Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts

27 December 2023

My Worry-Free Philosophy (Humor and Serious Truth)

“Revenge it's a kiss, this time I won't miss, now I've got you in my sight.”

( Lyrics from GoldenEye - http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/tinaturner/goldeneye.html )

I love me some Tina Turner. Her being picked to sing a James Bond theme song? So worthy to be chosen to become a member of the same club as Dame Shirley Bassey. She performed this song well, but alas … Revenge is not a part of my worry-free philosophy. 




The advice in the image above (found at glitter-graphics.com) says: “Never go to bed angry. Stay up and plot your revenge.”

Eh! That's great for a joke! But not a route one should take in real life.

 Never go to bed angry. Anger is an emotion that you can fully control. CONTROL IT!! Anger, more often than not, makes you do things you regret for a long long long time.

Say what? Jesus got angry with the money changers in the temple? Yeah well, you're still trying to get to heaven. Don't screw up your chances! Jesus is already there! He can lock the gates!! ☺


Also, don't give me that crap about anger management or you'll make me angry!!  


 Stay up and ... Stay up? WHAT???!!! I get precious little sleep as it is!! You want me to choose between beauty rest versus wrinkles, extra gray hair, and bloodshot eyes? What are my other options?


 Plot my revenge? Plotting is needed when writing a book or a script for a movie. If I have that kind of time to spare and can spend it on plotting, might as well write a book. Why not? I'm wide awake anyway!! You never know. Could be another Harry Potter series.

So the bottom line is: 
Revenge is _______________. In my life, it's a blank and I'm never going to fill it in.



Like to read more of my worry-free philosophy? Click this link: My Worry Free Philosophy You have my assurances that none of the quips and quotes were borrowed from Erma Bombeck.



IN MEMORY OF: Erma Bombeck (1927 – 1996) 
Ms. Bombeck is a beloved American humorist. She was noted for using the vehicle of comedy to aptly and succinctly express practical wisdom and advice encapsulated in witty, terse, hilarious statements.


March is Women's History Month and it seemed fitting to honor her and supply a link to an article which shares some of her selected quotations: http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/quotes/a/qu_erma_bombeck.htm

 

A salute is also due to the Bond goddesses: Tina Turner and Dame Shirley Bassey. My List of the Best Classic James Bond Theme Songs




Photos of Erma Bombeck and Shirley Bassey, Public Domain





(Post First published March 2015.)







28 October 2022

Movie Pick for Friday Night: The Truth About Charlie (2002)

Looking for a movie to watch on Friday night?  Here's my pick.  “The Truth About Charlie” (2002) is a movie which starred Mark Wahlberg and Thandie Newton. When the movie was being advertised in the media, I listened to an interview with Mark Wahlberg discussing his character. He played an American agent who was assigned to a post in Paris, France. He said to make his character more believable, he decided to wear a beret. He figured since he was an American agent performing “undercover” activities, wearing the beret might help him blend in and be less noticeable.


Hmmm? Interesting fashion tip! Come to think of it, I don’t often see American men wearing berets. But I guess the men in France wear a beret? Ya think?  Here's the answer to that question. 

It turns out that berets were adopted by the French military. In the 1920s, a beret became a popular fashion accessory for both men and women. However, according to Trip Advisor, these days it's mostly just tourists you will see wearing the felt berets. (LOL. Kind of like in The Bahamas. It's only the tourists who carry the straw handbags.) 

In USA not many men wear berets but women often sport them to accessorize their outfits. 

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LINKS OF INTEREST: 

How to Style a Beret like an American | STYLE REPORT MAGAZINE ~ https://stylereportmagazine.com/style-beret-like-american/ 

Beret Style Inspiration - How to Wear a Beret ~ https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/g5125/how-to-style-a-beret/ 






Have you visited my entertainment blog?

17 February 2022

Asian Cinema : Movie Review : The King of Masks (1999)

The theatrical masks of Chinese opera were promoted by emperors and high court officials. As a result, they became a traditional art form and along with this tradition, came other traditions. 



