Since Diz, will be off now for a few days, I've started a thread here for all your discussions!!! Converse away!!!
*SPOILER WARNING*
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Larisie |
"The Holiday" (FC) Contains *Spoliers* |
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Sorry, ladies!
Since Diz, will be off now for a few days, I've started a thread here for all your discussions!!! Converse away!!! *SPOILER WARNING* |
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Selivia |
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Thanks Larisie.
So, How many people have actually seen this movie? I saw it when it was first released in Australia to the big screen, the dvd is only just cominging availalble (but not priced within my acceptable range just yet) Overall, this is a "nice" film. It's one of those pleasant "feel good" movies that will help fill in quiet moments or put a smile on your face if you are a little down. This is not exceptional theatre or groundbreaking but does push the formula-driven boundaries a little bit. Although I fear to break it down to its components may destroy the fragile essense that weaves it together. It is interesting to see Rufus Sewell as the pretty boy and unrequited love interest rather than a protagonist to the story. Just as it is intriguing to have Jack Black as a gentle and compassionate love interest, similarly Jude Law as more than a casual lover but a man with a conscience and sense of responsibility. These were all roles a little different to their "usual" faire. The two main girls, Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet are also cast a little to the edge of their usual roles although they begin very much as to be expected. Of the two light romances, I think I preferred the way the Cameron/Jude pairing was fleshed out. The Kate/Jack story seemed to get a little lost in a side track as she draws out the history of the elderly neighbour and helps to coax him to public recognition. It is as if there is not enough time for these two younger people to develop their own relationship properly. Not quite a comedy although there are light interludes of comedic relief, not quite a love story as it finishes short of the all consuming desire of the flesh or soul. It is a quiet interlude as all four main characters come to terms with who they are rather than who they think or prentend to be. I hope that is enough to generate some discussion to begin with. |
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Emilie |
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When this movie first came out I only went to see it for Jude Law.
I figured that it would be an awful,
cheesy date movie. I could not imagine Kate Winslet and Jack Black as an on-screen couple. After sitting through it, I was pleasantly
surprised! The romantic pairings of Cameron/Jude and Kate/Jack were not as repugnant as I had imagined. The story was entertaining and did leave me with a
pleasant feeling.
I agree with you, Seli, that the casting choices were refreshing. The only exception was Cameron Diaz. How many times do we have to watch her klutz around as a flighty, attractive singleton who has trouble with commitment...until she meets "the one?" She's played a variation of this role in other films such as: "A Life Less Ordinary," "There's Something About Mary," "Charlie's Angels," "The Sweetest Thing," and "In Her Shoes." It's driving me up the wall!
My favorite of the romances was the Iris/Miles storyline. I loved the part when they're in the movie rental store and Miles starts singing all of the movie themes and embarrassing Iris. Maybe I like them because each of these characters reminds me a bit of myself, which I can't say about Amanda and Graham. Why do they like each other? As far as I know, men and women don't usually pursue relationships with one-night stands. She's attractive, sexually compatible, and nice to his daughters. He's handsome, sexually compatible, and has angelic daughters. What are they basing their relationship on? Is that all that men and women really need? Iris and Miles become friends before any romance is involved. That seems to be a more realistic way to fall in love. I have this problem a lot with romance movies: why do the people fall in love? Many films just don't develop the characters enough to make their love convincing. A couple of movies that answer this question for me would be "When Harry Met Sally" and "The Bridges of Madison County."
Signature by Hannah Kipje!
Last Edited By: Emilie 29/12/2007 07:16.
Edited 1 time.
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mcavoyfan |
#3 | |||
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When Harry Met Sally is my all-time favorite movie! I just had to get that in...
