Showing posts with label entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entertainment. Show all posts

03 June 2022

Entertainment: Music: Throwback: Joe Cocker (1944 - 2014)

I was a part of the Google Plus social network for a few years.  But then Google shut down its network.  When it was alive, one of the fun things people liked to do was called "Throwback" OR "Throwback Thursday". It was so much fun. People shared stuff from back in the day. Usually, my shares were YouTube videos.


Throwback Music: Everybody Wants To Rule The World ~ Tears for Fears

My YouTube pick for Throwback Thursday is the original video by an awesome duo from my generation called Tears for Fears. Threw in the other video just because. 

These guys held a concert in Austin, Texas in 2015; Austin Music Hall. Did not attend but was so glad to see the advertisement in the paper and to know these two brothers childhood friends were still around making their awesome music. ((I always thought they were brothers.  But I discovered later they were just good friends.)  I converted some of my kids and got them to listen to this talented duo. :)  The music of Tears for Fears is still relevant today.


Tears for Fears 2008

Image credit: By KWa (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons


You want to know a secret? It's a genuine secret. Never told this to anybody but always thought it. You see the guy with the long black hair and the curly locks?  He looks like one of my cousins.  Never told anybody because my cousin was a girl named Helen.  Kept that secret for almost 30 years.  Guess it's OK to reveal it now.  :)


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Tears For Fears - "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" - 



Find Info on Future Concerts


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02 March 2022

Review : K-Drama TV Series : Dong Yi (2010)

HA! That stands for hooked again!! My new addiction is watching Korean historical drama TV series. There are way too many of them for me to keep up. They are so exciting and interesting, even though the basic plot in most of the series is pretty much the same.

What's the basic plot, you ask?

Eh! Some palace intrigue on the inside, rivalry among the nobles and scholars on the outside, honorable slaves, and commoners who prove time again that being poor and uneducated does not equal stupid! ... and of course, the love triangle.  No Korean drama is complete without the love triangle. 

For each series, the script writers take this plot, create different and intricate twists and turns, and develop characters that make the viewers immediately choose sides and start rooting for them! I like this lady or this man! But that person has got to go! When the ruthless evil characters finally go down, you're pumping your fist in the air and going Yeah! A flood of relief washes over you and then you have to remind yourself that it's just a TV show. :)

 
Image credit: Official poster found at viki.com

While seeking and finding more and more historical series to satisfy my K-drama addiction, found “Dong Yi” (2010). This television program is directed by Lee Byung Hoon, who also directed "Jewel in the Palace" (2003).

Reviews indicate that Hoon's 2003 series was extremely successful, so it went on my watch list. But because the 2010 series includes in its cast an admirable child actress, Kim Yoo Jung, who also starred in “Tamra the Island” (2009) and “The Moon Embracing the Sun” (2012) ~ her cute little face drew me in. The series is based on the life of a real historical person: Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Haeju Choi clan.

{Side Note – According to recent reports in South Korean entertainment news publications, Ms. Jung's latest project, “Moonlight Drawn By Clouds” aired its first episode during the 4th week of this month, August 2016. It is being well received.  Series at viki.com.}

Back on point. The child character played by little Ms. Jung, is a “commoner”, i.e. not born into a noble family, who grows up into a beautiful and intelligent, caring and compassionate young woman, played by Han Hyo Joo. The character's name is … what else? Dong Yi!

She went from the child who had everything taken away from her to the woman who had the world laid at her feet. According to all the fortune tellers, “her light” was going to shine brightly in the land of Joseon.

Nothing annoys me more than reviews with spoilers, so extra precaution is taken to constrain myself and not to reveal too much. Here are my impressions so far.

Good start! Series starts off with a very peaceful idyllic scene of a man fishing and enjoying a quiet leisure moment. The silence is immediately shattered when the man is brutally murdered. But before he breathes his last breath, guess who finds him? A young child named Dong Yi!

Good fortune? I'll say! This lady was born under the Lisa Bonet lucky star. She got two hot guys wrapped around her finger! If you know who Lisa Bonet is and you watch this show, then you'll understand my meaning. :)

60 episodes and I've only reached the halfway mark. What's the hook the writers used to keep you interested all the way to the very end? A butterfly! Don't know about everybody else, but I love butterflies! 

17 February 2022

Asian Cinema : Movie Review : The King of Masks (1999)

The theatrical masks of Chinese opera were promoted by emperors and high court officials. As a result, they became a traditional art form and along with this tradition, came other traditions. 



