Friday, May 9, 2008

Nine Movies That Make You Want To Yell, "Stop Saying That"

Movie moments are nice things to share with the people you care about. Most of those shared moments consist of “Remember that one part when the guy with the thing…” and before they can finish you’re interjecting with your own vague, “Oh totally, I love that part!” But occasionally this process extends beyond an inner circle and goes global in its reach. This is where a perfectly fine movie goes to the realm of annoying, because of our need to repeat the catchy lines contained within them. Here is a completely subjective list of movies that have been ruined by our need to copycat.

1. Austin Powers – “Oh behave.” Remember that period after the movie when fairly normal people couldn’t resist putting their pinkies in their mouth and incorporating the word shag into a sentence. Oh, that’s right, no one wants to remember that. Thank god there were two more movies with the same jokes to remind us.

2. The Godfather – A fantastic epic that spawned a generation of bad Marlon Brando impersonations. Sans cotton balls. The most overused, dumb line: “It’s nothing personal, it’s strictly business.” Yeah, and I’m the president of Uzbekistan. People that buy into and repeat this line must have forgotten that the same people who proscribed to this guff also chopped off a horse head and put it into someone’s bed.

3. Jerry Maguire – What started with a nice moment between two deaf people signing in an elevator, “You complete me,” has somehow ended up with people saying to waiter’s at cheesy Italian Restaurants, “You had me at our specials for tonight are.” Lucky deaf people.

4. Napoleon Dynamite – The newest entry, and along with The Godfather combines two elements of mimicry. You can’t just say the line, you have to do it in the voice of the performer as well. How could this possibly go wrong?

5. Scarface – Oh man, give me coke! Give me everything! And after that I’m going to introduce you to my little friend and go down in a blaze of glory! Isn’t drug dealing swell! All right, I know that’s not the point, but ask any guy what their favorite movie is, and I guarantee not one of them is saying, “You know that Out of Africa was pretty fricking good. Remember when Robert Redford said.....” Oh, who am I kidding, I’m a guy; this movie was perfect. Repeat “Say hello to my little friend” as much as you want.

6. Caddyshack – Not for the lines that are said, but for the fact that nobody can remember what the lines are. If the lines were so memorable, why the hell are we constantly butchering them on the golf course?

7. Warriors – All right this isn’t a good movie, but saying “Warriors, come out and plaayeeeaay” is the equivalent of yelling “Freebird” at a concert.

8. Taxi Driver – No one’s looking at you. Stop pretending that someone is.

9. Forrest Gump – Why did copying what a mentally retarded person had to say seem like a good idea? No, life isn’t like a box of chocolates, most of the time we know what we’re getting.

Travis Cloud is a freelance writer from Seattle, Washington.


John Wayne

You remember John Wayne right? It’s okay we won’t tell anyone you’re old enough to remember. John Wayne is fondly remembered for his terrific cowboy pictures and his many wild west movies.

Did you know that some of his movies were based on fact? Although most of his movies were fiction there were some that were not. John Wayne’s role as an actor has been wide and varied. He has played a wide scope of characters ranging from cowboys to solders.

John Wayne was born on May 26 1907 in Winterset Iowa as Marion Robert Morrison. Did you know his nickname was Duke? In fact John Wayne actually produced some movies under his nickname.

Duke was a handsome feller, with his six feet four inches tall frame, brown hair and blue eyes. Many a gal couldn’t resist! Duke played football at University of Southern California and eventually he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity.

There is much discussion between movie buffs about which movie should be credited as John Wayne’s first. At the end of the day, most agree Words and Music shot in 1929 should be classified as his first movie, even though he acted under the name Duke Morrison.

John Wayne or Duke stored in many wild west cowboy movies. His screen career was longer than most, and even today his movies are still very popular.

Some of his classic cowboy movies were Lawless Range where he aids settlers who are harassed by desperadoes. Wayne is captured and must plan his escape before it is too late. This great oldy but goldy was directed by Robert Bradbury in 1935 and was shown in black and white.

