Throwback Thursday-The Net (1995)

20 years ago, the internet is not what it is today. But the dangers are still the same.

Premiering 20 years, The Net (1995) is the story of Angela Bennett (Sandra Bullock). Angela is a computer programmer whose social life barely exists outside of her computer. When she finally goes on a vacation, she has an encounter with Jack Devlin (Jeremy Northam), whose true face is soon revealed. Angela will quickly be pulled into computer espionage and must find a way out.

This movie was scary 20 years ago. It is even scarier today.  It is amazing how art can not only imitate life, but predict the future.

I recommend it.

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How Star Wars Conquered The Universe Book Review

Star Wars is a world wide cultural phenomenon. No matter where you go around the world, most people know something of this franchise.

How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, was written by Chris Taylor and published last year. It is part biography, part filmography and a real treat for Star Wars fans. The book starts by tracing  the origins of Star Wars by delving into the childhood of the franchise creator, George Lucas. Partially based on the Flash Gordon serials, Lucas also draws elements from the popular western and adventures series that were part of American pop culture during the 1940’s and 1950’s.  The book follows Lucas through his adolescence, toward film school and the film franchise that would make him one of the most recognized and respected men in Hollywood.

As a Star Wars fan, I very much appreciated the interviews and the work that the author put into this book.  I feel like that when we get to know an artist as a human being, we can appreciate their art even more because we understand the cumulative experiences that led them to create that art.

I recommend it.

Class Vs. Classless

When Gabi Finlayson went on vacation to Paris with her family in December, she could have bought a trinket that might have become a dust collector on her shelf. Instead, she bought something that she hoped she would remember for the rest of her days: a formal dress that she planned to wear to her school dance.  Like most teenagers, Miss Finlayson hoped that the dress, in future years would trigger fond memories of a rite of passage that many young people go through. Instead the night ended in tears.

One of the adults chaperoning the dance asked her to cover her shoulders,  forever changing what could have been a fun night out into a humiliating and unhappy evening.

This dress is beautiful. Whomever designed the dress had Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn in the back of their minds. It is simple, elegant and age appropriate. She covers more skin than she actually shows. And yet this adult forced her to cover her shoulders.

I understand that the school district has certain requirements for the students to be able to attend the dance. But why, once again does the dress code only pertain to girls? Why is it that girls and women are responsible for the “impure thoughts” of boys and men?

Miss Finlayson has class. The adult who forced her to needlessly cover up and ruin her evening? Classless.

 

Throwback Thursday- Cary Grant and Irene Dunne Double Feature-My Favorite Wife (1940) & The Awful Truth (1937)

Every era has it’s favorite on screen pairing.

In the late 1930’s and early 1940’s Cary Grant and Irene Dunne made several rom-coms, some of which are the funniest movies I’ve ever seen.

My Favorite Wife (1940)

Nick (Cary Grant) lost his wife Ellen (Irene Dunne) seven years ago. Presuming her to be dead in a shipwreck, he has just gotten married again, to Bianca (Gail Patrick).  Ellen returns to her husband and her family, but she is not alone. Traveling with her is Burkett (Randolph Scott), with whom she was stranded on deserted island with for seven years.  The question is, will Nick stay married to Bianca or will he go back to Ellen?

The Awful Truth (1937)

Jerry (Cary Grant) and Lucy (Irene Dunne) are in the process of ending their marriage. But before the ink is dry on the divorce papers, they decide to have a little fun by ruining their soon to be ex’s new relationships.

I highly recommend both of these movies. While the plot are deceptively simple, both movies are hilarious. Now these are what I call movies.

I recommend them both.

Throwback Thursday- Romeo Must Die (2000)

The story of Romeo and Juliet is immortal. Over the years, the story has been reincarnated several times over. In 2000, Romeo and Juliet was re-written for an urban, multicultural environment in Romeo Must Die.

Han Sing (Jet Li) is a former cop investigating the death of his brother, who was involved with the American wing of the Chinese Mafia. Trish O’Day (the late Aaliyah) is the daughter of a powerful African-American businessman. Things begin to get messy when Trish and Han get together romantically, while their fathers get together in a business deal.

While the core of Romeo and Juliet remains, this movie is a fun reboot, mingling the genre of Asian martial arts films and the world of Hip Hop.

I recommend it.