Many films are gems that get lost or buried. Even award-winning films like The King of Masks. It's a foreign movie: Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles.

Time period is the 1930s. A master of an ancient Chinese art is growing old. He must pass on his skills to an heir. A male heir.
It's tradition!

Unfortunately, he's childless. In a desperate effort to honor the custom and maintain the trade and the tradition, he buys a young child. In China, poor children are often sold via a black market. He and the child develop a close relationship, however, a “complication” also develops.


"The King of Masks

is a wonderful and touching story. 









22 June 2021

Entertainment : Superhero Movies : Gladiator (2000)

Gladiator; Release date May 5, 2000 (USA); Winner of 5 Academy Awards – made the top of my list for outstanding cinematic achievement and has maintained that position of distinction for more than a decade.


Published a detailed review of the movie “Gladiator” which starred Russell Crowe, who received the Academy Award for his spectacularly awesome performance as the “gladiator who defied an emperor”.  The critique was also written to honor one of my favorite actors, the late Robert Oliver Reed (1938 – 1999), who passed away during the making of the film. Many people would likely categorize this film as Action/Adventure or Drama or Historical Fiction (because the writers took artistic liberty with the historical facts).  As for me, in my humble imaginative opinion, the film could appropriately be categorized under Superhero Movies because Mr. Crowe played his role like he was a superhero! :)


Amazon product image


More Reviews of Russell Crowe Movies:
Have you visited my Entertainment Blog?


31 October 2020

The JFK - James Bond Link (and Other Interesting Bond Trivia)

Sharing links of interest I discovered while researching to publish my article for HUBPages.com:

My List of the Best James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond

JFK's recommendation may have helped sell the James Bond books to America - Did you know that the late former President John F. Kennedy's endorsement of one of Ian Fleming's books promoted the popularity of James Bond films in the American market and helped propel 007 into becoming a worldwide phenomenon?

James Bond books by Ian Fleming Info on the James Bond books by Ian Fleming, including 12 novels and 2 books of short stories.
How James Bond and Steve Jobs changed our world - Economic Times By Bennett Voyles "...October marks two anniversaries that matter a lot to the tech world's collective unconscious: the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film series, and the first anniversary of Steve Jobs' death. ..."
The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum Octopussy (1983), one of seven Bond movies starring Roger Moore, remains the only one in the series to be filmed in India. Parts of it were shot in Rajasthan, with Vijay Amritraj playing a cameo. In the case of Skyfall, complications pertaining to securing permission to shoot on a running train on the Konkan Railway reportedly forced the crew to look elsewhere. The latest Bond movie was eventually filmed in Shanghai, Istanbul and the Scottish Highlands. ...
The 10 Coolest Gadgets in 50 Years of James Bond For 50 years, James Bond has been the master of international intrigue and had some truly great gadgets along the way.
'Skyfall' Star, Naomie Harris Talks New Role And Idris Elba Becoming The First Black Bond Having the opportunity to co-star beside a suave British intelligence agent such as James Bond, requires a lot of skill and technique. According to 36-year-old actress Naomie Harris, prepping for her starring role in, Skyfall, proved to be more strenuous than she originally expected.
Facebook Fan Page: Idris Elba for James Bond. We Want Idris Elba for James Bond. As of Oct 2012 - over 20,000 likes; with almost 4,000 people talking about this.
Biggest Bond Bloopers A collection of bloopers at moviemistakes.com. Highlights the biggest Bond bloopers from all 22 Bond movies (there are over 1,000 mistakes across the entire series!).



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● Irresistible Trivia About James Bond Novels - Treathyl Fox - Medium

● After that, Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, wrote a book a year. This brilliant writer died of a heart attack in 1964. That's a little over ten years!! ● It is not often that I come across...


