allisonm

We have a new video store in town, all movies are $.99 for 5 nights. I tried Happenstance (not sure of the title in French)with Audrey Tatou and got such a kick out of it. Then I cried my way through Ponette. Did you know that there are two movies of Chocolat, one about French colonialism (like a book, I had to finish it once started), and the other more familiar version. I watched more movies this week than in the last 6 months.

cigalechanta

allison, Ponette is sad and even sadder now because La Mere was played by Marie Triganant(jean-Louis's daughter)who was beaten to death by her rocker boyfriend not that long ago.

Adelle

I saw this movie on the weekend, in French with English sub titles. I had to read most of it as my French is not that good.
Though I really like Audrey Tatou I wasn't that impressed with the film. I thought that it dragged quite a bit really. Of course I loved seeing the bits shot in Paris at familiar metro stations. My daughter loved it...

allisonm

Oh Mimi, that is too sad. I still have it and may have to watch her scene tomorrow night....

thomthumb

Oh, she is just the most beautiful woman to grace the silver screen the my other Audrey(H.)!

massagediva

Sorry, folks, I loved this movie! I'm a pretty picky filmgoer,too! I thought it was one of the most visually gorgeous films I've seen. It required your full attention to follow the various threads , but I thought it was wonderful.

Neil_Oz

I enjoyed "A Very Long Engagement" too - it's finally turned up at a mainstream theatre here in Canberra. I agree that it could have benefited from having say 15 minutes cut, but the battlefield scenes had an air of authenticity and the Bretagne countryside was a pleasure. Jodie Foster delivered more presence in her relatively brief appearance than Audrey Tautou I thought, but that's only to be expected. A few too many quirky bits, perhaps, but it was a pleasure to see the sort of big-canvas film that Hollywood occasionally did well before computer-generated images, animation and other tricks took over from the human element (don't get me started on "The Lord of The Rings"!) Not that special effects were absent from this flick, but I thought they were kept in proportion. (The New York Times review was unduly sour IMO.)

StCirq

I basically agree with Neil Oz's assessment. It was a good film, not a great one, and the book was FAR better.

euroenvy

Jodi knows another genius when she sees him...Jeunet that is....this movie's a love story, a mystery, historical fiction,war story and travel log rolled into one not quite as fun, innocent and bright (orange and green) as Amelie and I wished the sepia effect was a little less and that he used more color at the end...maybe it was the theatre... practice your french and see this one..

Scarlett

I really enjoyed this film. I loved the locations, the relationship with Tatous character and her family and friends. I thought it was a sweet movie.

I read that Jody Foster has been fluent in French since she was a young child.

Beatchick

For SuzieC, my friend C in Portland who read <u>Neverwhere</u> based on my recommendation:
Netflix does indeed have the 2-disc BBC series of <u>Neverwhere</u>. I just placed it at the top of my queue.

SuzieC, have you heard any more about the making of <u>American Gods</u>? I looked it up on imdb.com &amp; couldn't locate it. May be under another name. I still need to read more Terry Pratchett, which is what Mr. Connolly is doing right now. I'm assuming you saw <u>Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy</u>?

BTW, Neil Gaiman's official website:
http://www.neilgaiman.com/

Beatchick

Sorry, that should be &quot;For SuzieC and my friend, C&quot;.

Beatchick

BTW, Neil Gaiman won the Hugo award for his book <u>American Gods</u>!

Beatchick

Sorry, SuzieC, it was <u>Good Omens</u> you meant! Here is Terry Gilliam's website that Neil describes as semi-official (for more info on the film):
http://www.smart.co.uk/dreams/