Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with recommendations and movies

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the NATURAL — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:13:57 -0800

Just curious: What DVD commentaries absolutely enhance the movie they're attached to? Thanks for your concern, but I've already seen these two previouslys.

As an aspiring screenwriter (maybe, one day, filmmaker? -- but then, who isn't?), I'm particularly interested in the craft of storytelling and the art of filming (how shots are composed, chosen, etc.). So, while I can't lie that it's funny that X and Y tell hilarious jokes in Z's commentary, I'm more curious from a technical standpoint.

Since this was last done in 2004, maybe skewing this towards DVDs released since then would make this a more timely question, as well.

Thanks, MeFi <4

Need Books/Movies for Kids Going to Rome

bjennings — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 15:55:33 -0800

I'm looking for recommendations for books, movies and even music that might be relevant for a group of middle school (7th & 8th grade, ages 12-14) kids who are going to Rome over spring break. I'm a teacher, and I'm leading a group of 20 middle school kids as well as three other faculty members. I'd like to be able to recommend novels, movies and music for them.

They've all read Caroline Lawrence's "The Roman Mysteries" series. I'm very familiar with the range of children's and young adult historical fiction, especially that set in ancient times. I'd love to have any recommendations for novels set in modern Italy. Some of the students have read Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons", but teen and young adult books would be great, too.

I suggested "Roman Holiday"; all of the parents said "Oooh, I love that movie", and all of the kids were bored out of their skull. Fluff like the Mary Kate and Ashley "When In Rome" and "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" is right up their alley.

I figure music is a long-shot, but maybe there are some recommendations there as well. Thanks!

Little Pig, Little Pig, let me in!

beautifulstuff — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:15:09 -0800

What are the best movies in which the action revolves around protagonists under siege in an enclosed space? More specifically, I’m looking for movies that feature people inside some kind of fortification fighting off attempts by baddies to gain access. So for example, Assault on Precinct 13, or Panic Room rather than Under Seige or The Siege. Something like Rio Bravo would be okay but would suit this question better if John T. and Dude had spent more time holed up in the jail with Stumpy.

Oh cover your eyes!

hannahq — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 17:23:14 -0800

Can you name some good movies (preferably comedies) that are appropriate to watch with a nun? In a few days, I'll be visiting a friend who happens to be a nun. She requested that I bring some movies along to watch. I was thinking something along the lines of "What About Bob". But I want to have a small selection to bring.

I'm looking for more suggestions of good, clean fun. Something with LITTLE profanity, drugs, sex, nudity or violence. Better if it's not present at all. She's still young. Under 40, and really liked Mean Girls. Does that help?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Getting a positive winning attitude through music and movies

dropkick — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:34:42 -0800

Keep your eyes on the prize. Never give up. Fight until the end. This is the kind of positive message I'm looking for in music and in movies, and I'm asking for recommendations from the hivemind Specifically, the kind of music I listen to is alt/rock/metal but I'll listen to rap as long as there's a no "N" word or swearing. Same goes for movies: I'm looking for inspirational family movies like "Remember the Titans" and Rocky which convey a strong message of winning.

Please recommend great non-fiction books & documentary films

njm — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:58:57 -0800

What non-fiction books or documentary films explore a subculture or lifestyle as effectively as Henry Chalfant & Tony Silver's Style Wars and Hunter S. Thompson's Hell's Angels? Both of these works are the result of an author/filmmaker gaining acceptance into a group of unique individuals and clearly expressing the stories and personalities within it.

Here are a few books in a similar style that I've read so far:

Hunter S. Thompson - Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72, etc.
Tom Wolfe - The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, The Right Stuff, etc.
David Simon - Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
H.G. Bissinger - Friday Night Lights
Evan Wright - Generation Kill
Susan Orlean - The Orchid Thief
Joe Sacco - Safe Area Gorazde, Palestine, The Fixer, etc.

What have I missed?

WWII Movies

different — Thu, 16 Sep 2004 15:22:33 -0800

War Movies: I'm looking for any good movies about World War II, specifically to do with civilian life (rather than military actions.) I've seen Au Revoir Les Enfants and The Diary of Anne Frank - can you suggest any others you've enjoyed?

What to see at the Toronto Film Festival

dobbs — Sat, 28 Aug 2004 09:51:48 -0800

Selecting things to see at the Toronto Film Fest. Here's a list of films playing at TIFF. International MeFites and film nuts: have you seen/heard anything about any of them/the directors? What should a TIFF-goer see or avoid? If you're going to the Fest, what are you seeing? Got extra tickets you want to sell? Looking for ones to buy? Lets use the thread to maximize the event. {more} I wasn't expecting to be going this year and am very unprepared. I've scrounged up 16 tickets so far. Since it's way short of my usual industry/festival pass, I want to use them wisely and am therefore asking for suggestions. Thanks!

(If any MeFites work for TIFFG and can help finagle me a (non-free) Industry (pref) or Festival pass, I'd sure appreciate an email and my lips will be sealed and I'd exnay on anything but screenings.)

Good Automobile Moves

orange swan — Wed, 11 Aug 2004 06:25:05 -0800

Can you all suggest a good movie that involves cars or car racing? Please think "good plotting and suspenseful" rather than "artistic and profound". I'm trying to select a present for my brother, who is a mechanic and trucker, and he thinks Smokey and the Bandit is the best movie ever made.

Seeking reliable websites that sell hard-to-find Japanese, Korean, Hong Kong movies on DVD

matteo — Thu, 13 May 2004 10:46:19 -0800

I'm looking for high quality, reliable (since they'll end up having my credit card number) English-language sites that sell (and ship internationally) hard-to-find Japanese, Korean, Hong Kong movies on DVD. There are so many sites that seem to do that. What do you recommend? Also, tangentially related: is there an all-English-language version of the very interesting Amazon.co.jp? My Japanese is close to non-existent thanks

What's your favorite movie soundtrack album?

milovoo — Sat, 27 Mar 2004 00:04:31 -0800

What's your favorite movie soundtrack album? Soundtracks are great, they can be just straight music from the film, or a wide mix of stuff that never made it in. Some are popular and some are inexplicably ignored. I'll bet everyone can think of at least one and maybe an interesting anecdote as to why you think it's great.

Classic DVDs

mr_crash_davis — Thu, 18 Mar 2004 21:21:07 -0800

We've got quite a large DVD collection, but they naturally tend towards newer releases. This weekend I want to bolster the "classic" movie section. (more inside) I need some suggestions that 1) are available in wide-screen format and 2) will hold the attention of two adults, a sixteen-year-old boy, a thirteen-year-old boy, and an eleven-year-old girl.

The kids are pretty hip to different genres, as kids go, but romance and romantic comedy are probably out unless we feel like spending an hour listening to them gripe about all the kissing (which we usually don't).

Help?