Took a chance..

[irishgrl]

Has anyone ever bought a movie or CD that they knew nothing about and been pleasantly surprised?

I mentioned on that "Song by an Indian Woman" thread that I purchased the Anggun CD on a whim and was pleasantly surprised by the overall listenability of it....

Same thing happened the other day with a DVD I bought, I was intrigued by the cover about a Black woman who faces a choice between two men, one black and one white. Now before you all roll your collective eyes at once and shake the foundations of the Universe, I want to say that I LOVED this movie!

I dont think I could do it justice the way Roger Ebert does so I'll post his review: (but not the spoiler part!!)

Something New

BY ROGER EBERT / February 3, 2006



Cast & Credits
Kenya McQueen: Sanaa Lathan
Brian Kelly: Simon Baker
Walter: Mike Epps
Nelson McQueen: Donald Faison
Joyce: Alfre Woodard
Mark Harper: Blair Underwood
Suzette: Golden Brooks
Cheryl: Wendy Raquel Robinson
Neda: Taraji P. Henson
Edmond McQueen: Earl Billings

"Something New" opens with cotton-candy titles, arrives in time for Valentine's Day, and is billed as a romantic comedy. OK, it is a romantic comedy, technically, but the romance and the comedy don't arrive easily, and along the way the movie truly is something new: A touching story about a black professional woman facing problems in the workplace and the marriage market. I found myself unexpectedly moved.

Sanaa Lathan stars as Kenya, a Los Angeles accountant who is a workaholic. She's pretty, but the movie doesn't rest on that; Lathan makes Kenya wary, protective, cautious. It's a performance that could have skated the surface but goes more deeply. She's fiercely driven, a child of ambitious parents, a graduate of top schools, a candidate to became a partner in her firm. She doesn't date. She doesn't do much of anything except work, although recently she bought a new house.

That's how she meets Brian Kelly (Simon Baker), who is single, attracted to her, and a landscape architect. And white. They're fixed up on a blind date, but she makes awkward apologies and leaves. She doesn't date white guys. She doesn't seem to date black guys either, but she would in theory, if the IBM (Ideal Black Man) came along. She does hire Brian to landscape her backyard....

here's a teaser:
Something New teaser

Yes, its a chick flick but its heartwarming and cute and funny and well done and well, Im just hoping others will be interested enuff to take a chance~

PS: I dont know how that poor woman could choose, BOTH of those men were drop dead gorgeous (lucky lady )

[DrummerDeanna]

I have bought a couple of movies knowing nothing about them but then being pleasantly surprised.

Live Nude Girls comes to mind - it's a good indie chick flick starring Kim Cattrall and Dana Delaney. I adore it.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I have bought a couple of movies knowing nothing about them but then being pleasantly surprised.

Live Nude Girls comes to mind - it's a good indie chick flick starring Kim Cattrall and Dana Delaney. I adore it.

that DOES sound good!

Honestly tho, pick up Something New, you wont be sorry. I still get teary eyed and Ive seen it about 5 times in 3 days!

did you peek at the trailer? Man, I'd love me some Simon Baker, that man is a HOTTIE! (so is Blair Underwood for that matter )

[estranged4life]

I take chances all the time on buying discs by artists who I know little about, and most of the time I find myself with a new musical act/artist to listen to (ie UK's "DragonForce", the United Nation of 'power metal').

Plus, it doesnt hurt when a label like CenturyMedia has discs for sale for $8 (including shipping) of newer artists.

So yeah, I am usually 'pleasantly surprised'.

[BTFLCHLD]

I rented an excellent film...which I know I never would have as I do not much care for jennifer love hewitt but there was really nothing else on the shelves and I "took a chance." I really loved it...so sweet.




Jennifer Love Hewitt
Paul Nicholls
Tom Wilkinson
Michael Tucker
Lucy Davenport
Diana Hardcastle

Synopsis

A lonely singer/songwriter and the man of her dreams take a second shot at love after fate intervenes into their romance in a tearful tale of destiny starring Jennifer Love Hewitt and Paul Nicholls. Samantha Andrews (Hewitt) was studying classical music in London when she first met Ian Wyndham (Nicholls), and the moment they locked eyes both new that it was love at first sight. Their storybook romance takes a turn for the tragic, however, when Samantha dies in a horrific accident shortly after the pair have their first major argument. Stricken by inconsolable grief and touched by the forgiving hand of merciful fate, Ian now has one chance to take it all back and relive that fateful days before he truly loses the love of his life once and for all.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

I rented an excellent film...which I know I never would have as I do not much care for jennifer love hewitt but there was really nothing else on the shelves and I "took a chance." I really loved it...so sweet.




