Saturday, June 19, 2010

MOVIE NEWS … PIXAR MOVIES

MOVIE NEWS …

PIXAR MOVIES

 

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Celebrating the geniuses at Pixar has practically become an annual event. After the release of each successive film, the company is hailed for its gargantuan imagination, its seemingly-endless ingenuity, its unparalleled ability to entertain children and adults alike, and, of course, for its reputation as not only the best set of storytellers in the field of animation, but in Hollywood itself. Judging by the reviews for the studio's much-anticipated Toy Story 3, the company has struck creative and commercial gold once again. And at this point, what did we expect?

Toy Story 3 is the studio's 11th film, and stands to usher in a new era for the company. Two of its next three movies will be sequels (Cars 2 in 2011 and Monsters, Inc. 2), while 2012 will mark the first year the studio will release two films within the same calendar year (the other being its first fairy tale, Brave). Meanwhile, homegrown talent like Andrew Stanton and Brad Bird have started to veer off toward directing live-action films (Stanton with John Carter of Mars, Bird with Mission: Impossible IV). But, as Pixar has proven time and time again, the studio is unrivaled at promoting and developing talent from within. As the company looks ahead, it's as good as time as any to look back at its (incredible) achievements.

10. Cars (2006)

Directed by John Lasseter

Cars, while certainly a cut above most animated films these days, is nonetheless Pixar's weakest effort—one that's hampered by an overlong, surprisingly old-fashioned Route 66-inspired story, and the plain miscalculation of building a film around talking cars. (Robots, bugs, monsters and fish? Sure! But cars? Just doesn't work.) Still, it has a certain breezy charm and, true to form, enough memorable characters (like Mater) that make it a journey well worth taking.

9. A Bug's Life (1998)

Directed by John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton

A Bug's Life tends to get lost in the shuffle when discussing Pixar films, which is a shame because it is, through and through, thoroughly delightful. While perhaps the company's youngest-skewing film, it is never less than a boundlessly charming and vibrant adventure, featuring some of Pixar's most distinctive (albeit pint-sized) characters.

8. Finding Nemo (2003)

Directed by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich

Putting Finding Nemo—Pixar's biggest box office success to date—this low on the list feels absurd, considering it contains one of its most signature characters (that'd be Dory, obviously) and some of the studio's finest comedic moments. But that's just how good the Pixar library is. Nemo's rousing, epic tale of father-and-son proved no world is too large (or vast, or endless, or blue) to capture the imaginations of the folks at Pixar.

7. Toy Story (1995)

Directed by John Lasseter

The one that started it all. Still to this day, Toy Story is a remarkable technical achievement (the first computer-animated film) and a flawless blueprint for all of the Pixar films that followed: start with a litany of standout characters (Woody, Buzz, Potato Head, Slinkie, Rex, and more); add a decidedly-sinister villain (in this case, the skull-shirted bully Syd); and top it off with a well-rounded, awe-inspiring adventure, and you've got the makings of an enduring classic.

6. Up (2009)

Directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson

Anyone who doesn't get a little misty-eyed at the loving montage of Carl and Ellie's marriage in the 10 minutes of Up should probably be checked for a pulse. Or a heart. That emotional undercurrent—of love lost and of dreams and chances not taken—elevates this Hayao Miyazaki-like story that bursts with life, wonderment and the studio's sublime brand of magical realism.

5. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Directed by Pete Docter, Lee Unkrich

and David Silverman

Monsters, Inc. may very well be the most lovable film in the illustrious Pixar canon. And, based on everything from the exhilarating door-chase sequence to the brilliant decision of naming its colourful monsters run-of-the-mill things like Mike Wazowski, it might be its most inventive, encapsulating the spirit of childhood unlike any other of the company's singular creations. And that ending?  Perfection.

4. Toy Story 2 (1999)

Directed by John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich and Ash Brannon

Improving on the original in almost every way, Toy Story 2 took the characters we grew to love in the first film and separated them—usually a recipe for disaster. But in this case, with Woody discovering the rest of the round-up gang, the new characters are integrated impeccably, and the larger scale of the story allows the sequel to have more gravity. It will be hard for Toy Story 3 to top this.

