General Chat

'Reach For The Sky' with Kenneth More as Douglas Bader, lovely film.

Saw Ladies in Lavender on the telly just before Christmas with Judy Dench and Liz Smith, I found it a little 'uncomfortable' if I'm honest. Think that the idea was that they (especially Judy Dench) has a crush on the young stranger staying at their cottage, maybe it meant that she was yearning for her lost lover or her youth. Maybe it was me but I felt it didn't work. I've heard others love the film...so must be me then.

Greyfriars Bobby...if you don't occasionally get a lump in the throat with this one then you've a heart of stone!!

Hi Ed.... Yes youv`e got the right film with Hand that Rocks the Cradle, vengful jealous nanny, breast feeding her employers baby, dosn`t get more sinister than that. Michael Keaton, very good baddie, definetly has those evil eyes, he was the tenant from hell in Pacific heights.......

Yes Pam.... Melanie Griffith was very beautiful, the overdone plastic surgery has done her no favours, think shes been trying to keep herself nice for her younger very handsome husband, Antonio Bandereas...its a pity she didn`t just let nature take its course.....

Must admit I`d always thought the same about the Ann Archer/Glenn Close situation.......Men!!! we will never understand them....lol

Another very good actress of that era Sharon Stone... very good with Michael Douglas in Basic Instinct, but my favourite film of hers is The Specialist with Sylvester Stallone.

Also must mention The River Wild with Kevin Bacon and Meryl Streep.... Kevin Bacon plays bad/mad very well.....

....almost forgot Mystic River... also Kevin Bacon, Sean Penn, and directed by Clint Eastwood, think it won a couple of Oscars..... both highly recommended if you havnt already seen them.

Nicky

Michael Keaton was also good in Beetle Juice, bit daft I know... but our kids loved it.

Yes I know what you mean, Ann Archer was the more attractive of the two by far. Think the message was to people, don't mess around, not even once as there are some nutters out there!

Hi Pam,

What I could never understand is why Michael Douglas had a fling with Glenn Close when he had Ann Archer at home!!

Hi Edd, yes at the end you just know that Glenn Close is going to sit up in the bath, but it still scares the life out of me and makes me jump!

Hi Nicky,

Yes I have seen Pacific Heights. Michael Keaton does do a good psycho doesn't he?

I always thought he was the best Batman as well - I thought his portrayal of Bruce Wayne gave the impression that the character was slightly unhinged, which added to the essence of the film. Maybe it's those wild eyes ...

I have also seen the Hand That Rocks the Cradle but only once and that was a good few years ago, so my recollection of hte plot is a bit rusty. Is that the one where the nanny is in fact the wife of a doctor who the main character was molested by? Then the doctor commits suicide when her allegations are upheld, so the widow exacts revenge on the main character's family.

Also a fan of Fatal Attraction. Glenn Close the original - and scariest - "bunny boiler".

Another good one for us ladies...'Unfaithful', with Richrd Gere, Diane Lane and Olivier Martinez. Very sad in parts and I felt so sorry for Richard Gere, as his wife was seeing Olivier Martinez...(whatever did she see in him?!) Joking aside though, very sad ending for all concerned.

Hi Nicky, Pacific Heights, yes another goody. Michael Keaton was at his creepiest best, very sinister. Melanie Griffith was good in it and looked so pretty...why did she go so over the top with all that surgery and bottox!

Just catching up ...wasn`t online last night.....

Officer and a Gentleman... with you on that one Pam, absolutely love it, Richard Gere....with white suit, cropped hair and that lovely swagger, defo my favourite film of his, lost count how many times I`ve seen it.....

Funny now he`s older I don`t like him at all, where as i always felt stars like Steve Mcqueen Paul Newman, Sean connery to mention a few all improved with age.......

Saving Private Ryan ......,another Tom Hanks classic, but then has he EVER made a bad film?

Tom Cruise....Top Gun aaaahhhhh!!!! but when you watch it now its very camp, and extremely cheesy, but have always loved it, love the sound track too.

