Siff 50 yrs pt 2

 The cover is from a different year.

 SIFF celebrates 50 years, here are some of the films I saw in 1995, 1.Cold Comfort Farm  2.Half Spirit - Voice of the Spider 3.Dallas Doll and 4. Confession of a pretty lady both starring Sandra Bernhard, the first time I met this comedic actress. 5.Afrique, Mon Afrique 6.Heaven't a Drag 6.Chungking Express 7.The Postman 8.1-900 9.Bleeding Hearts the directorial debut of Gregory Hines 10.The Brothers McMullen 11.Crumb 12.Denise Calls Up 13.The Doom Generation the second time I would meet Greg Araki. 14.Headless Body In A Topless Bar 15. Joe's Rotten World 16.Live Nude Girls 17.Living in Oblivion starring Steve Buscemi 18. Picture Bride 19.Party Girl 20.Swimming With Sharks 21.To Die For 22.The Usual Suspects

I love Films and Movies regardless of whether they are great or not. It takes a lot to get a project off the ground so just getting it completed is worth my time. Of course there are things I don't like, but I feel one should see it from start to finish. There could be that one scene or actor that makes it all worth while. Sometimes its the ending that brings it all together and then it all makes sense. Art in any fashion is all about interpretation.

SIFF celebrates 50 years

 The cover from 2007.

 The Seattle Internation Film Festival is celebrating fifty years. The festival has been bringing great film making from around the world to audiences. For several years in a row I attended the festival which shows more films, movies and documentaries than any other festival.

I had no expectation when I attended the festival for the first time. I was just going to spend time with a friend and catch a few movies. Having never been to Seattle I didn't know much about the city. I checked into a hotel near Pioneer Square which I found out was the heart of downtown. It put me in walking distance of the theaters. It rained, but not your typical rain. It was like a mist, and I found it to be cold. I ended up seeing about 35 films and movies that first year. I would have seen more, but I had to take time to eat. I don't know how some of the people did it. I am not a coffee drinker, so Starbucks wasn't going to cut it for me. That was also my first time of hearing of Starbucks and there seemed to be one on every corner. Once I got used to the rain, I wasn't going to let anything stop me from getting out and walking around. After that first day, the sun came out and it was very pleasant.

Here are 50 films I had seen during my time attending the festival. This is not a complete list, and it includes movies and documentaries. They are in no particular order. There are a few that I have never been able to find on DVD and as far as I know they never got a theatrical release. Some of the films I list one of the actors. Some of the titles are foreign films. They are all worth watching if you love films and movies as much as I do.

Besieged- Thandi Newton * SEX IS...* Defying Gravity * Love and Human Remains - Thomas Gibson &Mia Kirshner * Romper Stomper Russell Crowe * Hammers on the Anvil- Charlotte Rampling * UnZipped- documentary on fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi * House of Angels * Acting on Impulse C. Thomas Howell * Twenty Bucks * Les Visiteurs - Jean Reno* Saturn - Scott Caan * Burn * The Secret Life of Girls- Linda Hamilton * Freak Talks About Sex * Golden Balls * Jamon Jamon * The Low Life- Rory Cochran * Kika * Menace II Society * Man Bites Doug * Al Lupo Al Lupo * White Marriage * Crush * The Doom Generation * The Confessional * The Wedding Banquet * Bound by Honor (Blood in , Blood out) * The Music of Chance * Quick * The Abyss (special edition) * Crush * Orlando * Dazed and Confused * Train Spotting- Robert Carlisle * The Pillow Book- Ewan McGregor * Get Real * Lotto Land * Chain of Desire * Twin Falls Idaho * Priscilla Queen of the Desert * Gods and Monsters- Brendan Fraser * The Velocity of Gary- Selma Hayek * Desert Blue- Christina Ricci * Get Bruce (documentary on comic writer Bruce Vilanch * Creature (documentary) * Sick -The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan (documentary) * Scratch the Surface (documentary on the modeling industry) * East Side Story (documentary)

The horror fest continues

 I have been watching movies I have never seen before. Yesterday I watched a movie called Becky with Kevin James, Joel McHale, Lulu Wilson and Amanda Brugel. It just seemed interesting. It's one of those revenge type movies with a twists. The opening sequence is interesting as we get to see the two stories that will soon intertwine, intertwine. What's different about this movie is that it is a child that is getting revenge for seeing her father killed as they were just beginning to reconnect. The character is only 8 or 9 years old so there is no way this child will ever recover from this, but things do happen. Not sure if there would be a sequel, but it could be interesting. How many times can a person go through tragedy? Several times, I know, I've been there. If you are looking for something different and you want to see Kevin James in a more serious role, I recommend checking Becky out.

The other movie I watched which was very interesting was called 65, starring Adam Driver. I am not sure where Adam Driver came from, but I saw him in a Gucci opposite Lady Gaga and Black Klansman and he was really good and has given great performances in everything I have seen him in. In 65 he plays a spaceship pilot whose craft crashes and it turns out to be earth, 65 millions years earlier. His character is believed to be the only survivor until he discovers a young girl. The two battle prehistoric creatures while trying to get to the pod to get help or leave. It's has a lot of moments to make you jump and sit on the edge of your seat. I love movies when there aren't a lot of characters if it is done right.

I watched the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I had not seen it in years. It has been remastered in 4k. I am not sure if the music changed, but it was bad. The remake that was made several years ago with Jessica Biel is really good.

I wonder why no one has tried to change the soundtrack to some of the 70 movies when they are remastering them. It would certainly change the feel of a lot of the movies, especially the Last House on the Left. Without the music it would be terrifying.

Speaking of 70's movies, another movie I watched was called X. The movie is set in the 70's. It is about a film crew that is making adult movies at the beginning of the VHS craze. Most filmmakers went this route to hon their craft because it was cheaper and easier to distribute right to someone's door step. They rent a place from an older couple who we suspect is unaware of what the young adults are up to. I don't want to give away too much, but this movie has a lot of messages going on. The movie stars Mia Goth in a dual role, Jenna Ortega, Kid Cudi, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow and Owen Campbell. It's another movie with a small cast. Directed by Ti West, it is done very well and tasteful. There is a blood and gore and some nudity.

The Pope's Exorcist was something I stumbled upon, starring Russell Crowe. This one is based on an actual story as was the original Exorcist written by William Peter Blatty. The story was about a young boy and the character became the young girl Reagan. In the Pope's Exorcist a young boy is believed to be possessed by demons.

Time to get back to the movie watching. Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.

