5 Great War Movies to Watch Before You Die

War has been a theme of movies right from the earliest days when D.W. Griffith made his controversial movie, "Birth of a Nation". War has given movie makers several narratives and conflicts that make for great cinema. Some of the most memorable movies of the past few decades were about war, so here's my list of my personal favorites amongst them:

1. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Words cannot do justice to this movie, whose opening 15 minutes are arguably the most visceral in movie history. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks, Saving Private Ryan features some of the most realistic and violent battle scenes ever filmed. It remains one of the most loved and influential war movies of all time.

2. Apocalypse Now (1979)
This 1979 movie starring Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando and directed by Francis Ford Coppola remains one of the most haunting narratives on war ever filmed. Coppola claimed that his movie was not about Vietnam, "it is Vietnam". A story of a soldier who has to wade through deep jungles to find a renegade Colonel, the movie has strong echoes of the novel, "Heart of Darkness" and features a memorable, haunting soundtrack (anchored by The Doors' "The End").

3. The Deer Hunter (1978)
This 1978 film starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Cazale is a deep meditation on the Vietnam war. The first hour of the movie may be dull, but after that, it thrusts you completely into the war. But more than the war, this movie is remarkable for its depiction of the impact war can have on people back home.

4. Schindler's List (1993)
Steven Spielberg scores another entry on this list with a haunting, personal look at the horrors of the holocaust. Liam Neeson plays a reluctant hero who saves the lives to hundreds of Jews in Nazi Germany.

5. Black Hawk Down (2001)
This 2001 Ridley Scott film had it all: visceral action, compelling story telling, and a great cast. One of the best narratives on modern day war.

So there you have it: five great war movies, just in time for the Oscar sweep of "The Hurt Locker".

John is a blogger. At present, he is writing about grooms cake ideas. Check it out here:

Grooms Cake

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Stargate Collectibles - 3 Must-Have Things For All Stargate Fans

It has been over ten years that I have been hooked to Stargate (SG) series. Even if I ever missed an episode, I ensured that I knew each and every detail before the next one was on air. Over the years, I have collected some really attractive SG-1 and SG Atlantis merchandise to make my friends go green with envy. All SG fans must have three things from the Stargate collectibles to exhibit their craze.

Stargate shirts

If one happens to browse the internet about Stargate shirts, one would be amazed at the available long list of options. Whether the requirement is of a long-sleeved shirt or a T-shirt, SG logo is present in varied colors and sizes. One can flaunt cotton SG Atlantis shirt with elan or wear the Stargate wormhole logo around and make a style statement.

Stargate Posters

How about pinning up Stargate posters on your wall and living in a fantasy world of Stargate? Treat yourself by reliving the SG-1 moments with life-size posters of either the star cast of SG-1 or those portraying as SG-1, Uniting the Planets. One can create a SG feel in ones room through posters and shelved collectibles. A get together of friends in such a decorated room can be really enjoyable.

Stargate Toys

There are Stargate figurines too which are not only loved by the kids but also serve as decorative items for keep sake on the shelves. The best-selling Stargate SG-1 action figures featuring greatest characters including Colonel Mitchell, Vala, Ori Prior, and the limited Black Ops Daniel make for a perfect toy collection. Kids can explore their own world of Stargate SG-1 through such toys.

Before the new series of Stargate Universe begins on the 2nd of April this year, spend your time with these Stargate merchandise. Waiting for Stargate to begin can be all the more fun when one has the best collectibles to rewind the Stargate filled moments from the past. So, enjoy with the available Stargate collectibles before the stock gets over as the SGU excitement is catching pace.

Visit Stargate SG1 Collectibles if you are a Stargate Fanatic like Bikram Singh, and see exciting collection of Stargate Toys.

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Funny Text to Speech Tricks and Pranks

With the press of a button, you can set up a computer machine to simulate funny sounds and funny text to speech programs are the perfect device for creating those funny internet sounds.

The pranks generated can be simply funny, or shocking, it's up to you and what reaction or emotion you want your mark to experience. The best text to speech tricks and pranks get the intended person off guard giving you the opportunity to watch with glee as the mark goes mental trying to figure it out.

Like many jokes, funny text to speech tricks and pranks are started out of frustration. It's during those moments of frustration when trying to sort out a computer error when you see the opportunity to make humor of the malfunction. A good case in point of this is Spell Catcher. Spell Catcher observes what you're typing in every program and then either corrects or says your spelling errors as you make them. Spell Catcher runs on Mac and Windows and plays a sound when you make spelling and grammatical errors. It's remarkable for annoying co-workers-especially with the odd sounds the program makes. One can alter the sound it makes in to be either very loud or very unique/awkward.

Prank calls are also another common type of funny text-to-speech prank. There are a lot of opportunities for pranksters to use text to speech programs to make prank calls to their unsuspecting victims. The voices generated can be altered to bring out the effect one would like to send.

Another text to speech platform joke is setting up an appointment with a coworker to teach them a speech-recognition program. Then, prior to the meeting, set your wireless keyboard to the coworker's computer. Explain to him that the software needs a sample sound so as to recognize his voice. As he makes his demo sound have a coworker type up some gibberish on a text to sound program so that the computer says complete different stuff than expected. Watch with glee as your target begins to get frustrated, talking louder and altering his pronunciation as he to tries to make it work. A great prank if pulled off correctly.

Finally, a basic, yet funny text to speech prank is to just have your computer "punk" a co-worker or friend. Just wait until he and others are around you and then have a bunch of trash ready to go. Fire up your text-to-speech software, and let your computer tear into the target. I personally have done this & it was hilarious...

For all the info, review, and video about text-to-speech and voice recognition technology that you'd ever want, go to Text-toSpeech.Com

Andrew Clayton is a writer with a passion for text to speech who enjoys sharing insights about his passion with others.

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Gary Larson - The Far Side Comic Author - A Bio

Gary Larson, notable for Far Side comic fame, has a unique biography that plays a substantial role in influencing what many people consider to be his creative genius.

Born in August of 1950 in Tacoma, Washington Gary Larson would go on to achieve an interesting level of fame for the single panel comic strips he published in newspapers around the world from 1980 until his early retirement January first of 1995. Essentially Mr. Larson stepped away from his pen and pad at the age of 45 which is still very youthful by writing career standards.

Growing up in the western portion of Washington state Larson was the son of a car salesman father and a secretary mother and had a typical middle class upbringing by all accounts. A defining period in the life of Gary Larson occurred after he left Curtis Senior High school and went to nearby Washington State University (WSU) for college. After four years at the Pullman, Washington campus Larson received a degree in communications in 1972.

While many people have wondering what primarily inspired the quirky humor Gary Larson was consistently able to summarize in simplistic but hilarious images the answer very well may be Gary's brother Dan. Gary himself gives his older brother much of the credit for shaping his much appreciated humor and fascination with science, a topic that often found a way into his drawings. Sadly Dan died of cancer at the height of his brother's popularity in 1991.

As far as Gary Larson's big break into cartooning it came about as a function of his general dissatisfaction with the direction his life was going after college and specifically his lack of a fulfilling career path. While working in a Washington music store in the late 1970s Larson realized how much he hated his job and decided to try his hand at comic strips. Initially he drew and submitted six cartoons to a regional magazine based out of Seattle. The success of that initial attempt laid the groundwork for Larson to submit pieces to the prominent Seattle Times where he was eventually given a weekly spot to share his creative humor.

Early career success did not take off as a direct result of the Seattle Times picking up his strip but it did lay the groundwork for Larson to pitch the product to the San Francisco Chronicle. Larson himself was pleasantly surprised at the degree of interest the Chronicle expressed. The San Francisco Chronicle can be created with actually coming up with the name The Far Side and playing a significantly role in making Larson a wealthy man as that paper syndicated the piece so that a much wider audience could enjoy the creative musings of Gary Larson.

While new material along the lines of the surreal nature of Gary Larson's ideas are missed by a large portion of the American landscape his genius has fortunately been preserved in the literally thousands of clever ideas he penned that are captured forever as evidence of his imaginative way of thinking about the world.

With an early retirement at the age of 45 Larson afforded himself plenty of time to take up numerous hobbies to fill his days. Larson is an avid jazz guitarist and has even tried his hand at the game of golf a few times. It's unclear if Gary Larson owns a WSU golf bag (his alma mater) but there is no question that if he does he has plenty of time to use it.

As arguably the most famous WSU alumni (at least in certain circles) Larson likely has influenced more than one fellow alum that already carries a Washington State University golf bag to brag to golfing buddies about having attended the same college at the same time as the very highly regarded Gary Larson.

