Antonio

Did I ever mention one of my favorite actors, Antonio Banderas? Once I think, but here I go again.

It's actually not just because of his acting, or looks, his eyes, the way he talks (even when you can't see the real Antonio but only to hear his voice when he's, for example, playing the role of a cat, is great). It's the combination of those factors with his singing ability. Why is it, that we don't hear more about that?

As the Phantom he was amazing, so was his part in Evita! It is one of my most beloved movies; not just because of his appearance in there. Madonna did well playing Eva Péron, the whole set up is beautiful, the story dramatic, and from a historical point of view a very interesting part of the 20th century.

Hard to choose which song to post here, the whole movie is full of great music, but I give it a shot with High Flying Adored.

J

Idealist

A few days ago, on my way to town, I was listening to the radio (what's new?) and heard Gangsta's Paradise again. I love it, it first of all reminds me of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five with The Message, a rap song out of my younger years (duh...), of which I knew the full lyrics (yes, really!) and used to sing it so many times that it drove my mum crazy. Secondly, I love it's stimulating you to think about life for some people these days. I'm lucky enough not to live in a massive city, with loads of unemployment, poverty, drug problems, etc. The song's about (kids) growing up and living in places like that, and how it effects their chances in life.

Along with the song, came "Dangerous Minds" (probably the other way around, whatever). A great movie about this teacher who tries to do her job at a school in a similar neighbourhood as described above. It's a true story. Of course, it's a movie and therefore less realistic than it actually was, but still, it is good. And the main character is played by Michelle Pfeiffer, an actress I highly appreciate.

Anyway, via Wiki I eventually ended up checking out a site, owned by the person behind this role of Michelle, and it was an interesting read. But most interesting of all, I was yet again hit by the fact that when I surf the Net searching for several sources of info (without the intention to search for a specific item, I mean), I end up with sites that are actually about my hot topics in life. This time it was ADHD. (Which is a very hot topic in my life, whether I like it or not, as I am driven by it. Literally).

Reading one of the articles about several "disorders" and temperament, I came across the link to do this online test, and hey, guess what... :

this is me...

Idealists, as a temperament, are passionately concerned with personal growth and development. Idealists strive to discover who they are and how they can become their best possible self -- always this quest for self-knowledge and self-improvement drives their imagination. And they want to help others make the journey. Idealists are naturally drawn to working with people, and whether in education or counseling, in social services or personnel work, in journalism or the ministry, they are gifted at helping others find their way in life, often inspiring them to grow as individuals and to fulfill their potentials.

Idealists are sure that friendly cooperation is the best way for people to achieve their goals. Conflict and confrontation upset them because they seem to put up angry barriers between people. Idealists dream of creating harmonious, even caring personal relations, and they have a unique talent for helping people get along with each other and work together for the good of all. Such interpersonal harmony might be a romantic ideal, but then Idealists are incurable romantics who prefer to focus on what might be, rather than what is. The real, practical world is only a starting place for Idealists; they believe that life is filled with possibilities waiting to be realized, rich with meanings calling out to be understood. This idea of a mystical or spiritual dimension to life, the "not visible" or the "not yet" that can only be known through intuition or by a leap of faith, is far more important to Idealists than the world of material things.

Highly ethical in their actions, Idealists hold themselves to a strict standard of personal integrity. They must be true to themselves and to others, and they can be quite hard on themselves when they are dishonest, or when they are false or insincere. More often, however, Idealists are the very soul of kindness. Particularly in their personal relationships, Idealists are without question filled with love and good will. They believe in giving of themselves to help others; they cherish a few warm, sensitive friendships; they strive for a special rapport with their children; and in marriage they wish to find a "soul mate," someone with whom they can bond emotionally and spiritually, sharing their deepest feelings and their complex inner worlds.

Idealists are rare, making up between 20 and 25 percent of the population. But their ability to inspire people with their enthusiasm and their idealism has given them influence far beyond their numbers.

Maybe for some a lot of blah blah, and maybe it is, but I found it rather amusing. Apart from my own personal fun and interest, I couldn't help linking this to Michelle Pfeiffer who seems to be a real Idealist to me. Quite a lot of the films / movies she's done are not about the most regular or usual topics, and even if they were, she played her roles so outstanding, that 'usual' becomes 'unusual'. Generally, films with Michelle are good ones.

Coming back to "Dangerous Minds" and the idealistic touch on the story: even though the real version of it is slightly different, the message is quite clear.
If only there were more people who have such a passion for what really means something to them, and use their passions, believes and hopes for a 'better world' and go for it... would we then end up living in paradise, but without 'gangsta's'?

