Category: Celebs

43 Years of “Your Song”

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Your Song written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John, and of course, performed by Elton John is one of the most beautiful songs ever.  I thought that when I first heard it nearly 43 years ago and I think it now.

In 1998, Your Song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2004 the song was placed at number 137 on Rolling Stone‘s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

Elton John has performed Your Song thousands of times over the 43 years since it was released… and below is a video compilation taking us through the years as Elton performs it.

 

Thanks to Miss Cellania for the link.

9 Actors That Have Played the Same Role 6 Times

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Recently Den of Geek looked at 9 Actors That Have Played the Same Role 6 Times.

  • Hugh Jackman as Wolverine: Initially I had a problem with Jackman as Logan.  Jackman is just too tall!  I’m okay with him in the role now.  However, when Jackman turns over the claws to someone else, let’s make sure the new guy is vertically challenged.  Okay, Bub? For the record I have probably seen about half of Jackman’s outings as Wolverine.
  • Leonard Nimoy as Spock: I’ve seen all Nimoy’s appearances as Spock. Nimoy is, and forever shall be, Spock.  I do admit that Zachary Quinto is an awesome follow-up in the role!
  • Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa:  This may be hard to believe, but I have seen all of Stallone’s appearances as Rocky.  Let’s cut to the chase.  To many, Stallone is Rocky.  I’m sure someday someone will step into the role when the movie is remade.  Ugh.  (And yeah, I know the role is being played by another actor on Broadway.  I also know that Sly may return to the role in the rumored film, Creed.)
  • Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger:  I saw the first and third outings.  Surprised there haven’t been more… not that they’re my cup of tea.
  • Daniel Radcliff as Harry Potter:  I’ve never seen a single Harry Potter movie.
  • Tyler Perry as Madea: I’ve never seen a single Madea movie, although the clips I’ve seen have been funny, so I wouldn’t be against watching them.
  • Sean Connery as James Bond:  I’ve seen every Connery Bond film (except Never Say Never) multiple times.  Connery is the best Bond.
  • Roger Moore as James Bond: I enjoyed Moore’s Bond, uh, more when I was a kid.  Waaay tooo campy towards the end of his run.
  • Jim Varney as Ernest: I’ve never seen a single Ernest movie.  Don’t know that I ever will…

Here’s a couple of questions…

Have any actresses played the same role 6 times?  Halle Berry as Storm — have there been six appearances?  Others?  

What actor/actress has played the same character the most times in movies?  And how many times?

Dave Wachter and Jimmy Bobo

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Dave Wachter is back and he brought his take on Sly from the Bullet to the Head. I met Dave a few years ago and became an instant fan. I wasn’t the only one to discover Dave’s fantastic sketches! How can you not like a great guy who is a terrific artist?

At HeroesCon this year I asked Dave to draw Sly from his first major movie, the Lords of Flatbush and another piece of Sly from his latest film, Bullet to the Head.  Last week, you saw Dave’s take on Sly as Stanley Kowalski, so this week we have Sly as Jimmy Bobo.

You can see more of Dave’s art at his site. – Craig

15 Real Life Tough Guys

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Yahoo Movies recently posted their list of 15 Real Life Tough Guys.  Here’s their list and my thoughts…

  • Dennis Farina: was a former cop and came off as a legitimate tough guy.
  • Mel Brooks: served as a demolitions man in the war.  Lacked the size to be considered a classic tough guy and probably had a better chance of killing someone with laughter.
  • Steve Buscemi: a former fire fighter who returned to help out in that role after 9/11 makes Buscemi tough guy in anyone’s book.  However, not a classic tough guy in the movie tradition.
  • Bryan Cranston: He is the one who knocks.  Of course he was also the dad in a sitcom I never watched.  Then again, he was questioned in a real life murder.  Not a traditional movie tough guy, but I ain’t tellin’ him that.
  • James Doohan: a WWII hero.  In his day, I’ll bet Doohan could kick some buttocks.  Never made it big as a movie tough guy, but that’s not what this list is about.
  • Clint Eastwood: would make anyone’s top five movie tough guys.  Glad to see him on a real life tough guy list as well.
  • R. Lee Ermey: Movie tough guy? Check.  Real-life tough guy? Check.
  • Samuel L. Jackson: Cool in the movies and real life.  Tough in the movies, I’ll buy.  Real life — not one of the actors whose name rushes to mind.
  • Dolph Lundgren: Yes, a movie and real life tough guy.  Heck, any man who dated Grace Jones had to be tough.
  • Lee Marvin would be my first or second choice for movie and real life tough guy.
  • Steve McQueen: I was never a big Steve McQueen fan.  I liked him in The Getaway though.  He wouldn’t have made either list for me.
  • Robert Mitchum: is a genuine tough guy — movie or real life.
  • Jack Palance: is another that should easily make both lists.
  • Mickey Rourke: later day Mickey Rourke makes both lists.  Mickey Rourke that started out as the pretty boy actor, was a real life tough guy, but not a traditional movie tough guy.
  • Danny Trejo: has made his career being a tough guy.

I have just one question.  How could Charles Bronson not have made this list?

Dave Wachter & Stanley Kowalski from “Lords of Flatbush”

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Dave Wachter returns with his take on Sly from the Lords of Flatbush. I met Dave a few years ago and became an instant fan. I wasn’t the only one to discover Dave’s fantastic sketches! How can you not like a great guy who is a terrific artist?

At HeroesCon this year I asked Dave to do Sly from his first major movie, the Lords of Flatbush and another piece of Sly from his latest film, Bullet to the Head. Next week, you’ll see Dave’s take on Sly as Jimmy Bobo.

Until then, you can see more of Dave’s art at his site. – Craig

Raymond Chandler’s Little Known Cameo in “Double Indemnity”

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Double Indemnity is one of my favorite noir movies.  I’ve seen it a bunch of times.

Raymond Chandler, who wrote just seven novels, is one of the founding fathers of modern detective fiction.  I’ve read a lot of Chandler and knew he co-wrote the screenplay [along with director Billy Wilder] adaptation of James M. Cain’s novel of the same name.

Until recently I didn’t know that Chandler had a cameo in Double Indemnity.  What makes this an even greater find is that there are no known film or television interviews with Chandler!

 

Thanks and a tip of my fedora to Adrian Wootten and The Guardian.

Chris Schweizer Presents Charles Bronson as Wolverine

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This piece was originally posted at  iFanboy as one of their choices for Sketches of the Week.

Cool idea.  Cool exection.

Franchesco Francavilla was listed as the artist.  No surprise there.  Franchesco does neat pieces like this all the time.

Funny thing is, Franchesco wrote in to say he didn’t draw it.  Chris Schweizer did.

 iFanboy corrected their post.  The one thing that didn’t need to be changed is that Bronson as Wolverine is worthy of Sketch of the Week honors.