NOLANCON
I really don't know how to express my feelings. This was an event I have been looking forward to since it was first brought up more then two years ago. What upsets me most is that the very communities that this site promotes failed to recognize a great opportunity and support it. Shame on you!
THE CURSE OF THE POOH
How sad and ironic that two great vocal talents passed away this past week. Paul Winchell, long time ventriloquist and the voice of Tigger died over the weekend. He was 82. His other voice credits included Gargamel in "The Smurfs" and as Dick Dastardly in many Hanna-Barbera cartoons.
Sadly passing away that same weekend was John Fiedler. Best known as the voice of Piglet, Mr. Fiedler was 80. Television fans will remember him as Mr. Petersen on the first "Bob Newhart Show" and in the "Wolf in the Fold" episode of "Star Trek." In the 1950s he was a regular on the "Tom Corbett: Space Cadet" program.
STUPID PEOPLE
You have to love it when criminals do something stupid. Top of the heap recently was Mr. Awiey "Chucky" Hernandez, age 20, who was arrested when he went visit a friend in jail at the 90th Precinct station house in Brooklyn. To make his point as to who he wanted to see Mr. Hernandez showed the officer in charge a copy of the wanted poster with his pal, Huquan "Guns" Gavin, 18, pictured on it. Sadly, Mr. Hernandez failed to notice that his photo was also on the poster and he was arrested. I'm assuming he DID get to visit "Chucky" eventually.
TERENCE MUST BE SMILING
Following the release of his first solo album, Billy Corgan took out a full page ad in Chicago area newspapers announcing that he has "made plans to renew and revive the Smashing Pumpkins. I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams." Welcome back!
YOU TALKING TO ME?
Actually, that was the 10th top movie quote as compiled recently by the American Film Institute. Before I list the top 20, here are some that didn't finish at the top of the 100 listed:
"You're gonna need a bigger boat!" - JAWS #35
"I'll be back." - THE TERMINATOR - #37
"You had me at hello." JERRY MAGUIRE - #52
"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room" DR. STRANGELOVE - #64
"Soylent Green is people!" SOYLENT GREEN - #77
The top 20 in reverse order:
20. "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." CASABLANCA
19. "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!" NETWORK
18. "Made it, ma! Top of the world!" WHITE HEAT
17. "Rosebud." CITIZEN KANE
16. "They call me Mister Tibbs!" IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT
15. "E.T. phone home." E.T. - THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
14. "The stuff that dreams are made of." THE MALTESE FALCON
13. "Love means never having to say you're sorry." LOVE STORY
12. "I love the smell of napalm in the morning." APOCALYPSE NOW
11. "What we've got here is failure to communicate." COOL HAND LUKE
10. "You talking to me?" TAXI DRIVER
9. "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night." ALL ABOUT EVE
8. "May the Force be with you." STAR WARS
7. "All right, Mr. Demille. I'm ready for my close-up." SUNSET BOULEVARD
6. "Go ahead...make my day!" SUDDEN IMPACT
5. "Here's looking at you, kid." CASABLANCA
4. "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." THE WIZARD OF OZ
3. "You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been somebody. Instead of a
bum, which is what I am." ON THE WATERFRONT
2. "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse." THE GODFATHER
1. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn!" GONE WITH THE WIND
THE STORY OF JAWS - PART 23
This week I'm taking a look at the recently released 30th Anniversary DVD. I'd like to say that it's great but then I would be lying. In 1995, Universal released an excellent boxed laser disc set which included trailers, out takes, and an outstanding 2 hour plus documentary on the making of the film. In 2000 a 25th Anniversary DVD was released with most of the laser disc material on it, though the documentary was barely an hour. What upset most fans of the film was that the original sound (which won an Academy Award, for God's sake) had been re dubbed. Every sound, from breaking glass to the shark exploding, was redone, sounding phony. The new DVD has the original sound restored, as well as the complete documentary. However, this time there are no trailers or tv spots. On the plus side, there is a beautiful booklet full of photos and an 8 minute interview with director Steven Spielberg that was produced by the BBC. This is the same interview that was screened during JawsFest. Not only is it a great piece of history, but it shows the confidence that Spielberg needed to complete the film. The interview was shot on the second day of filming, and Spielberg speaks of things going well on the planned 55 day shoot. Little did anyone know that filming would take almost SIX MONTHS and affect Spielberg so much that he left the set before the last shot was filmed. Of course, that started a new tradition as Spielberg NEVER shoots the last shot on his films. Hopefully one day Universal will combine the best of both DVDs in the near future.
Well, that's all for now. Have a great week and a safe and happy holiday. See ya!
"Mike's Rant" is ©2005 by Michael A. Smith. Webpage design and all graphics herein are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2005 by Nolan B. Canova.