I saw The Holiday a month ago, so it's pretty fresh in my mind. I'm a sucker for a good ol' romantic comedy and I think this one fit the bill. I agree, Cameron Diaz was a bit too "quirky" in this role, as is with many roles she has. I think by the end of it I was sick of seeing her huge, wide grin. Her pairing with Jude Law was just too "pretty" for my taste, not grounded in reality at all. It certainly was a nice fantasy romance, only touching lightly on the idea that their relationship is anything deeper than physical. If it weren't for his daughters, the idea that they were meant for each other would be hard to believe. The Iris/Miles story was sweet and much more grounded. I found myself comparing myself to Iris, although not in the aspect of being madly in love with a man who didn't love me back for so long. I would never be in that type of sadistic relationship. I liked how she cared for the people around her though and was thrilled that she was able to treat herself to such a lavish vacation. That house was amazing! I thought for a minute that house swapping would be something very fun to do (anyone want to do it?...lol). Her pairing with Miles seemed to be the antithesis of the Amanda/Graham one. Not that Kate Winslet is unattractive, just that as a couple they didn't look like an obvious one. But, as in When Harry Met Sally, pairings don't often make sense. I wasn't entirely sure of Jack Black's casting until the funny bits started coming, as in the scene in the video store. But I still saw him more in the "friend" role all the way until the end. There wasn't the "ah ha!" moment when the two finally get together. It was sort of like "hey, so can I come visit you?" without the passionate romantic coming together. I guess that's the more realistic version and the Amanda/Graham ending kind of fit the bill instead. But I sort of would have liked it better the other way around to even the score. After all, Amanda and Graham got to have the hot sex, but Iris/Miles had what, a little too much Santa Ana winds?? Other than that, I liked the juxtaposition that the two couples had and the whole idea of swapping lives and escaping your problems for a while. It's something I wish I could just pick up and do but can't.
~Theresa~
Just *slightly* obsessed with JM
Last Edited By: mcavoyfan 29/12/2007 08:05.
Edited 2 times.
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Larisie |
#4 | |||
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Sorry, nothing related to 'The Holiday' as I haven't seen it, but I do happen to agree with you Emi about your general outtake on romance films.
'When Harry Met Sally' has to be one of the best, at least out of the ones I've seen, which aren't many!! Last year we analysed the film in my
Interpersonal Communications class. It was very interesting!
Sounds like this film is pretty good though. I have been wiry of it ever since I heard about its release and casting. Never really thought it'd work at all...still not sure I'm quite convinced.
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JamesMcAvoyFan |
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I didn't see "The Holiday" when it was in the theatre. Just wasn't sure whether it would be worth it. When it came out on DVD I watched it
almost every night for about 3 weeks. I couldn't get enough of it. It left me with such a sweet, happy feeling. I love all the characters......well
except Jasper. I still watch it many many times. Don't think I will ever get tired of it!!! It was nice to see Jack Black play such a gentleman. And
Mr. Napkin Head........AWESOME!!!!!!
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JamesMcAvoyFan |
#6 | |||
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HURRY BACK FROM YOUR MUM'S DIZ!!! GOTTA CHECK YOUR MAILBOX AGAIN. LOVE YA TO PIECES!!!!!!
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Selivia |
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Why do people come together in reality, let alone in fiction? It's one of those inconceivable things, sometimes it is the lure of something different, a
complete break from the usual routine.