Another of John Wayne’s classics was The Range Feud directed by Ross Lederman and produced in 1931. This is a westernized Romeo And Juliet gem. Two Arizona families feud over land while John Wayne threaten to distinguish the flame between himself and co-actress Susan Fleming

The Lucky Texan starring John Wayne with George Gabby Hayes was produced in 1934 and directed by Robert Bradbury. This unlikely pairing of Wayne and Gabby produced a miner hard luck story. The pair strikes gold in their mine, but their luck turns for the worst when some low down claim jumpers frame Gabby for murder in order to get the claim

In Two Fisted Law, he stars as a rancher on the brink of losing his ranch. To make matters worse he is on the brink of also losing his girlfriend and his freedom when he becomes the prime suspect of the Wells Fargo Express Office robbery.

His role as Ringo Kid in the 1939 movie Stagecoach directed by John Ford, was the movie that made him a star. This was Duke’s ticket to stardom. The 1976 movie Shootest was the last movie Duke made.

Whether cowboy or movie buff, anyone who has watched John Wayne, also called the Duke, you have to admit that John Wayne in his wild west cowboy movies is one of the greatest cowboys ever to hit the screen!

Tom Strayhorn is a real cowboy and editor of The Pony Express. Saddle up and visit him at http://www.the-pony-express.com/

Family Movie - Find The Right DVD Movie Club For Your Family

Looking for a good online family movie club or family movie review?

Family movies sell lots of tickets at the box office and every year there are one or more blockbuster movies that are family films.

But with the high price of movie tickets and theatre concessions, watching movies on DVD as a family movie night in the comfort of your own home, is quickly becoming very popular.

Online DVD Movie Clubs

Online there are a number of DVD movie clubs that include family movies in their rental libraries, but only a few actually specialize in providing quality family fare.

While other companies produce some family pictures, none has come close to the huge library of movies that Disney has given us.

Walt Disney brought us Steamboat Willie in 1928 starring Mickey Mouse and in 1973, the Disney Studios gave us Snow White, the first feature length animated movie.

Disney Movie Club

Online the Disney Movie Club offers their signature classic movies, recent releases, preschool videos, sing-a-long video and other popular family choices.

Movie Clubs

Other online family movie clubs include Family Pass (formerly known as Mentura) which bills itself as "your ticket to family entertainment." Family Pass carries a wide selection of movies, television programs, educational and home school videos and spiritual fare. All targeted at a family audience.

Edited Movies

Another popular source of movies suitable for family viewing comes from companies that specialize in editing movies to remove profanity, excessive violence and more adult situations.

Club members can rent the edited, version of popular movies that might otherwise be far less than family friendly.

Online clubs that edit movies include CleanFilms, Flick's Club, Family Edited DVDs and CleanFlix to name a few.

DVD Software Filters

A company called ClearPlay offers DVD software that removes graphic violence, profanity and more adult situations. Movie filters are put together for specific movies and ClearPlay's list continues to grow.

Family Movie Reviews

Online is also a great place to discover family movie review sites that help parents when it comes to deciding which movies to see in theatres or on DVD.

The Dove Foundation, long a family movie advocate, provides online movie and video reviews. And if you're out shopping for movies or videos at your favorite store, you can look for the Dove Foundation's Seal of Approval (much like the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval"). The Dove Foundation's seal is only awarded to movies and videos that meet certain family viewing standards and have been screened and reviewed by Dove Foundation reviewers.

Other movie reviews available online include The Family Style Movie Guide, Movie Mom, Screen It!, Family Cow, Grading the Movies, Kids-In-Mind, and Ted Baehr's MovieGuide which examines and rates movies from a Christian value stand point.

Family Movie Night

Watching movies at home on DVD as a special night for the entire family has become very popular.

Why spend a small fortune taking your family to see a movie at a theatre when you can have quality fun time in your own home? With a special movie night you control the films your family sees. No more unpleasant surprises! And you're guaranteed the best seat in the house.

DVD Movie Club

It's easy to join an online movie club that offers movies for the family or better yet "specializes" in family movies and video.

So take a look at what's on the internet and join a family movie club. Most offer a variety of special benefits to club members that make online club membership very convenient and affordable.

