Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts

Thursday, January 08, 2009

In Memoriam : Eartha Kitt

The world lost a very distinctive voice and an most unique personality Dec 25th. Veteran actress, singer, dancer Eartha Kitt died at 81.

Through the 1950s and '60s, she performed on stage and television, in films and nightclubs.

Her best-known TV performance was as Catwoman on the '60s series Batman. Her distinctive purr was later featured in the animated film The Emperor's New Groove and the Disney Channel series The Emperor's New School, for which she won Emmy Awards in 2007 and 2008.

The biggest controversy of her career occurred in 1968, when she spoke out against the Vietnam War at a White House luncheon hosted by first lady Lady Bird Johnson.

She was investigated by the FBI and the CIA and subsequently worked almost exclusively overseas. She later returned and, in 1978, was the toast of Broadway performing in Timbuktu.

Just before she died I had downloaded several of her songs including "I Want to Be Evil" I also have a copy of her version of "Santa Baby" which was certified gold last month. Earth Kitt had one child, a daughter Kitt Shapiro from her marriage to John Barry Ryan. Kitt said this of her mother:

"I had the most amazing mother. She was not afraid of dying. She was in pain, but funny right to the end. One of the last things she said when I was talking loudly to her - like you do to a sick person - was: 'I'm dying. I'm not losing my hearing!'
"And she said, 'There won't be a burial. I'll be cremated. I don't want to take up space.'
"My mother had no regrets. She said: 'I have lived an amazing life. I did everything I ever dreamed of.' I was truly, truly blessed to have landed in her lap."

Eartha Kitt had to rise above an early life of abuse and her story is inspiring. I hope that at some point she was able to come to the saving Grace and Knowledge of Jesus. Please pray for her daughter and two grandchildren.

Eartha Kitt: A triple-threat talent for the ages - USATODAY.com

Monday, April 07, 2008

In Memoriam: Charleton Heston

Charleton Heston has passed away. He was 82. His wife of 64 years was at his side.

When I think of Charleton Heston all I can think of is "larger than life". He did so many things on screen and off and did them all well. He was a great actor, President of the SAG, President of the NRA, Medal of Freedom recipient and champion of civil rights supporting Dr. Martin Luther King.

Charelton Heston was also a Christian. He had a testimony wherein he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. To me this is especially important. While I never met Charleton in this life, I will get to meet him in the next!

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Thursday Thirteen #66

13 Things About Dane Bramage
13 Movie Titles/Theme Songs

While sitting in the cafeteria the other day I heard an old Supremes tune. It was "The Happening". Wasn't that a movie? I thought to myself. "Well it's certainly an idea for Thursday Thirteen" I added. Some of these songs was more memorable than their movies. Some were monster hits to blockbusters. So here are 13 songs that are movie titles.

The Happening The song was by The Supremes and Anthony Quinn did the 1967 film.

To Sir With Love Lulu had a hit but so did Sidney Portier in the film also from 1967

The Way We Were Babs and Redford did a film in 1973 that I can't remember but that song will never die.

Shaft Richard Roundtree portrays the bad mother shut-yo-mouth in this 1972 film directed by Gordon Parks. Issac Hayes did the monster hit theme song.

You Light Up My Life The song won an Oscar. The movie had the song in it which is the best you can say about it. I vaguely remember Didi Conn in this 1977 snoozer.

Purple Rain Prince or whatever he's known as or formerly known as, made a couple films. This one from 1984 didn't suck. And while it wasn't as ubiquitous as "When Dove's Cry", "Purple Rain" got a lot of air play.

Fame The 1980 Award winning movie spawned a TV show and both had the same popular theme song.

Pet Sematary A story by Stephen King made into the 1989 film complete with a theme song by the Ramones.

Xanadu You would think a musical with Gene Kelly would be awesome. This 1980 film not so much. Co-star Olivia Newton-John's theme was a nice little ditty.

Superfly This 1972 film was blaxploitation at it's best. Shaft's Gordon Parks directed this film too. The great Curtis Mayfield made his solo career with the soundtrack to this film. I still know the words to "Superfly" and "Freddie's Dead". I can't find any hard facts but allegedly, the soundtrack out grossed the film.

New York, New York Minelli and De Niro starred in this 1977 film. And while none of the versions from the film itself pop into mind, everyone knows that Frank Sinatra took possession of this song and is associated with it to this day.

Footloose 1984 film with that Kevin Bacon guy that everybody is related to in seven degrees. Kenny Loggins does the theme song honors. A body double did the dancing.

Grease A 1978 film of a play or something like that. Olivia Neutron-Bomb and John Travolta star. Frankie Valli sings.

I didn't list any Bond Themes because there are so many and my last Thursday Thirteen was Bond related. But if you have a another favorite list it in the comments.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Thursday Thirteen #65

13 Things About Dane Bramage
13 Favorite Bond Films

I love a good James Bond flick. And there have been many. This is a list of my favorite 13 Bond films. If you click the poster you can go to the IMDB.COM site page for the movie.

Dr. No The first Bond ever. Sean Connery begins defining the role. Plus there's Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder

Goldfinger A classic Bond and did any Bond girl have as provocative a name as Honor Blackman's Pussy Galore?

On Her Majesty's Secret Service Connery held out and George Lazenby steps in as Bond (once). Many people hated this film. I liked it. Especially Diana Rigg who becomes Mrs. James Bond very briefly.

Thunderball This Connery flick had a working title of "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" and Dionne Warwick even recorded the theme song. It was later changed to Thunderball and a new theme recorded.

Diamonds Are Forever The last Connery Bond Film (Not counting Never Say Never Again) and my favorite of his.

Live And Let Die Roger Moore is my least favorite Bond. But I really liked this, his first film. David Hedison plays Felix Leiter and is the only actor to ever reprise the role. (Felix got married in "License to Kill" to that Three's Company gal.) And I think the theme song to this film was the biggest commercial hit of any Bond Theme.

The Man With The Golden Gun I liked this film because one of my favorite actors was in it. No, not Herve "Tatoo" Villechaize, although he was in it. I am referring to Christopher Lee. Master of the Hammer Horror and who had to be the tallest whitest Fu Manchu ever filmed. People may not recognize the name Scaramanga; assassin with three nipples, but they know Count Dooku, Saruman and Dr. Wonka.

The Living Daylights I am torn between Sean Connery and Timothy Dalton as to who is the better Bond. I liked this film not only because of Dalton but because of the scope. I think Bond hit all seven continents in this one.

Licence To Kill In my opinion, the greatest Bond film ever. I loved seeing Bond on a personal mission and it was cool seeing Q in the field. I even loved the theme song by Gladys Knight. I am so disappointed that Dalton never made another Bond film after this.

Goldeneye I waited for this film a very long time. Before Dalton became Bond, Pierce Brosnan was supposed to be Bond. However at the time, Brosnan was under contract with NBC (Remington Steele) and they wouldn't release him even though they had canceled the show. I guess it worked out for him though. He may have only done two films before the franchise got tied up in legal red tape after Fleming's death. The film was good but Brosnan's run overall was a little disappointing.

The World Is Not Enough Perhaps my favorite Brosnan Bond film. Oh and I loved the theme song which put me onto Garbage.

Die Another Day Can any film go wrong with a scantily clad Halle Berry? Otherwise I thought the film was a little over the top with it's gadgetry. It was more Sci-Fi than Spy-Fi.

Casino Royale We have come full circle. A new Bond in Daniel Craig and a new Bond in the sense that this film is his first mission. Craig has the charm of Connery and the grit of Dalton. I can't wait to see where he takes the franchise.

Let's see, 1962 to 2006. That's 44 years of Bond films. Almost half a century. Who's your favorite Bond? What's your favorite Bond film? Tell us in the comments

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Action Hero

Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones is an archaeologist/adventurer with an unquenchable love for danger and excitement. He travels the globe in search of historical relics. He loves travel, excitement, and a good archaeological discovery. He hates Nazis and snakes, perhaps to the same degree. He always brings along his trusty whip and fedora. He's tough, cool, and dedicated. He relies on both brains and brawn to get him out of trouble and into it.

Indiana Jones

79%

Neo, the "One"

75%

Maximus

71%

William Wallace

58%

The Terminator

58%

El Zorro

50%

James Bond, Agent 007

50%

Batman, the Dark Knight

46%

Captain Jack Sparrow

46%

Lara Croft

46%

The Amazing Spider-Man

46%

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #52

13 Things About Dane Bramage

13 Comic Books That Became Movies
The whole Iron Man movie thing got me to thinking about comics and movies so I decided to make a list of 13 comic book heroes that were made into movies.

Captain America IMDb link This film sucked horribly. The best thing in it was Ronny Cox. They are scheduled to make another one although I understand that in the current comic line Captain America is dead. Go figure.

Punisher (IMDb Link1 IMDb Link2) Didn't see the 1989 version with Lou Gossett Jr. and Dolph Lungren? Don't worry it went straight to video in this country. Before the release though I snagged a copy of the film released in Japan. It had Japanese subtitles. The 2004 version was high budget but I thought the Punisher was too cruel and sadistic.

Fantastic Four (IMDb Link)Unbeknownst to most there are three Fantastic Four movies. The latest two were great. The first sucked so bad they never intended it to be shown.

Spiderman (IMDb Link) Marvel finally got it right with a big name hero. Three major successes following a mediocre television series.

Hulk (IMDb Link) Here we have the opposite. A mediocre (but big CGI budget) movie after a long running successful television show.

