Arts & Humanities

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Arts & Humanities

Posted by: CAT17

17th May 2011 04:18pm

Hi, have you seen the new movie " Water for Elephants"? It is so very much worth seeing. Fantastic stars and the story line was excellent. The only thing that upset me was the violence toward the elephant (though you don't actually see all of it) but it is shocking. Things were very different in the circus world back in the 30's and not all animals were treated well. What do you think of the movie?

Comments 15

Anonymous
  • 3rd Sep 2013 04:03pm

I have not seen the movie, but I would like to hope it lives up to the book. On so many occasions, screenplays just don't have the same magic touch as the original novels, unfortunately :(

MdB
  • 3rd Sep 2013 09:13am

Hi,
Yes, I read the book and watched the movie. I loved both. I, agree, the violence and abuse of the elephant left a hollow feel in my stomach.
The story line and character development makes a strong theme and keeps the viewer interested all the way.

ct
  • 8th Nov 2011 01:32pm

i loved the movie, it was pretty amazing, but i counldnt stand the circus man, he was abhorrent and cruel, in the way that he treated both the elephants and Rob. i felt sorry for the woman being stuck with him. all in all good movie

Anonymous
  • 31st Aug 2013 08:57am
i loved the movie, it was pretty amazing, but i counldnt stand the circus man, he was abhorrent and cruel, in the way that he treated both the elephants and Rob. i felt sorry for the woman being...

I didn't much like the movie took to long to understand and get interesting

chookybo
  • 6th Nov 2011 12:38pm

Thanks CAT17. Yes I still love chooks and guess what? My chook was named Henny Penny too! What an original name for a chook!!! I don't have any chooks at the moment as we travel quite a bit and although we could let them free-range whilst we are away, the eagles would probably get them. We are visited by possums, kangaroos, wallabies goannas and have a semi tame magpie who comes to the glass door and stares in until we give her something. Sometimes when we ignore her she taps on the door and then sings us a song. She calls her mate and they have a good feed. She also collects the meat scraps and takes them to feed her baby in the nest. We tell her she should be getting her own food. She won't let us near her, which is good as after-all she is a wild creature. I am looking out the window at the smaller of the three goannas who is wandering past - they also come for a free hand-out. He'd better watch out if the largest one is around as she will chase him off. That looks so funny - a goanna on its tippy toes running fast followed by a larger one.

We are in a fringe digital area. My husband has put up a newer antenna on a higher tower but sometimes the signal still drops out. We are hoping for better digital reception when analogue is discontinued. If not we may go satellite then we should get (hopefully) all the free to air programs. I have to use satellite internet or dial-up as there is no possibility of getting broadband here and wireless is not reliable as is intermittent. Unfortunately, with satellite if something goes wrong it is very expensive. Fortunately, my satellite was still under warrantee when the horn "packed up".

Have you seen any of the "Girl with the Dragon Tatoo" movies? They are in Sweeish but once you get used to reading the subtitles are easy to watch. I enjoyed reading the books (3 in the series) in English of course. The books are by Swedish writer Steg Larsson who unfortunately died before they were printed. I also saw an interesting movie some time ago called "Life is Beautiful". This movie is Italian with subtitles. One of my favourite movies is "The Lake House."

chookybo
  • 5th Nov 2011 11:51am

Hi Cat17, I am 100 km round trip from the Video/DVD store and only travel to the town about once a week or fortnight, so I would have to get weekly DVD's. Anyway, I don't seem to have a lot of spare time to watch them. I do have a DVD recorder/player and do purchase DVD's (which I like to watch more than one time) for my own use either from somewhere like BigW, Kmart, Target or from Entertainment Masters - which I can do online. I have quite a library of them, a lot of them were given to me as gifts. My children have given me some lovely DVD's - like Australia and Avatar. My son gave me all of the Indiana Jones series and the whole set of James Bond because he knew I liked both. However, I also like to read books. Chookybo is the nick-name I was given as a young child because I used to love chooks and often carried one around as a pet - lived in the country then also! I lived in the city as a teenager and young adult, so am not totally a country bumpkin.

CAT17
  • 5th Nov 2011 01:46pm
Hi Cat17, I am 100 km round trip from the Video/DVD store and only travel to the town about once a week or fortnight, so I would have to get weekly DVD's. Anyway, I don't seem to have a lot of...