Then pick up some delicious popcorn and some other treats and start the wonderful tradition of family movie night in your home, a tradition you and your children will fondly remember for years to come.

And remember, some of the best and most popular films of all time have been family movies.

Mike Dougherty is a screen writer and certified movie buff. For a FREE kid's movie activity script visit http://fun-kid-birthday-parties.com/birthday-movie-adventure.html and for the very latest kid birthday party information, subscribe to our free Fun Kid Birthday Gazette at http://fun-kid-birthday-parties.com/Kid-birthday-party-ideas-ezine.html

DVD Movie Club - Movies Delivered Right To Your Mail Box

It's dark, cold, raining or all three

But you get in your car anyway and fight your way through traffic to the nearest video store.

When you finally arrive

You quickly discover that the movie your really want isn't even available, the check-out line is way too long, the clerk is too slow, you forgot your store card and you have a movie that's over due... Sound familiar?

The DVD Movie Club Experience

Now, with an online DVD movie club membership, your days of making those inconvenient trips to the video store are finally over.

You can simply go online, select the movies you want to see and your club delivers your titles right to your mailbox... Wow! What a concept. If you love movies, this is a dream come true.

No Due Dates, No Late Fees, No Shipping Charges

That's right; most DVD movie clubs offer you benefits that include no due dates which means you can keep your movies as long as you want. And since there are no due dates, there are no late fees. You simply return your movies whenever it's convenient for you.

And here's another great benefit that makes your DVD movie club experience hassle free.

Most clubs ship your movie selections postage free. The clubs even provide you with free, pre-paid return envelopes for each movie so that when you mail your movies back to your club, it costs you absolutely nothing.

Now what could be better than that?

DVD Movie Club - Membership Choices

Another exciting benefit offered by most clubs is a choice of membership plans. This gives you the ability to rent from one to three or more movies at a time. And no matter what membership plan you choose, you'll still enjoy no due dates, no late fees and free shipping.

DVD Movie Club - Choosing Your Movies

Some movie clubs offer you programs that let you pre-select the kind of movies you like and the specific titles you want to see. With some clubs you can select movies in the order you want to see them. This makes it even faster and more convenient when it comes to choosing the movies you want to see.

Convenient Online Movie And Video Selection

With online movie clubs you can go online anytime you want to, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to select and order your movies from libraries that in some clubs have well over 40,000 titles including movies, TV shows, documentaries, and other video selections.

And you choose your movies online

Make your selections from the comfort of your home, office or on-the-go with your laptop computer. All you need is an internet connection.

DVD Movie Club - Free Trial Offers

Here's another great advantage when you're deciding which DVD movie club to join. Most clubs offer you a FREE trial, just to let you experience their service and see if you like what they have to offer. Free trials can vary from a week to several weeks. During your free trial you'll still enjoy no due dates, no late fees and free shipping.

DVD Movie Club - Rent Or Buy

While most clubs are rent movies, the Disney Movie Club is a special club where you can purchase your favorite Disney classics, recent releases, pre-school video and more. And the Disney Movie Club also carries VHS videos as well as DVDs.

There are so many advantages and benefits to becoming a member of a DVD movie club. Starting with a free trial, no due dates, no late fees, no postage and of course the ultimate convenience of selecting your movies online and having them delivered right to your mail box.

If you love movies, and with the cost of movie tickets going through the roof, joining a DVD movie club is the way to go... Why wait?

Mike Dougherty is a video and motion picture writer, producer, director and movie buff. For a FREE kid's movie activity script visit http://fun-kid-birthday-parties.com/birthday-movie-adventure.html and for the latest kid birthday party information subscribe to our free Fun Kid Birthday Gazette at http://fun-kid-birthday-parties.com/Kid-birthday-party-ideas-ezine.html

Is Online DVD Rental or Pay-Per-View the Best Way to Get Your Movies?

With renting methods such as online DVD rental and pay-per-view, it seems almost old-fashioned to go to the rental store. But with all the different ways to get the latest movies, which way is the best? Well, that depends on what is important to you. Here are some of the different ways you can get the latest movies and the pros and cons of each.

