Never one to make it to the cinema I often feel I have missed out. In the past when we regularly went to the Lakes for a holiday we were also members of the local library, where we would descend on the first day and pick up our entertainment for the week – books for the children (as they were then) and a few DVDs for the grown-ups to watch, with a bottle of wine, cuddled up on the sofa, after they’d gone to bed.
Doesn’t take much to make me happy.
However since the place in the Lakes is no longer in the family we have simply got out of the habit of watching films, except for occasionally on TV or recording one from the TV for later.
Yesterday I took the chaps to the library to collect a reserved book and to obtain a new card for Techie. While he was doing that I browsed the DVD collection and quickly found three I wanted to see, which I have borrowed for a small fee. Not quite sure when I’ll fit them in… but I have them for a week, and it’s much cheaper than Blockbusters!
Recent reports show that library usage is in decline, but the libraries around here are fantastic and usually bustling whenever I visit. I don’t know if Oxordshire’s statistics are very different to anyone else’s in this respect, but I reckon we have an excellent service. One of the most useful aspects in my case is this ability to return books to any library in Oxfordshire, rather than just from the local one the item came from. As someone who work in different locations this is very handy. In addition books can be requested on line from home.
One small problem. We requested the DVD of ‘An Inspector Calls’ last September. And that one had gone missing. We were promised a replacement ASAP.
We are still waiting.
The three films I chose yesterday are:
The Reader: I read the book and really thought it was excellent. The film had good reviews and has Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes.
The Time Traveler’s Wife: (Yes I know, the American spelling is annoying) – again I read the book and really admired it and can not imaging how this could work on film – so intrigued to find out.
Julie and Julia: read reviews and wanted to see it at the time. Has Meryl Streep in it.
What would you put on your list of must see, missed films?
Boadicea's Chariot 
For me, that’s one of those unknown unknowns.
OK
Any films you have seen you’d recommend?
I guess you’ve already seen ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets,’ ‘Passport to Pimlico,’ ‘The Lavender Hill Mob,’ and like that? (I’ve been overcome with nostalgia over the last few months. 🙂
Evening Pseu
I don’t normally watch movies, I usually only watch sports events or history / knowledge documentaries.
Having said that, I have however watched 3 films in the last 6 months or so (all on TV), Dick Tracy, only ’cause I’ve been a Madonna fan the last 30 years or so and then by ‘accident’ I watched Star Trek – the early years (the one where the cast are all students) and just the other day ‘The taking of pPelham 123′ (the new one with Denzyl Washington and John Travolta)
I enjoyed them all, not sure if I’d recommend them but I did watch them ’till the end, so they can’t be that bad!
NO Bravo, I’ve seen none of those!
Nor any you have mentioned, Soutie!
Well, Pseu, if you fancy a few hours of more gentle entertainment, I’d recommend them 🙂 ‘The Man in the White Suit?’ ‘Ice Cold in Alex?’ (Putatively a war movie, but actually a character study.)
Oh, Oh, and ‘Brief Encounter?’
I wish I had seen avatar in 3D.
There is a big IMAX facility just over the border in South Vancouver, far nearer to us than Seattle.
Always seems so odd to go to another country to see a movie! I think the border lot think we are a little peculiar too.
Thank you Bravo.
Christina, my husband took the boys to that. It didn’t appeal to me. IMAX is an amazing facility to have close by.
I’d be interested to know what you think of Julie et Julia. I saw it on a plane and found Meryl Streep’s voice *incredibly* irritating. But that’s apparently v close to how she sounded!
Loved The Reader, though. Classy performance by Kate Winslet.
I have no idea about my “must see” missed films are. We usually go see anything that looks promising, although some of the blockbusters have been, well, swamped by effects and short on story.
I have a long list on Love Film of other people’s recommendations and it’s always interesting. Got the Cohen brothers’ movie Fargo to watch on the strength of loving their quirky unusual ‘Oh Brother Where Are Thou.’
If you haven’t seen already, check out Goodbuy M r Chips (1939) staring Robert Donat, Greer Garson & John Mills. A real classic.