Blog/Random Thoughts

My blog and random thoughts published for all to see.

Best Westerns

large_3376545146There’s something so compelling about the characters of the ol’ west, rough around the edges and looking for—or thrust into–adventure. Whether they be shoot ‘em up flicks or revisionist in nature, a good western flick can draw a crowd like no other. Here are our top picks for the best westerns of all time.

1) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

A western flick about bank robbers would be nothing without a dynamic duo, and that’s exactly what Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid delivers. The flick follows Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman), the brains of the operation, and the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford), the fastest gunman in the west, as they make their escape from the feds in America to the border of Bolivia.

2) Unforgiven (1992)

What makes this Clint Eastwood revisionist western great is that it blurs the traditional lines between the good guys and the bad guys in the wild west. Eastwood portrays the haggard William Munny, a retired outlaw who takes on one last job, but must compete with bounty hunters to ultimately win the money.

3) The Searchers (1956)

If you want to see John Wayne in one of the best performances of his career, look no further than his portrayal of Ethan Edwards in The Searchers. After his brother’s family is slaughtered in a Comanche raid, Edwards, an American Civil War vet, sets out to find the one surviving member of the family, his kidnapped niece. The film takes a painstaking turn when he arrives to find said niece has assimilated to the culture. In 2008, this John Ford-film earned the distinction of the best American western of all time by The American Film Institute.

4) The Magnificent Seven (1960)

A band of gunfighters is a trope in western flicks, but few can achieve the iconic status that a film like The Magnificent Seven did. Based on the 1954 Japanese film Seven Samurai, this John Sturges’ film stars a strong cast of actors: Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Horst Buchholz, and Brad Dexter. What makes this film work in part is that each of their characters is drawn so well. The shoot ‘em up action doesn’t hurt, either.

5) High Noon (1952)

If there’s one lesson to be learned from this Frank Zinnemann classic, it’s that westerns can offer more than just action. In High Noon, we meet retired Marshall Will Kane (Gary Cooper), who’s about to skip town on a happily ever after with his new wife (Grace Kelly). Standing in his way is an escaped killer he once caught, so the movie focuses on Kane’s struggle to decide between leaving his violent past behind and fighting for what he knows is right.

It may be far from a traditional western, but Quentin Tarantino’s recent take on the genre, Django Unchained, is earning a lot of Oscar buzz. Sell old DVDs on musicMagpie and head out to the cinema.

Kerrin Allsop is a real film buff. She spends most evenings either watching film or talking about film.

photo credit: Ken Lund via photopin cc

Top 5 Must-see Martial Arts Movies

keanu-reeves-star-of-the-matrixThe influence of martial arts action sequences has been widespread over the years, not only in the entertainment industry, but also in the artfulness behind this popular style of fighting. Martial arts in films involves a number of fights between movie characters, as well as training sessions and other action scenes. Some movies focus primarily on the action, and others direct attention towards the larger plot and character development. These films offer a unique look into the art of the discipline, specifically how fast and precise movements might be delivered in a battle situation, sometimes with one man taking on many men at once. At the heart of each film is a strong, well-trained fighter who can control his emotions and apply the teachings of his instructor for the greater good of the world around him. There are a number of notable martial arts films that can educate and inspire practitioners of all levels. Here are five that are famous for their jaw-dropping fights and mesmerizing plots.

1. The Seventh Samurai

The first notable movie, The Seventh Samurai, was released in 1954 and directed by Akira Kurosawa. In this film, a veteran samurai recruits six other samurai to assist him in protecting a village that has fallen victim to bandit attacks. The samurais eventually end up in a battle with forty bandits who are attacking the village and must use their skills to fight them off.

2. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was another box-office hit that topped 100 million dollars upon its release in the United States. Directed by Ang Lee, the movie is actually based off of the fourth novel in a Chinese book series called the Crane Iron Pentalogy. The movie takes place in the early nineteenth century, as two warriors attempt to recover a 400-year-old sword that has been stolen by bandits. In the process, they meet a nobleman’s teenage daughter who has fallen upon troubled times. Not only is this movie action-packed, but it contains an intriguing, ever-growing plot.

3. The Chinese Connection

The Chinese Connection was directed in 1972 by Wei Lo and stars Bruce Lee, Nora Miao and James Tien. The main plot revolves around Chen Zhen, played by Bruce Lee, who returns to China only to discover that his teacher has been murdered. He soon becomes a victim of racism, and must use his martial arts skills to defend himself and solve the mystery of his teacher’s murder.

4. The Matrix

The next movie is noted as another top martial film even though it is not technically about martial arts. The Matrix involves a variety of martial arts fighting techniques as a man battles his overlords in a distorted reality. Although a more westernized version of martial arts, the movie’s intense action scenes were choreographed by martial arts experts.

5. Ip Man

Lastly, there is Ip Man, which is based on the true story of martial arts master Yip Man, who taught both Bruce Lee and Wing Chun.

There are a number of other martial arts movies that have become popular over the years, but some stick out more than others thanks to their unique plots, characters and action sequences. Ultimately, they prove that with hard work, dedication and the right attitude, the art of fighting can be breathtakingly exciting.

Featured images:

Learn martial arts and kickboxing in Gilbert, Arizona from the Valley’s leading taekwondo school, Sandoval Freestyle Karate Gilbert, where students are taught self-defense and listening skills.

Top Dancing Movies

singing-in-the-rain1This summer I replaced my old vinyl flooring for hard wood. The hardest part of the change was putting furniture back on that floor. The floor was calling to me, begging to serve its real purpose in life. Its siren call harassed me until I succumbed. I danced. I rejoiced in the movement, the grace and fluidity coursing from the floor through my body. Ah, to dance.

Dancing is a universal language of heartfelt sentiment. Whether we are the ones doing the dancing or simply watching the dancing, the feelings the dance arouses seem to engrain themselves on our collective memory.
Can you forget how you laughed to see Patrick Dempsey lead the entire high school in the African Anteater Mating Ritual Dance in “Can’t Buy Me Love.” What about when Patrick Swayze danced with Jennifer Grey and lifted her sky-high in “Dirty Dancing”– can you still see her pale pink dress flowing? And if a guy slides into a room wearing nothing but a dress shirt and gym socks? You know it: Tom Cruise dancing in “Risky Business”.
I happen to be a fan of dancing and dancing movies in general. So when I see a dancing film pop up on Netflix and I start wiggling in my seat, my husband groans and indulges me—he knows I have a passion for quirky, off-the-wall movies. That said, here are some movies that make me want to get up and start dancing.

Singing In The Rain—This oldie-but-goodie stars Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor as silent movie stars trying to adjust to the age of “talking films.” A classic Gene Kelly film, this movie is FULL of dancing, from the comedic stunts in “Make them Laugh” to the soft shoeing and jazz in “Broadway Rhythm”.

Shall We Dance?— I feel happy every time I see this 1996 Japanese film. Shohei Sugiyama is a middle aged Japanese businessman who feels caught in the rigid structure of his life. Bucking cultural norms, he decides to jump out on a limb and take a ballroom dance class. Skip the Richard Gere and J.Lo. re-make and see the original.

Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School— A grieving widower finds solace and a second chance at life when he attends a dancing lesson for a dying man. My screen saver is magenta in honor of this movie. Miss Hotchkiss teaches that dance can “exorcise demons, access deep seated emotions and color your life in joyous shades of brilliant magenta that you never knew existed.”

Need a little satire in your life? Pick “Strictly Ballroom”. This Aussie movie follows a young ballroom star with ambition to dance “outside the lines” of traditional ballroom steps. Add an overbearing mom, distant father, over-the-top dance partners and a shy girl, and you have an ugly duckling love story wrapped in a mockery of the prevalent ballroom culture. Now when I hear Cindi Lauper’s “Time After Time” or Doris Day’s “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” I can’t keep my feet from doing the Rhumba.

So pop up some corn this weekend and indulge in a dance flick. I won’t hold it against you if you start dancing in your seat. Be warned, “Dancing is a very powerful drug.” (Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School)

Erica Miller has taught Cooking and Exercise Classes for 12 years. She focuses her dancing passion by choreographing routines for her Zumba classes. Check out Erica’s exercise tips, healthy recipes and Zumba dances on her blog. 

5 Famous Hotels From Films

The Next Big Thing!

Attachment-1My fabulous fellow author, Berk Washburn asked if I’d like to take part in this fun blog chain called ‘THE NEXT BIG THING’. Thanks, Berk – I’m very flattered that you thought of me! It is designed to raise awareness of our work, or work in progress. We do that by answering ten questions about it. We then graciously thank the person who nominated us, and tag other authors whose work could well be that NEXT BIG THING.

Enjoy the answers that are particular to my novel, Dissension. It will be released on February 23. (Only another month! Yay!!!)

What is the working title of your next book?

Dissension, book 1 of the Blood Inheritance Trilogy
Where did the idea come from for the book?

Just my brain. I tend to wander off in my head and think of different scenarios. In this case, I thought of a vampire drinking blood while looking into the eyes of the man she loved, knowing he was repulsed by it. From there, it turned into a book that I had to turn into a trilogy, because my imagination just doesn’t know when to stop. 🙂
What genre does your book fall under?

It straddles over both paranormal romance and urban fantasy.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Michael Ealy would be awesome for Tafari’s character, though Tafari’s skin is several shades darker. I can’t think of who to play Leisha yet, but I can see Hayden Panettiere playing Rinwa. And Bryce Dallas Howard would make a very intimidating Annette.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Vampires and Immortals battle against each other to be the first to find the prophecy child.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

An agency: Jolly Fish Press (love working with these guys!)
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Two years, but I only dabbled with it at that point.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Anita Blake series meets The Bourne Identity meets The Dark Hunter series meets Ghost Walkers series.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I’ve always loved reading about vampires. I guess I live in my head so much that it was inevitable for me to make up my own myth of how vampires were created in the first place.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Leisha’s estranged husband is also her mortal enemy. As a vampire, will she be able to kill her immortal husband if they end up battling over the prophecy child?

I’d like to pass the torch to a deserving author, and let her tell you all about her work. I read her book and enjoyed it fully! It’s a different genre than mine, but it’s an easy read and very much worth picking up. 🙂 Her post will bear the same title and will be live shortly. Here she is: Rebecca Rode.