L is for Last

 A to Z Challenge

A Month At The Movies

Hello and welcome back to A Month at the Movies,  my contribution to the A to Z challenge for 2023.

This year I am copying from a myriad of other A to Z  challengers by reprinting the same synopsis about my theme with every letter.  You can skip over this part if you want to.  

I love movies and have decided to share with you a movie each day that I have enjoyed to one degree or another.  With each entry, I'll give a brief synopsis of the film, share a positive and negative review from Rotten Tomatoes ( a website, I didn't use much at all until preparing for the challenge), discuss its resiliency (the theme of the A to Z challenge this year), and other tidbits like whether the film may appear in my top 100 film list, which I have been revamping this year. I think that's enough in the way of introduction, considering you'll be reading it (hopefully) 14 more times this month.

Film: The Last Full Measure

Director: Todd Robinson

The title of this film is based on a phrase from the last sentence of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.  

 It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

The film itself tells 2 important stories at the same time.  The story of how William H. Pitsenbarger (Pitts) a 21-year-old USAF Pararescue saved the lives of soldiers in the aftermath of Operation Abilene in Vietnam. It also tells the story of how almost 25 years after Pittsenbarger died saving others how he was finally awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1990. 

The movie stars Sebastian Stan who Marvel fans know as Bucky/The Winter Soldier and who my wife (Hi Amy) didn't  know cause she only watches movies based on real things like The Muppets. Stan's character is tasked with doing a full review of Pittsenbarger to see if he can get his medal.  The star-laden cast includes William Hurt, Samuel L. Jackson,  Ed Harris, Jeremy Irvine and Amy Madigan as well as  Christopher Plumber, and Peter Fonda both in their final film roles.  

Positive Tomato: The way the story is told is fresh, the violence is not sensationalized at all, and the acting is top notch. Alan Ng - Film Threat

Negative Tomato: Unlike that medal that eluded Pitsenbarger's memory for decades, "The Last Full Measure" doesn't do it's hero justice. Garrett Mitchell - Arizona Republic

I wanted to include some more information I gleaned about the real Pittsenbarger in preparing for this piece. 

By US Air Force Photo - Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Public Affairs [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6374172

By Ray Schmid (3APS), USAF - U.S. DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DF-SD-03-17788, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14299554

A U.S. Air Force A1C William Hart Pitsenbarger, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, saves a Vietnamese soldier from a minefield at Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, 7 March 1966. Original description: "As the Kaman HH-43F Huskie (Pedro) hovers, Airman First Class (A1C) William Hart Pitsenbarger, USAF, Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (ARRS) is extracted while holding a wounded Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) soldier from the burning minefield. The soldier lost a foot when he stepped on a landmine. Nobody could figure out how to extract the wounded soldier without tripping the mines. A1C Pitsenbarger said, "No problem, just lower me down on the penetrator, I'll straddle the guy, pick him up, and then you can lift me up." Risky as everyone knew that the prop wash could also set off the mines. A1C Pitsenbarger earned the Airman's Medal and Vietnam's Medal of Military Merit and the Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm for this action." - Wikimedia Commons

Fitzenbarger's parents receiving the Medal of Honor on his behalf.

By TSGT Gary Coppage - http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123048972, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11691235

T

Resiliency: This movie has triple-strength resiliency.  The resiliency and valor of Pittsenbarger who gave his life to save men he didn't even know.  The resiliency and determination of everyone involved in getting Fitzenberger's Medal of Honor awarded to him posthumously.  Finally, The resiliency of writer, and director Todd Robinson, who it took according to Wikipedia 20 years to make the movie.  It was unsuccessfully pitched more than 50 times and when it did land a deal in 2007 the company was sold and the project shelved. Robinson and executive producer Sidney Sherman spend the next 10 years investigating alternate funding sources. Production of the film began in 2017.

Top 100: I love this movie. It is one of my 3 favorite war movies of all time. Seargent York and The ar Horse are the other 2 ( Pittsenbarger is played by Jeremy Irvine, who also starred in The War Horse). It is probably the most recently made movie in my top 100 and also quite possibly the one that the fewest people have ever seen I cannot recommend this movie strongly enough. 

