How do you really feel about George Clooney getting engaged to Amal Alamuddin?

There you go. His love life was becoming an international punch line because film script writers don't make jokes that the audience can't relate to.

I'm not saying this is the only reason for his engagement [I believe that generally people don't make life decisions just for one reason but more for a cocktail of many smaller reasons], but I think it may be a contributing factor.

I think my feeling is that he's given up on finding love and instead is happy enough with Amal as a person and thrilled with how ideal she looks on paper as a wife. Let's hope I'm wrong.

Katie - I hope you're wrong, too, but I think what bothers me most is how fast he's moving. What's the rush? He's always been so in control of everything that it makes this seem almost scripted." Aging A-list actor moves behind the scenes, finds suitable woman, lives happily ever after."

I hope it's real and they'll both be very happy, but the more I read, the less I believe it.

Have none of the "Doubting Thomas's" read 
Nina Clooney's comments and read between the lines.

George's Mother has spoken. 
Good enough for me !

George's parents say what they have to say in public. They've never been less than warm and complimentary about every woman he's dated and they truly aren't the kind to embarrass their son in public by hinting at having any doubts.

Okay, finally the answer for this poll. (Kind of, there was not a box to tick)

It’s annoying...nooh
I fu****g hate it.   

I realized that while we here at COH have been sleeping, he hasn´t. No no, he has stayed up all nights talking exclusively to her. He was lonely, bored, what?

He should have know better! And talk to Siri!
(Siri /ˈsɪri/ is an intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator which works as an application for Apple Inc.'s iOS. The application uses a natural language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of Web services.).

I´m pretty sure many of us agree Siri is super smart and absolutely fantastic, marriage out of the picture too.

Too late.   

And awaking hours discussions have been going on here (who is the next, is there a next, must be the next because long litany of ex´s?), everyone little worried as we know h**s, they come out of nowhere. Were they are now that we need them?! Wtf?

Oh no.
Well hang in there folks, Bon weekend!   

Carla97 wrote:I´m pretty sure many of us agree Siri is super smart and absolutely fantastic, marriage out of the picture too.

I don't think that your "Siri" can give George a blow job though...

To change the subject a bit, this is from a harmonic healing website

Mars Retrograde Alert- From Mar 1-May 19 that red planet is wreaking havoc! Have you noticed you have been having more arguments lately, things are fizzling out, or computers or mechanical stuff is breaking down? Whoever initiates loses--meaning, don't begin anything now if you don't have to. Don't initiate a new love, lawsuit...Wait till May 20th!


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Whoops! Too late - George needed to see this last week! Hope this doesn't jinx things for him.

Thanks Playful,
I was going to initiate a new gym membership, will now put that off for another few years LOL - but seriously food for thought, Im pretty sure Mars is my ruler according to the zodiac (or it could be pluto) so Im not going to mess with anything - will now put off all decisions until May 20th (the procrastinator loves this, do you have any more)

Do we realise we could have missed that there is an elephant in the room!!!! In all the accolades that have been written in regards to all her Degrees when Amal studied in New York she passed with Honours or what ever it was, in... wait for it..........Entertainment Law.
Am I missing something? Why would an International Human Rights Lawyer need or want a Degree in Entertainment Law?

Yep, saw it earlier. Part of her degree course at NYU

I'd assume that this is one of the courses she had to take?

I am still in shock about GC being engaged. But I, like everyone else, will get use to it. Has anyone thought about this...George was still officially with Stacy when he went to LouLou's to Amal's party that she gave for someone back last May, I believe. So we have here, George behaving as George and Amal, who is smart enough to know this is GC, showing interest in a man that was, at least officially, still coupled with another woman. Not trying to be judgemental, but just noticing things.

I don't get the "if she's so great, why isn't she already taken?" argument. Couldn't we say the same about George?

Um, no. George was a self-proclaimed bachelor. He didn't want to be caught. According to previous stories - that I didn't write, and I will probably misquote - but there was reference to her not even/ever having a boyfriend.

Why is it so suspicious that she didn't marry someone else before met George?

I can't help how you perceive things, but suspicion was not in my post. I was referring to all of the news/tabloid articles referring to her as being so educated, beautiful, all that and a bag of chips. Who knows if she's had other attractive, powerful men pursuing her. Not me. She's just "too good to be true".

I agree with you, Missa, that we have very little info on her personal life, so it's all speculation in any case.

About the degree in entertainment law -if it were just a course she had to take she wouldn't get a degree in it - it would be part of a more comprehensive course of study. If she has a degree in entertainment law it's because she wanted it, and took several (or many) courses in that area.

bellybaby wrote:I don't get the "if she's so great, why isn't she already taken?" argument.  Couldn't we say the same about George?

Um, no. George was a self-proclaimed bachelor. He didn't want to be caught. According to previous stories - that I didn't write, and I will probably misquote - but there was reference to her not even/ever having a boyfriend.

Not exactly. It was a friend of the family's saying she didn't know about any boyfriends.

She may not have dated seriously, or she may simply not have introduced her boyfriends to her family.

Exactly, Katie. The fact that an old friend of her mother didn't know about boyfriends means nothing. She travels the world with her job (and without), was in NYC for quite some time, Charlie Rose met her in Aspen, etc, etc, etc

LizzyNY wrote:About the degree in entertainment law -if it were just a course she had to take she wouldn't get a degree in it - it would be part of a more comprehensive course of study. If she has a degree in entertainment law it's because she wanted it, and took several (or many) courses in that area.

Not to split hairs (well, maybe), but I have never read that she earned a degree in entertainment law.  She got an award for it--but according to the NYU website it can be given for excellence on a single paper.  The fact that she went to work at Sullivan & Cromwell in the criminal defense deparment leads me to believe the entertainment law study was one course and not her focus.  I don't really care--but I think some might try and spin it like she has always wanted to be close to the entertainment industry.

Katiedot wrote: 

I think my feeling is that he's given up on finding love and instead is happy enough with Amal as a person and thrilled with how ideal she looks on paper as a wife.   Let's hope I'm wrong.

Ooh, that's cynical. And probably also more realistic than "long time self-proclaimed bachelor falls hard for girlfriend of seven months". But the latter isn't unheard of, right? Can I keep the fairytale for a little while longer?

However this came about, I think we all hope it works out for the best.

I love George Clooney. Period. However, I don't see anything wrong with wishing him well but being a bit skeptical about this. I will grow to like Amal, but if she hurts my George, she is mud in my book.

Missa wrote:

Katiedot wrote: I think my feeling is that he's given up on finding love and instead is happy enough with Amal as a person and thrilled with how ideal she looks on paper as a wife.   Let's hope I'm wrong.

Ooh, that's cynical.  And probably also more realistic than "long time self-proclaimed bachelor falls hard for girlfriend of seven months".  But the latter isn't unheard of, right?  Can I keep the fairytale for a little while longer?

However this came about, I think we all hope it works out for the best.

lol, sure the fairytale's all yours!

And yes, I really really want this to work out for them. It's just that while I've seen a lot of good marriages, I've also seen quite a few men who got married simply because. It's not that they aren't happy, it's just that they married for many reasons, and while they may not love their wife deeply, they do care for their wife. Does that make sense?

Oh, I totally get it. I don't want to get all weirdly familiar, like I actually know the man, but I'd hate to see him settle for less than complete happiness. Not that she's not great and they couldn't be happy together, but I'd hope he'd hold out for The One, if she exists. But I can understand staring down the barrel at 53, with all your friends coupled up and happy and the world kind of snickering behind your back (and to your face) about your personal life, how "good enough" becomes attractive.

There have been quite a few comments about the lack 
of comment coming from George himself about his engagement to Amal.

I have a theory about that.

Maybe he's superstitious. Maybe he feels that if says anything about his happiness or even anything at all about his engagement and plans to get married, something negative might happen.
 Maybe he feels like it's bragging when he's so involved with people so much worse off than himself ie. in Darfur.
Maybe they both feel like that.

 Having just read Karen Duffy's comment about the way he was brought up to not talk about anything you do for others, which I totally agree with and follow in my life,  maybe that's the same feeling he has about talking about something good happening in his life. 
Hope I'm making my thoughts clear  ?

I speak from experience as it took me many years to find the right partner for me. Whenever I said to friends 
"Yes things are going great" or "We have no problems" or "We're planning this or that"
then Booooom, out of nowhere would come a problem. 
It happened so many times. So I learned to keep quiet about the good things.
It's almost like the old saying "You're tempting fate by saying that" 

It's always happened during a health problem too.
 As soon as I say "I'm feeling good today, maybe turning a corner" then a couple of bad days come along.

So I'm totally understanding why George hasn't talked about finding the love of his life and I'm still very happy for them both.

Like everyone else, I'd like a few pictures and hope there will be some of the wedding day too. 
But what will be will be and I'll respect George's decision.

 

That could well be it, Joanna.

Also, a very, very long time ago George mentioned in an interview that he didn't like to talk about his girlfriends because then what you say about them haunts you for ever. That was when everything was in print and it's more true now then ever now that everything's online.

I think George's point was that if he declared his love for someone, years later, when that love is gone, he'd still see his comments as though they were fresh about that person even though both had long moved on.

Not sure exactly why he'd feel the same way about someone he's engaged to as one would assume this is meant to last the test of time, but perhaps keeping stumm just become his habit.

And I would go on to say that maybe he thinks that declaring that now, IF it doesn't work out, then again, those words would forever follow him. Just basically reinforcing what both Joanna and Katie said.

I agree

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I also think it's very much to do with Amal. And that's why it was decided to put the announcement out via Doughty Street in a formal but relaxed way.

She has a career to continue in very different spheres with cllients and cases who may not appreciate the Hollywood hoo haa, and so this was a way to do it with integrity...

I'm sure we will get a statement from both of them when they marry - or maybe not!

What would you say if this message would read in two months??
Shock? Joy?

Shock

no marriage plans ...... no children ...... new girlfriend??       

Merged threads

      

I still think the seventeen year age difference is a problem, I think he needs someone on his level as being fun, and IN MY OPINION she seems to have a stick up her butt.

Just good posture.

I voted mixed feelings a few days ago, but now am completely and deeply sad. A reasonable fan should think if he is happy I am happy - just like what I did when first hearing of the news. But, we are losing him to this one woman. The way he holds her hands and walks side by side with her is so different and tells much more than those badly written reports so far. I feel sad that all his most lovely and gentle smiles in the future would in fact be smiles to her only.

why?
no

I don't think so

I don't think so either. We are not losing him really even though it feels like it at the moment. It will benefit his life maybe we get even now more from him than before.
And she is a private person and will continue her job. So we will not see them together like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. I think they will do they thinks like they have done before. 

But of course I can be wrong......

See now you bring up this stag party thing and it's just a reminder to me that George is going to be hard pressed not to get bored.

For a guy who's had a veritable buffet, an endless smorgasbord of choices when it comes to women he could date and of course, shtup, the idea that he's going to settle down with just one is amazing to me.

I mean, sure, I'd always hoped he would do that one day but I sometimes had my doubts that he would give up something that most men DREAM of!

Most of my male friends were more upset about George getting married than my female friends - which I found surprising.

But then one explained that to him, George was his hero.  George lived the life most guys would give a left nut to live!  And his getting married, to this guy, was seen as throwing in the towel, or giving up that dream!  He was really upset about it.

So it was interesting to me to see that not only women wanted George, men wanted to BE George.

I think it will be a miracle that this marriage lasts.

Not that George isn't a catch.  He does have some really lovely qualities.  But he will continue to have women throwing themselves at him and it takes a very confident woman to not let that affect her and/or the relationship.

I'll give you an example.  Many years ago I was backstage at a music awards show.  As I was ascending a staircase, one of the Dukes of Hazzard's actors was walking down the steps with his wife.  She was a news announcer, if I'm not mistaken.

As I walked up I glanced at both of them and said, "Hi."  He smiled and politely said hello.  She looked at me like she wanted to kill me.  And all I thought as I finished ascending the stairs was, "That marriage is not going to last."  And I was right.  They divorced just a few years later.

So it will be interesting to see what happens with this relationship.  A LOT will hinge on whether Amal has the fortitude to deal with not just the press, but the attention from other women that will still come because she's marrying THE guy!

You must see some pretty interesting stuff, Lorna, and loved your post

Well, Our Hero seems to be moving heaven and earth to be with Amal, and for someone who (by and large) gives the impression of having had monogomous relationships this seems to an emotional one as well. Which says it all. Trust part of all that too. 

To me it looks as though he's found her at last - and can't believe his luck! 'Marrying up' is what he's said

I think he will protect her all he can - I don't see her being interviewed by Eonline or Access Hollywood on red carpets (Unless of course it's a human rights event they're involved in together) 

And given the escalation of the Syria situation, which Amal is likely to have known about in depth, I am not at all surprised now at his reaction to the dodgy Daily Mail article...

Read the other day that Amal is the legislative assistant to the judge in Milosovic's trial...........

Good points which we can discuss in another thread.

I'm reading through this one and I realized I got it a bit off track.

Can you imagine a guy coming on here, seeing the title about strippers and then being extremely disappointed in our comments?  HA!

@LornaDoone said "For a guy who's had a veritable buffet, an endless smorgasbord of choices when it comes to women he could date and of course, shtup, the idea that he's going to settle down with just one is amazing to me."  I thought the same when I first heard of the engagement but over the last few months, I've come to think that George is the safest bet in this relationship.  He's been married before and has sworn for years that marriage was not for him.  To now decide to marry again, I believe he will give it 150% and will not give up easily.  He'll stick with it no matter what may happen.  Amal on the other hand?  I hope it isn't a case of getting caught up in all the romance of the moment, but I can't help thinking that my "somethings not quite right" feeling about the relationship isn't because of George - but Amal.  She's a smart and intelligent woman but is she really prepared for what will (inevitably) come with being the wife of George Clooney?  Time will tell.  Fingers crossed.  (sorry - off topic but not sure where to post this?)

moved posts from another thread to here.

Honestly, I'm sad and disappointed! I think the allure of him, was the fact that he was the eternal bachelor that made us dreamed that one day one of us could have something with him. He married and father that is certainly what will happen to me lost the fascination

I feel it is wonderful , George took his time and found someone he could love and marry. I hope they have a long and happy marriage.

Well, I hope his marriage is whatever he wants it to be, for as long as he wants it - I just hope if he isn't happy with her he doesn't hold on to the marriage to save face. That would be too sad.

At the age of George, in general, you have clear ideas about life, he was shown not to have them. A few months earlier stated that he would never have married and then ....! And 'natural to have doubts! My feeling? it is a choice to not feel alone, in recent times I've only seen always in the middle of married friends with children, frankly seemed like a fish out of water!

At the age of George, in general, you have clear ideas about life, he was shown not to have them. A few months earlier stated that he would never have married and then ....! And 'natural to have doubts! My feeling? it is a choice to not feel alone, in recent times I've only seen always in the middle of married friends with children, frankly seemed like a fish out of water!

Could be lela. You get to a certain age where you seem to have achieved most of what you set out to do in your career but then see that you really don't have anyone with whom to share the fruits of you labor.

And you could also be correct that he's been lonely.  You can certainly have a lot of friends, but at the end of the day, you can feel quite alone in a room full of people.

He himself (I don't know if this is correct) Said that he often feels alone. But I think that he loves Amal and that he finds her at right time, when he was ready to settle down. Probably, if he had met her before, he wouldn't have proposed to her.

So true, Lorna. But you can also feel lonely in a room full of people when you're married too......

For him to be so certain after such a short period of time and with all his 'opportunities' I really think they must have both had that 'wow!' moment a la Matt and Lucy Damon..........dare I say 'meeting of minds' again?