Do you have a question for me? Click on the word "Comments" at the bottom of this entry and leave your question. Questions can be of any kind: factual, advice, opinions, etc. EACH question asked will be addressed -- even if I cannot answer it. I would love to know where you are writing from (city -- and country if not America).
11 January 2006
10 January 2006
Whatever Happened To...
...glamour on television? Has it been nearly 40 years since Barbara Bain (pictured) did it so well on "Mission: Impossible"?And, please, don't tell me about "Dynasty" and other shows of their ilk. That was not glamour -- that was camp.
Is there a current show on television that has any kind of glamour in it at all?
09 January 2006
Give 'em the Bird
Joy in Indiana asked: How do state birds get assigned?Thank you for the question, Joy. Such things occur today when a person in a state proposes a bill to name the Black-Eyed Susan the State Flower (Maryland), the Badger the State Animal (Wisconsin), or the Cardinal the State Bird (Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia -- and Kentucky, which named it first, in 1926).
Such bills go through the usual steps of being written, reviewed, discussed, voted on, etc., before being signed into law creating a state's official butterfly, drink, fossil, fish, fruit, rock, mineral, tree, song -- even silverware pattern.
There is a very interesting web site that lists all the official symbols by state and by symbol.
Can you name either the bird or state represented by this photograph?
Pet Food Recall
This is so very sad. Please visit these two links in case you have any of the dog food mentioned.
New York Times article.
FDA press release.
Please note: Free registration may be required to view the New York Times article.
New York Times article.
FDA press release.
Please note: Free registration may be required to view the New York Times article.
07 January 2006
9,000,000 Years of Cats
A fascinating look into the evolution of the domestic cat is offered in this New York Times article.According to the research, eight lines of cats have survived to today -- including the leopard lineage which began about 6.5 million years ago and led to the household cat. The lines were delineated through DNA study of 37 species of cats.
It's sad how many of these modern cat species are now endangered and on the brink of extinction. The population levels of some cats (mentioned at the end of the article) are just heartbreaking.
Please note: Free registration may be required to view the New York Times article.
The illustration is one of Andy Warhol's cats.
06 January 2006
Shake and Remake
Mass Bradley asked: Could you name three movies that are RIPE for a RE-MAKE, and WHY (but have been passed by)?
Thank you for the question, Bradley: On the whole, I really do not support remakes of any kind. I mean look what happened when Shall We Dansu (Japan) was made into Shall We Dance (America). Eee-uuuu.
However, your question intrigues me, so I will offer the following:
One movie of which I would love to see an American remake is "The Princess and the Warrior" ("Der Krieger und die Kaiserin," from 2000) -- as long as it has good casting. We discovered this fascinating film when we fell in love with its star Franka Potente after seeing the wonderful "Run Lola Run." It's an intriguing film that had almost zero exposure in America, and should be more widely seen.
In a slight bow to the commercial side of Hollywood, I would pick "The Day The Earth Stood Still" because this really well-acted film had pretty crappy special effects that overshadowed the important storyline. I would love to see this remade (again, good cast) with modern special effects.
My third pick is a tie of several really fascinating films (that are still great in their original form): "Fourteen Hours" (from 1951), "The Big Combo" (1955) and the quirky 1941 "Lady Scarface" which is not a great film, but it has an interesting premise. I would love to see it remade with Cate Blanchett (who should have won her Oscar for her right-on performance in "Veronica Guerin").
What other films might make for good remakes?
Thank you for the question, Bradley: On the whole, I really do not support remakes of any kind. I mean look what happened when Shall We Dansu (Japan) was made into Shall We Dance (America). Eee-uuuu.
However, your question intrigues me, so I will offer the following:
One movie of which I would love to see an American remake is "The Princess and the Warrior" ("Der Krieger und die Kaiserin," from 2000) -- as long as it has good casting. We discovered this fascinating film when we fell in love with its star Franka Potente after seeing the wonderful "Run Lola Run." It's an intriguing film that had almost zero exposure in America, and should be more widely seen.
