Tonight H and I went to the movies. It was nice to have a night out and I picked a "safe" movie, Changing Lanes, and even went a little late to avoid any previews of "Unfaithful". We got our popcorn and soda and entered the theater just in time for the movie to start.<p>Brief synopsis: Samuel L Jackson and Ben Affleck play 2 men who have a minor fender bender that turns into a day of pure hell. Samuel L. is a hard working father trying to keep his soon to be ex-W from moving across country with the children. Ben is a hard nosed lawyer who is very self centered and selfish. Like I said - safe movie.<p>Just a short while into the movie we see Ben cozying up to and getting ready to kiss a women when his cell phone rings. And guess who is on the phone? Yep you got it his WIFE! He goes to meet her in a restaurant and leaves the other woman, Michelle, sitting alone. At the restaurant his wife tells him her father is "an adulterer" and then says she "knew about Michelle while it was going on" and chose to ignore it. <p>I seem to have missed the rest of the movie. I was lost in thought of how one small scene in a movie can alter my entire state of mind. Yuck!<p>Just a vent and a warning to anyone who is planning to see this. Hollywood needs to find a new focus for their films [img]images/icons/frown.gif" border="0[/img]

well, I was already going to avoid it because of the white affluent man vs. down on your luck black man theme... <p>...so now I have another reason.<p>Hope you're feeling better. I actually had a conversation w/ H yesterday regarding Julia Louis-Dreyfus tv show, "About Ellie." Tuesday's episode was about her new beau spending the weekend w/ her. What I didn't realize (because it was the first episode I had seen) was that he was married!<p>H agreed w/ me that it wasn't a very good plot device... a whole sitcom based on a Single girl living in LA who sings in a band and has an affair w/ her married guitarist.... though when you go to NBC's website they do not include the 'married' tidbit in their synopsis of the series.<p>Hugs,
Cali

When is the last movie you saw from Hollywood that included a man and woman meet while neither was attached to another person, fall in love, go through a series of hardships, and work them out, then live to a ripe old age together in happiness. Every show I have seen lately emphasizes happiness form one person leaving a disgruntled relationship to pursue another person which makes them happy. Are you ever correct that morally Hollywood sucks!

Yeah Cali that Ellie show is another one I avoid. Seems to be the trend in entertainment.<p>By the way, Samuel L. Jackson plays a powerful figure. He was the good guy and Ben was the bad one. But I do agree they have way too many stereo typed charachers for blacks and it stinks

I saw that movie. you never see anything about him having an affair in the previews for it. Overall i thought it was an excellent movie, but that part of it DID hit home for me and stuck out in my mind the most after the movie.

thanks for the warning-i had heard it was a great movie. was gonna see it this weekend. i think ill skip it now.<p>i hate this-what are you supposed to do, ask everyone that reccomends a movie-oh yeah, bye the way, does it have any type of infidelity in it??? they would all think i was nuts.

I have to admit that it is nice to know that it isn't just me how thinks the subject of affairs is everywhere. I guess we didn't notice it so much before we had to deal with it. But now it seems that everywhere you look, there it is. <p>It is hard to deal with. But I have found that anytime we see something about it on TV or movies, we talk about how it makes us feel. You can't seem to avoid it, so we do our best to deal with it.

<<<a man and woman meet while neither was attached to another person, fall in love, go through a series of hardships, and work them out, then live to a ripe old age together in happiness.>>><p>What you have described is *exactly* the plot of any book that has the word "Romance" stamped on its spine.<p>There's a common misconception that Romance novels glorify infidelity (of all types) they way soap operas and "women's fiction" do. Nothing could be further from the truth. <p>No Romance novel can have the main characters involved in any sort of infidelity, and they *must* have a happy ending. The subject of past infidelity may come up -- it's not uncommon for the story to start with either the hero or heroine unwilling to love and trust again because of being burned in the past -- but once they meet, the main characters do *not* have any sort of relationship with anyone else. That is neither heroic nor romantic!<p>Though it's a great book and a great movie, *Gone With The Wind* is not a Romance because Rhett walks out in the end. The movie *Titanic* is not a Romance either, because Jack dies and he and Rose don't live out their lives together. Ditto *Romeo and Juliet.*<p>Movies that *are* Romances? Try *The Quiet Man,* an oldie with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, and
*The Princess Bride.* I'm sure I could think of more if my brain was actually working today.<p>Maybe we could make this a positive thread. What are your favorite Romance books and movies? I'll bet a lot of other folks might enjoy reading and watching them, knowing they are "safe."<p>Psycho_B***h
who is, believe it or not, the author of five published Romance novels, has a sixth pending a release date, and is supposed to be working on a seventh

I GOT ONE...<p>A Knight's Tale<p>It's a really good movie, has your love story line, which encounters some dilemas to overcome, but prevails without any infidelity.<p>Ok, so maybe it's not exactly what everyone was thinking, but it does portray love in a very positive way. I thought it was an excellant movie.

This will probably tip off what kind of a day I'm having - but I will probably rent Fatal Attraction for us to watch this weekend because of my nasty vengeful desire to have my WH remember what really horrible things can happen to men who have affairs... Or maybe self control will win and I'll just get An American President which has been one of our romantic favorites for years.