The last movie I saw was...

[LeMarchand]

Can we please say where the film was found - Netflix, Amazon, etc as I would like to watch some of them. Yes, I am guilty of not saying as well but will do in future

 

If you're too embarrassed to admit to being interested in Ginny Weds Sunny, it was Netflix .

[Ditto]

Stormbreaker on Amazon - free on Prime. My 11 year old is a prolific reader of Alex Rider stories by Anthony Horowitz. Even the 13 year old who is youtube 20 minutes generation stuck around for this one.

 

Good family entertainment and a few delightful cameos - e.g. Stephen Fry and Robbie Coltrane. A few good laughs (I loved the pigeon expiry - very London!).

 

Effectively this is a teenage James Bond movie, but with popcorn, made a great family viewing to help get through lockdown - we are committing to one a week! We did Indiana Jones first movie - OK, but didn't really blow me away - are the sequels better?

Not sure what's next so suggestions for next weekend welcome. Kids love action and a bit of comedy - Johnny English went down a storm I'm told!

[synaesthesia]

JoJo Rabbit this weekend - loved it! Very clever. I don't often say this, but I wouldn't mind seeing more of that Hitler! A little bit like Drop Dead Fred in that respect (what a classic, RIP Rik!)

 

Followed by my first HD viewing of Back to the Future. Don't need an excuse to want to watch those. Awesomeness.

[blueday]

Three utter turkeys in one wet Saturday...

 

...

The Lighthouse - two 19th century lighthouse keepers pick a fight with mermaids and a one eyed crow

 

...

 

I watched this one too the other day.. wouldn't say it was a turkey exactly, but it was rather strange! Sort of enjoyed it in a weird way.

[LeMarchand]

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)

 

Didn't hate this as much as @pooley, but yes - way too long; they should have cut the postmistress subplot and probably had the prologue as part of the animated intro from the framing device.

 

Apart from that, have already forgotten the songs though vaguely remember the part Jeronicus sang when he was fixing the robot was OK. I did appreciate the fake-out when you thought, "Surely Forest Whitaker isn't going to sing - yeah, I knew it!" when he just growled in his first number, but turned out to be an OK singer later. Not sure why they cast Ricky Martin and only gave him one (poor) song, though.

 

On the whole this stinks of, "What's hot at the moment?":

 

 

• Musicals, especially Hamilton
  
• Victorian Christmas, but Victorian clothes aren't colourful enough - let's Willy Wonka them up!
  
• Steampunk, y'know that thing where they stick gears and cogs on everything - it fits with the Victorian thing
  
• Cute robots
  

 

"We got ourselves a hit!"

[LeMarchand]

Rebecca (2020) Netflix

 

 

Shock confession time: I have never read the book (I don't think I've read any Du Maurier) nor have I seen the Hitchcock version (Hitch, to me, is one of those directors whose skill and influence I can see, but whose films rarely grab me). My knowledge of what to expect was that it starts with "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again", ends in flames and in the middle evil housekeeper Mrs Danvers makes life hell for the new bride who has replaced the previous, new deceased, lady of the house - Rebecca...

 

The above description is pretty much what happens, but everyone at Château LeMarchand thoroughly enjoyed this - maybe because none of us were familiar with previous versions. Not sure why the reviews have been a bit sniffy, as we were all gripped; who would have thought that the possibility that the heroine has chosen the wrong frock to wear to a ball could be made so tense? Anyway, recommended - though perhaps only if you're not a big fan of previous versions?

 

Bonus points for Armie Hammer's fairly decent English accent.

[kennysarmy]

I'm not sure why but I watched this on Netflix yesterday!

 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3541524/

 

Please no one else bother!

[Norphy]

Rebecca (2020) Netflix

 

 

Shock confession time: I have never read the book (I don't think I've read any Du Maurier) nor have I seen the Hitchcock version (Hitch, to me, is one of those directors whose skill and influence I can see, but whose films rarely grab me). My knowledge of what to expect was that it starts with "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again", ends in flames and in the middle evil housekeeper Mrs Danvers makes life hell for the new bride who has replaced the previous, new deceased, lady of the house - Rebecca...

 

The above description is pretty much what happens, but everyone at Château LeMarchand thoroughly enjoyed this - maybe because none of us were familiar with previous versions. Not sure why the reviews have been a bit sniffy, as we were all gripped; who would have thought that the possibility that the heroine has chosen the wrong frock to wear to a ball could be made so tense? Anyway, recommended - though perhaps only if you're not a big fan of previous versions?

 

Bonus points for Armie Hammer's fairly decent English accent.

 

I can't take the story even remotely seriously after Mitchell and Webb's version...

 

[witch]

Quite enjoyed Stormbreaker - bonkers but fun

[Ditto]

Quite enjoyed Stormbreaker - bonkers but fun

Was that as a result of my post 9 days ago? I agree, it was a bit mad but entertaining. For me it passed the test as eldest son (13) stayed for the duration and he is of the 20 minute youtube maximum attention span. My 11 year old absolutely loved it but he is a prolific reader of Anthony Horowitz. My favourite bit was when the pigeon came a cropper!

