I have been falling behind a bit but I am in the middle of 7 Birthdays! It is birthday month madness here and, include Mother's Day,...it's just nuts. Last week was my hubby's niece's birthday on the 17th, my niece on the 18th, I had company on the weekend followed by a friend's step son's birthday on the 22nd. Today (May 25th) is my hubby's birthday and mine is next week. That's right....there are 2 Gemini's in the house which means there are at least 4 people in the house at any given moment. Anyway, this week, at Wandering Through The Shelves, we pick 3 movies about the Internet...not my favourite topic but I could still pick 3.... (oh the other 2 birthdays are my dear friend who celebrated her day on the 14th and her daughter which is on the 29th)
1. THE NET-1995
I saw this film when it came out and thought it was quite good and entertaining. It's nothing to say Oscar, Oscar, but it is a good thriller. A poor lass with no friends and a mom with Alzheimer's, works with computers. A fellow co-worker who she talks to online, decides to meet up with her and he sends her something on a chip or whatever (I am more interested in the thriller aspect) to keep. He dies, on route to see her, in a plane "accident'. She takes a vacation to Mexico, meets up with a charming guy who tries to kill her for this computer thingy. She escapes but wakes up 3 days later with her complete identity erased! She must now outwit the mastermind terrorists and get her identity back. It's a fun film even though it's a thriller.
2. YOU'VE GOT MAIL-1998
This film is based on the classic, "The Shop Around The Corner" with James Stewart, that was later remade as a musical with Judy Garland called, "In the Good Ole Summertime". The update is about 2 dueling bookstore owners, one owns a huge bookstore chain like Chapters (Tom Hanks) while the other is a small children's bookstore that is independent (Meg Ryan). They dislike each other and the bigger store is trying to oust the smaller bookstore but, unbeknownst to both, they are secretly falling in love with each other via the internet! They talk to each other through the use of the computer and we see how things grow from there. this is a pleasant romantic comedy that Meg Ryan is famous for (before she ruined her face with Botox and whatever else...now she looks more like The Joker).
3. SOCIAL NETWORK-2010
Sigh...I am expecting this one to get lots of love this week...but not from me. Yes, it won tons of awards and is ranked highly among many critics and fans alike but I found this film boring and rather irritating. I can't stand Jesse Eisenberg and he would be on my list of the top 10 who need to be bitchslapped:). The film is about how Facebook was first formed in college after a girl dumped her boyfriend, played by Eisenberg, and how he developed something to vent which turned into Facebook. Other young boys got into developing Facebook including the guy who started Napster (played by Justin Timberlake whom I liked in this film). Don't go by me and see this film to make your own assessment but I found it was over-hyped since I am on the "Who cares" list about facebook even though I am on facebook and have a total of 40 "friends"...hahahaaaaa
Which films would you pick?
Happy birthday to your husband!
ReplyDeleteYou really don't like Eisenberg, do you?
I'm going old school - War Games.
War games is an excellent pick. I haven't seen it in years so I didn't feel I could pick this until I watch it again.
DeleteAww I loved The Social Network. I kind of hated You Got Mail. I was young when I saw it, but it wasn't my thing back then. I haven't seen your first pick.
ReplyDeleteYes...I know, most love that movie....except moi:) I don't mind you've got mail but it is the typical chick flick movie
DeleteLove ALL of these, including the one you hate ;-)
ReplyDeleteLove that you mentioned The Net. I loved that movie as a kid.
Hahahaaa.i am so happy to see you here! You really made my day. I know you love that movie. When you said you saw The Net when you were a kid, I suddenly felt like grabbing some geritol.
DeleteHi, dear Birgit!
ReplyDeleteThis might be the first time I have seen all three movies reviewed in one of your posts. The romcom While You Were Sleeping turned Sandra Bullock into a star, and I remember some fans and critics expressing disappointment when, in the wake of that movie's success, she started taking roles in suspense thrillers like The Net and action and disaster flicks like Speed and Speed 2.
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan had great screen chemistry. In addition to the films upon which You've Got Mail was based, I see similarities to the Rock Hudson - Doris Day movies Pillow Talk (1959) and Lover Come Back (1961).