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Learn How to Impress Your Audience Through Short Jokes For Fun and Humor

You must have noticed that some people have quality of making others laugh. They have got the capability of impressing other people. Whatever they say, we feel good and interesting. We feel like we hear it again and again. It is because they have master in the art of expressing the things. They know how to attract the audience. They know what audience like and how to say it. They know what is the reaction of their expressions. It is an art and can be learn easily.

You must be thinking that why they do not hesitate or feel shy. I tell you why, it is because they have been taught that "Always think and believe that you are the best and smart one and every one else, who is listening you, is a big fool so deliver your best."

I would like to share some of the things which you should do before cracking short jokes for fun and humor.

- Practice a lot and make yourself master of things.
- You should be very creative.
- Always try to do something different.
- A good speaker is one who able to maintain lots of suspense.

There are some qualities you must learn before making any short jokes:-

- You have to learn fluency before making any humor.
- You must do lots of practice for perfection.
- Your timing must be good enough.
- You voice and body language should be supportive.

If you are not very much confident on what you are going to present. You should practice with your family and friends. You must be master of making drama. You need to create a good story and should present it in such a way so you could able to gain everyone's attention.

You should also take care that what your audience is expecting. It is always better to keep it short and simple. And pause for a while for getting more attention. Keep the twist with lots of examples.

And after that put up your punch line so that they can laugh. Wish you all happy laughing.

You are welcome to visit lots of funny pranks at Short Jokes and inspire yourself with Short quotes.

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Avatar the Last Airbender - Stunned Both the Creators and the Publishers

Avatar is arguably one of the best cartoons ever made, preferred by each youth, adults, male and female alike, which stunned both the creators and the publishers, Avatar The Last Airbender just has some lasting appeal, humor, nice Martial Arts, and an intriguing storyline which makes it so interesting, there's a character in the show that everybody can relate too. And that's why children and adults seeking Avatar the final Airbender toys on internet.

Close to the start of the show you meet Zuko who is the Prince of the Fireplace Nation and banished dishonorably for questioning generals spending troopers lives as in the event that they weren't people. His Father the king of the Firenation permanently scars his son because of his supposed "Weak point" and banished him with just one method again, the seize of The Avatar a supernatural being designed from the beginning of the world to maintain steadiness and peace within the world. Zuko becomes consumed by his have to capture the Avatar as a way to restore his honor. Over the course of the show nonetheless Zuko goes through a number of experiences which present him the results that the conflict of the Firenation is having on the folks of the world and he slowly begins to query the values taught to him by his Tradition and comes to reach his personal conclusions about his personal inner values and what really should be important to him.

Zuko spent the vast majority of his life chasing a dream someone else had for him, when he realized that he wanted to look inside himself and do what was really essential, it completely changed his life. Finally Zuko becomes "Good" and as an alternative of defeating the Avatar, helps him convey Peace to the Warfare Ravaged land. This transformation and dilemma Zuko found him self in is one thing I feel almost everybody can relate too.

Zuko was not alone in his transformation his biggest mentor was his Uncle Common Hiro. Uncle was a famous Common in the Firenation Army and virtually overtook the Earth Nations best metropolis Ba Sing Se, Nevertheless when Uncle had almost overtaken your entire City his son was killed, this crippled Uncle to the core and he left the struggle resulting in a large Hearth Nation defeat.

Uncle loss however gave him the wisdom to see the terrible destruction his nation was inflicting to the others, having experience the ache of shedding somebody himself he might sympathize with the opposite nations. Uncle gained the power to see things by way of others eyes and adopted Zuko as his personal son when he was banished.

Uncle confirmed extreme endurance and fortitude to assist Zuko in whom he noticed nice worth, though Zuko didn't want any help. Uncle is usually a nice example to us of persistence and a willingness to help everybody round them. Uncle Iroh also brought out the perfect in folks and helped them see an actual technique to having peace. Uncle gained wisdom and cause from a staggering loss, his son was killed in the conflict, by way of this he was capable of see issues via others eyes and in the end be one of many largest protagonists in ending the violence brought on by his own Nation.

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Avatar - The Last Airbender - Review - It's Not Only Combat Between Good and Unhealthy Guys

The final story of Avatar is that the principle character Aang is the brand new Avatar sent to convey peace to a civilization ravaged by the warfare introduced forth by the Firelords. His destiny is to master all four elements: Earth, Hearth, Water, Wind and then take down the evil Firelord. This explicit volume finds Aang main the charge because the nations attempt to take Fire Nation down by storm during an eclipse when their powers are MIA, but the Firelord is nowhere to be found. Publish retreat, the youngsters try to regroup and formulate a plan of assault whereas additionally in search of a Firelord to teach Aang the firebending ropes.

Within the days when the Fire Nation attacked and the struggle began, the Avatar disappeared. Since then, a new Avatar has emerged - a 12-year-previous Airbender boy named Aang. Torn between his want to assist convey peace to the world and his want to be a regular kid, Aang will need time to study and put together, as well as a number of help from his friends.

The largest factor this present has going for it by far is its fantastically kinetic motion sequences the place the animators pull up their sleeves and let their world breathe a little. The animation is fluid and expansive, that means you're not going to get the poorly rendered, sluggish-moving sequences of decades previous and as a substitute are handled to a burst of fantastically captured choreography, never devolving into chaos and always keeping you abreast of the geography of each sequence. Every character and their mastery of certain elements make for a couple of thrilling sequences, when the gang is attempting to flag down an evil princess in a cave through the use of the earth around them as a weapon regardless of her evasion methods and an tried jail break on a transport car hanging a whole lot of toes above the air.

One of many things appreciated in regards to the present is that the characters weren't static throughout, with a simple bad man - good man dichotomy being established. Instead evidently characters can redeem themselves from previous transgressions in this world and the concept that doing bad doesn't make you inherently evil or define you for the rest of time is one could be appreciated being passed on to children. It additionally has a robust sense of narrative, partially helped at the least by the fact that the creators seem to have an endgame set in place in order to ensure this collection doesn't begin spinning its wheels and become soap operatic with characters' allegiances constantly shifting to accommodate plot resuscitation.

That isn't to say it's all peachy for this show though. A whole lot of the attempts at humor are broad past belief and sometimes really feel shoehorned in order to not make the proceedings as dramatic and pressure-filled as they are to make it more palatable for a youthful audience. Comprehensible, however it detracts from the collection on the whole. But there isn't a complete lot of adverse to be stated for this show, which was a pleasant little surprise. It blends its characters, message and motion fairly adeptly and is a perfectly suitable means to your child to keep away from physical exercise throughout their free time.

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Lifesize Cardboard Standups - Spectacular Uses For Any Occasion

A lot of people have so many pictures that are hung around their room with people they love and absolutely adore such as family and friends, passed relatives or role models that have changed people's lives such as celebrities. So, in some cases, because of the type of picture, or the reasons behind the picture, the owner of that photo wants those particular people to be living and present right there with them. So, although the actual people aren't available, you can make them available by getting a lifesize cardboard standup. But, where would you use it? Or why would you really want it? Here are a few reasons that could help you decide:

• Constant Reminder: When someone has lost a loved one, it hurts and it hurts deeply. The people left behind are left with the heart strings cut and years of a process of healing from the loneliness. And that feeling comes with either a death or a move from someone you desperately cared about. A lifesize standup could be the answer. If there was a photo of them somewhere, you could get a lifesize make up of him or her and have them with you as a constant reminder that could help heal the heart and help heal the hurt. Some people really benefit from seeing them constantly and the usual thing to do is have a picture of them somewhere. A lifesize photo, would bring them to life and help you see them as you have remembered them being. It can be a real comfort.
• Life-Like: Many teenagers and young adults are very into the "celebrity" heat and have pictures of people they think are good looking and absolutely "rave" over them. They plaster their walls with pictures and posters with these famous people. But, if they are really looking for something tangible and someone that "looks like" the exact model, than getting a lifesize cardboard standup of them helps a great deal. Set them up in your room, or give them as a present to your best friend that is raving over them as well. It is for sure a people pleaser and a very good gift.
• Parties: In some parties, the host or hostess likes to have theme for their party such as a western theme. Decoration wise, they have a lot to do to make the background and a lifesize look around the whole room or home. With these lifesize cardboard standups, they are not just used for people, they can be used for a standup gate, or a western saloon door, cactus or sagebrush etc. Anything you would like to make these things life-like. It's to help the party very life looking and real.
• Play Scenes: This is probably the one place that constantly either uses or people are looking for the standups. If the play was set in a park, you would need some sort of scene setter. But, what can you get but a background drop? Which is a need, but what about the lamp post or the bushes and trees? And the ducks that swim in the pond perhaps? These can be made to make the scene or scenes complete with your standups. They work perfectly.