Fear the walking dead

 The month of October is usually reserved for scary movies. Because I like scary movies I sometimes watch them through out the year. When that happens I don't feel like watching them again within a short period of time. The scary factor isn't there. I have found some very interesting movies thanks to Amazon prime. The collector is one of my favorites. Storm Warning is interesting. It's what is called a revenge movie. Eden Lake is another interesting movie starring Michael Fassbender and Kelly Reilly from the Yellowstone series. I watched Nature's Grave because it started Jim Caviezel. His career had a shift where he appeared to be doing religious films and was not using any profanity or showing any of his body. I was surprised as the movie has him cursing a lot. The premise of the movie is quite interesting, but it takes some time to see what is going on. His upcoming film is based on a true story, Sound of Freedom about child trafficking.

I continue to try and find movies I have never seen or even heard of, but I will watch a few of the classics. The Birds, Psycho and Halloween. 

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any recommendations for horror films, let me know. Do come back again and keep an open mind.

Riverdale

 Graffitti at the Hope Gallery also known as Graffitti park, but the location is no longer in downtown Austin.

 When the series first aired, I think I watched one of two episodes because Luke Perry was associated with it. Because it was on the CW it's not a channel that I watch frequently and since it comes on opposite the NBC line up I forget that it's on. I recently checked out a few episodes and sort of gotten hooked. I decided to see if the library had the series so I could start from the beginning. I have no idea what season is on televison, but eventually I will catch up. It's very interesting. It reminds me of Beverly Hills 90210 and Gossip Girl. It pays tribute to various films, books and tv shows. I wasn't sure of the time frame as the fashions looked like something from the 50's and 60's as an homage to the comic strip. The characters do have cell phones and computers. The story lines are condicative of what is going on today. 

There were a few surprises in the cast including Robin Givens as the mayor of Riverdale, Skeet Ulrich as leader of the Serpents and Jughead's dad. Molly Ringwald plays Archie's mom. Mark Consuelo is in the second season as Veronica's dad. I'm curious to see how they handle Luke Perry's absence.

The surprises keep popping up. The focus isn't just on the kids. The parents are harboring just as many secrets.

Like most series by the third season new writers come on board and they don't always check to see remember what certain characters did. Riverdale is no exception. It's still quite interesting and entertaining. You can see how television has evolved and what they can get away with these days. LOL.

The Waiting List

 Bullet Train - I didn't really have any expectations with the film, in fact I had forgotten about it. That's what I like about going to the library because as I am going through the drawers looking for movies to watch, I see something of interest or that was on my list. The film started off rather slow and then it escalated sort of like a train. The film stars Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Bad Bunny, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Zazie Beetz, Joey King, Channing Tatum, Andrew Koji and Sandra Bullock. There is a cameo by Ryan Reynolds. The story revolves around several criminals, a brief case and revenge. There are funny moments, lots of blood and incredible visual effects. There are several flashback moments to tie in the characters and once you get used to that you will enjoy the film.

I was trying to see all of the Oscar nominated films before the Oscars, but I wasn't able to do that. I was on the waiting list with the library for several films and movies. When I signed up for The Black Panther Wakanda Forever I was number 48. I don't remember exactly how many copies were in the library's inventory, but I finally picked it up Saturday 4-22-23.

Later in the week I will watch, Everything, Everywhere all at Once.

There are still other films I am waiting to be ready for pick up, but I have a lot of movie watching to keep me busy.

The Black Panther Wakanda Forever - I was hoping the film would be as good as the first one and I was impressed. The tribute to Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther was very interesting and appropriate. It is very sad and it makes one reflect on what really happened outside of the movie. Everyone was wondering how the movie would go on and they did quite well so that it makes sense. I had forgotten that it was called Black Panther Wakanda Forever because there is no Black Panther. The special effects are really great. We are introduced to some new characters in an underwater world. The film does keep you guessing as you are not sure where the story is going. I will add it to my collection, but for me the one thing that I had an issue with is the sister becoming The Black Panther. I knew it was going to happen, but I was expecting when she put on the suit she would be larger. Other than that things were good. I especially liked the introduction of T'Challa's son. This film does leave the door open for anyone putting on the suit. So maybe in a few years T'Challa's son will dawn the suit and there will be a war.  There are a few surprises in the film with Julia Louise Dryefus and Michael B Jordan reprising his role from the first film. I thought perhaps he would have tried to dawn the suit. When Winston Duke's character M'Baku said he had a challenge I thought he might even try for the title, but that wasn't the case. Anyone of the warrior women could have probably worn the suit, but it added to the story to have Letitia Wright's character Shuri wear it. Wakanda Forever stars, Letitia Wright, Lupito Nyong'o, Danai Guirira, Angela Basset, Martin Freeman, Tenoch Huerta, Dominique and Michaela Coel, Florence Kashuma and Mabel Cadena. It definetly was a great watch and it is different that most of the other marvel movies. The characters are not cartoonish. The story and writing is very strong. I thought Letitia Wright could have been nominated for an Oscar for her performance.

Thanks for stopping by; do come back again and keep an open mind.

Oscar Sunday

 

My favorite Oscar poster.

I will watch some of the awards, but there will be another program on that I watch.

Friday I watched Top Gun Maverick which was pretty much the same story. Introducing a new group of characters. The scene with the Iceman and Maverick was sad. Then his character dies.

Saturday I watched The Fabelmans. I didn't have any expectations, I was just trying to see all of the nominated movies, but there were a lot of people waiting to see them as well through the library.

The Fabelmans is better than Elvis, Elvis is better than Top Gun Maverick . Just have to wait and see how things turn out.

Unless you see every film and movie you can't say if one deserved the Oscar over another. They all have moments. The Fabelmans was a movie I could really relate to. It was very entertaining, but I would have liked a different ending. 

Today I am watching Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat. I have seen it a few times. It's really an interesting film. Having gone through a disaster it resonates some realistic moments.

The stories surrounding the film are fascinating. I enjoy watching the special features on the DVDs.

I am also going to watch Misery.

Thanks for stopping by. Do come back again as I continue my quest to watch the nominated movies.

2023 Movies

 

I keep a list of the movies that I watch since I do so many... Between the library, Prime and my own collection I try to watch at least one movie a day. It was more than that before I started working again. The challenge now is trying to remember what the movies were about. Some stand out and others not so much. I am going to work my way backwards according to the slips from the library and see what I can remember and give a rating and you can judge for yourself. I don't like giving away stories or saying something is bad, but I will say if something is really good. I love films and movies in general. It takes a lot of work to get a project done let alone trying to get distribution. There are many movies that never see the light of day for many reasons. I keep hoping with the Internet things would pop up and then again maybe its best they stay hidden.

