Kyra Dawson ~ Eclectic Writer & Hopeful Philosopher Who Loves Movies, Reading & Exploring All Things Creative & Entertaining! “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” ~ Goethe
As you know, Angelina Jolie is slated to play the ill fated Queen of the Nile, Cleopatra,
Angelina Jolie
lover to both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, and an iconic figure both in history and in cinema. However, if Angelina Jolie wasn’t going to be Cleopatra, which of the following actresses would you choose to play the legendary role?
Celebration of Light Grand Finale Fireworks_photo credit Tom Wiebe on Flickr_via Miss 604 dot com!
while listening to beautiful music, (this happens to be one of my most favorite pieces of music and one of my most favorite movies, A.I. . This was part of Spain’s music for the fireworks display. Click on the music link above to hear another favorite piece of music of mine that was also part of the display! And yes, you have seen the movie that made this piece of music famous — again. Nice pick for trailer music!)
suffered through a heat wave (we’re still suffering by the way!)
Said the Youngling to Me_Hey Mom we are roasting like a couple of chickens right?
— and let me tell you, Vancouver could be renamed Hades if it wasn’t so much fun — and visited the many spray and splash parks in Vancouver.
and tried to enjoy the now and quiet my busy, frazzled mind.
This is not a good look.
And now I am back.
Happiness is writing and it is who I am.
I hope you had a wonderful time while I was away, and if you haven’t manged to take a break, try and take one — even if it is a wee one — I know you deserve it!
“Release the Kraken!” Oh, how I love it when Zeus says that. And yes, I have been accused of geekeryevery now and again, but believe me, there are far worse vices than love of mythology.
The Clash of the Titans reboot starring Sam Worthington as demigod Perseus, Liam Neeson as the mighty, philandering Zeus himself, Ralph“I love to play villains like Voldemort etc…”Fiennes as crusty old Hades, and last but not least, the gorgeous Gemma Arterton of Bond Girl fame as Io.
Blast from the past_Clash of the Titans 1981
I thoroughly enjoy men in skirts, and my DVD collection just would not be complete without the new and improved version of Clash of the Titans. I will place it right next to my old 1981 version. And for the record, I really enjoyed the remake. I thought it was slick and dazzling in all the right places. Despite the many nay sayers who liked to say, “BOO!”, I recommend it. You’ll learn a little about mythology if nothing else. And of course you’ll get to replay that line by Zeus, “Release the Kraken!” as many times as you want! Come on, admit it. You secretly love that line! I know I do!
Clash of the Titans is available practically everywhere today. Are you going to get a copy? Well, get Kraken!
*DISCLAIMER!! There are a lot of great links here posted for your entertainment. The Scribe’s Desk is not responsible for any boggling of the brain that may occur! Click and enjoy at your own risk.Please click responsibly!*
Tom Hardy as Eames in Inception is sitting pretty in Hollywood too!
Now, we all know that Leonardo DiCaprio has a home run with Inception, and was there ever any question? (But will it beat Avatar…..) Anyhoo, Leo D. is easily recognizable, as is Ellen Page — I mean after Juno, no one could utter the name Diablo Cody without the name Ellen Page being uttered within the same breath — and so is Joseph Gordon-Levitt (remember him on 3rd Rock from the Sun? Loved that show!) and Ken Watanabe (awesome in Memoirs of a Geisha and The Last Samurai, just to name a few). But let me ask you this, do you recognize Tom Hardy?
Well, if you’re like me, you may have had a little brain tickle when you saw his face, and his oddly intriguing, and endearing, slightly crooked of tooth grin. (When Winona Ryder rocked the overlapping front tooth, the masses called it a snaggle tooth. The media can be so mean to women. I, for one, loved her snaggle tooth! Believe me, I’ve seen snaggle teeth, and they aren’t cute like that…anyway, I digress…) You may even have sighed. But do you remember him? For about 30 seconds, my brain flipped quickly through my rolla-dex of men I’ve seen on screen before, and voila! Search villain category….have you guessed it yet? Being the smart and savvy readers that you are, of course you have.
Here is a Villain Extraordinaire I actually thoroughly enjoy remembering. He’s left an indelible mark on my mind for some reason. Is it Freudian or Jungian or some such? I have no clue, but I’m sure there is a reason Tom Hardy as this particular villain left such an impression on me. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed Tom Hardy as Shinzon in Star Trek: Nemesis.
Shinzon_Tom Hardy in Star Trek Nemesis_What a villain!
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I cut my own teeth on Star Trek….I’ve seen them all!
Blink and you’ll miss it, but here is Tom Hardy as snide Raumont in Marie Antoinette, directed by Sofia Coppola and a brilliant movie I might add! A must see!
Tom Hardy as Raumont in Marie Antoinette_The dandy on the right!
I told ya I seriously went to my rolla-dex on this one! It was hard to look away from Gerard Butler, Idris Elba and Thandie Newton in this movie, but I’ve got an eye! Here’s Tom Hardy as Handsome Bob playin’ it to the hilt in Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla.
Tom Hardy as Handsome Bob in RocknRolla sure is handsome!
And of course, I have to mention his role in Inception. What do you think of him as Eames?
Tom Hardy as Eames in Inception_Move over Joseph!
What is your favorite Tom Hardy role? Well, I think you may know mine. The next movie I’m excited to see him in is Warrior, and let’s not forget Mad Max, of course. What side of Tom Hardy will we see next I wonder? Whatever side it is, I’m sure we’ll be entertained. (Did you think I was going to say his good side? )
According to this graph posted by Cesar Kuriyama, it’s going downhill. Yikes! I like M. Night Shyamalan movies. I’m a fan. But even I must admit I wasn’t too keen on the Lady in the Water flick. Sorry M.
Ouch!
I want to see The Last Airbender. I’m hopeful. I want to like it. I tend to stay away from reviews until I see any movie. That way I can draw my own conclusions and go into the movie without any predestined judgement. I guess I’ll have to make a point of seeing some of Mr. Shyamalan’s movies I haven’t seen yet before I can comment honestly on which direction his career is headed. At least he’s making movies, though. That’s pretty cool!
What do you think of M. Night Shyamalan’s cinematic groove? Uphill? Downhill? Plateaued? Do you agree with this graph? Let me know what you think!
Who do you think should play Wonder Woman? We have a bevy of actresses to choose from. Cast your vote here and tell us here in the comments section at The Scribe’s Desk why you want to see that actress as Wonder Woman! I hear that Beyonce’s name has been mentioned. Wow! Now that would be something!
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis
Megan Fox
Megan Fox
Zooey Deschanel
Zooey Deschanel
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart
Can you guess who my Youngling thinks should play Wonder Woman? Want a hint? She’s not a choice on this poll!
You know how they say the Universe conspires to bring you the things you desire? (The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho) I believe this to be true. (My Youngling is the most precious and beloved gift I have ever wished for and received.)
I believe that family may agree to disagree, love you flaws and all, and be your biggest fans and supporters. Family believes in you even when you don’t believe in yourself, and are there to pick you up off the cobblestones when you can’t walk anymore. (Did I ever tell my sisters just how fabulous they really are? What would I ever do without you? You, dear sisters, have been my rock and know my heart best.)
I also believe that true and dear friends (who I also consider my family) come into your life to help you grow and broaden your horizons. They perform unexpected acts of service that come from the heart with no desire or expectation for recompense. They may even help you to sprout wings you didn’t know you had and fly. (Thank you friends for being the extended family I always hoped for but never dared to dream I could have.) They also share great books with you. (Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and Connected Parenting by Jennifer Kolari)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I also believe that there are people who touch your life only briefly but have profound meaning and messages to share. Today someone I will always remember, though I may never see them again said something to me that changed my life. (In regards to how my Youngling feels about me: “You are the love of her life.” Thank you for that, because I never thought of it that way. You are an amazing teacher.)
I believe I have been truly, truly blessed and fortunate in my life. So today I wanted to share one of my favorite quotes with you, dear reader. A quote from one of the people on the list of things I believe in. May it be as profound for you as it was for me, and make as much of a difference for you in your journey as it has made for me today.
“Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
I believe that today was truly a wonderful day. What do you believe in?
My earliest Russell Crowe sighting was in The Quick & the Dead. This movie was back in the day when Sharon Stone was a HUGE star. Sharon Stone was fairly fresh off Basic Instinct (if you can call 3 years fresh in Hollywood) and she was still pretty popular. Anyway, she was the headliner in this flick that starred old goodies like Gene Hackman, and young faces like Leonardo DiCaprio (boy, did he look young and fresh faced. He looked like such a wee babe!).
Now keep your eyes peeled…wait for it….and there! My first Russell Crowe sighting ever!
Russell Crowe as Cort in The Quick and the Dead
Russell Crowe played Cort, a reverend who used to be one of Herod’s henchman who Herod (played by Gene Hackman) forces to enter into the quick draw competition. I saw this movie in the theater, and back in the day, I would have darn near forgot that Russell Crowe was even on screen if it hadn’t been for the fact that he had a story line! I was a teen and hence I only had eyes for Leo D. (BTW, I love any excuse to use the word hence!) Isn’t it funny? When you’re young it’s all about looks. When you’re old(er), it’s all about substance. What does that say about me? Yeah!
Anyhoo, just 5 years later, RC would go on to win an Oscar. Amazing how quickly things can change. Who would have thought he would have been an Oscar winner? I know I never did. But as I said before, things have certainly changed. Now that I am a woman of substance, I only have eyes for Russell Crowe (unless he’s acting with Leo D. Then I have to split screen time evenly because they are both so stellar in the talent department.) because: a) he has amazing mad talent, and b) Virtuosity was easy on the eyes. (I have substance, really!) Many of RC’s movies are on my Favorite Movie List. Truth be told, he’s one of my favorite actors. I am so not hearing the buzz that he is not as strong a box office buzz as he used to be, and YES I loved Robin Hood!