The lifesize standups are very convenient when they are really needed, or they can be the best thing when you are really hurting or wishing you had a particular person. Your questions, wants or desired are answered and you finally know how to fulfill them.

If you are looking for a lifesize cardboard standup for your next event or even as a gift visit our online party store for great prices on lifesize standups.

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The Best Thriller Movies and Creative Vision

American cinema has truly changed within the last 10 years as more and more studios and directors use elaborate and stylized techniques in addition to digital effects within their films. The best thriller movies on the other hand even now need to have some old-fashioned elements so that you can be successful including excellent writing, acting, directing, and editing.

Wonderful writing seems to become something which we take for granted when we go to the see thriller movies but it's also the hardest factor to get correct and one of the rarest things in Hollywood movies. Since most Hollywood studio films are written by committee these movies generally seem overblown, formulaic and just plain silly. The extremely best written movies are usually written by one individual with a unique vision that has hopefully not been tampered with by too quite a few hacks along the way. Under the current Hollywood system a writer has little chance of fulfilling his grand vision. Instead she or he is subjected to script meetings with talentless and arrogant studio executives who proceed to systematically kill any dream the writer occurs to have of creating a piece of art.

Art isn't important from the minds of studio executives. Putting folks into seats for opening weekend is what matters most. Unfortunately the ultimate result of this kind of backward thinking is that you draw for the first week of release based upon hype and advertising then lose audiences with bad word of mouth. Thriller movies can't be created by number crunching but by directors and writers with vision and creative genius.

Martin Scorcese is one present day artist that will not compromise when it comes to originality and creativity. He is one of the lucky few that get to produce movies without interference from the powers that be. One of the excellent movie thrillers was Scorcese's remake of Cape Fear starring Robert DeNiro.

Scorcese's latest movie could be the suspense thriller Shutter Island starring Leonardo DiCaprio and pairing him with Robert DeNiro once once again.

Great movie thrillers are like wine and get far better with age. Rear Window was one of several Hitchcock masterpieces that viewers can watch more than and more than once more and nevertheless enjoy. The Birds and Psycho are a lot more examples in the British director's genius.

Jonathan Demme's 1991 Best Picture winner The Silence in the Lambs nonetheless remains to this day one of the best with the best movie thrillers ever built. In 1971 Clint Eastwood produced his directing debut with the incredibly scary Play Misty for Me. One year later director John Boorman designed his Academy Award winning masterwork Deliverance starring Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight. One of my all-time favorite movie thrillers is John Schleshinger's 1976 spy film Marathon Man starring a young Dustin Hoffman.

The United States doesn't have any specific stranglehold on movie thrillers as was demonstrated from the fantastic 1990 film La Femme Nikita by French director Luc Besson. Stephen Spielberg started his career with one of the simplest and best movie thrillers Duel about a deranged trucker.

One issue all excellent movie thrillers have in common will be the element of surprise and also the ability to create audiences squirm and sit on the edge of their seat.

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Twilight Sparkles Like Diamonds in the Sun

Kristen Stewart, who was known mostly for her wonderful performance next to the incomparable Jodie Foster in 2002's The Panic Room, has pulled another fantastic display of acting ability out of her hat with The Twilight Saga, New Moon. Not believing the sequel could possibly be as entertaining as the first in the series, Twilight, I came away completely satisfied and found myself looking forward to the next movie. I actually thought I was done with movie series, finding myself a bit worn out from Lord of the Rings and completely drained from the Harry Potter movies. Twilight has somehow renewed my movie going strength and next to Iron Man, I do not think I could possibly look forward to anything else with as much anticipation.

In Twilight, Director Catherine Hardwicke has taken the beginnings of an old story and given it new meaning when a teenage girl (Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan) moves to a new town to live with her Father, Charlie Swan, superbly handled by Billy Burke. Bella is a withdrawn girl who is slightly introverted but manages to make friends anyway with a group of kids who are not quite nerds but by no means the most popular either. Then she meets Edward Cullen, again, a prime example of what good casting can do for a movie as Robert Pattinson literally sparkles in this role, and you can tell instantly that there is something unsettling and infatuating for him in her. This is where things get interesting as after first avoiding her like the plague and then saving her life twice, they quickly and seamlessly fall completely in love and she gets the shock of her life (until the sequel) as he reveals why he is so mysterious.

Writer Stephenie Meyer takes the vampire lore and gives it an exciting and very believable twist, explaining as the movie rolls perfectly along, all the differences that make our vampire a hero instead of something that needs to be hunted and staked. From skin, that sparkles with diamond like quality in the sun, to the need to play baseball during a thunderstorm to mask the sound of bat hitting ball with superior to human strength, Stephenie Meyer manipulates the legend like a skilled magician handles a deck of cards and when she is finished, she leaves us wishing we were all vampires. (Except for that part about being soulless and damned) If the end of this fine cinematic achievement is a bit predictable, all is forgiven as the acting and the pace literally carries you through to the final scene and leaves you wanting more. It is quite rare for a movie of this caliber to tie up all the loose ends so neatly and still be able to surprise us so completely in the sequel.

Speaking of sequels, since the movie The Twilight Saga, New Moon has only recently been released and is already the number one DVD on the planet, I will not go into detail because I hear there is a guy somewhere in the African rain forest who has not seen it yet. I can tell you this, though. I knew deep in my heart that the good-looking, love struck, Native American boy Jacob was going to have a big part in at least one of the sequels but I was taken so off guard by his lycanthropic blood-line that I have to admit, Mrs. Meyer is a genius and an extremely talented and creative writer.

If you are one of the two or three people in the movie-going world that has not seen The Twilight Saga, one or two, please, go immediately to your nearest video store and buy, not rent, this incredible love story. Believe me; you will be happy that you did.

If you are hosting a Twilight party and looking for Twilight party favors and Twilight party supplies, E-WeddingFavors.com has the biggest selection of unique Twilight party favors, supplies and much more. These products are one of a kind and are all at a very affordable prices at or around $1 or $2.

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A Cursory Preview of the Movie Hot Tub Time Machine

Lots of people across the world love to take baths and find it to be a refreshing pastime that can settle nerves, soothe sore muscles and generally make a person feel better. Bathing is made much easier of course by a Cincinnati walk in bathtub or multiple Cincinnati walk in bath tubs. Of course, things that are essentially containers for large amounts of water can also be used for recreational purposes by more than one person, as evidenced by things like the pool and the hot tub. In fact, the hot tub is currently coming under the microscope as a large part of the plot of a new, upcoming comedy film called Hot Tub Time Machine.

The plot of the movie, although it has not come out yet so nobody but critics can have seen it yet, seems fairly simple. Four men are on a vacation at a ski lodge in the film. Needless to say for four single men, the trip gets a little crazy through partying and somehow while they are all in a hot tub at the ski lodge they are transported back in time to 1986. According to multiple synopses available on the internet the four use their time in the past to change things about their future. Whether or not they make it back to the present is anyone's guess and certainly a large part of the suspense of the movie. So far every critical review of the film has been good so it certainly would not be a stretch of the imagination to think that it will do well at the box office.

One of the stars of the movie is John Cusack. In the film Cusack apparently plays a man who is recovering from the recent break up with his girlfriend. The choice to cast Cusack in a role in this comedy film is interesting since he is more typically known for his turns in more serious films including some of his most famous starring roles in films such as disaster movie 2012 and thriller and suspense movie Identity. This is Cusack's first real starring role in a comedy so it will of course be interesting to film buffs to see what his delivery on jokes and general comedic demeanor is like.

Another of the stars of this movie is Craig Robinson. Robinson is most likely to be known for his work on the extremely popular comedy television series The Office, on which he portrays a blue collar worker in the warehouse of a fictional paper company. Robinson will also be known to fans of the cult comedy hit Pineapple Express, in which he played a small time criminal goon working for a bigger criminal kingpin.

It remains to be seen whether or not this quirky upcoming comedy will be funny and well received by audiences but the writers and director certainly deserve at least a little credit for coming up with a fairly original plot amidst a modern Hollywood in which it feels like most films are reboots of others and not new ideas.

Connor R. Sullivan searched the internet for a Cincinnati walk in bathtub in order to purchase a safe tub for his aging parents. He recently installed a couple of Cincinnati walk in bath tubs in his home.

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A Lesson in Satire - Borat the Movie and Its Ramifications

Something that has gotten much better in recent times is the convenience of travel. The world has become smaller through generations due to advancements in the technology of travel, and travel has become more convenient through the invention of some truly unique items that people can take with them while traveling. For example, recently on the market is a telescoping handle system for bags that makes it easier to carry clothes and other necessary items for a journey. Also, to make sure that bags are not mistaken for somebody else's there is private label luggage.