 Actor David Tennant

The Guilt Trip stars Seth Rogen and Barbra Striesand, I had seen part of it on television and I decided to see if the library had it since there were some things bleeped out on tv. Sometimes actors just want to work together so they put a project together that sounds good and reads good on paper, but then doesn't always work out. I guess I was expecting it to be funnier. It is an interesting movie and depending on the connection you had with your parents you can definitely relate to the story. Its worth a look.

Nowhere Boy is the story of John Lennon and how the Quarreymen eventually became the Beatles, but the movie doesn't take us that far because it is about John Lennon's up bringing. If you love any of the Beatles you will love this move. The only Beattle we don't get to see if Ringo Starr.

Beast stars Idris Elba, who just seems to be everywhere these days. There had been a lot of people that wanted him to play Bond, but I just feel they can just turn The Take into a franchise and just keep it original. Daniel Craig made Bond rogue and that's Idris' character in The Take. It's full of excitement, but back to the Beast. I was recommending this to someone and it's like Cujo, but better. Idris Elba has to protect his girls and a friend from a lion. The scenes are so realistic. I am hoping the DVD has some special features to explain how they pulled off the sequences. I have seen it twice and now I will watch it a third time since I had put the DVD on hold with the library and had forgotten. It's rare that I watch a movie 3 times is such a short period of time. If you are a fan of Idris Elba I highly recommend the film and that you check out The Take.

The Following is one of the scariest series I had ever seen. It stars Kevin Bacon as an FBI agent trying to put an escaped serial killer back behind bars. Some of the sequences when the series first aired were actually happening. I always worry about how people process what they are seeing, but if a person doesn't know they have a mental health issue they don't really think they are doing anything wrong. I watched all 3 seasons. When it was on television I didn't see every episode probably because of the work schedule or there was something else I was watching and since it was on FOX I don't always remember. If you are a fan of Kevin Bacon you will enjoy the series. If you like psychological thrillers this will keep you interested.

The Mountain Between US, this is part love story, part survival story as Idris Elba stars opposite Kate Winslet. Every actor wants a chance to shine and doing a film or movie with minimal characters allows them to show just how good of an actor they are. I think Tom Hanks did it best in Castaway and James Franco pulled it off in 127 Hours and Leonardo DeCaprio in The Revenant. In The Mountain Between Us Idris and Kate must work together to survive the elements and whatever else comes there way in hopes that they will be rescued after the plane they are on, with Beau Bridges at the wheel crashes. If you love stories of people against the odds or people falling in love, this is definitely the film for you. The camera shots are really great and there are some action moments.

The Power of The Dog, after a comment supposedly made my Sam Elliot I wanted to see the movie for myself, but first I decided I would read the book by Thomas Savage. This book is supposed to be award winning, etc. I wonder sometimes if there is something wrong when I don't see what everyone else sees. I found the book boring. Maybe it was my moof, but I normally read before I go to bed. Perhaps now that I am older I need to try a different approach. When the DVD was ready at the library I just decided to go for it and see if it would be different. The movie is no different. The cinematography is excellent with a lot of wide angle shots, but the characters all who are flawed don't say much. It's all in their demeanor and the way the look at each other. I love many of the actors in the movie and so that made it watchable. It's rare that I will turn something off or walk out of a movie theater. Benedict Cumberbatch, Kristen Dunst, and Jesse Plemons who is her real life husband play opposite each other as husband and wife and Benedict is his smart over masculine brother, who may or may not be hiding a secret. I am curious now to go back and read the book just to see how it deals with certain things. If you like Jane Campion this is different for her as the men are the main focus and the women are in the background. She exploits the men somewhat, but its in a normal way as men would bath and frolic in the lakes and rivers. Kodi-Smith McPhee the tall actor who has been in the industry since age nine gives an interesting performance, but his androgynous features add to that.

Elvis also features Kodi along side rising star Austin Butler who channels Elvis very well, but it is Tom Hanks' performance that really makes the movie. I have talked about this before. It's a long one, but I will watch it again.

Des is a series starring Dr. Who star David Tennant as a serial killer. If you like David Tennant, you will enjoy seeing him in this. Is definitely different then his other roles.

Thanks for stopping by and do come back again as I list more from my viewing experiences. Remember to keep an open mind.

Films and Movies 2023

 I continue to watch films and movies and I am trying to watch as many of the Oscar nominated films and movies before the awards. There will be several that I won't see only because I would like to see them on the big screen. Black Panther Wakanda Forever and Avatar, The Way of Water are two of them. I watched Elvis because it had done well at the Golden Globes. I wasn't sure about it when I first started watching. Tom Hanks is rather creepy as the Colonel, but it is as much a story of the Colonel as it is of Elvis. I am not a fan of films or movies that have narration, but it was getting better as the movie progressed. I am not sure if Tom Hanks is nominated for an Oscar, but he should be. The influences of Elvis are very interesting. I am not a big fan of Elvis, but his music was played in the house, and I did see some of his movies. The actress who plays Rosetta Tharpe has a powerhouse of a voice and this is her first movie. The only thing I don't like with Baz Luhrmann his is incorporation of hip hop music. With the exception of Mouline Rouge, it just doesn't work for me when you are doing a period piece. Other than that, the movie is quite entertaining.

Austin Butler embodies Elvis as does Tom Hanks as Colonel Peters. Alton Mason gives a great performance as Little Richard, I felt there could have been a better job done with the hair. Perhaps they didn't think black people would check out this movie. Kelvin Harrison, Jr plays B.B. King, Gary Clark, Jr is Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup"and Shonkra Dukureh plays Big Momma Thorton. For me it was just as important to see the things that were happening and the influences and those that encouraged Elvis to be himself. It's worth a look.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.

Movies before the end of the year

 

I wanted to make an entry here just to what it is all about, my love of films and movies.

The Boy Behind The Door, It was the title that got me to pick up this DVD, but it should have been titled something else. I love horror and scary movies and I watch them throughout the year, but October is when I focus primarily on horror movies. I am always looking for something new, but I also want to watch something interesting. I don't like them to be too silly. The movie The Boy Behind The Door stars Lonnie Chevis and Ezra Dewey, but we see more of Lonnie and this kid really carries this story. It's very interesting. If you don't know the name you may recognize the face from This Is Us. He played a young Randall at the age of around 10 -12.

