The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

This evening Andrew and I were able to go and see this film at the Watershed. Thanks to Alex and Tamara who played with Cara. Andrew managed to get us free tickets to the preview.

This is a French, subtitled in English, film, based on the book. I have read the book, and really enjoyed it. The film, although different from the book in many details was amazing. It was filmed really well, the acting was great, and it was very moving.

It is amazing how people react to different situations. This man did so much despite having 'locked-in syndrome' and the people around him that helped him were amazing also. It is interesting how those friends and family around him acted with the situation too. How would I react if this happened to me? or someone I know? or love?

Spanglish

A really great film. Not as funny as I thought it would be, but an interesting look at different families, and the way that different people parent, and are.

The Nativity Story

I had been wanting to watch this since I saw the trailers for it, and it lived up to my expectations. It was really well made, and made me think about how it may have really been for Mary and Joseph. It was such a touching moment when Jesus was born, and then when the Shepherds and wise men came to show their respects. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone.

Philadelphia

Film about a guy who sues his firm for wrongful dismissal, due to having AIDS. A very emotional film, with lots to think about.

An American Tail

What a great movie. So many great songs! There Are No Cats in America... Somewhere Out There... and Never Say Never. What a great idea as well - to never say never. Is it always best to stay positive? In this film you can see how Fievel changes as soon as he meets some who have lost hope. His whole countenance and character change. Luckily for him his family was not far away. I love that this film is about family and about unity as a people also. What a great idea to have the mice get rid of the cats. At one point a mouse asks to the crowd of mice.. "are we mice or men?" to which they all shout "MICE!". Fantastic!

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?