(Image by Gothicrow)
Temperatures took a nice dip on Friday afternoon when clouds and (brief) rain rolled in and with the wind and a slight chill to the air we opened our windows and prepared to spend a portion of our weekend basking in the warm glow of the television as we partook of gothic fare.
Here, in the order in which we viewed them, are the things we spent our weekend viewing.
The first film we watched was not perilous at all but was too fun not to share. Father’s Doing Fine is a 1952 film about a widowed English woman whose four daughters are caught up in various relationships with men that make their lives a whirlwind. On top of that the family is broke but is struggling to keep up appearances. This is a fast moving frenetic comedy that is based on a play by Noel Langley. The rapid-fire dialogue is reminiscent of plays I’ve seen and although it is not as good as Frank Capra’s You Can’t Take it With You, there was a lot of fun here that reminded me of that film. Words like “zany” and “madcap” spring to mind.
We caught it on Netflix streaming. Well worth watching.
I had picked up The Woman in Black from the Redbox machine earlier in the day Friday and purposefully waited until it was good and pitch dark out before watching it, hence the viewing of Father’s Doing Fine beforehand.
The film is deliciously dark in a gothic, moody way and it is filled with atmosphere as thick as the fog that often blanketed the scenery on screen. It wasn’t perfect and I did not like it as much as favorites like The Others or The Orphanage, but there is a lot to like. Daniel Radcliffe was fantastic and I never once found myself thinking of a magical boy with round spectacles. The movie was spooky in the extreme with a handful of nice “made you jump” moments and the kind of old, creepy houses and desolate countryside that makes for a good haunting.
Watch it with the lights off!
On Saturday afternoon we fired up Netflix streaming yet again and watched the 1945 theatrical version of the Noel Coward play, Blithe Spirit, starring a very young Rex Harrison. Having spent most of my life with an image of Harrison as an older Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, it took awhile to stop staring at his much younger self on the screen and pay attention to the movie. Blithe Spirit was a fun, if flawed romantic comedy, or perhaps it might better be described as a black comedy. At any rate I enjoyed the antics of the resident psychic and Rex Harrison was in top form. The movie’s one flaw was that it drug on too long, and that is saying something when in reality the film was only 96 minutes. The pacing was uneven and had too many lulls for it to be a film that I would ever want to view again, but it is well worth seeing once and had a nice ghostly element to it.
Despite the presence of a werewolf on the City Watch and a very evil vampire, it would probably be pushing it to call Going Postal, a film based on the Terry Pratchett novel of the same name, perilous. It was however quite entertaining and as I’ve been on a library wait list for the two part film for a few months now, I was especially pleased to find it worth the wait. The cast list was an immediate draw for me when I saw the trailer for Going Postal on another DVD and I have to say that I did not expect the high production values that the film delivered. This was fantastic!
I read my first Discworld book earlier this summer, Thud!, and was pleased that I picked up on so many references having only read the one book. That being said, my wife and daughter had no previous exposure to Pratchett’s work and they too found the film to be a lot of fun. This is one I wouldn’t mind owning, especially given it is a two disc set with a fair amount of extras. Going Postal is the story of a con man coming to terms with the results of his many years of successful cons while at the same time using those very skills in an effort to make things right by reviving the postal service of Anhk-Morpok.
I very highly recommend this.
And finally we ended our weekend of peril by watching the first of the film-length episodes of the latest series of Wallander, based on the novels by Swedish crime author Henning Mankel. Kenneth Branaugh plays the titular role to great affect, imbuing Kurt Wallander with a sense of heavy melancholy that is echoed by the beautiful stark countryside in which the series is filmed. I’m glad to know we have two more Sunday nights of the show to look forward to. There is something special about turning on PBS and seeing the Edward Gorey illustrations coming to life in the opening of Masterpiece Mystery to be followed by a great introduction by Alan Cumming.
Wallander is a man plagued by the horror of what he witnesses in his job and Branaugh plays him brilliantly, allowing the viewer to sympathize with what would in reality be an awful thing–witnessing the end results of murder–while at the same time not allowing the character to be too maudlin. The cinematography of the series is stunning and the acting is uniformly top notch. This is a series I highly recommend checking out.
A very nice way to spend the second weekend of R.I.P. VII. What about you, any perilous viewing take place recently?
Sounds like some good viewing there Carl 🙂
I think you should look for The Hogfather, made by the same people who did Going Postal. I really enjoyed it and it looks fantastic.
I remember catching Blithe Spirit on the telly a while ago, it was, as you say, a light fun read, but not one I’d be rushing out to watch again 🙂
I really want to get to see The Woman in Black some time soon. The book was wonderfully atmospheric so I’d like to see how that translates to the screen.
What a fun weekend you had. And a great mixed bag of viewing. Made me want to try Blithe Spirit. We plan to watch Wallander 3 on DVD and looking forward to that. Really liked the first 6 episodes.