Once a year, usually on New Years Eve I will watch The Poseidon Adventure. It's been a tradition to make this the last movie of the year, but this year I watched the film last night. The reason is because a few weeks ago I found a copy of The Towering Inferno with a lot of special features. I added it to my collection and I wondered if there might have been a similar DVD on The Poseidon Adventure. I found out there was, but the price was too high so I decided to check out the copy from the Library.  I have been obsessed I guess you could say with the film since the first time I saw it. The name Irwin Allen for me had become a go to for disaster films. What I liked about The Poseidon Adventure was that I got to see actors I really didn't know much about. I had seen  Ernest Borgnine and I may have seen Stella Stevens in something, but this film introduced me to Shelly Winters. Up until now I never knew she gained weight for the film. I always enjoy hearing the back story and other stories that happened on the set. Most DVDs have special features, but not all. So A few weekends ago I spent just watching the little documentaries about working with Irwin Allen and things that were done on the set. I also liked hearing about the technique which was innovative at the time to create the visual effects. Because Pamela Sue Martin was in The Poseidon Adventure I watched Dynasty because she was the only name I recognized at the time. Later I would see films that starred Shelly Winters and see just how much of a sex symbol she really was. (Soon I will be watching King of the Gypsies).

I am still trying to remember if I saw The Poseidon Adventure on the Big Screen the first time or was it on Television? I had written about this before, I was working on a book report and I remember the movie coming on TV and I ended up doing the Book Report on that and many years later when I reread the book I was totally off the mark. The movie is not totally like the book. There are some crucial points in the book that do not appear in the movie.

There have been several remakes and even a sequel, but none of them really touch on the total story of the book. It's very intense and in some parts disturbing.

Soon I will be watching The Towering Inferno and all of its special features.

I also finally finished watching the 3rd Season of WestWorld. It took me a while because I really just couldn't get into it. I must say the 3rd season is better than the first two. I love movies about technology and the future, but it just took a long time and didn't always keep my interest as the same story was told several times in different areas of the park. It's also called WestWorld, but it could have easily been called Fantasy World. It was good to see Aaron Paul, but my reason for watching the series was also because of the casting of Thandie Newton and Jeffrey Wright. Everyone else was just a treat.

I watched the Upside with Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston and I really recommend this movie for anyone that has been a caregiver or is currently a caregiver. It's funny, it's sad and it's a great story which is actually based on a true story. I've become a fan of Bryan Cranston because of Breaking Bad and I've seen Kevin Hart in Jumanji and I really liked his performance.

I watched Hostile with Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi and Timothee Chalamet in a small role. It's quite intense as a solder is asked to protect an Indian and his family who have been imprisoned and are being let go to return to the land that is rightfully theirs. The soldier is not happy with this, but in fear of losing his pension he gives in. Along the way they learn to trust each other. This is loosely based on a true story. If you love historic movies, this would be one to catch and it will make you think.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.

One entry 3 blogs again.

 A mural from Barton Springs Road near the Parmer Events Center.

 I am watching an episode of Making the Cut, I believe this is season 3. I wasn't sure how much of the season I would get on Prime. Last time I only got 3 episodes, but I am not sure if it's always been that a new episode posts on Friday. I enjoy fashion, it started at a young age. My mother and both of my grandmothers sewed. But I had heard a story that my mother was sewing one day and the needle went through her finger and that thought just stayed with me so I never really learned to use a machine. I can do things by hand, but it's not the same. Rafael Chaouiche had a similar thing happen to him and it just brought back those memories. Luckily having the support of my family my dad's mother ended up sewing two of my designs from a modified Willi Wear pattern.

There are several designers that I really like. Yannik Zamboni from Switzerland, Curtis Cassell, Rafael Chaouiche is from Brazil, Jeanette Limas lives in Pennsylvania and Markantoine Lynch Boisvert. Fashion like art now, is all about the story. If the artist has a great story people are more interested in investing in the artist. Of course you still want to make a good investment. Of all of the designers that I have had in my closet, Willi Wear by Willi Smith is my all time favorite. I had a closet of many of his pieces. It meant a lot knowing there was a black designer that designed mens clothing. I wanted to design clothes for men that was more ready to wear. I am glad I had the experience. Because I do some many things that I can incorporate my art into what I do on many different levels. Jeremy Scott makes me laugh, he is one of the judges on Making The Cut. Nicole Richie has some quirky lines. Seems like she has her own language she is creating. Sort of like Turner on Big Brother. I like watching several episodes Making the Cut without a break. Not sure I will bringe the entire season, but as I type this I continue to watch. I do need to get to the library to return a book. Normally I would go on Sunday, since I usually do stuff around the house on Saturday so I don't have to deal with traffic since things open later now, but the book is too large to go into the slot. 

I hate that stores are having a hard time getting employees and it's causing a shift in hours for stores like Dollar Tree. I don't go there as often, but still I like to go when the store first opens and now they open at noon which I don't find convenient. I don't like being in a store with a lot of people. Even before the pandemic I was that way. It was great when I didn't work 40 hours a week because I could go to the store when most people were working and pretty much have the store to myself. LOL.

I am still on the fence about retiring. I can't predict the future, but I don't want to work for something and may not utilize it. There is just so much I have to plan out with the house and maintaining the financial aspect of my life if I do retire. I can still work off and on to stay busy and if I need some extra cash. That's when I was happiest and that's what it's all about.

In the world of my film and movie watching there has been quite an assortment. From Rockaway about two brothers plotting to kill their abusive father to Samaritan with Sylvester Stallone. There are different movies I like with Sylvester Stallone, but there is something about the Rambo movies that I really like. I saw Rambo: Last Stand was just interesting to see all of the action stars to continue to bring the characters to life that I grew up on. As you age you don't have to change, but you have to know your bodies limits which is what I am learning as I get older. Samaritan was very interesting as Stallone as a superhero trying to stay in hiding because he is actually a villain, but he befriends a young boy. It definitely has some interesting moments.

I tried to watch Deadpool, but I must have been really tired. I will try again. It has some moments. 

