Australia: a surprise

[Z...]

Gone With The Wind

I read the book GWTW in my early teenage years after I had watched my mum and sister rereading it and seeing the movie hundreds of times (in those days VCRs were just starting and GWTH special would be on in the cinema every year or so. Sold out 40 years after it was made!!) and I thought It was great book at that time. I just couldnt put it down. And then I reread it one more time. I loved the movie too- especially Vivien Leigh who looked exactly the same like Scarlet O Hara from my imagination when reading the book. Speaking of her, who ever loves this tragic star must see is The Waterloo Bridge - an Old British movie with lawrence Olivier if I am not mistaken.

But in later years I've became slightly cynical when it comes to GWTW phenomenon as it became clear to me that this book/movie was in fact pushing the racist or slavery agenda. Golden age of good ol' south. Thanks to GWTH most of us became enamored with mint julep life in Dixieland , sympathized KKK and hated barbarian Yankees for destroying this land of dreams- how crazy is this?! But yea its probably one of the best movies ever made.
Is Scarlet O Hara a ruthless narcissoid, perhaps a garden variety psychopath always hungry or just an OP doing her best to survive in cruel world?
Its funny, I think in Masquerade of Angels, it is mentioned GWTH was actually channeled through Mitchell by some celestial intelligence.
Probably Dixie Alliance of Orion

 

[Beau]

One of my favorite movies is "Tombstone." I just LOVE Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday!

I second that! If ever I was surfing and it was on, I had no choice but to watch it. Kilmer's turn as Doc Holliday is such a good performance. I actually think the acting all-around in Tombstone is excellent.

And since Andromeda is gonna go "old skool" on us with GWTW, I will go ahead and put Casablanca up there as one of the best movies ever made. It is hilarious at times and totally emotionally captivating at others.

 

[Z...]

And since Andromeda is gonna go "old skool" on us with GWTW, I will go ahead and put Casablanca up there as one of the best movies ever made. It is hilarious at times and totally emotionally captivating at others.

For me the best old movie of all times is The Rapsody (__http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047408/) from 1954 with Elizabeth Taylor - what really does it for me are the the movies charged with intense drama and strong emotion so I can secretly cry in the dark . in this category is also entire opus of Douglas Sirk, very prolific director from 50/60ies , leading with Immitation of Life and Written in the Wind.

When it comes to action of course Ben Hur, can always watch it

and finally either Wonderfull World or The Shop Around The Corner (both with James Stewart) is a MUST every festive season as ultimate feel good movies

 

[Gimpy]

One of my favorite movies is "Tombstone." I just LOVE Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday!

Have you seen him with Michael Douglas in "Ghost and the Darkness"? He's pretty cool in that one too. (Val Kilmer)

As for GWTW...Clark Gable gives me the creeps. I'll see if I can get a copy of the book. ;)

 

[Lorraine]

I enjoyed Australia and loved Hugh Jackman ;). I think Nicole Kidman played the part well of a brittle upper class British lady who had to adjust to a hot and uncomfortable lifestyle in the outback.

Another actor I like is Sean Connery, probably because he reminds me of my dad now that he wears a beard.

 

[Erna]

Has anyone seen "Riding in Cars with Boys" with Drew Barrymore? The psychology in that movie was very intense for me. Maybe cause that's one of my worst nightmares (pregnancy from a one night stand)... okay maybe it's a bit of a chick flick

 

[Third_Density_Resident]

I came back the forum and was surprised that suddenly there's 35 posts on this thread! I guess Laura's initial comment made everyone "sit up and take notice", at least of the thread itself. But it seems as if the thread has now gone off-topic. It has turned into a "What's your favourite or least favourite movie" thread, rather than one about Australia. Perhaps a name change is in order?

 

[Laura]

GWTW also teaches us about unconscious programs that can run and ruin our lives. Practically everyone in the movie is working at cross-purposes to their own best interest and true self and, while it is painful to see, it is SO true about life unless and until we can be as objective as possible and honest with ourselves and others. The tragedies that result from just a few words spoken in narcissistic anger or self-defense are manifold and GWTW really drives that home. There are few movies (I don't actually know of any others) that depict this aspect of life. People can be so hurt and become so defensive, that they destroy their own lives by projecting that hurt onto other situations, and defending when no one is attacking.

There's some deep stuff in there.

 

[Laura]

One of my favorite movies is "Tombstone." I just LOVE Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday!

Have you seen him with Michael Douglas in "Ghost and the Darkness"? He's pretty cool in that one too. (Val Kilmer)

Oh, yeah! I've watched that one about 4 times and it still grabs me!

As for GWTW...Clark Gable gives me the creeps. I'll see if I can get a copy of the book. ;)

Well, he looks exactly like my dad with a mustache, so he doesn't give me the creeps at all.

 

[StrangeCaptain]

OK... I am putting in a my small experience with old movies. So... I am ssooooo not into old movies. I am not a big movie buff and cannot describe always why or why not I like a movie. Generally, I like a film if it is immersive because movie-watching is about relaxation for me. Thus, I simply don't have the discernment generally for knowing if an old movie is good or not.

Having said that, I recently accompanied a friend to see a Marx Brothers film at a theater, and it was simply amazing. I laughed out loud pretty much through the whole thing. It was really that good. I was very surprised honestly. Unfortunately I do not remember the title of the movie, but my old movie vote preliminarily goes to the Marx Brothers!

Also, they sneak culture in on you. the plot was about how the brothers are helping an unknown but great opera singer get his opportunity to have a leading role with the love of his life in an opera troupe in New York City. His love has the female leading role already, and the conflict occurs from the male leading role being filled by an inferior singer who is better connected and who is also a rather unpleasant character. The potentially great singer has to overcome the various challenges to sing along side his love. So in between bouts of laughter, one gets to hear a little opera singing. It was quite a cool movie.

 

[Andromeda]

Is Scarlet O Hara a ruthless narcissoid, perhaps a garden variety psychopath always hungry or just an OP doing her best to survive in cruel world?

Here's an important question!

Personally, I don't think she was psychopathic at all. Certainly selfish and hot tempered but I think that one of her biggest problems was that she acted on and spoke of her lower emotions at the drop of a feather. It's like a dramatized version of what most people do except that they lie to themselves about their motivations.

A couple of really good ones depicting female psychopaths are "In This Our Life" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_This_Our_Life and Mildred Pierce http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mildred_Pierce_(film).

 

[chachazoom]

I read Joan Crawford's daughters biography of life with Joan and Joan certainly seems to fit the psychopathic profile.