Have You Ever Enjoyed Something You Really Thought You Wouldn't?

[Meaghan27]

Last night dad and son downloaded Top Gun Maverick. I got ready with a good book as I was convinced I would hate it, but got right into it and even had a tear at the end.

Is there anything you've read or watched you were determined not to like but really enjoyed?

[Buenchico]

>>> Have you ever enjoyed something you really thought you wouldn't?

Yes - but I promised the bishop, the actress, the owner of the goat and the front row of Hull Kingston Rovers that I'd keep quiet about it ;-)

[Er, sorry about that. I just couldn't resist it!]

In TV terms though, I've been surprised at how much I've enjoyed 'slow TV' programmes, especially 'All Aboard! The Sleigh Ride' when it was part of the Christmas schedules 6 years ago. It's just two hours of following a sleigh journey, with no narration and no music, which sounds utterly boring. However I enjoyed every minute of it and I was really sad when it ended.

[Canary42]

Yes, ballet.

Went to my first at age 75, and was bowled over. I now regret all those years of missed opportunities.

[seekeerz]

Just out of pure curiosity…..which ballet did you see, Canary?

I’ve loved the ballet since forever, I studied for years, ruined two knees into the bargain but still love it.

[Buenchico]

^^^ With regard to dance, I went to see 'Spirit of the Dance' with a friend, simply because there was nothing else to do that weekend. I wasn't really expecting much from it but I really enjoyed it.

[seekeerz]

Well it got you away from the goat and the rugby team so we can be thankful for small mercies :)

[gness]

You weren’t expecting much from Spirit of the Dance!!!
ChristoPHER. !!!! Tut !

[tonyav]

Yeah but the 'Spirit' was whiskey, gness ;-)

[gness]

Ahhhhhh… as long as it has the e in it Tony. ;-)

[jno]

unwise to mix your drugs like that, gness...

[gness]

Jno is so quick and sharp she’ll cut herself! :-)

[Canary42]

Seekeerz///Just out of pure curiosity…..which ballet did you see, Canary? ///

The first was The Nutcracker by the Moscow City Ballet. I have since seen Swan Lake (twice), The Nutcracker again, Sleeping Beauty twice, Romeo and Juliette, and Coppelia, all by touring companies. Opportunities are few and far between out here in the sticks, and a London trip rather difficult for me. I do watch quite a lot of ballet videos on YouTube but it's not the same of course. All the foregoing were classical ballet. I did go to an ENB(I think) modern version of Giselle at Sadlers Wells (no orchestra, canned music and sound effects) but didn't like it so much.

[seekeerz]

Have seen them all, Canary, and loved every one, the modern takes don’t do a lot for me though I adored Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake and would love to see that again.

So glad that you found such a delightful pleasure to enjoy

[Canary42]

I do wonder why they do it when it seems so painful (and surely at times crippling). I even feel a tiny bit guilty sometimes watching the ballerinas on pointe, knowing that it's painful (according to several references I've read from leading ballerinas) - a sort of "why should they suffer for my enjoyment" feeling.

[Canary42]

////I adored Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake ////

Was that the one with male swans - it was surprisingly effective (somewhat against my expectations).

[seekeerz]

Yes it is …..saw it live for the first time, it is stunning, have since bought the dvd and binge out quite frequently.

I do remember the days of bleeding toes and point shoes packed with cotton wool ….and I never got past standing in the back line waving a flower ….doubt I could have made it any further :)

[Old_Geezer]

It's difficult to recall specific instances since I rarely choose to experience that which seems opposed to my taste, which is why 99.9% of Freeview programmes never get looked at. It probably also explains why I am often late to catch on to a popular series, "Friends" being an obvious example.

However I do, or at least did, try new experiences from time to time, and the chat re ballet above is an exame of one thing I tried watching. IIRC I've seen just 2 live. The first being Coppelia, which I liked; then some time later Nutcracker. Didn't much care for the latter. Started out with one young girl being unfairly favoured over her siblings, which was a poor start, and then descended into some ludicrous fantasy nonsense. The storyline distracted from any art being displayed. I think the most surprise I had was how heavily the landing from the leaps were. Unsure why I expected them to be soft & gentle but they weren't. ***THUMP*** ***THUMP***

[naomi24]

Yes. 'Inglorious Basterds'. I'd avoided Quentin Tarantino films because of their reputation for gratuitous violence - but I thoroughly enjoyed that one - violence and all! I think that's probably the only Tarantino film I've ever seen - so still avoiding them.

[Ken4155]

Told this before on AB. Used to visit the Hamburg Music Halle on the first Saturday of every month as there was always a UK band playing. When Sweet were headlining i didn't want to go in, but i was with a group of friends, one of which assured me i would be mildly surprised. Yes, i had to sit and suffer through their 'teeny-bopper' stuff, but they also played some really heavy rock and i quite enjoyed the gig.

[evadora]

Kept away from Peaky Blinders as watching the trailers I thought NAH!! Saturday had nothing interesting to watch and came across Peaky Blinders and gave it a go. Hakf way through series 2 now and am loving it.

[evadora]

*half way