Thoughts while watching: November 2007

Now I Know, Don't Be Scared

Susan finds out that Mike (her now husband and father of her unborn baby) has a father who is in prison. She previously was told that he was dead. They went to meet him, and Susan was shocked that he didn't feel bad for the murder that he is in prison for. It seems that she has a problem with her baby's Grandfather being that person. This is why Mike didn't want to tell her, he didn't want to be judged by his fathers deeds. Is our character determined by our parents, or other family members? I don't think it is, but it can definitely be effected by those people who are most in our lives, don't you think?

The Promise

In this episode Ally gives mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to an overweight lawyer, and saves his life. She then meets his fiancée - they are getting married next week. She says they are in love, but then the guy tells Ally that there is no romance for him. He is settling for what he thought was all he could get. He asks Ally if she would consider him. Ally thinks that no-one should settle, and so the wedding gets called off. However, before the end of the episode Ally changes her mind, at least for him, and they end up getting married. People should definitely not 'settle' when getting married. I think that is a bad start. I know that people tend to put themselves in certain categories and say they can't get that certain someone because they are in a different category - and that might be right - to an extent. But there is nothing that says that we can't change ourselves into the type of person that our special someone would want. What are your thoughts? Can we make those changes? Always?

One Hundred Tears Away

Ally gets called before the Bar so they can review whether she should be allowed to practice law, basically because they think she is crazy. She is crazy, but at what point does crazy become too much? Billy says that we should all be more like Ally. Why do I like Ally McBeal? Why do others? Is it not because we like the crazy?

The Affair

In this episode Ally speaks at a funeral. She doesn't exactly tell the truth about the deceased, but she says what she knows will be best for the wife and children of the deceased to hear. Is this acceptable? Is this a 'white' lie. Do we need to be completely honest about the dead at their funeral? No-one is perfect, so why not just talk about their good points?

High School Musical 2

OK, I admit, I watched High School Musical 2. It makes me happy. I love all the songs and dancing. I prefer High School Musical to it's sequel, but this one is still filled with lots of singing and dancing, and of course, has a happy ending.

Did you know there are Sing-Along and Dance-Along versions of this film?

Reign Over Me

This was a good movie, but not the best. There was a lot of swearing, so beware. Adam Sandler does a good job in this more serious of role. However, I thought that he would seem more different than his usual characters.

When people grieve differently, or even act differently to most, what should we do about that? Should we makae them conform to what we think is 'normal'? When should people be hospitalised for mental problems? Should the state get involved?

I think in this story Charlie did need help, from a friend, not from an institution. You'd think if people had a full-time job caring for people, then they would have more time than family/friends to devote to them, however they don't have the same capacity to love. I think we all just need to love each other more, and not judge each other. It's hard, but we need to try not to think as if we know what others are thinking - about us or about themselves.

Starter for 10

It was great to see a film where I knew a lot of the scenery and places. It is set at Bristol University. I thought it was a good film, I wished it had more to do with University Challenge, but it was a good story.

At one point Rebecca points out to Brian that sometimes the people you care about the most, just don't care about you. I think sometimes this can be the case, and that is when we are probably most unhappy. Which is why it is so great when we have two-way relationships.

My favorite quote for a long time was from Moulin Rouge: "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

Sliding Doors

This was released May 1998. I didn't remember a whole lot about the film, apart from the fact that I loved it. It is a thought provoking film. Small decisions, or even things that happen that we don't have control over can hugely affect our lives. In this case, where a little girl was stood on the stairs, or whether or not a mother stopped her child from getting in a strangers path.

So, small things can make big changes, and this is illustrated well, but will some things happen anyway? Will we always, no matter what meet a certain person, or end up doing a certain thing?

The Others

I had seen this film before, but couldn't really remember a lot about it. The twist is good, but probably was best for me the first time watching. It is really well filmed, but I have a lot of questions about the story. Also, I did find it quite slow, which isn't my favorite kind of film.

*** Don't read on if you haven't watched this film - SPOILER ***

Why does she kill them? Is her husband dead? Why did she see her daughter as an old lady? Why could only the girl see Victor? How come we could only sometimes hear the others, and see doors opening, surely they would have opened the curtains and doors more than we saw? Also, who took the curtains? Victors family? and why did they?

The Kiss

You know, it's funny, I think it must be quite a different outlook on Ally McBeal, watching as a married person, instead of a single one. A lot of the story is to do with Ally and her dating and love ideals. The funny games that people play. Should I call, should I not call. Shall we kiss, or not. What does he mean by that? What is he thinking? Do I really like him? It can all get quite confusing. I'm glad I don't have to worry about that anymore.

Together Again and Again

The opening titles in this series is a little strange, and the theme music just doesn't seem to match the program. I love the Cosby Show, but I think the earlier series are better, when Rudy is cuter. I'll have to watch more of this series to judge for sure though.

More about Bill Cosby.

Compromising Positions

"Sometimes the truth is not worth revealing if it will only cause hurt."

Is this true? Even if it is, how can you really know if the truth will only cause hurt? Communication issues seem to pop up all over the place, don't they. So, how much do you choose to share, and how much do you keep to yourself?

Ally McBeal - the pilot episode

Did you know that it was more than 10 years ago that this episode first aired, September 1997. It was interesting viewing having watched some of Series 5 recently. The acting of all the main characters has got a lot better, as has the general filming, and editing. Also, the characteristic Ally's thoughts being visualised are a lot less frequent and very explained. Her voice over is quite annoying - does it even happen in the later series? It must, somehow it's less intrusive though.

Ally says at the end, "The more lost you are the more you have to look forward to." Do you agree? Is there more to look forward to, when you're not sure what lies ahead? Surprises can be fun, but they're not always.

The Kindness of Strangers

First of all, just wanted to note that the actress, Hayden Panettier, who is Claire Bennett in Heroes played Ally McBeal's daughter, Maddie (Series 5 of Ally McBeal). She looks so young in Ally McBeal.

Another program which deals with the issues of communication. What secrets should we keep? Is it OK to keep secrets to help someone? The thing is, you may think you're helping someone by keeping something from them, but you probably don't know everything they are thinking. How do you decide what you should tell, to who?

I'm not sure what happens at the end of Heroes, but Claire is keeping this boy she's met a secret from her Dad, and keeping her Dad a secret from the boy. In turn, her Dad is keeping a lot of secrets - maybe if they were all open about everything there would be no story, but is it just to make a story, or does this portray real life? I think it probably does, to a degree.

Art Isn't Easy

How much would you do to help a friend? How much do we really know about each others lives? I want to be a good friend, one that does all possible to help, and I'd like friends like that in return.

Susan is a good friend of Lynette, however she felt that a decision she had to make was between the happiness of Lynette's children, and that of her own husband. However, after the decision was made, Lynette revealed the deeper feelings, that if Susan had known before, maybe would have effected her decision.

To really be and have good friends, we need to share our lives with them. We need to be open about how we feel. How many of us really do that? and with how many people? My husband and I have a wonderful relationship, we talk about everything, but isn't that part of what is so great about marriage - that we get to share things just with that one special person.