Blade (IMDb Link)I think this really gave Marvel some confidence in the whole comic book to movie idea. Blade was a huge stylish success with two sequels.

The Rest of the post is below the fold. Go to the end of the post and click "We want to read more!"

Daredevil (IMDb Link)One of the few times I enjoyed watching Ben Affleck. I thought the movie was good. Some had a problem with Kingpin being played by Michael Clarke Duncan. Kingpin is a white villain and Michael is a black man. Didn't bother me at all

Ghost Rider (IMDb Link)While this was not a bad movie, it was not a sensational movie. They took lots of liberties with the comic story but that happens more often than not in comic movies. Still I will own a copy.

Xmen (IMDb Link)I loved the X-Men of the sixties and I loved the more famoous team of the seventies and eighties. I absolutely loved this movie and the second one. The third was okay I just didn't like the fact that they killed so many heroes.

Superman (IMDb Link)My all time number one favorite comic movie of all time. I was blown away as a teen watching it in the theater. I loved the second movie too! The third was okay the forth was boring. Then there was Superman Returns and I say "Why?" It was an abomination, a waste of celluloid. I HATED everything about that flick. The makers should be stoned for their sacriledge.

Batman (IMDb Link)Like the Superman franchise, the Batman franchise was a favorite starting with the first and decreasing with each installment. Micheal Keaton was by far my favorite Batman. But where "Superman Returns" sucked canal water, "Batman Begins" excelled! It was awsome.

Ultraviolet (IMDb Link)Probabbly would have been better titled "Ultra Violent". It was non-stop fight scenes. All flash and no substance.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IMDb Link) I actually had issue #2 of TMNT and people thought I was crazy. Then they were everywhere. That comic would be worth lots of money now. They did live action movies in the eighties plus cartoons. The last film was all CGI.

There are others, some made just for TV some made just for video. There's Aeon Flux, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Electra, Catwoman, Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD, Transformers, and Mystery Men to name a few. Name some more in the comments.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

What Do You Mean He's Black?

I noticed in the credits for the upcoming Iron Man Movie that the role of Nick Fury will be played by Samuel L. Jackson. Well old school comic fans like myself remember that Colonel Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a white man. He was a white man when he was Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandoes too. But in the Ultimate Avengers series he is an African American. And this has cause some issues with comic purists. They don't seem to feel it is right to reimagine Nick Fury as an African American. But who to blame? It would be wrong to blame Hollywood because this movie is following a growing trend in the comics industry to PC-ize old minor and supporting heroes. Heroes who were once white males are being replaced by African Americans, Asians and Hispanics. Some are being replaced by women.

I am not quite sure if I approve of this trend. But I haven't followed comics for over a decade. The comic companies claim to be reaching out to minorities. But minorities are not a big part of the comic reading demographic. I suppose that supports the comic companies actions if you believe the lack of minority readership is due to to a lack of minority heroes. But if Bruce Wayne suddenly died and a Hispanic teen stepped in and took up the mantle of Batman, would more Hispanics read it? But that will never happen. They will never change the major players, Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Wonder Woman. So is changing just the minor characters sending the wrong message?

Actually Samuel L. as Fury isn't so bad in my book. The Ulltimate Avengers has had a Black Nick Fury for five or so years now. A neat piece of trivia mentioned on the IMDb site:

In an issue of the Marvel comic Ultimates (the Ultimate version of the Avengers, of which Iron Man is a member) the eponymous superheroes discuss who could play them in a possible movie, and Nick Fury (who is African-American in the Ultimate reality and artistically based on Sam Jackson, bearing a striking resemblance throughout the entirety of the series) says the only actor who could portray him is Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson plays Fury in this film

Still you could always go back and have David Hasselhoff reprise his role as Nick Fury: Agent of Shield (1998)(TV)

That'll teach ya.

Monday, October 15, 2007

It Wouldn't Be So Bad If the Theme Song Wasn't So Dated

Dave's favorite superhero. In theaters May 02, 2008.

Personaly I thought Milestone's/DC's Hardware was much cooler. I would definitely go see a movie about Hardware.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #44

Thursday Thirteen #43

13 things about Dane Bramage

13 MegaMetaSmithees Nominated Movies
OMG! Is it that time again?!! What time you ask? Why time for the sexo-annual MegaMetaSmithees Awards! (okay I made up the word sexo-annual but it is suppose to mean every six years.) Every year I sojourn to the state capitol for the annual Smithee Awards! There are 19 categories, each with five of the worst movies ever put on film as nominees. The audience views the clips and votes for the winner. Simple right. Well after five years of awards, the previous winners are pitted against each other. Talk about tough and too close to call! Anyway I thought I would share with you the names of 13 of the nominated films so you know what to avoid (or look for) in the video store! The clever writing utilized in the synopsis are by Bryan Cassidy and Kevin Hogan from the Smithee Awards site.

