Sunday, October 21, 2012

Off to the movies

Taken last Thursday on Cougar Divide
I woke this morning to the sound of rain drumming on the roof, lots and lots of it, with a forecast of 70% chance of precipitation at the Drop Zone. It sure didn't look to be promising much of a chance to make a jump or two, so instead I'm going to the movies with my friend Judy. And of course just as soon as I made that decision, the weather changed: it's bright sunshine and clearing up quickly. A link to the web cam at Skydive Snohomish also confirmed that today will be jumpable. That is, if you don't mind the fact that it's only 40 degrees F on the ground! At altitude that will be VERY cold. I guess I can be okay doing other activities, although I am really not ready to say farewell to skydiving for the year just yet. We're going to see Looper today, a sci-fi thriller. Last weekend we went to see Argo, Ben Affleck's new movie.

It was a very good movie, and we both enjoyed it immensely. Since it was loosely based on real events, set during the Iranian hostage crisis in the 1970s, it is my habit to get on line and read how closely (or not so closely) the movie followed reality. In this case, it was not very much. I figured, since there were cliffhangers around every corner, it could not have actually been this way. I was right; he took quite a bit of artistic license in telling this story, but it was still very well done. I loved the period setting and had forgotten how much our world has changed in thirty years or so. Aviation glasses and wide ties abound.

I think the movie would have been better if Affleck had not starred in it himself, although he was pretty cool looking with a long mop and plenty of facial hair. I've not been much of a fan of his lately, but this movie made me rethink his talent. He is a good director and a pretty good actor, too, given a decent script. If you see it, let me know what you think of it.

From Roy Leonard
The week before, we went to see The Master, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Amy Adams. Boy, talk about talent! Phoenix, as you may remember, played Johnny Cash in Walk the Line and was so good as Cash that I almost forgot it wasn't actually him. In this movie, he plays a completely believable loser just back from World War II who falls in with "The Commander," played incredibly well by Hoffman, a guy who has formed a movement he calls "The Cause." I found some reviews on line that tell the tale of what this movie is about far better than I could. Here's a quote from Roy Leonard:
I sat through all 137 minutes of Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie a few days ago and despite the brilliant photography and Oscar caliber acting, I have no idea what it was about and I certainly wouldn’t sit through it again, as many have done, trying to make sense of the story.
Yes, that's right: we sat through it and watched some amazing acting, but once we walked out and looked at each other, neither of us could say what it was about, or whether we liked it or not. Amy Adams plays against type as well. I never would have thought she could come across as cruel and calculating, but she does. I can't say whether I really would recommend this movie, but I am glad I saw it.

Today's fare should be much more straightforward, a good sci-fi thriller with good reviews. Here's hoping we will enjoy it as much as we did Argo.
:-)

26 comments:

  1. enjoy your warmer choice for the day! i watch all my movies at home these days. :)

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  2. Movies, yay! :p

    My sister in New Zealand saw Looper and loved it! My dad and I are waiting for it (and Argo) to hit the screens here in Spain. At the moment there's nothing interesting enough to entice us to the cinema...

    I haven't even heard of that other film The Master! Great actors indeed! I'll keep my eye out for it.

    Enjoy your movie day! :o)

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  3. I just loved Argo. I knew they played it a little loose, but I still found it engrossing and I do like Ben Affleck very much. I also really like Bryan Cranston, so that helped! :)

    I have not seen The Master, but adore Philip Seymour Hoffman, and so would love to see it no matter how mystifying. Certain actors and directors I would watch no matter what, including Paul Thomas Anderson.

    I need to get out to the movies more, there are so many good ones always this time of year. Thank you for always providing your reviews. Good reminders and always intriguing.

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  4. ooo i really want to see ARGO...have heard a bunch of positive things about it...funny too i just listened to an audio book as well of a story set during the same time...

    had not heard of The Master...

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  5. My only probem with Argo (from what I have read about , not seen it yet) is that if seems to give the Canadian side,e specailly the ambassador short shrift, when he was the real hero of the bunch.

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  6. I'm afraid we don't go to the movies much. We will if it's something that definitely looks better on the big screen, but otherwise choose to watch the DVD at home. But my son and grandson went to see Looper yesterday and really liked it.

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  7. I don't go to the movies either. I prefer to read as I can stop and think about something, or go back a few pages, or start at the beginning again. I know that I can do those things with a DVD, but no, I can't if I want to maintain my relationship.
    I so hope you get another jump or two in...

