Thursday, November 29, 2012

Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman

File:Pierrepoint.jpg

Albert Pierrepoint, Britain’s most famous and prolific executioner who carried out 608 executions between 1932 and 1956. About half of them were Nazi war criminals, including William Joyce (one of the men dubbed "Lord Haw-Haw"), an Irish-American fascist politician and Nazi propaganda broadcaster to the United Kingdom during the Second World War and John Amery, a British fascist whom he considered the bravest man he had ever hanged who proposed to the Wehrmacht the formation of a British volunteer force (that subsequently became the British Free Corps) and made recruitment efforts and propaganda broadcasts for Nazi Germany.

Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman, a 2005 British film directed by Adrian Shergold explored the life and career of Albert Pierrepoint, from the time he is first trained for the job and accepted onto the list of the country's official hangmen in 1932 until his resignation in 1956.

JOHN AMERY
(14 Mar 1912 – 19 Dec 1945)
WILLIAM JOYCE
(24 Apr 1906 - 3 Jan 1946)
Albert (Timothy Spall) born in Clayton, Bradford was the middle child and eldest son of Henry and Mary Pierrepoint (Maggie Ollerenshaw). He was influenced by the side-occupation of his father and uncle Thomas William (Bernard Kay) who both are an official executioners. In 1920s, after his father death, he works as a drayman for a wholesale grocer to deliver goods ordered through a travelling salesman. In 1930 he learns to drive a car and a lorry to make his deliveries. On 19 April 1931, Albert writes to the Prison Commissioners offering his services as an Assistant Executioner to his uncle should he or any other executioner retire. Few months later, Albert receives an official envelope inviting him to an interview at Manchester's Strangeways Prison but his mother Mary, having seen many such envelopes in Henry's time as an executioner is not happy at her son's career choice. After a week's training course at London's Pentonville Prison, Albert's name is added to the List of Assistant Executioners on 26 September 1932.

Albert views his job with seriousness and dedication, applying science and logic to each hanging. He can swiftly determine the proper length for the gallows rope, depending on the height, weight and physical condition of the condemned. While not a cruel or cold-hearted man by any means, Albert simply views execution as any other job and is not as visibly emotionally affected by it as some of his co-workers. On 29 August 1943, Albert married Annie Fletcher who had run a sweet shop and tobacconist two doors from the grocery where he worked.

Following the Second World War, the British occupation authorities conducted a series of trials of Nazi concentration camp staff and Albert is sent to Germany to hang forty-seven Nazi war criminals after the Belsen trials in November 1945. While he is staggered by the number of deaths he must conduct, he carries out his duties. Albert's inner values begin to emerge in his work when one of the bodies is left without a coffin, he angrily demands the coffin, saying that the man had paid the ultimate price and should now be treated with dignity. Over the next four years, he travelled to Germany and Austria twenty-five times to execute 200 war criminals. The press discovered his identity and he became a celebrity, hailed as a sort of war hero, meting out justice to the Nazis. The boost in income provided by the German executions allowed Albert to leave the grocery business and took over a pub on Manchester Road, Hollinwood named Help the Poor Struggler.

One morning, Albert receives a shock when he must execute a friend of his, James Henry Corbitt (Eddie Marsan) who Albert knows him as 'Tish'. James is a meek-looking man but had murdered his ex-lover in a jealous rage. Though Albert knows he must perform his job, he breaks his usual stoic demeanor and speaks kindly and calmly to James, who meets his fate in an almost content state. His last words are 'Thank you, Albert." and he smiles as the hood is put over his head.

RUTH ELLIS
(9 Oct 1926 – 13 Jul 1955)
Albert goes to his pub that night and expresses his anguish to his wife. Annie is uncomfortable hearing Albert's inner turmoil, as their rule regarding his occupation had always been "never talk about it." Albert breaks down and confessed the guilt and misery he felt as he watched his friend hang by his own hand. He considers resigning from his profession altogether. Later he executes Ruth Ellis, a young, pretty and the last woman to be executed in the United Kingdom after being convicted of killing her lover. Angry mobs outside the prison protest the execution and Albert's car is spat on and shaken as he drives home. After conducting over 600 executions and setting the fastest ever hanging record (7.5 seconds), Albert Pierrepoint officially resigns in 1956.