It was fun, Tracy. I actually still need to see the first season of Wallander. We just caught it when the second season came out last year on PBS and I keep meaning to track down the first three episodes.
Fence. I will be checking out Hogfather at some point. I actually got online at the library site and put a hold on The Color of Magic as well.
Woman in Black is perfect for RIP, let me tell you.
so excited to see another Wallander series! and we missed the first day! going to make it up.
I remembered there was going to be Going Postal when we were watching the other Terry Pratchett discworld movies. I hadn’t kept up with it, so thank you for the reminder and for the recommendation.
we plan to watch Woman in Black with N this RIP season. I was pleased to not see Radcliffe as Harry, and really, creepy children get me every time so it should be chilling enough for a second viewing with the daughter.
I think the most fitting thing we watched this weekend was Doctor Who–and I have to say that this week’s was more weird than creepy.
Me too! They are so moody, I just love ’em.
Going Postal was great. I want to watch it all again sometime soon and will hopefully have time to check out the disc 2 extras before getting it back to the library.
Yes, Radcliffe was particularly good in this. And I echo your feelings about creepy kids.
We are going to catch the second episode of Dr. Who tonight. Can’t wait!
I do not watch a whole lot of scary movies. They just freak me out too badly. But I got The Woman in Black to watch because I’d heard it was pretty good. I read the book last year (I think), and while I liked it, I didn’t find it all that scary. I hoped the movie wouldn’t be too difficult for me to handle, but even so, I watched it in bright mid-afternoon sunlight! It was definitely creepy! But not so much so that I had to turn it off, which is good. I enjoyed it.
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the film after having read the book. I think Mary and Tori would probably prefer we watched it in the bright sunlight too, but there was no way I was going for that, lol!
We went to the shop to rent on Saturday mid-day because it had been raining all morning and we thought we’d settle into a pile of RIP viewing, and then the sun came out two hours later, so we took advantage of the blue skies instead. Nonetheless, the stack is ready for any spare moments this week and on Friday night, so here’s hoping.
What a great combination of styles and moods you had for your viewing. Do you know if the Wallander films are directly based on the books? I’ve only read two (and I obsess about the whole book-before-film thing) and have not wanted to watch until I read further, but then wondered if they were only based on his character and didn’t take the specific cases from the novels…
Wiki says that they are adaptations of the novels. I’d actually like to read one of his books sometime but then I also don’t want to read a mystery where I already know the end. 🙂 Still, the show is just too good to pass up, they are very well done.
The cases so far ‘are’ based on the novels…(loosely) there were several pertinent plot points that were changed around from Ep. 1 Series 1 and the 1st novel…but the gist of the story was the same.
I’m actually looking forward to getting book 2, ‘The Dogs of Riga’ which is Ep. 2 Series 3 of the TV series, because I had a little bit of trouble actually catching some of the plot points and am hoping that the novel fills in some of the blanks for me!
They made a movie of Going Postal?! I must see this.
Yes, and it is very, very entertaining!
I recently watched Rebecca (1940) and loved it! I love the old classic movies 🙂
I like that version too, even in the part where they were less than accurate with the book (because of the sensibilities of the time). I think my favorite version is the BBC version with Charles Dance, Emilia Fox, and Diana Rigg. Very faithful to the book.
Thanks for the recommendation! I will definitely be checking it out 🙂
You are very welcome, I hope you enjoy it. I really need to re-read Rebecca at some point. It has been at least 20 years since the last time I read it.
I really liked Going Postal too. The Sam Vimes books bear reading from the beginning with Guards! Guards! I’m currently doing a reread of all eight and plan to read The Fifth Elephant for RIP, as it’s particularly vampirish.
I went to see The Woman In Black with my daughter and we spent half the time jumping out of our skins. I thought it was pretty scary. LOL.
I have plans to do just that, to read all the Sam Vimes books. He became an instant favorite when reading Thud! I see a lot more of Pratchett in my future.
My wife was making me jump as much as the movie with her antics. 🙂
What a fun weekend! I have seen the first Wallander’s and enjoyed them. Mr G is not a big scary movie fan but I may have to indulge on our first rainy Saturday night.
Glad to hear it Gavin. Hope you get a chance to see the others sometime soon.
Well, I know what I’ll be watching tonight…Father’s Doing Fine. It sounds like my kind of movie! Thank you.
It is a sweet one. And check out a very young Richard Attenborough. He is hardly recognizable as the older gentleman who would later turn up in Jurassic Park.
Oh my goodness, I thought he looked familiar, but would have never thought he was the grandfather in Jurassic Park! Cool! The movie was just delightful and funny. I’m sure I would have missed it if I hadn’t seen it here on your site. 🙂
I didn’t guess it, I had to look him up and then saw his image and was so surprised.
