# Help me with some movie programming, please **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [December 4, 2023, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118 "2023-12-04T23:48:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/21 "2023-12-05T09:04:48Z")
The BBC did a “Hollow Crown” series of Shakespeare’s History plays which is pretty good. Best is probably Henry IV pt I with Tom Hiddlestone as Prince Hal and Simon Russell Beale as Falstaff. Cumberbatch as Richard III is pretty good; others suffer a little from the stage to screen adaptation. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/22 "2023-12-05T11:10:55Z")
For funny horror: **Phycho Goreman** is one of my favorites. It’s like Power Rangers with a dark twist. Also just watched Drag Me To Hell. Pretty damn funny too. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/23 "2023-12-05T12:38:30Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > Also…feel free to curate your own months. This is an awesome idea, I’m jealous. I would do a Paul Newman month: - The Sting - Cool Hand Luke - The Hustler - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - The Verdict\* \*do Newman in a month with 5 Wednesdays 🙂 mmm ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/24 "2023-12-05T12:49:09Z")
For Shakespeare, I’d go with _Henry V_, either the Oliver or Branaugh version (or possibly both to contrast them). ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/25 "2023-12-05T12:52:52Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I would do a Paul Newman month: > > - The Sting > - Cool Hand Luke > - The Hustler > - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid > - The Verdict\* > > \*do Newman in a month with 5 Wednesdays 🙂 > > mmm I already have a Paul Newman month that tracks with yours, except that I went with: - The Hustler - The Color of Money - The Verdict - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Because that leads directly into Robert Redford month with: - The Sting - All the President’s Men - Three Days of the Condor - Spy Game Because _that_ leads into Brad Pitt month (my wife is a Brad Pitt fan) with: - A River Runs Through It - Oceans 11 - Moneyball - Legends of the Fall But, you’re right. I should pick a month with five Wednesdays for Paul Newman month. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/26 "2023-12-05T12:54:05Z")
Thanks @Stranger_On_A_Train - I’ll sub in the Tennant/Stewart production for “Hamlet.” That sounds excellent. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/27 "2023-12-05T12:56:20Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > > [@carlb](#): > > > > For “monster movies,” maybe “Arachnaphobia?” > > It’s perfect. This was exactly what I was going to suggest. > > My 13-year-old daughter has developed a taste for horror movies. I’ve been slowly introducing her to more intense stuff, and _Arachnophobia_ was an excellent gateway movie for her. Effectively scary (but not too much), no real gore (except for bug guts when the spiders get squished), good sense of humor throughout. Thanks for confirming this. In my mind, I draw a distinction between “monster movies” and “horror movies,” although obviously there’s overlap. Horror is a tougher sell to my wife than I think some of the goofier monster movies would be. I’ll throw “Arachnophobia” on the list. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/28 "2023-12-05T12:57:31Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > > [@carlb](#): > > > > For the fourth slot, I was thinking about “Scotland, PA,” but thought maybe a comedy would be better. Maybe “10 Things I Hate About You?” Other thoughts? > > The 1999 _Midsummer Night’s Dream_ with Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Stanley Tucci etc was quite good. Ooh…that looks like an excellent candidate. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/29 "2023-12-05T12:59:17Z")
It has an interesting take on Bottom - as an object of pity, rather than a self-confident buffoon. I thought it changed the entire tenor of the “rude mechanicals”. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/30 "2023-12-05T13:06:34Z")
Oh - I could also use opinions on a double feature or two. I’m thinking the occasional Saturday will be double-feature day. I was going to pair _Apollo 13_ with _The Martian._ Stuff goes wrong in space, we’ve got to get our men/man back home through science and engineering. But then I was thinking I’d rather do _The Right Stuff_ paired with _Apollo 13_. So, if I went that route, what would you pair with _The Martian_? Or, leave the original pairing as-is, because _The Right Stuff_ is long enough as it is, and maybe best shown by itself? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/31 "2023-12-05T13:08:48Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > Comedic Monster Movies” What - no “Attack of The Killer Tomatoes” or “Killer Klowns From Outer Space”? The latter is definitely the better film but both are cult classics. > [@MrDibble](#): > > The 1999 _Midsummer Night’s Dream_ with Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Stanley Tucci etc was quite good. I would disagree in a big way - Tucci gives the only decent performance in the thing IMHO. I prefer the 2016 television version of _Midsummer Night’s Dream_ even withstanding the severe liberties Russell T Davies took with his adaptation; the cast are uniformly stellar and it’s a lot of fun. > [@Stanislaus](#): > > The BBC did a “Hollow Crown” series of Shakespeare’s History plays which is pretty good. Best is probably Henry IV pt I with Tom Hiddlestone as Prince Hal and Simon Russell Beale as Falstaff. Cumberbatch as Richard III is pretty good; others suffer a little from the stage to screen adaptation. Definitely recommended. > [@carlb](#): > > Thanks @Stranger_On_A_Train - I’ll sub in the Tennant/Stewart production for “Hamlet.” That sounds excellent. Also highly recommended (although I found the actor playing Horatio underwhelming). Tennant is a very good Hamlet indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/32 "2023-12-05T13:18:53Z")
Another thought – transition from All the President’s Men into Dustin Hoffman month: - Marathon Man (or Kramer vs Kramer) - Tootsie - The Graduate - Rain Man mmm ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/33 "2023-12-05T13:26:05Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > For Shakespeare, I’d go with _Henry V_, either the Oliver or Branaugh version (or possibly both to contrast them). Olivier’s King Lear is top-notch. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/34 "2023-12-05T13:38:00Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > - A River Runs Through It > - Oceans 11 > - Moneyball > - Legends of the Fall Wow, a Brad Pitt month with neither Fight Club OR Twelve Monkeys (or even Snatch), I would personally only rate Moneyball as watchable of those three. But if anything the dope has taught me is that everyone has every opinion… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/35 "2023-12-05T13:40:06Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > What - no “Attack of The Killer Tomatoes” Return of the Killer Tomatoes is by far the best of those movies (including a very young George Clooney), Attack is barely watchable. Though, I suppose if explicit bad, vs spoof of bad is your milestone, then Attack works for that. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/36 "2023-12-05T13:41:18Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > I draw a distinction between “monster movies” and “horror movies,” although obviously there’s overlap. Oh, I agree. As I’ve been introducing my kids to “scary movies,” I’ve been describing the sub-categories, like “haunted house” and such. One of those sub-categories is “creature feature.” For example, I showed them the original “The Thing” from the 1940s. They were skeptical for the first few minutes, but then they got into it. Next up, I think, will be either “Them!” or “Beast from 20,000 Fathoms.” ---
**Author:** ![PetroDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/278dde/32.png) [@PetroDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetroDude)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/37 "2023-12-05T13:42:28Z")
Instead of just a Shakespeare month, you could do a full month of Hamlet. Do the Olivier, Tenant, and Branagh versions and then end the month with something a bit different and do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/38 "2023-12-05T13:47:13Z")
For that matter, _The Lion King_ is loosely based on Hamlet, as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/39 "2023-12-05T13:59:49Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > t has an interesting take on Bottom - as an object of pity, rather than a self-confident buffoon I’d say that’s the take in about half the _MND_s I’ve seen, and I see it whenever I can. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2023, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118/40 "2023-12-05T14:11:20Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > So, if I went that route, what would you pair with _The Martian_? _Gravity_? The Bullock/Clooney film. Definitely “Stuff goes wrong in space, and we have to get our [wo]man home using engineering” or at least, she has to get herself home. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-some-movie-programming-please/994118.md?page=3)