Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

Has anyone else seen Hustle & Flow?  What did you think of it?  It is gritty & harsh, but I liked it.

The story didn't necessarily strike me as one of redeemption... it also made me wonder about how we break the cycle of kids growing up like this>  Remember the scene where he throws out the stripper and her son? 

probably a lot of you wonder how I could like this movie?  The main reason is I didn't feel that it glorified the gansta rap, pimp life style liks so many other movies try to.

I watched Shooter over the weekend.  A whole lot of shooting in that one! lol

If you havent seen " Knocked Up"  I suggest seeing it
you will laugh yourself silly ( Lots of foul words) But i have to say
the funniest movie i have seen in few years..

Slobby Ben and up and coming career girl Alison meet at a bar, and end up having a one night stand. Eight weeks later, Ben is shocked when Alison meets him and reveals that she is pregnant. Despite having little in common, the two decide that they have to at least try to make some kind of relationship work for the baby's sake.

My son and I went to see it, Sue! We cracked up! GREAT FUN!
( I admit to having smoked a little pot in college, and at some point in the movie it crossed my mind that seeing it stoned would be death from laughter and torn stomach muscles! )  :lol: :lol:
I give it the following rating:

 :thumleft: :thumleft:

I agree.

i like "The Last Boy Scout" :cool:

I went to the movies today.

On the computer, I checked all the movies and times at The Grove. I wanted to see "3:10 To Yuma" which has gotten a lot of hype such as best movie of the year. It is remake of the movie from 1957. It was showing at 1:55. This theater is a 14-Plex and once you buy your ticket, and they take the stub, you can go into any one of the theaters, even see one movie and then see another. No one is checking. The Yuma was over at 4:00 p.m. "The Brave One" with Jodie Foster started at 4:15 so I saw that too. It is expensive to see a movie these days. I got the senior rate of $7.75. I got a two hour validation. I got a vanilla iced latte for $4.80 and since I was there so long, $9 for parking. Just outrageous.
 
Also outrageous, is the violence in movies today. You have to love Russell Crowe if you want to see the Yuma. It was shot in desert of AZ. It was filled with violence, blood and gore and the only way I knew what was going on was because I remember the original version. Worthless.
 
The Brave One is another movie where you have to love Jodie Foster. I do love her but the movie was nothing special, just more violence and blood and guts. However, I learned a lesson from her character. She had a radio show about New York at night called "I Walk the Streets At Night." She and her boyfriend were walking their dog in Central Park at night and came across some drunk and rowdy gang bangers who beat her boyfriend to death and beat her up badly. When she got out of the hospital, she was very paranoid and bought a big hand gun from a street guy because she would have had to wait 30 days in a gun shop. She was afraid to leave the house, etc., but eventually she did. She was on the subway at night and two gang bangers picked on a little white guy and battered him and took his iPod. When they noticed her, she took out her gun and shot them both. Another time, she went into a 7/11 and saw a man shoot the pregnant woman behind the counter. Jodie shot him. On another occasion she noticed a man in a car beating a woman in the back seat. She put a gun to his head and got into the back seat with the woman. She got the man to pay the woman for her services and told her to get out of the car. Then she shot the man. Meanwhile, the police are investigating the subway, the 7/11, the man in the car and each one was killed with a 9 mm handgun. They assumed the killer was a man. On another occasion, she recognized a man from TV that killed his wife but there was no proof. She found him and beat him to death with a tire iron. That confused the detectives.
 
One of the detectives ran into her and just had a feeling about her for no logical reason. They got to know each other and she interviewed him on her radio show. He figured out she was the vigilante but he had no proof, plus he knew her history re the boyfriend being beaten to death. He said to her, "I've always wondered if I could be man enough if someone close to me had done justifiable and moral violence, to not turn them in." She eventually got the address of the man who killed her boyfriend and went there to face him. He didn't recognize her and she shot him and his two accomplices. The detective arrived before the police. He told her to shoot him in a non lethal area (his shoulder) and then he took her gun and rubbed off the fingerprints and put it in the hand of the dead gangbanger. He said he would tell the police that the vigilante who shot him was now dead and the nine mm gun was in his hand.
 
This is the lesson I learned. Her life was irrevocably altered when her boyfriend was killed and she was beaten up. She asked herself how she could get herself back and found out she couldn't. The person she used to be was totally gone. She had to become another person and she wasn't happy about losing her past but that is what traumas do. In my life, I've been through traumas (my exhusband's death from AIDs, my mother's death from Alzheimers, the 1994 earthquake, the estrangement, my suicide attempt, etc.) and at each one, I felt I lost a part of myself. Even my shrink could not address that. This movie validated the fact that people do lose themselves after traumatic events and it's impossible to go back to being how you were before. I think I have about 20% left. A lot of me is just totally gone.