3. WALL-E (2008)

Directed by Andrew Stanton

Ambitious. Daring. Incredible. A work of art. Pixar's loftiest film yet happens to be all of those things and more. It also happens to be near-perfect, especially in its near-silent first half. Its deceptively-straightforward tale of two robots in love is shrewdly enmeshed in an environmentally-friendly story with a rather scathing critique of American consumerism and decadence. The pure sense of wonder and level of artistry in WALL-E continues to be nothing short of astonishing.

2. Ratatouille (2007)

Directed by Brad Bird

On paper, the story of a French rat who dreams of being a five-star chef sounds ridiculous. On screen, it's still a little ridiculous. But, that's part of Ratatouille's delectable charm. There are some startlingly profound themes within Brad Bird's Parisian romp—namely, that dreams are tenable no matter who you are or where you come from and this even applies to rodents, too. Joyful and preternaturally wise, the film is Pixar's smartest and best-written film to date.

1. The Incredibles (2004)

Directed by Brad Bird

It is no small coincidence Brad Bird dominates the top two slots. The man is incredibly gifted, trusting his audience enough to incorporate sophisticated, adult themes into his seemingly-simple stories. With the dizzyingly-inventive The Incredibles, Bird made that rare, elusive thing: an action movie with pathos. As it stands, the film is not just Pixar's best, but also one of the best superhero movies ever made, animated or otherwise.

MOVIE TRIVIA … EWAN MCGREGOR

MOVIE TRIVIA …

EWAN MCGREGOR

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Hates Clueless: "I hated Clueless (1995) with a passion. I thought it would have been a really good film if someone had blown her head off at the end with a really huge gun. I mean, this rich bitch suddenly becomes charitable and then she's okay? And then there's the token black friend. It was so corrupt, so L.A., I hated it."

He actually dropped out of school because his mother wanted him to.

Was considered to play James Bond in Casino Royale (2006).

Is short sighted, but he had a laser eye operation to improve his eyesight, so he didn't have to wear glasses or contact lenses anymore.

Considered for the role of Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).

Refused to have his wife and kids visit him on the set of Black Hawk Down (2001), because he felt the content was too violent and too bloody for them to see.

Is very particular about his children being photographed or seen on television. He strongly believes that just because he is famous, that should not give anyone the right to invade their privacy.

Ewan and his wife Eve have the same initials, even with her maiden name.

Originally auditioned for the role of Mercutio in the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet (1996). He later got his chance to work with "Romeo" director Baz Luhrmann when he was cast as Christian in Moulin Rouge! (2001).

Was originally up for the lead role in The Beach (2000/I), which would have reunited him with director Danny Boyle and screenwriter John Hodge who collaborated with McGregor on Shallow Grave (1994), Trainspotting (1996) and A Life Less Ordinary (1997). The role went to Leonardo DiCaprio. While McGregor blames studio influence for the casting decision he has not spoken to either Boyle nor Hodge since.

TRIVIA BITS …. LAST ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW

TRIVIA BITS ….

LAST - ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW

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The last Andy Griffith Show was televised on September 16, 1968.

HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY 3

HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY 3

It has always been a well known fact that the camera reveals all.

Enjoy this series of high speed photographs that tell us more about this wonderful world.

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SUPERSTITIONS ... WEDDING CAKE

SUPERSTITIONS ...

WEDDING CAKE

 

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If a single woman sleeps with a piece of wedding cake under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband.

WEDDING CAKE PIECE

ONE HIT WONDERS … KIRBY STONE FOUR

ONE HIT WONDERS …

KIRBY STONE FOUR

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Artist: Kirby Stone Four
Song: Baubles, Bangles and Beads
Year: 1958

Kirby Stone founded the group in the years after World War II and began playing clubs in the New York area. They won slots on local television, including The Ed Sullivan Show, and soon after signed to Columbia Records.

Several LPs followed, including Baubles, Bangles and Beads; their version of the song "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" became a hit in the U.S. in 1958, reaching #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also nominated for a Grammy award. On the strength of the single, the album reached #13 on the Billboard 200.