K is for King's Speech

 A to Z Challenge

A Month At The Movies

Hello and welcome back to A Month at the Movies,  my contribution to the A to Z challenge for 2023.

This year I am copying from a myriad of other A to Z  challengers by reprinting the same synopsis about my theme with every letter.  You can skip over this part if you want to.  

I love movies and have decided to share with you a movie each day that I have enjoyed to one degree or another.  With each entry, I'll give a brief synopsis of the film, share a positive and negative review from Rotten Tomatoes ( a website, I didn't use much at all until preparing for the challenge), discuss its resiliency (the theme of the A to Z challenge this year), and other tidbits like whether the film may appear in my top 100 film list, which I have been revamping this year. I think that's enough in the way of introduction, considering you'll be reading it (hopefully) 15 more times this month.

Film: The King's Speech (2011)

Director: Tom Hooper

By www.lancashire.gov.uk - Flickr: Filming Colin and Helena, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32805634

Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter are all amazing in this film that celebrates growth mindset on a royal stage.  A stuttering prince becomes King and finds his voice. 

Positive Tomato: reminds us of a time - not long ago at all - when substance counted for something, and admiration, even among those born to privilege, had to be earned. Bill Newcott -  AARP Movies for Grownups. 

Negative Tomato: A wonderfully-acted, well-crafted motion picture, but one that is also brutally dull. Brent McKnight - The Last Thing I See. 

I usually don't comment on the tomatoes and just get on with my business.  Today, I'll deviate from that practice to say I did not find this movie boring at all.  It is a captivating story from beginning to end. It is an uplifting movie and in many ways a surprising one.  It's hard to be surprising in a bio-pic but I think this one pulls it off nicely.

Resiliency: It takes resiliency to overcome an impediment, It takes resiliency to restore faith in the monarchy, It takes resiliency to encourage your people on the brink of war.  Prince Albert of York later known as King George VI had to do all 3 pretty much simultaneously. 

Top 100:  I like this movie an awful lot and if you asked me I'd say I think it would be in my top 100. Then, when we counted all the films I'd think would be in my top 100, and got upwards of 165, I'd have a decision to make.  At that point, this movie's reign might be over. 

A To Z Connection: This is the 2nd film in the challenge featuring a portrayal of Prince Edward of York who for a short time was King Edward VIII (Chariots of Fire)

Next Time: Late recognition for a fallen hero. 

A Jesus Revolution Exclusive with Kelsey Grammer

Progressive Poem April 12th

 Some of my fellow poets who contribute at Poetry Friday are working on a progressive poem for April's National Poetry Month.  I signed up for today and then quickly forgot about it.  Thanks for all the reminders on my J post for the A to Z Challenge.

Here is the poem so far with my line on the bottom,

Suddenly everything fell into place

like raindrops hitting soil and sinking in

When morning first poked me, I'd wished it away

my mind in the midst, muddled, confused

Was this a dream, or reality rousing my response?

The sun surged, urging me to join in it's rising.

Rising like a crystal ball reflecting on morning dew.

I jumped out of bed, ready to explore the day

My feet pull me outside and into the garden

Where lillies and bees weave ... but wait what's that?

A bevy of bunnies jart and dart and play in the clover.  

A dog barks and flash, the bunderstorm is over. 

That's my line and I'm sticking to it.  Tomorrow, Irene Latham at Live Your Poem contributes the next line.  

The rest of the participants can be found on the sidebar of Another Year Of Reading.

We now interrupt the a to z Challenge for a poem

 My daughter Emma and I signed up for a progressive poem this month and then clean forgot about it with all the revelry brought by my 25th wedding anniversary yesterday.   On my 15 minute break from work I am catching up hers for April 11th and will have mine early this afternoon. 

