Tristan + Isolode

Well this movie surprised me, and I like that. The honest reason why I saw it was because one of my new favorite actors is it in and starring. His name would be James Franco. James once again shows his talent in this movie about an old Celtic tale about a couple torn by love, circumstances, and honor and devotion to one's country. There are many sword fights, dramatic scenes, and many great moments that keep you watching. It is not exactly a happy film, but not all movies need to be; after all, this movie is set to be modeled after the epic love tradegy of Romeo and Juliet. James has shown his talent in many of his movies: flying in "Flyboys", boxing in "Annapolis", and acting like his similarly looking American icon of being a rebel-- James Dean. He is very versatile, and terrific actor. Keep going James, I hope too see more of your work.

"All Music is Beautiful"

I was just thinking, while listening to one of my favorite bands - The Jakes, that all music is beautiful. It really is, from genre to genre. Country is beautiful to people, metal is to people, jazz and soul and R&B is for people. The sound of music is so amazing, it can make you cry, laugh, start dancing in the middle of a quiet room, yelling your favorite lyrics, or make you sway, or maybe start a congo line or a round of the chicken dance- of course, depending on the crowd. A simple hook could get your attention and your "hooked" to the music instantaneously. Pretty cool, well I think so. Some of the greatest artists were able to leave a mark on society, or at least they get some thinking, its so cool when you can think of songs in another point of view. They are people who just want to express themselves, I can never say that's a bad thing. It's a terrific thing because you might be feeling the same, or you might be the one expressing. Music can't be invented- composed I guess could work, but just starting to drum with your pencil in a boring class- that is music, despite all the glaring stares it's music. You can't deny it. I love just about all music, or something from a specific genre. Music is a common necessity for everyone of the world, to chants -its ac ca paella, or just a great combo tape, or a new cd- which is never a bad thing. Music is a way of communicating feelings, with words and sounds- doesn't that sound like a miracle. Don't take music for granted.

The Way We Were

I just saw 'The Way We Were'. I honestly didn't know what to think of it, only because I wanted to see it to understand a few references from my favorite show, Gilmore Girls but I found it so wonderful. The movie stars Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford. Streisand plays this communist supporter in the 70's who thinks FDR is one of the greatest men of this world. Redford plays an officer in the US Navy, who doesn't mind making fun of politics- which unfortunately is a serious matter to Katie (Streisand), and thru their lives they see each other over and over, and fall in love once again. This movie is complicated, sweet, dramatic, deals with politics and is a terrific story of a complicated love story that just never worked but in the end they fall in love every time. I cried a few times, and never wanted the movie to end... and the time flew by while I was watching it. Terrific movie!

Flyboys!

You may have seen that movie on the shelf in either a store or a rental place. My suggestion is too see it. The story is of 10 men being some of the first fighter pilots, just after the airplanes were invented...for the French Lafayette Espadrille. It stars James Franco. James is known for being the next James Dean. He can look like him, he has similar presence, but no one can be the new James Dean...just try to emulate him. Well, let's get to the point, he stars and it has many great scenes and they show lots of emotions in the movie- with awesome dogfights!!!!! I don't know why but I love dogfights! It is a story of drama, romance, defeating the Germans, learning how to fly an airplane, and competition, and has a touch of military movie in it. The movie is one of my favorites, when I rented it I watched it twice. Odd for me. That's how good it is. Believe me, its worth watching.

Neil Young

Now I'm finally starting the music part of my blog. Right now I am listening to Neil Young, a folk rock star. He has worked with his band, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young., Crazy Horse, and a few others as time has changed. He is known for many of his controversial songs and some that reflect time in the 60's to 70's. One song, Ohio, is talking about the Kent State Massacres and imagining how the students must feel and is very thought provoking. Southern Man is another that is done and he talks about some of the southern behaviors that our world might not need. He may be a past-druggie (listen to Needle and the Damage Done), but so are some of the other terrific "rebels" of that era. What a great era that was. People rebelled, stood up for what they thought was right, started a revolution that now is coming back. Going Green, World Peace... now maybe people are too afraid to do what they did then because of the government or just insecurity inside of them. Well those protestors have something inside of them, courage and persistance to make this world a better place...We should all applause their strength and persistance to make this world what is it, sometimes not great, but what it is. By rebelling or just speaking up can make this world a more wonderful place to be, and in the end we can respect more people and be a more peaceful place to be.

