Thursday Movie Picks-Worst Book to Movie Adaptations

 

Oh, I bet you writers out there in the dark can have a field day today with this theme chosen by The Punk Theory. There are countless films based on books with many being good, entertaining and fun, a few being great and many that stank the high heaven. I hope you check out Wandering Through The Shelves to see what everyone else has chosen. Here are my 3 stinkaroos....

1. THE NOTEBOOK-2004

I might get some flack from this irritating romance but I can't help it.....this film sucks. The only redeeming quality of this film are the scenes with James Garner and Gena Rowlands who had chemistry and portrayed genuine love and affection for one another. The Garner character reads from Rowlands' notebook to her hoping she will register who she is and whom he is since she has Alzheimer's. We travel back in time to 2 young people who are attracted to one another but seem to fight, burp and fart around one another causing mayhem and irritation to this person watching this couple. Years pass, they kiss in the rain (oooh, that's original) before they burp, fart and fight knowing that they get under each others' skin like bedbugs but they can't be without one another....ok. You find out this irritating couple are the loving old souls...bulls&^! They would have divorced long ago or killed each other if I didn't go through the screen first to kill them. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams did become a couple for a while but the burp and fart split many moons ago. 

2. THE GREAT GATSBY-2013

The book is great and I don't mind the Robert Redford version although what he saw in Mia Farrow I have no idea. The remake stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan in an over the top monstrosity directed by Baz Luhrmann who just threw up color, glitter, camera tricks, modern shit and everything else to create a colossal bore of a flick. Tobey(Where is he?) Maguire is the narrator and eventual friend of the mysterious Gatsby played by Leo who has many parties (being the 1920s and all) before falling for the whispy Daisy. Who cares, this film dragged so much and was so long that I lost a third of my life watching this dredge.

3. 50 POUNDS OF SHIT..ER....50 SHADES OF SHIT..NOPE..WHO CARES-2015

I read a few parts of this horrible, horrible book while in Chapters and was laughing at the crap I was reading. Barbara Cartland must be turning over in her grave. The chick who wrote this dredge plus 50 Shits Darker and 50 Shits Freed (sounds like books for reasons why one needs a colonoscopy) is laughing all the way to bank. When there are so many great writers out there, what did she do to get these published and made into movies that so many went to see. Why? Why have so many gone to see the slop..no, I have not seen any of these flicks of bad taste. I don't care to see heavy breathing, butts, boobs and whatever else that a good porn will do. I would rather see "The Sheets of San Francisco" or "Ramb-ohhhh" (Yes those are real) than ever watch this dribble. 

So which Flicks would you choose? Battlefield Earth anyone??

Weekly Song Challenge

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle has a creative mind coming up with themes each week. So, without blabbing too much here are the 3 themes:

 

A Song With A Chess Piece In The Title

A Whistling Song

A Song With A Beverage In The Title

1. DANCING QUEEN BY ABBA-1976

Now, come on, of course I am picking ABBA and this song is very famous coming out when I was 12 yrs old loving this song from the start. I had heard S.O.S. before,not realizing it was from ABBA but this song made me fall in love with the group and I needed to hear all their songs. I even have ABBA’s Spanish 1980 album “Gracias Por La Música”, from 1980, with this song is on the album.

2.  FINNISH WHISTLER WHISTLED BY ROGER WHITTAKER- 1974

When I read this theme, my mind went to Roger whom my mom loved and was able to see, with my brother, back in 2007 or 2008. This song became a big hit in Finland when he was in the Eurovision contest. I learned about Eurovision last week from some other bloggers(Ms. Jingle, Cathy and Mr. One Hand Typing) so it was neat to find this. 

3. ONE BOURBON, ONE SCOTCH, ONE BEER SUNG BY GEORGE THOROGOOD-1977

I really like this man’s singing style as it brings the wild out in me...not with him as he is ...Er...not pretty.  I have his greatest hits and love listening to it. I don’t like any of these drinks to be honest, well, beer is ok but not a favourite of mine, but it is the song that came into my head. I had no idea that it is actually a song from 1953 written by Rudy Toombs who must have had a bad breakup with his gal when he wrote this.

Which 3 musical ditties can you think of?

