georgepark

Gonul, a hospital O/R nurse, is in love with and engaged to a handsome brain surgeon. The Doctor (Tekin) is obsessed with Gonul. So obsessed that he becomes enraged when a small incident occurs and her strikes Gonul, knocking her to the floor, where he forces the engagement ring back onto her finger and breaks it. Gonul realizes that Tekin is deranged and tries to break away, fleeing in a cab with no destination. Along the way, she stops in an emergency clinic to help. While waiting, a man comes in who has injured his shoulder. This accidental meeting leads to a 38 episode thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat with new discoveries, heartbreaking relationship mistakes and finally a car accident that deprives Gonul of her memory.

Daniel has been wrongly convicted (perhaps) of the murder of a 16 year-old girl, when he was age 18. Sent to death row by an ambitious DA, 20 years later his conviction is overturned because the DNA from the girl is from someone else. The DA, now a State Senator is determined to keep Daniel in prison, but there is not enough evidence. On his release, Daniel seems to be in shock. Everything around him is alien. He has no idea of modern technology and the way things work. He moves from scene to scene in a trance, speaking rarely and interacting oddly. The show is well acted and cast. Each new person has their own secrets and as the viewer watches everyone talks to each other, but they tell only half-truths, leaving the listeners misdirected. Some of this will come back over time to threaten to put Daniel back in prison. as actions progress it becomes clear that Daniel did not commit the original crime, but the (now) State Senator is determined to prove him guilty.

the show is WELL worth the viewers time. The story of a young man, wrongly convicted, and his struggle to learn how to live a normal life.

The 'problem' with Darker and Freed is that they are directed by a guy who has no idea how to tell a love story. First Miss, and the most important: These 3 novels are Anastasia Steele's story. They are told by her from her viewpoint. They are first and foremost: A Love Story. Christian Grey is a secondary character.

Fifty Shades struck it out of the park. Sam Taylor-Johnson read the novel and realized it was a love story. The first 44 minutes of the film depict Ana's journey from innocent virgin to the discover of her libido. You can watch those 44 minutes and savor every second for their perfection. Fifty Shades: Darker, in the novel told by Ana continues her journey into Christian's world. Fifty Shades: Darker, in these films the new director decides that, since he's a guy, he will rewrite the story and tell it from Christian's viewpoint: BIG MISTAKE. Everything he does is wrong. Fifty Shades: Freed, in the novel tells Ana's struggle to force Christian to GROW UP. It's a tough assignment but she works hard at it. Christian thinks from a guys point of view that EVERYTHING about SEX should be controlled by the guy. At EVERY turn Ana shows him how wrong he is. Fifty Shades Freed: in the movie, all the parts about Ana are either cut or minimized, It's Christian's way or the highway. Even the final scene where she must defend herself from Jack Hyde's sinister plan, to how she has to keep Christian out of the way, or Hyde will mess his sister Mia up. The movie cuts to Christian chasing after Ana, finding out ALL the nitty gritty of why she's doing this. By the time he gets to the scene it's like he's the Conquering Hero arriving to save the day. Bullcrap. Ana is the Heroine. He's just there to supply the male appendage. NO, NO, NO, NO, These are ANA's storiies. Christian is simply a bystander to her growth in knowlege and love. The director misses the entire point of the novels. The ONLY redeeming value is at the very end, the editor inserts movie clips from 50 Shades which show how the story SHOULD have been told.

Terry Brooks fantastical Shannara series translated to the screen. I've read the entire series and am always looking forward to the next follow-on novel.

I find it exciting to see the written page brought to life with the full excitement that Lights, Camera, Action with costumes and scenic choices bring.

I have no complaint with the story as presented so far. The ONLY complaint I have about Terry's novels is his heroes and heroines. Just when you have fallen in love with them, are cheering them on to new victories over the dark forces, he kills them off, the story progresses another 200 years into the future and you have a new hero/heroine who gets killed off before the end.

VERY FRUSTRATING.

But the Villains - Wow, Terry has a great talent for inventing the oddest, evil, and fearsome creatures from the Dark World. But, then there's always MAGIC to counteract their actions and kill them off as well.

Saw the movie tonight. I was disappointed to say the least. Sam Taylor-Johnson did a MUCH better job with 50 Shades. This is a LOVE story.

For those who have NOT read the novels and/or misunderstood the story here is a correction. This story is NOT ABOUT THE ABUSE OF A WOMAN.

Anastasia Steele is the one in Charge. she is much smarter than Christian Grey from the get-go. ANA makes ALL of the decisions about SEX. It is SHE who controls what Christian does to her. If she says NO, he cannot go further: EXAMPLE: at the end of 50 Shades it is ANA who asks to be shown how rough Christian can get. At any time during the 6 strikes of the belt - she could have used her SAFEWORD: RED.

She choose NOT TO to have a COMPLETE understanding of how bad Christian's actions were.

In that story it is ANA who tells Christian that she wants him. In this story (very poorly re-imagined by the screenwriter) Ana is ALWAYS the one who wants to be ADVENTURSOME.

and this is NOT a tale of BDSM. BONDAGE/DOMINATION/SADOMACHISM

Christian is damaged from his childhood interactions with his mother's PIMP. He takes those same actions himself: hitting with a belt, tied up, etc.

So it is his inner troubled soul seeking LOVE in the ONLY way he has ever know. His mother ignored him and let the pimp beat him; his step mother is a busy doctor and probably had little time for him and showed little love. "Mrs. Robinson" introduced him to his lifestyle by slapping him hard, then f--king him.

He grows up, goes to BDSM clubs around Seattle and picks up girls who are into that thing.

He only uses Bondage (to keep anyone from touching him) and Domination to control the girls whom he f--ks.

The contract (from book 1) specifically excludes ALL of the ROUGH, INHUMANE, AND DISTASTEFUL ACTIONS such as dealing with bodily fluids or other substances, blood, and includes IMMEDIATE CESSATION of actions at the GIRLS request.

Ana is in LOVE with Christian and takes on the immense challenge of bringing Christian to adulthood. (he is stuck in a kind of pubescent sexual lifestyle.)

The movie script is such a BAD version of the novel that at times it becomes humorless and uninteresting. There is NONE of the fierce passion and drama bursting from the screen that is so well written by the author. They should have kept the original director: Sam Taylor-Johnson - she understood the story and brought it faithfully to the screen.

I disagree with the idea that this is a terrible version.

Remember the actors do not always have the freedom to act as they wish. They are hired to act as the DIRECTOR tells them too. So the drama is presented not from the actors viewpoint but the directors'.

but more specifically I wish to point out the turning point scene in the novel. specifically - the fire in Rochester's bedroom.

The point on which the entire novel turns is when Rochester reaches out his hand to touch Jane. She demurs (in the book, AND this version). Rochester explains that even STRANGERS shake hands.

Timidly, Jane takes his hand. That first touch is the magic that awakens Jane's passions. Rochester's attempt to express his feelings is rejected by Jane and she leaves and returns to her room. The next scene shows her in her bed, struggling over the knot in her stomach. She has never known love. Suddenly she realizes that she loves Rochester and he might even love her in return.

But the next morning he has left the estate to visit 'some pretty girls'. She is devastated. She mistook that touch for love. She looks at herself in the mirror. She is plain, and poor. WHY would anyone as rich as Mr. Rochester ever love someone like her.

This is the ONLY version (I've seen them all) that correctly captures that moment. Although the version with Charlotte Gainsboro captures the look in the mirror much better. Emelia Clarke is quite good, and also the most complete version, but I really like Gainsboro best for her face (closest to my vision of Jane) and Morton for her passion.

This is the first truly great adult romance I've seen. I was surprised that even my wife rates this as one of the best shes ever seen, and at age 66 she's seen a LOT of movies.

By adult, I mean you actually have to be an adult to enjoy. My grandson had taken a date to see this movie and was totally embarrassed. my daughter heard about it from him and developed a negative impression, even though she has never seen the actual movie.

The love story is truly one-sided in the first book. Ana falls deeply in love with Christian almost from the first moment they meet, but his childhood traumas cause him to be unable to give or receive love in the normal manner.

However, Ana is a surprise to Christian almost from the first moment he sees her. To fully understand the movie you have to look at the subtle clues. Ana tells you them at the very beginning. She is NO DUMMY. She has a 4.0 average in college. So she not going to be easily hood-winked into a situation that would destroy her.

from the first, it is never Christian in charge, it is always Ana. Just watch as everything Christian says he would never do, or even consider doing seems to fall apart.

He would NEVER sleep in the same bed with a woman, but from their first night - he does with Ana.

He never kisses a woman without a NDA - but he does with Ana.

He never takes a girl in his helicopter - but he does with Ana.

He never has to negotiate the Contract with a SUB - but he does with Ana.

And the business meeting where he is totally in control, Ana ends up running over him like a freight train at the end.

In the end it is his own foolish act that destroys the relationship and leaves both of them totally devastated, and ONLY Christian has to change in order to salvage that which they both will need to survive.

A modern day 'Pride and Prejudice' story which, when viewed through the lens of understanding, blazes off the screen and takes you along on a fantastic roller coaster ride.

Hats off to the author and director, and the bravery of two young artists to pull this off.

From the moment this show opens until the final curtain the South African cast presents an exciting array of performers, costumes and songs that can be watched time and again. Originally broadcast on PBS the numbers loose none of their attraction after many viewings. Filmed during a live performance the interaction between the audience and performers is well done.

From the moment this show opens until the final curtain the South African cast presents an exciting array of performers, costumes and songs that can be watched time and again. Originally broadcast on PBS the numbers loose none of their attraction after many viewings. Filmed during a live performance the interaction between the audience and performers is well done.

I agree with the above that this is not the original. But it is a well made and well acted sequel. There are many fine parts to this story that deserve comment. Not the least of these are the fine performances put in by Louis Gossett, jr, Nia Peeples and Reese Witherspoon. Barbara Hershey is outstanding as the former and now disappointed love of Gus McCall from the original. The fire at her homestead stands out in my mind as an exceptional piece of drama - well staged and filmed. Rick Schroder brings real talent to his performance as Capt'n Call's unacknowled son. Jon Voight brings drive and at times a bit more life to the part of Capt'n Call than Tommy Lee Jones. His performance in the 'flight of arrows' chapter is outstanding.

Well worth the viewing.

Alex Haley's grandmother Queen's life portrayed in a grand production. Halle Berry brings to life all of the pains and sorrows of a life of grand adventure and deep dispair.

No expense or detail is spared in this spellbinding tale of life as it used to be in the deep south.

I enjoyed this production even though it is a bit avant-guarde. The stark settings are in clear contrast to the strong emotions being presented. The overall cast is very strong and well sung. Rene Kollo is in excellent voice throughout as well as Jan-Hendrik Rootering. The Chorus and Orchestra of Bayerische Staatsoper led by Zubin Mehta is outstanding.