So glad you enjoyed it, it was a hoot, wasn’t it? If you enjoyed that and haven’t watched Frank Capra’s You Can’t Take it With You, please take my advice and watch it as soon as you can. It is a superior film, not just to this one but to many, many films.
Advice taken! 🙂
Looking forward to seeing Daniel Radcliffe as beat poet Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings, a murder mystery. He is turning out to be a fine adult actor.
I’ll have to look that one up as I haven’t heard of it.
I saw Woman in Black in the theatre, and at one point I might have screamed a bit loudly and made other people jump around me! lol It was very creepy and atmospheric. At one point a man in the audience was saying out loud, don’t answer the door! Which I’ve never heard before, so that was fun. I haven’t dared watch it at home yet.
You sound like you had a very pleasurable weekend watching good films all around. We watched the second episode of Dr Who, that was our Saturday highlight, and the dinosaur ride was fun 🙂 not a scary episode, though I hear the angels are upcoming and my son and I can’t decide if they are the scariest Who monsters – I think they are.
I’m wishing once again I had seen The Woman in Black in theaters. It would have been a fun film to see with an audience intent on what was happening on screen.
We watched the second ep. of Dr. Who last night. It was a fun episode. Not a great one in comparison to others but entertaining with just enough knowing looks and hints about things coming for the Ponds. And yes, I think the angels are the scariest Who villains.
What a delightful weekend of viewing you had! I’m jealous. I saw Woman in Black in the theater, and at one perilous point an audience member yelled, “Use your wand, Harry!” That was pretty fun.
I haven’t heard of Wallender, so I will have to check it out. Like you, I love The Orphanage and The Others. Have you seen The Gift?
And now I’m jealous because of your theater experience. Not the wand part. I’m sure I would have laughed myself, but I also would have been annoyed.
I have seen The Gift. Had completely forgotten about it though. That is an intense film.
If you like detective series I think you would enjoy Wallander. It is more broody than many of the others but is very good.
Sounds like a perfect weekend, even if the rain was brief. We could use some rain here since it’s getting so dry out. I’ve wondered about the Woman in Black movie. I saw a preview for it and wasn’t sure it was worth the money to see it in the theater. Movies are expensive here, as I’m sure they are in the States. In Boston the prices weren’t as high as they are in NY, but they weren’t too far behind either. Now I would like the NY prices. Some of the theaters have special days when the prices are low. I’ll have to add the Woman in Black to my rental list.
It really was. The only thing that would have made it more perfect is if it had been storming out while we watched The Woman in Black.
Yes, movies are expensive. We have reduced price (half price, $5) movies in the early hours on the weekends and do our best to see movies then so that we can get the most bang for our buck.
I’m really glad to see you enjoyed Going Postal I thought it was a lot of fun when I watched. I also really want to watch The Lady in Black but I’m torn because part of me wants to see the stage production first! Not sure I’ve watched anything too perilous myself. Unless the new series of Doctor Who counts? It can have some dark moments as well as light.
I’d count the first episode of Dr. Who, it had some perilous moments there with the Daleks!
Curious coincidence.
I just finished Going Postal last night and loved it.
I also just finished the last Wallander book this weekend. Having read them all now.
I have watched the Swedish Wallander shows but do enjoy this series.
Off to find the Orphanage and the Woman in Black.
Finished the book or the movie Ian?
I’d like to catch the Swedish version of Wallander sometime myself. I’ve heard good things.
I meant the mini series (2 movie length episodes) Loved the intro by Terry Pratchet. I’ve read some of the Disc world novels. Quiet funny.
I thought so but wanted to check. I was very happy they had that intro by Pratchett. It was a nice addition to the disc.
I was surprised at how terrified I got watching Woman in Black! It made me jump, a reaction that I haven’t experienced lately with horror flicks!
It is fun when scary movies have a few of those moments. Even better when you expect them and they still get you.
I know, Jenn. Jumping in my seat was so fun–especially when the face appeared in the window. Oh my goodness!
Yes!
I’m searching for GOING POSTAL right away! Sounds great! Thanks for the heads-up! WALLANDER 3 starts here on PBS at the end of September. I’ve watched the two previous WALLANDER series and liked them a lot! If you want to see a scary movie, try THE PACT. If you want to laugh, try BACHELORETTE with Kirsten Dunst. It works the same side of street as BRIDESMAIDS.
I bet you’d enjoy it, George.
Glad to hear that you enjoy Wallander. I guess I should have figured it but didn’t realize PBS showed Masterpiece at different times like this. We have the next two over the next consecutive Sundays. Can’t wait.
I heard a good review of Bachelorette this weekend and I do like Kirsten Dunst.
I’ve been wanting to watch Wallander, it’s good to know you enjoy it as well. I didn’t really like The Woman in Black, but I think it’s because my expectations were too high.