One person, although fictional, who did not have the benefit of any of these nice things on his travels is the character Borat. Created by actor, comedian, and nut ball Sacha Baron Cohen originally as part of his television show, Da Ali G Show, Borat is a reporter from Kazakhstan. After Da Ali G Show was canceled Borat returned to the fore in entertainment with a movie. The movie features the Kazakh reporter getting into many tricky situations, all with real and unknowing Americans, after traveling to the country in search of ways to improve his home country.

One interesting situation the character gets himself in to is when he travels to get a car and his driver's license. When at the car dealership trying to get a car Borat mentions to the dealer a very specific and offensively labeled type of woman that he would want to attract with his new car, looking for suggestions as to what car would attract certain women. The dealer quickly responded that Borat wanted either a Hummer or a Corvette, making him seem misogynistic himself. Much of the humor of the movie centers around Borat, played of course by Sacha Baron Cohen, acting racist, rude and misogynistic and then getting agreement from the people he interacts with. This style of course says more about the unknowing people getting filmed than Baron Cohen himself.

Many people found the film uproariously funny and others were offended. As would be expected, some of the people that were filmed in Borat attempted to sue Baron Cohen because they said the film portrayed them in a bad light. For example, at one point in the movie Borat is staying overnight at a bed and breakfast and the film shows cockroaches crawling around on the floor. This lead to a lawsuit from the elderly couple who owned the bed and breakfast because they claim, correctly, that the cockroaches were planted in their home by the film crew and resulted in a loss of business. It is unfortunate that this type of humor lends itself to lawsuits, but hopefully teaches people upset at their portrayal in the film to be a little more careful when they read things signing away their image rights to a film.

Borat in the opinion of many people is one of the funniest movies ever made and one can certainly see why. Although it definitely is not for those who are easily offended at over the top, sometimes racist sounding humor there is something funny in the movie for almost all audience members.

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Finding Celebrities

Getting in contact with famous people directly is nearly impossible. Even "B-List" stars are insulated to a degree by "their people." Still it is possible if you have something that is provocative enough to garner a little attention. In other words, simply wanting to say "hello" isn't going to get you anywhere. What will is understanding the different ports of entry into your favorite celeb's world and utilizing them properly.

Nearly every celebrity has an agent, this is a known fact. What an agent does is simply act as an intermediary between the "talent" and the media companies- i.e production or publication companies. Unless you are MGM trying to get in touch with an A-list star, give this option no thought whatsoever. You will get no where trying to contact a company like the William Morris Agency because you liked Megan Fox's last movie and want to congratulate her.

A publicists might offer a little bit less resistance however. Publicists are the people who put the spin on the celebrity's public image. They are responsible for everything from damage control to making sure the press is at an event when the celeb cuts the ribbon to a new hospital wing. Their job is to do whatever it takes to keep their client in the public eye, generate interest in their client and assure that their client is seen in a favorable light. You might get an autographed picture from a publicist's office or even a nice little swag-pack with a calendar. Sports publicists are probably some of the most generous in this way.

A lot of celebrities have charities set up for them. This is a good tax break and a fine way to "give back". They are also another way to get in touch with said celebrity. If you have a charitable cause that could be deemed as appropriate for the celebrity, you might be considered for contact. A celebrity without their name attached to a cause is often a good candidate as well. Going through their publicist is the best bet.

Nearly all A, B and even C list maintain a website. Often there is a "contact" button somewhere on the page. This might or might not ever get to the celebrity. Usually these are maintained by a professional web hosting company and overseen by a publicist. Often a list of events and appearances related to the web site's subject (the star) will be listed. For authors and writers, there are usually book tours and lectures they will be giving. Music and television/movie personalities are a little harder to track down on the appearance front.

Again, your chances of success depend on how well you can express yourself and how interesting your reason for contacting the celeb is. Unfortunately, you will no doubt still have to go through some layers of protection to actually get your letter or email into the hands of the object of your affection. It's not often the celebrity them self you will have to impress with your cause, but instead a member of someone else's staff who have heard it all before. Being unique and setting yourself apart-selling your self, is the only real chance you have.

There is, however always the stalker option, but this rarely works and is costly on the legal front.

Ken Winters enjoys writing about entertainment and celebrities. For more information on celebrities and how to best contact them please visit http://www.evancarmichael.com/Famous-Entrepreneurs/514/Contact-Oprah-Winfrey.html

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The Beaches of Agnes (New DVD Review)

The Beaches of Agnès (Agnès Varda, 2009) - The opening lines of this beautiful, intelligent and heartfelt autobiographical documentary, spoken by the director Agnès Varda, are "I am playing the role of a little old lady, pleasantly plump and talkative, telling her life story." We then see Agnès and several of her crew set up mirrors on the beach, thereby showing us the process of making the film we are watching within the film we are watching, and further shows us reality reflected (in the mirrors) inside of a film which is attempting to reflect reality. In other words, this is a film that knows it's a film.

It is not cynical about the manipulative power of filmmaking, but rather joyously experimental, trying desperately to push the limits of the medium to their breaking points. The periodic, self-reflexive reminders that this is indeed a film and not reality serve a purpose that expands the power of the story to a degree impossible for films that deal in straight fiction (even most documentaries collude to present a fictional, i.e. constructed, version of reality). This is a delicate trick, as self-reflexivity in films tends to make the viewer care less about the story. Here, in contrast, it's as if Agnès is screaming at the top of her metaphorical lungs: "I Want To Tell You The Truth But I Can't So This Is The Best I Can Do!"

The narrative follows a generally chronological approach to documenting the life story of Agnès Varda, who began her career as a photographer, and soon transitioned to filmmaking. The French New Wave became the Next Big Thing in the late 1950's and suddenly artistically curious yet modestly ambitious filmmakers such as herself were given the opportunity to direct feature-length films with guaranteed funding and distribution. Her first film was Cléo from 5 to 7 and its success garnered her instant international reputation. What follows is a bit of a personal history lesson, and we are impressed by her inventiveness, her instinct for inclusiveness in her art, and her great love of humanity.

As we move through the timeline, we break from strict chronological order, and Varda connects themes that she explored at different points in her life. The editing is poetic and brilliant. It follows the internal logic of thought rather than the guidelines of strict narrative structure. Its playfulness is exhilarating, and at no point does it lag or overstate its points. As she says, "It's like a puzzle. You put the pieces here and there, until it comes together. But there's a hole in the center." That hole is a result of the fact that still, despite her approach of pushing the limits of film, it is still a constructed flight of fancy, and is not Real in the capital-R sense of the word.

The reason this film is so great isn't just its formal mastery and intellectual playfulness, but rather its powerful emotional undercurrent to which we can all relate. I will again let Agnès speak for herself. As she looks at many of the subjects of her early photography, she remarks: "Mostly what I see is, they're dead. I cry for them from my heart. Naturally, I think of Jacques. Every tear, every flower, every rose and every begonia, is a flower for Jacques." The memory of her late husband Jacques Demy, another French New Wave filmmaker and the love of her life, who died tragically of AIDS in 1990, gives her autobiography an emotional weight that is undeniably moving, as her expression of her loss is so poetically articulated.

The "hole" she mentioned earlier isn't just a deconstructive allusion, as it undoubtedly refers to the hole left by Jacques's absence from her life. The film is really about the power of the recorded image to capture people and freeze them in a time and place. To go back and re-watch these images from her life is to honor the people whose memory will live on through the celluloid. Agnès remarks at the end, with wisdom as well as sadness, "It only happened yesterday, but it's already the past."

Maxwell Anderson is an avid film watcher and blogger. He is also a freelance assistant video editor in New York City. You can contact him through his blog Ecstatic Text: http://ecstatictext.blogspot.com

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The Biggest Secret For Getting on American Idol

So you've always been an huge fan of American Idol and would die to get a chance to sing in front of Simon. You'd love to be on TV and have a group of your closest friends throw you an American Idol party so they can be supportive as you all watch it together.

If your goal is just to get on the show for the first round and you don't care about progressing further, there's a little trick that will greatly increase your chances of being picked. No, it's not what you wear or the sad sob story you tell the American Idol staff about how hard it was to get there. It's not even the song you pick.

But first, a little background. For each city that holds auditions, there are approximately 10,000 people who come out. They wait on line for hours just for the chance to sing for 15 seconds in front of the staff. That's if they're lucky. Thousands of people are turned away without even getting the chance to sing.

So if you're lucky enough to make it in the door and you get a chance to sing, you have to make an impression that's good enough to get you chosen. There's no accompanying music, just your voice. Then a few minutes later, you are either picked or you aren't. If you are chosen, you go on to audition in front of Simon and the judges on TV. And on it goes.