Thought of 2 more thrillers I love...... Sleeping with the Enemy and Pacific Heights.......... make that 3 .....The Hand that Rocks the Cradle.... anyone seen these.?


Nicky

An Officer and a Gentleman, not everyones cup of tea, but I like it.

Hi Edd, yes the original Ladykillers was made in 1955. I agree with you about swearing in films when it goes completely over the top, it losing the impact if you know what I mean. I'm not a Tom Cruise fan at all, and I know it shouldn't make a difference because they're acting, but it does with him...think it's 'cos he's into all that scientologly rubbish but have never taken to him.

We live in the wilds of north Norfolk now, so Duxford is not to far for us and have been a few times over the years. I believe that thay had to complete 25 missions didn't they. There are quite a few U.S. Airforce memorials here as they Americans had lots of bases here in WW 2. I'm still quite surprised how many people are ignorent of things that went on during the first and second world wars, it annoys me a bit. We have been over to Normandy a couple of times and visited the D Day beaches, museums etc. very interesting. Also visited Dunkirk and surounding areas, Arras in particular. You see people jusy overwhelmed at the amount of graves, everyone seems to get affected.

Another one has just come to mind, 'The Longest Day,' I remember my dad taking me to see it, I guess I'd be about ten, we went to Purley Astoria. My dear old dad fell asleep half way through and had a crick in his kneck...I remember walking to the bustop and him saying "Why didn't you wake me up!" (or words to that effect!) Back to unecessary swearing!

Off to work soon, back later folks. ☺

Another great WW2 film that springs to mind is Memphis Belle. Again based on a true story about the first B17 to complete its tour of duty.

Great cast - Matthew Modine, Billy Zane and Harry Connick Jr to name three.

We went to RAF Duxford a couple of years ago, my eldest had a history project to complete. On the day the Sally B was there - its the last airworthy Flying Fortress in the UK which also featured in the film. We saw her take off, and the sound of those four engines lifting it off the ground goes right through you. I tell you, it brought a lump to my throat seeing her become airborne, it makes you remember all those young men who lost their lives.

If you do ever get the chance to see her fly then do - there's something wonderful about those old planes and especially this one.

The Sally B has her own website which you may be interested in:

http://www.sallyb.org.uk/index.php

Well that's the end of that one - shame about the cheesy bit at the end with Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis.

Yes Pam, I do remember Ladykillers - excellent film, was it an Ealing Comedy? It was remade a few years back with Tom Hanks in the Alec Guinness role. Quite funny but not as good as the original - too much unnecessary swearing for my tastes.

I agree about Saving Private Ryan - I seem to remember the reviews saying that it had the most realistic portrayal of the Normandy landings ever put on film.

Sorry Pam, watching the boy's own film at the mo - Top Gun. Just at the final dogfight.

Will be back in a few mins after Maverick nails the bogies!

Nino Rota was the composer, just typed his name in and recognised it straight away.

You film buffs are very quiet tonight...is it 'cos Die Hard's on telly? Yeah I know Alan Rickmans in it...so we've lost some of the ladies tonight!

I'm talking to myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Night folks. ☺

Here's another lovely film...Franco Zeferrelli's Romeo and Juliette, starring Olivia Hussey as Juliette and Leonard Whiting as Romeo. Few good actors in it ,Milo O'Shea as the priest who marries them, (he was brilliant as the alcholic Doctor Popperwell in Steptoe and Son Rides Again!) It came out in 1968 I believe, I know I was at school still. The music was beautiful too, the composer was Nino ? I will have to google that to find out. Really lovely film.

How could I forget this classic one, Saving Private Ryan. The opening scenes are incredible. I do enjoy Band of Brothers too, it was shown over the Christmas break on BBC 2, very good.

Another good old British film, made in 1955 The LadyKillers, with all the greats, Alec Guinness, Peter Sellars, Herbert Lom and others which I can't remember at the moment. The old lady in it was about eighty odd then...so she must be a good age now!

I thought that was an excellent film BC. and remember the subway scene at the end!!.......gripping stuff
Mau