didn't want horror or intense suspense, and Sykes gets pretty close to both. Of course the rest of it is wonderful, especially Fagin, IMO. ~Eleanor
On March 8, 2008 8:36 PMAmandawrote... I thoroughly enjoy the Thin Man series. William Powell, Myrna Loy. Lots of hilarity. He is a detective, but that's not really the point. Smart. Funny.
On March 9, 2008 7:42 AMEleanorwrote... Oh mercy how could I forget-- The Scarlet Pimpernel with Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour AND Ian McLellen! It's the first movie we ever bought-- and that's saying something! Hilarious and lavish!
On March 11, 2008 11:55 AMMichellewrote... Before Sunrise & Before Sunset Two films that explore people, ideas, and the humanity and difficulty of relationship. Each is essentially a long-ish conversation. (So careful attention to the screen is not really necessary.)
Snow Falling on Cedars One of my favourites. Explores themes of love, obsession, and national inadequacies against the backdrop of a courtroom drama.
Mirrormask I don't know if this is your thing, but if it is, your metaphorical stature has grown in my metaphorical eyes. It's fantasy, I guess, as a girl who is fleeing from the coldness of reality becomes trapped in the surreality of her own dreamscape. It's one of my favourite coming-of-age movies.
Kind Hearts and Coronets An old-timey dark comedey featuring Alec Baldwin playing ten-or-so parts. And dying. A lot.
and if you can muster the strength to watch something on VHS...
A Thousand Clowns I am constantly baffled that this isn't on DVD. This is one of the best movies out there. And there are no clowns in it. It's about an out-of-work-on-principle guy and his relationship with the nephew who's been living with him as a son and the social services workers that plan to take him away. It's funny, touching, and thought-provoking. And shows that yes, even fifty years ago, social services was the devil.
On March 13, 2008 10:42 PMPaulwrote... Lilies of the Field Maryam The Pallisers (will keep you busy since its 12 disks long) The Horse's Mouth Waydowntown Michael Palin: Himalaya Ridicule (ok, it has subtitles, but you should watch this one sometime anyway) Mumford
That should keep you busy for a little while.
On March 13, 2008 11:08 PMValerie (Kyriosity)wrote... Heard of 'em...good ideas North and South Amazing Grace Sweet Land Akeelah and the Bee Witness for the Prosecution The Manchurian Candidate Sullivan's Travels The Three Amigos Jeeves and Wooster The Lavender Hill Mob The Hunt for Red October The Bridge on the River Kwai Oliver David Copperfield Bleak House Tale of Two Cities Our Mutual Friend The Irish R.M. Middlemarch North by Northwest the Thin Man series Nicholas Nickleby The Count of Monte Cristo The Scarlet Pimpernel Before Sunrise Mirrormask Kind Hearts and Coronets August Rush
Heard of 'em, but Thomas Hardy...blech The Mayor Of Casterbridge Far From the Madding Crowd
Not familiar with 'em...but I'll put 'em on the list Once The Painted Veil Dear Frankie Mostly Martha 84 Charing Cross Road The Lady Eve Miracle of Morgan's Creek To Be Or Not to Be One, Two, Three: A Cold War comedy The Desperate Hours A Face in the Crowd He Knew He Was Right The Way We Live Now Carrie's War Island at War Archangel The Horse's Mouth Maryam Waydowntown Michael Palin: Himalaya Mumford
Seen 'em The Railroad Children Cold Comfort Farm (and remember...no subtitles!) The Mission Ratatouille (do NOT watch this movie after you've fasted all day) Lilies of the Field
Own 'em Wives and Daughters What About Bob? (well, I only sorta own this one, 'cuz I leant it to somebody I'll prolly never get it back from) Babette's Feast Oliver Twist (psychopath and all) Before Sunset (but never watched it because I've never found the first one) The Pallisers
Used to own 'em (in VHS) Groundhog Day Hudsucker Proxy My Fair Lady Snow Falling on Cedars
You people just can't follow the rules, can you? Monk Psych Jean de Florette Ridicule
Might muster the strength, but can't muster the technology A Thousand Clowns