I had ordered The Swarm from the library to watch and I decided to watch it last night. As I had mentioned in a previous post, disaster movies are something I really enjoy, but toward the end of the 70's they started to seem a bit over the top. It was great to see actors like Cicely Tyson in The Concorde as part of the air plane series, but it wasn't as exciting as Airport '75 or Airport '77. The Swarm is packed with stars and it just seems like they are adlibing their way through the movie. It was good to see stars that I remembered like Fred McMurray from My 3 Sons and Olivia DeHavilland from The Heiress, Henry Fonda, Ben Johnson, Richard Widmark, Jose Ferrer, Slim Pickens, Patty Duke Astin, Lee Grant, Katherine Ross, Michael Caine, Bradford Dillman and Richard Chamberlain. Based on scientific evidence the movie is about a swarm of African killer bees that manage to make their way to the US congregating on a small town. Irwin Allen was the master of the disaster film and I really liked the series Land of the Giants growing up. It was one of the first series with a black actor in a lead role.

Thanks for stopping by; keep and open mind and do come back again.

A mural from Barton Springs Road across from the Parmer Event Center.

A tribute to New York

One Entry 3 blogs

 

 Part of a drawing I did many years ago.

It has been a while and I keep trying to do better, but one blog takes more of the focus than the others. There's not a lot happening in my life other than work and watching films, movies and some old television. 

I am trying to figure out my finances because I need to get some much needed repairs done that I have put off far too long. With all of the heat, it seems, I can't be sure, but since I don't keep the central air on the fridge may have been working over time. This is what I heard, but I am not sure. The fridge of course has been here since I purchased the place and who knows how long before that? So it's been 15 years since I have been here and it'll be 17 years in a few weeks that I have been in Texas. I may have mentioned this many years ago. This was never my plan, but it just goes to show you there are things working along side of us that guide us where we are supposed to be even when we don't know it. It's when we try to go against those things that we get into trouble. That's my belief anyway.

So last week I stocked up on groceries because I didn't know how high the prices would be and now that may have been a waste of money as the freezer hasn't been freezing and that means its all going to go bad. I am going to check out Lowes, but I still have to wait to have it delivered when I will be home. So I am at least looking at another week. I don't want to take off from work just to spend the day waiting around. I will eat as much as I can this weekend and then I will go to can stuff if I think certain items have gone bad. If I weren't so afraid to be around people I would cook what I have and invite them over to eat it. At the same token if something has already gone bad, I don't want to be the cause of someone getting sick. 

This is what I get for putting things off. Now there are things that must be done and they are all happening at once.

I am going to start reading Film studies for Dummies as I am trying to see if I can create something. I also need to research film editing programs for my phone. The phone has some very cool features, but if I can't do voice over and editing on the phone with background music then its not going to be very entertaining. When I watch videos on youtube I don't like them to be longer that 12 or 15 mintues tops. Unless the person is very interesting I might tolerate it a little longer, but for the most part they are all amateurs that happen to find a following of people who like them because they come across as the average person and people want someone they can relate too. After all, that is why I subscribe to a few channels because of that. Most of the time I will skip to what I need to see and move on. That's the beauty of the Internet, you don't have to be bored if you don't want to be.

I have watched many movies this week along with episodes of Dallas and The Leftovers. Dallas is a series from the 70's and The Leftover is something from 2014. When I picked up the DVD I saw Christopher Eccelston on the back cover and I hadn't seen him in a lot of stuff, but when I saw his face I figured I would give it a look see. It has religious over tones and Eccelston plays a minister. The first time I ever saw him was  when Dr Who returned after many years, he was the first doctor. I had no idea he would only do one season. It took me a while too get used to the next doctor, but I managed and I was hooked as long as PBS was running it.

 Justin Theroux is the star of the series The Leftovers as the lead cop in the small town as the residents try to wrap their heads around the people that have gone missing. It's interesting, but it is rather slow in getting me to really care for any of the characters. They all have their issues, but they are over the top. Those that have disappeared are being celebrated as heroes when their pasts was very questionable and it doesn't set right with some of the community members.

There are many films and movies as I've mentioned including Triple 9 and The Take. Triple 9 has an all star cast including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Casey Affleck, Clifton Collins, Jr, Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, Michael Kenneth Williams, Gal Gadot, but the surprise performance comes from Woody Harrelson and Kate Winslet, they are really really good. Kate's role was very different from those she has played in the past.

Here are some other films and movies I've watched. I apologize in advance if I have mentioned some of them before. I have like Crispin Glover ever since I saw The Rivers Edge and then I have seen most of what he has done. I've never read any of his books, but I was interested in trying to see if his publishing company would publish some of mine. Crispin stars in Drop Dead Sexy along side Jason Lee. Crispin always seems to play those unusual characters.

Independence Day Resurrgence was okay, it was good to see some of the original faces pop up, Vivica A. Fox, Jeff Goldblum, Judd Hirsh and Pill Pullman to name a few.

TAG was a fun movie based on an article about friends who continued to play the game of tag throughout their adult life.

Life Like was interesting about a woman who is trying to embrace the future of technology as she tries to adjust to having a life like male robot doing the work around the house among other things.

The Purge: Anarchy. I am not sure how many Purge movies there are, but I have now become obsessed with seeing them. I just pick them up as I see them when I go to the library. They don't really have to be watched in any particular order after you see the original first. Anarchy touches on Donald Talbot being president as the Government has declared The Purge a holiday to get rid of certain people.

The Escape Artist stars David Tennant who was the next Dr Who that I saw and he just grew on me. In this series he plays a Barrister that is very good at what he does. It's interesting with some good moments.

The Take, forget about Idris Elba playing James Bond. Turn The Take into a franchise. The character is much more of a badass than Bond anyway. He plays a CIA agent that plays by his own rules in Paris. Richard Madden costars who is also very good.

Unchartered was quite the suprise. Ever since I saw Tom Holland in Impossible I knew he would be a start, but I wasn't anticipating him becoming Spiderman, but he has the knack for comedic timing. Unchartered in a non stop action packed film with a great cast that includes Mark Whalberg, Tati Gabriel and Sophie Ali and Antonio Banderas. If you like any of the stars mentioned you are definitely going to enjoy this one. If you love action and adventure this has that and so much more.

Wolf was a bit of a disturbing movie starring George MacKay as a young man who believes he is a wolf. His family sends him to a facility that tries to break him of his habits. It makes a statement of how society always needs to put people into a box that they feel comfortable with. Paddy Considine plays the Zoo keeper as the facility is called.

Boot Camp was something I watched on Prime starring Mila Kunis, Regine Nehy and Gregory Edward Smith. In this gritty drama based on a true story during a time when parents were sending their wayward teens to tough love camps to put them on the right track. The kids are brought to an island and in a cult like fashion taught to get rid of their old ways and conform to what the leader feels is the appropriate behavior. It's quite good.

