Left speechless

Why did I never watch this movie before?



The Shawshank Redemption

A masterpiece. I was left speechless and breathless. Tim Robbins is the actor's actor, so understated, so believable. Morgan Freeman is just real. I sound like a Shawshank groupie.

This is a prison story, with all the horrible prison stuff that happens, but it has an ending that is so satisfying. It is a must-see.




Five Children and It

An adaptation of an E. Nesbit children's story. I was a big E. Nesbit fan and I had read this book, many years ago. It has been made into quite a good movie. That nice lad from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (no, not Johnny Depp) stars, along with several well-known English actors, including some Harry Potter teachers. Eddie Izzard plays It and does it very well, with humour, as you would expect. A nice movie.




Cougar Town

My daughter made me watch the first two seasons and it is not bad. Ellie, the neighbour, is played by Jordan from Scrubs, so of course it is good. Funny, alcoholic, stupid at times, but entertaining.




21

Based on the true story of MIT students using their intellect to beat the casinos. Jim Sturgess (from "Across the Universe") stars and does a passable American accent. Enjoyable.




Pirate Radio

Now in other countries this movie is titled "The Boat That Rocked". Now why would they change it for the American market? Was it too subtle? They changed the title of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to something about a sorceror's stone. Dumbing down or what?

Anyways, this is an English movie (which almost automatically makes it good in my book) with some wonderful actors, including Kiwi comedian Rhys Darby, the manager from Flight of the Conchords. This movie is also based on a true story, about Radio Caroline I believe, in the early days of rock and roll, when the BBC would not broadcast such stuff. Some great characters, fashions, and situations. The dvd cover says: 1 boat, 8 DJs, no morals. Then there is the nail-biting drama, faced with remarkable sangfroid (as always) by the English.

I will be watching this one more than once. It's fun and it has it's own Dunkirk moment.




Angie had her kittens, we haven't seen them yet, but now the previous two, Harley and Belle, are part of the household. We really need to find good homes for them but we are very attached to them now. Won't make that mistake with the next lot. And yes, I have tried very hard to catch Angie to get her fixed, but she is super-smart and avoids springing the trap. I'll try again when these kittens are old enough to do without her for a day or so.