Movie Mania

I've spent a lot of time watching movies on Netflix. My favorites center around the British Isles and other European countries. I've been introduced to landscapes, customs, and characters so unlike those in our own movies. Perhaps the "characters" are more so, imperfect in appearance, but perfectly fitting to their role.

Many of you relished every episode of "Downtown Abbey" as the actors followed a script somewhat like the real English customs but a bit different. There are other movies that may not be as thrilling to watch, but just as easy to entertain as DA

 Right now I'm watching Foyle's War, which covers the early years of WWII. Despite the created script, the story does hint at some of the problems the English faced when the war was raging around them, one neighbor after the other falling to the Nazis. One segment revealed the selfless acts of small boats who crossed the Channel to rescue the wounded soldiers, bringing  home 15 to 20 at a time. There's always something about history revealed in each segment. 

I've seen many investigators like Vera, DSI, of the series by the same name, whose cranky attitude disgruntles her office workers, much like some of our own bosses, but. despite her lack of personal skills, she solves crimes.Another female appears in The Commander and in Inspector Lynle, a handsome man who appears in many of the British series is this time solving crimes.

Again during WWII are good dramas Land Girls and Wish Me Luck. The former a story of British women who help their country by working on farms for a period of time and the latter about other British women who serve as spies in France. All played well by the actors. Again, you get a glimpse of landscape and hints of history of that time.

I've been on a WWII kick for months as you read this. I was 10 years old in 1942 and experienced the caution the U.S. took during that time. I like to be reminded of the efforts our citizens made to cooperate with the government during that war and how proud we were to help in our rationing, purchasing of war bonds, giving up precious foods so our boys could eat good meals. So many memories we citizens of that period still remember. Perhaps that is the real draw of these period movies the British continue to make.

The price I pay for watching these movies that are clean-cut and devoid of profanity is so little that I dislike going to the local movie theatre and paying a month's rent to Netflix for one movie that is recent. Perhaps that's the age in me, to enjoy a good story that doesn't embarrass me with scenes I'd prefer not seeing. I'm not being paid to tell you about these movies, I'm saying they are worth the $8 per month I willingly give for a good story.