Category: Trivia

James Bond: Fascinating Facts You May Not Know About 007!

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Mathew Jackson at Mental Floss came up with 45 Fascinating Facts About James Bond.  Here are three that I didn’t know and my thoughts for each…

MANY ACTORS WERE ALMOST JAMES BOND.  (Jackson lists: Cary Grant, Richard Burton, Michael Gambon, Burt Reynolds, James Brolin, Sam Neill, and Ewan McGregor as actors who almost played 007.  Cary Grant would have worked as a Roger Moore type Bond.  I can’t see Richard Burton Sam Neill or Ewan McGregor as 007.  I’m not familiar with Michael Gambon.  Burt Reynolds would have been an interesting choice.  How would they have played Reynolds’ Bond?  Ladies man, yes.  More comedy?  I’d hope not.  James Brolin would have made a great looking Bond, but I’ve never heard him do an English accent. ; ) – Craig)

GEORGE LAZENBY SNUCK HIS WAY INTO PLAYING JAMES BOND.  (Lazenby was known as more of a model than actor at the time.  I love how he went after the part.  Lazenby got the 007 clothes and accessories and then snuck into the producers’ office.  The only thing to make the story better was if instead of saying, “I heard you’re looking for James Bond,”  he had said, “I heard you were looking for me.” – Craig)

IAN FLEMING DIDN’T WANT SEAN CONNERY AS BOND.  (Connery was perfect the role and I wonder if they had went with someone else, if the franchise would have taken off.  – Craig)

The All-Time Best Vampire Movies (That Don’t Star Dracula)!

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Anna Swanson at Film School Rejects posted her list of the 10 Best Vampire Movies That Don’t Star Dracula.  Her list is a good one.  As I thought about my choices for the top 5 (using just her list) I realized that if you ask me again tomorrow the order might change.

As of today, here are my top five and a three others that didn’t make Swanson’s top ten but would have made mine…

30 Days of Night (2007) is an under-rated horror film.  I love the slow burn set-up. Strange things happen but no one knows what is coming.  When the vampire attacks begin, the overhead shot of the town in chaos is worth the price of admission.

Interview with the Vampire (1994) has grown on me with each new viewing.  I still haven’t read the novel but if it is as good as the movie, I shouldn’t put it off.  Oh, and has there ever been another vampire movie with the star power of Interview with a Vampire?

Near Dark (1987).  A modern western/horror/love story?  Yep and it works.

What We Do in the Shadows (2014).  A mockumentary about vampire roommates and their day to day (un)life.  Sounds terrible, but is truly funny.

Fright Night (1985) walks the line as a horror movie that is funny or a comedy that is scary.  Either way it works.

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Here are three movies that didn’t make Swanson’s list but would have made mine…

Salem’s Lot (1979).  A tv movie that still works.

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996).  Any time you can have a crime and horror film mash-up, count me in.

Blade II (2002).  Man, I love this film so much I would have put it in the #1 spot.   (Which is even more surprising since I didn’t care for Blade!)

Spielberg’s All-Time Best Protagonists!

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Audrey Fox at /Film came up with her list of The 15 Best Spielberg Protagonists Ranked.  You know me and lists.  So before you click over, here are my choices for the top 5 and two others that would have made my list, but didn’t make hers.

Indiana Jones — The Indiana Jones franchise.  Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones is one of those casting decisions that seems like a no-brainer until we remember that Ford only got the part because Tom Selleck couldn’t make Raiders of the Lost Ark due to his Magnum P.I. commitment.

Quint — Jaws.  Robert Shaw had the gravitas and acting chops to ensure that Quint wasn’t a one-dimensional character.  We felt safe with Quint running the shark hunt until…

Hooper — Jaws.  This was the part that made Richard Dreyfuss a household name.  The role required Dreyfuss to be intelligent (but not too much a nerd), humorous (but not off-putting) and a foil for Quint (without alienating the audience).  Dreyfuss succeeds on all levels.

