The Railway Man ... Movie

[Fireman Sam 336]

 

I've just ordered the book from Kinokuniya - luckily it was in stock, so I'll have it next week sometime. I'm amazed that I'd never heard of the guy until today ... he was born less than 3 miles from me.

 

 

Tom do you know whereabouts in Edinburgh he was born, I am an Edinburgh born lad as well.

 

 

 

Regards

[CheshireTom 1,377]

 

 

Tom do you know whereabouts in Edinburgh he was born, I am an Edinburgh born lad as well.

 

 

 

Regards

 

He was born in Joppa.

[Fireman Sam 336]

 

He was born in Joppa.

 

Cheers Tom,

 

 

I'm from the south side of Edinburgh myself.

 

 

Regards

[CheshireTom 1,377]

 

Cheers Tom,

 

 

I'm from the south side of Edinburgh myself.

 

 

Regards

 

I was born in Abbeyhill but brought up in Bonnyrigg.

[Fireman Sam 336]

 

I was born in Abbeyhill but brought up in Bonnyrigg.

 

I wasn't too far from you, I was born and spent my formative years in Gracemount.

 

 

Sorry drifting off topic.

 

 

Regards

[CheshireTom 1,377]

 

I wasn't too far from you, I was born and spent my formative years in Gracemount.

 

Gracemount, Gilmerton, Niddrie - the original Axis of Evil!

[Fireman Sam 336]

 

Gracemount, Gilmerton, Niddrie - the original Axis of Evil!

 

Can't argue with that, maybe just add Burdiehouse to make it complete.

 

 

Regards

[Gonzo 419]

 

Maybe Gonzo can confirm your conversation. Until then, I'll just take it that you're abusing your Mod 'powers' again by disclosing confidential info @ a BM's location.

Shit mate, I missed your silly comment about Jacko's integrity. We have known each other for many years and often have a yarn at the expat club on Sundays at the Mercure Hotel in Soi 15. Next time you manage to come back to Pattaya, attend one of our meetings. It might help to broaden your mind.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

A quick bump ... I think the movie opens in Thailand this week (Thu).

[atlas2 4,329]

Thanks I'll definitely catch it.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Thanks I'll definitely catch it.

 

I'm looking forward to it - I've heard good reports. Kidman's other movie, Grace of Monaco, opens in LOS in the first week in June (I think).

 

[atlas2 4,329]

Just got back from a saunter along the beach and the 'Gay Superbowl' (the Oscars) is still going on……….. I'm hopeful even without seeing it that Railwayman features next year.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Just got back from a saunter along the beach and the 'Gay Superbowl' (the Oscars) is still going on……….. I'm hopeful even without seeing it that Railwayman features next year.

 

Just caught the Best Picture bit ... Steve McQueen ain't half changed since The Great Escape!

[atlas2 4,329]

 

Just caught the Best Picture bit ... Steve McQueen ain't half changed since The Great Escape!

 

 

This is quite possibly where the transformation began……..

 

 

Edited March 3, 2014 by atlas2

[atlas2 4,329]

I went yesterday but it's not out yet.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Likewise. And it has disappeared from both SF and Major's websites.

[spike 236]

It doesn't open in the states until April 11.

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2058107/?ref_=nv_sr_1

 

It opened in the UK January 11th....guys in Pattaya can probably pick up a copy in your neighborhood beer bar.

Edited March 7, 2014 by spike

[Nightrider 340]

I watched it on a dvd the other day , its not bad although a bit slow in parts , i would like to see it on the big screen though with a good surround sound system.....

[CheshireTom 1,377]

It has now reappeared in the schedules - with a 24 April screening date. We'll see ....

 

 

[atlas2 4,329]

I caught this on a flight to London.

 

Good film. Not as tough on the Japs behaviour to prisoners of war as I thought it would be......Doesn't quite maximise the drama either........ But goes someway there. Kidman is great.

 

Lomax's Christian forgiveness, (with church spires in the background) contrasts with the unforgiving inhuman brutality of the Japanese torturers who claim the British and Australians surrender stripped them of all respect.

 

Little twist there at the end.

[nkped 1,208]

I just saw it today. It finally made it to the overseas possessions.

 

The movie was very intense and very good.

 

I agree it was not close to realistic as to the condition of the POWs as a result of starvation and disease although there were a few suggestions of that. I don't know what the producers thinking was but it may have been that they couldn't be realistic without starving people.

 

On the other hand, there were depictions of direct physical abuse/torture which were about as graphic as is possible without actually injuring somebody. I wonder if those may have been edited out of the version shown in flight. If they weren't edited out, A2 will know exactly what I'm talking about.

 

PTSD is a major topic although the term isn't used and, as far as I remember, wasn't in use in the "now" of 1980, which is the setting for half of the movie.

 

A minor bit of historical revisionism comes when the troops are on the train going north from Singapore and Lomax says he thinks they are in Thailand.

 

Parts of the movie are shot in Thailand around Kachanaburi. I specifically recognized Hellfire Pass and the bridge. Others, including the train station, I have probably seen but don't remember by sight.

 

I found it interesting that Kidman was willing to take the role of a woman who was visibly mature although still attractive.

 

Having seen the movie, I do want to read the book and see how Lomax described the events in the first person.

[papillon 695]

 

 

A minor bit of historical revisionism comes when the troops are on the train going north from Singapore and Lomax says he thinks they are in Thailand.

 

 

 

The signature of King Mongkut (r. 1851 – 1868) reads SPPM (Somdet Phra Poramenthra Maha) Mongkut King of Siam, giving it official status until 23 June 1939 when it was changed to Thailand.^[20] Thailand was renamed Siam from 1945 to 11 May 1949, after which it again reverted to Thailand.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand