Conference bookie::movies

    I saw a preview on a movie I rented it I think it said coming in
    August.

    Hi,
    
    I saw this movie last night and liked it a lot.  A few personal comments:
    
    1)  As one who grew up without any positive male role models to speak
        of, I found real value in Chuck Norstadt's relationship with 
        MacLeod (Mel Gibson).  As I became a young man, I was blessed to 
        discover about six people who at different times provided such 
        guidance, kindness, love, and understanding in various areas of my life.
    
    2)  I was disgusted with the treatment of MacLeod by the local
        authorities.  There was deception on the part of law enforcement 
        guy by telling MacLeod to show up without legal counsel.  In
        addition, it was quite apparent from the behavior of people in that 
        scene, that there would be no element of fairness and a presumption
        of guilt of sexual abuse on the part of MacLeod.
    
    3)  As one who mentors and coaches youth in computer software and 
        hardware, and in Judo, I found it to be very sobering reminder
        to always be cautious, clear, legal, upfront, and discreet in my
        dealings with youth.  For example, MacLeod would have been much
        wiser to personally consult with the Norstadt's mother if he really 
        wanted to engage in this mentoring/tutoring relationship. I guess 
        one just can't be too careful these days.
    
    
    It is a great movie.  I recommend it to anyone whoever thinks they
    could or would teach.
    
    
    
    Bill

    We should spoiler alert the previous note....
    
    
    -sandy
    

    I found this movie fascinating, but I doubt it will break any records
    or receive any major awards.  It has only a minimum of sex or real-time
    violence, although plenty of violence was done most of the characters
    at some time in their pasts.
    
    I think it will be most of interest to those who enjoy coming of age
    stories and character studies.  The scenery is also magnificent and
    well-filmed throughout.
    
    I thought Mel Gibson was great -- this was a very different role from
    his stereotypical ones.  The actresses who play the two girls who are
    sisters of the boy who is the main character are wonderful! I thought
    the boy who was the star was an excellent young actor.  
    
    I know it was supposedly set in 1968, but once they got away from the
    city and cars, it didn't seem anything but contemporary to me.  I
    expected more obvious 60s cliches.
    
    
    Very minor possible spoilers, but not really....
    
    It was very strange to see a movie that was filmed in my family's
    summer house!  (The boy's family's house, not Mel Gibson's).  The first
    strange thing was always knowing what is outside the perimeter of the
    screen during any scenes shot in the house.  
    
    Strangest of all is that the set decorator got permission from my aunt
    to leave up the portraits of my great-grandparents -- when the camera
    panned to the portraits on the wall it was very startling to see them! 
    My great-grandmother died when I was a baby, but my great-grandfather
    (the one who bought that house) lived until I was 8, and that was the
    place I always went to visit him in the summertime.  Needless to say,
    it kept jerking me out of the flow of the story ;-)
    
    There were also many other recognizable family mementos left in the
    house, but they brought pieces of furniture and decorations in as well. 
    They deliberately made it look very cluttered, which was a little odd
    to see.
    
    According to my aunt, to maintain the authenticity, they recreated the
    bedrooms and upstairs bathroom exactly in a warehouse in Camden, Maine.
    I couldn't tell the difference, and would have thought it was filmed
    right in the house.  But those rooms were too small for the equipment.
    
    The other strange thing is that the real kitchen is very long and
    narrow.  So they duplicated the kitchen exactly in what is really the
    dining room of the house.  I was watching the movie and could not
    figure out what was contrived about the kitchen shots until about
    halfway through.  I can't believe the trouble they went to to exactly
    duplicate the look and feel of the old cabinets which all have long
    narrow grooves running top to bottom.
    
    Mel Gibson's house is actually the more beautiful and interesting of
    the two houses.  The props in that house were mostly antiques.  The
    place is somewhat intimidating.
    
    Animals also play a larger than usual role in the story.  I enjoyed
    this.
    
    I need to see the movie again to just focus on the characters and the
    story.  All in all, it is thought provoking and a bit disturbing at
    times, but well produced and acted and worth seeing.
    
    

    
    
    I enjoyed this movie also, but agree that it will not be a box office
    "Smash".  I thought Mel Gibson's directorial debut was an outstanding
    one and he definately has great potential.
    
    The young boy who played Chuck Nordstadt was excellent and will be in
    for a memorable career, I'm sure.
    
    The movie made me think of the movie, Dead Poet Society for reasons I
    can not really explain.  All in all, I thought the movie to be very
    good.  I hope that Gibson will continue to direct.
    
    One of my favorite scenes (behind spoiler)
    
    
    
    is when Chuck asks Macloud (Gibson) about the attraction between men
    and women and Macloud tells a story about women being made up of 5%
    more water than men and Chuck asks, "Can't we just drain them..." and
    then after Macloud bursts into laughter he says, "I think they (meaning
    women) are waiting for us to drink more liquids"
    
    I thought that was pretty funny!
    
    

    I also enjoyed this movie..I wouldn't have minded if it was longer
    so that you had a better idea of what caused the characters to be the
    way they were...I don't think the boy tendancy to stare-off was
    explained....and I would have like to understand Mel's character's
    background a little more also....I was a little confused about the
    significance of the plane ride also,...
    
    It probably won't be a smash...though I think it should be....
    

    How did Gibs lose his face?

    RE:  .8 by 35186::BACH 
    
    >How did Gibs lose his face?

    Too many "Lethal Weapon" sequels?
    

    ::BACH
    
    Gibs was in a car accident and half of his face was badly burned....
    
    A great line from the movie..about his face        .....He said
                                 
    "If this is all you see (pointing to the burned portionof his face)..
    then you don't see me!