This is an excellent film based on true story of a family of executioners which detailed a psychological journey of a gruesome occupation told from the perspective of Albert Pierrepoint.

Albert and Annie Pierrepoint retired to the seaside town of Southport in the North West of England, South of Blackpool, where he died at the age of eighty-seven, on 10 July 1992 in a nursing home where he had lived for the last four years of his life.

Albert Pierrepoint
ALBERT PIERREPOINT
(30 March 1905 - 10 July 1992)
“As long as I can give in the last moments of these people,
whoever they are, whatever they’ve done,
if I can give them the respect and dignity at the last moment.
That’s my job and I come away satisfied.”
Albert Pierrepoint

Movie Trailer:

      

明月千里寄相思

《明月千里寄相思》是一首上世纪四十年代红遍上海滩的老歌,原唱者是被誉为“鼻音歌后”的吴莺音(1922 - 2009年12月17日)。

虽然这首歌过后被很多有名的歌手翻唱,例如徐小凤,邓丽君,蔡琴,唐朝乐队,黄莺莺,张清芳,音频怪物等等,但还是觉得听老歌就要听原唱的才会有味道。




明月千里寄相思 
曲: 刘如曾 词: 刘如曾
唱: 吴莺音

夜色茫茫罩四周
天边新月如钩
回忆往事恍如梦
重寻梦境何处求

人隔千里路悠悠
未曾遥问心已愁
请明月代问候
思念的人儿泪常流

月色蒙蒙夜未尽
周遭寂寞宁静
桌上寒灯光不明
伴我独坐苦孤零

人隔千里无音讯
却待遥问终无凭
请明月代传信
寄我片纸儿慰离情

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

新不了情

一九九三年的电影《新不了情》是由尔冬升执导,刘青云、袁咏仪等主演的爱情影片。

阿杰(饰刘青云)是个怀才不遇的音乐人,在彷徨潦倒日子中独自搬往一个破旧单位居住,终日郁郁不得志。在他彷徨时认识了性格开朗的庙街艺人的女儿阿敏(饰袁咏仪)。阿敏虽自小患上绝症骨癌,可是天性活泼乐观,对生命充满了执着。

在她的影响下,阿杰寻回失去的信心,在事业上取得成功。两人也情愫渐生,他们相处之下,都觉得从对方身上找到了爱情的感觉,而阿敏的乐观坚强更给阿杰很多启示,使他从事业的低谷中爬起来。

但阿敏体内的病毒再次发作,残酷的死神再次破灭了他们梦想,令她失去以往的坚强意志,变得脾气暴躁,不满一切。虽然最后阿敏在阿杰和母亲、街坊邻居的鼓励下,重新振作起来,但天意已定,阿敏还是被病魔夺去生命,剩下一份不了的深情留给阿杰永恒的遗憾。

虽说刘青云和袁咏仪不是什么俊男美女,不过对于他们在戏里的爱情,即便是一个非常普通的爱情故事,却依然能够打动你的心,让你感动的泪下。

留住的叫幸福,留不住的叫遗憾
如果没有经历过遗憾,又怎么能懂得珍惜?
如果不是遗憾,又怎么可以刻骨铭心的去记住一个人?
有了遗憾,才有了可以回忆的片段,
才有了令我们一生也无法忘怀的东西,
生命才会更值得回味。


新不了情
词:黄郁 曲:鲍比达
编曲:吴庆隆;廖伟杰
演唱:萬芳

心若倦了 泪也干了
这份深情 难舍难了
曾经拥有 天荒地老
已不见你 暮暮与朝朝

这一份情 永远难了
愿来生还能 再度拥抱
爱一个人 如何厮守到老
怎样面对一切 我不知道

回忆过去 痛苦的相思忘不了
为何你还来 拨动我心跳
爱你怎么能了 今夜的你应该明了
缘难了 情难了

不了情

《不了情》是一九六一年上映的一部香港同名黑白电影的主题歌曲,在当时是一首著名的国语流行曲。原唱者顾媚,原名顾嘉弥,生于一九二九年中国广州,是香港五十年代到六十年代的著名歌手、演员,有“小云雀”之称,亦为作曲家顾嘉辉的亲姐姐。现专注于画坛,成为中国画画家。