Thank you for your movie reviews and Louise, please know there is still so much of you here and that the way you tell your stories is an art in itself.  Some of the stories you have related are not all happy and glowing, but then life can be messy at times.  I'm sorry you've known such sadness in your life.  I'm glad you are here with us and I truly hope for better times ahead for you.  {{hugs}}

I don't get out to see movies very often.  I think the last one I saw was Casino Royale, which I did enjoy a lot. 

Thank you, MuffyBee. :sunny:

into the wild is great.

Tonight I watched Hallmark Hall of Fame, Pictures of Hollis Woods, never expencting the impact it made on me.  It was about a young girl who was not doing well in foster homes, but eventually ended up in the care of the Sissy Spacek character who was definitely having a problem remembering things.  There was a lot more to the film....but, it brought me back to earlier in the year,when my Dad was in the facility for dementia/alzheimer patients.  It all came back, and it didn't help that I'd rec'd a Christmas card from the facility with a personal note a couple of days ago....not that that was bad...not at all...just brought back the sad feelings...Anyway, if you saw it and liked it, good.  If not, it was touching...most of them are....I just haven't seen many, lately.  (Dad & I used to sit and watch old movies on Sunday afternoons, and I have not watched many lately...maybe I should start again when the estate is settled and I'm more relaxed.) 

I haven't watched much in the way of movies lately myself.  Maybe as the weather here gets colder or rainier, I can catch up.

2NJSons_Mom  :smt056  Some movies or songs bring back memories ~ some are sad.  My Dad is gone from this earth too, and I miss him.  {{hugs}} for you 2NJ.  I'm sorry you felt the  heaviness in your heart that comes with the loss of a loved one... :sad:

Seems I was repeating myself a little, but you understood what I was trying to say...have't seen Hallmark's H of F movies in a while and haven't watched many movies in general.  'It's always something'  :wink: that reminds us of loved ones... :smt052

Did anyone watch the Oprah film - Mitch Albom's - For One More Day?  I wanted to watch it, but forgot last night.

I didn't see that one 2NJ.  I was at the store yesterday and picked up a DVD "Cassanova"  with Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller and Jeremy Irons.  I haven't watched it yet.  I hadn't even heard of it, nor read reviews, but then I'm not a big movie, DVD watcher.  :lol: :lol: It was an impulse buy, and I thought it might be interesting to sit and watch.  Anyone else seen this one?  I will let you all know what I think of it  after I watch it.

Happy New Year!

At my cousin's New Year's Day party, I was talking with a family friend. She is known for her good movie recommendations. Kathy recommends "Kite Runner," "The Debater" and "Charlie Wilson's War."  I'm looking forward to seeing them.

I also saw the Brave One. I felt that the paranoia and anxiety and anger she felt right after came across wonderfully. Sure, it was about how she changed, but it was also about survival. Some parts of any of us are never the same after life altering events that we didn't ask for. It is about going on. For me, it is about being grateful for what I have NOW. I am not good a the gratefulness part, so sometimes I have to make a list of what is positive in my life. I too have had alot of losses in my life. Last year, my ex-spouse died in a tragic traffic accident overseas. When I heard the news I was sad and spent a week exploring what might have been ... what would my life had been IF we had not been divorced ?
What if he had still lived where I do / would we ever come to some understanding and closure and moving on ? Well, after a week of mulling, I decided that it did not matter, what happened did and I could do whatever I wanted to about it.

Any one seen "Mamma Mia?"

http://www.mammamiamovie.com/

http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/movies/living-proof

I happened to find Living Proof last night, about a research doctor played by Harry Connick, Jr.  If you have experienced the effects of chemotherapy, radiation and the ups and downs of a family member or friend with breast cancer or other, I think you would appreciate seeing this film.  The cast is notable, and of course there are some scenes that are not realistic....example:  Bernadette Peters character 'Barbara' suffers through chemo but doesn't lose an ounce of her trademark curly hair.  Nonetheless, it stirred up memories of my best friend who lost her battle at the age of 36, just a few years before Dr. Slamon's breakthrough treatment was approved. 

Hopefully, it will be aired again, soon, if you missed it.  I needed tissues, so keep some handy.

I would have a hard time watching that one, 2nj.  I lost 3 friends, all in their early 30's.  One had breast cancer, one ovarian cancer and one a brain tumor.  I remember one saying she knew her hair would fall out with treatment, but was just stunned when she woke up in the morning and there were handfuls of hair on her pillow.  When it was realized she was terminal, she stopped the treatments and her hair started growing back in.  Her children thought she was getting better. 

