Monday Open Thread
by Big Hollywood
This is an open forum for whatever it is the Big Hollywood community chooses to talk about…
No spitting, no gouging, no bad mouthing ”Eddie and the Cruisers.”
Other than that … knock yourselves out.
Possible ice breaker.
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24 Comments
When I was a kid starting out in business in the early 70's, there was an older marketing rep who was an extremely nice man and, quite frankly, an alcoholic. During the 50th anniversary of D Day, the local paper had his picture as being first wave at Omaha Beach. Whatever else I might think about Tom Hanks' and Spielberg's politics, when I saw the first half hour of Saving Private Ryan, I finally "got it." God bless him and all the others who have given the last full measure including two great grand uncles in the civil war and an 8 G grandfather at the Battle of (Stillwater) Saratoga in the Revolution.
From the daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter and cousin of veterans of wars going back to the Civil War; from someone whose sister's husband decided to devote his life to the Army…and from a devoted movie fan, I wish all the BH fans a blessed Memorial Day. Remember the reason for the day and those that gave the final, ultimate sacrifice. Sometimes it's so difficult to wrap my mind around the idea of someone doing such a thing, and yet there it is, and for that, I am so grateful and can never thank them enough. (As a Christian, I should be reminded that there was One that came that also gave the ultimate sacrifice for all of us as well).
And since this IS a movie site then let me mention a few. Waiting in the wings for viewing (from Netflix): Battleground, which was suggested by BH (I can't wait to see it) and *deep breath* I'm going to give Valkyrie a shot. [MORE BELOW]
Okay — favorites that might be appropriate for today.
My favorite WWII movies: Action in the North Atlantic and Patton. Favorite Civil War movie: Glory (I love Gone with the Wind, but I'm thinking more battle movies not love stories set against wars). Favorite movie that takes place in another age but could have been set during WWII: The Sea Hawk (with Errol Flynn — it's very much a British rallying cry to battle the Nazis). Favorite movies about heroism,loyalty and sometimes patriotism: Master and Commander – the Far Side of the World (2003) and Gladiator (2000), 300 (2006) with The Seven Samurai (1954) very close behind. By the way, remember I'm female. Don't lump me in some "chick flick only" pigeon hole — I won't like it! I own swords (and a gun).
And if you haven't seen it: GO SEE STAR TREK! And if you've seen it, GO SEE IT AGAIN! It was nothing like I thought it would be (I was prepared for disappointment). I haven't had that much enjoyment at a movie since 300!
Ah, Master and Commander. Quite a splendid movie, though I wasn't expecting the whole thing to take place on a ship.
In honor of Memorial Day, what about a song about the cost of freedom?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dL7v3A2uKk
Not sure if you linked the scene you meant although it was good for a laugh. One of my favorites, inspired by Team America, is from a Marine having some fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_qzEY8R3rU
This mean little SOB used to come into my auto parts store years ago. All the other employees would disapear and I would be stuck waiting on him. At the 50th anniversary of D-Day his name was listed as a veteran who'd landed at Normandy. I'm a vet, but I was in awe of his accomplishment. The next time I had the opportunity, I turned the conversation to his military service and thanked him. I could tell it embarassed him, but I'm proud to say we became friends. __He's gone now but I'm still blown away by the courage it took to face the normandy beaches……
From a vet of VN, a family of vets going back to the Revolution and Indian wars(my family on both sides) , I send my deepest appreciation to all vets for their service and sacrafice on this Memorial Day. A special shout out to the youngsters of today that are fighting two wars. Keep up the great work and hope it ends soon.
Ah, but the "dicks and pussies" thing really is about the need to defend one's values against those that would destroy it.
Been a weekend filled with movie heroes, soldier variety and beyond (nice to see Master and Commander mentioned above, too, definitely my favorite Russell Crowe): Black Hawk Down, Red Dawn, Dirty Dozen, Paul Blart, backtracking through the original V and V – Final Battle. Fallen heroes, we salute you!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFYxCIr-Byo
Oh, only the soul-less would bad-mouth Eddie and the Cruisers, especially when Eddie and the Cruisers II exists.
My dad fought at Normandy, Metz and Bastogne. I was in high school when 'The Longest Day' was released. I asked Dad if he wanted to see it with me. His reply: "No thanks. I saw the play." I am a vet now, too (VN) and Dad rests at Ft. Logan National Cemetery. He is still my hero.