有人说一首歌曲,代表了一种心情,一个年代,一段美好的回忆。那些曾经的,过去的一切都会清晰地展现在脑海中。如果听着听着哭了,那是因为它使你想起了一些不开心的事,如果听着听着笑了,是因为它使你想起了一段快乐的时光。

偶尔没事的时候,听听几首老歌,慢慢地仔细听,好好回味回味从前,那也是一种幸福。



不了情
作曲:莫然(王福龄) 
作词:陶秦 主唱:顾媚

忘不了,忘不了
忘不了你的错
忘不了你的好
忘不了雨中的散步
也忘不了那风里的拥抱

忘不了,忘不了
忘不了你的泪
忘不了你的笑
忘不了叶落的惆怅
也忘不了那花开的烦恼

寂寞的长巷,而今斜月清照
冷落的秋千,而今迎风轻摇

它重复你的叮咛
一声声,忘了,忘了
它低诉我的衷曲
一声声,难了,难了

忘不了,忘不了
忘不了春已尽
忘不了花已老
忘不了离别的滋味
也忘不了那相思的苦恼

蓝与黑

记忆里,是跟着妈妈在很小很小的时候一同观看的怀旧影片《蓝与黑》。一部邵氏电影公司于一九六五年出品的电影,导演为陶秦,林黛、关山主演,其中林黛(1934年12月26日-1964年7月17日)在未能完成影片时逝世。故事是根据王蓝所著的长篇同名小说改编,被誉为四大抗战小说之一。

情节发生在日军入侵,高家却为女主人大办寿宴,张醒亚(饰关山)与唐琪(饰林黛)相遇。他俩都是孤儿,分别被姑姑和姨妈养大。姑姑对醒亚视如己出,但唐琪就没那么幸运了,高家对她不好,外面还流传着关于她的流言蜚语。唐琪常约醒亚去溜冰,俩人同病相怜、产生好感。高家姨妈和大哥硬让唐琪嫁给汉奸王科长,唐琪不从,便被关了禁闭。二嫂对唐琪却很好,安排醒亚来家里“听唱片”,唐琪送给醒亚一条蓝围巾。

唐琪终于逃了出来,一次约醒亚溜冰,中途遇到小流氓骚扰,醒亚为保护她被打倒在地,关键时刻他拿起溜冰鞋划伤了其中一个混混,将他们吓走。唐琪送醒亚回家并留宿一夜,回家后遭姨妈训斥。后来她在一家医院找到了当护士的工作,她向醒亚要求一起私奔,但醒亚与妹妹惠亚商量后,拒绝了她。她因而躲避醒亚,不与他见面。一天好色的院长把她骗至家中,迷奸了她,消息登了报,闹的满城风雨。

醒亚极度愤懑,在大家齐力劝说下才平息而唐琪则沦落为歌女。抗日者贺立来看醒亚,说服他去太行山抗日,醒亚要求带唐琪一起去。他到舞厅见了唐琪,唐琪还带他一同见了同室的好友方小姐,方小姐也同意唐琪走。可是临行前,贺力却回来劝说她不要跟去,说她会拖累醒亚。唐琪万分痛苦的作了决定,醒亚上火车后看到唐琪的信,觉得唐琪是在报复他。

醒亚等人穿过了日伪军控制的地带,来到了大后方。他们发动了一次突然袭击,打了日军一个措手不及,醒亚也受了轻伤。几经辛苦,唐琪得知醒亚下落便放弃歌女生涯,由天津跑到重庆找他。但醒亚嫌她堕落风尘,对她奚落一番,又与校花美庄(丁红)订婚,后来做了战地记者。平津战事告急,醒亚赴台逃难中枪留医,美庄背弃他使醒亚万念俱灰 。。。