Thursday Movie Picks-Best Original & Best Adapted Screenplay

 

Here is another biggie from the Oscar contenders which is writing. Let's face it, you can have the best actors and directors but, if the writing sucks, the movie will suck. Check out Wandering Through The Shelves to see what everyone else has chosen. Without further adieu, here are my 3 from each category with the first being Best Original Screenplay.

1. CITIZEN KANE WRITTEN BY ORSON WELLES AND HERMAN MANKIEWICZ-1941

Well, this is a sore point for Herman and Orson since each claimed they wrote most of it and has become so legendary that a recent film was made about this (Mank-2020). This is considered the best film ever made (despite people now saying it is The Godfather-not a fav of mine) and I have to give credit to this brilliant film even though it is not one of my personal favourites. This is a somewhat veiled portrait of the huge newspaper tycoon, William Randolph Hearst, who was so incensed by the film that he and Louis B Mayer tried to buy up the negatives to have it destroyed. The film is famous not only for the film itself but everything that happened backstage, as it were. Movies and documentaries have been made about this film and it is worth watching the film and then watching the documentaries about it. 

2. THE SEVENTH VEIL BY SYDNEY & MURIEL BOX-1945

When I saw this film as a young teen, I fell for the smoldering James Mason who plays a crippled musician who teaches, mercilessly, his second cousin, the meek but very gifted Francesca(played by Ann Todd). He does his all to make her great but at the cost of any romance with anyone. He berates her and, finally breaks her where she ends up in the psych ward. Yeah, he's a peach! This is well acted and James Mason is one of the few that could make an a-hole somewhat romantic because, wait for it, it is also a love story. Today, he would be thrown in jail, justifiably. I found out that Muriel Box was not only a gifted writer but a female director when they were very few female directors around.

3. THE PRODUCERS BY MEL BROOKS-1967

I love Mel Brooks who would probably not be able to get any film made today with all the political correctness out there. Not everyone likes Mel Brooks but I find him hilarious and this movie(which he later created into a Broadway musical winning many Tony's) shows him at one of his best. You have a con man, played by Zero Mostel, who bamboozles old, wealthy women of their money, to create stage shows by bamming them to happiness. Enter Gene Wilder, as a young tax auditor, who must never be away from his blanky. Soon the 2 are in cahoots to create such a bad show that it will close but they will make out like bandits. They find the perfect show in "Springtime For Hitler" which is all about poor misunderstood Adolph. It's absurd but you can't have it any other way.

Now onto Best-Adapted Screenplay...

1. LITTLE WOMEN BY SARAH Y. MASON & VICTOR HEERMAN-1933

One day, I will watch every film or TV remake of this classic novel, by Louisa May Alcott, so I can compare how each are. I have to admit, I do like this early sound film starring Katherine Hepburn as Jo who seems perfect for this character as the strong willed sister. You follow the lives of the 4 sisters but Jo is the star in every way. 

2. JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBERG BY ABBY MANN-1961

This film is based on Abby Mann's writing for a Playhouse 90 TV film (back when TV had some great shows on regular TV) which he based on the actual Nuremberg Trials. Of course there is some poetic licensing, but the brutality of these men (and women) against the Jewish people (as well as Germans who were Gay, mentally challenged or openly defied the Nazis)  really is shown in some graphic detail that was shocking back in the day (and even now). This film is intelligent and makes you question so much yet you are horrified at how many felt they were still in the right. It is truly worth watching.

3. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD BY HORTON FOOTE-1962

To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my all-time favourite books, written by Harper Lee and this film is one of my favourites. Horton Foote(love this name!) made a faithful adaptation of this book with an outstanding performance by Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch, a small town, widowed lawyer defending a black man accused of raping a white, trashy girl. You know the young man is innocent but when does that ever stop hate and bigotry? You view this film mostly through the eyes of his daughter, Scout, who questions everything and brings hope and love to those who need it, like Boo Radley. I have spoken about this film before but I had to include it here (just like I had to include Kane). Read the book...watch the film. 

Which films do you love for their writing?

Weekly Song Challenge

 

Happy Birthday...to me! I am officially 57 and I share a birthday with the Marquis De Sade and Johnny Weissmuller (Me, Tarzan). What a great way to share my birthday than with some songs and with my 3 favourite song topics that Jingle, Jangle Jungle has chosen. 

