From the Pages to the Screen...

Whether or not you like him, you've heard of him.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince made the move into theaters at midnight on July 15.
The sixth installment in the series based on the enormously popular book series, Prince has been highly anticipated to be the biggest blockbuster of the summer, grossing over $100 million worldwide in it's first few days.

But these Potter productions aren't the first books to be made into a wildly successful film. This trend has been going on for decades:

Gone with the Wind (1939)-This classic has been moving generations of moviegoers for generations. Based off the Margaret Mitchell novel of the same name, Gone with the Wind chronicles the life of southern belle Scarlett O'Hara during the Civil War. Unrequited love, trial and pride all form the story of Miss Scarlett and her struggle to maintain her southern pride while struggling to survive.

Did You Know?-Actress Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American to be nominated and win an Academy award for this film.(imdb.com)

The Wizard of Oz (1939)- Adapted from this beloved L. Frank Baum novel, The Wizard of Oz tells the story of Dorothy, a young farm girl from Kansas, and her adventures on the other side of the rainbow. In her adventures she meets the Scarecrow, the Tinman and the Cowardly Lion. Together they venture down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard who they hope can send Dorothy home. All the while, the Wicked Witch of the West is on her trail trying to steal Dorothy's ruby slippers and the power they hold.

Did You Know?- The horses in Emerald City palace were colored with Jell-O crystals. The scenes had to be shot quickly, before the horses started to lick it off. (imdb.com)

Here comes another one...

It's like deja vu all over again.
It's like deja vu all over again.

Well, we've entered another season of summer blockbusters and with that comes another summer of sequels and remakes.

On Wednesday, the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen opened amid much hype and anticipation garnering over $ 200 million in its first weekend.

This new Transformers film is another in a succession of summer blockbuster sequels and remakes including Night at the Museum 2: Battle for the Smithsonian, Terminator Salvation and Land of the Lost.

But sequels and remakes are not a new concept in Hollywood. Ideas have been used and reused for generations:

A Star is Born- This film, originally made in 1937 and starring Janet Gaynor as Vicki Lester and Fredric March as her love, Norman Maine., a young actress, trying to make it big. The film chronicles the rise of this bright young star to fame while the stardom of her love is fading. This film has been remade not once, but twice!

The 1954 remake starred Judy Garland as Vicki and James Mason as the washed up Norman Maine.

The film was then redone again in 1976 with Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson and turn the leads into musicians instead of actors.

Did You Know?: In the 1954 version, the role of Norman Maine was rejected by Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Montgomery Clift, Marlon Brando, as well as accepted then turned down by Cary Grant because the character was a has-been actor.

Also, this was the first film where two people (Judy Garland and James Mason. 1954 version) in the same film were nominated for Oscars for playing the same roles for which two other people were also nominated (Janet Gaynor and Fredric March. 1937 version)


Probably one of the most successful sequels/trilogies of all time:
Star Wars (1977)- This intergalactic adventure is the first of a trilogy chronicling the fight of the Rebel Alliance against the evil Galactic Empire. Starring Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Harrison Ford as Han Solo, this series has continued into the new millenium with prequels which chronicle the early years of Anakin Skywalker aka Darth Vader and the rise of the Empire to power.

The Empire Strikes Back followed in 1980 and the concluding episode Return of the Jedi followed in 1983

Did You Know?: Carrie Fisher actually has ties to our classic remake feature. Carrie's mother is Debbie Reynolds who owns a museum in Hollywood that features a large collection of Judy Garland's costumes.

Also, Return of the Jedi was the highest grossing film of 1983, more than $250 million.

It's Going to the Dogs...

"Lassie, get help!"
"Rut row, Raggy!"
"Get me those puppies!"

Hollywood has once again gone to the dogs. For years, our canine companions have been making grand appearances on the silver screen and audiences have been lapping it up.

Just what is our fascination with these furry stars? There always seems to be a market for a movie that features those big, soupy eyes, loyal personalities and that constant grin-like look.

It must be that animal featuring movies pull at our heartstrings. If nothing else can be said about the movie, at least you can say the dogs were cute!