John Miller — Saving Private Ryan.  Tom Hanks is great at playing an “every man” put in an unusual situation who then rises to the challenge.  This role required that and so much more.  Hanks has to come off as a strong, thoughtful, brave leader who has the respect of his men but must deal with his own nerves and fears in private. 

Oskar Schindler — Schindler’s List.  Liam Neeson received a well earned an Oscar nomination for this role.  

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Columbo – Murder by the Book.  Sure, it is a television episode.  I’d say it qualifies as a tv movie.  Either way, are we going to leave one of the all-time great protagonists off this list?

Sergeant Horvath – Saving Private Ryan.  This could be Tom Sizemore’s best role. He plays the dedicated Sgt. who has his Captain’s back even when he doesn’t agree with him.

The Scariest Scenes from the “Alien” Movies!

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Chad Collins at /Film came up with his list of The 10 Scariest Scenes From The Alien Franchise.  Collins’ list is a good one and got me thinking.  Here are my top three scariest scenes, comments on each and a couple of scenes that would have made my top ten, but didn’t make Collins’ list.

The chestburster scene — Alien.  I was surprised that this scene didn’t rate higher on Collins’ list.  If, like me, you were saw the original release of Alien you can remember the shock that went through the actors on the screen (they hadn’t been prepped for what was about to happen) and the screams from the audience viewing the film. It was truly scary to see the alien bursting from William Hurt’s chest.  Scenes like that (especially with CGI) have become common place, but Alien was the first and remains the scariest.

Monsters in the vent — Alien.  This scene is a slow build to a jump scare and works perfectly.  Dallas, alone in the vents is searching for the creature.  His radio contacts are telling him it is close and getting closer.  He can’t see or hear it.  His only light is the small flame coming off the tip of his flamethrower.  They keep telling him it is closer and closer and RUN!  Too late.

A stowaway — Alien.   Ripley is alone on the escape pod… until we see the alien slowly come out from its hiding spot.  Ripley is unarmed and barely dressed.  She has no weapons… talk about a scary scene!

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I’m glad that the underwater chase scene from Alien Resurrection made Collins’ list.  It almost made mine.  I’m a fan of Alien Resurrection.

A couple of scenes that would have made my list but didn’t make Collins’…

Aliens inside the perimeter – Aliens.  The Colonial Marines have set up a perimeter with automatic weapons and have huddled together in a room hoping the aliens can’t get in.  Hudson is monitoring the aliens coming. He calls out their location and they are closing in.  Hicks’ tells Hudson reading can’t be right, that would put them inside the perimeter.  They all slowly look up… could the aliens be in the crawlspace above them…

Colonial Marines Escape – Aliens.  The Colonial Marines have had their first encounter with the aliens and are now in retreat.  As they get their wounded on the transport driven by Ripley, the aliens are still attacking.  Finally they are all on board and as marines pull the doors closed…an alien’s hands grip the door pulling it open…

Val Kilmer – His Best Films!

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Matthew Monagle at /Film came up with his list of The 14 Best Val Kilmer Movies Ranked.  Monagle’s list is a good one, but only one of my top three Kilmer films made his three best.  So, before you click over, here are my three favorites with my thoughts on each.  I also list a couple of other Kilmer films that didn’t make Monagle’s list but would have made mine…

Tombstone:  If this was the only film Kilmer ever played in, it would be enough to secure his legacy as a great actor.  It’s a shame that Kilmer wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Doc Holiday. 

Heat:  While Doc Holiday is arguably Kilmer’s best role, Heat may be the best film on his resume. 

The Salton Sea:  I’m a big fan of The Salton Sea.  I wish more people were aware of it.  Under-rated to say the least.

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Films that didn’t make Monagle’s list that would have made mine…

  • Willow
  • Thunderheart
  • True Romance  

Excellent Movies with Sequels that Weren’t Needed or as Good!

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Did you love a movie and then go to see the movie’s sequel only to find that the sequel wasn’t really needed and definitely wasn’t as good?  Yeah.  Me, too.

What got me thinking about this was David Court’s 14 Sequels That Truly Didn’t Need To Happen posted at /Film.  Before you click over, let me comment on three films that made Court’s list that would also make mine (and a couple more that he didn’t list, but I would have).

Highlander – I loved Highlander. It had a great cast (Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Clancy Brown); a fantastic story (Gregory Widen; Peter Bellwood; Larry Ferguson) and was cleverly directed (Russell Mulcahy).  Highlander could have easily been a one and done.  Highlander II was terrible.  Now we’re dealing with an ozone problem that will destroy the earth and aliens who are like Lambert.  What happened to “There can be only one?”  In this case, there should have been only one… Highlander movie.

Jaws: The Revenge – Jaws is one of the best movies of all time.  Critics loved it.  Fans loved it.  Jaws should have been a one and done.  Sadly, it led to three sequels that were terrible.  Since we’re talking Jaws: The Revenge, let me give you the synopsis: Chief Brody’s widow believes that her family is deliberately being targeted by another shark in search of revenge.  Doesn’t that sound like a Saturday Night Live sketch?  Jaws: The Revenge – critics hated it.  Fans hated it.  Even Michael Caine (the star) said he didn’t watch it, but heard it was terrible.

The Matrix Reloaded – Can you imagine if The Matrix had been the only Matrix movie made?  What a legacy!  It would have been like a movie star that never grew old.  You know, how James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Bruce Lee died in their prime and their legacy’s grew?  Same thing would have happened for The Matrix.  It was so ahead of its time.  The Matrix could have been a one and done film.  The story had been told.  It’s not that the sequels are as bad as the other two films above, but was The Matrix Reloaded really needed?  No.  Was The Matrix Reloaded as good as the original?  No.  Ok then, it belongs on this list.

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Other sequels that I would have included…

  • Speed 2: Cruise Control
  • Basic Instinct 2
  • Beyond the Poseidon Adventure

Truman Capote’s IN COLD BLOOD Trivia!

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In Cold Blood was the book that made Truman Capote famous.  Upon publication it quickly rose to best-seller status and is still one of the all-time best-selling true crime books.  A year after the book was released an award-winning movie adaptation premiered which only added to Capote’s stardom.  

I’ve seen the film In Cold Blood.  It’s an excellent movie which gets better with each new viewing.  I’ve had the In Cold Blood novel sitting on one of my many to-be-read book shelves for years.  After reading April Snellings’  7 Chilling Facts About Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood posted at Mental Floss, I’ve decided to finally read Capote’s book.  Before you click over to Snellings’ piece, here are my three favorite facts from her piece and my thoughts on each.

HARPER LEE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN RESEARCHING IN COLD BLOOD.  (That’s right, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird traveled with Truman Capote to Holcomb, Kansas and assisted Capote in getting access to people with for background info for the book! Harper Lee was Capote’s assistant! – Craig)

A FIGHT OVER THE FILM RIGHTS TO IN COLD BLOOD GOT TRUMAN CAPOTE’S AGENT ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT. (Capote’s agent was Irving “Swifty” Lazar!  Lazar also represented Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Cary Grant, Ernest Hemmingway, Cher and Richard Nixon to name just a few.  When Otto Preminger learned that Lazar had sold the rights to someone else, they got into a heated argument.  Preminger ended up with a busted head and a trip to the hospital.  Lazar ended up with charges for felony assault!  Read Snellings’ account for full details! – Craig)

THE MEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDERS DETAILED IN IN COLD BLOOD ARE SUSPECTED OF KILLING A FLORIDA FAMILY AFTER THEY FLED KANSAS.  (I had never heard this fact before.  Sounds like there could be another book in the making! – Craig)

 

James Cameron’s Best Films Ranked

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Dalin Rowell at /Film posted Every James Cameron Film Ranked From Worst To Best.  Before you click over, here are my rankings for top 7 Cameron films…