Like you, I watched The Social Network but was not enamored of it, unable to get enthused over a platform that I believe has done society more harm than good.
Thank you, dear friend BB!
Yeah! Someone who does not care for the Social Network:) I know...I am on Facebook because I get to see some pictures of my ex's....he takes wonderful pics plus I actually got in contact with a cousin of mine that I never really met. She had posted these pictures on Facebook asking any distant relatives out there if they knew anyone. I saw pics of my dad I never saw plus pics of my grandfather and his wedding photo! This was one great thing that did happen on this site. Mostly people talk about washing their hair or taking a pic of the food they are ready to eat....big whoop
DeleteThe first two were great indeed. Still haven't watched the Social Network though, always seemed meh to me. Maybe one day. Yeah Meg Ryan went all Beetlejuice with the botox. Happy Birthdays all around.
ReplyDeleteYou summed up The Social Network perfectly! You made me laugh with the Beetlejuice comment
DeleteHsppy belated birthday to your husband and early birth4 wishes to you! That is a lot of birthdays in one month! I liked The Net. It was a thriller but you know its going to work out in the end.
ReplyDeleteBetty
Thank you! Yes you are right about The Net but that's why I like it
DeleteI also thought Social Network would be the title of the week which didn't thrill me, what a dreadful film! You didn't want to spend any time with those people. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteI didn't care enough about You've Got Mail to say I hated it and that's the problem. I LOVE The Shop Around the Corner so much and thought In the Good Old Summertime was charming though not on the same level despite the presence of Judy Garland. YGM squeezes every ounce of specialness and delicate grace out of the story. It was nice to see Jean Stapleton on the screen however.
And we have a match!! The Net isn't anything special but I remember when it came out in the theatres people saying that the story was preposterous and could never happen but since then similar stories have come to light.
One of the problems with movies about the net is that they date so very quickly, by the time they come out almost assuredly the technology they extoll has been improved. Movies on this theme aren't a favorite of mine either so I struggled a bit to come up with a trio.
Untraceable (2008)-FBI Special Agent Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane) works in a division that fights cybercrime. World weary and jaded she is still shocked when confronted by a killer who posts live feeds of his crimes on his website, the more hits the site gets the faster the victim dies. Determined to stop him she and her team try to capture the killer before time runs out.
The Net (1995)-Virtual recluse Angela Bennett (Sandra Bullock) is a software engineer who works from home as a freelance expert with few friends outside of cyberspace. One of those friends sends her a program with a weird glitch for her to de-bug. She discovers secret information on the disk just before taking her first vacation in years. While on that trip she meets an mysterious attractive stranger, finds herself embroiled in a web of computer espionage and her life endangered.
WarGames (1983)-Young computer whiz David Lightman (Matthew Broderick) finds a backdoor into a system he mistakenly believes is devoted to games which he attempts to play. It turns out that he has accidentally infiltrated the US government’s computer and may have initiated the lead up to WWIII. Assisted by a young girl he’s sweet on (Ally Sheedy) and the inventor of the system he tries to stop the game before it’s too late. Made when computers on a personal user level were a relatively new phenomenon this is a solid adventure with a very winning Broderick in the lead.
Yippee! I am so happy we think the same about The Social Network...yawner. I was so tempted to write about the Tracy/Hepburn film...which now the title has escaped me but I realized it didn't fit here. The Shop Around the Corner is the best and so well done. You've Got Mail is nice but has nothing on the original. Glad we met with The Net. I saw Wargames when it came out and have not seen it since so I felt I could not talk about it unless I see it again. I know it was smart
DeleteTHE NET!!!! I wanted to pick it, but I haven't seen it in far too long. I remember liking it and thinking Bullock was good, but that's about it. I love You've Got Mail because of the book shop angle. And because of Jean Stapleton's cameo.
ReplyDeleteI do NOT care for The Social Network, either. It's fine and all, but to me, it was nothing special, and the reducing of the whole thing to being about the girl just reeked to me. So many great lines in that script, but the overall arc is just stupid, and has no basis in fact from what I can tell. UGH.