Going to the Rental Store

I guess it is like they say, sometimes you can't teach an old dog new tricks. It is hard to change from the old ways, especially when they work fairly well. If you want to see a movie, there is always a rental store nearby that should have it available. You are allowed to keep it for a couple of days for a price of around $4.00. However, if that movie is late, you have to expect some horrendous late fees (they usually will charge you an additional $4.00 as if you were renting the movie a second time; this gives you a couple of days to turn the movie again before they charge you again). For those who cannot change there ways, renting from a store is not a bad way to go, but you should at least check out the other possibilities, such as the online DVD rental system or pay-per-view, and see what they have to offer.

Online DVD Rental

The newer system of online DVD rental has its upsides and downsides. This system is for avid movie fans. In this system you usually do not pay for each DVD but instead pay a monthly fee for the DVD delivery service. With some plans as low as $9.99 a month with no late fees, you can get about any DVD delivered to your door in one business day. When you are done with that DVD, you simply send it back to receive another. This can be done as many times as you want in one month; however, there is usually a limit of how many DVDs you can have in your possession at one time (depending on how expensive your monthly plan is).

The biggest issue with online DVD rental is the waiting. You have to plan at least one day in advance what movie you want to watch which means no Friday late night movie runs. Also, you have to be renting at least 2-3 movies a month to make it more valuable then renting at your local movie store. If you watch a lot of movies and do not mind the wait, the online DVD rental system may not be a bad option for you.

Pay-Per-View

Pay-per-view has the "right now" benefit that the online DVD rental system does not have. With pay-per-view, whenever you decide you want to watch a movie, you just order it, sit down and watch it. Another benefit with pay-per-view is that you don't have to worry about scratched or skipping DVDs. Companies such as I-Satellite offer 33 pay-per-view channels and 13 sports pay-per-view channels with prices as low as $1.99 to watch a movie. This is definitely a more simplistic way of doing things. However, it can start the money can start to add up if you are an avid movie watcher. Also, with pay-per-view you do not get access to the same "bonus features" that you get with the DVD.

With the choices of renting movies from the store, online DVD rentals, and pay-per-view it is definitely easy to get your movie fix in one way or another. All three methods of getting current blockbusters have their benefits and detriments in which you will have to decide from. Personally, I like the convenience of pay-per-view. No matter when I choose, I can sit down and watch the movie of my choice from several pay-per-view channels available. However, you will have to decide which method is best for you.

Kaitlin Carruth is an Internet Marketer. To learn more about online dvd rental or pay-per-view, please visit I-Satellite.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

My Favorite Movies Journal

The movies--what a wonderful way to spend an afternoon! I love going to the movies. When I thought about why I look forward to going to a movie, I realized it was like meditation for me. The only thing that was on my mind was what was in front of me on the screen. I am in the moment when I am at a movie.

Remember the movie "Harold and Maude"? Although this was decades ago, I remember it well. I started to cry during the movie and did not stop until late that night. This movie brought up so many feelings for me. I identified with Harold. I identified with Maude. I identified with what made each of them different from most people, yet so similar to each other.

Movies are a wonderful vehicle from which we can learn and feel. We can see more about ourselves and the world that surrounds us through movies. We can consider how we might handle the same situations we just watched in a movie. What we would have done differently, and done the same.

A great way to enhance your movie experience is to keep a "Favorite Movies" journal. You can use a blank book, one that you use only for your favorite movies or add your movie favorites to your existing journal entries. Write down the movie title, the date you saw it and with whom you went. You can even paste your ticket stub into your journal next to the title. Journal if you connected with the characters, what you learned and took away from each and what your feelings were.

Movies entertain us, but they can also teach us. What did you learn about yourself? Others? The world?

Did you hear a memorable line, like: "I'll be back" from the movie "Terminator" with Arnold Schwartzenegger or "God put you in my path" from the movie "The Four Feathers"?

Was there a memorable scene? Did it move you? Why?

Would you rewrite the ending? If so, why and what would it be?

When you keep a journal of your favorite movies, your movie experience can continue long after the popcorn is gone and the lights are back on.

