http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.ca/2013/05/bestworst-movie-remakes-blogfest-ninja.html
I was really thinking about this since the great Alex promoted this event. I had some true time since I have been ill for a month which sucks big time and has prevented me from doing much on my blog. Now I was thinking about The Day The Earth Stood Still, War of the Worlds, Dracula, All Quiet on the Western Front and even It's a Wonderful Life(yup a TV remake with Marlo Thomas-sucked). I decided to do 1 film that had both Best and worst because it was remade twice barring all the other rip offs inbetween. I chose King Kong! That mighty ape and no I am not talking about the Toronto mayor who just this morning is in the news apparantly having fun with a drug bong but that mighty ape who dies at the end(oops spoiler alert but then if you haven't seen it you have been living under a shoe somewhere).
The first film was made in 1933 starring the wonderfully screaming Fay Wray. I love this film and, even though I don't believe it was the intention to bring a lot of pathos for the ape, one falls under his spell and you really route for him and wish he was never taken off the island. Now they used Kong in many other films even King Kong vs Godzille which I am proud to say I have seen but they decided to remake it in 1976 with Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange. It grossed alot of money and was even up for some Oscars but this movie sucks. I am sorry but it was too campy and just plain awful in my books and beating one over the head with how bad humans are to the sweet misunderstood ape. It is weird as well that they chose the World Trade Centre and sad in some ways now to see this considering what happened but still-I wanted Jeff Bridges character to get killed to just shut him up. Thank God Jessica Lange decided to get more acting lessons.
The best remake is King Kong in 2005. I love this movie and Peter Jackson played homage to the 1933 film and still made it beautifully. The acting and special effects are great and it brings great acting including thr ape(Mr Sirkis you are amazing). I can't say more about this film-Just fab. So this is my pick. I do not have best and worst for songs because even though I have heard originals and the remakes of many I can't recall the names or the bands as I suck at that. So enjoy your day and I will too with the long weekend now looming:)
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/03/simon-says-anything-goes.html -Anything Goes
http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.ca/2013/03/flutter-by-wednesday-233.html-Use Blue, green and Yellow
http://alphabetchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/2013/03/d-for-daffodils.html -D for Daffodils
http://365cards.blogspot.ca/2013/03/day-90-super-sketchy-sunday.html - Sketch
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/03/challenge-89-mail-it.html - Mail It
I can't believe it...2 posts in 1 day but my last post, my Christmas cards, I missed the boat on a lot of the posts. This is why I am a little daffy and the daffodil is perfect. I entered again with Simon Says and FBW..I hope that is OK. I have not done the 365 Day cards for a while but am glad to have been able to enter...I think I goofed on the sketch though but I hope it still works as I was going by memory:). I also incorporated a little stamp image as this card is going to our neighbour who gave us some nice daffodils. I used my cuddlebug, embossed the daffodils and coloured them with tombow markers and added the saying and butterfly.
http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.ca/2013/03/march-challenge.html -Sparkle and Shine
http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/03/f-for-felt-or-fabric.html -Felt or Fabric
I always seem to join CCAYR at the last minute and I know it is moi procrastinating. I love the site and their challenges and this was right up my alley as it was sparkle and shine and I LOVE sparkle. I must have been a magpie in my previous life. I actually stuck to white and a light blue. There was a challenge from another site with a picture and it had those colours but I was way too late to enter in it but still love the colours so I stuck with it. I used the cuddlebug for the ornament cut out and silver stickles and a gem for the centre on the first card. The 2nd card was for the Sparkles Christmas challenge but I was a day late in entering it. One had to use 3 flowers, 2 gems and one stamp. There was another challenge to use ribbons and bows...yup missed that one to ( 52 Christmas card throwdown). I re-stamped the flower image twice and built up the flowers. The 3rd card, was from the ornament cutout and I stamped the village scene, coloured it with prismo pencils and glitter all the snow(hard to see on this pic). The 4th card-Yahoo I did not miss this one -One has to use felt or fabric-I used this sheer shimmer fabric to cover the whole card and then a big ribbon to the side. I added the "Season's Greetings" and snowflakes stickers. The last card-I used the cuddlebug and sparkled up the ornaments and added the ribbon on the top and bottom. Voila! Happy Easter. I got a beautiful card from my hubby and chocolates. Choclates are now safe and sound in my stomach...mmmmm chocolate.
You say Movies/film and I am there. It is hard to countdown to just 10 but here is my list:
10. Sunset Boulevard-Gloria Swanson at her grand dame best and a scathing telling on silent cinema where so much in the film actually rings true. For all die hard fans that know Buster Keaton and Anna Q Nielson are playing cards and were once huge stars.
9. All About Eve-Fasten Your Seatbelts...It's Betty Davis full of sharp tongued greatness. Never forget the great George Sanders who decided to commit suicide cos he was bored.
8. Fantasia-Drugged out or not-Great artistic genius meeting up with superb music-doesn't get better than that.
7. Top Hat or any Fred Astair/Ginger Rogers Musical-I don;t give a rats ass if you are not a musical fan-These are just great-same storyline and often same character actors but the dancing and singing can never be found again. Thank god for film
6. Trains, Planes and Automobiles-OK so people may bitch that it is not artistic enough blah blah blah but what a great cast and music and I always laugh out loud at the motel scene in the morning ("those aren't pillows!")
5. Singing In The Rain- Superb satire on the silent cinema and when it transitions to sound. The story is great and actually accurate, the cast is great, dancing is great and every man just loved Cyd Charisse's legs
4. The Quiet Man-The great John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara-The irish land and tales and customs and the best damm fight scene-I'd give anything to be kicked in the ass with love the way John Wayne did to Maureen-true love with great fun
3. the Searchers-Amazing Western! I love Western and the scene near the beginning when john Wayne sees his brother's place on fire-well his look is heart wrenching. Look for Jeffrey hunter (AKA Christopher Pike of Star Trek fame) in a key role along side the Great Duke
2. LOTR-Trilogy-OK This is so great and profound and moving-I can not say more about these group of films-Love it!
1. It's A Wonderful Life- My Fav-Jimmy Stewart-Always played at Christmas and people may be sick of it like the Mona Lisa but the beauty of this film transcends time and makes me cry each time I see it.
Well there is my list-I missed out on the Third Man and all the Hitchcock films-there are so many I love and could add and replace some here but this it is for now:)