Many films are gems that get lost or buried. Even award-winning films like The King of Masks. It's a foreign movie: Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles.

Time period is the 1930s. A master of an ancient Chinese art is growing old. He must pass on his skills to an heir. A male heir.
It's tradition!

Unfortunately, he's childless. In a desperate effort to honor the custom and maintain the trade and the tradition, he buys a young child. In China, poor children are often sold via a black market. He and the child develop a close relationship, however, a “complication” also develops.


"The King of Masks

is a wonderful and touching story. 









21 September 2021

Who Should Be the Next James Bond? (After Daniel Craig)

This article was published by a fellow writer on Read.Cash. He combined 2 topics, but I am only interested in his picks for James Bond, so that could contrast and compare it to My Picks.  

James Bond

Reblogging from my entertainment blog. Have you visited?

31 May 2021

Bob Marley - Rastaman Trivia 2

February 6th was the singer’s birthday. But there was this interesting article at Bubblews about his memorial services with some trivia to be shared. You never know when you may need to know it! Rather than wait for May 11th, the anniversary of Mr. Marley’s death, my reasoning was that since it was still February, it could be considered a sort belated birthday remembrance.

May 11th has come and gone, but it’s still May. When it comes to perfect timing … Eh! What can I say? My timing is off!! Found two more links which are being added to my collection of Marley trivia and tidbits.


#1) Bob Marley - The Life and Death Of a Reggae Legend

A condensed, concise and precise, well-written biography in a nutshell penned by BethanRose, a writer based in South Wales.

#2) How Bob Marley was Assassinated By the CIA 

Always suspected the attempt on Mr. Marley’s life had political motive, but must admit that this is the first time reading so much detail about CIA involvement. Written by Marvin (no last name given) using a pen name “rasta1”. It is an undeniable observation that many reggae entertainers have been shot and killed, but the writer states that the life of Bob Marley was “spared due to the mystical intervention of JAH Rastafari”. Can’t say whether this report is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, but can say – by way of my opinion – that the article certainly does have elements that sound convincing enough to be true!


Image credit:  Pixabay.com
Content previously share at TreasurePen.com.


See also

Bob Marley - Rastaman Trivia



19 May 2021

Book Review: 'The Man with the Golden Gun' by Ian Fleming

Many people know a lot about Bond movies. 

What about the Bond books?
  • "Casino Royale" was the first Bond book published in 1953. 




  • After that, Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, wrote a book a year. This brilliant writer died of a heart attack in 1964. That's a little over ten years!! 

  • Bond novels were published between the years 1953 – 1966. 

It is not often that I come across a review of one of the Fleming books. Lots of movie reviews but not book reviews.  Sharing a link to a book review of "The Man with the Golden Gun" from The Friendly Shelf.  It might tempt to want to READ ALL of Fleming's original books. :)




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Bond Novels by Publication Date:


- - Info Reference: literary007.com Includes book summary and related blog posts.
- Aug 12, 1964: James Bond creator Ian Fleming dies. Read full article at history.com
- The Best James Bond Novels: Ranking the Fleming Originals by “Jeff” at bookriot.com
- Obviously, great info can be relished at the official website: James Bond | Ian Fleming Publications

 










AUDIOBOOK
The Man with the Golden Gun
The Man with the Golden Gun



12 March 2021

Priyanka Chopra Started Her Crossover Efforts With Music, But ...

Huge Priyanka Chopra fan and "In My City" is her collaboration with a talented American artist Will I. Am (of Black Eyed Peas fame) in order for her to “cross over” and expose her talent to more Westerners. Why not? American artists collaborate with American artists, all the time. That's how they survive. Why not mix and match?  The game plan seemed sound.  But the efforts were not very successful.

Continue reading.









*Bollywood Actress Priyanka Chopra to Play Lead Role in ‘Quantico’*



23 November 2020

“Mary, Did you Know?” - incredible acappella version by the Pentatonix

Diary Note: Today is November 21, 2014. Woke up this morning, charged up and ready to face the day. Checked my eMail and my husband's aunt had sent me this. Gotta admit it made me slow down, take a deep breath, and START MY DAY ALL OVER AGAIN!!!  Ever heard of this website. GodVine? I never heard of it. Know it now! :)

Blessings to all!!
Here Is One A Cappella Song That'll Give You Chills. THIS Is What CHRISTmas Is All About!