That can definitely temper the enthusiasm. I know there are several films I’ve seen that I am convinced I would have liked better had I not spent so much time building up to them.
Looks like a fun weekend of visual imbibing!
I’ve got The Woman in Black on my to watch list for RIP. (I’ve read the book and seen the stage show – which is awesomely jump-worthy) So I’m looking forward to seeing this version as well.
It was Darren. Until I started getting comments here I didn’t realize there was a stage production for the story. I’d love to see that.
It was really good. I was a little disappointed at first, as it felt/looked as if it was done on the cheap at first, but that was really the wrong impression. I was soon dragged in to the story and when the scares kicked in I was jumping along with the rest of the audience! 😀
That must mean the story was really well done. I hope I get to see it some day.
I had seen the reviews for Daniel Radcliffs movie and thought even in just the review that he did really well… I think he will be in many British movies and I hope he does as well in American made movies!
I keep saying I am going to splurge and buy Burke and Hare with Simon Pegg (the new Scotty in star trek) and Andy Serkis… I believe its a light comedy about grave diggers based on a true story.
check out the link to the review!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwM057I4ylM
I want to check out Burke and Hare as well. I’m so disappointed it hasn’t made its way to Netflix yet. I also checked the library and they didn’t have it, but I did discover the interesting fact that Burke and Hare were two real people:
“From 1827 to 1828, William Burke and William Hare murdered 16 people in order to meet demands for corpses to be used in medical research, and Dr. Robert Knox paid them for the delivery of fresh cadavers. The term burking was coined for their manner of killing by chest compression and smothering, which left little or no evidence.”
This from a nonfiction book the library has on them. Might have to check that out.
I’d by lying if I said I wasn’t envious of all the awesome viewing you fit into your weekend. So I won’t say it. 😛
I really want to see The Woman in Black, but I need to read it first. Either that, or I need to get over the obsession with reading before viewing. Anyway, you reminded me once again of two movies I MUST view this time around–The Orphanage and The Others. If I don’t soon watch them, you may just bar me from all future RIPs…and I couldn’t even blame you!
Its all the result of only having one child and her grown and off doing her own thing a lot of the time, Debi.
I knew I wasn’t going to work in The Woman in Black in book form any time soon and decided I just needed to go for it with the film as I wanted something creepy that I hadn’t seen yet.
And yes, The Orphanage and The Others are must-watch films. Quintessentially R.I.P. I may not bar you, but I will think about putting you on the naughty list. 🙂
I totally agree with you on Woman in Black…I was surprised to see that Daniel can step out of his Harry Potter character. It was good for him. I like the movie, not as much as Orphanage (just like you) but like it enough to write my review few months back. I like the ending….she wins after all 😉
Hi Novroz,
I’m confused. Which “she” wins in the movie–the woman in black or the mom? I checked your website too.
Sounds like a great way to spend the weekend! I am doing better with the viewing than the reading so far this challenge.
It was! I’m actually surprised by how much I’ve gotten read and viewed thus far. Its been a really great RIP thus far.
I loved Woman in Black. There aren’t enough movies today that focus on hauntings and paranormal. I’m not a big fan of slasher films and they fill much of the horror genre these days. Whenever I see a good haunting movie, I can’t wait to watch it.
I so agree. I’m always looking for good ghost movies. What are your favorites besides The Orphanage and The Others (which have already been mentioned)?
I’m a big fan of the haunted, eerie film and really don’t like gore at all.
Deb: Well, I love all the old Vincent Price movies. They are cheesy but in their cheesiness are a bit creepy. Silent Hill is a bit on the gory side but it also has some atmosphere like The Others and The Orphanage so that is one I generally rewatch. Sleepy Hollow is another that is a bit bloody but I do like watching it every Halloween. Guess neither of those are really ‘ghost’ movies though. Skeleton Key is pretty creepy. I’ll have to wrack my brain and see if I can think of any others in the vein of those two favorites you mentioned.
I watched The Woman in Black in the theatre and it scared me to death. I’d already read the book (for last year’s RIP!) and I saw the play in London. It was fun to see the same story told so many different ways.
It is quite the creepy film, that’s for sure! I imagine it would be fun to see three different interpretations of the same story.
I and my friends sooooo wanted to move into the house from ‘The Woman in Black’! We figured we could put up with a homicidal ghost to have that gorgeous house. I don’t have kids so I don’t think we’d have a problem co-habitating?! My first read for R.I.P. this year was book one of Wallender “Faceless Killers”.
personally at this moment i’m liking the TV show better than the novels. One face I did miss in series 3 was Tom Hiddlestones’ character Magnus Martinsson. The uninspiring blonde lady that’s replaced him isn’t nearly as snarky or as much fun to pit against Wallender. I understand that Tom was busy with Avengers while series 3 was being filmed but I still miss Martinsson.