Comments on: Sandra Brown Talks Movies And Books

By: Christy Batchelor

Christy Batchelor — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:39:01 +0000

Hello all! I, too, am a big movie buff. The Notebook is one of my favorites. Grease,as many others probably agree, is a classic and one I’ve seen more than 100 times.

I recently watched The Bucket List. It was not what I expected, but it had me in tears by the end. A great story for an unexpected friendship turned brotherhood, so to speak.

Legends of the Fall was a really good story, also. I bought it recently to add to my DVD collection. Of course, just about any movie Brad Pitt is in is going to be a favorite. The Mexican was pretty funny and the story line was good. Julia Roberts, another one of my favorites, also did a great job in this one!

I really got into the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. Johnny Depp made a great Captain Jack Sparrow. No one else could have pulled it off as well.

The next one I want to see is the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 that came out this week. My oldest daughter and I have seen the first one several times and are really looking forward to seeing this one together!

Okay, so I could go on and on about movies, but I will stop here.

I just want to say that I am a huge Sandra Brown fan! About 14 years ago, I had just gotten into reading novels. I didn’t have any favorite authors and could only remember one by name. My mother brought me a box of books, including two written by Sandra Brown, 22 Indigo Place and Slow Heat in Heaven. After I read Slow Heat in Heaven, I began going to the library and checking out two or three books a week. I’ve been addicted ever since! I got my sister reading her books after that. About two years ago, I began collecting them. Each time a new one is released, I can’t wait to get my hands on it. I have a Christmas Wish List I hang up every year. On the list is “Books by Sandra Brown: See List”. Thank you, Sandra for giving me 14 years of reading bliss!

By: Karen Marsh

Karen Marsh — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:43:30 +0000

Absolutely, positively the BEST writer ever!!!! I always get her new book on the day it is released & will read it when I get off work (I am a nurse) & I stay up all night to finish it!!! I have a hard time reading another book because I know they will not compare!! Keep up the excellent work!!!

By: Roberta L. Keith-VanHoughton

Roberta L. Keith-VanHoughton — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:32:08 +0000

Must see movie that I ran across on Hallmark channel and purchased is “The Outsider” starring Tim Daly and Naomi Watts. This is a fantastic western with a flair of culture history on life in the 1800s and the forbidden love of a “plain” woman and a gunfighter. Although they come from different worlds they find one common denominator in the love they share with each other. Pick up this copy in dvd of “The Outsider”. Also, a great book to pick up and reread is not so much a “romance” love story, but a book for self help to get you back in touch with life. Of course, “All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”. Will make the “diffficult” things in life put into proper perspective. Have a wonderful summer everyone!

By: Winners! Sanda Brown Talks Movies And Books : The Good, The Bad and The Unread

Winners! Sanda Brown Talks Movies And Books : The Good, The Bad and The Unread — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:20:43 +0000

[...] have drawn the five winners of the Sandra Brown Talks Movies And Books Contest! The lucky winners need to e-mail Sybil with their shipping address information. [...]

By: Kathy Bass

Kathy Bass — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:32:56 +0000

Sandra, the best reason I have for wanting this book is because you wrote it. You are fantastic and have always been my favorite author. There are so many out there but I choose you.
I can’t wait every time you have a new book coming out.
I love reading your blog. Keep up the good work.

Kathy

By: Norma

Norma — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:38:53 +0000

Movies and books are my passion. I can get lost watching movies with Sandra Bullock. Hope Floats and Practical Magic are two of my favorites and can watch over and over. Under the Tuscan Sun, Must Love Dogs, are great movies too. Legends of the Fall, Brad Pitt (wow!!) he’s still gorgeous! One of my new favorite male actors in movies is Gerard Butler. I’ve never seen that movie Dear Frankie but now I will definitely watch that movie.
It’s so nice to read about you and not just the impersonal things that’s written about you. Your books are so entertaining and are hard to put down once you start reading them. I’ve been reading your books since the early 90′s and I love them!! You are truly an amazing writer.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:11:47 +0000

My two favorite things to do are to read and to watch movies! I work at Blockbuster, and spend at least a third of my paycheck on books. I couldn't agree with you more about Love Actually, Legends of the Fall, and Chocolat. I will never forget when I first watched Legends of the Fall-my heart just split in two! Some of my other favorites and ones you must check out are: Almost Famous, Garden State, The Family Stone, and Penelope. Two foreign films you can't miss are: Amelie and Pan's Labyrinth. I also love movies based on books. I personally try to view the two as different versions of the same story, that way I'm not going, "hey, that's not in the book!" Some of the best ones are: The Other Boleyn Girl, White Oleander, Memoirs of a Geisha, Pride and Prejudice (The 2005 version because I swear Keira Knightly was born to play Elizabeth Bennet), Shopgirl, and Emma. And I can't leave out anything with Audrey Hepburn! ps-Thank you for sharing your talent for writing with us! You are truly amazing!

By: Sandra Brown

Sandra Brown — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:08:56 +0000

My apologies for just now checking in. I arrived in N. Carolina to discover I had no internet, and it’s just now back on.

A huge thank you to Sybil for having me and everyone for their thoughtful responses.
Which reminded me of some more favorites:
Room With a View and Chocolat. Steel Magnolias and Terms of Endearment, definitely two-hanky movies.
The chick-flick of all time — Pretty Woman.
Did no one mention Shakespeare in Love? How was that overlooked?

And I thought I was the only person in the world who had ever seen or heard of The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing! It’s been a long time since I saw it, but I remember loving it.

By: acdaisy77

acdaisy77 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:11:17 +0000

Here are some of mine:

The Notebook
Shawshank Redemption
Flashdance
Dirty Dancing
Speed (with Keanu Reeves)
First Knight (with Jackie Chan)
Fast and the Furious – the 1st one
Titanic

By: Cheryl Keith

Cheryl Keith — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:19:27 +0000

I have a large collection of your books. I Love your books so much that I have read some of them over and over again. I really enjoy your writing.

This is some of my favorite movies:

1. Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle

2. Under the Tuscan Sun with Diane Lane

3. The Holiday with Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black

4. Father of The Bride I & II with Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and Martin Short

5. Knocked Up with Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogen

6. Love Actually with Colin Firth, Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson

7. Steel Magnolias with Sally Field, Dolly Pardon, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts

8. The Godfather I, II & III with Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton and Robert Duvall

9. The Bourne Series with Matt Damon

10. Jersey Girl with Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler and Jason Biggs

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Thanks,
Cheryl Keith

By: Kathy Siciliano

Kathy Siciliano — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:38:16 +0000

You can never go wrong with a Sandra Brown book. I just got back from Madrid and got a real kick out of seeing the books in Spanish.

By: Jeannie Chambers

Jeannie Chambers — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:27:13 +0000

Hi Sandra,
Enjoyed reading your movie reviews- one of my old favorites is “Somewhere in Time” with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve, and a more recent one “Serendipity” with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, and another I just saw for the first time this year “P.S. I Love You” with Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Kathy Bates, and Harry Connick, Jr.- Those are my favorite love stories, and with my husband- There’s always The Highlander movies with Christopher Lambert, “Shawshank Redemption” The Bourne series with Matt Damon, and anything with Bruce Willis.
There are so many Oops! I almost forgot “Everafter” with Drew Barrymore- the soundtrack is wonderful for that as well. I’m a dreamer- and Cinderella is a perfect dream movie.
Can’t wait to get a copy of Smoke Screen- hopefully through this comment- but if not Cyrano’s Bookshop will have a copy!

Thanks so much for all your help to aspiring writers through your blogs, youtube segments, etc. and of course your books – what a great way to steal away some time for myself and to live vicariously through your characters.

Thanks!
Jeannie Chambers

By: Joanne Balady

Joanne Balady — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:12:27 +0000

Dear Sandra, Your books bring me immeasurable hours of pleasure and enjoyment. I am so looking forward to your new release next month of SMOKE SCREEN. As a retired teacher, I spend a great deal of time reading my favorite authors; you are one of them! My favorite movies include Gone With the Wind, The Sound of Music, Flashdance (because it was my first date with my husband to be), and The Shawshank Redemption. I have never "blogged" before so I don't know what I am doing to tell the truth. Best wishes to you and to your family.

By: Sandy (Strlady)

Sandy (Strlady) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:33:58 +0000

Okay, we are talking about two things I love... movies and Sandra Brown books. I'm in for the ARC and will be happy to blog about the book so here are my must see movies this summer: This summer has been all about super heros. If you haven't seen IRON MAN, run out an see it now! The best of the season started out the summer back in May. Then you have Hancock which was so funny I found myself in tears I was laughing so hard. Then you have HellBoy II (yeah I do love my super heros) and then there is the Dark Knight. On to other movies... Mamma Mia, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, Mummy 3, Wall-E, X-Files, Sex and the City, Blindness & The Accidental Husband. Enjoy!!

By: Pat Marinelli

Pat Marinelli — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:02:10 +0000

Hi Sandra,

Love your books!!!

Favorite movies:

An Affair to Remember
A Walk to Remember
Pretty Woman
Cutting Edge
Dirty Dancing
One Fine Day
The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing
Holiday Affair
Shall We Dance?
Milk Money
10 Things I Hate About You

Can’t wait to get your new book

Pat

By: Ellyn Houston

Ellyn Houston — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:25:36 +0000

As late it seems my nose is buried in textbooks for work certifications. Reading for entertainment leads me mainly to the genre of suspense/horror. Sandra, you hooked me with Chill Factor.

As much as I love movies my passion lies in a good read. No screen can match the imagination as we read the work of a talented writer.

In movies my taste is eclectic. Musicals range from the classic OLIVER! to PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Who could resist savoring Gerard Butler? Now comes MAMMA MIA! Any one of us forty-somethings with fond memories of high school and ABBA! are anxious to see this film.

My favorite movies are the classics. Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. I can’t omit Fibber and Molly Magee. But always, always Cary first.

I like discovering a sleeper classic. MURDER, HE SAYS with Fred MacMurray is one of my favorite darker comedies.

LEGENDS OF THE FALL was filmed in Livingston, Montana. As a current Georgian when I’m feeling the need for home – as I was raised in MT – I never pass it up when I find it on cable.

As far as must sees:

DEATHTRAP
THROW MAMA FROM THE TRAIN
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER

Lately, with a 9 year old son, my movie mania consists of TRANSFORMERS and such genre as pleases him. My “chick flicks” have been on hold for nearly a decade now. I felt a deep twang of pain as I watched SEX AND THE CITY come and go from the theaters.

Who else likes to recall favorite lines from movies? My favorite ever is from TOOTSIE.

Dustin/Dorothy/Michael to Bill Murray’s character: “I don’t believe in Hell. I believe in unemployment. But I don’t believe in Hell.”

How true for all of us who have ever faltered in the working world.

By: Tee

Tee — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:14:50 +0000

Hi Sandra,

I love your books! Here are a couple of my movies that I watch over and over again whenever they come on TV–and, I guess I need to mention that I have them on DVD so I watch them whenever I want. My favorites are “An American Affair”-I love the scene when she is laying on the couch, the snow is falling and he finally finds her and gives her “Grandmother’s” shawl. The other is “Imitation of Life”-I know the movie line by line and have the box of tissues ready for the ending. “Driving Miss Daisy” is one of my favorites also. So many of the scenes are my favorites. “Yours, Mine, and Ours” is another of my all time favorites. As the old cliche goes–”some things are often imitated but never duplicated.” These are all classics in my book!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:52:27 +0000

I too really love your work. I am so glad you mentioned Dear Frankie and I have watched it many times too. Unfortunately it was way too far under the radar. However, did you know that it got a 10 minute standing ovation at Cannes in ’05? Well worth it.

By: donna

donna — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:29:17 +0000

I don’t care about what movies you like and dislike!!!LOL…I want every one of your books to go BIG screen then we can talk movies!!!! I love each and every book you written you are amazing!!!I can not wait for Smoke Screen to be released, I have read almost every book published there are a few (not many) I am still hunting down and i will find them!! YOU ARE AWSOME!!!!

By: Tammy

Tammy — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:51:15 +0000

I am excited for this new book !! My only problem is I read so darn fast that they go to quickly then I am back to waiting on your next one!!! ughhh , Keep them coming! the must see movie is mamma mia if you like musicals i love them so it was a no brainer for me like grease and hairspray you wont be disappointed!

By: Rhonda Reed

Rhonda Reed — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:41:33 +0000

Hi Sandra! I started reading your books when I found you had the same name as my sister, Sandra Brown. ( I was really young, haha)I thought it was cool.
From the first book, I could not put it down until I finished it and kept on reading from then on. I have found that we like alot of the same things, movies, books, etc. I love the romance movies and books, but also love comedy in movies. “Mr. Mom” was one of my favorites…
I look forward to “Smoke Screen” and would love to have an autographed copy. I have all your books in my home and “no”, I don’t tell them that it is my sister, haha, that wrote them…

By: April Flowers

April Flowers — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:01:00 +0000

hmmm… a must see movie list? That’s as tough as a must read book list, but I will give it a try.
*Arsenic and Old Lace with Carey Grant
*Bringing Up Baby with Kate Hepburn and Carey Grant
*Of Mice and Men with John Malkovitch
*Cookie’s Fortune with Liv Tyler
*Calendar Girls
*Please Don’t Eat the Daisies & Lover Come Back with Doris Day
*Hotel Rwanda
*Tears of the Sun with Bruce Willis
*The Bucket List & Something’s Gotta Give with Jack Nicholson
*Good Morning Vietnam with Robin Williams
*Black Snake Moan with Samuel L Jackson
*Down Periscope with Kelsey Grammar

I could probably go on for days, but this is a good start.

By: Rae

Rae — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:39:29 +0000

Great movie list!
Must sees for me are: The Dark Knight, The Wizard of Oz (who hasn’t seen that though?! It’s still a wonderful classic,) The Pursuit of Happyness, Casablanca, and Breakfast At Tiffany’s. All wonderful in their own right and all completely different. They’re my must haves.

Can’t wait until Smoke Screen is available!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:23:40 +0000

I have started writing my own stories lately and have taken it upon myself that as part of the research–in addition to the technical and historical–to read as many authors as possible to get a feel for how a story is written, the dynamics of the characters, character development, plot development….the list can go on and on. I’ve been analyzing each author I’ve read and the study has been revealing.

I’ve read your books for years–and am now rereading many of them–and love them. Still. I think I started reading your books in high school. I don’t remember specifically, but it has been a very long time. I just finished “Play Dirty” and, I think it’s the best one to date. I can’t wait to pick up–or win– “Smoke Screen” which is on my reading list for my vacation next month.

All that to say that the way you write books is amazing. I am constantly impressed with your style, dialogue, the characters and depth of plot. I like how your characters stay with the reader and how a reader connects with them. For instance, the first book—well, books I guess—I ever read by you was the Texas! Trilogy. To this day, I feel like I *know* those three siblings–Lucky, Chase and Sage and their respective partners. They just stayed with me. I can remember the points of their story well as well as some of their key dialogue. Writing different characters is difficult, and I’ve never felt that you write a rote character. Accomplishing that is very difficult, yet you make it seem effortless.

As for movies…. Love Actually tops the list. We own it and I watch it repeatedly. When my son lets me use the DVD player, that is.

Sabrina–Harrison Ford. Need I say more? Officer and a Gentlemen, When Harry Met Sally, anything with Tom Hanks, Ironman. I saw that this past summer with my son and I loved it. Don’t know why since it is definitely not one of my ‘norms’, but I did. Steel Magnolias, The Holiday, and Phantom of the Opera. We Are Marshall is starting to slowly make its way up the ranks. We just rented Bucket List over the weekend and it jumped immediately into the top ten. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman—gotta love them. They reminded me of Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattheu. I loved all their movies, too. Yours, Mine and Ours is another favorite as is Look Who’s Coming to Dinner, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, All the President’s Men. My list is extensive, varied and growing and I need to stop now because I keep thinking of ways to expound on this blog!

By: Bethany Comeau

Bethany Comeau — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:43:10 +0000

Great blog!! It’s nice to see you not only talking about books, but movies as well. I too am commenting because I would LOVE the chance to be one of the first to read Smoke Screen. I have read just about all of your books. One of my favorite books of yours is The Switch. OMG!!!! I have read that book OVER AND OVER. And I never get tired of it. I even got my neighbor hooked on reading your books, she called and asked if I had any good ones to read, so I passed The Switch on to her. She LOVED it, and has been hooked since. She actually just called me again and asked if I had anymore of your books that she could borrow while she goes on her camping trip. I always get so excited when I get a Sandra Brown newsletter in my email, and then I call my mom and say….”we only have to wait a little longer for her new book” HAHA. You truly are a very talented author, and as long as you keep writing books, I’ll keep reading them. On to the movies that I enjoy.
1.) Titanic. I saw this movie about 8 times in the theater. And I still watch it EVERY time its on T.V. (Even though I have it on DVD, and could watch it with no commercial interuptions. lol) I am just a sucker for movies that are based on actual events.
2.) The Shawshank Redemption. I get so drawn into movies with Morgan Freeman it’s unreal. He has got to have one of the BEST narrative voices in that business. UNBELIEVABLE.
3.) Blow. Not to mention that Johnny Depp is a Hottie, he does an excellent job in this movie. (Again, see, I’m a sucker for movies based on actual events.)
3.) Of Mice and Men AND To Kill a Mockingbird…..Need I say more?!?
4.) A Time to Kill. GREAT MOVIE. With Matthew Mcconaughey and Samuel L. Jackson. It’s just all around a great movie that I can watch over and over again.
5.) John Q. This movie, no matter how many times I watch it. Still brings tears to my eyes. Denzel Washington is one of the best.
6.) Man on Fire. Again, based on actual events, staring Denzel Washington. It’s a sort of a long movie, but well worth the watch.
7.) How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days. Kate Hudson and Matthew Mcconaughey will have you laughing through out this whole movie. It’s definitly one of my favorites.

Ok, so this list could go on and on and on for days. lol. But I should leave some room for others to comment. I just want to say thanks you for the opportunity to share some of my favorite movies, and for the chance to possibly be one of the first to read Smoke Screen. Even if I don’t win this blog contest, I will still be reading the book as soon as it comes out!! Can’t wait!!

By: Nikki

Nikki — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:27:07 +0000

I love that you couldn’t help yourself in talking about books.

I think that’s why I end up reading so much because it’s all about people and relating to them.

Shawshank Redemption is one of my favorites as well. I always have to stop at the 80′s movies though. They’re what I grew up on, so if I see Weird Science or The Breakfast Club or Mannequin I have to stop flipping.

Oh, and of course, I can’t wait for Smoke Screen to come out. I always pre-order all of your books ahead of time, but who wouldn’t love reading a book before everyone else? I know I would!

By: Amie Stuart

Amie Stuart — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:02:06 +0000

I’m a sucker for old black and white movies, but I prefer action over comedy. I have to say one of my favorite movie-related things has been introducing my kids to some of the *ahem* new classics like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and one of my all-time faves, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead. I know I know………I’m disgustingly easy to please.

By: Val Day

Val Day — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:46:30 +0000

I am writing because you are my favorite author and I want the book. I have been a fan of yours for years. I love all the movies you have mentioned (plus many that others have mentioned). I am a big fan of Katheryn Hepburn … On Golden Pond, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Pat & Mike. But I prefer to read a book over a movie. Books can provide so much more detail…. How do you describe a thumping heart, your feelings or thoughts inside your head in a movie.

Keep up the wonderful writing.

Kindest Regards,
Val

By: Sabrina George

Sabrina George — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:26:45 +0000

First, I have to tell you that I am a huge fan! I have made it a goal to read every book you have written. To date, I have about 10 left (the older ones that are a little hard to find)!

Some of my favorite movies are…Dirty Dancing, Maid in Manhattan, You’ve Got Mail, Pure Country, Sabrina, First Knight, Gone in 60 Seconds, National Treasure I & II, and Pretty Woman.

With 3 children I rarely get to enjoy movies of my choice but they have a few that I like too! Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper has become a favorite along with many of the Disney Princess movies!

Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading Smoke Screen!

By: Gail Bennison

Gail Bennison — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:24:00 +0000

Well, Sandra, you know which movie I love: STEEL MAGNOLIAS!
And, wow, what memories you brought back with This Property Is Condemned. Loved that one!
I love this blog, and of course would love to have my name in the hat for a copy of your new book! Maybe I can review it for Fort Worth, Texas magazine..