Saturday, August 31, 2013

Thinking Renovation 31 August

 

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More Resume Blunders

 

  • I am creative, dependable, and housebroken.
  • I am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details.
  • I am an onest and ambitious person, understanding the words as deadline, professional skills, communication with people, seriousity.
  • I continually receive complaints on the high quality of work I perform.
  • I have eight arms and eight legs with excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Dum major with my high school band.
  • I have unsuccessfully raised a dog.
  • At the age of twelve, I began hustling newspapers like many other great Americans had done. The only difference was that they became great.
  • I can adapt to just about any environment from cubicles to fancy IKEA desks.
  • I'm a rabid typist.

Movie Review ... Iron Man 3

 

Iron_Man_3_posterThree must be Hollywood’s lucky number as it loves trilogies.  Recent years have been littered with them with actors having ‘sequel clauses’ written into their contracts.  Not that Robert Downey Jnr needed much persuading to appear in ‘Iron Man 3’ as his enthusiasm for the series has been noticeable.  Based on the Marvel comic book created by Stan Lee, the character has revitalised his career with a franchise showing no sign of slowing down.

After all he holds dear is nearly destroyed, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jnr.) aims to even the score.  Standing defiant against the mysterious terrorist The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and the machinations of embittered rival Killian (Guy Pearce), Stark calls on help.  Aided by James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) and girlfriend Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow), he ensures Iron Man’s final battle is one worthy of the armoured avenger he created.

Although full of spectacular pyrotechnics and dazzling effects, ‘Iron Man 3’ offers a more personal story.  With half the screen-time given over to Stark as he grapples with his arrogance and heroic creation allowing the viewer to examine what drives his actions.  Even these scenes are full of fun and energy with a plot moving at lightning speed.  That’s the pleasing aspect of this series – each instalment has its own identity while further exploring its characters.

Directed by Shane Black, the action looks incredible with the script having a good mix of humour and drama.  Although some characters could have been better developed, the twists involving them are genuinely surprising.  It’s not often a second sequel works and it is pleasing ‘Iron Man 3’ does with the villains displaying true menace.  The regular cast are completely at ease in their roles as they inject enough playfulness to let audiences in on the joke.  They still take the story seriously with the flavour of the comics successfully transferred to the screen.

‘Iron Man 3’ is a fun, quickly moving block-buster.  If the series ends with this film it goes out on a high note which would be a good way in leaving fans hungry for more.

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Movie Review out of 10:  8

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

Agree with Patrick about his Movie Review? Then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review Iron Man 3

Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at movie releases in Australia.

Official HomePage click HERE

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Cool Images 31 August

 

FIREWORKS

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A John Lennon Moment

 

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Trivia Bits 31 August

 

  • The book Wuthering Heights was written by Emily Bronte in 1847.
  • An octopus possesses three hearts.
  • Making bread rise is usually achieved by the addition of the fungus known as Yeast.
  • Navigator Ferdinand Magellan was Portuguese.
  • The Archibald Prize is Australia’s premier prize for portraiture.
  • The Black Sea lies to the north of Turkey.
  • South Australia’s capital Adelaide had Christchurch, New Zealand as its first sister city.
  • Weight Watchers was founded by Jean Nidetch.
  • Arthur Hailey wrote the book Airport in 1968 which was later into a Hollywood movie.
  • All work and no play proverbially makes Jack a dull boy.

Quotables 31 August

 

beauty_is

Friday, August 30, 2013

Apology

 

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Due to a power outage, I have been unable to complete today’s blog.

Trusting I will be back tomorrow – Saturday.