  1.  Aliens – I love how Cameron took the Alien franchise in a different direction.  While Alien was a haunted house in outer space, Cameron turned Aliens into a war movie.  
  2. Terminator 2:  Judgment Day – Making the Terminator into the hero AND figuring out a way to make the unstoppable machine an underdog against a more advanced Terminator was such a smart move.
  3. The Terminator – It’s hard to believe at one point there was talk of OJ Simpson playing the Terminator and Arnold playing Reese. It was a clever idea to make Arnold the bad guy (or should I say, “Machine”).  
  4. True Lies – This is one of Arnold’s most under-rated films and perhaps it is one of Cameron’s as well.
  5. The Abyss – is perhaps James Cameron’s most under-rated film. 
  6. Titanic – Before it was released a lot of folks thought Titanic would end James Cameron’s career.  Once released Titanic just kept owning the box office week after week. 
  7. Avatar – Some of the same folks who thought Titanic would sink at the box office predicted Avatar would do the same… and it went on to surpass Titanic!  Never count James Cameron out. 

Alfred Hitchcock’s Most Iconic Scenes!

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Nick Bartlett at /Film came up with an interesting list of The 14 Most Iconic Alfred Hitchcock Scenes Of All Time.  Bartlett’s list is a good one.  It includes my top five which are below…

The shower scene — Psycho (1960).  I was pretty sure that this would be Bartlett’s number one Hitchcock iconic scene (and it is). It is my #1 as well.  Bartlett goes on to say:  “Not only is this the most iconic scene of Hitchcock’s career, but arguably the most impactful single scene in cinema history.”  I’m not sure I would go that far, but maybe that scene is the most iconic in cinema history.  (Sounds like another list for Bartlett to post!)

Crop dusting — North by Northwest (1959).  When people talk about North by Northwest, this is the scene that gets the most attention.  And rightly so.

Crows on the playground — The Birds (1963).  This scene is so frightening thanks to Hitchcock.  The first thing he did was compress time.  There is no way that many birds could get to the playground in so short a time.  Also his non use of sound of the birds arriving, makes the sound of their wings flapping all that scarier when they begin their attack.

The diner scene — The Birds (1963).  The birds-eye view of the town below is ALWAYS a scene that people mention when they talk about The Birds.

Lisa gets caught — Rear Window (1954).  This scene is chilling.  A wheelchair bound Jimmy Stewart is watching from across the courtyard when his girlfriend is caught in the apartment of a man who killed and cut up his wife!  Not only is Stewart helpless to do anything, but when his girlfriend secretly signals to Stewart she is caught by the killer… who then realizes he is being watched by Stewart.  Hitchcock breaks an unwritten rule of directing: actors are not to look straight into the camera.  When the killer does it appears he is looking directly at us.  Chills every time!

Harrison Ford’s All Time Best Movies!

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Liam Gaughan decided to come up with a list of The 14 Best Harrison Ford Movies.  Before you click over, here are my top three using just the movies on Gaugham’s list.  I’ve also included a few that didn’t make Gaugham’s list that would have made mine.

Raiders of the Lost Ark:  Not only did Raiders give Ford his second franchise, but it cemented his place as one of the top stars in the world.

Witness:  Perhaps Ford’s best character that he never returned to play in a sequel.

Blade Runner:  There have been so many different versions and decades later a sequel so it’s hard to believe that Blade Runner was NOT a blockbuster when first released.

Movies that didn’t make Gaugham’s list but would have made mine…

  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
  • What Lies Beneath
  • Expendables 3

Clint Eastwood’s Greatest Performances

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Yesterday we took a look at Clint Eastwood’s best roles.  Today, thanks to Brent Lang at Variety, we’ll take a shot at listing Clint Eastwood greatest performances.  Using just Lang’s list, here are my top five…

Harry Callahan in Dirty Harry.  Eastwood was perfect in the role that had us cheering for a cop in a movie that would probably make Harry the villain in today’s world.

Blondie aka The Man with No Name in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.  Eastwood’s most iconic role in which he perfected the man of few words but quick guns.

Will Munny in Unforgiven.  Eastwood’s performance anchored an Oscar-worthy (9 nominations) and Oscar-winning (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Best Film Editing) film.

Dave in Play Misty for Me.  It was a first time for me.  Seeing a big, tough guy terrorized by a woman.  And who wouldn’t be?

Frankie Dunn in Million Dollar Baby:  For me this was the first time Eastwood was playing an old man.  The other roles came off as a guy getting older… on the brink of old age.  I loved that being old didn’t mean life was over.

Clint Eastwood’s Best Roles!

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Jeremy Herbert at /Film decided to come up with his list of Clint Eastwood’s 14 Best Roles Ranked.  Narrowing down Eastwood’s best roles to just 14 is tough. Before you click over to check out Herbert’s list, here are my top five (using just Herbert’s picks) and a few more that didn’t make his list, but would have made mine.

Harry Callahan from Dirty Harry:  This is a pretty easy choice for me.  I think Harry is Eastwood’s most iconic and best role.  After that the choices become tougher, but for me Dirty Harry is #1.

Josey Wales from The Outlaw Josey Wales:  I placed Josey in the second spot, but to be honest I almost placed Blondie aka The Man with No Name at #2.  Today Josey gets the edge, but that could change.  Wales loses everything but his humanity.  And Herbert is right to mention the classic line: “Dyin’ ain’t much of a living, boy.”

Blondie from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly:  The movie that made Eastwood an international superstar.  

Will Munny from Unforgiven:  I applaud Eastwood for having the patience to wait until he was old enough to play the character.  Unforgiven doesn’t give us the typical good guy – bad guy movie.  Our good guy is a bad guy.  There’s no shooting guns out of the bad guy’s hands.  Gut shots are slow, painful deaths.  There’s no riding off into the sunset with the girl. John Wayne would have hated this film.  I wouldn’t want all my westerns to be like this, but I do love me some Unforgiven.  

Other Eastwood characters that would have made my list but didn’t make Herbert’s…

  • Hogan from Two Mules for Sister Sarah
  • Dave from Play Misty for Me
  • Ben Shockley from The Gauntlet
  • Gunnery Sargent Thomas Highway from Heartbreak Ridge
  • Chief Red Garnett from A Perfect World

Bruce Lee’s Best Non-Kato TV Roles!

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The fine folks at Me-TV decided to turn the spotlight on 5 Forgotten Television Appearances by the Legendary Bruce Lee.  After playing Kato on The Green Hornet, Bruce Lee made appearances on four other US television shows: Ironside, Blondie, Here Come the Brides and Longstreet.  Me-TV also snuck in Lee’s appearance in the feature film Marlowe since it played on television in 1972 (released to theaters in 1969).  Before you click over, here are my thoughts on each…

Ironside:  I used to watch this series with my grandparents.  Lee plays a karate instructor who teaches Ironside’s female associate a few tricks.  I’d like to see the episode now to see if it holds up.  I had just turned 9 when I saw the show originally.  I remember it being just okay (it needed more Bruce Lee).

Blondie:  This is one Bruce Lee appearance I’ve never seen.  I didn’t watch Blondie and didn’t even remember the show (which looks pretty bad).

Here Come the Brides:  I used to watch HCtB regularly, but barely remember the Bruce Lee episode or much of the series.  This is another show I’d like to check out to see how it holds up.

Longstreet:  I loved the idea of Bruce Lee training a blind investigator self-defense.  Lee appeared in four of the 24 episodes.  I liked this show (with Lee in it) quite a lot.

Marlowe:  Lee only has two scenes but they are the ones you will remember!  In the first he threatens Marlowe (James Garner) and in the second they fight to the death (although the way Lee dies is pretty lame).

Quentin Tarantino Talks “True Romance”

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True Romance doesn’t get enough love.  Tarantino’s script.  Directed by Tony Scott.  And look at that cast: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, Bronson Pinchot, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Rapaport, Saul Rubinek, Conchata Ferrell, James Gandolfini, Chris Penn and Tom Sizemore!!!

Rob Hunter at Film School Rejects posted 30 Things We Learned from Quentin Tarantino’s ‘True Romance’ Commentary.  Before you click over, here are three of my favorites and some thoughts on each…

It wasn’t specified in the script that Elvis (Val Kilmer) would never really be seen all that clearly, and he was worried that the actor would be upset by Scott’s choice. He heard later that Kilmer loved it. (This was an interesting choice that many actor’s wouldn’t have liked. Credit to Val Kilmer for seeing the merit in playing it that way. – Craig)

He (Tarantino) is a huge fan of Scott’s Revenge (1990) which is the correct response to that film.  (I am a huge fan of Revenge.  It is probably Tony Scott and Kevin Costner’s most underrated film. – Craig)

He credits Scott with doing what a director should with the adaptation and make it their own. Clarence dying in the script makes sense to Tarantino, but Scott’s film is far more successful as a fairy tale of sorts meaning Clarence needed to live. “If I had made the movie he would have died. It would have been the same script but it would have been different. And in mine I think it would have worked. But in his, no, in his I think he was right.”  (In Scott’s film Clarence lives, in Tarantino’s script Clarence dies.  Both endings could work, but I’m glad Tony Scott stuck to his guns.  Like him, I wanted to see them get away. – Craig)

The All-Time Best Movie Jump Scares!

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Alex Riviello at /FIlm posted A Brief History Of The Horror Movie Jump Scare with excellent examples.  Before you click over, here are my five favorites from Riviello”s list plus three that didn’t make his list, but would have made mine.

Carrie.  I saw Carrie at a midnight movie when I was 18.  It was nearly 2am and it appeared the movie was done.  Remember this was in the days when happy endings were common (and jump scares at the end of movies were not). When the jump scare happened I came out of the seat and probably scared my date more than the jump scare.

The Descent.  The first part of The Descent sets up the horror of being underground in tightly enclosed spaces.  Finally they get to an area with some breathing room.  As they use the night vision glasses to see the best way to proceed we get the jump scare and it is great one!

Friday the 13th. I saw Friday the 13th for the first time on HBO and had no idea the jump scare was coming.  It was well after midnight.  I thought the end credits were getting ready to roll so I got up to to turn off the tv (no remote control in those prehistoric days).  As I stood in front of the tv the jump scare happened and it’s a miracle I didn’t wake up the entire apartment complex.

Psycho.  Hitchcock is the master of suspense.  He slowly builds tension as Detective Arbogast slowly goes up the big staircase.  He cuts to a door with a sliver of light and then back to Arbogast reaching the top of the stairs.  Hitch switches to an overhead shot of an old lady attacking with a knife!  Wha-what?  

Wait Until Dark.  I’m glad this one was included because it is one of the best jump scares.  Audrey Heburn plays a blind lady with two killers in her house.  I don’t want to give anything away.  Watch Wait Until Dark.  It’s an underrated gem.

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Here are three classic jump scares that would have made my list…

Exorcist III:  Late at night a nurse is checking on things.  The camera views her doing this from a distance.  As she walks across the hall we see someone (something) walking quickly behind her holding huge shears at her neck level.  Perfect set-up for this jump scare with the person in background called away and then back and away again.

Play Misty For Me. Clint Eastwood plays a popular DJ who had a one night stand with a woman. She becomes unhinged when he dumps her. The jump scare happens in a scene when Eastwood wakes up to find her in his bedroom. I saw this at a drive-in when I was 13 and I’ll admit that I jumped more than Clint Eastwood — and he came out of his bed!

Alien:  Dallas has a flamethrower and is looking for the alien.  His crew members are monitoring and telling Dallas the alien is close.  Dallas sees evidence of it but not the alien itself.  The crew continues to tell Dallas the alien is getting closer and finally they tell him to run… cue the jump scare!