TV THEME SONG

SONG USED IN A MOVIE

SONG FROM A BROADWAY MUSICAL

1. I DREAM OF JEANIE BY HUGO MONTENEGRO & BUDDY KAYE-1965

I love Bewitched which is strange to say this first but the reason I didn't choose Bewitched is because I already wrote about the show earlier this year so I went with this snappy theme song. The TV show is about an astronaut, stranded on an island who finds a lamp, rubs it and out pops Barbara Eden sans showing her belly button. She becomes his "slave" er, saviour, um...girlfriend....later wife who gets him and his buddy into all sorts of trouble but also bails them out of it. It is not as clever as Bewitched nor as sophisticated but I love the theme song which I always wished, like the Bewitched song, to be able to dance to it a la ballroom dancing. 

2. MOON RIVER SUNG BY AUDREY HEPBURN-1961

This song was written by Henry Mancini, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, with Audrey Hepburn in mind. The studio wanted to cut the song with Audrey stating clearly "Over her dead body"(with maybe some other colourful words in there). Thankfully, the execs lost and this song became famous winning Grammys and becoming the tune for Andy Williams. When I watched Breakfast at Tiffany's, I found this song enchanting and believable.

3. YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE BY ROGERS & HAMMERSTEIN-1945

This song originated from the Broadway show, "Carousel" which was later made into a film starring Shirley Jones and Gordon MacCrea about a young, innocent girl who falls in love with an angry, good for nothing carousel barker. This song is sung when all seems hopeless and it is one of the most inspiring songs ever composed. I ended up going with one of my favs, Andre Rieu and his orchestra but so many have sung this song that the list seems endless from Josh Grobin, The Celtic Women to Andrea Bocelli and Renee Fleming. Sometimes, when times are low, we need to hear this song.

What comes to your mind?

Finally...A Bit Creative

 

Color Throwdown- Yellow, Black, Grey, White-ctd644

Simon Says- Anything Goes

Addicted To Stamps-Markers

Cute Card Thursdays-Anything Goes (Critters theme)

I bought this stamp with my best friend in mind because she loves Giraffes. I have some distress sprays and had some fun spraying the white paper with grey, yellow and silver. I attached it to white cardstock and then stamped the giraffe in black ink and stamped the saying in grey. I coloured the giraffe in a yellow marker. And added the glitter using my stickles.

Animal Friends- Bear

CHNC- Bear

Retro Rubber- Anything Goes-rrcb159

CCAYR-Something that starts with I and/or J-I chose Joy 

I love my dancing bears which I bought, maybe 20 yrs ago. They are the Fred & Ginger of my stamps:). I stamped the bears 3 times, once with white embossing powder and the others in black sparkle. I goofed a little with the black one but the white around the bears looks like snow. I layered it on silver cardstock that I dry embossed using my cuddlebug before layering it on black and white cardstock. I mounted the bears on foam tape to add dimension plus sparkled up the white bears. I finally stamped the saying and snowflakes in black and heat embossed it all with black sparkle. I love my bears!

Finally got a couple done which I'm glad about.

Thursday Movie Picks: TV Edition- Globetrotting but no Reality or Documentary Travel Shows

 

It’s Tv time again and it’s the end of May! Is it just me or does time seem irrelevant right now??  I just celebrated hubby’s birthday and played the Beatles song for him, “When I’m 64”. He laughed and had a great birthday. I have 7 birthdays in May so it has been a busy month. Now, Wandering Through The Shelves has picked a tough one since it’s about travel but no “Reality” shows. I had a mental block until I thought jiggly and T & A...the 1970s! Here are my 3....

1.  FANTASY ISLAND-1977-1984

Za Plane! Za Plane! Good ole Herve climbed the stairs to ring that bell that the plane was coming with passengers eager to embark on their fantasy. The  mysterious Mr. Roarke(played by the elegant Ricardo Montalban) would have Tattoo beside him and the gals and guys eager to help the passengers off the plane. Mr. Roarke would greet them with champagne and welcome them to Fantasy Island. Some of the fantasies involved time travel while others trekked through jungles, deserts or towns. Their fantasies never ended the way the guests thought it would end but they felt richer for it. Some fantasies were dramas but others were comical. . Charo, Florence Henderson, Barbi Benton were some who often came to the island but you also had some famous old stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood make an appearance like Lew Ayres, Ralph Bellamy and Yvonne DeCarlo. I watched this every week and enjoyed  it even though T & A would pop up after every commercial break (usually bikini bods running).