影片里的主题曲《蓝与黑》、插曲《痴痴地等》、《何日君再来》等,在当时是非常受欢迎的歌曲。虽然过了将近五十年的时光,现在回听起来,还是优越动听的。

一个人,一生只恋爱一次,是幸福的。
不幸,我刚刚比一次多了一次。
- 摘自《蓝与黑》第一章

 

     




痴痴地等
词:陶秦 曲:王福龄 演唱:静婷

不知道是早晨
不知道是黃昏 
看不到天上的雲
見不到街邊的燈 

黑漆漆 陰沉沉
你讓我在這裡痴痴地等 

想的是你的愛
想的是你的吻 
流不盡相思的淚
熬不完離別的恨 

夢悠悠 昏沉沉
你讓我在這裡痴痴地等 

也曾聽到走近的足聲
撩起我多少興奮
也曾低呼你的名字
盼著你向我飛奔 

看清楚掠過的影子
才知道是一個陌生的人 

會不會你再來
要不要我再等 
一遍遍我自己想
一聲聲我自己問 

愛也深 恨也深
我還是在這裡痴痴地等

Thursday, November 22, 2012

A Parent's Love

      

We are so busy growing up and we often forgot our parents are also growing old.

If one day, the one who begets, gives birth to, nurtures and raises you is gone. Someone who is genetically related and closest blood relationship with you in the world is gone and no one else in this world will love you unreservedly for all anymore.

Think about the times when you are young, maybe you were hit or beaten by your parents and hold a grudge against them but have you ever know that they will be weeping secretly. It's not because they don't love you, is because your naughty, bad and silly behavior have let them speechless that they have no other alternative but to do it. You can hate anyone but not them because they are your parents who love you selflessly more than anyone else does. Think back when you were small, how they carry you when you fall, wipe your tears when you cried, fight away all your fears when you would scream, held your little hands on your first tried faltering steps and teach you to speak for the first word. They give you the best that they could.

As you grow up and starts to work in the society, even knowing that you would tantrum but still they will call to remind you for dinner just in case you are too busy in work and have forgotten to eat. Therefore, no matter how busy your schedule is, remember to go home for dinner with them and don't let them call for numerous times when you still don't pick up the phone. If you are not with them and call them at least every week to update them your situation. Don't make it a regret when you wish to and there's no more opportunity as no one else will be like them who care about how you are doing, how's your work, whether you are fat or skinny or in good health or sleep well. So, don't let them always worry about you, they do not need much money but they want to hear from you and accompany by you because you are the most precious love and closest forever in their heart. Spend time with them and be patience to take care of them when they fall sick for they need most of your love when they are weak. Just like they coddled you when you were sick.

Life is too short and unpredictable, so don't wait as you will never know what will happen in the next minute. Some say picture is worth a thousand words and kept memories that will last forever. Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory and feelings change, memories don't. Every memory is precious whether it is a good one or bad one; they overall shape us for who we are today, so don't let anyone of them go. If you have not yet photograph with your parents and go take some pictures for you will never regret in doing it as regardless of your relationship with your parents, you will miss them when they are gone from your life.

The most beautiful thing in this world is to see your parents smile
and the next best thing is to know that
you are the reason behind that smile. 

Tears of an Angel

RyanDan (born December 5, 1979) is a Canadian musical, songwriting and producing duo, consisting of identical twins Ryan and Dan Kowarsky whose music is a mix of pop, opera and classical.

Tears of an Angel was written by the duo in memory of their late niece, Tal who died from a brain tumor at age four while they were recording the album in 2007.

It's a very beautiful song and both Ryan and Dan have harmonize the song so well that I thought it was just one person singing when I first heard it.

When we are touched by something it's as if we're being brushed by an angel's wings.


                

TEARS OF AN ANGEL
RyanDan

Cover my eyes
Cover my ears
Tell me these words are a lie
It can't be true
That I'm losing you
The sun can not fall from the sky

Can you hear heaven cry
The tears of an angel
The tears of an angel
The tears of an angel
The tears of an angel

Stop every clock
The stars are in shock
The river won't run to the sea
I won't let you fly
I won't say goodbye
I won't let you slip away from me

Can you hear heaven cry
The tears of an angel
The tears of an angel
The tears of an angel
The tears of an angel

So hold on be strong
Every day hope will grow
I'm here don't you fear little one
Don't let go ... Whoah ...
Don't let go ... Whoah ...
Don't let go ... Whoah ...