Jennifer Love Hewitt
Paul Nicholls
Tom Wilkinson
Michael Tucker
Lucy Davenport
Diana Hardcastle

Synopsis

A lonely singer/songwriter and the man of her dreams take a second shot at love after fate intervenes into their romance in a tearful tale of destiny starring Jennifer Love Hewitt and Paul Nicholls. Samantha Andrews (Hewitt) was studying classical music in London when she first met Ian Wyndham (Nicholls), and the moment they locked eyes both new that it was love at first sight. Their storybook romance takes a turn for the tragic, however, when Samantha dies in a horrific accident shortly after the pair have their first major argument. Stricken by inconsolable grief and touched by the forgiving hand of merciful fate, Ian now has one chance to take it all back and relive that fateful days before he truly loses the love of his life once and for all.

I really love those romance movies

[BTFLCHLD]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

I really love those romance movies

It was quite touching...and I even weeped a little RENTIT!

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

It was quite touching...and I even weeped a little RENTIT!

tell ya what, I'll rent yours if you'll rent MINE!

[BTFLCHLD]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

tell ya what, I'll rent yours if you'll rent MINE!

OK...it is on my queue with a "short wait." I will let you know what I think!

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

OK...it is on my queue with a "short wait." I will let you know what I think!

woo hoo! take a peak at the trailer link I posted, it'll whet yer appetite

[eclipse]

I picked up this rental movie
"When Human Voices Wake Us"....excellent flick, ...I still think about it.
It is a haunting and well done movie from Australia
Check it out if you have the opportunity

[irishgrl]

Thanks for the tip

[Miss Vicky]

I can't say that I ever really take chances in my movie buying. With over 400 discs in my collection and barely enough space to store them all, I try to be very selective.

However, a coworker of mine has been very insistant on me borrowing some of her movies. I just watched one the other day, Everything is Illuminated, that I would never have chosen on my own.



It's about a young American Jew, played by Elijah Wood, who travels to the Ukraine in search of the woman who helped to save his grandfather from the Nazis. He ends up hiring a young man and the man's grandfather as his guide and translator and eventually finds that the three of them and the story of his own grandfather are all deeply connected.

It's actually a very funny movie that is also very warm and touching. But the emphasis seems to be on humor, which is a very welcome thing considering the subject matter.

Here's a quote from the movie (spoken by Alex, the translator.)

"This is Sammy Davis Jr. Jr... She is Grandfather's Seeing Eye bitch. Father purchased her for him not because he believes Grandfather is blind, but because a Seeing Eye bitch is also a good thing for people who pine for the opposite of loneliness. In truth, Father did not purchase her at all, but merely retrieved her from the home for forgetful dogs. Because of this, she is not a real Seeing Eye bitch, and is also mentally deranged."

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky

I can't say that I ever really take chances in my movie buying. With over 400 discs in my collection and barely enough space to store them all, I try to be very selective.

However, a coworker of mine has been very insistant on me borrowing some of her movies. I just watched one the other day, Everything is Illuminated, that I would never have chosen on my own.



It's about a young American Jew, played by Elijah Wood, who travels to the Ukraine in search of the woman who helped to save his grandfather from the Nazis. He ends up hiring a young man and the man's grandfather as his guide and translator and eventually finds that the three of them and the story of his own grandfather are all deeply connected.

It's actually a very funny movie that is also very warm and touching. But the emphasis seems to be on humor, which is a very welcome thing considering the subject matter.

Here's a quote from the movie (spoken by Alex, the translator.)

"This is Sammy Davis Jr. Jr... She is Grandfather's Seeing Eye bitch. Father purchased her for him not because he believes Grandfather is blind, but because a Seeing Eye bitch is also a good thing for people who pine for the opposite of loneliness. In truth, Father did not purchase her at all, but merely retrieved her from the home for forgetful dogs. Because of this, she is not a real Seeing Eye bitch, and is also mentally deranged."

I saw that in my Movie booklet, I wondered about that movie