Let's say you sing pretty well. You may have belonged to an a cappella group in high school or college. You may have been the lead singer in a band. You may get pretty good applause at open mic night at the local coffee house. But guess what. So do the other 9,999 people waiting on line with you.

Do you have any concept of how many 10,000 is? It's an enormous number. 10,000 people that all sounds very similar means you ain't gonna get picked no matter how great the open mic night applause was. Unless there is something to set you apart.

One thing that will do the trick is if you are really good. I mean really, really good. Jaw dropping, Carrie Underwood good. With that much talent, it's a pretty good bet that you'll progress beyond the pre-screening stage.

But most of the applicants don't have that much talent. So what else can you do? It's simple. Sing bad.

Ever watch the show and think, "Well I sing better than that guy!" Anyone who has watched American Idol knows that not all the singers are good. After all, the show doesn't exist to find talent. The show exists to get ratings. And a sad but true fact is that we love to see someone make a fool of themselves almost as much as we love to see someone light up the stage.

Do you really think the crew in charge of pre-screening can't hear the difference between good singers and bad? Of course they can. But they intentionally pick people who sing off-key for the comedy value. If the show only had dynamite talent, it would not be as entertaining as if it also had a few clunkers.

Remember Janet McNamara from the first episode of Season 9? She's the one who said Simon on the video game always loved her, while the real Simon asked if the window opens so he could make an escape. Do you really think she had delusions that she sang well?

Of course not. She had always wanted to be on the show but knew she didn't have much of a voice. So she intentionally played it up like she was serious about it so that she would get picked to audition. And it worked.

You have a better chance of making it on stage if you sing badly than if you sing well. And the more bizarre you act, the better. But just don't make it obvious that's what you're doing. Try to act as if you really think you're good.

And if you make it through the pre-screening by being horrible, there's nothing that says you can't try to sing well when you actually get in front of Simon and the judges.

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The Shield DVDs Complete Series For Sale

The Shield DVDs offer a nonstop, crazy thrill ride all the way from the beginning of the show to its dramatic and memorable end. The Shield on DVD is a fantastic purchase, and a must have for anybody who was a fan of the show.

For people who never got started watching, it's of course a great way to get started and see all of the action from the start. One thing is for certain, the Shield complete series is an amazing and dramatic endeavor that will not disappoint anybody.

The Shield boxset of course follows the antihero police officer, detective Vic Mackey. Vic Mackey and the crew he leads, called the Strike Team, take a hard nosed approach to cleaning up the streets. They cross and break a lot of lines, they do things their own way, they take kindly to criticisms or objections from anybody and they certainly get their hands dirty.

The question is, do the ends justify the means, or can they ever? In the very first episode of the Shield on DVD, we get a dramatic and shocking look into the steps that Mackey is willing to take in order to protect himself, his family, livelihood and his team. From that very first episode all the way to the end of the Shield complete series, those actions will continually be the focus, always coming back into prominence and always leading to consequences.

Each season deals with different characters and stories. The Strike Team deals with new bosses and associates, new dealers and thugs on the streets, and their own misadventures with their illicit actions, go big or go home style and more. But the overarching theme of the show remains the same with all of The Shield DVDs. It's about what these guys do and think they can or should get away with. What's justified and what isn't, what's acceptable in the name of justice? How dirty can you get before you stop being a sketchy cop and you're just a criminal?

The best part of the Shield DVDs and complete series is that it's a nonstop action show. There is almost literally never a dull moment or a break in the action and drama. Every episode comes at you hard, and you'll want to watch them back-to-back-to-back because they are so entertaining. It's one of the many reasons why The Shield boxset is something you have to buy.

The Shield complete series is without a doubt one of the more compelling and action filled television shows of all time. If you're looking for unending entertainment, twists, shocks and fascinating stories and characters, then you have to buy the Shield DVDs and boxset of the complete series today!

There's no question about it, if you're a fan of great television and entertainment, The Shield complete series is a fantastic buy. You can find it at DVDsonSale.net for an amazingly cheap price. If you want to pace yourself or you already own some of the show, then find all of the The Shield seasons DVDs as well, all for rock-bottom prices.

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The Wire DVD Set With the Complete Series For Sale

One of the hottest selling television shows on the market right now is The Wire DVD set. The Wire complete series wrapped up several years ago after five seasons, and while it has always had great acclaim in some circles it managed to go under the radar in many others. If you were one of the many people who missed out, or you simply want to take home the Wire on DVD to watch it all again, now is your chance.

The show was created by Baltimore native David Simon, and it's filmed on location in the tough and gritty neighborhoods and ghettos of the notoriously crime and murder ridden Maryland city. While some television shows overlook hard issues, offer limited perspectives or spruce things up to make them more friendly for viewing, The Wire thrives by being as true to life as possible. It's gritty, it's tough and it's smart, but it's also immensely entertaining and worthwhile.

Unlike many other cop or crime shows, with The Wire complete series you get a view of the city and the true state and condition of things from all sides. You see it from the perspective of the cops and the drug dealers, and the people that fall in between those nice and neat boundaries. You learn about the politics behind the scene, the interactions of elected officials, criminals and their associates, the newspapers, the educational system and much more. When you purchase the Wire on DVD you definitely are getting something that will make you think.

The cops that the series follows from beginning to end are after the big criminals, using long term surveillance tactics and trying to stay a step ahead of the smart and sometimes better equipped criminal organizations they are following. The criminals are always dealing with power struggles between themselves, as are the politicians and the police officers as well.

The Wire complete series DVD boxed set is truly a unique show and it's something that's absolutely worth your time and energy. From beginning to end it's not skewed and it doesn't try to be anything besides what it is. It's a real life look into what life is like in the inner workings of a poor American city. You'll see it from all sides and nothing is blocked from view or tweaked from truth when you watch The Wire DVD set.

The Wire complete series spans an entire five seasons and offers 60 full length, hour long episodes. When you buy The Wire on DVD you'll also receive lots of bonus features, commentaries from the directors, producers, actors and more, and even some short bonus prequels to the series. All told it's a great value and for fans of the show and fans of great TV in general, it's a can't miss.

If you've never seen the Wire complete series then now is the time to get started, and if you have seen it all from beginning to end then why not take it home and start it all from the beginning? The Wire DVD set is that good, and you'll certainly get your money's worth. One of the most compelling and intelligent shows of our time, The Wire on DVD is something you have to have.

At DVDsonSale.net you can buy The Wire DVD set at an amazing, cheap price. If you're a longtime fan of the show and already have your collection started, or you just want to buy one season at a time, you can also find a complete collection of all of The Wire season DVDs to purchase. One of the best crime or cop television shows of all time, The Wire is a must watch and a must have in your collection.

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Lofts in the Movies

Lofts have come a long way from the days when they housed struggling artists in abandoned industrial buildings. Indeed, Hollywood has helped fuel the fascination for lofts by showcasing their high ceilings, open spaces and expansive windows. For certain directors, loft spaces have been instrumental to the plot.

The sweeping lofts in the horror flick, "The Ring," contribute to the movie's dark mood and building sense of dread. Christian Bale, who plays a serial killer in "American Psycho," uses his gleaming, all white loft as the backdrop for his relentless murdering of prostitutes. His pristine fridge is perfect for storing severed heads. Viggo Mortensen, an artist and Gwyneth Paltrow's lover in "A Perfect Murder," plots poor Gwyneth's demise amongst his paint-splattered walls. And, continuing on the theme that only psychos and crazy people inhabit lofts, Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction," certainly rates a mention. Close stalks Michael Douglas after a dramatic rendez-vous in her Tribeca apartment.

Given that it's Hollywood, it's not uncommon for starving artists or characters otherwise down on their luck, to live in fabulous apartments. In Adrian Lyne's "Unfaithful," Diane Lane stumbles on the art-filled digs of the sexy Olivier Martinez, a French bookseller, living in New York City. Enormous and filled with objets d'art, the loft is seemingly out of reach of Martinez' modest salary. In a fit of passion, Richard Gere later murders Martinez in his sumptuous flat -- perhaps punishing him for not only trysting with his wife but having the hubris to live in such a big apartment. Jennifer Beals in " Flash Dance," dances out her frustrations in what looks to be an abandoned industrial warehouse. A welder by day, Beals makes the most of the loft's wide open spaces to refine her dance moves.

On the lighter side, "Hansel," Ben Stiller's male supermodel in "Zoolander," occupies a toy-filled loft, complete with skate-boarding ramp. Adam Sandler in "Big Daddy," loafs around in a cushy apartment, living off the proceeds of a lawsuit, before he becomes an accidental and committed father. And, even though Harry and Sally ("When Harry Met Sally") are supposedly in their late 20s, Harry somehow is able to afford a million-dollar plus pad. In a pivotal scene, Sally helps Harry unroll rugs in his new apartment, flanked by huge semi-circle windows.

