Notes on life, art, photography and technology, by a Danish dropout bohemian.
When you drink the water, remember the river.
▼
Monday, June 11, 2007
Rented films
If you are curious what films I have rented in the past five years, here's a list. It's over 1200 movies! The ratings are not mine, but averages from the rental service's customers.
sadly you missed one of the greatest television series of all time, "Rich Man Poor man" starring Nick Nolte, Peter strauss, 23 emmy nonimations (4 wins) over 50 million viewers. And Rocky 6 (Rocky Balboa) real tear-jerkers. But your list is good.
I remember "Rich Man Poor man" from the 1970s. I enjoyed it. I would not consider it "one of the greatest television series of all time", but I remember it being very captivating. I have thought about watching it again now that it's out on DVD.
Terry, I have had "Rich Man Poor man" listed since you first brought it up. My list of films waiting is over 200 though, so Things Take Time. I've listed Rocky Balboa now also. I did it because it's not, apparently, only about fighting, which bores me.
It's one of the upsides to living in USA or UK. Services like postal DVD rental come much sooner, it's been here since the millennium. I don't even know how the status is in the rest of Europe.
I pay 20 pounds per month, and get on the average 16 DVDs per month to watch.
Too much to comment on -- you're much more disciplined than I am. I have stacks of unwatched DVDs sitting here because I have trouble sitting still to watch a movie.
Recommendations... I like older movies. You need to see Charlie Chaplin's City Lights and Buster Keaton's The General. Also recommended: The Grapes of Wrath, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Stanley Kubrick's first masterpiece, Paths of Glory, and Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window.
How did you like Dead Like Me? I think it may be the best television drama / comedy ever, but I'm given to hyperbole.
I've seen Wonderfalls, and I liked it. One of its co-creators was the creator of Dead Like Me.
Wonderfalls is good, but Dead Like Me is in a class of its own.
I think it helped that Dead Like Me was done for pay cable, not for standard commercial television. They didn't have to wrap things up in a tidy little bundle at the end of each episode, and the fact that things weren't wrapped up is much of the charm and power of the show.
Ever since I saw Dead Like Me, I've watched lots of similar-seeming shows, searching for something half as good. To this point, the closest thing I've encountered has been Joan of Arcadia. I've got lots of little gripes about Joan, but for commercial television, it's surprisingly good.
Now I understand why awhile ago you solicited for recommendations on French movies. You have seen all the English ones!
ReplyDeleteTry Bollywood next. That will keep you busy for a week or two. ;-)
I watched two of them, so they no longer hold any surprises for me. :)
ReplyDeleteYou have so many of my favs
ReplyDeleteDoc Hollywood
Dave
Swimming Pool
Thomas Crown Affair (90s version, not the Steve McQueen one)
Ever After
These are all wonderful with your fav woman/women. :o)
I meant to say so here are some that are missing...
ReplyDeletesadly you missed one of the greatest television series of all time, "Rich Man Poor man" starring Nick Nolte, Peter strauss, 23 emmy nonimations (4 wins) over 50 million viewers.
ReplyDeleteAnd Rocky 6 (Rocky Balboa) real tear-jerkers. But your list is good.
I remember "Rich Man Poor man" from the 1970s. I enjoyed it. I would not consider it "one of the greatest television series of all time", but I remember it being very captivating. I have thought about watching it again now that it's out on DVD.
ReplyDeleteTerry, I have had "Rich Man Poor man" listed since you first brought it up. My list of films waiting is over 200 though, so Things Take Time.
ReplyDeleteI've listed Rocky Balboa now also. I did it because it's not, apparently, only about fighting, which bores me.
I didn't know you could rent DVDs. Rarer ones, not just Ocean's 11. Or even that it makes sense economically. Perhaps I need to investigate ...
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the upsides to living in USA or UK. Services like postal DVD rental come much sooner, it's been here since the millennium. I don't even know how the status is in the rest of Europe.
ReplyDeleteI pay 20 pounds per month, and get on the average 16 DVDs per month to watch.
gandalfe recommended: "Thomas Crown Affair (90s version, not the Steve McQueen one)"
ReplyDeleteI second that. Lovely film!
Eolake reported: "I pay 20 pounds per month, and get on the average 16 DVDs per month to watch."
£1,25/DVD is not bad at all. I don't think we have such a service here.
Also I don't have to go to a shop, much saved time, and the selection is much bigger than any shop has.
ReplyDeleteToo much to comment on -- you're much more disciplined than I am. I have stacks of unwatched DVDs sitting here because I have trouble sitting still to watch a movie.
ReplyDeleteRecommendations... I like older movies. You need to see Charlie Chaplin's City Lights and Buster Keaton's The General. Also recommended: The Grapes of Wrath, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Stanley Kubrick's first masterpiece, Paths of Glory, and Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window.
How did you like Dead Like Me? I think it may be the best television drama / comedy ever, but I'm given to hyperbole.
I loved "Dead Like Me". And season two was even better than the first one.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd like Wonderfalls.
I've seen Wonderfalls, and I liked it. One of its co-creators was the creator of Dead Like Me.
ReplyDeleteWonderfalls is good, but Dead Like Me is in a class of its own.
I think it helped that Dead Like Me was done for pay cable, not for standard commercial television. They didn't have to wrap things up in a tidy little bundle at the end of each episode, and the fact that things weren't wrapped up is much of the charm and power of the show.
Ever since I saw Dead Like Me, I've watched lots of similar-seeming shows, searching for something half as good. To this point, the closest thing I've encountered has been Joan of Arcadia. I've got lots of little gripes about Joan, but for commercial television, it's surprisingly good.
Cable has brought much goodness. The average HBO show is light-years beyond the typical show.
ReplyDelete