QUOTABLES … MARGARET THATCHER

QUOTABLES …

MARGARET THATCHER

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Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, then you aren’t.

Margaret Thatcher

Friday, June 18, 2010

HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY 2

HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY 2

It has always been a well known fact that the camera reveals all.

Enjoy this series of high speed photographs that tell us more about this wonderful world.

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REMINISCING …GLENN FORD

REMINISCING …

GLENN FORD

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Glenn Ford - a Canadian-born American actor from Hollywood's Golden Era with a career that spanned seven decades.

Despite his versatility, Ford was best known for playing ordinary men in unusual circumstances. He acted in West Coast stage companies, before joining Columbia Pictures in 1939.

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His stage name came from his father's hometown of Glenford, Canada.

His first major movie part was in the 1939 film Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence.

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Other well known movies include Gilda, Blackboard Jungle, Interrupted Melody , Teahouse of the August Moon and 3.10 to Yuma.

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JUST FOR FUN … INTERESTING PHOTOGRAPHS

JUST FOR FUN …

INTERESTING PHOTOGRAPHS

Sometimes you happen to be in the right spot at the right time – just like these photographers!

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THIS WORLD … INCREDIBLE WATERFALLS OF ICE

THIS WORLD …

INCREDIBLE WATERFALLS OF ICE

We're used to seeing stunning images of cascading waterfalls in all their fluid glory, but have you ever wondered how they would look if Jack Frost was let loose on them?

1. This enchanting image of an ice waterfall perfectly captures the force and flow of the water underneath the ice, making it hard to comprehend how it ever manages to freeze.

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2. Ice climbers flock to The Fang in Vail, Colorado. The enormous ice pillar forms from the cascading waterfall only on exceptionally cold winters, and when it does the column can measure up to 50 meters high and has been known to have a base measuring 8 meters wide.

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3. If you think climbing an ice waterfall is scary, imagine the fear factor when part of the cascade reaks off and collapses to the ground mere meters from you and your buddy. That's exactly what happened climbers Albert Leichtfried and Markus Bendler on their ascent of a frozen waterfall near Hokkaido, Japan. Their friend managed to capture the frightening moment on camera. Both climbers made it to safety soon after.

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4. Thick layers of ice sit on St Louis Falls in Beauharnois, Quebec. The area is home to one of the largest hydroelectric generating stations in the world.

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5. This fantastic shot shows the waterfall freezing from outside in; there's still a considerable waterfall flowing within the ice lume.

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6. Undulating waves and nodules of ice give this waterfall in Starved Rock State Park, Illinois, such wonderful texture.

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7. This random waterfall was discovered on the road side of a seldom travelled road near Hamilton, Canada.

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8. The folds at the bottom of this waterfall demonstrate how slowly waterfalls can freeze, and are in stark contrast to the jagged, spiky icicles hanging from the edge of the rock.

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9. This great image was taken in Oak Creek Canyon near a place called Temple of Mother Earth on the West Fork Trail, Sedona, Arizona.

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10. A simply fabulous shot from the bottom of the ice waterfall looking up. Just look how the ice has built up from the spray on surrounding twigs. That's what you call natural beauty.

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MOVIE TRIVIA … MICKEY ROONEY

MOVIE TRIVIA …

MICKEY ROONEY

rooney 1926

Mickey Rooney’s first film role – a cigar-chomping adult in Not to Be Trusted (1926) – was almost too convincing for his own good.

It gave rise to the rather mean-spirited rumour that Rooney , then a rising child star, was in fact a midget posing as a child.

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TRIVIA BITS … SNORKEL

TRIVIA BITS …

SNORKEL

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The word "snorkel" comes from the German word "schnoerkel", which was a tube used by German submarine crews in WW2. The subs used an electric battery when traveling underwater, which had to be recharged using diesel engines, which needed air to run.

To avoid the hazard of surfacing to run the engines, the Germans used the schnoerkel to feed air from the surface into the engines.

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QUOTABLES … HEDY LAMARR

QUOTABLES …

HEDY LAMARR

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Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid.

Hedy Lamarr