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For Beatle Brad

March 10, 2012 in Movies, Music, Videos with 2 Comments

I recently watched this documentary (for the 3rd time) and thought I would share it with you.  I had never heard of it before until a friend turned me onto it about a year ago, and I always laughed at the notion (because I wasn’t even alive at the time of all the hysteria) of Paul McCartney dying back in the height of Beatlemania.

I was in the bookstore last week and saw the cover of Rolling Stone, and it reminded me of the conspiracy.  With my dad being in town this week (and him being a fan) we watched it.

I won’t give any details about it, other than that it makes some good points and a few good arguments on the cover up of Paul’s death, but if you are a Beatles fan at any level you have to see it for yourself.  I do have to warn you that the visual art in this movie is pretty bad… and funny at times.

The film can be found on Netflix.  Here is the website for more info.

10 fun facts about "Back to the Future"

July 7, 2010 in Movies with 0 Comments


Back to the Future debuted in theaters 25 years ago this week, earning critical acclaim and big box office numbers. Let’s hop in the DeLorean for a trip down memory lane and ten fun facts about Marty McFly, Doc Brown, and the rest of the Hill Valley crew:

1. Michael J. Fox was the first choice for “Marty McFly,” but turned down the role because of scheduling conflicts. Eric Stotlz was then cast and shot scenes for 4 weeks before filmmakers decided he didn’t fit the role and asked Fox again who was able to adjust his “Family Ties” schedule.

2. Ronald Reagan quoted the flick in the 1986 State of the Union Address.

3. Originally, the time machine was a refrigerator, but director Robert Zemeckis worried kids would accidentally lock themselves in refrigerators after seeing the movie.

4. Columbia Pictures rejected the first draft of the script, deeming it “not sexual enough”.

5. Executive Sidney Sheinberg wanted to change the title of the film to Spaceman from Pluto.

6. Professional skateboarders Per Welinder and Tony Hawk helped with the skateboarding scenes.

7. John Lithgow was the first choice for the role of “Doc Brown”.

8. The movie won the Academy Award for Sound Editing.

9. In the original script, Marty used the power of an atomic explosion at the Nevada Test Site to return home.

10. A scene in which Marty pretended to be Darth Vader was cut from the film.

(reblogged from holykaw)

Where the Wild Things Are

October 21, 2009 in Movies with 0 Comments

wild

2 days ago I took my boys to the theater to see “Where the Wild Things Are“. I went in knowing nothing about the film; only that the book it was based on is a fun bedtime story that I loved long ago and that my boys love today. They knew nothing, other than that the previews showed several muppet-like creatures and a boy running through the forest on what seemed to be an incredible adventure.

As the movie began, I expected it to be an adventure only for young children, with a limited idea of a plot that identifies solely with the creativity of a child. While the story was based on that level, I found that the development of each character sat far above the understanding of any child.

I found that this film portrayed some very significant things: identity, loss, innocence, family, loneliness, imagination, fear, love, sadness, and joy. While watching my boys, I saw that they couldn’t possibly be picking up on so many things that I found to be major character development. And in a way I’m glad. In leaving, they thought that the movie was simply fun and I’m happy with how they walked away. For me, I found it to be fun as well, but it grabbed me in a lot of ways that I would never expect a kid movie to touch me. It even conjured up a few tears, which my boys never saw. (and I can’t believe I’m admitting this here).

All that to say: If you’re going to see this movie with a kids expectation, you will have fun, but also be a little perplexed with some of the darkness and complexity that is a major part of this film. If you’re going to see it with adult expectations, you will be touched but left scratching your head with frustration. I think the director left this one sitting right in the middle to give a little bit to everyone. If you have kids, especially boys (over 4) you should go see it. If you don’t have kids, but maybe need to feel like one, wait for the DVD.

PS – great music to carry you through this one.