With the recent releases of Disney/Pixar's Up!, those lovable mutts are once again making an appearance on the big screen.

All through the ages these four-legged fur balls have brought a smile to our face, a warmth to our hearts and, sometimes, even a tear to our eye.

Old Yeller (1957)- When a big yellow dog shows up on the farm, young Travis Coates reluctantly adopts him while trying to help run the farm with his father gone. After a number of close calls, Travis and Yeller become nearly unseparable. But can it sustain the test of trials they can't control? (Warning: This is a (at minimum) two tissue movie. You have been warned.)

Did You Know?: The dog that played Yeller's name was Spike. Also, although the dialogue describes Yeller as mutt, Spike was a Yellow Labrador Retriever.

The Incredible Journey (1963)- Three four-legged friends take a journey across the country to find and rejoin their "family." The film chronicles the journey of a cat and two dogs as they face mountains, wild animals and other seemingly impossible obstacles to find when they think they've been left behind as their family vacations.

Did You Know?: Bodger, the bull terrier, is referred to as a male but was actually played by a female! Also, the film was remade as Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey in 1993 and featured the voice talents of Michael J. Fox and Sally Field

Lassie Come Home (1943)- When the Carraclough fall upon hard times, they are force to sell their beloved Collie. But Lassie, unwilling to be separated from his loving owners, journeys far and wide to join them again, helping those in need along the way.

Did You Know?: Pal, the Collie who played Lassie, was paid $250 dollars a week while his human co-star, a young Elizabeth Taylor was payed only $100 dollars a week!

101 Dalmatians (1961)-When the evil Cruella DeVil gets a fancy to make a Dalmation puppy fur coat, the 15-puppy litter of Perdita and Pongo go missing. With the help of the "Twilight Bark" and many new friends along the way, the two spotted parents have to rescue their pups and the 84 other abducted puppies from Cruella's bumbling henchmen before it's too late.

Did You Know?: There are approximately 6,469,952 spots throughout the whole movie, frame by frame.

Here's comes the bride...

All the essentials are there. The flowers, the cake, the dress, the decorations and... the slapstick mayhem?

Romantic Comedies have become a staple of the cinematic offering. From early on there has been the same story: Boy meets Girl in quirky, atypical way; Boy and Girl fall in love; Boy proposes to Girl; Hilarity ensues.

With the release of Bride Wars on DVD, the trend carries on. While in more recent years, these girls-night-out must-haves have taken on a "freer" element they still do hale back to the off-beat Romantic Comedy of yester-year:

Father of the Bride-In this 1950 film, Spencer Tracy stars as a father trying to come to terms with the fact that his little girl is growing up and getting married, while at the same time trying to plan, pay for and put on her dream wedding. Starting at the engagement announcement and following through to the big day, he's wants to make this a day to remember...if he survives it.

Elizabeth Taylor co-stars as the Bride.

This film was remade in 1991 starring Steve Martin as the father and Martin Short in a supporting role as the quirky wedding planner.

The Happiest Millionaire- Although not completely a boy-meets-girl story, this is the story of eccentric millionaire, Anthony Biddle. His daughter, tired of boys being scared off by his enthusiasm for boxing and his collection of pet alligators... That's right, alligators. She heads off to a boarding school and ends up meeting the love of her life.

Things getting interesting when the two families meet and Mr. Biddle realizes he may not be able to let go of his little girl just yet...

So, ladies, pick up some chocolate and popcorn and grab your girlfriends and guys... well, maybe humor us once in a while.

Who knows, the next quirky wedding story you hear may be your own...

Star date 03/08/2009: There's a new Enterprise crew in town...

Admist much hype and anticipation a new Star Trek movie was released this past Friday, May 1. This newest installment is the most successful movie of the Star Trek franchise to date,taking in more than $75 million over in its opening weekend alone according to boxofficemojo.com. This new trend towards reviving old movie franchises with prequels, seems to be a successful venture with movie makers.
With the success of the Star Wars prequels as well as Batman Begins and the Dark Knight, the very beginning is, indeed, a very good place to start.