Russell Crowe has some of the best movie quotes of all time. Here’s a few you might be familiar with. Can you guess which movies these quotes are from?
“Are you not entertained?”
“Rise and rise again until lambs become lions.”
“There’s a click before the strike. Listen to the clock.”
“What we do in life echoes in eternity.”
“I have to believe that when things are bad I can change them.”
“Strength and honor.”
“At my signal, unleash hell.”
“There has to be a mathematical explanation for how bad that tie is.”
“Just because I’m carrying the joy of killing your family inside me doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”
Can you guess which Russell Crowe movie is my favorite movie to date? Can you tell which quote is from the movie I’m stoked to see? Which 2 quotes are from movies he was in before he was the famous Russell Crowe we know and love today? One of those movies I just watched last weekend and I will be posting about it tomorrow. Can you guess them all? Leave your answers in the comment section! The person with the most correct answers will win a guest post on The Scribe’s Desk!
Is anyone else saying, “Yay!”? Well, I remember the old Robin Hood (yikes! that was many moons ago!). You know the one with Kevin Costner and that catchy Bryan Adams song. (Loved that song! So did everyone else who got married that year.) Even though I loved that film, not everybody else did. In fact, in some circles, Kevin Costner was panned for everything from his hood to his higgledy piggledy English accent. Unfortunately, his credibility as a top box office draw went into decline with Waterworld and The Postman. No Dances with Wolves either of them, though The Postman was waaay better than Waterworld. Sorry, KC.
Kevin Costner in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves 1991
I also remember thinking KC’s version of the man in tights (remember that spoof flick with Carey Elwes, Robin Hood Men In Tights? LOL’s!) was really good. I mean, what was there not to love? You had Robin of the Hood himself, his merry men and a love story between Robin Hood and the fabled Maid Marian. It was a movie about the complicated relationships we have with the people in our lives, and how events in our lives can lead to one defining moment. It had a killer soundtrack (I still like to write to that score), and great actors, and more than a few good laughs. It was a movie about bravery, courage, sacrifice, swashbuckling action, fable, myth and lore. You got some back story on how Robert Locksley became champion of the poor — which was very intriguing because Robin Hood’sorigins were shrouded in mystery. Even now there is intense scrutiny as to whether or not Robin Hood actually existed. The movie spawned a whole bevy of documentaries about Who really was Robin Hood? Those docs spoke of an actual real Robert of Locksley and pointed to the fact that the bandit of Sherwood Forest could in actual fact be real. For me, a history buff, it just didn’t get any better than that. AND, Costner’s Robin Hood movie was romantic! I was 15 and I still existed in a dreamy fog where love conquers all.
Cary Elwes in Robin Hood Men in Tights 1993
Yet even back then in the tenderness of my youth, I felt that there was something missing. There was a part of me that I am only familiar with now that wanted more. How can I not get more when my dream cast is in this reboot of Robin Hood? I get some serious shivers of thrilled delight and anticipation at the thought of watching the synergy these talented people will create on screen! I believe Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe and
Cate Blanchett as Marion Loxley in Robin Hood
Cate Blanchett (everything she touches turns to gold!) will give me the rush and satisfaction I’ve been yearning for in a Robin Hood movie. Why do I have faith? Let’s just say it’s because Gladiator fit the bill for me in every way, which is another Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe collaboration. Was I not entertained? Oh, hell yes! Gladiator was gritty and honest and fierce, even excruciating at times, so I am hopeful for the same experience with this version of Robin of the Hood. I couldn’t define what I wanted when I was a kid, but I can definitely give voice to it now. History was a brutal place, humans fought hard for the civility we have now. When I step into my time machine and go to the movies, I want some truth in my epic historical fantasy depictions. I want to see the struggle, feel the pain and endure the sacrifice. I want to taste the triumph and revel in the glory. I want to feel like I was there. If we’re going to do a movie about rising up against tyranny, and the oppressed fighting for justice and equality, let’s do it then. Will I get what I’m looking for in this version? If I was a betting woman, I’d bet that this movie will be a kick a**Robin Hood flick! Not to say, however, that KC’s version doesn’t still hold a very fond place in my heart.
Anyhoo, that is my essay on my excitement to see Robin Hood. And to prove my point that there is still an intense interest in just who was this hooded hero?, History TV is airing a 2 hour documentary exploring the Robin Hood legend. Case closed. Robin Hood rocks. Can’t wait to see Russell Crowe’s Robin Hood break outthat famous bow! Long live the outlaw! This is your Brighter Scribe signing off to watch the History Channel!
~”Rise and rise again until lambs become lions.” ~ Russell Crowe in Robin Hood
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