Time to work on some art and to watch more films and movies.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again to see where the journey leads. 

www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

www.artbyDlonzo.blogspot.com

www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com

Movies, Films and More Movies

The Art is by Erte,

 The majority of my free time is spent watching movies. Even before the pandemic that was the case, but I did have other things going on that got me out of the house. Now I am very cautious about being around other people. There were some interesting things to see on Prime. Mostly movies I've never heard of, but now that I am back to going to the library for my movie selection I will get rid of Prime by the end of the year.

Sometimes I will watch a movie with an actor and then I will see if there was anything else they have done that I might wasnt to see. Ever since I had seen Justin Long in one of the Die Hard Movies I had been curious to see other movies. I had remembered him from a commercial. I then saw he was in Jeepers Creepers, but I had never seen the very first movie so that was quite interesting. Recently I saw him in a comedy Lady of the Manor which was okay. It stars Melanie Lynsky, Judy Greer, Ryan Phillippe who is almost unrecognizable and Patrick Duffy who is aging gracefully. There was another movie in which he starred with Liam Neeson and Christina Ricci. It was interesting, you really have to be a fan of the actors to enjoy this one. Serious Moonlight was a very interesting dark comedy that starred Meg Ryan, Tim Hutton and a small roll by Justin Long. Kristen Bell also appears in this one.

As I have mentioned before, I really like films and movies dealing with the fashion industry so I decided to watch The Neon Demon with Elle Fanning, Charles Baker, Desmond Harrington, Christina Hendricks and Keanu Reeves to name a few. It's sort of artsy, colorful film noir, but it really didn't work for me. The cinematography was different. The photo shoots were great, but it moved slow in parts and there just seemed to be a lot going on. I love all of the actors involved in the movie so I am glad I checked it out.

I had ordered two disaster movies from Prime that I had never seen. When Time Ran out and Flood. I never really saw movies because of a director when I was growing up. It was mostly because of the subject matter or a certain actor or actress. When it came to disaster movies the name Irwin Allen was the reason I wanted to see the movie, but after The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno, the disaster/ survival movies didn't seem as exciting, so I stopped going to see them. That is the reason I never saw these two movies. I think perhaps flood was a made for TV movie because if the numeroud fades that appear throughout. When Time Ran Out stars Paul Newman as an oil driller on an island where a dorman volcano suddenly erupts having everyone running for their lives, Wiliam Holden, Edward Albert, Jacqueline Bisset, Barbara Carrera, Veronica Hamel, Alex Karras, Burgess Meridith and James Franciscus star along with Red Buttons and Ernest Borgnine who both appeared in the original The Poseidon Aventure,  In the movie Flood the cast includes Roddy McDowall and Carol Lynley who both appeared in The Poseidon Adventure. The movie stars Robert Culp as a helicopter pilot who discovers the break in the damn with youngster Eric Olsen. Adman 12 actor Martin Milner stars along side Barbara Hershey, Richard Basehart, Cameron Mitchell, Teresa Wright and Francine York. It has its moments. Of course visual effects effects have come along way so younger movie viewers may not be as interested in the movie.

I also watched a movie called The Guardian with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher that I really enjoyed. Ashton has a serious role for a change which proves he can do more than comedy. It is based on a true story and definitely worth a look. Especially with the way things are today,  you can see what the coast guards training is like.

I have started watching movies with Halle Berry. So far it's movies in my collection, but I did get to see The Call about a month ago where she plays a 911 operator trying to save a young girl that has been kidnapped. I watched Catwoman and Die Another Day. I have quite the collection of her earlier work.

Since Halle Berry played Dorothy Dandridge I have really become facsinated with her. She was a beatiful woman and Hollywood really didn't know what to do with her. I have started collecting some of her scarce yet poignant films. The Deck Ran Red and Bright Road are the recent additions. An Island in the Sun remains my favorite so far. She plays opposite Harry Belafonte and James Mason.

A water color and drawing collage.

Thanks for stopping by; keep and open miind and do come back again.

The Invisible Man

 

The movie stars Elizabeth Moss from Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale and Aldris Hodges. I  wasn't expecting the movie to go in the direction that it did. I'm not a fan of certain movies just starting without any explanation. It did come together eventually as the movie progressed. The Invisible Man is a psychological thriller with a twist. Before I had seen the movie I kept thinking about The Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon and Oscar winner Elizabeth Shue. The invisible Man takes you on the journey as if you are a part of the story. How would you feel if someone were telling you something that was so unbelievable, but they actually believed it to be true? They are just having a hard time proving it to everyone else.

Elizabeth Moss's character is in an abusive relationship. The audience doesn't know this because we don't know the entire story. Sort of like real life. We meet people, but we don't really know what is going on when they aren't around us. We learn that her husband has isolated her from her family and friends. As she tries to prove what is going on, she seems to be digging a hole deeper and deeper that she doesn't seem like she will get out of. There are some good visual effects that keep getting better and better as the movie moves along.

The first time I saw Elizabeth Moss in anything was Mad Men which the series came as a recommendation from someone that got to know what I might like. After watching a few seasons I had to add it to my collection. I had taken an advertising course in high school and thought I might become a commercial artist.

After Mad Men ended she then popped up on the series The Handmaid's Tale, but since I had no internet I did have access to a streaming service. I waited until I was able to get it from the library and it was worth the wait. A coworker allowed me to borrow the book to read. I would get an opportunity to take pictures of Elizabeth Moss at SXSW when she did a Q&A after the movie Her Smell in which she played a Rock Singer. It was okay. It was just a different role from what I was used to seeing her in.

The Invisible Man is filled with lots of surprising twists and an interesting ending. You have to pay close attention so you will know how it all comes together.

If you are a fan of Elizabeth Moss or Aldris Hodges then you will definitely enjoy this movie. If you love thrillers and surprise endings, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.

Life Inside My Bubble

House of Gucci ****

The movie stars Lady GaGa, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons & Al Pacino. I have always been interested in films and movies that deal with the fashion industry. The problem is that the majority of them see the industry as a joke or they capture the darkside. Perhaps there is no other way to capture it to make it interesting.

