...and finally, Z is for....

"This is the best love theme I've ever written, I keep telling everyone this is a romantic comedy, but nobody believes me." - [on Hannibal (2001)]

-Hans Zimmer

...Zimmer, Hans Zimmer.  This is what my final A-Z Challenge post will focus on.  I unloaded a TON of videos...have fun!  They are some of my favorites from the most talented composer.

(And yes, I am a heavy "film score" listener...I could play the musical score to the several Harry Potter films ALL DAY... ;)

"German-born composer Hans Zimmer is recognized as one of Hollywood's most innovative musical talents, having first enjoyed success in the world of pop music as a member of The Buggles. The group's single Video Killed the Radio Star became a worldwide hit and helped usher in a new era of global entertainment as the first music video to be aired on MTV."

(I just learned something new!)

IMDb

Hans and the "Gladiator"....

(2000)

Lisa Gerrard, an amazing vocalist, teamed up with Zimmer to create some of the prettiest music around.  This song was used for the following trailer...(goosebumps, Every. Single. Time I watch it!)

"Man of Steel"
2013

"Zimmer also composed the score for The Dark Knight Rises, the final installment of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy. The film was released in July 2012.  Zimmer described himself as "devastated" in the aftermath of the 2012 Aurora shooting, which occurred at a screening of The Dark Knight Rises, commenting "I just feel so incredibly sad for these people." He recorded a track entitled "Aurora", a choral arrangement of a theme from the Dark Knight Rises soundtrack, to raise money for the victims of the shooting."-Wikipedia

It totally helps that all of the movies he has worked are some of, (what I consider), the most epic films ever...

"Inception"

(2010)

Zimmer did not compose the score, but produced the soundtrack album...-Wiki

...for one of my all time favorite films,

 "White Squall".

(1996)

I hope you found something pleasing to the ears in this post.  

Good luck, all you A-Z'ers, on your final post in this challenge!

Take care,

U is for...

...Unstoppable, the movie!

(which I am watching right now)

From IMDb: "With an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train barreling toward a city, a veteran engineer and a young conductor race against the clock to prevent a catastrophe."

The only thing super quirky about this film is the animal like roaring sound coming from the runaway freight train... It's a suspenseful action movie about trains...I guess they needed the added roar to maximize effect... ;)

Rotten Tomatoes: In this action thriller from director Tony Scott, rookie train operator Will (Chris Pine) and grizzled veteran engineer Frank (Denzel Washington) learn that a runaway locomotive carrying carloads of dangerous chemicals is headed for Will's small Pennsylvania hometown, where his wife and child live. In order to save the day, they must figure out how to catch up to the rogue engine, and stop it before harm comes to the town. Standing in their way is Galvin (Kevin Dunn), the head of the company who is more interested in saving the stock price than lives. On the plus side, the duo have competent corporate employee Connie (Rosario Dawson) on the radio, talking them through their various attempts to corral and then stop the potentially lethal locomotive. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi



It's an interesting plot.  Not something I would consider "overly done".  The only reason I would watch it more than once however...

...is because this man below stars in the film...

Who doesn't absolutely adore Denzel Washington?  Seriously.  He. Is. The. Man!

I've found that, even if it's not a movie I would normally set myself to watch, if he is in it...I end up planting my butt and become completely memorized.  His skill as an actor is unbelievable.  That's, of course, my opinion.

If you have seen this movie in the past, what did you think?  Did it capture you?  And why?

Thanks for the read!

Q is for "Quell"...

...I'm going to do a two part post today.  The second portion could be considered "off limits" to those of you who have NOT read a particular book yet...

-Part One-

Definition of quell: verb (used with object)

1.

to suppress; put an end to; extinguish: The troops quelled the rebellion quickly.

2.

to vanquish; subdue.

3.

to quiet or allay (emotions, anxieties, etc.): The child's mother quelled his fears of the thunder.

Origin: before 900; Middle English quellen, Old English cwellan  to kill; akin to Old Norse kvelja  to torment, Germanquälen  to vex; cf. kill

Fun word, right?

Would you like to see the real reason why I chose this word?  You can if you are OK with the little spoiler I have below for a certain movie coming out this November!

-Part two-

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

If you are familiar with the book "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins, then you already know how the word "quell" fits into this post!

That's right!  Come this November, "Hunger Games" fans will be back to the arena once more!

After reading the words: "I'm going back to the arena"...I felt like my heart was ripped from my chest.  No joke.

It was unfair, unjust, unimaginable! The already existing dislike for "President Snow" was now full on hatred towards him.

You wanted to reach for Katniss through the pages of the book and wrap your arms around her.  To comfort her.  To keep her.  Say anything kind or encouraging to her.................But, you couldn't!

You listened to her thoughts as she expressed in pure exasperation the fear in her heart through the words printed before you.  You cried.......clutched your book a little tighter...and mustered up the willingness to continue the story.

Past Quarter Quells

• In the 25th Hunger Games, the citizens of the districts had to vote on who would compete in the Hunger Games. The victor is unknown. Nothing is really known of this game.
• In the 50th Hunger Games, four tributes were chosen from each district instead of the usual two to remind the rebels that for each Capitol citizen killed, two rebels died. This put twice as many people in the arena and made it twice as brutal. Haymitch Abernathy won in the second Quarter Quell after using the arena's force fieldas a weapon.
• The 75th Hunger Games had past victors from earlier Hunger Games compete for a second time. This action was made to destroy any bonds the districts had with each other and to make them feel weak. It was meant to be a reminder to the citizens of the districts that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol. It is speculated that this twist was not planned at the founding of the Hunger Games, but was designed specifically to force Katniss back into the arena in the hopes of stopping the rising rebellion. Had Katniss not won the previous year's Hunger Games, this twist would not have been possible as there would have been no living female victors from District 12.