Hollywood's attraction to lofts may have originated with the renegade nature of early lofts. When manufacturers moved out of large cast-iron buildings in New York's SoHo district in the 1950s and 1960s, struggling artists moved in. At the time, the typical loft had 10-foot to 15-foot ceilings, thick plaster or brick walls, few or no interior doors and walls, cast-iron columns, and factory-size windows. The large spaces, exposed brick and light-filled areas,were perfect for artists pursuing their trade while enjoying city life. Unfortunately, living in lofts was against the law until 1975 because most city districts were zoned for either all-commercial or all-residential use. But for many, the legal barriers only heightened lofts' appeal.

As lofts continue to figure prominently in Hollywood blockbusters, viewers will continue to seek the perfect light-filled space.

Mark Washburn is a real estate agent serving the urban Washington, DC condo market. Mark and his team can assist clients in their search for a condo, loft or town home in neighborhoods throughout the District including Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Logan Circle, Mount Vernon Triangle, Penn Quarter, Shaw, U Street Corridor and the West End.

Lofts have become very popular in Washington, DC and can be found in most neighborhoods. Mark and his team specialize in Washington, DC Lofts and can lend their expertise to help focus a search for a DC loft.

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Apple on Television?

Apple and television. Not two things that we think of as coming together, at least until now that is. Well, the buzz is that Apple just applied and received a patent for Apple TV. This item that the patent was received for seems to be some sort of television set top box.

Exactly what this item is or how it will help tie computer monitors and plasma television screens together is not yet known, as a matter of fact, little is known at this point about this patent. It is known that the Apple box is to be used with big screen televisions and seems to also include a remote control of some sort.

Some believe that the Apple TV is just a bigger, better monitor of sorts, however in discussions with Apple they seem to be using Apple TV and television separately and it is not yet know if this is just a ploy to draw attention, or if they in fact have two different television related products that they are going to be releasing.

Top executives at Apple aren't talking, but it is thought that this new device will serve as a wireless connector between PC's and televisions, and even laptops. No one really wants to talk about how this relates to television, as a matter of fact the few on record are acting as if this device is really just a display device, but that term television keeps sneaking into the discussion, one must assume that there will be some link between Apple and the television industry before long.

And while executives continue to deny this is their plan, it seems that Apple's iTunes site is expanding to include television episodes from some of the most popular television conglomerates. Just coincidence, well Apple might want us to think that, but come on; we know there is just a bit more to the buzz than they are leading us to believe. For now it will just be a waiting game, but mark my words, before long you will be seeing Apple on television.

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Interesting High School Musical Facts

Here are some interesting facts you will want to know about high school musical.

· The film had over 789,000 viewers in the UK and 7.7 million in the US on its premiere.

· The actors include Zac Efron as Troy Bolton, Vanessa Anne Hudgens as Gabriella Montez, Ashley tisdale as Sharpay Evans, Lucas Gabrielle as Ryan Evans, Monique Coleman as Taylor McKenzie and Corbin Bleu as Chad Danford.

· Vanessa Anne hudgen's (who plays Gabriella ) little sister (Stella Hudgens) appears in the background at the start of high school musical one.

· Miley hope Cyrus who plays Hannah Montana in the hit Disney show Hannah Montana appears in high school musical 2 towards the end.

· The director is Kenny Ortega and has directed the following movies and TV series, the cheetah girls 2, dirty dancing, hocus pocus, Michael Jackson's this is it, Gilmore girls, reach out and touch, come home and many others.

· The soundtrack has the best selling album in the us.

· In the first 6 days (May 23rd 2006) 1.2 million copies were sold of the film dvd.

· The film is the first Disney film to be shown on the BBC.

· High school musical 2 had 17.3 million people watching the premier.

· The novel of the film sold over 4.5 million copies.

· Ashley tisdale (who plays sharpay Evans ) plays maddie in the Disney TV show the suite life of zack and Cody.

· Ashley tisdale also knew zac efron and Vanessa Anne hudgens before the movie was ever mentioned and zac efron has known Corbin bleu since they were kids.

Hope you enjoyed reading these facts and hope it extended your knowledge on this great film!

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I Walked With a Zombie - Movie Review

Unrated
Horror/Suspense
Starring James Ellison, Frances Dee, Tom Conway, Edith Barrett
Directed by Jacques Tourneur

A creepy and atmospheric little film released by the incomparable producer Val Lewton, this effort was a follow up project to match the success of "The Cat People", which was also directed by Tourneur. This is one of my favorite classic horror films, which relies less on blood and special effects than it does on its unsettling and consistent feeling of dread.

The story is a simple one, told in a very linear style, and the main hook of the story is to solve the mystery of what happened to a woman who now seems to have become a walking zombie. Betsy is a nurse from Canada who finds herself en route to a remote island in the Caribbean. Her objective is to try to heal the sick wife of a plantation manager.

Once she has arrived on the island, she begins to suspect that tribal rituals are being performed late at night, and that the local voodoo stories she has heard aren't just tall tales but fact. The more she talks with her boss about his melancholic feelings for his distant wife, the more Betsy finds herself attracted to him.

Producer Val Lewton had an obsession with the occult and black magic, and has used it as a hook for many of his films. This story is no exception, and the sincerity with which "unknown worlds" are presented is unique among horror films of the period. The constant, ominous drum beats that permeate many of the midnight voodoo scenes make the film truly hypnotic and fascinating.

The storyline is strong and keeps you entertained, with more than a few subtle winks to Sigmund Freud. I would highly recommend this to any classic horror film fan.

Grade: A

B. Nathan is a Val Lewton fan and also writes about Canon Camera Cases on http://canoncameracases.com/.

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Paranormal Activity - DVD Movie Review

R
Horror
Starring Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs, Amber Armstrong
Directed by Oren Peli

A truly independent film made on a minuscule budget, "Paranormal Activity" first created a buzz at Screamfest in Los Angeles, then languished for nearly two years until Paramount Pictures decided to pick up the project and slightly change the ending. Steven Spielberg is said to be a big fan of this film and reportedly had a hand in its final scene.

The main characters are few. Katie and Micah are a young couple having minor relationship struggles, but they are clearly in love and supportive of one another. They move into a new home in San Diego, which they soon believe to be haunted. Katie later describes that she is a firm believer in the occult and that a poltergeist has been following her around since childhood, and possibly caused the death of her sister.

Her boyfriend Micah has other ideas, and sets about to position his video camera to see if it records any ghost activity in the night. When Micah actually gets some very unsettling evidence on tape, he becomes convinced that there is a dark force present and increasingly antagonizes the ghost.

A later meeting with a paranormal specialist proves unfruitful, when he leaves in a hurry, saying he is not qualified to help them with such an evil force. Micah becomes more and more taunting with the ghost, at one point even placing a Ouija board in the room in an effort to open communications with the malevolent forces. Things continue to escalate until an abrupt and haunting climax.

This is a very strong effort, albeit in a minor key, and shows how economical you can be with a story line and still keep the audience riveted for ninety minutes.

Grade: B

B. Nathan loves haunting indie films and also writes about Canon Camera Cases at http://canoncameracases.com/.

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21 Grams

Paul is suffering from a fatal heart condition, and will not live more than one month unless he receives a new heart. His wife longs to have his baby even if he dies. But there already exists distant gap among them. Jack is a former convict who is using his new-found religious faith to recover from drug addiction and alcoholism. Cristina is also a recovering drug addict, and now lives a normal suburban life with a supportive husband and two lovely girls. These three separate families become tied together one evening when Jake kills Cristiana's husband and her daughters in an accident. She donates her husband's heart to Paul, who begins to recover.

After Paul's recovery, he refuses his wife's idea of surgery and artificial insemination as a last-ditch effort to get pregnant. He is eager to begin his normal life again, and is inquisitive about whose heart he has. While he finds out what has happened to the heart's former owner, he cannot help reaching Cristiana. He catches every opportunity to meet her, and eventually reveals how they are connected. Cristiana is severely miserable at first, and then she goads Paul into agreeing to murder Jack.

Jack is stricken with guilty after the accident. Despite his wife's protests to keep quiet and conceal his guilt, he could not forgive himself because of his "duty is to God". He surrenders his crime after he fails to commit suicide. However, he is released for Cristiana declines to press charges. When Jack finds himself could no longer live as a normal man, he leaves home to live as a transient.