I know there are people who are narcissistic, but it seemed a little over the top. Of course you take creative license to keep the viewer interested. Since I don't know these people and have never had the opportunity to see them in an interview, there is no way to know what their personalities were like. Lady GaGa is proving herself to be a great actress. She seems to be very likeable and she is great to watch on screen. I was not familiar with Adam Driver until a few years ago when he appeared on the cover of GQ. It seemed to me as if he came out of nowhere. I'm not sure what I saw first, but I liked his performance in The Black Klansman, but I had seen some of his other performances that were quite good. He is multi talented as he sings, and dances as well as acts. The movie covers the Gucci family from the late 70's to the 90's. All of the Gucci men had some sort of quirk or issue. They also needed to be in control. The surprise performance was that given by Jared Leto, who is almost unrecognizeable. He is an amazing actor that brings so much life to the characters that he plays. Considered one of the pretty bosy of Hollywood, he has proven he is more than a pretty face. Al Pacino starts as the monarch of the family in a way. There's lots of fashion, music and it's quite interesting to see how this empire crashed and burned and then rose from the ashes. The movie is entertaining and it's interesting to see that even the wealthy are sometimes dysfunctional. People with money have just as many problems as everyone else. You also get to learn that money isn't always readily available. If you like fashion, I think you will enjoy this movie. If you are interested in the Gucci brand, definitely check it out. If you are a fan of Lady GaGa and Adam Driver you don't want to miss it. I recommend this movie if only for Jared Leto's performance. I also found out a few things. I didn't know Tom Ford was from Texas and that he took over designing for Gucci to turn the brand around.

The heat is on here in Austin and it's supposed to get even hotter. I got out of the house as earlier than I usely do to get gas. I was surprised that it was still under $5 so I am grateful for that. It was nice and cool so I decided to take my morning drive early as well. I was supposed to try and take pictures with the cameras, but I ended up using the phone. Since there weren't many cars on the road I was able to take my time and just snap and see what I get as I passed by certain buildings and homes.

I contiue to purge papers, books and magazines. I finally shredded my taxes from my very first tax return. I know, it sounds as if I'm a hoarder, but I'm not. It's just that I keep a lot of things, but now its time to let it go. I have to ask myself why am I keeping it. Now there are certain things that I refer to from time to time. Art books, magazines, etc. I photographed a few things yesterday and wondered that there has to be someone out there that might be a collector out Playboy magazines that I have were once worth some money, I'll have to see if that is still the case. The question is do I want to part with them at this moment. There are other things I can throw out immediately and then focus on the stuff that might have a monetary value.

I'm winding down with my collage projects as I am running out of space to hang the pieces. That means I will get rid of some frames and other items that I may not be able to use. I am amazed at some of the drawings I did when I was younger. I keep wanting to try and see if I can still do that. How much time would it take. I do have a large book that I can draw in that I picked up from IKEA. Like I've done with many sketch books, I've copied drawings to color or just use as master drawings to create something else. I am now making some of my larger drawings small enough to appear on greeting cards. Everything is a process and I have to be in the mood to work on certain things.

Thanks for stopping by; keep and open mind and do come back again.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again to see where the journey leads.

www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

www.artbyDlonzo.blogspot.com

www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com

The film and movie watching continues

 I went to the library to try and find the Oscar nominated movies and then I discover something else of interest. I did however get Westside Story, but there are some others that I hadn't expected to see or I had forgotten I wanted to see them. Cruela was one of those movies. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the black and white fashion aspect was what I was interested in seeing. The fashions surpassed anything I have seen in a very long time. The sequence on the trash truck is a show stopper if it were a runway show. I figured it would happen, but it was awesome to see it unfold. It's an interesting story, but it is a little slow at moments. I would have liked to have seen more fashion sequences, but the party scenes and fashion shows are great. I recommend it just for that alone, especially if you are into fashion.

Free Guy is an interesting movie with great visual effects and a message. In light of all that is happening in the world it's a fun movie, but at the same time, too many people are lost in video games trying to be something they are not in the real world. Sometimes they get confused and make it their reality. Ryan Reynolds stars as Guy a character in a video game that doesn't know he isn't real. It's filled with a lot, but the film maker managed to get a love story in there. There are some homages to a few movies and perhaps video games. Since I am not a gamer I can't be sure. Chris Evans pops up in a cameo in reference to a character he plays.

Gully is one such movie that does it. The teenagers get bored and decide to create their own virtual reality in the real world.

The French Dispatch is an interesting film by Wes Anderson. Wes Anderson is an artist and tells stories in a unique way. The cast is quite incredible. He must be a great director to work for because there are stars popping up all over the place in small roles. Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton, Timoth'ee Chalamet, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, Benicio Del Toro, Christoph Waltz, Anjelica Houston, Willem Dafoe & Adrien Brody to name a few. If you are a fan of Wes Anderson's work you will enjoy this film.

The Forever Purge, there are movies that I like to watch, but they are a bit disturbing. I have seen some of the other Purge movies, but this one sort of reflects what is going on now. As artists, we make statements they may only resonate with ourselfs or the people around us. The work reflects what we see or would like to see. Sending a message. The Purge was a day set aside by government where it is legal to committ any crime a person wishes. In The Forever Purge after The Purge is over, there are people that keep on going. The only place to seek refuge is over the border into Mexico. The thought of this happening is very disturbing as more and more people arm themselves.

Horror Beach Party/The Curse of the Living Corpse. I picked this one up for Horror Beach Party. I figured it would be something interesting to watch. It's funny to see what film makers were able to get away with before the rating system was put in place. Del Tenny was a stage actor who turned his sights to movies using some of his stage friends. Horror Beach Party was making a statement about the environment whether it was on purpose or not. Radio Active waste is thrown into the sea causing creatures to be formed. There is only one sequence near the beach. Everything else takes place in the woods or a home. The creatures aren't very scary, but the night time shots does make it somewhat haunting. Eulabelle Moore appears in the movie as a maid that believes in voodoo. I will have to do some research to see if Miss Moore did any other movies. There's dancing and singing and skimpy bathing suits.

The Curse of the Living Corpse stars Roy R Scheider of Jaws fame in his first screen role. So I decided to watch it. It's an interesting story. but not very scary.

There are just so many movies...

 

There is no way that one can see every single movie and really take it in and give a favorable opinion. When I watch films or movies, I have to be in a certain mood for some subjects. As I get older I find myself not being able to stay up as late now watching movies. My body is starting to tell me to go to bed before midnight. Now it could be natural since I wake up early, or it could just be that the film or movie just isn't holding my interest. I would like to say it's because I wake up early and it's finally catching up with me.

