and the person with the quizzical brow?

Average rating: 8. This is a very good bunch.

From Russia with Love (1963) - "Agent 007 (Sean Connery) is back in the second installment of the James Bond series, this time battling a secret crime organization known as SPECTRE. Russians Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) and Kronsteen are out to snatch a decoding device known as the Lektor, using the ravishing Tatiana (Daniela Bianchi) to lure Bond into helping them. Bond willingly travels to meet Tatiana in Istanbul, where he must rely on his wits to escape with his life in a series of deadly encounters with the enemy."
length: 1 hour, 55 minutes

source: streamed
I watched it because: I still have a sort of fantasy that I will watch all the 007s, in order (also reviewed here)
IMDB: 7.3/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 97% Audience: 84%
my IMDB: 6/10

MPAA rating: PG

notable quote: "'You're one of the most beautiful girls I've ever seen.'

    'Thank you, but I think my mouth is too big.'

    'No, it's the right size... for me, that is.'"

directed by: Terence Young

my notes: I like the kitty.

overall: mildly recommended

 

3-Iron (2004) - "Tae-suk (Jae-hee) is a lonely drifter who spends his nights in one empty vacation home after another. However, Tae-suk is not your usual squatter, as the courteous young man always makes sure to show his absent—and unknowing—hosts his gratitude by doing small household tasks or making simple improvements before moving on. One day, Tae-suk mistakes a quiet home for an empty one and stumbles across an abused housewife (Seung-Yun Lee) in urgent need of his intervention."
length: 1 hour, 28 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: it's such a good movie and I haven't seen it in too long
IMDB: 7.9/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 87% Audience: 94%
my IMDB: 9/10

MPAA rating: R

notable quote: "Don't smile."

directed by: Kim Ki-Duk

my notes: so different from most movies! First, neither protagonist speaks through the first 85 or so minutes of the film, and one never speaks at all. 

    Can you imagine a modern movie that relies on expression, body actions, and words unsaid? A film that conveys emotions and decisions, preferences and personality, all without opening that mouth? Imagine how much the tiny start of a smile, just a brief twitch of the lips, can mean. 

   Just try to imagine.

overall: strongly recommended

Last Holiday (2006) - "The discovery that she has a terminal illness prompts introverted saleswoman Georgia Byrd to reflect on what she realizes has been an overly cautious life. So Georgia withdraws her life savings and jets off to Europe where she lives like a millionaire. Upbeat and passionate, Georgia charms everybody she meets, including renowned Chef Didier. The only one missing from her new life is her longtime crush Sean Matthews."
length: 1 hour, 52 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: I had a really shitty day and wanted to experience something uniquely and

uniformly positive (previously reviewed here)
IMDB: 6.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 56% Audience: 67%
my IMDB: 8.0/10

MPAA rating: PG-13

notable quote: "You wait and you wait for somethin' big to happen... and then you find out you gon' die."

directed by: Wayne Wang

my notes: a quiet, sweet, nice movie with no explosions, very few swears, and some incredible scenery. Queen Latifah (Georgia) is charming, and has a marvelous smile. Gérard Depardieu (Didier) is wonderful, endearing, and so weirdly sexy. My favorite, though, is Petr Vanek as the goofy, irreverent Felipe, who works in the Hotel Pupp.

overall: happily recommended

Pride & Prejudice (2005) - "In this adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel, Elizabeth Bennet lives with her mother, father and sisters in the English countryside. As the eldest, she faces mounting pressure from her parents to marry. When the outspoken Elizabeth is introduced to the handsome and upper-class Mr. Darcy, sparks fly. Although there is obvious chemistry between the two, Darcy's overly reserved nature and Lizzie's stubbornness threaten the fledgling relationship."
length: 2 hours, 9 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: sometimes happiness springs upon you, and sometimes you need to seek it out (previously reviewed here)
IMDB: 7.8/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 87% Audience: 89%
my IMDB: 9/10

MPAA rating: PG

notable quote: "'If he cannot perceive her regard, he is a fool.'

    'We are all fools in love.'"

directed by: Joe Wright

my notes:  I admired film critic Roger Ebert, standing out from his peers by expressing sometimes-unpopular opinions and writing so beautifully. His perspective on this movie matches my own. "Anyone who will sacrifice their own happiness for higher considerations deserves to be happy. When [Lizzie and Darcy] realize that about each other their hearts leap, and, reader, so did mine."

Academy Award nominee:
• Best Actress—Keira Knightley

• Best Art Direction—Sarah Greenwood (art director), Katie Spencer (set decorator)

• Best Costume Design—Jacqueline Durran

• Best Music, Original score—Dario Marianelli
overall: highly recommended

 

[the title quotation is from Pride & Prejudice]