 

Thanks

Graham

Thinking Renovation 30 August

 

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Movie Clichés ... Spaceships

 

  • Spaceships make noise!
  • Spaceships always fly perpendicular to the same axis. When two spacecraft encounter each other, they're always aligned on a plane and never approach at odd angles.
  • All spaceships, no matter how small, have internal artificial gravity and no matter how badly your ship gets pummelled by the evil aliens in the evil alien ship, no matter how many external panels get blown away, no matter how many sparks or how much smoke pours out of your control panels, the artificial gravity will always keep working.
  • There are tiny cameras mounted everywhere, on every panel, in your spaceship. No matter what happens anywhere in the ship, you will always be able to ask the computer to replay the scene for you later (even if the computer went up in smoke) and unlike those blurry convenience store cameras, your tiny ship cameras always capture everyone's actions at eye-level with perfect lighting.
  • Warp or hyper-drive will always fail at critical moments.
  • Inertial dampers will always prevent passengers from being plastered against the walls during acceleration into warp speed, yet any explosion will send passengers reeling across the room.
  • In a spaceship battle scene, for a ship to fire a weapon at another, it must be in visual range. Even though the 20th century saw the advent of weapons that can be fired without visual contact, the people of the future have lost this technology.

A John Gavin Moment

 

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Movie Review ... The Paperboy

 

ThePaperBoy_24x40.inddActing is about taking risks with those constantly conforming to type not having much career longevity.  ‘The Paperboy’ stands out as its well-known cast bravely unburden the shackles of former roles.  Based on Pete Dexter’s novel, they revel in its steamy situations in the Deep South during the 1960’s.  Its time of revolution and changing societal mores are explored and offers a chance for its performers to go beyond their established screen personas.

When a racist Sherriff is murdered, Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack) is arrested for the crime.  Proclaiming innocence, he tells his story to journalists Ward (Mathew McConaughey) and Yardley (David Oyelowo).  Ward’s brother Jack (Zac Efron) joins in searching for the truth.  Local girl Charlotte (Nicole Kidman) claims to have vital evidence.  Things aren’t what they seem in the dusty back-alleys of the South, with unsavoury characters preventing the facts from being revealed.

‘The Paperboy’ features some of the bravest performances seen.  Kidman’s kinky character leads the field; she and her co-stars give eye-opening renditions of their roles.  All seem to enjoy partaking in Paperboy’s trashy pulp novel-style atmospherics with the Southern bayou hiding secrets deeper than their sinful souls.  It’s pretty difficult believing in what transpires due to their over the top characterisations even if they make such ghastly happenings luridly watch-able.

Paperboy’s has an unfocussed narrative.  At once a crime-drama and then a coming of age tale, it never settles on one strand.  There are several intriguing ideas to be seen although none come to fruition.  Blame can be attributed to Lee Daniel’s bad direction which ponders on the story’s sleazier elements instead of examining the more interesting human dramas.  Events quickly spiral to a messy conclusion although reaching it is often garishly enjoyable due to its gaudy nature.

Despite the actors giving it their all, ‘The Paperboy’s’ failings are many.  It has some moments which are unique and given its often bizarre flourishes ‘The Paperboy’ at least takes some risks other wouldn’t dare.

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Movie Review Rating out of 10:  6

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

Agree with Patrick about his Movie Review? Then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review The Paperboy

Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at movie releases in Australia.

Official HomePage click HERE

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Trivia Bits 30 August

 

  • The play Much Ado About Nothing was written by William Shakespeare.
  • The South Pacific island of Sandy Island was found in November 2012 not to exist. It was charted for over a century as lying between Australia and New Caledonia in the Coral Sea.
  • John Lennon was married to Yoko Ono at the time of his untimely death in 1980.
  • The codename for the successful US research and development programme during World War 2 to produce an atomic bomb was The Manhattan Project.
  • Australian television compere Graham Kennedy’s middle name was Cyril.
  • The canine movie star Beethoven was a St Bernard.
  • A cooper is someone who makes or repairs wooden barrels generally used in wine making.
  • The South Australian city of Murray Bridge was once known as Edwards Crossing.
  • Basketball is featured in the 1992 movie White Men Can’t Jump.
  • The Golden Gate Bridge is in the US city of San Francisco.

Quotables 30 August

 

painter_musician

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Thinking Renovation 29 August

 

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Just For Fun 29 August

 

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More Common Sense Thoughts for Living

 

  • Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
  • Sometimes too much drink is not enough.
  • The facts, although interesting, are irrelevant.
  • The careful application of terror is also a form of communication.
  • Someone who thinks logically is a nice contrast to the real world.
  • Things are more like they are today than they ever have been before.
  • Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.
  • Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate.
  • I have seen the truth and it makes no sense.
  • All things being equal, fat people use more soap.