But does the new Star Trek remember its beginning? No, not the original 1960's T.V show but the Sci-Fi thrillers of the 50s and even earlier. Let's take a look back at just how far this box office smash has come from its predecessors.

Buck Rogers- This 1939 film was based on a cartoon ship by Dick Calkans and Phil Nolan. The story of a pilot and passenger who end up 500 years in the future, our hero fights the villain Killer Kane a tyrant now rule over this earth of the future. Although lacking in the visual effects department, this sci-fi classic was pretty impressive in its day.

Metropolis- The view of the future was bleak in this 1927 Fritz Lang film. In the year 2026 man kind is separated in the Thinkers and the Workers. The Thinkers make plans but lack the skill and the Workers achieve those plans but lack the vision. Separately neither can survive but together they can succeed. Then all changes when one of the Thinkers goes down to the Workers and is appalled at the way the other half lives...

The Day the Earth Stood Still- In this 1952 classic, an alien visitor and his robot friend come to seemingly live peacefully and share a message with the people of earth. But, upon a rough first meeting, this other worldly boarder discloses another reason for his visit as well as the threat of a race of beings who are easily provoked...and deadly.

Well, if we are discussing the predecessors to this new Star Trek, we can't leave out the the one that started it all : Star Trek the Original Series.
This 1966 series ran only four seasons but has since garnered a huge following. With its phasers and telecommunicators and even it's beaming effects, this series was the project that started all the craze.
From Tribbles to Klingons, the Original Series is the one that started it all and with this latest installment, a whole new generation will have the chance to "Live long and prosper".

Classics? Really?

It has occurred to me lately that the Golden Age of cinema is quickly being forgotten. Not only are the classic movies of yesteryear, such as Casablanca, Sunset Blvd., Harvey and A Star is Born, no longer staples of every movie collection but the stars themselves are fading.

This thought occurred to me as I read about the recent passing of legendary film director Kenneth Annakin.
Annakin directed such classic films as The Swiss Family Robinson and The Longest Day. He also directed six episodes of Walt Disney's Disneyland.

With in the last two years, multiple classic cinema stars have passed away. Cyd Charisse, Paul Newman and Bea Arthur.

Where does this leave us? The title of Classics in film has now been relegated to film like Animal House and Dumb and Dumber.

I have friends who won't even watch a film if it's over 30 years old. What good does that do anyone? Where will avoiding the classics, because they're "old" get us?

What is the public looking for in a film now? The draw seems to be to violence and bathroom humor rather than the film making techniques and quality.

In 2007 all but one of the Oscar nominees for Best Picture were rated-R for violence and language. Is this what we want future generations to remember us for?

For the last four years the films that have won the Oscar for best picture have been R-rated.
Is the call for blood and action or political statement become more important than the movie quality its self?

Where are the films that make a statement in their unique style or story instead of their big time special effects or shock-value?

It seems as if as our stars of the classic cinema die out, so does our desire for a quality film production.

Movies are so much easier to make that they can be made on a grand scale inside a computer. It seems that quality has been sacrificed for quantity.

When will this epidemic end? Who knows. Maybe Hollywood will never be what it once was. Maybe the movies will just keep getting more violent and less substantive.

I seem to have more questions than answers. A lot of good that does.

I hope that the film industry can get back to a time where less emphasis was put on scale and more on story.

Maybe we'll see a Casablanca again.

Or maybe we'll be stuck with Dumb and Dumber for the rest of our lives...

A Classics Farewell

Film directing legend Ken Annakin, passed away in his home on Wednesday. He was 94.

Annakin directed many projects including Swiss Family Robinson and such WWII classics as The Longest Day and Battle of the Bulge.

Annakin was also directed six episodes of Walt Disney's "Disneyland".

The British director received the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to the British film industry in 2002.

So favored was he, that American director George Lucas named the character "Anakin Skywalker" after the film giant.

The legendary director is survived by his wife of 50 years, Pauline, and daughter, Deborah.