First published 11/3/14, 9:49 PM CST




An Aston Martin DB5 as seen in Goldfinger. Exp...
An Aston Martin DB5 as seen in Goldfinger. 
Expensive items are often part of a glamorous lifestyle.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

19 May 2020

Entertainment: Movie Review: "The Preacher's Wife" (1996)

In the mood for a movie that is charming, silly, and sweet?  Well, this film is perfect!  The Preacher's Wife ” is a movie that starred the late Whitney Houston (1963 - 2012) and Denzel Washington.  It's a delightful remake of the 1947 classic which starred Cary Grant and Loretta Young, "The Bishop's Wife".




Yeah! I know. No angel Dudley mentioned in the Bible.


Come to think of it? No angel mentioned anywhere except for this movie!


Ms. Houston's character is married to a preacher. Hence the film's title. Her marital relationship could use some "outside" or even "heavenly" intervention if it is to be saved.





The Preacher's Wife

The movie was OK. Not worth an academy award nomination. But the soundtrack makes it worth watching. Especially this particular song: Step by Step.  


“Step by step. … bit by bit … stone by stone … brick by brick … Don't give up! …”

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Original Content Source:  Persona Paper





05 March 2020

Entertainment: Classic Movies: The Manchurian Candidate

I heart vintage classic movies.  Don't you?

- The Manchurian Candidate (1962 original) which starred Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey, along with Angela Lansbury, is now a vintage classic.




- The 2004 movie remake starring Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep had the blessings of Tina Sinatra, daughter of the late Frank Sinatra.

The movies were film adaptations based on a novel, a 1959 Cold War thriller written by Richard Condon.

Both films are worth watching. But only of them is the best!

Published a detailed movie review at Wizzley.com.
* Movie Review: The Manchurian Candidate



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Similar Posts Here at My Blog Stop!:

Classic Movies and History

Superhero Movies: Gladiator (2000)

Classic Movies: The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959)


20 February 2020

Entertainment: Music: Throwback: Peter Gabriel - Shock The Monkey

Having fun with this short post celebrating a throwback.  It's a music video that is great to share any day of the week.  Not just for Throwback Thursday.  Where my Peter Gabriel fans AT?  



"Cover me.  When I sleep. ..."





  • "Shock the Monkey" is part of the soundtrack for the film Project X.




15 February 2020

Little Known Black History Fact: Lee Wesley Gibson and Ben Isaacs

Mr. Gibson or “George” passed away at the age of 107 and is noted in the records as the oldest surviving member of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.





Ben Isaacs dies at 107; oldest Pullman porter

  • Obituary published August 18, 2012 in LA Times: Excerpt:  “Records kept by the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum in Chicago had recognized 102-year-old Lee Wesley Gibson of Los Angeles as being the oldest living Pullman porter until Isaacs — born five years earlier than Gibson — came forward in 2010.”


Originally posted on Majic 102.1:
At 101 years old, Lee Wesley Gibson of Keatchie, Louisiana is the oldest surviving member of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Gibson served as a pullman porter for 38 years. Back in the day, the job of pullman porter was considered a middle-class position, something Gibson, who was raised by a poor single mom, took pride in.


It doesn't matter.  The fact is that both men are in the records and both deserve to be remembered because we all need to be REMINDED that they were unique individual men who each had a name.  THEIR OWN NAME!  A name that some guy couldn't be bothered with learning.  What was that guy's name?  I know he had a name.  Sadly, people don't remember his name fondly.


03 February 2020

Movie Review : 'Mahogany' Taught the True Value of Being a Success

"Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with."


That's my takeaway quote from the 1975 film "Mahogany".

Agree or disagree?


There was once a time when Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams were an "item"; for movie couples, that is. They had great onscreen chemistry but never a real-life romance.

