pippin06
Posts 578
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10/20/2006 11:45 AM
posted awhile ago
Why?
Hello all.
I don't know how people feel about this little group I've started. I've watched groups of different geographical and national origins sprout up on Spout and was looking at a few profiles and decided that I really wanted to express my appreciation for films from "across the pond." A great many British films are introduced through Hollywood distribution companies, and a great many are not. Yet, British films are unique because, despite some views I've heard, British culture is separate from American culture. Just ask Terry Gilliam and Madonna...
So, why am I interested and starting this group? One side of my family is English, the other side has some Scottish and Irish, and I've always theorized that I am genetically prone to appreciating things from the UK. All of my pop culture favorites have roots from over there. I love the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, U2 (I know they're Irish, but I'm making a point), and the Who; Lewis, Carroll, Tolkien, and Rowling (yes, she can be included in that company); Bridget Jones, Monty Python, and Mr. Bean; Shakespeare, Bronte, Austen, and so many others; I watch BBC America and enjoy it, and so on. I've even traveled to England and can't wait to get back and see more, and include Scotland, Wales, and Ireland in the process. And how do I get my fixes for some of this stuff? Watching films!
If you're like me, whether you are a proud person living in the UK or a Yank yearning for the culture, or abroad with a similar yen, please request membership. Or, at least say hello.
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paul
Posts 251
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10/25/2006 1:34 PM
posted awhile ago
Re: Why?
Let's face it. We may have won the Revolution, but our mean old mother country has got us licked on culture wars. They're funnier, they rocked our rock n' roll, they're cities are well planned and they're more fashionable. Throw Tom Hanks in the ring with Anthony Hopkins and we all know who'll win. Not to mention, they always one up our grasp of the English lanuage.
A lot of people complain about the globalization of American entertainment. So what does it mean if the globalizing offender has a 200 year old inferiority complex because we don't measure up to our ultra-cool mom? Shouldn't she share some of the blame for homogenizing entertainment?
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virgo73
Posts 5
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3/14/2007 7:38 PM
posted awhile ago
Re: Hello
I am an born and bred English lass! I am very proud to read your compliments and I thank you. Was wondering if you have ever seen ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES? Now thats funny and the real english. Would love to chat and tell you about the REAL ENGLAND you never see in the movies.
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paul
Posts 251
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4/2/2007 4:14 PM
posted awhile ago
Re: Hello
Virgo,
I've never seen Only Fools and Horses and would love to hear about the "REAL ENGLAND." Where would you like to begin?
Also, please use the word "whilst" liberally.
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pippin06
Posts 578
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4/3/2007 7:52 AM
posted awhile ago
Re: Hello
Hee hee. I would also love to hear about the Real England, though I may not be surprised by it. Still, please tell us because I love stories. As for whilst, I say let's make it our word for the day. That way everyone can use it because it really is just fun to say. I personally don't know how we all got so improper in our speech whilst others did not.
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QFLW
Posts 51
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4/9/2007 10:48 AM
posted awhile ago
Re: Hello
Haven't ever seen Only Fools and Horses but have heard of it. One of the funniest British TV shows I have seen was Still Game. Is that still on? Have loved the times I've visited the UK--would live over there if I could. :-)
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indieabby88
Posts 327
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6/24/2007 7:00 PM
posted awhile ago
Re: Why?
I've been obsessed with British culture since I was a little kid. I was raised on a healthy diet of Monty Python, "Masterpiece Theater" and "Mystery!" from the tender age of six. A two-week trip to the country when I was 11 made that obsession all the more solid. I got to see Queen Elizabeth coming out of a church in York. There was a huge crowd. I was ecstatic.
As far as British TV, I've been having to gather what I can from various places. We had BBC America on our TV for two glorious months, which was enough for me to get into "Life on Mars," "Black Books" and "Spaced." A blog tip made me start watching "The Mighty Boosh" which in turn got me watching "Darkplace," "The I.T. Crowd," "Snuffbox," "The Day Today" and "Jam." Thank God for YouTube. Oh, and of course Doctor Who on SciFi.
Favorite authors include Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams and Neil Gaiman. Favorite bands include the Beatles, The Who, The Arctic Monkeys, T. Rex and the Libertines.
That's basically me in a nutshell. It's sort of sad, really = s
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minerwerks
Posts 21
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7/26/2007 1:40 AM
posted awhile ago
Re: Why?
Well, thank you for starting the group! I started on my love of entertainment exported from Britain at a young age. I got hooked on the Beatles at age 4. Then it was Douglas Adams, Monty Python and so on... There's something special about most things I see coming across the pond - a sense that some care and intelligence went into the product. I usually cite the film 'Virtual Sexuality' as a good example. The premise involves a young woman who, through a freak accident, transforms into her ideal man. I was pleasantly surprised that the film was smart and charming and not lascivious. If someone tried this idea here, it would proably become some raunchy, tasteless comedy. Incidentally, 'Hot Fuzz' is the best movie I've seen this year!
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El_Aaron
Posts 58
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10/23/2007 6:41 AM
posted awhile ago
Paul
Hi Paul! I read your post and will talk to you because I am British! Firstly, you must see if you can get a hold of the Only Fools and Horses series because they're really funny and hilarious! Secondly, don't think that we Brits are posh, and all drink tea, and have butlers and mansion. We have quite a lot of crime, we swear, we drink a heck of a lot of beer, we don't speak posh, and most of us are just the regular suburban families. It's a great country for tourism, vacations (in summer), and for learning about film, but we don't behave like that loveable butler who offers you tea and cakes and biscuits and speaks in a posh accent.
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joem18b
Posts 689
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10/25/2007 1:42 PM
posted awhile ago
Re:Paul
Speaking of the UK: I listen to the Filmspotting and FilmCouch podcasts every week, but for a somewhat different vibe, there is Movies You Should See, a weekly podcast from Manchester. I mention it in case you haven't heard of it (it's on iTunes, just like the others, or at least it was when I subscribed). Three or four or five twenty-somethings get together in grandma's living room and talk about a movie. Accents! The one young woman on the podcast is out for a while because her mother is ill.
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