Thursday, December 28, 2017

Let's All Go to the Movies

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Christmas week is a great week for movies, and this year there are an unusual number of them I'd like to see.



Hubs and I have tickets reserved at our nearby iPic theater to see Star Wars: The Last Jedi, next Tuesday. Weather permitting, as the forecast here for the beginning of next week is pretty dreadful. 

But I'd also really like to see The Post, The Greatest Showman, and Darkest Hour.

Who's been to the movies this week? Tell us what you've seen and what you've liked--but no spoilers, please!!!

65 comments:

  1. We haven't been to the movies yet . . . having too much fun with the grandbabies . . . but "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" is on our must-see list . . . .

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  2. We are Star Wars fans from way back, although we couldn't get through the middle three. A friend at Christmas dinner tried to convince us that they really were worth watching just for Ewan McGregor's performance, but I don't know. Before those movies, I'd have said I'd watch Ewan McGregor read the phone book, but maybe not....

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  3. And then there's Downsizing. But as much as I love Matt Damon, I think this one can wait for streaming.

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    1. "Downsizing" isn't on my "rush to the theater to see" list, but I'm intrigued by "Wonder" and may add that one to the list . . . .

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    2. I don't know about that one, Joan. Looking up.

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    3. Oh, yeah, that does look good. But I think it's a streaming movie for me.

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    4. Concerning Wonder, some words from a 10 year critic (son of a friend): "Read the book. Liked the book. Book was sad. I'll skip the movie, Mom."
      My friend is traveling for the holidays, so no report on the movie.

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    5. Good to know what the kids think of the movie . . . .
      So often the book is so much better than the movie!

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    6. I read the book and I loved it. I haven't been able to get to see the movie, and I think it's gone from here now. Everyone I know who saw it loved it.

      DebRo

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  4. My goodness! Jumping up and down over The Man who Invented Christmas. What is a writers movie if I ever saw it… There were times I was laughing out loud,… Sadly the rest of the audience was not as amused. But it was because it is so true to life of exactly how an author brain works. Highly highly highly recommend it.

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    1. Oh, I knew there was one I was forgetting. Not sure it's in wide release here but will check! Thanks, Hank!

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    2. I want to see that too, as well as the ones you mention

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    3. Me too. I know some writers.

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    4. We saw the Man Who Invented Christmas. The adults loved it. We were laughing out loud hysterically. The kids thought it was boring. I hope it becomes a new Christmas classic.

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  5. Downsizing, yeah. I can’t figure out how that could be good. Not that it matters— since movies are supposed to be a surprise, right? but I agree, I think we will wait.

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  6. And Star Wars. Sigh. Feels as if these days, I sit through every episode asking myself: who is that guy?

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  7. I'd like to see everything on Deb's list, and I will also admit to a sneaky desire to see Jumanji, just for the sheer silly fun of it. Plus, great cast for that kind of adventure. I want to see how Jack Black plays the narcissistic teen girl.

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    1. Yes, Jumanji looks great fun. And the kids took the grandbaby to see Coco and they all really liked it.

      But if I can only see so many movies, time and money-wise, I'll go for things I really, really want to see on the big screen. I think The Post is my #2 choice after Star Wars.

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    2. I've heard good things about Jumanji but I think I'll wait until I can watch on TV.

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    3. Name the day and time. Only not tomorrow, as it looks like they'll be installing my window . . .

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    4. Both Debs and Gigi have mentioned movies that I'd like to see, too, including Jumanji (Dwayne Johnson!!) Not all of them are in our area yet.

      I saw Coco a week and a half ago, and I could happily see it again. Very sweet!

      DebRo

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  8. We saw The Shape of Water last night, the newest from Guillermo Del Toro. Stunning. Beautiful, moving, funny. A must see!

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  9. Top of my list is Ladybird. It is the first film to get a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, for whatever that is worth.

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  10. I saw The Last Jedi opening weekend, and that was the last time I was in the theater. I'm hoping to get in the new Jumanji movie and The Greatest Showman this weeked, but I have a lot of things I need to do, so we'll see if it happens.

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    1. I'm not a trekkie and haven't seen one since I took my nephew (now 45...) to the very first one, but I want to see The Last Jedi!

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  11. Our son-in-law is at the new STAR WARS movie right now... seeing it for the second time. It's his birthday so he gets to do whatever he likes.

    Top of my list: The Shape of Water. Then Ladybird. Coco. Star Wars.

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    1. Hallie, you will LOVE Shape of Water. (I hope you love it as much as we did.)

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  12. I'm rarely tempted to go to the movies these days, but The Shape of Water does look good.

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  13. "The Last Jedi," "All the Money in the World," "Molly's Game," "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" are on my list. Did anyone see "Murder on the Orient Express" Thoughts? I really enjoyed "Ladybird," and I'm currently annoyed with Matt Damon and his tone deaf comments about #metoo, so I won't be seeing "Downsizing."

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    1. Debs and I saw "Murder on the Orient Express," and really enjoyed it. Branaugh managed to make Poirot seem formidable, instead of just fussy. He even made the mustaches make sense.

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    2. I very much enjoyed Orient Express.

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  14. AND THE WINNER OF YESTERDAY'S CONTEST (chosen at random) IS: Amy Paul!

    With an extra prize to Cheryl! (Because I couldn't resist.)

    YAY! So send me your addresses at h ryan at whdh dot com and your gifts will be on the way!

    And happy new year!

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  15. Very tempted about Orient Express, Ingrid. But I just cannot imagine it's good. Billboards, yes, hoping for this weekend!

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    1. Gigi and I went to see Orient Express and we really liked it! Loved Ken Branagh's take on Poirot, much less prissy than Suchet. You get the sense that he really IS dangerous. Great cast, gorgeous costumes, sets, and scenery. I'll watch it again when it comes out on video/streaming.

