Older Movie VHS review: The Egg and I

The Egg and I

Some friends and I were talking about being organized and neat and I remembered what Ma Kettle said about it in this film. She said that when she was first married to Pa, she was neat as a pin. But that as time went on, his mess became too much for her to chase after. So she took on his messy ways.

There's a whole series of Ma and Pa Kettle films that I'll review if and when I get to them. In the mean time, even though it's only on VHS, please see the first time we are introduced to them.

Claudette Colbert marries Fred MacMurray and finds out he has a dream to leave his stable office job and move to the country to raise chickens. We get a view of country life from these city slickers who get way over their heads. Our Mr. Newbie Chicken Farmer starts talking egg production with a pretty blond country gal and makes the Mrs. jealous.

Pull out the VCR and have a watch. VHS copies in North Bend and Myrtle Point

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039349/
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OK links to every gem

So, every one of the movies I consider gems has a link to both IMDB and Amazon. I put the link right below the name of the movie on one of the posts with its Amazon graphic. I liked that so much I might do it all the time in the future.

Monday will have a new post and next weekend I'll start in on linking the "good" films. Please look through the gem list as there are some great movies on the list that looking them all over.. some I want to watch again.

Have a wonderful day.

Gem Review: Circle of Friends

Circle of Friends

Minnie Driver goes chubby for this one. She plays a young woman who grew up with two other friends in a small Ireland town. The girls go off to university and meet some charming men. Among them, Chris O'Donnell, who is struggling to become a doctor.

I consider this a gem for it's charm and deep meaning for me. It shows how people sometimes try to rise to an occasion but fail, but when they just get to the business of doing what has to be done, they succeed.

It also shows how perfection does not exist in the world. What we might think is "perfect" usually turns out to be the deepest collection of flaws. I first saw it as a double features with Muriel's Wedding. What an outstanding chick flick day.

You'll be charmed. Head to Coos Bay and North Bend for the DVD. VHS copies are in Dora, Coos Bay and Myrtle Point.

IMDB
Circle of Friends

Buy it on Amazon
Circle of Friends

Me again....

I read earlier that a blog with associates links in ever post implied an over monetized system. My feeling is both IMDB and Amazon have information AND ads. Feel free to gripe at me if you're bothered by the frequency or content that you see.

If anyone chooses to purchase or download a film, the proceeds will go to the Coos County Library System. I wish to get a copy of Heavy Metal and one of Red Dwarf IV as I know for sure they don't have those. After that, it'd be nice to maybe get the third season of The Closer and The Muppet Show.

Tell me about any other movies, TV series or documentaries you'd love to see. I'd love to accomodate hopes and wishes. New stuff the library system purchases on a regular basis. I'm just talking older and more obscure material.

The Constant Gardener

Ralph Fiennes must love dark dreary roles. His activist wife ends up dead and he sets out to figure how why she died and who killed her.

As with some dogs, I fast forwarded through much of this film. Hopelessness without some purpose makes me angry at the lazy filmmakers. I am not a fan of Feinnes and while I'm OK with Rachel Weisz who plays his wife, she wasn't in long enough to really comment on her performance.

Not my cup but lots of people liked it including the Oscar people. Weisz won for best supporting actress. Lots of DVDs available in Bandon, Coos Bay, North Bend and Myrtle Point.

IMDB
The Constant Gardener

Buy it on Amazon
The Constant Gardener (Widescreen Edition)

Movie Review: City of Angels

City of Angels

Nicolas Cage plays an angel watching doctor Meg Ryan and falls in love with her. While this tries really hard to be a romantic comedy, I just couldn't get into it.

I can't quite put my finger on what didn't work for me. Angels, death and doctoring wouldn't put me off. I like Meg Ryan and Cage is OK. Just something didn't pull me into the story and keep me happy there.

Ah well, maybe you'll have better luck. The DVD can be found in Bandon, and look for VHS copies in Coquille, Coos Bay and SWOCC.

IMDB
City of Angels

Buy it on Amazon
City of Angels

Download it from Amazon
City of Angels

Movie Review: The Contender

ooThe Contender

Joan Allen plays a female senator who jumped parties sometime in the distant past who president Jeff Bridges nominates for vice president. The former VP died and there's a question of who to pick from two candidates.

Not as good a political triller as say something like the West Wing, but well acted and the story moved along. I enjoyed the performances by William Petersen and Gary Oldman. It was also nice to see Sam Elliott in a departure from his normal cowboy roles. Allen and Bridges got Oscar nominations their acting.

A few of the political commentary took me out of the film. People don't necessarily talk the way they do and we had a sense that there was more at stake from the beginning of the film. These points made for a ragged edge to the story. Some of the male female politics just didn't really seem accurate.

Well worth a couple hours. Look in Bandon and Powers for the DVD and North Bend, Coos Bay and Coquille for VHS copies.

IMDB
The Contender

Buy the DVD from Amazon
The Contender

Just a note

So a majority of the Gem films have Amazon links to them. Some even have a download option, thought really old films don't. If someone out there has ever used their download service, I'd like to know how it works. I just put it up for your convenience.

I'll finish up next weekend and start on the Good list. If I'm so inclined, I'll do the rest of them too. It's a lot of work. Not difficult just tedious.