A progressive poem is a poem where different poets contribute one line at a time.  Here is what we have so far including my contribution for Emma at the last line:

Suddenly everything fell into place

like raindrops hitting soil and sinking in

When morning first poked me, I'd wished it away

my mind in the midst, muddled, confused

Was this a dream, or reality rousing my response?

The sun surged, urging me to join in it's rising.

Rising like a crystal ball reflecting on morning dew.

I jumped out of bed, ready to explore the day

My feet pull me outside and into the garden

Where lillies and bees weave ... but wait what's that?

A bevy of bunnies jart and dart and play in the clover.  

I'll be back later today for my line in the poem.  

J is for Jesus Revolution

 A to Z Challenge

A Month At The Movies

Hello and welcome back to A Month at the Movies,  my contribution to the A to Z challenge for 2023.

This year I am copying from a myriad of other A to Z  challengers by reprinting the same synopsis about my theme with every letter.  You can skip over this part if you want to.  

I love movies and have decided to share with you a movie each day that I have enjoyed to one degree or another.  With each entry, I'll give a brief synopsis of the film, share a positive and negative review from Rotten Tomatoes ( a website, I didn't use much at all until preparing for the challenge), discuss its resiliency (the theme of the A to Z challenge this year), and other tidbits like whether the film may appear in my top 100 film list, which I have been revamping this year. I think that's enough in the way of introduction, considering you'll be reading it (hopefully) 16 more times this month.

Film: The Jesus Revolution (2023)

Directors: John Erwin & Brett McCorkle

Picture from Light Magazine Article Chuck Smith: Father of The Jesus Movement 

By Rev Dr. Ed & Janice Hird

The Jesus Revolution is the most recent movie included in the challenge this year.  Its story goes back more than 50 years and was inspired by the events depicted in the Time Magazine cover story shown below.  Ultimately that story is inspired by the story of Jesus told in the Gospels. 

Time Magazine June 21, 1971
Cover Credit Stan Zagorski

Positive Tomato: Intriguing and occasionally inspiring...the acting is consistently strong, especially by Jonathan Roumie. There are heroes here, but no halos as the true-life characters live through problems and flaws. Michael Medved - The Michael Medved Show

Negative Tomato: Jesus Revolution takes a fascinating period of American history - the hippie movement and its associated fallout within the Christian co
mmunity - and transforms it into a bland, TV movie-of-the-week experience. James Berardinelli - ReelViews

The movie tells the story of the Jesus movement by focusing on these  4 characters: 

Chuck Smith portrayed by Kelsey Grammar best known for his long career playing Frasier Crane on Cheers and then Frasier.  

Lonnie Frisbee played by Jonathan Roumie best now for playing Jesus in The Chosen.

Greg Laurie is played by Joel Courtney and Cathe is played by Anna Grace Barlow. 

T

Lonnie Frisbee & Chuck Smith

Kelsey Grammar & Jonathan Roumie

I liked this movie and especially liked the  warts and all approach of the characterizations.  Each of these characters is flawed.  Each of these characters makes mistakes.  Some of you who know the historry of these events know that not all the mistakes some of these characters made are mentioned in the movie.  Some have suggested that this means a white-washing of the events. I don't land that way.  If a two hour movie was made about me many of my foibles, sins, and setbacks would not be seen.  I have more than 2 hours of foibles, sins and setbacks in a day let alone a life time,  However, that each of these characters are shown as human rather than superhuman it is easier to see the divine in them,

Resiliency: The resiliency of this story flows from the title.  The actual life , death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was relevant and powerful enough to capture the attention of the Hippie movement and then the world. Easter was days ago where Christians all over the world celebrated the greatest event in history.  If that's not resiliency, I don't know what is.

Top 100: Like I said I really enjoyed this movie and would  recommend it highly. However, I doubt that it will be in my top 100.  First of all, I generally need to watch a movie at least twice before I can know for sure whether it's top 100 material.  But I usually have a better sense for when it isn't.  

A TO Z Connections: This is the second movie to depict Christian ministers (Chariots of Fire). This is the 4th movie, to depict historic events (Chariots of Fire, 42, and Hidden Figures).

Next Time: Kuh Kuh King

I is For It's A Wonderful Life

 A to Z Challenge

A Month At The Movies

Hello and welcome back to A Month at the Movies,  my contribution to the A to Z challenge for 2023.

This year I am copying from a myriad of other A to Z  challengers by reprinting the same synopsis about my theme with every letter.  You can skip over this part if you want to.  

I love movies and have decided to share with you a movie each day that I have enjoyed to one degree or another.  With each entry, I'll give a brief synopsis of the film, share a positive and negative review from Rotten Tomatoes ( a website, I didn't use much at all until preparing for the challenge), discuss its resiliency (the theme of the A to Z challenge this year), and other tidbits like whether the film may appear in my top 100 film list, which I have been revamping this year. I think that's enough in the way of introduction, considering you'll be reading it (hopefully) 17 more times this month.

Film: It's A  Wonderful Life (1946)

Director: Frank Capra

By National Telefilm Associates - Original 1946 film, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18061926

It's A Wonderful Life is a film that needs no introduction. 

Positive Tomato: Capra remained true to classical Hollywood narrative, conceived and directed here, it is true, with almost hallucinatory skill. The scenes of tenderness are capable of penetrating the armor of even the most skeptical critical mind. Andre Bazin - L'ecran Francais

Original Trailer

Negative Tomato: Capra is an old-time movie craftsman, the master of every trick in the bag, and in many ways he is more at home with the medium than any other Hollywood director. But all of his details give the impression of contrived effect. Manny Farber - The New Republic

By National Telefilm Associates - Screenshot of the movie, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17631672

Resiliency: My favorite moment of resiliency in the movie is when the Bailey's use their wedding gift money to get their Building & Loan customers through the run on the bank. 

Top 100: It's Actually in the Top 1.  It's A Wonderful Life is my favorite movie of all time.  Starring Jimmy Stewart, my favorite actor of all time, and directed by Frank Capra, my favorite director of all time.  

By National Telefilm Associates - Screenshot of the movie, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17596045

A to Z Connection: This is the 2nd movie on my list directed by Frank Capra (Arsenic and Old Lace). 

Next Time: Just a movie about a revolutionary movement. 

She's A Wonderful Wife

 I have a routine when it comes to my A to Z  challenge posts. I schedule the time of the post for the date of the post.  For example, today is April 11th or numerically 4/11 so I would generally schedule my post for 4:11 a.m. so people could see it as they were checking their computers in the morning.  

This by the way is not an A to Z post but I am posting this at 4:11 in the morning because April 11th is a very significant day in my life.  It is the day I married my wife Amy. Today is almost as significant as that day as it is our 25th wedding anniversary.

I have scheduled my A to Z post at 4:11 p.m. It talks about my favorite movie It's A Wonderful Life.

In that film, the main character gets a glimpse of what life might have been like if he was never born and gets to realize what a wonderful life he had.

In December of 2005, our 3rd and final child was born and 2 days after they were released from the hospital I rushed Amy to the emergency room.  They did tests and her heart was working at 10% capacity.  I remember driving back from the emergency room to my house with 3 children between the ages of 3 days and 6 years old and I got a glimpse of what my life might look like If Amy was gone.  I prayed on the way home and asked God to restore her to health.

Thankfully  Amy was back to 100% use of her heart and her kidneys and was home to our family in a few short days. We were never given an adequate reason for the occurrence but we believe it was due to a lack of proper hydration after the C-section. 

I really didn't need an angel to show me the worth of my wife.  We were best friends for 8 years before she signed the Marry Dave Agreement. She takes the best care of me and our children.  Often preparing and perfecting foods for us that she doesn't even like to eat.  While she is just a sinner that said I Do, she is a loving, Godly influencer on me and our children.  

I have had the opportunity in the past 5 years to substitute teach in the same building where she works as a school psychologist.  I have never seen anyone take their job so seriously and still love on the children and show compassion and concern to the teachers, administration, and parents. We also have worked side by side the last 2 summers working concessions at a ballpark where she would bring sunshine even in a two-hour rain delay. 

