U3A Benalla and District Inc.
  • Home
  • Benalla
    • Benalla
    • Benalla District
    • Who, What and Where? - Benalla Rural City
  • About
    • Our U3A
    • President's Page
    • Executive Committee
    • Convenors >
      • Convenors
      • Convenors A - Z 2022
    • Program Suggestions
    • Newsletter
    • Website
  • Groups
    • Groups A - Z
    • Recent Groups >
      • Armchair History
      • German - Beginners
      • Meditation
      • Russian Literature
      • Hot Topics/The News - Fact or Fiction?
    • Archived Groups >
      • A - M >
        • A Different View Of German History
        • Armchair Traveller
        • Booker Reading Group
        • Bushwalking - Mid-week Walks
        • Comparative Religion
        • Facebook for Mentors
        • Google Apps/TS Plus
        • History - An Introduction to Western Civilization
        • History - Moments in Australian History
        • Investment I (1996 -2015)
        • Legal Matters (Short Course)
        • Making the Most of the Internet
      • O - Z >
        • On Target - Learning to Shop Online
        • Opera
        • 'Over There'
        • Rail and Tourism
        • Tech Savvy Apple Devices - Intermediate
        • Tech Savvy Community Projects
        • Travel Group
        • Zoom Short Course
  • A-Col
    • A - COL
    • 'A Taste of Art'
    • Art Appreciation
    • Australian History
    • 'As Time Goes By' >
      • Home
      • Our Stories - by topic
    • 'Be Connected'
    • Birdwatching
    • Brain Games
    • Bushwalking - Easy Walks
    • Cards '500'
    • Chat n' Chew
    • Coin Collectors
    • Collectors
  • Col-G
    • COM - G
    • Community Singing
    • Creative Writing
    • Demystifying Psychology
    • Enjoying the Internet
    • Exercises for Fun
    • Exploring the Universe
    • Family Research - Advanced >
      • Home
      • Family Stories
    • Family Research - Beginners
    • Film Discussion Group
    • Garden Appreciation
    • Garden Team
    • German >
      • Home
      • Lessons
  • I - R
    • I - R
    • 'In the Lap of the Gods'
    • Investment
    • Jane Austen Book Club
    • Let's Talk Books
    • Lifeball
    • Meet and Mingle
    • Music Appreciation
    • Page Turners
    • Patchwork and Craft
    • Photography
    • Play Reading
    • Politics & Current Affairs
    • Recorder Group
  • S - Z
    • S -Z
    • Singing for Fun
    • Sky's the Limit
    • Stock and Land
    • Sustainability
    • Tech Advice
    • Tech Savvy Apple - 'Pages'
    • Tech Savvy Beginners - Android
    • Tech Talks
    • Ukes4Fun
    • Wine Appreciation
    • Wise Guys Book Group
  • Join
    • Join Us
    • Membership Application/Renewal Form
    • Program Guide 2023
    • Timetable - Month Overview
    • Full Timetable with Dates
    • New Courses 2023
    • Venues and Maps
  • News
    • News - General
    • February Newsletter
    • Calendar 2022
    • Monthly Calendar
    • Website & Facebook
  • FB
  • Gallery
    • Gallery 2022
    • Gallery 2021
    • Gallery 2020
    • Gallery 2019
    • Gallery 2018
    • Gallery 2017
    • Gallery 2016 >
      • + Christmas Lunch 2016
    • Gallery 2015 >
      • Christmas Lunch 2015
    • Gallery 2014
    • Lifeball Video
  • Links
    • Resources and References
    • U3A Network Victoria
    • Seniors Online Victoria
    • U3A Albury Wodonga
    • U3A Beechworth (Indigo U3A)
    • U3A Bright
    • U3A Wangaratta
    • U3A Goulburn Valley
  • Contact

September 30th, 2020

30/9/2020

0 Comments

 
We watched another wide range of films during September.  I have included the ratings that members of the group have given for the films.  Of course, different people enjoy different genres and actors, so I expect many may not agree with the ratings.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994): Set in a male prison, run by a corrupt warden, sadistic guards and some predatory inmates.  Rated as 4/5.
Bed Among the Lentils: an Alan Bennett monologue starring the incomparable Maggie Smith.  Rated as 4+/5
Still Alice (2014): The story of a highly intelligent university lecturer’s descent into Alzheimer's Disease and the impacts it had on her family.  Rated as 2/5. 
Foyle’s War (Series 1, episode 3, 2002): An episode of the series set during WWII, involving Detective Chief Inspector Foyle, aided by his Sergeant, Paul Milner, and his driver, Samantha Stewart.
Carrie (1952): A melodrama from the 1950s starring Laurence Olivier and Jennifer Jones.  A bit of nostalgia with plenty of twists and turns.  Rated as 3/5.
Three Pines (2013): Based on a book, Gamache and his loyal inspector Jean-Guy Beauvoir investigate the murder of a much-loved retired schoolteacher.  Rated as 3/5.
Stan and Ollie (2018): a fictionalised biography of the comedy partnership of Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy which started in 1927.  Rated as 2+/5.
Colossal (2017): It is a sci-fi fantasy about Gloria (Anne Hathaway) who moves back to her hometown after a relationship breakdown/job loss. 
The One and Only Ivan (2020): An animated film based on best-selling author Katherine Applegate's award-winning 2013 book about Ivan, the headline act at a mall-based circus run by ringmaster Mack.  Rated as 4/5

We are continuing with this approach for the class as the group is enjoying the variety of films and comments.  We would welcome anyone who wishes to participate by sharing thoughts about films they have watched and interested in hearing comments about films others have watched.  You can send me a message on jshirley@internode.on.net.  Contributions are due by 14 October for our next “class”.
​
Joy Shirley
0 Comments

'We welcome reviews of films of your choice...'