31 October 2020

The JFK - James Bond Link (and Other Interesting Bond Trivia)

Sharing links of interest I discovered while researching to publish my article for HUBPages.com:

My List of the Best James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond

JFK's recommendation may have helped sell the James Bond books to America - Did you know that the late former President John F. Kennedy's endorsement of one of Ian Fleming's books promoted the popularity of James Bond films in the American market and helped propel 007 into becoming a worldwide phenomenon?

James Bond books by Ian Fleming Info on the James Bond books by Ian Fleming, including 12 novels and 2 books of short stories.
How James Bond and Steve Jobs changed our world - Economic Times By Bennett Voyles "...October marks two anniversaries that matter a lot to the tech world's collective unconscious: the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film series, and the first anniversary of Steve Jobs' death. ..."
The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum Octopussy (1983), one of seven Bond movies starring Roger Moore, remains the only one in the series to be filmed in India. Parts of it were shot in Rajasthan, with Vijay Amritraj playing a cameo. In the case of Skyfall, complications pertaining to securing permission to shoot on a running train on the Konkan Railway reportedly forced the crew to look elsewhere. The latest Bond movie was eventually filmed in Shanghai, Istanbul and the Scottish Highlands. ...
The 10 Coolest Gadgets in 50 Years of James Bond For 50 years, James Bond has been the master of international intrigue and had some truly great gadgets along the way.
'Skyfall' Star, Naomie Harris Talks New Role And Idris Elba Becoming The First Black Bond Having the opportunity to co-star beside a suave British intelligence agent such as James Bond, requires a lot of skill and technique. According to 36-year-old actress Naomie Harris, prepping for her starring role in, Skyfall, proved to be more strenuous than she originally expected.
Facebook Fan Page: Idris Elba for James Bond. We Want Idris Elba for James Bond. As of Oct 2012 - over 20,000 likes; with almost 4,000 people talking about this.
Biggest Bond Bloopers A collection of bloopers at moviemistakes.com. Highlights the biggest Bond bloopers from all 22 Bond movies (there are over 1,000 mistakes across the entire series!).



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● Irresistible Trivia About James Bond Novels - Treathyl Fox - Medium

● After that, Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, wrote a book a year. This brilliant writer died of a heart attack in 1964. That's a little over ten years!! ● It is not often that I come across...


First published 11/3/14, 9:49 PM CST




An Aston Martin DB5 as seen in Goldfinger. Exp...
An Aston Martin DB5 as seen in Goldfinger. 
Expensive items are often part of a glamorous lifestyle.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

28 October 2020

Find Free Music for Halloween to Enjoy the Holiday

Looking for something you can use as background music (in addition to Michael Jackson's Thriller) that will create the spooky scary horror-full mood of the Halloween holiday? 

Royalty Free Horror Soundtracks for Download


DJ playing music at a Halloween party
© Photographer: Texelart | Agency: Dreamstime.com






glitter-graphics.com


23 July 2020

Book Review: The Signature of God (and Other Book Reviews)

Wrote some book reviews a few years back. 

Sharing the links.  The first is actually my favorite; published 2013.  

How do we know that God wrote the Bible? Simple! He signed it!

Book Review: The Signature of God by Grant R. Jeffrey


The Handwriting on the Wall - St Benedicts Catholic Church | Source: Wikimedia Commons


● ● ● ● Other Book Reviews:

  • A wonderful book for children written by Miska Miles, which was published in 1971: Annie and the Old One.




  • If you like true stories, mysteries that are finally solved, and ever wondered about ships that set sale and then disappeared - here are four books about Ships Lost at Sea that tell the tales.





The Seven Kings of Rome

The Seven Kings of Rome

There was once a group of villages on seven hills which grew into an empire. But how did it happen?
If your curiosity is peaked by this brief presentation of the history of ancient Rome and wants to learn more, you will find two book recommendations at the end of the article.




17 July 2020

Asian-American Legend ~ Bruce Lee (Nov 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973)

God bless the Internet and especially social networks, bloggers, and online writing communities. So there’s this really cool guy – Nathan Bernardo, aka NateB11 – and he is a loyal and devoted martial arts disciple. He knows a lot about MA and writes articles on the topic. Of course, in America, we know that the reason we know about kung fu, karate, and all that stuff is because the one and only Bruce Lee told US it exists and proved it by teaching US how it’s done! 

Bruce Lee departed this world in 1973 leaving behind a legion of adoring fans, some of whom would give birth to future admirers.  Legion!  Some of his fans – like my kids – hadn’t even been born yet!!  To this day, whenever information is published about this legendary martial artist, people just can’t resist taking a peek, to see if it reveals anything more about Mr. Lee that we did not know.