As Cristiana wishes, Paul purchases a gun from a private detective and finds the motel where Jack stays. He finds an opportunity to grabs Jack to a clearing at gunpoint with the intension of killing him. Nevertheless, he is unable to kill Jack, who himself is confused, shaking and pleading during the event. He tells Jack to disappear, and lies to Cristiana about Jack's death. Later that night, Jack returns to the motel instead of leave quietly. Jack is still consumed by guilt and inner torment, so he returns to order Paul to kill him and ends his misery. There is a struggle, and Cristiana beats Jack with a wooden lamp. Just at that time, Paul shoots himself.

Jack helps Cristiana to send Paul to hospital, but Paul still dies. It turns out that although Paul receives a new heart, his body is rejecting the surgery. Jack tells the police that he shot Paul, but he is released again for no evidence. He returns home to his wife and his children. Cristiana is told that she is pregnant with Paul's baby in the hospital. She doesn't cry this time and appears peaceful. She is seen tentatively preparing for the new baby.

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Bishop, California in the Movies

Movies are often not set in the location that is portrayed in the film. Filmmakers and producers often choose locations that are cost-effective, convenient, and offer facilities that can handle the hundreds of people working on a studio film production. What may be portrayed in the movie as being set in Afghanistan may actually be filmed in California. And with today's visual effects, movie makers can take nearly any location and adapt it for the setting they want presented in the film.

Bishop is a city of about 3,500 residents not far from the Nevada border. The city is located at the northern end of North America's deepest valley, the Owens Valley. Bishop is at an elevation of 4,190. The Sierra Nevada Mountains rise abruptly to the west to over 13,000 feet. To the east, the White Mountains rise to over 14,000 feet.

Bishop has been the filming location for more than two-dozen movies. Despite its remote location, it a popular choice for movie producers and filmmakers as it has a scenic mountain setting, dry terrain, generally sunny conditions, and the Owens River.

Bishop is about 270 miles north of Los Angeles where many movie studios are based. It is easily accessible relative to areas in the Middle East or other areas in the southwest. Bishop is located in North America's deepest valley, the Owens Valley.

Bishop was historically the setting for numerous Westerns. Director Sam Peckinpah's 1962 movie "Ride the High Country" was set in Bishop as was the 1969 Film "True Grit" starring John Wayne. The 1973 film "High Plains Drifter" starring Clint Eastwood. Was also filmed in Bishop. Recently, the Bishop area has been the setting for several big budget movies.

The 2007 box office movie, "Disturbia", opens with a scene set in a location what appears to be in Colorado or elsewhere in the Rocky Mountains. In the scene, Shia LaBeouf's character is fly-fishing on a river with his father with scenic mountains in the background. The scene was actually filmed in Bishop along the Owens River.

Other recent movies set in Bishop include the 1998 film, "Star Trek: Insurrection"; the 1996 film "The Arrival" starring Charlie Sheen; and the 2009 film, "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra".

Bishop, California is a great area to make movies or to visit. Learn more and plan your visit at http://www.BishopCA.net.

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Movies Set in the Owens Valley, California

The Owens Valley in California is a very popular filming location for Hollywood Studios. Over one hundred films have been set in the valley, including numerous recent box office hits. The Owens Valley is the deepest valley in North America. It has a dramatic setting at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It lies at an elevation of about 4,000 feet with the Sierra Nevadas rising to over 14,000 feet to the west. This dramatic setting, with dry open terrain makes it a popular choice for movie producers.

Movies often portray settings that are not the actual location the movie is filmed. For example, early in 2008 movie "Iron Man", Robert Downey, Jr.'s character is in a convoy in what is said to be Afghanistan. The scene was actually filmed in the Owens Valley near Lone Pine.

The Owens Valley is attractive for film producers as they are looking for locations that are cost-effective, convenient, and offer facilities that can handle the hundreds of people working on a studio film production. The valley is about two hundred miles north of Los Angeles area, where many film studios are based. It is open, dry, not very populated and has dramatic mountain scenery. The valley was historically a popular location to film Westerns.

The city of Lone Pine, which is the nearest city to 14,495-foot Mt. Whitney, is a very popular film location. The surrounding area was featured in the 2000 Oscar winning film, Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe; the 2000 movie Gone in Sixty Seconds, starring Nicolas Cage, and the 2009 film, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. In Gone in Sixty Seconds, Nicolas Cage's character has retired as from being a master car thief and relocated to a small, quiet and scenic town that is actually Lone Pine.

Other movies that feature Lone Pine area include the 1993 movie Kalifornia, starring Brad Pitt, 1994 film Maverick starring Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster; and G.I. Jane, a 1997 movie starring Demi Moore.

The Owens Valley and Bishop, California is a great place to make movies and explore nature. Learn more and plan your visit at http://www.BishopCA.net.

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How Did These Movies Lose Out to Those Movies For The Academy's Best Picture?

There are winners and losers in movies. Sometimes the wires get crossed and great movies get sent to the showers in favor of movies that truly suck. Here are some glaring examples of good movies that lost out for Best Picture to some real duds.

'Raging Bull' somehow lost the 1980 Best Picture Award to 'Ordinary People'. 'Raging Bull' is a graphic look at the brutal world of boxing as seen through the troubled life of Jake LaMotta. 'Ordinary People' was a boring look at a dysfunctional family. Too bad LaMotta wasn't a part of the family. He could have put them to sleep before they put the audience to sleep.

'Chariots of Fire" beat out 'Raiders of the lost Ark' in 1981. I remember the preview for 'Chariots of Fire': A bunch of guys racing down a beach. I naturally assumed that they had just left the theater playing this crappy movie on the dead run. Meanwhile Indiana Jones was cracking the whip in the first of the action/adventure franchise "Raiders" movies. This was a no-brainer, but the Academy got it wrong. Very wrong.

'The Last Emperor' won Best Picture in 1987. Did anybody even see this movie? 'Fatal Attraction' was nominated that same year, and few people will forget what was on the menu in this movie. Take one live rabbit, add one married guy's crazy girlfriend, and you have a recipe for shock and future marital fidelity.

'Shakespeare in Love' won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1998. Remember the guy who single-handedly bored and confused you in high school English? A movie about his love life somehow beat 'Saving Private Ryan' for the Academy Award in 1998.

1996 was the year that 'The English Patient' won the Best Picture award. One would assume that the movie was about a sick English person. That is all I can tell you about this movie because I never attempted to watch it. Instead I watched 1996 Best Picture nominee 'Jerry Maguire' because I like to stay awake during a movie, and get a few laughs along the way. Show me the funny.

2002 was the year that 'Chicago' won the Best Picture award. 'Chicago' was a musical. That is the best possible reason alone to avoid this movie like an infectious leper colony handshake club. It crushed 'Gangs of New York' for Best Picture in the eyes of the Academy. Give one to the atheists for proof there is no God when stuff like this happens.

The last movie on my list is 1968's Best Picture winner: 'Oliver'. Every nominee sucked that year, so they probably gave it by default to 'Oliver', a musical. Its competition that year included 'Funny Girl' (another musical), 'The Lion in Winter' (boring British monarch), 'Rachel Rachel'( boring school teacher), and 'Romeo and Juliet'( boring Shakespeare play).

The real 1968 winner was 'Bullitt', a Steve McQueen classic with the best car chase ever filmed for the big screen. It wasn't even nominated for Best Picture. With that, I would like to thank the Academy for fumbling the ball over the years-many times.

Jim Sutherland is a co-founder of mystarcollectorcar.com-dedicated to the average guy in the old car world.

We also like to take on non-car issues on a regular basis on our daily blog because it makes us look a lot smarter than we really are.Plus you can insult a car guy about his taste in music or movies but never hack on his car-those guys always have tire irons handy. It's fun, it's occasionally controversial and it draws women into the site-we're like an automotive beer commercial we need the women in the picture to make it interesting. But we're still going to talk about 57 Chevys and vintage Mustangs.

http://www.mystarcollectorcar.com/

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An Excellent Episode of the Great TV Show, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Fitness is extremely important in life, and often times has a connection to one's ability to defend themselves in problem situations. One thing that exemplifies this philosophy is an episode of a popular TV show called It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The show centers around five bar owners in Philadelphia named Frank, Dennis, Mac, Dee and Charlie. Frank is a father to Dennis and Dee and the others are just good friends. In an episode of the show entitled Hundred Dollar Baby, a play on Million Dollar Baby, Frank decides to teach his daughter Dee self defense after an incident in which the other three men left her to get mugged by a junkie. Frank uses a life fitness elliptical machine, life fitness equipment and dumbbells to get Dee into shape and able to defend herself.