Oh love that there is no love for the Social yawner. I just couldn't get why and still don't, why its considered so great. The Net is enjoyable and a fun movie
DeleteThat's a lot of birthdays in a short amount of time. Best wishes to all. I live The Social Network and I hate the actual Facebook for whatever it's worth. I'm one of the few who have never had a Facebook page. I wasn't a big fan of The Net, but didn't hate it. I've only seen bits and pieces of You've Got Mail.
ReplyDeleteFacebook is mostly people talking about nothing. I like seeing pictures my ex takes because they are really excellent of nature and beautiful sunsets etc... Plus I found picture of my dad when he was young. It came from a cousin I never met who posted pics to find out more info on ancestry
DeleteMy dad's birthday was the 18th...
ReplyDeleteI've seen all three of those. The first two in the theater. I had to see You've Got Mail as I saw In the Good Old Summertime (Shop Around the Corner I saw later) ages ago. I didn't have a problem with The Social Network, but I saw it while knitting, so I can be more forgiving (it only got half my attention).
That is the best way to enjoy a yawner like The Social Network....doing something else while it is on in the background:)
DeleteReally? What don't you like about Jesse Eisenberg?
ReplyDeleteI've seen recent shots of Meg Ryan. What a shame.
That kid just seems so arrogant and insufferable. I don't mind Zombieland but was kind of hoping he would get eaten. Meg Ryan is a total freak and I love Pat Hatt's description(see above)
DeleteI'm not a fan of Jesse Eisenberg either. I actually think this is the one role he was born to play, and then he should just go back under a rock.
ReplyDeleteI live the diversity of your picks!
Hahahaaa....I guess he was good to play this role since the real guy is supposed to be a real schmuck. I'm glad you like my diversity...I was just trying to think about films that have the Internet in them.
DeleteYou've Got Mail is the only one of these three that I've seen and it was enjoyable enough. I do like both Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan was lovely in her day.
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
She was really cute looking until she decided to try to keep her youth and turn into The Joker. I wish these people would stop doing this to their face....they look insane
DeleteIt isn't particularly nice to make fun of Meg Ryan. She became a victim of the Hollywood hustle. The more she aged, the more she became desperate about Hollywood not being interested in her anymore. She literally became famous for having a youthful look. So, care to speculate how else this could have gone, if you're Meg Ryan?
ReplyDeleteYup....despite all the crap that women especially have to maintain their careers, keep away from the Botox, injections and knife. She is not the only one who looks like the Joker and won't be the last. I wish more would be like Diana Rigg. Even Jane Fonda, who has had good work done...is not off my radar because it is so unrealistic and just plain wrong. Now younger and younger women get all these treatments done and we have no clue what that will do to them once they get older. Botox is just poison in my book.
DeleteThe Net was good but totally freaked me out. I'm really big into happy ever afters and for the most part the happy ever after was that she survived. Which of course is a good thing:)
ReplyDeleteShe did and won! I am not one for films, like the 70's that usually left things open-ended and leaning to the negative. It used to frustrate me to no end.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these. Though I have seen War Games, which Alex mentioned above.
ReplyDeleteI have no interest in Facebook.
Facebook is not the most useful...I just like seeing the beautiful pics my ex takes and I found my cousin through there who has pictures of my dad that I never knew existed plus others from the family. She was looking into ancestry...that was cool.
DeleteI've seen all of these and enjoyed each one of them. I'd like to see The Net again, as it's been awhile and I remember Sandra Bullock being really good in it. It's always fun to see films that show technology now so outdated. Like in You've Got Mail, where AOL was the big thing and the little voice saying "You've Got Mail."
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how these films become so outdated so fast. I bet kids look at that movie and wonder what that is all a out
DeleteHappy birthday to Michael and to you for next week! Only seen You've Got Mail - it passed the time on a plane is all I can say.
ReplyDeleteThank you...I shall let Michael know. Yes, the movie is nice but not a majore wow
DeleteI very much like You've Got Mail. Don't know the other two but Alex mentioned War Games. That was a movie I also enjoyed. Happy birthday to hubby and to you next week. Hope you have a good one.