Check out this HUB by NateB311.

16 Interesting Facts About Bruce Lee




“If you truly love life, don't waste time …” by Eduardo Tuma




Bruce Lee – The Evolution of A Master Art Legend by Advance Martial Arts







* *  SIDE NOTE – Home and Garden Design Tip:
If you have ever seen the popular film “Enter the Dragon” starring Bruce Lee, then you probably remember the scene where the old British gentleman meets with Mr. Lee in a garden to discuss recruiting him for a mission to catch a bad guy.  Did you know that the design of the garden where they had the meeting was based on principles of feng shui?

16 July 2020

Entertainment: 6 Bollywood Films With An Awesome Soundtrack

These days video rental stores are practically nonexistent because of online video streaming. But three (3) decades ago, video rental stores changed my life. How so? The stores introduced me to foreign films and in particular, to Bollywood films. What’s so great about these Indian movies? The music! Yes, the dancing is awesome too. But you can’t have dancing without music. Right?

Many of these films have an awesome soundtrack. In fact, it’s fun to search YouTube just looking for the songs. There are lots and lots of films but these are my Top 6. Yes, 5 out of 6 are Priyanka Chopra-Jonas movies. I’m a huge PCJ fan.




*Karam (2005 ‧ Drama)
A young married couple should be able to lead a fairy tale “happily ever after” lifestyle. If only the husband wasn’t a paid contract killer; a bad guy who made some other bad guys really angry. It made their lives really complicated.



*What’s Your Raashee? (2009 ‧ Bollywood/Comedy)
A guy needs to find a wife or lose his inheritance. He decides to choose his bride according to her “raashee” (her astrological sign).



*Fashion (2008 ‧ Bollywood/Drama)
A young woman pursues her dream of being a top fashion model, making sacrifices and bad decisions, along the way to get to the top.

*Yuvvraaj (2008 ‧ Drama)
There were light-hearted moments. But there was nothing funny about the plot. There are 3 brothers. One brother is mentally challenged and when the father dies, he leaves all the money to this son. The other 2 brothers, who feel that have been cheated, scheme to try to get the inheritance.

*7 Khoon Maaf (2011 ‧ Thriller/Drama)
The film is called “7” because the woman has seven husbands. Each time she marries, she is certain the man she chose will be her soulmate for life. It doesn’t work out and she conveniently becomes a widow, albeit she is never charged with any crime. In the end, she does find her soulmate. To be fair, the other six had it coming.



*Dostana (2008 ‧ Comedy/Drama)
Two guys need to rent an apartment at a complex in Miami, Florida USA with one catch. They have to be gay. They pretend to be gay, sign the lease, and their roommate is a hot young heterosexual female that both of them fall for; only she doesn’t know it because she thinks they’re gay. The movie is cute and funny!


♦ Source: Virily.com

10 July 2020

Entertainment : The Beatles : Trivia and Tidbits About the Fab Four

Fans love to latch on to info about The Beatles aka the Fab Four, no matter if it's current or old news.


The late John Lennon, an original member of the Fab Four, known officially as The Beatles will always be a hot topic if you're discussing celebrity trivia, pop music history, etc. Linking back to an old post published a few months back sharing MY unofficial opinion of the unsuccessful musical career of Julian Lennon and connecting it to this link from The Guardian. Not that anybody in the Lennon family gives a hoot about my thoughts, observations or opinions. Not a hater, but the title of the article is a quote from Julian's step-brother Sean Lennon which perfectly summarizes the way I see him. LOL. 

Sean Lennon: ‘People only see me as the spoiled slacker son of John and Yoko’


People will always be curious about the lives of the offspring of music legends. You may not go looking for tidbits but when you see one, it's time for a conversation by the office water cooler. :)





Content republished from Persona Paper.

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Links of Interest:
(More chit-chat for the water cooler)

The History Of Pop Music In 5 Defining Decades

27 Children of Classic Rock Legends

Gift Ideas for Fab Four Fans


Long and Winding Road: The Greatest Beatles Stories Ever Told

06 June 2020

Entertainment: My Picks for Saturday Afternoon at the Movies: A Triple Feature

There was a dark period in the history of mankind when witch-hunting was the order of the day. It began with official approval from Pope Innocent VII in 1484 and continued until around the 17th century when it reached its climax in England, Scotland, and America.


