Jon: Re Brassed Off - did they actually film the competitions at the competition (sorry I can't remember what it's called but the brass bands do all drive round and have a play off on May Bank holiday don't they ?) I've never been myself but have had it recommended as a good day's drinking while being serenaded.

OH, I forgot...

SHREK!! totally hilarious and actually better on the hi-def home theatre than the cinema, as it is digital. Great story and I love the 2 level comedy...adults laugh at one part, kids at others.

And as far as Chicago winning Oscars and Moulin Rouge not...it's because Moulin Rouge was really the first true musical in years and it shocked people. So now that the "pump is primed", people are willing to accept musicals a little more readily. Which I'm quite glad about. However, I do agree that Moulin Rouge is WAY better than Chicago.

And I'm noticing something here...several people have listed Moulin Rouge as one of their faves. I find that interesting because here in the States, the movie was either hated or adored, with very few in between. And since we've already stated that we, here on the Fforum, are a special and seemingly intelligent lot, I propose that only smart, well read people can properly appreciate a film like Moulin Rouge. Therefore, we are better than everyone else! :)

One of the things I liked about it was the way it referenced so many songs, and also the cutting (especially in big dance things). The references are very Nextian with the way you can play spot the song.



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

And let's admit it; all those stockings and basques might have had something to do with the film's appeal.

I tried on a friend's corset once, at a party. It was laced to about 24" at first, and then down to 21" for about half an hour. When I got home, I made a 21" loop with my tape measure.
Try it, it's scarey....

Rob;

I think they did film at the contest .... I was living in Royston Vasey at the time, so I don't really know. The brass band weekend is good fun though; see [www.whitfriday.brassbands.saddleworth.org] for full details.



- - -
I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

my favorite thing about Moulin Rouge that sets it apart from many other musicals (other than the fact it's all previously recorded songs but one) is that rather than stopping the story and breaking into song, the songs flow through and actually tell the story. Unique! More like an opera, which is not strange, considering Baz Luhrman started out as and still produces operas.

my fave parts of M.R. are the Elephant Medley and the Tango scenes...amazingly done. (Oh and the Hindi play - that was cool too. Loved the visuals!) I think that for someone like me, a photographer, movie addict and music lover, it appealed to all of those aspects VERY well.

hmm. No sign of the Matrix in the above lists. ;-)

or deliverance, for that matter? I watched it and it wasn't quite what I remembered. Though it does prove that Burt Reynolds can actually act...

ok, my list.

Princess Bride (covered that one)
Kind Hearts and Coronets
Thomas Crown Affair (brosnan version..)
Ocean's 11 (clooney & co)
Usual Suspects
The Matrix (for sheer style, and 'bullet time')
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (and most John Hughes films)
La Femme Nikita (the french original)
Akira (come on, I can't be the only anime fan on here??)
Toy Story and Toy Story 2 (I do a mean Buzz Lightyear impression)
Moulin Rouge. My god Ewan can sing! After The Phantom Menace I had to wonder if the boy could even act!
Speaking of Ewan:
Shallow Grave
A short film he made about finding a cream eclair on a beach. Very very funny. Can't remember the title, anyone else seen it?
A Life Less Ordinary

back to the non-ewan:
Rocky Horror Picture Show

blimey, the list goes on, and on...

oooh there are alwats so many and i will end up forgetting something.

since AAC put pride and prejudice the colin firth one and it was a TV series I will start with:

Brideshead Revisited (mmm jeremy irons)
Dead Ringers (mmm 2 jeremy irons)
se7en
fight club
buffalo 66
M Butterfly
Last Night
requiem for a dream
indiana jones trilogy (yes i wanted to be indiana jones when i was little)
Pi
Memento
Fargo
Trainspotting

and so many more i cant remember...

anyway better be off now, going on holidays! I'm going to surprise my parents by showing up for a weeks holiday! Not even Bea knows I'm going...

Bea if your reading this the flight arrives at 1 so we (yes michael is going as well) should be getting home at about 2h30 or 3pm...

I hope my parents will be home! :-)

More in a week, byeeee

Jon: Cheers. I really will have to visit one year.

Dave: I know the Ewan McGregor short. V. funny.

The thing I like about Moulin Rouge is that it works as a film. As AAC says, the songs are an integral part of the film. Whereas Chicago is obviously the film of a play. It goes from one set piece to another. It's OK but Moulin Rouge is much better - Richard Roxborough is fab as the Count.

I could start name dropping by saying the Dave and I used to live with Jim Broadbent's niece but she was very quiet. Never used to mix with the rest of us ruffians !

MR was just so cleverly done (as i think we all agree).



Trainspotting. Now that's a good film.

Dave: Ewan short is 'Desserts' (1998)

[www.ewanspotting.com]

iirc, he was making another film when he got the script for Desserts (cheers rob), liked it so much he flew back to the UK to film it, and did it for free.

I think I've still got it on the end of another film I taped. I must dig it out and watch it again...

and it's on the web.. I love the internet!

[atomfilms.shockwave.com]

Ewan can't sing as well as his uncle, Denis Lawson. I saw Denis four times ina musical called 'Lust', an adaptation of William Wytcherly's 'A Country Wife', which also starred Sophie Aldred. Denis played a Restoration reprobate who shags almost every woman he can.
What's more, Denis Lawson played Wedge Antilles in Star Wars 4,5 & 6.
X-Wing pilots are *way* cooler than Jedi...

Stop press: I saw in today's Guarniad that Life of Brian will soon be released on DVD - [film.guardian.co.uk]

Well worth reading...



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

what about Jedi X-Wing pilots?

Have you read any of the 'Rogue Squadron' books? I was doing quite well keeping up with the SW books, until they came out!

"he's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy"

I can't help smiling just thinking about it..

*whistles 'always look on the bright side of life'*

Jedi X-wing pilots tend to start suffering agonies over whether they should go in for full Jedi training or not, and get dull, in the books I've read.

I've got all the Rogue Squadron books, and the comics too. They're better than a lot of the regular SW books, IMHO. Great fun, lots of action and some great characters. The one's by Aaron Allison (or something like that), just *have* to have been written and tested as RPG adventures.

My Star Wars rpg character, Heather, had some special skills not listed in the rulebooks:

Invent cocktails - the Yarvin Sunrise was a particular success.
Find All Available Men On Homebase Station.

That was definitely a party party.

sounds like fun. I may dig out some of the x-wing books then. The other series was getting *way* too dull. I liked 'Dark Empire' though.


oh no, Han/Leia/Chewie/the kids/someone else has been captured! Oh, they've been rescued and the EvilOverlordThatGotMissed has been defeated (but not killed).

Yawn.

Sounds like a fair summary of later SW novels. I didn't buy any of those, just borrowed from library/friends. How many OvalEvilLords can there really be out there ?