I haven't mentioned it before, but the Coos Bay Library looks nice all spiffed up. I think it has a nicer flow. I like the book drop better there than at the North Bend branch. I suppose they have their reasons. I love the catalog online, bestest of all. ;)

New review of a Good tonight.

Cya Later

Movie Review: Cat from Outer Space

The Cat from Outer Space

This is just a cute Disney romp about an alien cat stranded on Earth. He finds some people to help him get his ship back and return home.

Ken Berry and Sandy Duncan star with Harry Morgan, Roddy McDowall and McLean Stevenson in supporting parts. The silliness just can't be helped.

Grab a big bucket of popcorn and sit down with your kids and grandkids and have a laugh. Head on out to Myrtle Point for the DVD.

IMDB
.The Cat from Outer Space

Buy it on Amazon
The Cat From Outer Space

No reviews this weekend

I am going to start with the gem movies and go back and add links to Amazon to all the posts. I'll do as many as I can before I get really fed up. I'll do a review on Monday. Thank you for your attention to this humble blog.

Movie Review: Chisum

Chisum

John Wayne stars as rancher John Chisum who runs a vast New Mexico spread where he raises cattle. He protects himself and other ranchers from rustlers and tries to keep the land accessible to other less fortunate cattlemen.

Chisum's nemesis, Laurence Murphy, tries to buy up all the land and drive businesses out of town. Our hero, with the help of his friends and neighbors, puts an end to Murphy's shenanigans.

I'm not a western scholar but I know elements of this story reflect real history. I just found Wayne an amazing charmer and nice performances by the rest of the cast. Grab some popcorn and spend a couple hours exploring the old west.

The DVD can be found in Myrtle Point. VHS copies are in Coos Bay and Bandon.

IMDB
Chisum

Buy it on Amazon
Chisum

A Couple of Watchables

My watchables list is rather high so I'm gonna do another post with a two of them.

The Celluloid Closet

This documentary rates on the low scale of the watchable spectrum because it lacks meaningful connection among the speakers who show scenes of gays and lesbians on film. It's almost just a clip show without a point.

I have a lesbian friend who watches anything with lesbians in it. I get that. It's a deep desire for the familiar. I tend to think love is love and it matters little to me the orientation and choices adults make with their affections. I'm just big on content and meaning.

I wish they'd explored more the context for the film scenes instead of pointing and laughing how they got this or that past the film board. Nonetheless, it's worth a once through to pick up some interesting cultural exploration.

Head on out to the lovely Bandon Library for this DVD.

IMDB
The Celluloid Closet

Buy it on Amazon
The Celluloid Closet (Special Edition)

The Conscientious Objector

This documentary on the other hand rated higher. It tells the true story of a World War II medic who would not use a gun to kill because of his religious beliefs. He desperately wanted to serve his country as a medic and found rejection throughout his training. Ultimately the army relented and he became a hero saving dozens of men.

It's a bit difficult to understand the gentleman as he's older and ill, but the strain is worth it. I admire his convictions and perseverance. Nearly all the libraries have a copy of this DVD including: Bandon, Coos Bay, North Bend, Lakeside,Myrtle Point and Coquille.

IMDB
The Conscientious Objector

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The Conscientious Objector - A True Story of an American Soldier

Movie Review: Constantine

Constantine

Keanu Reeves plays his typical bad guy with a heart of gold. I'm not much of a fan of this kind of mystical horror fare so I found it a waste of time.

I don't find films based on comics very entertaining either. The main character is a supernatural detective trying to solve the suicide of his client's sister. Then they fall into the world of demons and angels and ha ha ha all hell breaks loose.

Look in Dora, Coos Bay, Bandon, North Bend and Lakeside for the DVD.

IMDB
Constantine

Buy the DVD on Amazon
Constantine (Widescreen Edition)

Movie Review

Conversations with Other Women

Helena Bonham Carter and Aaron Eckhart star as a couple who converse with each other at a wedding. I watched the first 10 minutes or so then I just fast forwarded until I became really bored and skipped around chapters.

Here I go again ranting against the cheating nature of humans. OK. Find a way to deal, please. These trite people with their trite dialog hopping into bed and then making excuses to their spouse. BORING.

You can just see them smarming their way into bed. I put off watching this and ended up having to hold it for a weekend viewing. I say just avoid the whole thing.

If I cannot dissuade you, try looking for the DVD in Bandon.

IMDB
Conversations with Other Women

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Conversation(s) With Other Women

Download it from Amazon
Conversations with Other Women

Movie Review: Cold Comfort Farm

Cold Comfort Farm

Ripe for adventure Flora accepts an invitation to the farm belonging to her distant relatives. Once there, she discovers a batch of downtrodden characters all kowtowing to the matriarch. Note the costuming and set design of the 1930s.

Flora begins lightening up everyone's lives and figures out their deepest desires and sets about helping them get it. Her youthful spirit infects everyone around her and the dreary farm becomes a place of light and celebration.

Kate Beckinsale plays Flora with Eileen Atkins, Sheila Burrell and Joanna Lumley in supporting roles.

Find hte DVD in Bandon and VHS copies in Coos Bay, Coquille and North Bend.

IMDB
Cold Comfort Farm

Buy it on Amazon
Cold Comfort Farm