So you see she really is a wonderful wife.  Happy Anniversary Amy.  You really do complete me.

A to Z Easter Egg: White House Hidden Figures Event

Earlier today, I posted about the film Hidden Figures. This video is a panel held at the White House after they showed Hidden Figures there...

H is For Hidden Figures

 A to Z Challenge

A Month At The Movies

Hello and welcome back to A Month at the Movies,  my contribution to the A to Z challenge for 2023.

This year I am copying from a myriad of other A to Z  challengers by reprinting the same synopsis about my theme with every letter.  You can skip over this part if you want to.  

I love movies and have decided to share with you a movie each day that I have enjoyed to one degree or another.  With each entry, I'll give a brief synopsis of the film, share a positive and negative review from Rotten Tomatoes ( a website, I didn't use much at all until preparing for the challenge), discuss its resiliency (the theme of the A to Z challenge this year), and other tidbits like whether the film may appear in my top 100 film list, which I have been revamping this year. I think that's enough in the way of introduction, considering you'll be reading it (hopefully) 18 more times this month.

Film: Hidden Figures (2016) 

Director: Theodore Melfi

Trailer for Hidden Figures ...

Hidden Figures tells the story of Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan who were among a group of  African American Mathematicians who worked at NASA during the time that John Glenn orbited the earth. 

Positive Tomato: Hidden Figures puts the familiar period-piece lens on an overlooked part of space history without glossing over the ugly bits while still feeling hopeful for what science and technology can achieve when the best and the brightest can participate. Nathan Matisse - Ars Technica

Negative Tomato:

 Hidden Figures will likely satisfy on the actress' strength, but Taraji - and her audience - deserve better than focus-grouped pablum. Chris McCoy - Memphis Flyer

The film stars Taraji P Henson as Katharine Johnson, Janelle Monae as Mary Jackson, and Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughn.  The cast includes Kevin Costner, Aldis Hodge, Jim Parsons, Kirsten Dunst, and Mahershala Ali.

Katherine Johnson - NASA 1966

Resiliency: Each of the 3 main women featured in this movie gives a clinic on resiliency.  It would be hard to boil that down into one moment or one quote.  

My mind always goes back to the scene where Mary Jackson has to go to court to convince a judge for her to take engineering classes at an all-white school.  She says to the judge:

I plan on being an engineer at Nasa, but I can't do that without taking them classes at that all-white high school, and I can't change the color of my skin, so I have no choice, but to be the first, which I can't do without you sir. Your honor, out of all the case you gonna hear today, which one is gonna matter hundred years from now? Which one is gonna make you the first?

Top 100: There is no uncertainty.  This movie is definitely in my top 100 films of all time.  The only question is where.  I would not be surprised if it makes it into the top 75.

A to Z Connections: This is the second film in the challenge to depict a space program (Gattaca).  It is also the fifth film to deal with a character or characters fighting against some sort of discrimination (Breaking Away, Chariots of Fire, 42, and Gattaca). 

Next Time: It's my favorite movie. 

G is For Gattaca

 A to Z Challenge

A Month At The Movies

Hello and welcome back to A Month at the Movies,  my contribution to the A to Z challenge for 2023.

This year I am copying from a myriad of other A to Z  challengers by reprinting the same synopsis about my theme with every letter.  You can skip over this part if you want to.  

I love movies and have decided to share with you a movie each day that I have enjoyed to one degree or another.  With each entry, I'll give a brief synopsis of the film, share a positive and negative review from Rotten Tomatoes ( a website, I didn't use much at all until preparing for the challenge), discuss its resiliency (the theme of the A to Z challenge this year), and other tidbits like whether the film may appear in my top 100 film list, which I have been revamping this year. I think that's enough in the way of introduction, considering you'll be reading it (hopefully) 19 more times this month.