I saw the "Hunger Games" twice in theaters before reading the first book.  I cried.....a lot...the 2nd time I watched it.  It took just about a week to finish all three books in the series.  I texted my sister into the late hours of the night when I finished the third book "Mockingjay".  I was a terrible mess the weeks after.  Now I have to wait patiently to endure the story all over again...
...ah!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this trilogy.  If you happen to be so inclined to "chat it up" with me regarding any of these books...I'd be more than happy to participate! 

Take care and thank you ever so much for the read!

E is for "Ethan Embry"...!!!

What is being considered now-a-days as a "cult classic"..."Empire Records" is a film I could watch over, and over, and over, and OVER again...

Empire Records is a 1995 American coming-of-age film that follows a group of record store employees over the course of one exceptional day. Wikipedia

(Mindlessness mixed in with an absolutely distraught crew of characters, all bunched together and making things work at a record store that is facing a "buy out")

((That is my review of the movie above...and I think that pretty much sums it up!))

And then we have a similar type film (in that it's a 90's teen "coming of age" flick), although not 

nearly as grungy as "Empire Records".  

I have watched this more times than I can count.

One of my all time favorites.

(Just your typical "end of the school year-high school graduating class-house party" movie)

((Please note, that is also my review))

Now, these two films...which are so incredibly "staples of my teen-hood"...have a certain person in common and that's...yup, you guessed it.  Mr. Ethan Embry!

Ethan Philan Randall (born June 13, 1978), known by his stage name Ethan Embry, is an American film and television actor.

I'm not going to complete a bio of the actor...I'm pretty sure that we "ain't got time for that"...(sorry, I had to say it!!!) but rather convey for a minute how he is responsible for making two very seemingly stupid movies find their way deep into my heart.

"You can't think about things you want to change.  Just be yourself."

-Ethan Embry

He is just ridiculous in both films.  Although he plays a spastic, crazy little weirdo in "Empire Records"...

everyone I know who has watched him in that movie fell in love with his character.

"He" is my favorite part.

His tendencies were exotic.  He was a huge goof ball.  

But the conveying of a "big heart" stands out

and greatly controls the perception of his character.

This goes as well for his role in "Can't Hardly Wait".

(The whole "big heart" thing)

((not the "kookiness" part ;))

His character in "Can't Hardly Wait" is adorable.  All he wanted was an opportunity to speak to the "girl of his dreams" who happened to be a fellow student at his high school.  Right before the end of the year party he discovered that her boyfriend had just dumped her.

Now was his chance!!!  At the party he MUST let her know how he feels or he will "never know" what could of been!

It's great fun watching him on screen.  He has played versatile roles during his career but there is one thing he can't seem to shake that keeps them all connected...

...the sincere heart he effortlessly plays out for each of his characters.

This is a post you guys were probably not expecting.

But hey...I had NO idea what to do for the letter E and

today was opening day for baseball in Detroit!

So I was a bit distracted.

(The Detroit Tigers won their home opener...just so ya know...)

;)

Now to cheer on my favorite hockey team, the Detroit Red Wings...

 ...the puck literally dropped only a few minutes ago and each team already has a goal.

I must watch!

Take care,

-Michelle

"You have no power here! Begone, before somebody drops a house on you, too!"

-Glinda, The Good Witch of the North

The Wizard of Oz was a childhood favorite of mine.  I remember the first time I watched it, sitting on the living room couch, and being completely captured by the story.

(It was also the movie where my fear of tornadoes quickly evolved.  I would close my eyes every time the scene of the nasty twister would play on the television.  I'm not kidding...it scared the heck out of me!)

I don't know about you guys, but upon watching "Oz the Great and Powerful"...

I wished with all my might...

for a glimpse of a second...

that I could have been witness, in person, to Michelle Williams playing "Glinda the Good Witch".

I personally think she nailed the character.  P-E-R-F-E-C-T-L-Y.

So much so that I would visit the cinema again to watch it.

Don't get me wrong.  There were several points in the film where my criticism crept in and needed to be pushed out of my mind so that I could enjoy the rest of the movie.  I tried to keep the moments of nagging, negative opinions from ruining this extension of my childhood favorite before it reached the credits.

In all that, Michelle carried (my thoughts) a strong and much needed point for the character of "Glinda"...

...which was humility.

Honesty. Bravery. Beauty in the desire of happiness and well being for her society of mismatched people.  Sure, the idea of these characteristics can be spoken moments from reading the script (uh hem...like Kristen Stewart fumbling through her "innocent" and "pure" delivery of Snow White...which was entirely unconvincing and disturbing).  They are however truly convincing when you stand firm in the virtue of humility.

(This is my favorite sort of fairy tale.  I will speak passionately about it.  Even if it makes me look like a silly day dreaming fool.)

The magic of The Wizard of Oz that I felt when just a child was delivered beautifully in Michelle Williams approach to this "good witch".  I really am not sure that this sense of humility and bravery could have been executed in such a way by anyone else.

All in all the film had it's quirks.  There were several times that I felt too old for it and other times that I just down right fell in love with it.

~~~

If you have seen this film, what were your thoughts regarding it's making and it's other 
members in how they brought their character to life?