CarPort1

This is okay entertainment for kids. But I do wonder if any adult will bother pointing out to them that these are British characters and would not normally be celebrating Thanksgiving. Entertainment for its own sake is fine but a little educational value is also a good thing. Sadly, most parents plop their kids down in front of the telly and can't be arsed to notice when misinformation is spread about.

It's also sad that the Disney corporation (which acquired the Pooh rights at some point) constantly sees fit to Americanise everything that crosses its path.

What's next: A Harry Potter Thanksgiving special?!

I'm always dumbfounded when people equate budget with quality (think of all the high-budget/ low-quality Hollywood movies that dominate the cineplexes). So, yes, this is low budget -- thankfully -- there's no fancy make-up or special effects, and no CGI. This movie is based on a PLAY. And it's filmed that way (not "opened up" very much from the source). Regardless of how you feel about this specific film, please be aware that there are many fine films out there, of varying budgets, that are presented stylistically as more of a play. Most of the time it is an artistic decision having nothing to do with budget.

As far as the content (plot, performances, etc.), I can easily understand why there's much dissension in these areas of this particular film. Certainly this is not a movie for the unwashed masses, or even the washed ones! What I like about it is that it's part murder mystery (not a whodunit) with social commentary, and touches of black humour (I guess in many ways, stereotypically British), not to mention the charming and handsome leads. The Wolves of Kromer is to me what Brokeback Mountain is to many others. So if you want a big-budget flick with big American stars (that's also high in quality), go climb the Mountain!

I never have very high expectations for Hollywood films, so when I heard there was one about gay cowboys, I thought, "Oh no, now what?!" But, of course, everyone I know (and apparently the rest of the country, too) was going to see it, so I figured I'd give it a chance. Well, I'm glad I did. Not only was it genuinely good, it was actually remarkably sophisticated for a mainstream movie. In many ways, it reminded me of a Herzog film: nothing felt rushed, a lot relied on innuendo (in a good way) to convey inner thoughts and emotions, and there was some beautiful cinematography. Mostly I had heard that it was sad and, yes, that was true at times, but there was also some humour and, IMHO, some profound metaphor. I guess the fact that it's a hit is a good sign: audiences may be becoming more sophisticated (which, hopefully, will result in the film industry responding, specifically in the arena of bigger-budgeted films). So do yourself a favour and check out "Brokeback Mountain."