J

The phantom of the opera

Bl.... annoying with no internet access, so every time I want to check mail, blog or whatever, have to go out and ask nicely, (sometimes rude if nice doesn't help... ;-)) to borrow someones PC etc.
But when times are rough (duh), there's always Antonio.

My gosh, if I could have the chance to spend just a few hours with him, I would quite happily sacrifice another couple of weeks without internet. But no more than that, and he's married anyway.

J

The fun (sometimes) of being an outsider

Right. You are the big birdie and the rest of the world is represented by the small ones, ok?
;-)

J

"Have you seen the light?"

My youngest son has had this obsessional admiration for cars since he was about 1 yr old. Anything on 4 wheels was, and still is, holy. Two would do as well, as long as it had a motor attached to it. But his all time favorites are the ones with flashing lights and noisy sirens: police cars, fire engines, ambulances, etc. It's not really surprising that, now 7 yrs old, his most beloved film is The Blues Brothers.

I mean, if you were him, what more could you wish for? It's full of cars (and macho men, highly appreciated by him as well). Scene after scene there are police cars chasing Jake & Elwood, and the best are the ones of course where the lot of them crash into each other.

BB has always been a great movie, one you could watch often without getting bored. But it's even better when sprog nr. 2 is sitting there watching it next to you. All the famous lines, he knows by heart. It's extremely funny when, after seeing one of the police cars end up upside down, he says: "They broke my watch!". Or, when two cops make this enormous free fall in their car, they look at each other in disbelief and this adorable child of mine jumps up and says: "I've always loved you..." Perfectly timed as well. Hilarious.

Before he goes to sleep, he lately has created this habit of watching a bit of BB in bed. So there we are, lying next to each other, having a real good BB-time. The only things that are missing are black hats and sunglasses.

I don't mind this habit. It could be worse, you know. I'd rather have to watch this, then Pokémon or Action Man. But when it comes to choosing a favorite scene, I'd go for the one in the Triple Rock Baptist Church. It's with loads of people singing and dancing to this great performance of James Brown. But the best is when Jake's going loose and my son screams:

"Have you seen the light?!"

(And all I have to do is look at him and get blinded by it).

J

Jake: The band... The band!
Reverend: Do you see the Light?
Jake: The band!
Reverend: Do you see the Light?
Elwood: What light?
Reverend: Have you seen the Light?
Jake: Yes, yes!

Hunger

This must be my lucky day (well, in terms of finding music/clips). Again something I've been trying to get hold of for ages, which is quite difficult if you cannot remember the title.

(Horrible, this (lack of) memory of mine. In fact, I can't even remember how I actually found it just now. I'm serious, it's only about 15 minutes ago! bugger...)

Whatever, I've got it now so one shouldn't complain really. The original is an opera from Lakmé. This bit of music has been used an enormous amount of times, in several movies and TV-shows, and I think British Airways had an advert with the track. But maybe the most famous scene it's been played in is of The Hunger, with Catherine Deneuve & Susan Sarandon.

Doesn't that suit the music at its best? Hunger...

But this one's pretty too:

Great - El Tango de Roxanne

The funny thing about Moulin Rouge is, that I have seen the whole film, but not in one go, as you would normally, but by watching different bits of it in various, weird order. After that, I just had to see it from start to finish, and it wasn't even spoiled by having seen all these clips.

It is not just about the acting, although I am always amazed by Nicole Kidman, and Ewan McGregor, well you know, he's just a fantasy come true, isn't he.
But the story itself, however weird it seems, is just so catching. It builds up to this enormous climax. Wow.

One of my favorite scenes is when they dance the tango, while the baddy sings Roxanne, originally by Sting. If you want to feel the passion, watch it.

J

About last night

Years and years ago I watched a film with this same title. To be honest, I haven't got a clue what it exactly was all about, but that's not relevant. All I remember is that it involved 2 people, who had this amazing night-time experience together, wonderful. But then comes the next day.
I'm sure that the rest of the movie was about how each of them dealt with that night, how they felt the next day and how, in the end, as a good tear jerker of a film should end in the first place, both persons and both versions of that night-time experience come together and melt passionately into one (again...).

Well, that is definitely not how my night-time experience was. And I also haven't got a clue why that film shows up in my head, as it is so the opposite of what my night was like. But then, a lot of the things that show up in my head are hard to follow, if not completely impossible, plain stupid, the highest form of idiocracy.

I sometimes start doubting that whole "fresh start" thing.

J

(seen it? / click on title post)