Comments on: In the player: Bottle Shock

By: In the player: Bottle Shock « Top Daily Digest Reading

In the player: Bottle Shock « Top Daily Digest Reading — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:24:56 +0000

[...] Continued here. [...]

By: TDBURN

TDBURN — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:25:10 +0000

Juno was silly.

By: Bogus Gold

Bogus Gold — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:12:18 +0000

Movie Review: Bottle Shock…

I had been looking forward to the release of the film Bottle Shock on DVD for some time. I recalled seeing the original trailers for it some time ago, but it never made it to my local theater. I put it……

By: MSGTAS

MSGTAS — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:49:33 +0000

“Bottle Shock” was great, and a welcome addition to “Sideways”.

The two must be seen back-to-back to understand the message of both. “Sideways”, showed how much hard work it takes to produce a quality (product)wine from the ground up. While, “Bottle Shock”, provided information about the wine industry missing in “Sideways”. The misnomer that America cannot make anything original and of the same caliber as the originator. The fact, we can create a wine (products) that is better than anything the ‘French’ have.

According to the ‘French’, American’s make great screw top beverages, while they use a cork because it makes their product something that cannot be enjoyed before its time (unless you have a cork screw of a samurai sword). From my perspective, the ‘French’ only use the cork as a child proof container so only American’s over 21 are intelligent to know how to properly open “their” product.

The ending was the proof. “What is the true color of the purest and greatest Chardonnay?”

By: Dudley Smith

Dudley Smith — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:29:41 +0000

I rented this last weekend and got a bottle of the 2003 version Chateau Montelena Chardonnay to drink with my wife while watching it. I thought the movie was good, not great, but the wine was outstanding. I don’t even drink much white and very little Chardonnay but this was just perfect. Not cheap (I got it for $40) but great if you want to impress a date or have for a special occasion.

If any of you get out to Napa Valley for a wine tour, make sure to go to Chateau Montelena, the grounds are really impressive, and you’ll get to taste some great stuff for $10. We even saw the Bill Pullman character when we were there. Their wine club (as are virtually all of them) isn’t a great deal unless you are really loaded and don’t worry about trying to get good deals on the wine you buy.

By: Montana

Montana — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:19:33 +0000

Ok, finished it.

I just couldn’t stomach the hippy-kid scenes, but I liked the scenes with the Vineyard Owner. Best one was in the Law Office…with the smug lawyer and his display of a samurai sword and dueling pistols.

It reminded me to stay away from wearing a suit and tie. That scene alone made the movie “palatable”.

By: jdiggityD

jdiggityD — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:12:57 +0000

I think it’s up on Nefflix on demand right now.

Thank me later.

By: Montana

Montana — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 06:57:29 +0000

Ugh. I am not far into the flick yet…I am at the bar scene where the young hippy kid runs the wine tasting challenge. So far, almost every scene has been appalling implausible.

I mean…the racist white trucker? And the Mexican son-of-an-immigrant-farm-picker? Hippies?

Oh Lord lay me down…

Back to the movie…only thing keeping me going is that Dszuku or whatever her name girl. She’s kind of cute. But so far the characters have been just like those in the latest Star Wars movies–over done caricatures.

When does Jar Jar show up?

By: annoyinglittletwerp

annoyinglittletwerp — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 03:47:45 +0000

Sorry Ed.
Rickman was one of my favorite actors-that is until until he put out that play about innocent little human rights activist Rachel Corrie.
The movie sounds good-but my money won’t be going to support a pale-swinian syncopant.

By: ChipDWood

ChipDWood — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 02:08:52 +0000

My only beef with Bottle Shock is that more than just Chateau Montelena did well during the Judgement of Paris back in ’76- yet the rest of those that exceeded so many expectations were pretty much ignored in the movie.

For the count, and worthy of mention, the ‘other’ American wineries that led the way:

Reds:

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 14.14 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (“SLD”) 1973 United States
2. 14.09 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970 France
3. 13.64 Château Montrose 1970 France
4. 13.23 Château Haut-Brion 1970 France
5. 12.14 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971 United States
6. 11.18 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971 France
7. 10.36 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha’s Vineyard 1970 United States
8. 10.14 Clos Du Val Winery 1972 United States
9. 9.77 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971 United States
10. 9.64 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969 United States

Whites:
1. Chateau Montelena 1973 United States
2. Meursault Charmes Roulot 1973 France
3. Chalone Vineyard 1974 United States
4. Spring Mountain Vineyard 1973 United States
5. Beaune Clos des Mouches Joseph Drouhin 1973 France
6. Freemark Abbey Winery 1972 United States
7. Batard-Montrachet Ramonet-Prudhon 1973 France
8. Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles Domaine Leflaive 1972 France
9. Veedercrest Vineyards 1972 United States
10. David Bruce Winery 1973 United States

My beef being said; I liked the flick. Felt it was a mash between Sideways and Almost Famous. I’m probably biased on the subject matter cause I like me some vino and love the story- just wish the other estates (especially Stag’s Leap… Come ON!) had gotten a bit better due.

By: Johan Klaus

Johan Klaus — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:22:13 +0000

I’ve enjoyed some good german beer from Texas…not too knowledgeable about Texan wines though.

LimeyGeek on February 22, 2009 at 2:00 PM

Try Shiner’s Black Lager and Commerator 100 Doppelbock and for the wine try St. Geneve Cabernet Sauvignon, Llano Estacado Cellar Select Cabernet Sauvignon, for white, Haak Cellars Blanc DuBois and if you like a sweet wine try Messina Hof Johannisberg Riesling.

By: trainwife1962

trainwife1962 — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:45:51 +0000

I LOVE Alan Rickman- what a great actor!!! Check him out in “Blow Dry” as a straight hair stylist

By: Gilda

Gilda — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:18:06 +0000

Rented “Bottle Shock” from iTunes/Apple TV a couple weeks ago and loved it. Great story, characters and scenery. Apple TV has replaced disks for me especially since they started offering HD rentals and purchases.

By: Jenfidel

Jenfidel — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:08:05 +0000

I liked this movie immensely, too.
It’s almost a shame it didn’t come out during the time our country went through it’s “France sucks” period (after 2003 when they stiffed us in the U.N.).
It is a real celebration of our country and its triumph in producing one of the things the French are the snottiest about.
It also documents the opening of the world wine market, which the French had a monopoly on forever.
Now, we not only don’t question that there are first class Californian wines, but good to great wines from Australia, Chile and yes, even Texas!

By: marybel

marybel — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:33:36 +0000

My husband saw it on a plane flight and loved it. Being wine lovers was probably enough, but we also knew in real life, Barrett’s brother. He was a very dear, holy priest and pastor at our parish in Southern California, whom we were privileged to know and love.

All of us used to try and bait Fr. Vince Barrett to use, instead of the usual Christian Brother’s fare, a really nice bottle of Chateau Montelena, from his brother’s vineyard, at Mass!

By: Over30

Over30 — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:16:10 +0000

I miss football.

Bishop on February 22, 2009 at 12:29 PM

Solution: Hockey.

By: Kim Priestap

Kim Priestap — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:11:00 +0000

My husband and I both loved Sideways and he just saw Bottle Shock the other day on DVD and really liked it as well.

By: MadisonConservative

MadisonConservative — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:04:43 +0000

Let me return the favor. Green Street Hooligans is movie about an American who gets mixed up with British football hooligans. There’s a fair amount of violence, mostly fist fights. It’s not for everyone, but I’ve recommended it to three people and all three liked it.

trubble on February 22, 2009 at 1:06 PM

If you haven’t look for Alan Clarke’s “The Firm” with Gary Oldman. A much more brutal look at hooliganism, but very sharp, as are most of Clarke’s movies.

Scratch the Acadeny Awards this year and give them all to Juno, the movie that should have got Best Picture, Best Director,Best Actress, Best Script last year.

pat on February 22, 2009 at 12:15 PM

Wait, you’re suggesting the Academy give credit to a movie that portrayed abortion as other than a trip to Candy Land? Might as well ask Michael Moore to walk a mile.

I fully agree, though. Fixture in our library. Ellen Page is fantastic, as is the guy who plays her father.

By: Driefromseattle

Driefromseattle — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:53:12 +0000

Dr. Magnolias: I think what we’re talking about is a media kit that you can purchase for iPods that can connect the iPod to a tv set up for such a thing. The iPod then becomes a digital “DVD Player.” (There’s also gear that turns your iPod into a walkman type radio.) Great kit.

Haven’t seen either movie, but I agree with whomever said “any movie with Rickman in it.” I wholeheartedly agree. He made Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy!

By: surrounded

surrounded — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:26:16 +0000

“Sideways” is wonderful, I own it, have viewed it several times.

Saw “Bottle Shock” last week, it was OK, I don’t really wanna see it again though.

By: keebs

keebs — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:19:26 +0000

excruciatingly bad wig on Chris Pine.
Sparrow on February 22, 2009 at 2:54 PM

I kept thinking that hair thing was a set-up for a makeover.

By: califcon

califcon — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:50:09 +0000

I miss football.

Bishop on February 22, 2009 at 12:29 PM

By: DrMagnolias

DrMagnolias — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:43:04 +0000

With the cable that connects it to your TV, the itunes is my new fave way to get movies.

bbz123 on February 22, 2009 at 12:12 PM

Are you referring to Apple TV, or something else? I’m quite interested, as my husband and I are looking into our options.

By: scalleywag

scalleywag — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:13:02 +0000

With the cable that connects it to your TV, the itunes is my new fave way to get movies.

bbz123 on February 22, 2009 at 12:12 PM

Whoa, I did not know you could do that. Sweet.

By: scalleywag

scalleywag — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:10:49 +0000

Funny, I rented that last night and thought it was great. I would not have known about this except the gal at Blockbuster saw me browsing near it and told me it was great.