Film: Gattaca (1997)

.Director: Andre Niccol

By Unknown author - ProSieben MAXX HD, screenshot (15.06.2014), Public Domain, Link

Gattaca is a genre blending delight of a movie.  Part science fiction, part cultural critique, part noir;  Roger Ebert  rightly called it a thriller with ideas.  Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, and Jude Law head a stellar cast  in a work that is superbly written, beautifully captured on film, and blessed with an evocative score.  

 

Positive Tomato:  The writer- director crafts a paranoid discriminatory world out of ripped-from-the-headlines science. Adapting a noirish mood and an austere dystopian backdrop, it's the sort of Orwellian vision that could only exist in a movie. Brian Eggert - Deep Focus Review 

Negative Tomato:  You have to admire Nicol's humanizing agenda in movie terrain usually crowded with numbing technology and digital stereo explosions.  But jeez what a downer. Jan Stuart - The Advocate

Resiliency: Ethan Hawke,  who I remember best from his sweaty toothed madman poem in Dead Poets Society does a character study of resiliency in Gattaca.   Science conspired against him and he was told he would never reach for the stars.  But reach for the stars, he did and the degree that he did reach shows his resiliency and disregard for the imposed status quo. 

Top 100: Gattaca is a movie that I could see ranking any where between 75 and 125.  So we'll have to wait and see if Gattaca makes the list.

A to Z Connections: This is the 2nd science fiction film in the challenge (The Empire Strikes Back).

For more A to Z challenge click here.

Next Time: Honoring unsung heroes. 

F is For 42

 A to Z Challenge

A Month At The Movies

Hello and welcome back to A Month at the Movies,  my contribution to the A to Z challenge for 2023.

This year I am copying from a myriad of other A to Z  challengers by reprinting the same synopsis about my theme with every letter.  You can skip over this part if you want to.  

I love movies and have decided to share with you a movie each day that I have enjoyed to one degree or another.  With each entry, I'll give a brief synopsis of the film, share a positive and negative review from Rotten Tomatoes ( a website, I didn't use much at all until preparing for the challenge), discuss its resiliency (the theme of the A to Z challenge this year), and other tidbits like whether the film may appear in my top 100 film list, which I have been revamping this year. I think that's enough in the way of introduction, considering you'll be reading it (hopefully) 20 more times this month.

Film: 42

Director: Brian Helgeland

I grew up loving baseball. I didn't think much of it.  Baseball was always there.  I could watch it on t.v. I could play it with my friends and I could dream about being my favorite players Dick Allen or Hank Aaron. 

These players were black and I was white. At that time I had never met a black person, but that didn't bother me.  My heroes were great baseball players and I wanted to be like them.  That I could do that is  a tribute to Branch Rickey, the general manager who helped integrate baseball and to Jackie Robinson who was the first black player in the modern era of baseball.

Image by Welcome to All ! ツ from Pixabay

Positive Tomato: Well-paced and often riveting, and manages to inspire while remaining true to sport and to the player who changed it and all of the professional sport forever. Bruce DeMara - Toronto Star

Negative Tomato:  42 is a hackneyed, cookie-cutter film that manages to tell us absolutely nothing about a turning point in American history. AP Kryza - Willamette Week

Chadwick Boseman shines as Robinson. He gives us a glimpse of how difficult it is to be the first. 

Harrison Ford transforms himself into Branch Rickey.

Resiliency: When Rickey tells Robinson his plan to have him be the first black player in baseball, they have this exchange...

Robinson: You want a player who doesn't have the guts to fight back?

Rickey: No. No. I want a player who has the guts not to fight back.

This resiliency to take the verbal abuse, the discrimination, to receive the hate mail and death threats is shown scene after scene.  

Top 100: Regardless of whether it makes my top 100 (I imagine it will) it will always be my top 42.

A to Z Connections: This is the 3rd sports film (Breaking Away and Chariots of Fire) and the second film with Harrison Ford (The Empire Strikes Back). 

Next Time: G is for Gene Noir 

E is For Empire

 A to Z Challenge

A Month At The Movies

Hello and welcome back to A Month at the Movies,  my contribution to the A to Z challenge for 2023.