I saw "Nights in Rodanthe".  One review called it a three hankie movie.  I did find myself wiping the corners of my eyes a couple of times...

Ah, Muffy, we all seem to have something in common.  When my girlfriends and I went to see Terms of Endearment, we sobbed all the way home....little did we know that we were on the doorstep of something more personal.  Then, my BIL, with Hodgkins 10 years ago....Maybe not in our lifetime, but someday I hope there is a cure that doesn't wreak havoc on the body like chemo and radiation. 

"Star Trek" 2009 New Movie

TRAILER: Star Trek gets a sexy makeover in new film with love scenes, motorbikes and hunky stars
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 7:18 PM on 18th November 2008

The eagerly anticipated Star Trek film is set to cast off the geeky associations of the sci-fi genre with a handsome cast, vicious fights and sex scenes.

A trailer for the new movie was released online on Monday, no doubt fuelling the excitement of Trekkies around the world ahead of the film's release next year.

The fast-paced trailer include snippets from the childhoods of Captain James T Kirk (Chris Pine) and Mr Spock (Zachary Quinto), lending an insight to the men they grow up to become.

Scroll down to watch the trailer
<snip>
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1086917/TRAILER-Star-Trek-gets-sexy-makeover-new-film-love-scenes-motorbikes-hunky-stars.html

I doubt I will go to a theater to see this one...jmo

Has anyone gone to see "Quantum of Solace" the new James Bond Movie with Daniel Craig?

I found the story line very broken.  It was supposed to take up where Casino Royale ended.  There were some pretty hairy chase scenes and action, but I found myself starting to wonder when that part would be over.  Overkill comes to mind... I enjoyed Casino Royale much more than I did this film.  I saw it at an afternoon matinee, with a reduced price.  I'm glad I saw it, but glad I didn't pay full price.  jmho

Has anyone seen "Slumdog Millonaire" or plan to see it?  My DH wanted to see it, and at first I didn't want to go, because some of the reviews I had seen remarked on the hardship and poverty in the movie.  I've seen a lot of that in my time in real life, and didn't want to sit and watch it on the big screen as it makes me feel terribly depressed for days on end.  However, DH said it had a Bollywood ending, and I thought I would give the movie a try.  It had a much, much better story line then the James Bond flick "Quantum of Solace", I had last seen.  I did find myself looking away and squirming in my seat at some of the sadder scenes, but then there was such warmth and humor in some of the other parts.  And best of all, it did have a Bollywood ending.  I love happy endings! 

Do you recommend it MuffyBee?

Yes, I do wingnut. 

I have been debating whether to go and see it or not.  I watched a movie years ago - actually a Patrick Swayze movie entitled, "City of Joy" which was very disturbing.  The poverty and desperation is overwhelming.  I feel that this movie will evoke similar feelings.  Thanks for your input!

wingnut ~  maybe you shouldn't see Slumdog Millionaire then. I debated seeing it, but got talked into it by my hubby.  I almost left the theatre in the first ten minutes. Not only is there poverty and violence, there is torture.    It ended up alright, but the movie took it's toll, if you know what I mean.  I have never seen "Saving Private Ryan".  My eldest son says it wouldn't be something I would like, and I believe him.  I like happy movies.  I bought the movie "Monsoon Wedding", and I enjoyed it a lot.  It was a big, happy Bollywood production.  I like happy. 

Well, I saw your post the other day telling me that there was a new post in here, and completely forgot to check it!  I work crazy hours.........

There was only one scene in Saving Private Ryan that bothered me.  I can't watch that part at all.  I don't go to the movies much.  I usually wait for them to hit DVD and then buy them.  I will probably do that with Slumdog Millionaire.  I will look for Monsoon Wedding the next time I go to Wallyworld.

Thanks for your help and advice Muffybee!

Watching the Oscars, I remembered reading your posts.  Looks like it's a winner.

NJ Sons Mom - I saw Slumdog and recommend it highly but moreso from a global perspective, so that we're all more educated about the countries our economics are so tightly woven with now. India is one of those, I work with quite a few of Indian descent so I was very interested in learning more about the 'reality' and not the promoted view?

Wingnut it is tough to take at times as Muffy said, but then many of these emerging countries are. It's one very good reason why we should do all we can in the US, to support our democracy. We certainly have projects and poverty, but we do not have slumdog's.

My family went last night to see "Star Trek" on Imax screen.  We really enjoyed it! 

A group of us went last night to see "Sherlock Holmes".  Everyone seemed to have enjoyed it, from ages 19 to 63 that were in our group.