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  8. My husband is a big sci-if fan so that's what we usually watch. Unfortunately there's not a lot of excellent sci-fis out there. I hope Looper is good. I really enjoyed your reviews, DJan.

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  9. Cougar Divide photos below....absolutely stunning.

    As for the movie Argo...heck, I didn't even know it was playing that's how far behind I am in keeping up with the new releases. And yes, I would have to agree...Ben Afleck is not one of my favorites, but I do like the 'manly' look of facial hair and long tresses on men. Yummy. LOL

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  10. I think I might like to see Argo, but will wait until it comes out on DVD/Comcast On Demand. We tend to watch only a couple of movies a onth. We watched Rock of ages last week, and I loved the music!
    Last nigh we selected an old political movie that we had never seen - Bob Roberts. Wow, was it right in step with today's politics.

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  11. Sorry you missed the dive but that temperature did sound a little too chilly so movies were probably the better choice. They sound like a good set of movies too although I'm not keen on movies that have no solid foundation or plot...still, I like Joaquin Phoenix so would probably watch The Master for him. I usually have to wait for some movies to come out on DVD as, Bradley, my son isn't really into the drama and he's my movie partner. To be fair, he is legally blind and some movies are hard for him to follow.

    Enjoy Looper!

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  12. I enjoy having a look at movies through your head. I don't watch very many movies but I like to see what others think of them.
    From now on we could get variable weather.

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  13. Just saw Argo, it made my husband angry how President Carter let the hostage thing go toooo far..we knew it was almost all made up...Loved Ben Affleck, he is a far better director than an actor, but he likes to get stuff done the way he wants so he acts in movies he produces.

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  14. For me, Argo was a nail biter. Tightly written script, good acting, and a bizarre twist with the movie angle. I had no idea that's how the iranian crisis actually played out. I'm betting this one garners some oscar nods.

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  15. I was wondering about "Argo", it looked like it would be good but you sometimes can't tell from the trailers. Thanks!
    Love Di ♥

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  16. Dear DJan, I saw "Argo" on Saturday with a visiting friend. Both of us enjoyed the movie immensely. I was on the edge of my seat because I didn't know what was going to happen. Unlike you, I didn't come home and check the factuality of the plot. I just accepted it. Oh, will I never learn!!!!! Peace.

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  17. I haven't been to a movie for ages. At least 40 years. Since television came out, I usually wait on the movie to show up on television.

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  18. I loved Gone Baby Gone, The Town and I'm looking forward to Argo. I was never a fan either until he started directing. Thanks for the reviews DJan.

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  19. the interviews for Argo make it sound as though the story closely follows reality, I'm disappointed that it doesn't

    the previews for Looper look good but it seems a bit confusing as well as Master ;)

    Scientology is all up in arms over Scientology, maybe they're the only ones who can understand it

    hope your Monday is sunny

    hugs from me and Hope

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  20. Perhaps there are a few more warm sunny days for skydiving. In the meantime, thanks for the reviews!

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  21. My husband would love it...he's a huge sy-fi guy.

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  22. I have them all in my Netflix queue. That movie sounds like how I felt after watching The Tree of Life with Brad Pitt, but I did like the movie even if I wasn't sure what I saw--LOL! But I hope this isn't going to become a trend with movie makers.

    I hope you get to go jumping again this year. :)

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  23. I've not heard of any of those. I'm obviously out of the loop. At least when I see them on DVD I'll have a clue what they are!
    That picture is beautiful. I'm not sure I'm ready for snow just yet, but you've made it look enticing. If y'all are having the crazy weather fluctuations we've been having then you've not said goodbye to the jump season yet.

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  24. Thanks for the reviews DJan. I'll probably wait for Argo and The Master to arrive at Netflix or Amazon. We might go see Looper next weekend, I love scifi.

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  25. Exactly. I don't like movies either where you leave the theater shaking your head and asking "what was that all about."

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  26. Such beautiful photography on your blog. I saw Argo and enjoyed it. Like you, I always research movies based on fact after I see them and yes, it is much different that the original happenings for sure. I believe that Canada was so upset with it that Ben Affleck altered the ending slightly and is planning to add more info to the the DVD. I enjoyed Affleck, especially in a tshirt - eek!

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