This year I am copying from a myriad of other a to z challengers by reprinting the same synopsis about my theme with every letter.  You can skip over this part if you want to.  

I love movies and have decided to share with you a movie each day that I have enjoyed to one degree or another.  With each entry, I'll give a brief synopsis of the film, share a positive and negative review from Rotten Tomatoes ( a website, I didn't use much at all until preparing for the challenge), discuss its resiliency (the theme of the A to Z challenge this year), and other tidbits like whether the film may appear in my top 100 film list, which I have been revamping this year. I think that's enough in the way of introduction, considering you'll be reading it (hopefully) 21 more times this month.

Film: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Director: Irvin Kershner

Star Wars Begin Again

   

Old friends are back.

Too back new friends are

Darth Darth Darth Darth Darth Darth Darth Darth Darth

Positive Tomato: The Empire Strikes Back displays the same soaring imagination that made Star Wars a filmmaking classic; most other space movies seem clunky and earthbound in comparison. Bob Thomas - Associated Press 

By Bogaerts, Rob / Anefo - [1] Dutch National Archives, The Hague, Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANeFo), 1945-1989, Nummer toegang 2.24.01.05 Bestanddeelnummer 931-2164, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27409421

Negative Tomato:  A Stars Wars that has not only lost much of its humor and charm but more important a good deal of its innocence, traveling in the process light years away from the shiny magnitude of its original world  Joy Gould Boyum - Wall Street Journal 

If you look closely you can see the Millenium Falcon avoiding being eaten.

Star Wars Episode 5 is in my opinion the best sequel ever made. How do you follow up on a film that revolutionizes the movie industry?  By continuing to revolutionize.

Resiliency: The empire is very resilient when it comes to replacing admirals. 

Top 100: This movie is definitely in my top 100.  The question for me becomes do I put it before or after te original Star Wars. I think what I did with my original 100 was place them back to back which makes the order less consequential.  I enjoy watching Empir more than I watch New Hope, but as I explained to someone at C2E2 (A midwest Comicon-like event) I would rank Star Wars just a little higher than Empire since Star Wars paved the way for it.  When I make my official top 100 later this year we will see if I have the courage of my convictions.  

Next Time: F is for First 

For more A to Z Challenge click here.

D is For Dave

 A to Z Challenge

A Month At The Movies

 

Hello and welcome back to A Month at the Movies,  my contribution to the A to Z challenge for 2023.

This year I am copying from a myriad of other a to z challengers by reprinting the same synopsis about my theme with every letter.  You can skip over this part if you want to.  

I love movies and have decided to share with you a movie each day that I have enjoyed to one degree or another.  With each entry, I'll give a brief synopsis of the film, share a positive and negative review from Rotten Tomatoes ( a website, I didn't use much at all until preparing for the challenge), discuss its resiliency (the theme of the A to Z challenge this year), and other tidbits like whether the film may appear in my top 100 film list, which I have been revamping this year. I think that's enough in the way of introduction, considering you'll be reading it (hopefully) 22 more times this month.

Film: Dave (1993)

Director: Ivan Reittman

Presidential movies were all the rage in the 1990s. (The American President, Air Force One, JFK, Nixon, Absolute Power). In this one,  a presidential body double makes the most of what was supposed to be a temporary job.

 

 Dave (Official Traier)

 

Positive Tomato:  A genial, expertly played political comedy proves that the spirit of Mr. Smith still lives.  Richard Schickel - Time Magazine

Negative Tomato: As Kline begins to take his presidential duties seriously, the comedy seeps out, a listless civic-mindedness drifts in like the fog off the Potomac. Leah Rozen - People Magazine

If you've never seen this film. the 30th anniversary is a good time to jump on board.  This may be Kevin Klines best film and with a resume filled with hits gems like Cry Freedom and Silverado that is certainly saying something.  Charles Grodin is in only a few scenes but does a great job of showing the uniqueness of a guy like Dave.

Resiliency: The balancing the budget subplot of Dave is a great snapshot in Resiliency.