They had a romantic relationship in the film Mahogany (1975).  A movie that is memorable for its really nice theme song and great fashion; especially that Bob Mackie rainbow dress Ms. Ross wore in one of the scenes. When it comes to fashion, beauty, and style though, in real life, Ms. Ross was and still is one of the best-dressed women in the entertainment business; onscreen and off. Click through to view a fabulous gown she's wearing in the video for this September 2014 article:

Diana Ross : Still a 'Supreme' Performer



Diana Rossby peterpicture /  /  / ©2018 peterpicture


Nothing much to say about this motion picture that you can't look up on Wikipedia. That quote about success struck a chord with me though.  That's it!  That's my movie review.

Mahogany (1975)

 




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http://mabellonghetti.tumblr.com/post/145188247227/diana-ross-photographed-by-steve-schapiro-1970s


https://foxnooze.tumblr.com/post/177347788446/the-perfect-embodiment-of-diva-ness-almost

21 October 2019

Witchcraft and Witch Hunting : Past and Present

There was a dark period in the history of mankind when witch-hunting was the order of the day. It began with official approval from Pope Innocent VII in 1484 and continued until around the 17th century when it reached its climax in England, Scotland, and America.  That was the past.

This is the present.  It’s the 21st century. We’re all much more civilized and intelligent than those people were back then. Aren’t we? (O.o)  Nobody is going to whip us up into frenzied mania and have us pointing a finger of accusation at someone, torturing a confession out of them, and still putting them to death for being a witch!




The past is in the past. Fortunately, my only exposure to witches and witchcraft was and is wearing a costume on Halloween or watching the Wizard of Oz. These days, most people like me limit themselves to adding collectibles like the reproductions pictured below of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North to their wish list; or sitting at home and watching The Wizard of Oz on DVD or Amazon Instant Video. Can you believe it has been 75 years? The movie was released in 1939. Listening to Judy Garland sing “Over the Rainbow” never gets old. Might be a good idea to plan an afternoon or evening watching the original movie classic; the Walt Disney prequel, Oz The Great and Powerful; and The Wiz, starring Diana Ross and the late Michael Jackson.


Saturday Afternoon at the Movies!
A Triple Feature! Starts at Noon. 

BYOP! (Bring Your Own Popcorn!)



The Wizard of Oz:75th Anniversary Edition


Oz The Great and Powerful(Mila Kunis; Rachel Weisz)


The Wiz:30th Anniversary


Amazon Best Sellers in Witch & Wizard Mysteries


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The Snowman-Costa Rica Link

Ever see the movie “The Falcon and the Snowman” (1985)*? It provides a very convincing argument for buying real estate in Costa Rica.

*(View the official movie trailer.)



The Falcon and the Snowman starred Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn.   I think the movie should be incorporated into an orientation training class for all civil servants who work in the law enforcement agencies – CIA, NSA, ICE, FBI, etc.   The movie was intense. Riveting! A favorite word used by official movie critics. The best part of the movie for me is David Bowie and Pat Metheny on the soundtrack.   But I digress.

dvdThe movie is about a young guy (Christopher Boyce, played by Timothy Hutton) who works for the government and learns that “things” are not what they appear to be and feels betrayed by his country. He gets angry about it – as any red-blooded patriot would – and decides to sells secrets to “The Enemy”. He recruits his childhood friend (Daulton Lee, played by Sean Penn) who is a dope head! Long story short. In the end they both go to prison. In between, Mr. Lee gets caught and accused of murder. Of course, he didn’t commit the murder but that didn’t stop the law enforcement authorities who captured him from grilling him, thoroughly interrogating him, and torturing him to get the truth out of him.

After all is said and done – they say “He did!,” – he say ”He didn’t! He’s just a tourist, a businessman.” – there’s a scene where he’s about to be released and a man walks in and says something to the effect: “We’re going to give you 2 choices.” Before the man could tell what the choices were, Mr. Lee (Sean Penn) looks up at the guy, weary, scared, demoralized and says in questioning tone of voice: “Costa Rica?”

I CRACKED UP LAUGHING!!

I thought to myself: ‘Now ain’t that sumthin! They done beat the crap about this boy and he is totally weakened and confused, but he still had the clarity of mind to try to negotiate to get sent to Costa Rica!!’ :)
 

football-362110_640


Costa Rica Map (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Costa RicaThis is not a movie review.

Those were introductory remarks to bring the reader to the real topic to be discussed in this post:

 

COSTA RICA

Costa Rica means “Rich Coast”.
  • Capital:   San Jose
  • Primary Language: Spanish
  • Location:  Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama.
Located in the heart of Central America, thousands of tourists decide on Costa Rica as their top travel choice. Why wouldn’t they? Exquisite tropical beaches, entertaining and stimulating culture, adventurous – a land of volcanoes, rain forests, waterfalls, and rivers – and wonder-filled! – natural parks and amazing diving! It’s ideal for a vacation. In fact, the prestigious British newspaper, Daily Mail, recommended Costa Rica as the “perfect destination” for nature and adventure enthusiasts. Ref:  DAILY MAIL article, January 19, 2011.

So for people considering Living, Visiting, or Retiring in Costa Rica, click here to obtain a Free Costa Rica Fact Sheet -OR- click here to find out more about Costa Rica -OR- click here to see what others – possibly “tourists” – have written about it:  Costa Rica – Central America – HubPages.com.

29 March 2019

Entertainment : 4 Movie Picks for Friday Night

Movies! Movies! Movies!! Love watching movies. Not enough time in the day, so there are some films that have not been viewed yet and as such are on My Watch List. They got on the list because of the fab reviews that were written by fellow bloggers. Very convincing!! Better than watching a trailer!  Decided they would be awesome for a Friday night at the movies!  :)  (Or Saturday night.  Or Sunday night.  Or any time you're in the mood to watch a good movie!)



glitter-graphics.com
 


- The Judge
Stars Robert Downey, Jr. and Robert Duvall. Will watch because I'm happy to watch any movie with Robert Duvall. Loved this man ever since “To Kill a Mockingbird” and he was only in a supporting role. Great review found at “Review This”.   Watch Trailer.


- The Equalizer
I'm a fan of Antoine Fuqua movies anyway. Plus really liked the old TV show by the same name. Justin Morales posted a great review!  Watch Trailer.


 - DELIVER US FROM EVIL
Recommended by a random Mexican named Daniel Hernandez. (The name of the blog is “Random Mexican's Movie Review Extravaganza”.)  Watch Trailer.


 - Big Bad Wolves
Non-American film. A Mystery / Thriller / Horror all rolled into one. Suggested by John Mountain who specializes in writing reviews of horror movies. The picture of Frankenstein for the bubble? Let me explain. Not really into scary flicks. Will watch the old horror movies like the kind with Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney Jr.** But John's review aroused my curiosity.   Watch Trailer.





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Visit Our Partner Blog for More Entertainment Suggestions.

23 December 2018

Movie-Dash-Travel : The Snowman-Costa Rica Link

Ever see the movie "The Falcon and the Snowman" (1985)*? It provides a very convincing argument for buying real estate in Costa Rica. 

*(View the official movie trailer.)




dvd "The Falcon and the Snowman" starred Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn. I think the movie should be incorporated into an orientation training class for all civil servants who work in the law enforcement agencies “ CIA, NSA, ICE, FBI, etc. The movie was intense. Riveting! A favorite word used by official movie critics. The best part of the movie for me is David Bowie and Pat Metheny on the soundtrack. But I digress. The movie is about a young guy (Christopher Boyce, played by Timothy Hutton) who works for the government and learns that "things" are not what they appear to be and feels betrayed by his country. He gets angry about it “ as any red-blooded patriot would - and decides to sells secrets to "The Enemy". He recruits his childhood friend (Daulton Lee, played by Sean Penn) who is a dope head! Long story short. In the end, they both go to prison.  There is also a book written about this story as well.
The Falcon and the Snowman: A True Story of Friendship and Espionage by Robert Lindsey (2002-06-02)

