Not too many films watched in the month, as I got back into my reading, plus we watched a fair bit of the Commonwealth Games on TV.We did see Forrest Gump, which was enjoyable. I saw it years ago, when I had a bit of a downer on Tom Hanks. My daughters wanted to watch it and I probably got a lot more out of it second time around if I'm honest. I have the book by Winston Groom, which I haven't yet read.
We watched one of my daughter's DVD's - The Vow with Channing Tatum. Not something I would have chosen to watch myself, but I stayed awake during it, so it couldn't have been that bad. Apparently it's based on a true stroy.I have seen him before in Dear John - another one of my daughter's favourites. He's alright, but I can't see him picking up an Oscar anytime soon. Good luck to him though.
One of the funniest things on British TV in the past year or two has been Mrs Brown's Boys, a situation comedy starring Brendan O'Carroll and most of his family. The TV series was developed from previous works of O'Carroll which were aired on radio and a series of books. I read the first book The Mammy a few years ago and didn't enjoy it as much as the TV show. In short the series concerns an Irish mother who has brought up her children single-handedly. Coarse, rude, bawdy and incredibly funny - along with Brooklyn Nine-Nine it's the go-to-show that we rely upon for laughs in our household.
Four of the Keane's hopped off to MK to see the film offering from O'Connell and his gang - Mrs Brown D'Movie. Well worth the admission fee and we had a blast. Probably slightly less funny than the weekly half-hour episodes that screen on the TV, but a good night out.
Others in the month - Snow White and The Huntsman, which starred Kristen Stewart. I believe this is the film that led to her troubles with Twilight man Robert Pattinson. I was enjoying it before I dozed off halfway through. More of a reflection on me than the film, I was a bit peeved with myself.
We also managed to watch the second half of Neds, a dark, violent and brutal Scottish film from Peter Mullen, set in Glasgow in the 70's and focussing on the city's gang culture.
Col, I have seen FORREST GUMP and VOW, and obviously liked the former more than the latter. VOW is for kids. The MRS BROWN'S BOYS poster reminds me of MRS. DOUBTFIRE which I liked quite a lot. I preferred Robin Williams in matronly disguise. I haven't seen the others you mentioned. The family is currently watching MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA 2014, now in its final week (though it has already ended Down Under). We also get reruns of its US and UK versions. The other current flavours at home are old episodes of sitcoms FRASIER and BECKER both of which have great cast and great humour. Ten Danson as the brilliant but cynical and exasperating doctor in the latter is terrific. I was surprised to see him playing a captain in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. I'd missed him the first time I saw this film.
ReplyDeleteMrs Doubtfire is my youngest daughter's favourite film of all time. She used to watch it with her granddad quite often, so it has a special significance for her. She watched it last about a week ago.
DeleteI usually watch Great British Bake-Off rather than any of the Masterchef shows and I have yet to see Private Ryan.
Col, I have seen MRS. DOUBTFIRE many times and I'll probably see it again if it is aired tonight. The first-half hour of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is not for the fainthearted but it's worth watching. Tom Hanks leads a good star cast. The film is in the mould of BLACK HAWK DOWN though the stories are vastly different.
DeleteBlack Hawk Down is another film I have yet to see. I'll keep my eyes open for them both.
DeleteThe only one of these I have seen is Forrest Gump, and that's a long time ago. Our main TV has been hijacked for sport pretty solidly the past two months, with World Cup, Wimbledon and Commonwealth Games - I think I've read quite a lot as a result!
ReplyDeleteMoira, I'm hoping that there's no more sport for a while now as my reading had definitely suffered as a result.
DeleteCol - I richly enjoyed Forrest Gump, and 'though I've watched it several times, I don't really tire of it. And now you're making me keen to see what Mrs. Brown's Boys is like...
ReplyDeleteMargot I think I'm learning to relax more when watching stuff instead of mumbling under my breath.....Tom Hanks this, Tom Hanks that.
DeleteI would love to hear what you think of Mrs Brown's Boys should you ever have the opportunity to view it. I'm unsure if it has found it's way across the Atlantic or not.
I think we have different tastes in movies. To be fair I haven't given any of these a chance. But our stacks of unwatched movies and TV on DVD are too high, so don't think I will try these.
ReplyDeleteBut The Neds sounds good, I will have to suggest it to Glen.
I hope you do check Neds out. I probably am less pro-active about what I watch as opposed to what I read. I kind of surrender control of the remote and go with the family flow. My son likes off-the-wall stuff, my eldest daughter likes rom-coms or tear-jerkers, my youngest likes comedies and action and my wife likes us all spending time together.
DeleteI agree with the spending time together. I watch a lot of movies I would never choose, because my son and husband watch them, and I don't like to watch movies alone. And it is good to get variety.
DeleteI think this month we will have to watch a fair bit, because we only have about 10 hours free space on our "box" for new recordings. We are on hols later in the month and the tribe will want to record their favs for our absence.
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