ReplyDeleteWar Games is excellent but I haven't seen it in so long I didn't feel I could talk about it. Thank you and I will let my hubby know:)
DeleteHey- I have actually seen the first two movies! That might be a first. I was actually trying to think of the title of The New over the weekend (it came up in a conversation)- so this post is very timely for me. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your hubs and happy early birthday to you!
~Jess
Thank you! You finally saw a couple of the film I mentioned!! Yeah:)
DeleteI enjoyed You Got Mail so much. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks made a nice sweet pair.
ReplyDeleteMeg Ryan and Tom Hanks make a good pairing actually. I consider it a sweet movie
DeleteI'm having a hard time even thinking of others. Alex got WarGames. Does Jumpin' Jack Flash count? That one was sort of Internetty, wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteYou know....I have not seen Jumpin Jack Flash...is that with Whoopi Goldberg??
DeleteIt is.
DeleteI feel like I am forgetting something obvious. The Internet is so ubiquitous now that thinking of films that are genuinely about it is a challenge.
I love Shop Around the Corner...
I'm one of the many who thought The Social Network was a incredible film. Like you, i don't really update my facebook much. Just use it to keep in contact with people. Some people have 1000s of friends. It's absurd.
ReplyDeleteSome people are on Facebook constantly and i know what you mean about all those "friends"-makes me laugh
DeleteOMG! We picked the same three movies! The Net wasn't great but at least the topic is still working nowadays. You've Got Mail was nice, and I loved the Social Network. I can't stand Eisenberg but I kind of liked him there.
ReplyDeleteAmazing that we picked the same movies. this means great minds think alike
DeleteWow, this is a change, I've seen all of these movies! I actually like Eisenberg but that's mostly because he's in one of my favorite movies - Zombieland. Love, love, love that movie. Makes me laugh so much.
ReplyDeleteI have seen Zombieland and I do like the movie even though I dislike this actor and am not into Zombies. It is hilarious especially when we see Bill Murray
DeleteHahahaha I think quite a few people would bitch slap Jesse Eisenberg. I know others who dislike him. It is definitely a popular pick this week.
ReplyDeleteI knew that flick would be popular and I have not chosen a film as a pick that I disliked before. There are a few i would love to bitch slap
Delete"You've Got mail." Ahhhhhhh, before Meg Ryan got all "OMFG, WTH HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE!!??"
ReplyDelete"You've Got mail." Ahhhhhhh, before Meg Ryan got all "OMFG, WTH HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE!!??"
ReplyDeleteI like You've Got Mail. The soundtrack, most of all. I saw it before The Shop Around the Corner. I thought the original was better, but I'd rather see You've Got Mail because it's based in a bookstore. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed You've Got Mail. I like Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks together:)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, Birgit.
Your month sounds like ours will be in June & August. I've not seen any of these movies - but I did start with #2. For some reason, although I like both the main actors, the movie just didn't get my attention. Never heard of #3, but I enjoyed reading your comments about it! Easy to see how you like movies! (I do too, but find I like the oldies better than what we get offered these days!) Happy birthday to the birthday folks, and TFS
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love "You've Got Mail". Oh, I watch it all the time. It's one of my cozy movies...something I can pop in anytime. :)
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I've never had any desire to see Social Network:)
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a great one, Birgit.
Those are good movies! I have seen most of them, except Social Network. (I don't care much for Facebook either.) I have liked Eisenburg for the most part, but sometimes I am not the biggest fan of the characters that he plays.
ReplyDeleteI hope y'all both have had good birthdays! I have found that most people have birthdays in either May, or December, for some reason....
: )
OMG!!! I've seen all three. A first!
ReplyDeleteJilda and I have a copy of You've Got Mail. We love that movie. We've also seen the Little Shop Around the Corner too. That's one of my favorite roles for Jimmy Stewart.
ReplyDeleteI have seen all of these. Although I have to say I remember more of "The Net" TV series more than the original movie. I'm not a fan of Facebook either, but out of the three movies I like the Social Network best. I really like the script and think it's more than just about the creator and the platform; more about how destructive ambition, ego, etc. can be. The end where he's just refreshing his page waiting for the friend approval probably resonates with a lot of people who have presence on the internet trying to increase views, comments, friends, followers, likes, etc.
ReplyDelete