Cover my eyes
Cover my ears
Tell me these words are a lie

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

愛。回家


共三百集的二零一二年香港时装处境喜剧《爱·回家》是透过寻常家庭事,以真实个案为蓝本。生活中的甜酸苦辣、悲喜交杂、剪不断的血缘关系和爱与包容让一家人连在一起。在剧中我们可以看到自己及身边人的反照,从剧中的人物经历,反思个人及家庭关系,从而得到启发,是一部值得看的剧集。

即使不相信全世界,我们依然可以相信爱就在家。

       

PLEASE DON'T CRY
作曲, 填词, 主唱:李俊佳

Please don't cry
I won't be gone for long
Dry your eyes
Promise me that you'll be strong

For a while
Every morning to tell you how much 
I want to thank you 
For the things you've done for me
For the times you stood by me

Saturday, November 17, 2012

The Gift

Jim Brickman (born November 20, 1961), an American songwriter and pianist who released his first Christmas CD, The Gift with the title song in 1997.

Love is always bestowed as a gift 
- freely, willingly and without expectation. 
We don't love to be loved; we love to love. 


      

THE GIFT
Jim Brickman with Anne Cochran and Tracy Silverman

Winter snow is falling down
Children laughing all around
Lights are turning on 
Like a fairy tale come true

Sitting by the fire we made
You're the answer when I prayed
I would find someone
And baby I found you

All I want is to hold you forever
All I need is you more every day
You saved my heart from being broken apart
You gave your love away
And I'm thankful every day
For the gift

Watching as you softly sleep
What I'd give if I could keep
Just this moment
If only time stood still

But the colors fade away
And the years will make us grey
But baby in my eyes
You'll still be beautiful

All I want is to hold you forever
All I need is you more every day
You saved my heart from being broken apart
You gave your love away
(I can't find the words to say)
And I'm thankful every day
For the gift

Right Here Waiting

Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx (born September 16, 1963) was the second album from Repeat Offender released in 1989, after his first album Satisfied. He wrote the song on the road as a love letter to his wife, actress Cynthia Rhodes who is seven years his senior when she was in South Africa shooting for a film.

After a four-year courtship, the couple married on January 8, 1989 and Rhodes retired from film acting, dancing and singing to become stay-at-home mother to the couple's three sons in Lake Bluff, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

Once again, a true-life story that mark of a true love waits and no else matters.

Finding true love lasts neither overnight nor a whole lifetime.
There's no telling when your soul mate will pass your very eyes, 
catching your glance, trigger that tiny slumbering spark inside your heart 
and fuel that long awaited feeling to bud. 
Waiting may bring you the feeling of frustration 
but you'll realize every idle moment spent is sensible 
once you landed in the arms of that person.




RIGHT HERE WAITING - Richard Marx

Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn't stop the pain

If I see you next to never
How can we say forever

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I took for granted, all the times
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now

Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me going crazy
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
(Waiting for you)

I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I'm with you
I'll take the chance

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves


Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves directed by Kevin Reynolds released in June 14, 1991. The first time I watched it was twenty years ago and now, rewatching it again, even though there was a few mistakes, goofs and bloopers with the film and Kevin Costner (with his not so English accent) might not be the best Robin Hood but this film is still the best Robin Hood with the most entertaining action-adventure that I have ever watched.

Sometimes the only way to uphold justice is to break the law. For the good of all men and the love of one woman, he fought to uphold justice by breaking the law. Robin Hood, a heroic outlaw in English folklore, a highly skilled archer and swordsman assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men" has been known for robbing from the rich and giving to the poor in the beginning of the 19th century.

The film begins with Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner), an English nobleman is captured and jailed in a dungeon in Jerusalem along with his comrade Peter. Robin escapes, saving the life of a Moor named Azeem (Morgan Freeman) in the process but Peter dies in the attempt and has Robin swears to protect his sister Marian (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). Robin makes the long journey back to England with Azeem, who claims he must accompany Robin until the debt of saving his life is repaid.

