Karate Kid Turns 25

My how time flies…this week is the 25th anniversary of the release of the classic summer blockbuster – The Karate Kid.

And who can forget the timeless summer tune – Cruel Summer – that highlighted the movie and saturated the airwaves. As much as I love the song, I will not touch the Bananrama video, some things are better left in the 80’s, instead I present an updated version of ‘Cruel Summer’ performed by Ace of Base:

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Rotten Tomatoes: 68% Fresh

Skye’s Score: Magical adaptation!

Directed By: Micheal Hoffman
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Calista Flockhart, Rupert Everett, Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci as Puck.

Synopsis: Michael Hoffman’s film adaptation of Shakespeare’s magical comedy of a love-tangled quadrangle shimmers with sumptuous cinematography and a truly stellar cast that includes Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Stanley Tucci, Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart, and Sam Rockwell. Relocated from Athens to an Italian villa, the film follows the romantic misadventures of four would-be lovers

It is that time of year – Midsummer – to dust off this fabulous adaption of one of the Bard’s best work (IMHO) and enjoy the video with a cool glass of Chardonnay.

The modern film cleverly combines Elizabethan dialogue with actors in mid 19th century clothing and set in a picturesque Tuscan country villa. Somehow, this oddball combination works and I can’t recall this story in any other fashion. Who knows maybe it is the Midsummer magic weaving its spell, this movie has not dimmed over the years of viewing it. It is a great way to re introduce yourself to the Bard – the greatest storyteller ever.

Brassed Off!

Directed by: Mark Herman
Screenwriter: Mark Herman
Produced by: Steve Abbott, Olivia Stewart
Distributed by Miramax and Channel Four Films,

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Tara Fitzgerald, and Pete Postelthwaite

Brass Band Music by: The Grimethorpe Colliery Band

Synopsis: When government cutbacks threaten a century-old Yorkshire mine, the brass band consisting of the miners and their families struggles to keep it together in the face of economic repression and…When government cutbacks threaten a century-old Yorkshire mine, the brass band consisting of the miners and their families struggles to keep it together in the face of economic repression and emotional turmoil.

Rotten Tomato Freshness: 78%
Skye’s Grade: Absolutely Frakking Must See Movie.

Brassed Off Definition:

Adj.,(Colloq)(British slang)
Dejected, Fed up, upset
generally pissed off
(SEE: Miners, American Tax Payers)

Back in the day – that would be the late 1990’s – I watched this movie with no real inclination that I would be peeking into the future of 21st century America. In all honesty, my main interest for catching this flick was Ewan McGregor. Fresh off the critically acclaimed film “Trainspotting“, he was one of the hottest actors at the time. As superficial a reason as it is, the movie is anything but superficial.

As summarized above, the movie centers around the lives of musical miners facing the threat of a Colliery closure. The unionized employees are given a choice of taking a lump sum payoff or review proceedings in the hope of keeping the Colliery open. As the fate of the Colliery is tossed about, the Colliery band played on, eventually winning the British Open Brass Band Championship.

Since 1984, roughly 158 out of 170 coal mining pits were closed following a divisive year long mining strike, which pitted the labor union NUM against the Thatcher government. Unfortunately, the big losers in this battle were the miners and their families. In response or retaliation to this strike, nearly all coal mines in Britain were deemed nonviable and closed by the government.

It couldn’t happen here, right? Who would believe that our government would take over a private industry and dictate its existence? Who would take the lump sum payoff over a steady job? Well, we did on November 4, 2008 – we voted for the payoff – ‘95% of all Americans will receive a tax cut’. This is far from over, the Obama administration has fired the CEO of General Motors and slashed the marketing budget of Chrysler. All while industries across the board are laying off employees by the thousands. A bleak picture indeed, as bleak as when the musicians return from a successful brass band semi-final to discover their union voted for the bailout and closure of their beloved Colliery.

We have arrived at that point as well, witnessing massive government expansion into the private sector and wondering what the frak happened. The question is, where do we go from here? The movie does provide a ray of hope. Danny, the band conductor and father figure, reminds us of what we have forgotten.

Danny’s Speech:

A well crafted movie that was years ahead of its time for America. Despite my critical look at this film, I always find it inspirational. Hmmm….after all these years, Ewan McGregor is still HOT!

Julia & Julia

This looks to be an absolutely delicious movie:

Baz Luhrmann’s Australia

Australia

Director: Baz Luhrmann
Screen writers: Baz Luhrmann, Stuart Beattie

Brief Synopsis:

MOULIN ROUGE’s Baz Luhrman and Nicole Kidman reteam for this epic that pays homage to their homeland. In AUSTRALIA, Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) is a prim and proper Englishwoman who journeys to Australia in the years before World War II reached the country’s shores.

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 54% Fresh
Skye’s Scale: Marvelous

Australia is an epic drama, or more precisely, multiple epic dramas played out against the backdrop of cattle ranching in northern Australia. The set designs, the costumes, the camerawork create an lush visual treat. I expect nothing less from a Baz Lurhman production.