Between Amazon Prime and the library I have been in movie watching overload. Some of them are quite memorable and others I can't remember the title or who was in it. There are so many actors that I've never heard of some of the people. I usually watch a movie based on the subject matter, but sometimes it's because of an actor or actress. Recently I watched two movies because it starred Norman Reedus from The Walking Dead. It's funny because one of the movies I had seen many years before The Walking Dead, but I didn't really remember him in The Boondock Saints. At the time Sean Patrick Flannery was an up and coming star. I had forgotten that Willem Dafoe was in the movie, but it all came back to me when I started watching as to what my mind had stored. I have to try and remember to write down the movies I watch on Amazon and I need to write what I am going to post here first so that I don't repeat certain things. Of course there is a possibility I may have watched something a second time such was the case with Game Night and Bridesmaids.

Last night I watched The King of Staten Island with Pete Davidson. I like Pete on SNL and since the story was supposed to be about him I thought I would check it out. It was okay and it had some moments. Hopefully he'll get a chance to do something else that can showcase what he can do.

I watched M. Night Shayamalan 's film OLD. This was one that I wanted to see because of the subject matter. It was interesting, but it is slow at times. The aging is instant so the camera goes away and when it comes back some one has aged. It's the children that have the drastic change. There are some moments where you wish it had been explained a little more, but the premise is different.

Another movie I watched was Kill Bill, Vol 1. Now I am a fan of Quentin Tarentino, but I am not sure why I never really cared to see Kill Bill. Perhaps I thought since the leads were female I wouldn't enjoy it... I am really not sure. I like Quentin's handling of dialog, it's realistic. People talking over each other and sometimes the audience may miss something just like in real life. I will have to see if I can locate Vol 2 and see how it all ties in. I was disappointed that Vivica Fox wasn't on the screen longer.

The Hitman's Wife's, Body Guard- Once you get past the language it's quite the entertaining movie. I had met Salma Hayek many years ago at the Seattle International Film festival. And I photographed Ryan Reynolds at SXSW in Austin.

I was not impressed with Ghostbusters After Life. I felt it took too long to get to the action. The best part for me was the little marshmellows. I will probably watch it again just to see if I feel differently the second time around.

I've been watching season 2 of the series on Prime, The Wilds. Season 2 is much better than season 1. At the end of season 1 we are left with a cliff hanger that the same experiment is being conducted on the island with a group of guys.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.

Movies, movies, movies 2022

 I continue to watch movies on Amazon and from the library. Some of them I have never seen or heard of. Some of them are quite good and a few that are just interesting, but not something I would watch again. There are so many movies that I have watched that sometimes they run together and I can't remember if I had seen them based upon the title. Then I start to watch and realized I had seen it. That was the case with a movie called Breach with Bruce Willis. It was sort of an Alien/Life mix, not the best. I figured with Bruce Willis there would be a lot of action, but that wasn't the case.

There have been some interesting horror movies like Hell House and Extracurricular, this one was a bit disturbing. I watched a remake of Beaches which I don't know why they attempted to remake this one. It stars Nia Long and Idina Menzel so I gave it a look, but I normally don't do remakes unless I have never seen the original or I like the cast. I watched Back to the Future and the sequel. I'll watch the third installment sometime this weekend. Doubting Thomas was interesting about a couple expecting a baby that comes out black and questions pursue. I don't want to give anything away, but the premise is good, but the acting is not that great. A few movies I've seen it's as if the actors were just given a synopsis and told to react. Sometimes that works, but if the actors are not used to improvisation it doesn't.

Beast was another interesting film and I had no idea where this one was going to go, but it is worth a watch. I go back and forth with older movies that I had seen when I was younger and then those I had never seen or heard of and some of the newer stuff that I just wouldn't pay to see in the theater. This is where the library comes in handy. Here is a list of movies I've watched this year. As I Lay Dying, Beneath Hill 60, Chappaquidick, Cut Throat City, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Fast Five, Heaven Help Us, Holidays, Ugly is a different twist on a revenge movie. Ben is Back is one of Julia Roberts best performances along side Lucas Hedges. Land of Storms is an interesting story. I will be watching Dead Man with Johnny Depp and one of Bob Saget's comedy routines.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.

Happy New Year!!!

The Artist reading.

I am not sure when it began, but it has long been a tradition that if I don't have any plans, I will watch The Poseidon Adventure. I am talking the original with Shelly Winters, Stella Stevens, Pamela Sue Martin, Carol Lynley, Red Buttons, Jack Albertson, Eric Shea, Roddy McDowell, Gene Hackman and Ernest Borgnine.

What I liked about the disaster movies of the 70's is that it put the actors of old Hollywood back in the light. At least that is how I perceive it now. Stars like Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner and Lorne Greene to name a few.

(VHS copies of Mahogany and The Mack. The Mack was always a favorite, but it wasn't until I became an adult and interested in fashion that Mahogany became a part of the collection. It has some great photography sequences.)

I had remember seeing some of them when I used to watch movies as a kid with my mother's mother. Mostly religious themed movies, but from time to time something would pop up. I have collected quite a few movies that feature the actors of old Hollywood. I enjoy watching programs of interviews and behind the scene stories. I am that person that watches the special features on a DVD when they are included.

In 2022 I will focus on watching movies with a predominately black cast or if there is a film in which a black actor has a pivital role such as Dorothy Dandridge in The Decks Ran Red. There are many rare films and movies I am trying to get my hands on or at least view. One such movie is the original Porgy and Bess with Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis, Jr and Sidney Poitier to name a few. I will also be watching two films with Josephine Baker that I added to my collection over 20 years ago. Princess Tam Tam and Zou Zou. I will also be looking at a documentary on Oscar Micheaux who was known as the Black Czar of Hollywood. The fims he created are even more rare to find. Several years ago I had an opportunity to buy a DVD and I didn't do it when I saw it and I have never seen it again. It was a collection of black films including Cabin in the Sky and Stormy Weather. I think one of the reasons is because I had both of these films on VHS and I wasn't familiar with the other titles or actors. It really shouldn't have matter, I just should have made the purchase.

There is a new station I discovered during the pandemic called the grio. They show films and movies that feature black actors so I was happy about that. There just isn't a lot of content available because they show the same movies too often. I know there are many reasons whey certain things aren't being shown in this time of black lives matter. The art form of movies and television suffer because of this. It's part of history. The films and movies reflected the times, but there are some that were just about artistic freedom and the perception of the writer and filmmaker.

I will also be looking at some of my VHS tapes. No need to replace them until I no longer have a device to play them on. The thing about having a collection is that you get to watch what you want when you want. You don't have to rush to see something because it's going to be leaving a streaming service. Between my collection and the library, I have been able to watch a lot of films and movies. There is also Movies TV Network where they show a lot of classics as well as films and movies from the 60's and 70's.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.