Dee is left to fend for herself when her brother Dennis and friends Mac and Charlie ditch her and run away when confronted with a mugger. This turns into former boxer Frank, played by Danny Devito, teaching Dee to defend herself. While at the gym working out, Frank runs into an old rival boxer and the two old foes throw jabs at each other for a while before it is decided that their two daughters will fight each other to finally settle the score. In order to get prepared for her fight against a clearly more talented competitor, and to make up for Frank's incompetent teaching, Dee decides to start taking steroids. Hilarity ensues when the typical steroid side effects show up and Dee is left having to shave her face and deal with extreme fits of rage.

Meanwhile, after an argument with Frank, Dennis and Mac decide that they should enter Charlie into an underground, unsanctioned and illegal street fighting tournament because they say he is the toughest guy they know. Ultimately this is just a scam on their part to make money, because they plan on betting on Charlie to win the fights they enter him in. In order to prepare him for his fights the three of them get really drunk and Dennis and Mac smash things on Charlie's back, such as chairs. To further prepare for his underground fights Charlie decides that he is going to start using Dee's steroids and towards the end of the episode also deals with fluctuating moods, alternating between crying, being angry and hysterical laughter.

To conclude the episode, Dee finds out that Charlie has been taking her pills and the two of them get in a fight which leaves them both in jail. Mac takes Charlie's place in the underground fighting competition at Dennis's suggestion and loses badly. On the way back to their bar the two men meet the same mugger as before and it comes out that Dennis switched his bet when Mac fought and bet on the other guy, resulting in him winning lots of money. Mac then encourages the mugger to stab Dennis and that plotline comes to a conclusion.

In the other plotline of the show Frank decides that since his daughter is in jail he will step up and fight his former rival in the ring like he always wanted to. Frank cheats and punches the other man before the bell, resulting in him falling and knocking his daughter down, who then hits her neck against a stool like in Million Dollar Baby. The episode reaches its conclusion with Frank walking away sheepishly and the credits rolling.

Connor Sullivan recently purchased a Life Fitness elliptical machine for his home gym. He ordered Life Fitness equipment online to donate to the local high school's gym.

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A Closer Look at C.S.I.

The human mind tends to program itself accustomed to searching for the extraordinarily unbelievable and extremely mysterious occurrences in nature. I think it's safe to say that our minds really cannot tolerate being stagnant and incapacitated, so from time to time, we seem to feel the need to be "freaked out" or " astonished" by any heinous or inhuman event or occurrence that directly involves another human being.

We literally glue ourselves to the thriller and horror movies that keep us in suspense from start to finish. We go to Carnivals and to the County Fair so that the challenge or the fear of riding the scariest ride at the Fair can be conquered. We tend to want to watch all of the most realistic police investigative TV shows like CSI-Miami, NCIS, The Next 48, Criminal Minds, Law and Order, and many more of the popular criminally involved police shows.

It really helps to know a little something about the job duties of the Crime Scene Investigator in order to better understand the many TV shows that seem to depict their views of what the job is about. It really helps to know and understand what really needs to be done as an actual "real life" Crime Scene Investigator approaches an incident location. Each crime scene produces its own circumstances, and ultimately, its own evidence to be collected and analyzed. There has never been any two separate and distinct crime scenes that have rendered the same scenario, circumstances, layout, or evidence. All must be greeted differently, and all should be treated differently.

My books are written primarily for the many TV viewers who watch investigative Police Detective shows. Through the use of my published crime/mystery novels and "How To" books, I have combined twenty-three years of experience in Law Enforcement including actual Scene Investigations, with the mere fact that its such an exciting profession, just to help you further understand how a real Crime Scene Investigation is done.

Feel free to log on to: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=4123981

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3D TV Converter - Optimizing Your 3D Experience

There is no doubt that 3D movies makers have movie goers watching one 3D movie to another. The magical display of effects, animation and images leave you dazzled after watching a 3D movie. If you want to watch it again (or perhaps missed watching it), you can always purchase a 3D DVD after a few weeks of its release. But, the equipment to play this DVD might be bit costly for your wallet. Here is where a 3D TV converter comes in.

3D movies are here to stay. Since 2009, there is nothing but good movies in three dimensional features. One of the most talked about movie up for Oscars is Avatar. This is a must see movie. To really appreciate a three dimensional movie you need to see one.

Although 3D movies have more than its fair share of success in the entertainment world, it has its drawbacks. You must have the right equipment to truly appreciate a 3D movie.

A 3D TV converter is one way to ensure you get a great picture. Standard television might not deliver the same effects due to its 2-dimensional features. A 3D TV converter would only cost approximately $100 dollars. It is also inexpensive with the same fun factor as those rendered with 3D ready gadgets.

A 3D TV converter been truly recognized as an amazing gadget that will help you get 3D pictures for less. Today, many individuals find this a cost-effective entertainment device.

With an analog TV, a digital converter box is used to receive digital transmissions. All you need to do is buy this 3D TV converter box in your local stores or online. It might be best to have that digital converter fit your television first before purchasing it. If you want to purchase it online, look for positive customer reviews just to ensure that you are purchasing a sturdy and high-quality digital converter.

When you connect this converter box to your television, you will receive 3D images like those in HDTV. Although there might be some discrepancies, you still get satisfactory results compared to an expensive HDTV.

Enjoying a good 3D movie does not have to be costly. It would be great if you have all the 3D ready gadgets but it is not necessary. With a 3D TV converter, you get a great picture and movie experience for a lower cost. So, grab your favorite drinks and snacks and make it a 3D movie night tonight!

Find out more about 3d DVD and what 3d DVD movies are available on the market.

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New York CSI TV Series - Is it a Family?

Over the years, like many of us I have watched a lot of TV. Lately I have thought about what makes a good TV series. What was the common thread that made me go back and continue to watch a series, week after week? Just what was it that made me a fan?

The Original Concept
The original concept of a series is very helpful in attracting attention to the program. The many crime scene investigative series that are now on TV have been highly rated since their debuts. This is probably because viewers want to see crimes solved, period. They want to see the guilty put behind bars and the key thrown away. And ever since the beginning of using DNA as evidence about twenty years ago, the whole field of forensic science has produced irrefutable evidence which has been incredibly powerful in finding the guilty and convicting them.

Watching these CSIs (crime scene investigators) collect evidence, study it and finally find and arrest the guilty captures a lot of interest. But will this by itself keep the series going and keep the fans happy?

Characters
The series must have living, breathing, caring characters. The characters have to be at least a little bigger than life and have to be unique. They have to have problems just like the rest of us. Some have unresolvable problems.They suffer from the loss of a father or their wife or husband. Or are orphans trying to make their way always thinking about what might have been. We sympathize and sometimes even empathize with them.

Many TV series have had their heroes or heroines going about in there lives being productive, but always on their minds are the things that could have been. If dad or mom had lived. Or if my wife was still here, etc.

Good characterization is helpful, but if a series makes the next step it prolongs its life.

The Family
Thinking about it further, it is more than just the characters and their problems. It finally came to me one day - it is the 'family'. Does the cast create a family? Is there love or a special caring between the characters? If there is no caring then the series is probably doomed. There has to be love for human interest. Family adds that extra touch.

New York CSI
When I watch New York CSI episodes, I see characters who definitely have their problems. The lead detective Mac Taylor is a workaholic. Maybe this is because he loved his wife so dearly and she died in the Trade Towers on 9/11. Or is it that he is an ex marine officer and has that stick-to-it-ness that good marines always take with them when they leave the Corps?

The idea of family is taken one step further by Mac. He acts a lot like the good father of his CSIs. He has a steady hand and is very wise like a father who has gathered a lot of smarts over the years and uses them to guide the younger ones he is raising.

Stella Bonasera the number two detective, is like the mother of the CSIs. She is strong, wise, and cares for Mac almost like a wife. She does at times go astray (do her own unauthorized investigations) in doing things that Mac would not approve of, but in the end it makes her a little bigger than life and also makes for an interesting plot.

Danny Messer is a CSI and like the errant son that Mac is always trying to guide along, he nevertheless seems to end up getting into problems because Danny won't listen to the shrewd advice that comes his way.

Lindsay Monroe a CSI is like a close daughter to Mac. She listens to him, but is fully capable on her own of doing the tasks assigned to her.

These four characters are the central, closely-knit family. There are three or four more characters who are more like cousins and assist Mac and his crime team.

Mac watches over all of the members of his team and cares for their welfare. They have the greatest respect for him. The end result is a program that captures the hearts of its fans who keep coming back to see how the 'family' reacts to the next set of crimes it has to solve. So the next time you watch NY CSI see if you agree with these observations.

About the Author:
Ken Muller is a drama TV enthusiast. For more great info on current episodes or to watch ny csi free, visit watch free flicks online.

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