One of my favorite flicks.
Not Over.
Excerpt from St. Crispin's Day speech, Henry V, Act 4, Scene 3 –
"…This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
[to be continued on next post]
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day…"
-Henry V by William Shakespeare (1599)
It seems Kim Jong-Il is throwing a nuclear temper tantrum today. Another reminder of why our armed forces are so important, both in the past and in our future.
Oh yeah, go see Star Trek. Most fun I've had at a movie since 300.
Just a side note sir. I wish you a peaceful and solemn Memorial Day. Thanks for showing the way brother.
SUA SPONTE
At my day gig I have to say all of my favorite co-workers are ex-military. They get it done. No whining.
I make a point of telling them how much I appreciate all they've done for us .
Here's a shout out to you , fellas.
Love ya.
And a special shout out to my man, Jimmy, may he rest in peace. He fought in Korea and man, he had some stories. Loved the guy and I think of him often.
I liked Eddie and the cruisers.
Although it does not contain American heros, the movie Passage to Marseille (Bogart) is by far one of the most patriotic movies ever made.
God bless America! And God bless all of those brave soldiers putting their lives on the line so I don't have to put mine. I am forever in debt to you.
I yearn for the kind of movies we used to make that honored these soldiers. Not just 'Sands of Iwo Jima' or 'The Longest Day', 'Patton', etc. but smaller pictures that dared to honor them in a truly human way. Whenever I see "The Human Comedy" – watching soldiers sing 'Leaning on the Everlasting Arms' at the top of their lungs, my chest aches for the time when such love and reverence of soldiers was the standard, instead of the rare exception.
This is not about a movie, but about the zeitgeist: I have been interested in the widespread popularity – among women of all ages – of the :"Twilight Saga." Its hero, Edward Cullen, should be most interesting to conservatives. As a veteran of the "60s" the use of the term "Gentleman" to describe our Twilight hero was therefore a revelation to me: the word "gentleman" disappeared from all discourse in the 60s, until this funny vampire-romance suddenly became a HUGE bestseller. Edward Cullen, explicitly "old fashioned", is loyal and true to his one love. He is gentle and kind and doesn't smoke dope. The sexual tension in the story is all about abstinence until after marriage. Further, Sex WITHIN Marriage is seen as a good in itself. Weird, eh?
So, what does the "media" make of all this? It has spent the last 40 years hovering around the groins of its 'stars' and it doesn't know how to stop. Watching E! coverage of the latest Twilight movie, well, the only word to describe that news presenter is "VULGAR."
And that is what, I think one of the worst aspects of our media and our culture: its vulgarity. Breitbart has used the word "bad" to describe the people who run Hollywood today. I think vulgarity is another term that fits.
Coming to the end of a quiet day and getting ready to head off to work. It's been such a delight reading everyone's posts, and seeing other movies mentioned — and so glad to see other Master and Commander fans on here too! Oh and the St. Crispin's Day speech from Henry V: it never fails to choke me up.
By the way, I think Eddie and the Cruisers is a great movie!
There are a number of veterans who stick in my mind – but I'll tell you all about one – who is gone now. Bill and his wife Cleo used to hold court in their garage around the corner from my house. If you wanted to stop and talk there was always a lemonade Cleo would get you…
After awhile, I got to know Bill. We used to talk. He was a retired manager from GE but had a problem with the bottle. Cleo always kept it in check. Bill used to tell me of his WW2 experiences. It seems that in France – 1944 – he got hooked on booze while he was sitting in muddy trenches in the rain.
He told me of the times he had going into Germany in early 1945.
When Cleo died he lost the desire to try and control his drinking.
He's gone now too but I'll always remember him…
One more guy I wish to mention – the story of Lewis Puller. He was the son of the legendary Marine Chesty Puller – as a Lt he stepped on a mine in Vietnam and lost both legs and an arm.
His book detailed his 20 years of Hell going through hospitals and broken relationships.
A few years ago he finally decided to end it and committed suicide.
I hope that they finally have the peace that eluded them on earth -
I loved Master & Comander too – the Russell Crowe character is a guy you follow into Hell for – but have to say he is based on a true character in the British Navy – who happened to beat a lot of our ships in the Revolution – they had to change the story a bit
Another great movie poster! You couldn’t get away with that these days!
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