In the film, Dave visits a homeless shelter with the President's wife.  When the homeless shelters are stripped of funding, Dave is told by the President's draconian chief of staff (played ever so malevolently by Frank Langella) that he can keep the shelters by adding 650 million dollars to the budget.

In the next few scenes, Dave attempts to do just that and even brings his accountant, the aforementioned Grodin, to help him with the gargantuan task. 

To watch this scene and read more about its resiliency factor click here.

Top 100: One of my criteria for top 100 films lies in its rewatchability. I remember enjoying this movie increasingly upon every viewing.  For that reason alone, I cannot imagine a Top 100 film list of mine with Dave, not on it.

For more D in the A to Z Challenge, click here.

Next Time: E Equals Evil Empire

Hall & Oates Chariots of Fire Parody SCTV

Earlier Today I posted my C film for this month A to Z challenge.  This clip from SCTV always makes me laugh.       I hope you enjoy it.  

C is For Chariots of Fire

A to Z Challenge 2023

    A Month At The Movies

 

Hello and welcome back to A Month at the Movies,  my contribution to the A to Z challenge for 2023.

This year I am copying from a myriad of other a to z challengers by reprinting the same synopsis about my theme with every letter.  You can skip over this part if you want to.  

I love movies and have decided to share with you a movie each day that I have enjoyed to one degree or another.  With each entry, I'll give a brief synopsis of the film, share a positive and negative review from Rotten Tomatoes ( a website, I didn't use much at all until preparing for the challenge), discuss its resiliency (the theme of the A to Z challenge this year), and other tidbits like whether the film may appear in my top 100 film list, which I have been revamping this year. I think that's enough in the way of introduction, considering you'll be reading it (hopefully) 23 more times this month. 

Film: Chariots of Fire (1981)

Director: Hugh Hudson

 

Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

I found out recently that the Chariots of Fire orchid is a hybrid.  The film Chariots of Fire is a hybrid of sorts as well.  Part biography, part sports movie.  It is also not one but two bio-pics grown together.  Eric Liddle and Harold Abrahams.  They may be competitors under the same flag in the Olympics, but I do not feel they needed to compete for screen time.  Each character's story was given enough time to blossom. 

Liddle is a man called by God whose Olympic ambitions and his dedication to God's plans are sometimes running in opposition. Abrahams is the son of a Lithuanian Jew who runs to overcome the prejudice of post-WWI Britain.  

Positive Tomato: This is a beautiful, unhurried film that unfolds a vision of the past that reminds us there once existed a time of innocence and tradition.  Dann Gire - Daily Herald

Negative Tomato: Cross and Charleson are capable leads, which makes the screenwriter's refusal to focus their characters all the more aggravating. Michael Maza - Arizona Republic

Resiliency: There are many excellent moments of resiliency in this film.  I have decided to show you one and tell you about another.

The first one takes place in the movie at a meet where Harold Abrahams sees Eric Little run for the first time.

  

 

The second resiliency moment I'd like to document happens in the aftermath of a race where Little has just beaten Abrahams.  

After the race, Abrahams is disappointed and is sitting in the stands unable to be consoled by his girlfriend.  He finally says to her, If I can't win, I won't race.  She replies back, If you won't race, you can't win.  

I love the symmetry of that moment and how it ties into what Abrahams witnessed Little do in the previous scene. He got up and finished the race.  

Top 100:  Chariots of Fire is one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. In 2011 when I posted my top 10 here it was in 5th place.  In 2017 when I made my top 100 list it had moved past Casablanca into 4th place.  When I finish revising the list later this year (hopefully) It should still be 4th or 5th.  

A to Z Connections: This is the second sports movie on the list so far.  The first one of course was yesterday's Breaking Away.  The star of Breaking Away, Dennis Christopher portrays an American Olympic runner in Chariots of Fire. 

Picture and Quote:

I believe God made me for a purpose, for China,but he

                                        also made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.

For more of the letter C in the A to Z challenge, click here.

I will be posting a special A to Z Chariots of Fire theme Easter Egg a little bit later in the day.

Next Time: D is for Doppelganger