Roller Blade Nominated in 5 categories The Holy Order of the Roller Blade is a group of roller-skating nuns whose holy symbol is a happy-face, in a post-apocalyptic world gone horribly, horribly wrong. Yet if this is so wrong, I don't want to be right. The nuns are opposed by a group of mutants lead by the evil Doctor Saticoy. The crisis points come when Doctor Saticoy steals the nuns' sacred power crystal, and kidnaps the Sheriff's son.

Guns of El Chupacabra Nominated in 4 categories This movie is perhaps the apex of the art of movie-making known as "Zen Filmmaking." No scripts are used in Zen Filmmaking. The "spontaneous creative energy" [sound of Kevin retching] of the director is the only guiding principle. Keeping that in mind, the plot of this film resembles a railroad switching yard. The various plot elements are chugging along, like trains, all heading toward the same spot. And the viewer sits in semi-darkness, anticipating the sleight-of-hand that will occur when these plot elements converge. The train wreck is truly awesome.

Deathsport Nominated in the "Wanna Run That By Me Again?" category In the far future, after the "Neutron Wars", humanity lives in two huge cities. The insane Lord Zirpola, leader of the city Tritan, has a new weapon that he intends to use against the inhabitants of his rival city, but first he wants to test it against some of the hardy Range Guides who strive to bring order to the blasted no-man's-land between the cities.

Gymkata Nominated in the "Alas, Poor Yorick" category Jonathan Cabot (Kurt Thomas) is a world-class gymnast. His father disappeared into the country of Parmistan many years ago. Now it's been decided that the country is the perfect site for a "Star Wars" base. However, the only way The Khan will ever allow a base to be built is if it is requested by the victor of The Game (the national bloodsport). Kurt has to combine his gymnastics with ... um ... well, he utilizes his gymnastics to compete in The Game.

Arcade Nominated in the "Deus Ex Machina" category Arcade is a video game. A really crappy video game, actually. And not just because it's evil. You lose, it gets your soul...and nobody's ever won. And the only way to stop it is for a girl who's no good at video games to go into the game and beat it from the inside

The Angry Red Planet Nominated in 2 categories A rocketship returns from Mars with two crewmembers missing, a third suffering from a mysterious ailment, and all their magnetic data tapes erased. The government is in a race to discover what has happened, in an attempt to save the life of the stricken crewmember. The movie takes place in flashback, and in "Cinemagic" (i.e. "migraine vision") when on the surface of Mars.

The rest of the list is below the fold. Go to the end of the post and click "We want to read more!"

World without End Nominated in the "Stupidest-Looking Monster" category A group of astronauts returning from a Mars mission fly through an unexplained time warp and end up on a 26th Century Earth. They need to find their way home, if they can, or find a safe place to live, if they can't.

Circuitry Man Nominated in the "Best One-Liner" catagory This is essentially a chase movie. Lori, a bodyguard, steals a case full of neuro-chips, and heads from LA to New York via the underground tunnels. Her companion is a pleasure android. They are being chased by a psychotic criminal named Plughead (Vernon Wells).

House of Exorcism Nominated in the "Cutting Butter With A Chainsaw" category This is a very bizarre Italian film starring Telly Savalas and Elke Sommer. This film is to The Exorcist what Time of the Apes was supposed to be to Planet of the Apes, in other words, a poor-quality ripoff. Elke gets possessed and goes on this strange interior journey...or something. It's really hard to tell what. Maybe the demon is reminiscing about the past. Or not. I can't even figure out if Telly is supposed to be the Devil or just a creepy butler who collects life-sized dolls.

Skyscraper Nominated in 2 categories Anna Nicole Smith is a helicopter pilot who discovers that one of the buildings she is making a delivery to has been taken hostage by terrorists. Similar to Die Hard, but with two very big differences.

Zombie Lake Nominated in 4 categories During World War II, a group of Nazi soldiers was ambushed and drowned in a lake in France. Time passes, and the Nazis come back as zombies to terrorize the populace

Warriors of the Apocalypse Nominated in the Worst Special Effect category A group of apocalyptic warriors follow a strange primitive man to his home territory, a "voodoo mountain" where people live forever. When they arrive, they find a paradise (complete with a bevy of bikini-clad young women). But, as always, something strange is going on, and the old guy ("Doc") just has to get to the bottom of it.

Slaughter Nominated in the Acting Appropriately Stupid category It's blaxploitation at its finest. Slaughter's family was clipped by the Mob and now the Feds tell him where the remaining mobsters are hiding in Mexico, using the Badass Black to wipe them out.

I am so looking forward to this award show. It is always a hoot. I was at the last MetamegaSmithees so I know. And guess what. They joked about a SupermegametaSmithee Awards show which will pit all the megametaSmithee winners against each other. Well now that is just a little more than a decade away. Who knows, we just might see it!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants