Marilyn Monroe - Beautiful Icon, Talented Legend

The legend and mystic of Marilyn Monroe seems to grow year by year.

Aside from her early multiple foster home upbringing and surrounded by rumors, alleged affairs, a death conspiracy and more, Marilyn (born Norma Jeane Mortenson and baptized Norma Jeane Baker) became a cultural, pop, beauty and sex symbol icon for the ages.

Young Norma Jeane married in 1942 at 16 and when her husband, Jim Dougherty, went to the Pacific during World War II, the young lady's career as a model began (as Norma Jeane Dougherty), ultimately gracing the covers of many magazines and leading to a movie contract and a divorce.

Initially her movie stage name was Carole Lind, soon changed to Jeane Monroe and finally she and the studio decided upon Marilyn Monroe.

Though the following scenes from 1948's Ladies of the Chorus is not her actual first appearance on the big screen, it was her first major role. Her first appearance, uncredited, was in 1947's The Shocking Miss Pilgrim.

All told, Marilyn completed 32 motion pictures in her short 15 year Hollywood career. Her first starring role was in the 1952 film Don't Bother to Knock. Her last role was in the unfinished Something's Got To Give.

Her many challenges as a woman making it in the world of Tinseltown, glamour and fame may not be the most that have been overcome and the constant conjecture of homicide over suicide have undoubtedly added to her mystery. Regardless, the lady was, indeed, a mega-star and combined beauty and talent as few others have ever done.

Over For Now.

Main Street One

That is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out objection. Overruled.

For a while I was seriously interested in becoming a lawyer, including LSAT study. Perhaps that's why I have such an affinity for what we might call "courtroom" movies.

For your consideration, the Top 10 Courtroom Movies:

1. A Few Good Men
2. 12 Angry Men
3. My Cousin Vinny
4. To Kill a Mockingbird
5. Helter Skelter
6. The Music Box
7. A Time to Kill
8. Miracle on 34th Street
9. Men of Honor
10. Runaway Jury

It's over, Anakin; I have the high ground.

I've never actually got up and walked out on a movie, though I've been tempted many times. But, I was never so close to leaving in disgust as when watching Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. That's the one where Anakin becomes Darth Vader and the bridge is made between Attack of the Clones (II) and A New Hope (IV).

I can vividly still remember the exact point in the movie, because I still cringe when I encounter it. I checked out when Obi Wan exclaimed, "It's over, Anakin; I have the high ground."

While I was ranting about this again at Whataburger, Cody Dixon came across another blog post feeling my pain.

The blogger does a nice job of examining all the evidence for and against having the high ground in battle. The results might surprise you. For example, "Yoda vs. Sidious : Sidious vs. Luke : Vader vs. Luke ...They all had the high ground but lost!!!!!!"

This is but one of my criticisms of inconsistency of the series, but it's the biggest groaner, even trumping Obi Wan's, "So, what I said was true ... from a certain point of view" in Return of the Jedi (VI). But, of course, only a Sith deals in absolutes. (HT Obi Wan)

Read the entire post: The High Ground?!....Really!?

Watch Obi Wan jump the shark.

" My first movie" by Martín, class 5A

Hi, classmates!
This is my first movie at X-Tranormal.It´s a dialogue. My characters are two football players because I really like football. I love working in this blog.
See you soon !.

" My first movie" by Martín, class 5A

Hi, classmates!
This is my first movie at X-Tranormal.It´s a dialogue. My characters are two football players because I really like football. I love working in this blog.
See you soon !.

Dancing at the Movies

The following video represents dancing from about 40 movies, including:

Dirty Dancing, Flashdance, White Nights, Perfect, Saturday Night Fever, Blue Skies, Pulp Fiction, High Fidelity, Clerks 2, American Pie, Billy Elliot, Footloose, True Lies, Grease, Honey, Phantom of the Opera, Step up, Step up 2, Moonwalker, West Side Story, Moulin Rouge, Mary Poppins, 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Strictly Ballroom, Happy Feet, Singing in the Rain, Fame, Fame 2009, Save the Last Dance, Mamma Mia, Mask of Zorro, Coyote Ugly, Wild Hogs, Get Smart, Airplane, A Knights Tale, High School Musical and Austin Powers.

I believe that these are listed in order of first appearance, some have more than one clip.

Music by Kenny Loggins, Footloose.

Over For Now.

Main Street One

We who have seen war, will never stop seeing it. In the silence of the night, we will always hear the screams.

Last Memorial Day I got this in an email from my mom: "Memorial Day needs to be changed to War Movies Day."

They, particularly my dad, had been watching war movies all day.

So, I've been sitting on this post for about a year. Some suggestions for your viewing pleasure this weekend ...

Gunny's 10 Favorite War Movies:

1. Sergeant York - Perhaps my favorite movie of all time because it moves you to think about issues of faith & war and "the using kind of religion."
2. Patton - George C. Scott is outstanding and the opening speech for the 3rd Army is money. If nothing else, you must watch his opening monologue.
   
3. Glory - It sends a powerful and thought-provoking message about the Civil War and war in general.
   
4. Apocalypse Now - The first time I saw it I found it just bizarre, but I have grown to really appreciate the movie. Of course, the acting is top notch.
5. We Were Soldiers - Perhaps I'm biased because my dad knows LTC Moore, but I thought this was one of the Vietnam movies that didn't come off as somewhat anti-soldier, as many anti-war Vietnam movies do. This is an inspiring story about facing insurmountable odds and the value of courageous leadership.
6. Full Metal Jacket - The greatness of the movie actually happens prior to Private Joker actually arriving in Vietnam. You can't beat R. Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman, your senior drill instructor.
7. Schindler's List - Though not laden with a lot of warfare, in the midst of war you learn about good & bad in humanity in this stirring film.
8. Platoon - This was the first Vietnam War movie I remember seeing and the soundtrack was memorable as well.
9. Braveheart - It's so quotable and stirring, particularly the motivating Mel Gibson. You'll never take away his freedom.
   
10. Saving Private Ryan - Though I don't think it's the best World War II movie ever made, it would be hard to find one made better, particularly the battle scenes.

Honorable Mention: Das Boot, Guns of Navarone, Tora, Tora, Tora, Escape to Victory, and The Longest Day.

Miss any?

UPDATE: The following are some greatly appreciated suggestions received in the comments.

• Hamburger Hill
• Taking Chance
• Band of Brothers (mini-series)
• Seven Samurai (though not an American war)
• Flags of Our Fathers
• Letters from Iwo Jima
• The Patriot
• Tears of the Sun
• The Bridge On the River Kwai
• Paths of Glory
• Gods and Generals
• The Boys in Company C
• The Lost Battalion
• Bravo Two Zero
  
• The Deer Hunter
• The Great Escape
• Midway
• U-571
• The Dirty Dozen
• Hart's War
• Basic
• Memphis Belle
• Bat*21
  

Any man don't keep order spends a night in ... the box.

Chris Arnold use to say that, "Movie watching is a sport."

Perhaps he's right. If so, we owe it to each other to recommend worthwhile sporting events, not watching someone fishing on ESPN2 in the wee hours of the morning.

To that end, I submit to you my favorite incarceration movies:

1. Cool Hand Luke
2. Shawshank Redemption
3. My Cousin Vinny
4. Blues Brothers
5. Stir Crazy
6. Raising Arizona
7. The Green Mile
8. (Escape to) Victory
9. The Longest Yard (1974)
10. The Great Escape

Honorable Mention: Silence of the Lambs, Dead Man Walking, Escape from Alcatraz

Did I miss any?

UPDATE: Apparently, I did miss some! Thanks for those who squared me away in the comments.