Sharing Amelia Peabody

Nov 20, 2008 Books, Egypt/Egyptology Leave a comment

There are several little news tidbits from the field of Egyptology but things have been so crazy here that I’ve not had time to put together any articles/posts. In keeping with my goal of sharing information on the subject, and my penchant for reading, here is a collection of books that are fantastic diversions. The Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters contains humor, mystery and a bit of drama and they all revolve around a woman/family’s love of ancient Egypt. If you haven’t read them, check them out. If you have, revisit them. They are worth your time.

Movie Trivia Answer Edition #81

Nov 18, 2008 Movie Trivia, Movies Leave a comment

Which of these 1942 films included an animated Thanksgiving sequence referring to President Roosevelt’s failed attempt to change the date of the holiday?

Movie Monday “It’s going to be easy - like peeling a turtle.”

Nov 17, 2008 Awards/Lists (MM), Movie Makers (MM), Movie Monday, Movie Music (MM), New Movie (MM), Online Videos (MM), Reviews (MM) 2 Comments

Photo © Jean-Luc St-Hilaire

Movie Monday Trivia: Edition #81

Which of these 1942 films included an animated Thanksgiving sequence referring to President Roosevelt’s failed attempt to change the date of the holiday?

Give it a guess even if your not sure and check back tomorrow for the answer. Join us again next Monday for a new question.

Movie Monday Blog Carnival

Apollo 8 Crew Together Again

Nov 13, 2008 Astronomy & Space, History, Television Leave a comment

This news really should have been posted here before today. Poor planning on my part. Sorry.

If you are interested in the Apollo program and/or the history of manned space flight, this is a must see. If you don’t have NASA TV through your cable or satellite provider, watch it online.

Apollo 8 Crew Remembers Historic Mission Live On NASA TV

Apollo 8 crew from left to right are: James A. Lovell Jr., William A. Anders, and Frank Borman.
~ credit NASA images

WASHINGTON — Almost 40 years after NASA executed the bold decision to send the first human flight of the gigantic Saturn V rocket to the moon, the crew of Apollo 8 will reunite as part of a special public program produced in cooperation with the Newseum in Washington.

The program features Apollo 8 crew members Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders. It will be broadcast live from the Newseum on NASA Television and www.nasa.gov on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 1:30 p.m. EST. The Newseum is located at 555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.

During the 60-minute program, astronauts Borman, Lovell and Anders will discuss the epic December 1968 lunar orbital mission and how the success of Apollo 8 contributed to the overall moon landing effort that culminated just six months later with Apollo 11. The crew also will discuss the years following Apollo and the future of space exploration.

For more information on NASA TV and how to stream live video on the Internet, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

The Re-imagining of Death at a Funeral

Nov 11, 2008 Movie Remakes 2 Comments

Peter Dinklage in Death at a Funeral

If you follow this blog, you probably know I have mixed emotions about movie remakes. For the record, remakes are acceptable only when technology can make them better visually and/or it can be updated for modern times. It is also preferable for a decent amount of time to pass before anyone tries to do a better job than the original. Not one of these factors are present when it comes to the fabulous movie, Death at a Funeral. The 2007 British film is already being re-imagined by Chris Rock. Give me a break!

How will it be re-imagined? How will they duplicate the humor inappropriately found at a funeral. Will the same situation be as funny in a different context? I don’t think so. Sure, screenwriters can produce a similar script and characters, but part of Death at a Funeral’s charm was the locale. The “urban American setting” will handicap the new film.

The cast of the original will be impossible to duplicate, even though there were two American actors among them (Peter Dinklage and Alan Tudyk). Actors and characters meshed seamlessly to create a realistic family and their friends. That brings us back to the setting. You would expect these people to be in the British countryside. I’m not saying the circumstances couldn’t occur anywhere but there. On the contrary, I can imagine it happening in any number of American cities. Thus the problem. The circumstances in the original were unimaginable and subsequently hilarious.

Alan Tudyk in Death at a Funeral

The humor Chris Rock has contributed to the entertainment industry has its place, but it will not work in this particular instance. Even if he and his writing partner, Aeysha Carr, write a great script it will never measure up. The original was just too good. I give them credit; they chose a great film to replicate. I think, however, they are reaching beyond their abilities and the results will be disappointing.

Source: Rock to Star and Co-Write Death at a Funeral

Movie Trivia Answer Edition #80

Nov 11, 2008 Movie Trivia, Movies Leave a comment

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) reused footage of the 707 flying through the storm from which of these movies?

Allie guessed correctly! Only by chance though. It’s just not fair. LOL

Movie Monday “Mom, is Grandpa Walter going to give me noogies?”

Nov 10, 2008 Awards/Lists (MM), Blog Carnivals, Movie Makers (MM), Movie Monday, Reviews (MM) 2 Comments

Photo © Jean-Luc St-Hilaire

Movie Monday Trivia: Edition #80

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) reused footage of the 707 flying through the storm from which of these movies?

Give it a guess even if your not sure and check back tomorrow for the answer. Join us again next Monday for a new question.

Movie Monday Blog Carnival