"Cold Comfort Farm" (1995)

I stalled watching this movie, then wondered why I hadn't watched it sooner.  When the movie ended, I found that I had a smile across my face.  Where did that come from?

My best guess for the stall, I think, comes from two parts.  First, I read the novel sometime back--it was part of one of my early excursions into the English literature field--and I wasn't sure how much of the novel I remembered.  There was quite a bit of "how do I figure?" going on in that early excursion, and I'm sure it colored my perceptions of those first literature experiences.  Likely that I would have different views had that first round of literature come at any other time but first, but somethin's got to be first, so that lot was as good as any--and maybe the better for it.  So, reading the novel this movie was based on was back farther than I would like.  I would've liked the novel and movie watching to be a little closer together--or perhaps have re-read the novel.  But, I decided tonight was the night to watch the movie (before it was yanked off Netflix streaming).  Was just going to watch the beginning of it (to see if there were any random animal parts falling off like in the book), but I ended up watching the whole thing.  That's a good thing.

The second reason for the stall would have to be the "DVD cover".  It was not one that did anything for me.

Delightful music, including over the end credits.  With the understanding that it's been "ages" since I've read the book, I thought the movie was well done.  I recognized the actor's name Stephen Fry in the beginning credits.  Identified actress Miriam Margoyles (Professor Sprout of the Harry Potter movie series) as Mrs. Beetle in this film.

I suppose that the ending was changed some (gotta make that book fit), but if you didn't know the novel (or if you'd forgotten most of it), then what's it matter?  Ending worked for me.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (2007)

I think my mistake with this movie series was to think of it as 4 separate movies.  That really isn't the case.  It's just one big movie coming out in four parts Charles Dickens' style.

I also think that this movie in particular works better to see it on the big screen in theaters when a person has made an event of "going to the movies".  The only advantage home viewing has is the ability to rewind when you find yourself going "What did they say?", especially when deciphering some of the spoken accent lines and plot twists that happen in concentrated moments.

It's really a movie, I-I think, that a person needs to be in the mood for.  If you're not in the mood for it, it's not going to sit well and certainly isn't going to persuade you (ur, me) that it's any good.  If you are in the mood for it, then it can suit admirably.

I rented this movie when I was in the mood for it, but then was delayed in watching it both for schedule and health reasons.  Yesterday when I started watching it, it was because I figured it was time to get it sent back, not because I was in the mood for it.  Therefore, yesterday my sentiments were along the line of "subtitle:  How to take a simple story with a love interest and stretch it out into soap opera proportions".  However, I didn't finish it before it was time to turn in.  Today in finishing it, I was definitely in the mood for the movie and have a much different view of it.  Today it is "This is a movie that needs to be seen on the big screen.  Well done."

And I'm glad the movie music has been marketed.  It is really rather wonderful.  And I love the way the music theme was established at the beginning, threaded in places in the middle, and then used for the end credits.  To me, that is a solid use of music in a movie.  Why should the end credit music have a different character than the rest of the movie?  It shouldn't.  And the music for this one was done well.

Sure seems that the costumes and set people should have had a lot of fun creating for this series.

Now, how is this one-movie-in-four-parts going to end?  In a way that satisfies my tastes (hardly the creators' criteria) or in a general way (rather loose, technically finished, but unsatisfactory).  I predict there is a fair chance of the first option, considering the record of tight plot maneuvering so far.  I will see when I watch what I assume will be the conclusion in the next movie.

SPOILER ALERT:  A lady as the pirate king?  How cool is that!  Jack Sparrow in the other world was an interestingly creative sequence.  Surreal?  And at least one other lady pirate lord--fair enough.  And a bit of a teaser, female tidbit, reward for watching all the way through the credits.  Hmm....

"State Fair" (1945)

Sweet, sweet story.  Light and fluffy.  Any lighter and fluffier and it would be whip cream.  Nice music, except for the "Iowa" song--that was just corny (for lack of a better word).  One scene I kept going, "Something familiar about that character."  Good grief, it was a very young Harry Morgan (MASH);  all the more interesting since State Fair is a film one of the MASH episodes centers around.  Dick Haymes (as "Wayne Frake") reminds me of the strong features of face of the men on my mother's side of the family.

Overall, very much enjoyed this musical.  (Still puzzling over that Iowa song, though)

"All I Want for Christmas" (2007)

Like a nice Christmas chick flick?  This one will do.

End Credits lists a "livestock trainer".  Trying to remember what in the world kind of livestock was even in this movie.  Perhaps horse-drawn carts, I suppose, but I don't remember 'em.  I don't remember any animals.  hmm.

huh.

"Crazy for Christmas" (2005)

A person has to suspend beliefs about some of the character's motivations and reactions.  But once you do that, this is a nice little Christmas movie/quasi romance movie.  Light-hearted, mostly.  One very memorable line from early in the movie from one disappointed little boy:  "That's a Charlie Brown Christmas tree."  Otherwise, just a nice Christmas movie with a happy ending.

"Galactica 1980" (1980)

I have watched 6 of the 7 episodes that exist of this TV show (skim watched episode 7).  Kinda fun.  Was just what I was in the mood for.  Kent McCord (Adam-12)  :)   Definitely low-budget--you could see the fly wires for one of the moving-through-outer space scenes.  Still, the plot was nice--a little bit of humor without being ridiculous, a little bit of action without having a heart-attack about it.  I liked.  Too bad there's only 6 episodes.  [I don't count the 7th one.]  Ah, 1980s television.  :)