De-Lovely

I just saw the movie De-Lovely. I thought it was a great movie, it takes you back in time and then back into reality, both well. Let me tell you some background information about this movie: Its a musical about a musical musician famed Cole Porter. He made music and lyrics for many famous musicals- here are some titles of the "hits"- "It's De-lovely", "Your the Top", "What is This Thing Called Love?", "Let's Misbehave", "Night and Day", "Anything Goes" , "Ev'ry Time You Say Goodbye" and many more. He had a interesting and wonderful life. Cole was also bisexual which is unheard of in the 40's. He had a secret love affair and never truly loved his wife, Linda. You see his point of view of his life, while he is watching it right before his eyes. He was smart, clever, funny, sarcastic, confused, throughout his life. In some of his songs that are playing in the background while his life is going by some of our greatest performers are put into costumes and are singing some of his biggest hits. Those performers include Elvis Costello, Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, and many others. I say that if a movie can take you back in time, it must be good, and I learned something. I recommend especially if you like Broadway.

Music Movies

some of my fav movies are where music is the main focus. Music can speak louder than words...in a way it kind of is an action. Music can add emotion by how the musician is strumming a guitar, singing, look in their eyes and tell a story by just adding a tune to it. In musicals, or non-conventional musicals like "Once"- one of the best movies ive ever seen. They tell there story thru songs and make the movie all about the movie. More music. Less dialogue. Another fav of mine is "Raise Your Voice", yes it is a younger movie but the creativity is amazing in it. It has romance, struggle of going thru an obstacle of your older brother dying right next to you... August Rush is also one that i adore. It has a quality of singer singing for the music because they love it and its all they know how to do. That is true musical beauty, especially when they are better than some of the top 40 artists. Im a Beatle fan, and Across the Universe is a great movie, they change some of their songs, which normally i hate. but in this case, they made most of it better with Jim Sturgess's great Brit voice and it was great...it was so 60s and 70s i loved it. It takes you back in time. They show you sides of songs that i never thought of. Thought provoking. Across the Universe is a very artisitically done film, some you can tell is computer-generated but you get the point. One scene messes with your head. Just to warn you. RENT is awesome, it has classic Broadway songs and it shows stories of a bohomiemen people living in NYC. Very cool... great stories, there's laughs, tears, and some happy tears... all of the movies i have told you about are all awesome and i highly recommend. If you love good movies and music then check them out, you'll be glad you did. Man, that sounded cliche. oh well, some are true. but most overused.

My favorite movie stars

My favorite movie stars are from the past. They are better, honestly just better. The list includes: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Paul Newmann, Robert Redford, Marlon Brando, Orson Welles, Rock Hudson, Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor, Viven Leigh, Judy Garland, Natalie Wood, James Dean, Sal Mineano, Katharine Ross, Dustin Hoffman, Shirley Temple, Eva Marie Saint (On the Waterfront), and that naming a great bunch of them. The are so amazing in their performance, they made classic movies what they are- if people think that black and white movies are boring, then the didn't really watch them. They are filled with romance, action, drama, suspense, and many great qualities. They are the stars that now famed celebrities look up to in style, grace, elegance, demeanor, and being glamorous and fabulous. Just thinking sometimes I wish I was able to turn back time so I may have been there when the movies premiered. That is true in music related things too... I'll get to that later.

James Dean: The Trilogy

I just saw all three of the James Dean movies. All terrific and they definitely showcase his amazing talent to captivate an audience to being a new kid in a new town and all the trouble that can happen in one day, and then being a serve hand in a Texan farm that when his close friend passes he gets a parcel of land that shoots oil and becomes one of the richest men, and also a confused son of a prominent businessman because he is the not the "perfect" son. The perfect son being the "50's" stereotypical Leave It to Beaver son. My personal favorite is Rebel
Without a Cause. He acts it out so well, and convinces you of the role that he is playing- which is my mind the best actor an actor can be, not doing it for the money or fancy cars or most expensive "trendy" things, just because they are good and know it. My second favorite is East of Eden..that role was meant for him.. I've done research and his family life was similar to Cal. It's said that for one scene he took a while to calm down because he went back to when he was with his father...and in that scene he took personally and used it for his best advantage- a genius he is. He is truly a star no matter what people may think. He is an American movie icon of being a boy turning into a man before he really had the chance. James was a rebel on and off the screen, and that's just the way we want it.