In England, with King Richard I gone, the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman) rules over the land, aided by his brute cousin, Guy of Gisbourne (Michael Wincott) along with the precognitive evil witch Mortianna (Geraldine McEwan) and the corrupt Bishop of Hereford. At Locksley castle, Robin finds his father dead, his home in ruins and the Sheriff and his men oppressing the people. With his lands and reputation gone Robin swears to avenge his father's murder. Robin then begins by seeking out Maid Marian, the cousin of the king and his childhood friend. He is immediately attracted to Marian, although she does not return the feelings which poses a problem because Nottingham also has his sights set on her.

While fleeing the Sheriff's forces, Robin and Azeem encounter a band of outlaws hiding in Sherwood Forest where they come across Little John (Nick Brimble) and a large group of woodsmen, all of whom were outlawed through the tyranny of the Sheriff. After proving his skill in single combat, Robin is accepted into their group and eventually becomes their leader. Robin encourages his men to fight back against Nottingham and begins to train them to defend themselves. They rob English soldiers and convoys that pass through the forest, then distribute the stolen wealth among the poor while they build weapons and homes in the forest.

The ending is beautiful, as usual bad guy died and good people have a blessed ending. Robin and Marian profess their love for each other and marry in the forest. The soundtrack song, (Everything I Do) I Do It For You by Bryan Adams was awesome as well.

Movie Trailer:

                




(EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU
Bryan Adams 

Look into my eyes, you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart, search your soul
And when you find me there
You'll search no more 

 Don't tell me, it's not worth trying for 
You can't tell me, it's not worth dying for 
You know it's true 
Everything I do, I do it for you 

Look into your heart, you will find 
There's nothing there to hide
Take me as I am, take my life
I would give it all, I would sacrifice

Don't tell me it's not worth fighting for
I can't help it, there's nothing I want more
You know it's true
Everything I do, I do it for you, oh yeah

There's no love, like your love
And no other could give more love
There's nowhere, unless you're there
All the time, all the way yeah

Look into your heart baby
Oh yeah

Oh, you can't tell me it's not worth trying for
I can't help it, there's nothing I want more
Yeah I would fight for you I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you
Yeah I'd die for you
You know it's true 
Everything I do, ohh, I do it for you

Sunday, November 11, 2012

咖啡


记得小时候,看着妈妈每天喝着浓厚的黑咖啡,那浓浓的香味飘洒在四周,觉得非常好奇,不知道咖啡会是什么味道。可是,在一口喝下去之后只感觉到它的苦涩,于是,那时候的我对咖啡只有一个评价,就是苦。慢慢地,在步入社会工作后,为了提神醒脑,就习惯每天早上喝一杯热咖啡,不过是加了浓缩牛奶或糖来减底它的苦涩。

咖啡本来就是苦涩,如果加了别的东西,苦涩的味道没有了,换来的却是另一种味道。最近,经朋友的介绍,学会了另一种品尝咖啡的方法。就是嘴里含一口牛奶巧克力,再喝一口无糖无侣的黑咖啡。那滋味甜中带苦,苦中带甜,浓中带淡,淡中带涩,当巧克力融化于嘴里后,喉嚨还有种苦而回甘的味道。

有人说爱情就像一杯咖啡,只有你去慢慢的品尝它,慢慢的体会,才会感觉到它的先苦后甜。但是,到底有多少人的爱情能够真正的走过苦涩,最后拥有甘甜呢 。。。 。。。 也有人说人生就像咖啡的味道一样,永远摆脱不了那一份苦涩,可是苦涩之后,就会有一份香甜。就象人生有着那历经坎坷和曲折的日子,也有着那幸福的欢乐时光和快乐时刻。

随着岁月的成长,人生的苦涩也远远超出于咖啡的苦涩,再也不觉得它是苦苦的,喝着难受,反而是一种浓郁清香的味道,让你依恋不舍。

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

The People vs. Larry Flynt

File:People vs larry flynt poster.jpg Milos Forman's film in 1996, The People vs. Larry Flynt follows the twenty-five years of Hustler Magazine Publisher Larry Claxton Flynt, Jr.'s life from his impoverished upbringing in Kentucky to his court battle with Reverend Jerry Falwell. It recounts his struggle to make an honest living publishing his porn magazine and how it changes into a battle to protect the freedom of speech for all people.