1/9/2020

0 Comments

 
​We have continued watching a film of our own choice, sharing our thoughts with the class via email.  The films watched for August were:​

The Bookshop, 2017:   Based on the book of the same name, rated as 4/5.  It had some haunting background songs and beautiful photography of the quaint seaside town and surrounds and good performances.

The King’s Speech, 2010: A biographical historical drama, telling the story of King George VI, his impromptu ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.  Rated as 4+/5, winning a number of academy awards.

The Piano, 1993: In the mid-19th century, a mute woman is sent to New Zealand along with her young daughter and prized piano for an arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner.  Another 4+/5 film, winning academy awards.

Midnight in Paris, 2011:  Classed as a fantasy/comedy/drama, Owen Wilson stars as an aspiring writer, Gil Pender, who arrives in Paris with his fiancée, Inez, played by Rachel Adams and plans to finish his debut novel.  This was rated as 3/5, an entertaining and feel good film.

The Children Act, 2017: A drama starring Emma Thompson as a judge (Fiona), married to Jack, a university lecturer (played by Stanley Tucci).  This film is based on the book of the same name by Ian McEwan, telling of a court ruling intervening to force a blood transfusion for an 18-yearold against his parent’s religious stand.  It was rated as 3/5.

Stan and Ollie, 2018:  A biographical comedy-drama film based on the later years of the lives of the comedy double act Laurel and Hardy.  The film strays from the truth a bit, but the result is a film that portrays the era well and was rated as 3/5.

Mary, Queen of Scots, 2018:  This told of the relationship between Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I.  This was intriguing as a period drama and the costumes were beautiful.  All actors were wonderful & I give it a 4+/5

War of the Worlds (TV series), 2019:  The new series on SBS. WAR OF THE WORLDS.  Rated M15+.  Some scenes are subtitled.  There are 8 episodes, with filming in England, Belgium and France.  This is still screening on SBS and available on SBS OnDemand.

The Last Song, 2010: The parents of Ronnie and Jonah are divorced, and the children have not seen their father for quite some time.  The story tells of the developing relationships between the children and their father when they are forced to spend time with him.  It was rated as 3+/5

The class members continue to enjoy the process and we will continue with this approach until we are able to resume our usual class sessions.  We would welcome anyone who wishes to participate by sharing thoughts about films they have watched and are interested in hearing comments about films others have watched.  You can send me a message on jshirley@internode.on.net and I will share your thoughts with the class.  Our next “class” is scheduled for 9 September and comments are due around that date.

Joy Shirley
0 Comments

    About our Film Discussion Group

    Do you enjoy watching films?  Do you find discussing films adds to your enjoyment?   Do you find that you can better understand a movie by hearing and sharing thoughts about the film?  We certainly do.  At our Film Discussion  classes we discuss a film we have watched during the month. In 2023:
    • We will select a film screening at BPACC
    • Participants will attend the film at a time that works with their individual commitments
    • We will meet in the Library on the 2nd Wednesday at 2 pm to discuss the film
    If a participant cannot attend a specific film, they can come along to learn about the film, or add to the discussion by talking about another film they have seen.

    BPACC sell books of ten tickets for $100.00 (Meaning the films only cost $10 each) or I will have individual tickets available for $10 from a book prepurchased.  ​

    Convenor 

    Picture
    Joy Shirley 0417065351​

    Meeting times

    2nd Wednesday
    2 pm to 3.30 pm
    Benalla Library 

    Guide

    The things we will watch for in viewing the film include:

    Did you enjoy the film?  What in particular did you like?
    Was there anything that you did not like?
    What did you think about the cinematography?
    What did you think of the performances?  Any strong performances that stand out? Any weak performances that spoilt the film?
    Overall rating out of 5.

    Films over time:

    All
    A Call To Spy
    'Buckley's Chance'
    COVID 19 Virus
    Cruella
    'Death On The Nile'
    'Downton Abbey - A New Era'
    'Dream Horse'
    'Falling For Figaro'
    'From The Vine'
    'Good Luck To You
    'House Of Gucci'
    June Again
    'King Richard'
    Leo Grande'
    'Marry Me'
    'Mothering Sunday'
    'No Time To Die'
    'Off The Rails'
    'Operation Mincemeat'
    Penguin Bloom
    'Please Murder Me'
    'Rams'
    'Six Minutes To Midnight'
    'Spencer'
    'The Dry'
    'The Duke'
    'The Father'
    'The Last Duel'
    'The Railway Children'
    'Ticket To Paradise'
    'To Olivia'
    'Where The Crawdads Sing'

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay our respects to their elders - past, present and emerging.
Picture
News
​Newsletter
Facebook Page
​
Program Suggestions
​CO-VID Safety

U3A Benalla & District Flier 2023
​Membership Application/Renewal Form 
​
Program Guide 2023
Semester 1 Timetable with Dates 2023
Semester 1 Timetable Month Overview 2023
Developed and maintained by members, this website showcases U3A Benalla & District. 
​Photographs - U3A members; Benalla Art Gallery website; ​Weebly 'Free' images;Travel Victoria and State Library of Victoria
Photo used under Creative Commons from comedy_nose