Hey chookybo! you and I have a lot more in common than movies. I am an avid reader and LOVE reading. I am part of a Reading Group and Secretary of Friends of our local library. But I had to laugh when I read the fact you loved chooks - me too! When my sister and I were little we had a pet chook "Henny Penny" what else! and we used to put a doll's dress on her and sit her in the doll's pram. She loved it and clucked away happily. My Dad saved her from an awful death - she had gotten up into the engine of his truck (he was a builder who did a lot of work in country South Aus) and after he had gone a few miles out of town he heard this terrible squawk coming from under the bonnet so stopped and there she was, literally dancing up and down on the hot engine block! Dad decided to bring her home rather than turn around so Henny Penny lived out her life very happily with us, playing babies was one of her favourite games!! You certainly are set up with your DVD collection, I have a few, but since the new free to air tv has improved and really good movies come on, I dont bother with the DVD anymore. Do you still love chooks? My niece lives in a small hamlet not far out of Adelaide and has a hobby farm (more like Noah's ark - she gives homes to animals that people get tired of) and her chooks follow her down the street when she goes to the Hall for her craft morning! Aren't animals (and chooks) the best! Happy movie watching and reading to you chookybo.

chookybo
  • 4th Nov 2011 12:10pm

Thanks for your advice CAT17. I would love to see Red Dog. I love movies but live in a remote area in the country so get my movie "kick" when I go to the city by seeing several - if I have time. I miss so many great looking/sounding movies as often they are not on long enough for me to get to see them. I haven't seen Water for Elephants. I did see the latest Johnny English film when I was last in the city and had a good laugh as I thought it was a very funny movie, especially the ending.

CAT17
  • 4th Nov 2011 08:46pm
Thanks for your advice CAT17. I would love to see Red Dog. I love movies but live in a remote area in the country so get my movie "kick" when I go to the city by seeing several - if I have time. I...

Hi chookybo (like your tag) thanks for keeping this discussion going. Living in a remote area would make getting to the movies hard, but have you thought of borrowing DVDs through your library (if you have one or acces to one). I would have thought there would be some way for you to be able to borrow DVDs. (DVD players aren't expensive now-a-days). We take so much for granted being city slickers and dont think of you great people living out there. Are you on property? I hope you manage to get to the city again soon and catch up with some good movies.

CAT17
  • 23rd Sep 2011 08:34pm

Hi movie lovers! Go see Red Dog, it is wonderful - take the tissues ofcourse, but it was more than just a dog movie, the scenery of WA is great. It is based on a true story and there is a statue of him in the town. The characters are great too. All in all a movie to see!

Cassa
  • 23rd Sep 2011 03:31pm

No I havnt seen it yet and keep looking forward to it coming out on dvd so we can.

CAT17
  • 16th Jun 2011 07:04pm

You go and enjoy the movie Water for Elephants. I haven't read the book and have heard mixed reviews. I think you are right to judge for yourself. By the way are you following Downton on chanel 7? I am enjoying it, good to have something on TV that" you can get your teeth into!" I love that kind of series, interesting characters, beautiful setting and it is an era I love. The gentry were certainly an interesting lot!!

June
  • 16th Jun 2011 05:17pm

I am looking forward to seeing this movie. I have seen a trailer and it looks very atmospheric. Several friends have read the book and loved it, they are worried that they will be disappointed with the movie and I have heard several critics say they were not impressed. The ringmaster is played by Kristoph Waltz who starred in Inglourious Basterds and is an excellent actor. I like to disregard most critics and judge for myself as I have often disagreed with critics.

Anonymous
  • 30th May 2011 04:51pm

I havent seen the film but I did watch the main actress on The Ellen De Generis show (I can't remember her name) - she sounded very ditzy which put me off. Also our local newspaper review gave it only 2 stars which also put me off. I will wait until it comes out on DVD that way if it is not very good I will have saved some money. I will take it all back if I enjoy the film when I finally do get to see it.

CAT17
  • 30th May 2011 06:52pm
Thanks for your advice CAT17. I would love to see Red Dog. I love movies but live in a remote area in the country so get my movie "kick" when I go to the city by seeing several - if I have time. I...

Hi Glenny, it is one of those movies that some just love and others don't. The acting was very good, particularly the "ring master" I dont know the actor at all but boy he was good. Good idea to wait for dvd I think it will be out before too long. Some say the book is worth reading. Look forward to hearing what you thought of the movie.

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