The film begins in 1953 with a ten years old Larry Flynt who is raised in poverty is selling moonshine (unlicensed alcohol) in Kentucky. Twenty years later, Larry (Woody Harrelson) and his younger brother, Jimmy (Brett Harrelson) found some success running the Hustler Go-Go club in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. With the profits down, Larry decides to publish a newsletter for his business, the first Hustler magazine, which quickly became known as one of the most sexually explicit and shocking magazines in the country.

With the help from his wife Althea (Courtney Love) and brother Jimmy, Larry makes a fortune from the sales of his magazine. However, Larry soon found himself in constant legal trouble with his success comes. He befriends with a young lawyer, Alan Isaacman (Edward Norton) who defends him in the name of Free Speech and the First Amendment to the US Constitution (1791).

ALTHEA FLYNT
(November 6, 1953 – June 27, 1987)
In 1978, Larry and Alan are both shot by a man with a rifle while they walk outside a courthouse during one of the trial. Alan recovers but Larry is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair for the rest of his life. In 1983, Larry undergoes surgery to deaden several nerves and as a result, feels rejuvenated. He returns to an active role with the publication and publishes a satirical parody ad in which Reverend Jerry Falwell (Richard Paul) tells of a sexual encounter with his mother in an out-house near Lynchburg, Virginia. Jerry sued Larry, citing emotional distress caused by the ad. The case goes to trial in December 1984, the jury found in favor of Larry on the libel claim, but found in favor of Jerry on the intentional infliction of emotional distress charge and awarded Jerry $150,000 in damages. In 1988, Larry won an important Supreme Court decision, Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, after an appealing.

JERRY LAMON FALWELL, SR. 
(August 11, 1933 – May 15, 2007)
The film ends reveal that Larry Flynt lives in Los Angeles and his assailant was never brought to justice. Alan Issaacman is still Larry Flynt's attorney and Jerry Falwell remains as one of the most respected religious figures in America.

ALAN L. ISAACMAN
(born July 12, 1942)
After Jerry Falwell's death, the real Larry Flynt stated he and Jerry Falwell had become friends over the years despite their differences. In the film, he himself made a cameo appearance as an Ohio judge and also a jury member in the court scene of the Jerry Falwell case.

This is an old film but I only watched it recently, one of the critics which I read and agreed with it, "This isn't a movie about Larry Flynt, the porn king. It's more a movie about the right to say what you want to say, without having to think of every person's opinion first."

This is a film which either you like it or you hate it and since I am into a biographical drama film, this film is still worth to watch.

Movie Trailer:

       

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

母亲,母亲

除了中国古代历史剧集或名著以外,向来很少看中国的电视剧。碰巧看了一则影评说《母亲,母亲》这剧不错,值得一看,于是才开始正式跟着看。看完了这部二零一二年由李云亮导演的三十六集中国电视剧才发觉这实在是一部非常好的电视剧,它让我若干次的感动泪下。


故事开始于一九一一年的重庆,十八岁的金国秀(饰袁莉)为了筹钱救父亲,惜别昔日恋人祝宇中(饰姚卓君)嫁到城中富商侯志宏(饰胡亚捷)家做填房,并接受侯志宏前妻的临终嘱托抚养其子云朗。在侯家,国秀得不到丈夫的关爱,婆婆侯母(饰斯琴高娃)经常的刁难,继子云朗不认她这个后妈,处处难堪。但坚毅好强的个性支撑她挑起生活的大梁,慢慢赢得了侯家及当地商界的尊重;接替了侯母成为候家生意一把手,继子云朗待她如亲母,她与丈夫志宏也生下了第一个孩子云峰。

