Netflix #50 and #51 – Angels in America – Suggested by ScottieC, DWQ, Polt, David, Enrico, Adric, Ben, and Brett
Prepare the chorus of angels! For I have finally watched Angels in America! Aren’t you guys so excited? I’ve wanted to see this since it originally aired, but we don’t have HBO. So when I got Netflix, it was one of the first movies I added to my queue, even before asking you, my dear readers, for suggestions. And my goodness, look how many of you recommended it! So it was on my queue for the longest time, but I kept moving it down because of the six hour runtime, and since I only get two Netflix discs at a time, this would have taken up both discs, and there was something about that I just didn’t like. Until one day when I forgot to update my Netflix queue, and before I knew it, I got the confirmation e-mails that Angels in America was being sent to me. And alas, they arrived in my mailbox the next day. Even then, I held off watching them. They sat on my dresser collecting dust while I watched Torchwood and caught up on Ugly Betty instead. But finally I decided to hunker down and watch it.
Why am I telling you all this, you ask? Because I honestly don’t have much to say about Angels in America itself. What’s that, Craig? What are you trying to tell us? Well, dear readers, I’m trying to tell you that I didn’t really care for it. I know! I know! I’m terrible. But I just didn’t find it engaging in the least. After I sat through watched the first 3 hour disc, I thought that the second 3 hour disc would have an amazing pay off, and everything would come into place. But it didn’t. And by all means, don’t think it’s because of the length. I admire length. In movies. I can watch The Return of the King without batting an eyelash. But I just felt like this was a meandering mess that lacked any real focus. And then at the end, Prior Walter wrapped everything up, and told us all the lessons we were supposed to take out of our viewing. And they were certainly good lessons, but shouldn’t you be showing me the lessons I should be learning rather than telling me? I loved the concept of unstoppable human progression, but I just couldn’t see how I was supposed to get that out of the other 5 hours and 45 minutes of angel sex, suffering, and park trolling I had just watched. The one good thing I will say about it though, is that the acting was all top notch, and I absolutely loved Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, and the true bright spots for me were anytime Jeffrey Wright was on screen. I know a lot of you feel really passionately about this movie, but I just couldn’t get into it. I admire the story it told, because it’s certainly one that people need to hear, but something tells me that the people who need to hear it most aren’t listening.
KEEP YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS COMING!
Well, guess I didn’t miss anything then. Sorry you didn’t enjoy your 6 hours more.
I had a feeling you wouldn’t like it. Not to sound snobbish, but I just think you like a different kind of entertainment. A chacun son gout.
Wow!!!!! What a Snob!!!
Shame on you Craig for not falling lock-step in with the rest of the Gay Nation!!!!
You have been on probabtion since daring to say outloud that you didn’t think Brokeback was that great.
I have another dirty little secret for you….. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert sucked too.
The point of the movie is just to admire Patrick Wilson : )
Not every movie is everyone’s cup of tea. I’ll just say I enjoyed it alot, and if you didn’t, that’s fine too. No harm no foul. At least you’re lovig Torchwood, and that’s the one I wanted to get you hooked on!
But really, Priscilla doesn’t suck Gill. It and it’s American twin, To Wong Foo, are just fun movies to watch.
HUGS….
What movie should I see this weekend?
Hayden: Twilight. (I’m lying)
I agree, To Wong Foo was great but Priscilla stank on ice.
I’ve also never been able to sit thru AiA. I’m all for long movies with convoluted storylines but the whole movie just felt like a fever dream.
Craig, I echo Tam’s sentiment, thanks for taking one for the team and telling me I didn’t miss anything. I also agree with you on Brokeback. And, no, I’m not saying this just to get into your ……. good graces.
And Priscilla is movie gold compared to Too Wongs lead. But Patrick Swayze looked cute in a dress.
Hayden: Australia, Slumdog Millionaire, Milk (in no particular order).
Heart = Broken
Not really. Sorry you didn’t enjoy it Craiggers. It was an amazing experience for me but, as others have mentioned, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. At least you enjoyed the acting if not the plot itself.
The reason for the exposition at the end is that the screenplay is adapted directly from the stage production. That’s one of my favourite things about Angels – its theatricality. They even kept the idea of having the leads play multiple roles. Meryl as the Rabbi? Oh hell yes!
Anyway… if I could give you back your 6 hours, I would. I promise to wait my turn before suggesting another film seeing as I just took up 3 feature length films worth of your time.
Tam: See, this is why I love you so.
Gil: I loved Priscilla, it was fantastic. I’ve never seen To Wong Foo, I think it is because there is something wrong with Wesley Snipes in drag.
