Happy As Kings

Pirates

In honor of At World's End

The Pirate Don Durk of Dowdee:  Download DS-10209.wav

I record books and stories (previously for the kids, and now for the grandkids), and this was one of my favorite poems from when I was a kid myself.  When I first saw Captain Jack Sparrow, it was the pirate, Don Durk of Dowdee, who came to mind.

The movie meme

I caught this one from Chris, and blogging it seemed much more fun than actually working.

1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times. -- Hopscotch -- Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, and Mozart

2. Name a movie that you’ve seen multiple times in the theater.  I don't think I've ever done that.

3. Name an actor who would make you more inclined to see a movie. - Sean Connery or Meryl Streep

4. Name an actor who would make you less likely to see a movie. - that Carey person, the one who's supposed to be funny

5. Name a movie that you can quote from. - Monty Python's Holy Grail, Wallace and Gromit

6. Name a movie musical that you know all the lyrics to all the songs. - Singing in the Rain, Grease, Walt Disney's cartoon of Robin Hood

7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with. - Night at the Roxbury (we'd never seen SNL -- lived in Europe -- so this was an absolute hoot because it was fresh, plus it played all the Euro-pop dance songs we knew)  Also Cat Ballou

8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see. - Secondhand Lions ... or The Odd Couple "Let it be on your head."  "Let it be on my head?  What's that, the curse of the Cat People?"

9. Name a movie that you own. A movie?  How'sabout a roomful of movies (not counting the ones the kids have snitched)

10. Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops. - Ice-T

11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? - Yeah.  The film that made the biggest impression was Psycho.

12. Ever made out in a movie? - Of course.

13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven’t gotten around to it. - National Velvet

14. Ever walked out of a movie? - the 1976 remake of A Star is Born.  In fact, the group I was with all walked out together because we kept looking at each other and asking if anyone else was ready to leave.

15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater. - Old Yeller

16. Popcorn? - Every time.  Lately the popcorn gets augmented with Kit Kat Bites -- one bite of popcorn, one Kit Kat Bite.  Repeat.  It used to be Junior Mints, but now it's the Kit Kat Bites.

17. How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)? - Average is twice a month, but it depends on what's out.

18. What’s the last movie you saw in the theater? - Borat

19. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie? - Comedy

20. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater? - Either Walt Disney's Snow White or Toby Tyler

21. What movie do you wish you had never seen? - Kindergarten Cop.  I walked out of that one, too.

22. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed? - Schulze Gets the Blues

23. What is the scariest movie you’ve seen? - Psycho. (first run at drive in)  It was then that I learned that I do not enjoy scary movies.

24. What is the funniest movie you’ve seen? - The Bird Cage

March of the Penguins

Link: March of the Penguins Warner Independent Pictures -- Official Site.

At our local Partners in Crime meeting of the Sisters in Crime organization, I chatted with another member about movies 'worth seeing,' and she said she'd recently been to see March of the Penguins.  I'd read the movie review in the paper, but we'd been busy with all our Recent Events and I'd forgot about it.  The lady highly recommended it, but said to wear a sweater.  What with the usual efficient air conditioning found in most American theaters, and with the striking footage of Antarctica (especially the blizzards during which the penguins huddle together for warmth), Shivers in July were to be expected.

The film is touching, inspiring, and humbling.  I'd wind up as one of those penguins who just "vanishes" into the white wilderness.  And while I like taking winter photographs, what those photographers endured to get their footage, is daunting.  The aurora australis dancing across the Antarctic sky was spectacular.  I'm amazed that a moving depiction of the aurora could be captured.  What speed film or digitally sensitized device did they use?  And how did they keep those cameras running in that cold?  How did they keep themselves running in that cold?

As fascinating as the film is, it isn't for very young children.  Two families near us had to leave about halfway through because there wasn't enough 'action' to keep their small children's attention, and the children weren't rapt enough not to ask a stream of questions.