Barbra Streisand – Guilty Pleasures (2005)

 

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Few albums like this are as highly anticipated and there is no disappointment. This collection of songs is produced by Barry Gibb/John Merchant and written by Barry Gibb with help from his two sons, Ashley and Stephen. Brian Wilson once said that Barry Gibb is a "song writing machine" and it's proven here with the largest variation of songs on an Adult Contemporary album in a long time.

The duet "Come Tomorrow" has so much blues (via Fats Domino) with its fifties `doo-wop' influence, you immediately think of "Blueberry Hill". The other duet, cheekily called, "Above The Law" is reminiscent of "What Kind Of Fool" but with a positive exchange of lyrics. The Jacksons will be listening closely to "It's Up To You" with it's clear nod to "I'll Be There" and "Night Of My Life" is a modern day dance song already mixed in four different dance versions.

"Hideaway" could have easily been written for a Broadway show with its biographical "Evita" style as well as "Golden Dawn" with its similar mood. The strongest songs here are "Stranger In A Stranger Land", "(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away" and "Letting Go", the latter two much older songs. "(Our Love)..." a #2 hit by Andy Gibb is given refreshed respect by Barbra with Barry giving a strong back-up.

"Letting Go" was written in 1985 in which Barry actually stated it was the best song (at the time) he has ever written. Streisand does a remarkable job singing it. "All The Children" is also a strong anti-war song with its Middle Eastern instrumentals and similar back-up chorus. The lyrics are blatant without offense. But the big hit here is "Stranger In A Strange Land" with its oddly lovely anti-war statement and video. It's hard to say it's the best song on the album, it's all that good.

This is a truly remarkable album that showcases Gibb and Streisand as compliments to each other. It will make history.

Track Listing:

1. Come Tomorrow
2. Stranger In A Strange Land
3. Hideaway
4. It's Up To You
5. Night Of My Life
6. Above The Law
7. Without Your Love
8. All The Children
9. Golden Dawn
10. (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away
11. Letting Go

Movie Review ... The Place Beyond The Pines

 

The Place Beyond The Pines posterA movie succeeds by its depth.  Those with little fade from memory while others linger.  ‘The Place beyond the Pines’ is in no danger of being forgotten.   Exploring familial legacies and how they are dealt with, rich layers create an absorbing piece of work.  Other elements examining moral implications of our choices help maintain gritty realism.  Director Derek Cianfrance crafts an arresting tale with precision in a compelling production.

Luke (Ryan Gosling) works as a carnival daredevil bike racer.  Travelling through New York he contacts old girlfriend Romina (Eva Mendes).  He receives a shock when she reveals giving birth to a son he never knew.  Wanting to provide for his new family, he swaps carnival life for crime using his abilities to stage daring robberies.  On his trail is ambitious policeman Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper).  Meeting sets a chain of events forever impacting their lives.

Spanning a 15 year period, the story-line is continually gripping.  From the first moment, Cianfrance’s direction draws you into a pulsating world of desperate ambitions.  While from different sides of the social ladder, Luke and Avery are similar in having aspiring dreams.  How they achieve them reveals devastating consequences lasting a life-time.  That their family carry their burdens makes for often uncomfortable but always fascinating viewing.

Gosling, Cooper and Mendes effectively expand on their potentially one-dimensional roles providing a sympathetic edge to their fractured characters.  Their excellent performances underscore Avery’s dealings with police corruption and Luke and Romina’s corruptive influences moulding their personalities.  They are supported by a fine cast with a thumping soundtrack by Faith No More singer Mike Patton highlighting the looming threat of past actions.

Although occasionally walking a predictable trajectory, ‘The Place beyond the Pines’ reveals some genuine surprises.  Life often brings up such unexpected aspects with coincidence and chance bringing discoveries in this thought-provoking movie.

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Movie Review Rating out of 10:  9

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

Agree with Patrick about his Movie Review? Then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review The Place Beyond The Pines

Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at movie releases in Australia.

Official HomePage click HERE

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Cool Images 29 August

 

Water

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