I was shocked when I saw that Meryl played the Rabbi. That was pretty awesome.
To Wong Foo = Awesome movie. Wonder Womaaan!
john: what’s wrong with Wesley Snipes in drag is what a hotass drag queen he makes. Frankly, though, Wesley Snipes could be in a full body cast and still be freakin’ hot, cause he’s Wesley Snipes!
HUGS…
Okay, I’m feeling terribly out of the loop since I haven’t seen Priscilla (or Too Wong). Okay, I haven’t seen Brokeback either, but I think its too depressing for me. I don’t see movies that I know don’t end happily ever after or with big explosions. Good think I’m not gay or someone would be revoking my membership. Oh, I’ve never seen The Notebook and thought Titanic was overrated. Damn, maybe I’m not a straight girl either.
John: Love you too.
I’ve only ever seen Wesley Snipes in Blade. Hot. But he’s an ass in real life I think, which detracts from his hotness level slightly.
1.) I’ve never seen Angels in America….
2.) You need to get the movie, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. My family watches it every year and we sing all the songs in it. I can basically quote the movie. It’s so wholesome and sweet and fun. siiiiigh. I love it.
Wow…I had the opposite reaction to ANGELS; I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it! (I agree with you on BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN…not all it was hyped up to be…but if you haven’t seen PRISCILLA, it’s a hoot!)
ok First jomosexual White Christmas is the BEST! OMG! My boyfriend is taking me to see the show (in detroit some touring company or something) and I am so excited!
Second, Craig do you like samuri type movies? Because the Japanese series from the 70s Lone Wolf and Cub is the best. Total fun. It takes place in medevil Japan and its about the Shoguns executioner who gets framed and his family and household get killed so he takes his baby son (cub) and roams the land as a hired assasin and has adventures. It is the SHIT, he pushes cub in this baby carriage and like chops bitches up.
Claudia: Sounds like fun. I’ll have to check it out. I’ve never seen any of those old school Samurai movies. I really want to see Seven Samurai because supposedly George Lucas borrowed a lot of it for Star Wars.
Never saw White Christmas.
Craig: Sigh. You need to watch it. It’s an old movie. I’m not sure how you feel about those….but it always reminds me of being a kid on christmas.
My favourite Christmas movie has to be “A Christmas Story” which turns 25 this year! Such a classic.
ScottieC: I’m sure if you turn on TBS this year you’ll be able to see it at least 25 times on Christmas day. I used to LOVE that movie….and then I had to watch it every time I went to a friends house on Christmas or visited a relative. It’s now burnt into my brain.
I don’t think I’ve ever watched A Christmas Story all the way through in a single sitting. I’m sure I’ve seen all of it at some point. Just not in the correct order.
I’m with you there. I gave it a try when it was on TV. I wanted it to be good. But if I wanted to watch Al Pacino’s over-acting I’d watch The Devil’s Advocate again. Knowhatamean?
Scottie: DEFINITELY a Christmas Story. I bought it and we watch it a few times over the season (and sometimes the TBS marathon).
Joe: Never seen White Christmas but I LOVE that song. I adore those old movies. The actors were genius and loved the singing and dancing. Have you ever seen Gene Kelly tap dancing on rollerskates? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aus1PA5-SyI They had talent back then, no CGI, no 1000 takes spliced together to make it look good, you actually had to be able to perform and get it right. I think I need an old movie marathon.
Craiggers, I’m with you in the I’ve never see White Christmas. Well, not all of it. And I never liked Christmas Story (the main kid was irritating to me when he was on Real People and I never got into anything he did). I only ever saw It’s a Wonderful Life for the first time all the way through last year.
But for Christmas fun, is there ANYTHING that can beat A Christmas Vacation? I swear, no movie has made me almost piss myself laughing as much as that one! And it still does even after seeing like 15 times or so!
HUGS…
I agree with you,Polt on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation! LOVE that movie! It really makes me laugh EVERY time I see it!
I think it’s obvious you didn’t watch it correctly. Try again and let us know what you think.
Thanks for the recommendations Bernd, will look more into them…Tam, ummm, thanks for the un-recommendation for Twilight…I guarantee I won’t pay to see that in the theatre…
Priscilla was one of the most inspiring, feel good movies ever. It showed how alike we all are. Plus who could not love a shirtless Guy Pearce in those bunny ears?
Too Wong Fu was great – very funny but not as emotional for me.
Most recent favorite Christmas movie – ELF.
Most sentimental – Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
Sorry AIA was such a disappointment, I was thinking about watching it as it is my brothers favorite movie, but now I am not so sure…
Oh, and I have to jump on the Priscilla Queen of the Desert love train, it’s still one of my favorite movies to put on while I am doing house work on the weekend.
Favorite Christmas movie, definitely A Christmas Story (I came THIS close to buying a life-sized replica of the leg lamp) with Die Hard a close second (we have a long standing Christmas Eve tradition to order Chinese and watch Die Hard while wrapping presents)
My sister actually has that leg lamp.
Her husband works for the company that sells it. They put it in their front window every Christmas.
Chris: I think you have the coolest sister ever.
Tam: Gene Kelly was the shit! I love Singing in the Rain.
Craig: Claudia is right, Lone Wold and Cub is pretty fantastic.
The best christmas movie/special for me is Nestor The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey. Its one of those cheesey stop motion christmas specials but it makes my eyes well up at the same parts every time (“Ears Nestor”). It also has a cherub which looks like JT circa is N’Sync days.
I have never seen Angels in America but truthfully, it doesn’t sound that appealing to me . I gotta recommend the movie Shadow of the Vampire, it’s a fictional story about the filming of Nosferatsu and it’s scary, funny and engaging.
Enrico: Get “Circus” yet? Happy Birthday Ms Spears!
Chris: OMG!!! I am so jealous. I would LOVE a leg lamp. We want to go to Cleveland next summer and visit the Christmas Story house. Yes, we are lame and proud of it.
Chris: your sister ROCKS! I’m still thinking of picking up the leg lamp, the only thing really holding me back is the 90 mile drive to the store.
Hi, would you mind putting up a link on where to view that fabulous lamp, please. I plead ignorance of most Christmas movies except for Die Hard. I’m always in Germany for the holidays and thus can’t watch all those marathons here on TV.
the leg lamps are everywhere these days and you can order them on-line for sure. I saw some over the weekend but can’t remember what store I was in…google and you shall find…
Just for Bernd http://www.redriderleglamps.com/ Holy crap, they are expensive though. With the exchange rate, ummm, I don’t want one that badly.
It does not look like it would be too hard from someone to build their own leg lamp (assuming it is not extremely expensive to buy a manikin leg). You can get lamp parts at any hardware store.
digkv: Of course! Well, I ‘got’ the music a few weeks ago when it leaked but today I ran to Target to get the Deluxe Edition physical copy! E> It’s one of her best! Did you???
Gokitty: It’s been years since I saw Nestor, but I remember the cherub you mention, and I’m cracking up here cause he really DOES look like JT back in the day!
HUGS…
Oh, I love White Christmas. Good call Joemo. And Gene Kelly is great (even in Xanadu). Christmas Story is so funny… the soap, fragile, Scott Farkus and his yellow eyes.
I heart The Snowman (Raymond Briggs).
Angels in America sounds like what we call a “homework movie” (an educational/uplifting/historical/important movie like Babel or God Grew Tired of Us). You know you’ll be the better for watching it, but would still rather watch a “popcorn” movie (Catwoman, or Xanadu, for instance : ). We have a lot of those on our Netflix queue and actually have to watch them when we forget to shuffle.
Craig: sat through/watched – You crack me up.
Michelle: OMG Xanadu!!!! Olivia Newton John. A classic to be sure. Damn that brings back memories of being 16 and in Europe without my parents. Good times.
Enrico: I haven’t bought it yet but I’m planning to. I got a good listen off youtube and I do quite like it. Truthfully, it doesn’t have that edgy danciness of Blackout but I do like how she has some soft non-dance songs making it sort of like In the Zone, which is my favorite Britney album.
I really like Shattered Glass and Kill the Lights
Xanadu!!! I saw it in the theater…TWICE! LOVED the music…but then I was a budding young gay boy in the late 70′s and it was disco music, so i kinda HAD to love it, ya know?
HUGS…
digkv: I like those two songs a lot too; as I wrote in my blog today, my fave tracks are: “Unusual You, If You Seek Amy, Amnesia (bonus track), Circus, Out From Under, Kill the Lights, Shattered Glass, and Radar (even though it was on her last album as well).”
I too loved many of the dance tracks on Blackout, but I’m really glad this CD is well-rounded, something Blackout was not.
Enrico: I agree there was a lack of well roundedness in Blackout but then again, I just love dance music in general so that didn’t bother me However, it’s really nice that Britney’s real vocals come through in this album. The problem with Blackout was the constant use of synthesizers and autotuners. It’s finally nice to see Britney use her good ol’ voice in slow songs like “My Baby”. I gotta say though, I don’t think any of the songs on this album are as good as the lead single, Womanizer, which is a shame since I really want her to have another number one single.