[LeMarchand]

I thought Stormbreaker was OK (not watched the newish TV version as that looked poor) but am I the only one who felt uncomfortable with the lead fifteen year old girl being given the "Bond Girl" name of Sabina Pleasure?

[LeMarchand]

Letters to Juliet (Netflix)

 

Sophie, young American woman (Amanda Seyfried) goes to Verona on a "pre-honeymoon" with her fiancé who is more interested in meeting up with people who will help set up his soon to open restaurant than spending time with her. As she wanders the streets, she comes across the "Casa di Giulietta" where lovelorn women leave letters to the Juliet and falls in with the ladies who answer the letters (I'd read about this years ago - they do exist). Sophie happens across a 50 year old letter and gets to be the one to answer it, which brings an older British lady, Claire, (Vanessa Redgrave) and her grandson to Verona as Claire has decided to take Sophie's advice and track down the man she fell in love with 50 years ago...

 

Sweet rom with a dash of com. Totally predictable but worth a look if you like this sort of thing. Not sure on the casting of Claire's grandson, who looked like he should be playing 6th Form ruggers than a successful barrister.

[LeMarchand]

The Rhythm Section

 

When Stephanie's (Blake Lively) parents and siblings are killed in a plane bombing, she descends into drugs and prostitution until a reporter tells her that he has proof about who made the bomb three years later. A mistake on her part alerts the terrorists and she determines to get revenge, tracking down ex-MI5 agent Jude Law to train her so that she can do so.

 

So-so revenge thriller. It was good that Stephanie didn't transform into a female Bond in just 8 months, and mainly gets by on luck and determination, but sometimes these films are better off with a bit more gloss than grit. Blake Lively's accent slips from middle class to less posh from time to time and, although I know she was supposed to have had a rough three years, she did not look like someone not long out of uni. If you want to see a female led revenge thriller. I'd suggest Jennifer Garner's Peppermint rather than this.

[LeMarchand]

Forgot to put Sky Movies in above!

[Ditto]

Continuing the weekly lockdown (school) family movie. Picked October Sky (anagram of Rocket Boys, which was an abandoned title), a biographical film directed by Joe Johnston. It was a bit of a fluky find but with the elder son currently reading a book on the history of liquid rocket propellants. All fully entertained and another couple of packets of popcorn demolished! Nice touch in the credits saying where each of the main characters ended up post schooling.

[JJonas]

I binge watched Queens Gambit on Netflix over the weekend and I don't normally binge watch TV series.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDrieqwSdgI

[AJWhite1970]

Astronaut - Sky Movies

 

The lowest budget space movie you will ever watch but still an enjoyable story about a 70 something man who enters a lottery to win a ticket on the first space tourism flight

 

[StevieM]

What We Do In The Shadows - Mockumentary that looks at the everyday lives of a group of house-sharing vampires. (MUBI)

 

I’d heard the name before but didn’t know what it was about (I thought it was a typical teen vampire flick). When I realised the Flight of the Conchords connections, I just had to watch it...and I wasn’t disappointed. Very funny.

[smurfomatic]

What We Do In The Shadows - Mockumentary that looks at the everyday lives of a group of house-sharing vampires. (MUBI)

 

I’d heard the name before but didn’t know what it was about (I thought it was a typical teen vampire flick). When I realised the Flight of the Conchords connections, I just had to watch it...and I wasn’t disappointed. Very funny.

 

There's a TV series based on the film, set in the US with Matt Berry as one of the vampires, also very funny. Two series both available on BBC iplayer.

Edited December 1, 2020 by smurfomatic

[6Foot2]

We just watched The Homesman (2014) on BBC iPlayer:

 

The stark life for Nebraska Territory settlers has unhinged three women who wilful Mary Bee Cuddy is tasked with transporting east to safety in Iowa. She must grudgingly draft disreputable drifter George Briggs to share the stress and responsibility of the five-week odyssey over hostile plains.

 

5 days left to watch

 

Duration: 1 hour, 53 minutes.

 

[LeMarchand]

Holidate (Netflix)

 

Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey) are two young people who are fed up with having to seem to be loved up at holiday get-togethers, so they hatch a plan to be each others holidate. They'll go to an event together and have fun with no commitment and no hassle from friends and relatives.

 

You don't need to watch the trailer (which gives way too much away) as you've already worked out the ending. That said is a really fun romcom that doesn't entirely stick to the standard romcom playbook. Everyone in the house enjoyed this one; though the ladies found the lead female a bit selfish to begin with, until they realised that she was playing what's traditionally the male role. Worth a look if you like this sort of thing and guys, if you don't this may be one that you can get some enjoyment out of if forced to watch a romcom.

[simpsonj]

Holidate (Netflix)

 

You don't need to watch the trailer (which gives way too much away).

 

Every Netflix trailer goes on for too long and gives away too much.

[mavhc]

The Wind Rises

 

It's great.

[Norphy]

Every Netflix trailer goes on for too long and gives away too much.

 

I was made very happy when Netflix gave us the ability to turn off the autoplaying of trailers in their apps.

[LeMarchand]

Every Netflix trailer goes on for too long and gives away too much.

 

At least they've improved their trailers. They used to make decent things look so bad that they'd put you off watching. Now they make the stuff look good, but show so you so much that you may as well not bother watching.