In a slight bow to the commercial side of Hollywood, I would pick "The Day The Earth Stood Still" because this really well-acted film had pretty crappy special effects that overshadowed the important storyline. I would love to see this remade (again, good cast) with modern special effects.
My third pick is a tie of several really fascinating films (that are still great in their original form): "Fourteen Hours" (from 1951), "The Big Combo" (1955) and the quirky 1941 "Lady Scarface" which is not a great film, but it has an interesting premise. I would love to see it remade with Cate Blanchett (who should have won her Oscar for her right-on performance in "Veronica Guerin").
What other films might make for good remakes?
04 January 2006
Born a Snob; Will Die a Snob The Sequel
Oh, I almost forgot. Speaking of great foreign films, Turner Classic Movies is hosting a month of animated films made by Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. Every Thursday in January.If you have never seen one of his animated films -- like Oscar winner "Spirited Away" (pictured) -- then it is fair to say you have never seen an animated film.
If you do not know what Turner Classic Movies is, then I feel very sad for you, indeed.
Born a Snob; Will Die a Snob Part One
I don't see a lot of American-made mainstream films.
In Hollywood it's all about making as much money as you can with as little creative input as possible. Remakes, sequels, movies based on 1970s television programs. Okay, whatever. You make it; I don't have to see it.
I do, however, love independent movies. I love foreign films. Why? Who knows. I like stories that deal with human beings. Who they are, why they do what they do and when. I pretty much believe that once you have seen one building blowing up, or one gang member dying in a spray of bullets from a moving car with the thump-de-de-thump of rap music in the background, you've seen them all.
Ya wanna call me a snob? Go ahead. I don't particularly think of myself as a snob; but there you have it.
And now, finally, (could it be true?) it seems like a small piece of the world is catching up with me. For it is this year that, according to Philip Berk, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, for the first time ever, every Golden Globe nominee for best motion picture drama is (gasp!) an independent film (made for less than $30 million, and not by a major studio).
What's next -- hell freezing over?
Speaking of great films, if you want a reliable list of films, make sure to visit the Independent Spirit Awards site. Not only is that award show better and funnier than any other (take that, AMPAS), but they seem to truly honor the art of filmmaking.
In Hollywood it's all about making as much money as you can with as little creative input as possible. Remakes, sequels, movies based on 1970s television programs. Okay, whatever. You make it; I don't have to see it.
I do, however, love independent movies. I love foreign films. Why? Who knows. I like stories that deal with human beings. Who they are, why they do what they do and when. I pretty much believe that once you have seen one building blowing up, or one gang member dying in a spray of bullets from a moving car with the thump-de-de-thump of rap music in the background, you've seen them all.
Ya wanna call me a snob? Go ahead. I don't particularly think of myself as a snob; but there you have it.
And now, finally, (could it be true?) it seems like a small piece of the world is catching up with me. For it is this year that, according to Philip Berk, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, for the first time ever, every Golden Globe nominee for best motion picture drama is (gasp!) an independent film (made for less than $30 million, and not by a major studio).
What's next -- hell freezing over?
Speaking of great films, if you want a reliable list of films, make sure to visit the Independent Spirit Awards site. Not only is that award show better and funnier than any other (take that, AMPAS), but they seem to truly honor the art of filmmaking.
03 January 2006
Just Ask Christopher #3
Do you have a question for me? Click on the word "Comments" at the bottom of this entry and leave your question. Questions can be of any kind: factual, advice, opinions, etc. EACH question asked will be addressed -- even if I cannot answer it. I would love to know where you are writing from (city -- and country if not America).
01 January 2006
Whatever Happened To...
... people waiting until they could afford to get married; then, waiting until they could afford to have a child -- like they did in the 1930s and 1940s?
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