But it’s the 21st century. We’re all much more civilized and intelligent than those people were back then. Aren’t we? Nobody is going to whip us up into frenzied mania and have us pointing a finger of accusation at someone, torturing a confession out of them, and still putting them to death for being a witch!


The past is in the past. 
Image Credit: Amazon.com

Fortunately, my only exposure to witches and witchcraft was and is wearing a costume on Halloween or watching the Wizard of Oz. When I was growing up, we (my siblings and I) watched this iconic film once every year.  But now anybody can watch The Wizard of Oz on DVD or Amazon Instant Video. Can you believe it has been 75+ years? The movie was released in 1939. Listening to Judy Garland sing “Over the Rainbow” never gets old. It might be a fun idea to plan a Saturday afternoon or evening watching all 3 films: 

That's right!  A triple feature!

Source: Webnuggetz.com

19 May 2020

Entertainment: Movie Review: "The Preacher's Wife" (1996)

In the mood for a movie that is charming, silly, and sweet?  Well, this film is perfect!  The Preacher's Wife ” is a movie that starred the late Whitney Houston (1963 - 2012) and Denzel Washington.  It's a delightful remake of the 1947 classic which starred Cary Grant and Loretta Young, "The Bishop's Wife".




Yeah! I know. No angel Dudley mentioned in the Bible.


Come to think of it? No angel mentioned anywhere except for this movie!


Ms. Houston's character is married to a preacher. Hence the film's title. Her marital relationship could use some "outside" or even "heavenly" intervention if it is to be saved.





The Preacher's Wife

The movie was OK. Not worth an academy award nomination. But the soundtrack makes it worth watching. Especially this particular song: Step by Step.  


“Step by step. … bit by bit … stone by stone … brick by brick … Don't give up! …”

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Original Content Source:  Persona Paper





08 April 2020

Entertainment: Movie Review : The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

For sci-fi fans and fans of Jake Gyllenhaal. I remember listening to a review by one of the critics that made me laugh. Paraphrasing his words, basically, he said:

  • “This is a typical storyline. Something devastating or catastrophic is going to happen on earth. And of course, the one who knows what it is, what to do, and tries to warn others is the very person that nobody listens to!!



This is a lighthearted movie review of a 2004 sci-fi film. Even though it’s 15 years old (as of 2019), it’s still relevant today. Plus! Fans of Jake Gyllenhaal, who want to know what he looked like as a teenager, will love this movie!

What the Official Movie Critics Said

Several official critics had a lot to say about “The Day After Tomorrow”. I remember a review by one of the official critics that made me laugh. Paraphrasing his words, he said:
  • “This is a typical storyline. Something devastating or catastrophic is going to happen on earth. Of course, there is one person who knows what it is, what to do, and tries to warn others is the very person that nobody listens to!!

What This Unofficial Movie Reviewer Says

If you believe in climate change, you’ll understand the storyline. What’s going to happen is there is going to be a drastic change in the weather and there will be freezing cold temperatures. Cold enough that people will die. If you believe in cryogenics, people won’t die. They’ll be instantly frozen. They can be thawed out later.

The Day After Tomorrow – Official® Trailer

Watched this movie and don’t want to spoil it for those who may not have seen it. (Although you might guess The End through the “hints” woven in between the lines of this discussion.)

Most Memorable Movie Scene

For me, there was only one memorable scene in the movie; a scene worth remembering because I love libraries.
In this scene, there is a group of people in a room in a library. It’s getting really cold! They have to do something to stay warm and since they’re in a library, they start burning books, grabbing any book within their reach and throwing it in the fireplace. They get ready to grab this one book and the man holding on it to refuses to let it go!
He goes: “You’re not burning this book!” He spills out his various reasons why “The Book” must not be destroyed.
Some debate and try to reason with him. Others are about to physically struggle to take the book away from him. Someone yells out that they have found an alternative set of books. No doubt every American would love to burn them! This is not one book. It is a set and has volumes upon volumes upon volumes. The group consensus is: “Yeah! Let’s burn those!!”
To me, that scene was totally hilarious fiction. The scene was also realistic. You could almost visualize that scenario actually happening in real life. If you’re an American taxpayer, you know you’ve thought of burning the U.S. Tax Code.

My Unofficial Movie Rating?  3.5 out of 5 stars and I’m being generous.

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Links of Interest:
We need better laws to protect the rights of future frozen cryonicists: Cryogenics is facing legal trouble with body preservation — Quartz



Content first published at RationalMind.club.



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