Copyright 1999 - 2003 Doreene Clement All Rights Reserved Doreene Clement is the creator of, The 5 Year Journal, a journal where you can journal your life in one book for 5 years. You can tour the book at http://www.the5yearjournal.com

dkcomni@aol.com 480.423.8095

Feel free to pass this along to your friends. If you want to see my column, About Journaling, to subscribe http://www.the5yearjournal.com

Doreene Clement - EzineArticles Expert Author

Monday, April 28, 2008

Las Vegas & The Movies

To be completely fair, the early 60's weren't really the first screen action days in Las Vegas. Frank Sinatra's first movie, Las Vegas Nights was set back in 1941. However, the Rat Pack Days are always a good point to start.

The Rat Packs

Five gentlemen in Las Vegas: Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop and Frank Sinatra. Good friends. Loved to party. And of course, they had their own favourite place to hang out, that was Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (which was demolished in 1996, nowadays the site of the Venitian).

The Rat Pack Days begun in late 50's, somewhat as a reaction to the Cold War early days; the guys came up with the idea of having their own "summit of cool" in Las Vegas; it lasted seven years. As the Sands performing scene wasn't enough for them, the mighty five moved further to movies and recordings.

The seven years brought out seven films: Some Came Running, Ocean's 11, Sergents 3, 4 For Texas, Robin and the 7 Hoods, Marriage on the Rocks, and Cannonball Run II. Ocean's 11 (1960) is the most famous one, and also benefited from a modern remake (2001), starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. The action in new Ocean's 11 involves robbery scenes at Bellagio. The Rat Pack, released in 1998 for cable TV, includes scenes from The Sands.

The King

The good old days gave us the classic Viva Las Vegas (1964), featuring Elvis Presley, who sings his heart out for the beloved "sin city".

Later, in 1970, the King starred a documentary filmed at the International Hotel, nowadays Las Vegas Hilton (Elvis: That's the Way It Is).

The 1979 Elvis, a memorabilia to The King, stars Kurt Russell. The story goes on in 1988 with Elvis and Me, inspired by Priscilla Presley's autobiography. The 1995 BBC documentary The Burger and the King: The Life and Cuisine of Elvis Presley seems to have closed the Elvis & Las Vegas series, up to this moment.

Casino

This one, released in 1995, is the classic. It approaches "sin city" the way nobody dared before. The story is based on the almost fabulous life of Frank Rosendhale (impersonated by Robert de Niro), the best handicapper of all times, and his beautiful wife Gery (impersonated by Sharon Stone). Las Vegas made them rich and television made them famous.

"Casino" hit the box-offices, but Frank said director Martin Scorsese brought the spotlights on his own chopped vision of Las Vegas; blamed him that he was not really interested to either understand casinos or be faithful to the real story; thus, Frank Rosenthale would have told it differently.

The Winner

Las Vegas footage has proven a good luck charm for Francis Ford Coppola's famous nephew, Nicholas Cage. He started with Honeymoon in Vegas in 1992, grabbed an Oscar on the road with Leaving Las Vegas and made a come-back with Con Air in 1997; literally, Nick Cage forced his landing on the Hard Rock Hotel guitar...

Just another subjective list
  • 1971 - Diamonds Are Forever, from the James Bond (Sean Connery) series
  • 1974 - The Godfather Part II
  • The Rocky series (parts III and IV) included brief glimpses from Las Vegas
  • 1987 - Heat, 100% Las Vegas made, starring Burt Reynolds
  • 1988 - Rain Man, with Dustin Hoffman, action set mostly inside Caesars Palace
  • 1991 - Bugsy, the story of Bugsy Siegel and the making of the Flamingo. Casts Warren Beatty and Annette Bening
  • 1993 - Indecent Proposal. Some reviews advice to "save the money for slots"
  • 1995 - Heat, this time starring Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino, the only movie the two "monsters" have met
  • 1995 - Showgirls, mostly a movie about... girls, including many scenes at Stardust

Iulia Pascanu writes for http://www.bestlasvegashotels.info where you can find more information about the best hotels in Las Vegas. Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared: mailto:iuliap@gmail.com