In between, Mr. Lee gets caught and accused of murder. Of course, he didn't commit the murder but that didn't stop the law enforcement authorities who captured him from grilling him, thoroughly interrogating him, and torturing him to get the truth out of him.
After all is said and done “ they say "He did!," - he say "He didn't! He's just a tourist, a businessman." - there's a scene where he's about to be released and a man walks in and says something to the effect: "We're going to give you 2 choices." Before the man could tell what the choices were, Mr. Lee (Sean Penn) looks up at the guy, weary, scared, demoralized and says in questioning tone of voice: "Costa Rica?" I CRACKED UP LAUGHING!! I thought to myself: 'Now ain't that sumthin! They done beat the crap about this boy and he is totally weakened and confused, but he still had the clarity of mind to try to negotiate to get sent to Costa Rica!!' :)


Costa Rica
Costa Rica (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is not a movie review.

Those were introductory remarks to bring the reader to the real topic to be discussed in this post:

COSTA RICA

Costa Rica means "Rich Coast".
  • Capital: San Jose
  • Primary Language: Spanish
  • Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama.
Located in the heart of Central America, thousands of tourists decide on Costa Rica as their top travel choice. Why wouldn't they? Exquisite tropical beaches, entertaining and stimulating culture, adventurous - a land of volcanoes, rain forests, waterfalls, and rivers - and wonder-filled! “ natural parks and amazing diving! It's ideal for a vacation. In fact, the prestigious British newspaper, Daily Mail, recommended Costa Rica as the "perfect destination" for nature and adventure enthusiasts. Ref: DAILY MAIL article, January 19, 2011. So for people considering Living, Visiting, or Retiring in Costa Rica, click here to obtain a Free Costa Rica Fact Sheet -OR- click here to find out more about Costa Rica -OR- click here to see what others “ possibly "tourists" - have written about it: Costa Rica - Central America - HubPages.com.

* * Vacation Rentals in Costa Rica * *

* * Costa Rica on a Budget: It Can Be Done * *

By the way, if you're in Costa Rica and you want to make a side trip, Nicaragua might be an adventure!

International Real Estate Investing Choices: South Africa, Bahamas, Panama and Costa Rica

Thinking of international real estate investing? South Africa, Bahamas, Panama and Costa Rica invite and encourage foreign investors. Here is a quick overview of their programs.


* Duplicate Post.  Apologies.  (It happens.) *

17 December 2018

War Movies - The Green Berets and Others

Are you a John Wayne fan? If so, sure hope you will not feel disappointed when I say that I do not share your admiration. I am not a John Wayne fan at all. Sounds un-American, but it’s the truth. Never really liked John Wayne movies, particularly when he portrayed a person in the military because he never served. Some want to imply or hint that he was a draft-dodger. I would feel uncomfortable taking it that far. Besides, many think that the roles he played as a person serving in the armed forces of the United States was great for the morale of the real soldiers. So dissing him for not serving would be kind of unfair because boosting the morale of a soldier far away from home is an admirable service and an act of patriotism. At any rate, this article is not about Mr. Wayne. It is about war movies. Read on.


When trying to compile a listing of war movies that left a mark in my memory, since I grew up during the Vietnam era, The Green Berets (1968), made my initial list. However, it was subsequently eliminated. 

The Green Berets, which starred John Wayne, is about the war in Vietnam. It was taken off my list on account of I could not think of any memorable quotes. On the other hand, the words in theme song were memorable.

Song Lyrics: “Put silver wings on my son’s chest. These are wings of America’s best. One hundred men will test today. But only three, will wear the green beret.”

Seven (7) movies did make the cut (by my standards).
Click link below to view:

My Review of War Movie Classics



War, 10-Movie Collection: The Eagle and The Hawk / The Last Outpost / Bengal Brigad / Jet Pilot / Ulzana's Raid / To Hell and Back / In Enemy Country / Raid on Rommel / Battle Hymn / Wake Island


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* * NOTE:  This content first appeared at Webnuggetz.com, Mar 2014.

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