Okay, sure, Cameron Diaz started out with something of a typical rich girl slumming it, or out of her depth (that "walk" from the taxi to the house was standard slapstick, and I will admit to a sense of "here we go again"). Of each of the four lead characters, she seemed to be playing a character closer to her "norm". I don't mind what she usually serves up, and I do like "In her Shoes" but more for Toni Collette. What I believe drew Iris & Miles together was because they didn't expect it to last, neither were after anything permanent, they were each marking time and filling that time with a pleasant little interlude instead of the abject boredom they had anticipated. Because they had no pretentions about an ongoing relationship, neither put on airs and graces, or pretended to be something other than they were, and they were free to be who themselves with an "accept me as you find me or you don't have to be here". So their relationship was based more on truth than they had ever experienced in previous relationships - particularly as Iris was fresh from a less-than-honest arrangement. Instead of the hungry, anxious attitude towards the other person and trying to find bonds to prove that they "belonged together" they were far more relaxed even to the point of being off-putting and careless towards the other, creating a different form of attraction. I definitely agree that Jack Black's character was so much more likeable than other roles he has had. It was far more subtle and approachable. The scene in the video shop was priceless. Unfortunately, I do not feel that the scriptwriters put as much effort into this relationship and I always wanted to see more of them together rather than have her running off to the neighbour all the time. But then again, Graham was very supportive of Amanda and pampered her more than she had ever thought she deserved. Again, neither expected a relationship to develop and were free to be themselves and just relax and enjoy some time together. So, if there is a "message" from the movie - I would think it was about being yourself and in doing so would leave yourself free to enjoy unexpected relationships with unlikely people. But apart from that, it is a "feel good" movie with everything neatly tied off by the end. |
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JamesMcAvoyFan |
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Great explanation Selivia!!! You summed it up very well. Yeah, the video scene was indeed priceless......the "Jaws" part cracked me up.(two notes
and ya gotta villian)
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PaulaJoW |
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I know I haven't been a part of these discussions yet, but when I saw this movie being discussed I decided to jump in.
I love this movie! It's a very engaging romantic comedy. Cameron Diaz is definately the weakest link in this film, but she did ok. She does grate on you after awhile. Now when I watch the film, I find myself fast forwarding through some of her parts. Jude Law is to die for. Kate Winslet (one of my all-time favourite actresses) and Jack Black are great. I actually dated a guy like Jack Black years ago. Guys like him are grossly underrated. I also love Eli Wallach as Arthur. He's such a sweetheart. His friendship with Iris is lovely and refreshing. And Graham's daughters are the cutest things I've ever seen! The scene in the tent is sooo sweet. Mr. Napkinhead is a classic!!!
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MsMarpleEM |
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It's been a while sinve I've seen "The Holiday". I agree with Emilie . The relationship between Amanda and Graham didn't convince me in
the least. I also had problems with imagining Kate Winslet and Jack Black. Given the fact, that I can't stand the latter, I ,too , was pleasnatly
surprised.
I liked "The Holiday" when I watched it, I found Amanda's walk from the taxi hilarous, but all in all the movie didn't make much impression on me. I'd forgot most of it and only recollected it by reading the threat.
I absolutely adore "The Bridges of Madison County", so sad...
and I love "When Harry met Sally".
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Wurthering Heights |
#11 | |||
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Great film. I remember watching it in the cinema and cracked up at the ''you slept with Amanda'' scene ''still me''....
I get what you guys said about Cameron. I disliked several parts with her in this movie: - The beginning. Just a bit too much, wasn't it? - ''Just one tear.'' And then the fake crying.... - The ''my boyfriend will look fabulous when screwing his secretary and I'll look haggard'' speech I thought Iris and Miles were going to end up together when he removed ''something from her eye''. That scene was veeery friendly. It's like he forgot about his girlfriend there. Jude was gorgeous. His girls were adorable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song, I thought that love would last forever: 'I was wrong' |
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Emilie |
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Selivia wrote: Why did they spend so much time on the story of Kate Winslet's neighbor and so little on Iris and Miles? I know
there needed to be some excuse for Iris and Miles to spend time together, but couldn't they just have wanted to be friends instead of celebrating her
neighbor's career legacy? While the relationship between Graham and Amanda was superficially interesting, I would have preferred more time for the other
couple, whose story is more compelling.
Signature by Hannah Kipje! |
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Selivia |
#13 | |||
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The fact that the neighbour and each other gave them the courage to end their disastrous infatuations with their previous "partners" may have been
enough. It was obvious that they were both very loving and giving so there wasn't much more to tell once they had turfed the distracting and disabling
people out of hteir lives.
I've just re-watched the movie, having realised in our discussions that I didn't actually own this one so I bought a second hand copy recently. Just a little bit of trivia, did anyone else notice that among the pile of books that Amanda has beside her as she tries to sleep on the plane is a copy of Atonement? |
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