2.  THE LOVE BOAT-1977-1987

I had no idea this show was on for 10 seasons and I would love to watch these shows all over again. The show took place on a cruise ship headed by Captain Stubing, played by Gavin McLeod. You had the Cruise Director, Julie; the Purcer, Gopher; The Doctor, Doc and the Bartender, Isaac. They all had their own unique personalities with the Doctor playing a lech but still a nice guy, Isaac the Bartender being very cool especially with that moustache, the cruise director being sweet( until she left the ship for love but, in reality the actress, Lauren Tewes had a major coke habit and had to go), and Gopher being, well Gopher. You had guests come board, usually there were 3 story lines, one or 2 comical and the other more drama oriented. Florence Henderson appeared the most times on this show as well as Charo. The Love Boat was known to get some great film stars from the Golden Age like Ginger Rogers, Don Ameche and even Greer Garson! This is the first show to actually film in China! Yes...this show!! I remember watching this episode seeing the actors at the Great Wall Of China but they also traveled to Australia and other places than just Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco. Oh, after commercial break, the camera always zoomed on some gals tatas or ass as they got out of the pool and walked to the main characters.

3. FLYING HIGH-1978-1979

I actually watched this jiggle show where 3 very attractive stewardesses travelled getting into all sorts of antics. They would often spar, in a nice way, with the bumbling captain( yikes...he steered the plane!) while dealing with their passengers and their complicated romantic lives. The biggest star is the beautiful Connie Selleca but it was not that great a show. I watched it because they travelled around although mainly in the States. Again, just like Charlie's Angels, these women were friends with various IQs and bra sizes. 

Which 3 come to your mind? Oh, since I am an SCTV fan, I can't help myself...

By the way, 30 years ago today I was hired as a Credit Counsellor!

Weekly Song Challenge

 

Last week was tough to be honest especially with the red haired kid Ed. Jingle, Jangle, Jungle Has created a fun weekly challenge all about music. You pick a song that fits each theme which I always try to choose a song that pops into my head right away. Here are the 3 themes:

A SONG WITH "ROOM" OR A TYPE OF ROOM IN THE TITLE

A SONG THAT MENTIONS A TYPE OF GEM IN THE TITLE

A SONG WITH A HARMONY

1. IN THE HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING BY EDVARD GRIEG-1875

This piece was composed as instrumental music for Henry Ibson's play Peer Gynt. I heard this piece was I was, maybe, 6 years old and loved it from that moment so, of course, this is what popped into my little head because it has a Hall which, to me, is a room.

2. DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND SUNG BY MARILYN MONROE- FOR 1953 FILM

This song actually comes from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with the original musical done on Broadway in 1949. The song was by Jules Styne (music) and Leo Robin(Lyrics) and sung by the famous Carol Channing who created the role of Lorelei Lee but most people now remember this famous song sung by Monroe. It is an iconic tune that has been redone many times as well as the costumes and choreography  like Madonna's "Material Girl."

3. GET HAPPY/HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN SUNG BY GARLAND & STREISAND-1963

A few years back, PBS decided to run the entire season (there was only one) of "The Judy Garland Show". I was so happy to finally see all the episodes which showcased Judy at her best, indifferent and most heartbreaking. She gave a stirring rendition of  "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" as a tribute to JFK who was assassinated a few days before. The Network and everyone around her pleaded for her not to do it but she wouldn't budge since she knew JFK and thought of him as a friend. The Get Happy number was written by Harold Arlen(music) and Ted Koehler(lyrics) in 1930 and made famous(again) by Garland in her 1950 film, "Summer Stock." "Happy Days Are Here Again" was written in 1929 by Milton Ager(music) and Jack Yellen(lyrics) and has been used for FDR's election campaign. Streisand made her version famous and this duet is one of the best harmonies of 2 powerhouse vocals. 

So...what music popped into your head?