What intrigued me most about this film was the acting of Brandon Walters, who played Nullah, a half-cast child, meaning his parentage was Aboriginal and European. This child actor weaved the magic of Dreamtime fables into the classic tale “The Wizard of Oz” with incredibly mezmerizing skill. After the movie, all three hours of it, I dug up a book on Aboriginal Myths that I had purchased during a trip to Oz and got reacquainted with Baiame and Bunjil.

This is a long movie, weaving several story plots together. Each one of the plots could have made an adequate movie, but combined together it is like indulging in a pint of Bassetts Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream. One way to get through this movie is to check out the pristine hair and wardrobe of Nicole Kidman’s character, Lady Sarah Ashley, as she surmounts all the odds to drive her cattle to market. I never saw a wrinkle out of place or a wayward lock of hair, even when she arrives in Cairns after a death defying cattle drive through uncharted desert. Now that is talent! The movie is family friendly and touches on the topic of the ‘Lost Generation’ of Aborigines.

This is a great movie to put in your que at Netflix or purchase when it hits the sale rack.

Next movie up for review: Brassed Off!

Guest Blogging at This Ain’t Hell

I’m so excited to be able to post such brilliant gems as this on TAH:

What precisely was Goose referring to when he qualified his bet with the statement “…of a lady this time”?

RJ, care to clarify this for me?

Jane Austen Book Club

Soon to be part of the Skye Movie Collection:

Must See Movie

Found this on Twitter:

Brothers at War – a Samuel Goldwyn Film

Gary Sinise and I are the Executive Producers of Brothers at War. The film was Directed by Jake Rademacher and Co-Produced by Jake and Norman S. Powell. ( no relation to Colin Powell)

American Carol

Two Thumbs Up! A great way to spend quality time with the family, friends and blogger buddies – go see this film!

I wonder if the Inquirer’s Chris Satullo is getting writing credit for this movie. If not should he sue?

Of Movies and Relationships

John Hawkins, a talented and charming blogger, has recently posted an interview he conducted with several well-known conservative female bloggers on the topic of dating.

In his own words:

“I thought it might be fun to talk to some conservative women to find out some of their best and worst dating stories, to see if there’s a difference between dating conservative and liberal men, and just to get a little of the dating advice that seems to do so well on CG.”(Conservative Grapevine)

What a brilliant blog post! I’d like to add to this discussion with a selection of ‘relationship’ movies from my personal video collection. Below is a short list of flicks that should be required viewing by all men worldwide:

Sabrina

A heartless tycoon meets his match in the 1995 Sydney Pollack re-imaging of Sabrina. This version reworks Sabrina into an independent, stylish, and brilliantly tactful woman capable of holding her own when dealing with Linus Larrabee. She is no doormat and Linus is no pushover; yet these two driven individuals manage to discover a mutual respect and deep love for one another. Sometimes opposites attract – sometimes like attracts like.

Before Sunset

The 2004 sequel to the remarkable film Before Sunrise. This jewel of a film focuses on a conversation between two characters – Celine and Jesse – sharing a fading afternoon in Paris. The movie opens with Jesse wrapping up his European book signing tour in a Parisian bookstore when he encounters Celine. It has been nine years since they parted ways with fervent promises to meet again in 6 months time. Flash forward 9 years later to a bookstore in Paris and the spark is still there. The film was shot in largely real time in order to heighten the immediacy of their conversation. It is the chemistry shared between the actors and the candid dialog between the two characters makes this film stand out. Over 9 years, both characters have grown into functioning adults who, like all of us, have made mistakes along the way. In the following clip, they openly discuss personal relationship issues. In a rare display of on screen maturity, both manage to not blame anyone else for their relationship misfortunes. Something that needs to be practiced in real life, off screen relationships.

Forces Of Nature

A visual treat of a film, although the plot may be a bit weak. The story begins with poor Ben Holmes. He is two days away from his wedding in Savannah, unable to compose his wedding vows, and finds himself sharing alternate travel arrangements with a free spirited woman named Sarah. Did I mention they are being stalked by a hurricane? Sometimes people need a personal hurricane to help them sort out what is truly important in their lives. Sarah was Ben’s personal hurricane.

Under the Tuscan Sun:

Note to guys worldwide: Sometimes breaking up with your girlfriend or divorcing your wife may be the the best thing you have ever done for her.

Closer

An incredibly warped perspective on modern relationships is presented in this film. This movie is the poster child for how NOT to have an adult relationship. In all fairness, it is well crafted movie with talented actors and actresses in the title roles. It is obvious they relished digging into the petty vindictiveness of these characters and I enjoyed their performance. However, I would RUN, not walk away from this type relationship.

Amelie

The more cultured of women enjoy French cinema, so having knowledge of at least ONE movie in this genre can make a difference.