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    2. There is a pretty good new version of The Orient Express on Acorn, too.

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    3. I liked it a lot, Hank. And the cast! Oh, my.

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    4. Oh, okay! Great. It looks stuffy to me. :-) So--glad to hear this!

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    5. I lovedMurder on the Orient Express. I prefer the earlier version but still liked the new one enough that I could watch it again. Branagh was good!

      DebRo

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  16. The Darkest Hour was wonderful. It brought me to tears at one point. In high school, we never got to WW II (perhaps too busy with VietNam), but I'm learning about it now between The Darkest Hour, The Crown, and Elizabeth. The Darkest Hour has a good performance by Oldham, and the other actors, but the script is really superb and is the star here.

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    1. Now I am really determined to see it! Thanks for the recommendation!

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  17. I saw Star Wars: The Last Jedi twice. Once for myself and once because I was asked to go by someone I didn't have the heart to say no to her because the movie was at best mediocre and at worst and offense to everything Star Wars and proof that selling to Disney was going to be an utter disaster.

    I'm passing on Downsizing and Jumanji 2 (even though that one has The Rock and Karen Gillan in it). I won't be seeing the redo of Murder on the Orient Express. I might see Darkest Hour when it comes to PPV.

    I saw Dunkirk on PPV at home and it is the first time where I was bored to death by a war movie. I know that Christopher Nolan has a good rep, but the movie was awful.

    I'm looking to see The Mountain Between Us on PPV with Idris Elba and Kate Winslet because well...Idris Elba and Kate Winslet are in it.

    I want to see Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, MO but I missed it in the theaters near me so I'll have to wait to see that on PPV.

    I do want to see The Man Who Invented Christmas. The trailer for that looked great as did one for The Shape of Water.

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    1. The Billboards movie is coming to our local screening room soon. I want to see it.

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    2. There used to be a small theater a couple towns over that showed 2nd run movies at a discounted price. I wish they were still around because Three Billboards would've definitely fit their bill. Otherwise, there weren't many theaters within 45-60 minutes of me that actually got the movie in the first place.

      A friend of mine has seen over 70 new 2017 releases this year. I ask him how does he have the time to do all that? I saw 16 2017 movies, 23 movies if you count the ones released at the end of 2016 that I saw once the year turned. And that was stretching myself to go see the movies.



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    3. I totally agree with you about "The Mountain Between Us." It's got Idris and...Idris.

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    4. Ingrid,

      I watched it last night. It was OK but not much more than a one time view kind of movie for me.

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  18. Loved the new Star Wars. The Post is on my list, The Greatest Showman is on my 11yos.

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  19. Do new DVD releases count? I'm going to watch Rebel In The Rye (J.D. Salinger biopic) tonight. It releases 1/2/18 on DVD but available for rent now on Amazon.

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  20. We still haven't used the movie tickets that we got for Christmas last year. We're thinking of trying to see Ladybird some time soon. Today we were too busy buying a new house!

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  21. BREAKING NEWS! Edith Maxwell's TURNING THE TIDE is in the midst of a Goodreads giveaway! Check it out! But hurry--it won't be there much longer!
    https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/263366-turning-the-tide

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  22. I was really wanting to see "The Man Who Invented Christmas," but it never came to our town. I was most surprised by that. I'm sure "A Bad Moms Christmas" is destined to become a classic, but I would have preferred to see "The Man Who Invented Christmas." We are getting a new movie theater complex next year or the next, and I'm hoping it will offer more movies and a better variety. At least "The Darkest Hour" is playing this weekend, and as my husband and I both want to see it, we will probably go on Saturday, hubby's birthday. My teenage granddaughter is staying with us for a couple of days, and I might try to see if she wants to take in a movie tomorrow.

    I seem to watch more movies on DVD or Netflix these days. Hubby and I watched Dunkirk last night, but I think it really was one that should have been seen on the big screen.

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  23. What's this? No one wants to see I, Tonya? I've got that on my list. It was such a huge deal at the time, and I kind of thought they were both a piece of work.

    Went to see Orient Express last month with both my brothers.... At a theatre! first time I'd been to a movie with both ever, and first time with either in probably 40 years. Where did the time go?

    It was fun, especially all the production gorgeousness. But for characters, I still prefer the 1970s version.

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    1. I forgot about "I, Tonya" Susan! I need to add it to my list!

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    2. Oh, right right right! eager to see it!

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  24. Does watching a DVD in the comfort of your own cozy den count? If so, husband and dogs and cat and I just watched Beatriz at Dinner. A smart movie, and an emotionally affecting one. Seems to have a lot to say about the state of the world, symbolized by the characters. Well-paced and engaging. Thought-provoking.

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    1. Of course it counts! And thank you for the suggestion--finding it on On Demand!

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  25. Steve and I watched Dunkirk. In a very special way it showed people, adults and children, civilians and military of all ages, working together to keep the enemy forces from invading England. In that way it was a great gift of unity and celebration.

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    1. We loved Dunkirk, and were so glad we saw it on the big screen. The cinematography was amazing.

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  26. Deborah, a note of warning about The Darkest Hour. Some characters in the movie are difficult to hear because they mumble the words. The visuals are great, though.

    I want to see the other movies you mentioned. I loved Wonderstruck, which was in the theaters for less than a month! I think Millicent Simmonds, the actress who plans the young Rose, is going to win awards. She is a rising star!

    I also want to see Lady Bird. I have been hearing a lot of rave reviews.

    In January, I want to see Paddington Bear and the new Meryl Streep/ Tom Hanks movie.

    Diana

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