志宏与宇中结识,并一同前往云南讲武堂学习,一年后志宏回川加入地方军阀,并与护国军战败后被捕。怀着身孕的国秀为了救他而东奔西跑,但她发现他竟然跟一个戏子出身的子萍(饰黄曼)有外遇还怀着身孕。最终,国秀产下了女儿-如玉,而子萍则产下了儿子-云灿。昔日恋人祝宇中携带妻儿回渝从事革命工作,后妻子牺牲,他只身逃离,年幼的儿子云旭就托付给国秀。

时光荏苒,侯家的五个孩子在国秀的照料下逐渐成长,云朗(饰邹廷威)娶了下乡姑娘莲莲(饰蒋林珊)。抗战爆发,云朗和云峰(饰李京泽)与父亲同赴抗日前线,英勇作战,后云朗为掩护云峰而牺牲。在一次空袭中,子萍为保护难童而牺牲,云灿(饰刘禹)胸怀家仇国恨,参加远征军,入缅作战。国秀则创办收容所收养轰炸中失去亲人的孤儿,成为上千孤儿的金妈妈。在日军一次大轰炸中,侯母为保护云旭(饰李京泽)而身亡,远方也传来云灿阵亡的噩耗。国秀不相信,坚持到云南寻找云灿,历经艰险,终于找到双腿已被炸残的云灿并接其回家。

一九四五年抗战胜利,志宏回渝后成为抗日名将,云峰则在脱险后加入共产党。随后,内战爆发,云峰以教书先生的身份从事地下工作。女儿如玉(饰石天琦)爱上青年共产党员盛涛(饰叶静),两人结为夫妇,也潜伏在中统机密部门,云灿则帮助云峰开展革命宣传。在子女的进步思想影响下,国秀开始接触共产党国并变卖家产,成立光华学校,专门收养难童。

解放前夕,如玉为中共传递情报,地下工作者的身份暴露被捕,为求尊严与全尸,解救女儿无果的志宏只能用一杯毒酒亲手毒死女儿。不久,云峰也因叛徒出卖被捕入狱,国民党威逼利诱,云峰不为所动,被残酷杀害。国秀默默承受儿女们牺牲的悲痛,仍继续为解放事业积极奉献。她的一生经历过辛亥革命、护国战争、军阀战争、国共合作、抗日战争、解放战争,却始终以坦然无私的胸怀来面对坎坷艰辛,悲喜无数的人生际遇。她前半生为了儿女,奉献自己的幸福,培养出拥有优秀品质的五个儿女;后半生为了国家,奉献了儿女们的生命,为国家与民族解放做出了无畏牺牲。

在全剧三十六集里,第十九集是让我最感动,最无奈和最痛恨战争的无情,分离与残酷。那一张唯一而仅有的最后一张全家照,诉说了多少的悲酸生离死别。一首京剧《三家店》唱出了不舍和叵测的未来。

Marley & Me

File:MarleyPoster.jpgDogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.

A 2008 American comedy drama film, Marley & Me directed by David Frankel based on the memoir of the same name by John Grogan. A story about the thirteen years he and his family spent with their yellow Labrador Retriever, Marley.

John Grogan (Owen Wilson) and Jenny (Jennifer Aniston) are a newlywed couple who just begins their life together. They are young and in love, with a perfect little house in South Florida and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley (named after reggae singer Bob Marley), a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy and life will never be the same.

Marley, unlike other dogs, he grows into a barreling and incorrigible ninety-seven-pound steamroller of a Labrador Retriever. He is strong, powerful, endlessly hungry, eager to be active and often destructive of the property (but completely without malice). Even a dog obedience school did no good to Marley and he is expelled.

John, a reporters for competing newspapers is offers a twice-weekly column in which he can discuss the fun and foibles of everyday living and he realizes that the misadventures of Marley might be the perfect topic for his first piece. So, Marley continues to wreak havoc on the household, providing John with a wealth of material for his column which becomes a hit with readers and helps increase the newspaper's circulation.

As years go by, John and Jennifer have children of their own and moves across the country from South Florida to Boca Raton and to a farm in rural Pennsylvania while Marley continues to test everyone's patience by acting like the world's most impulsive dog. Yet his acts and behaviors are forgiven, just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless too. He become an indispensable part of the family.

Life is idyllic until the aging Marley begins to show signs of arthritis, deafness and an attack of gastric dilatation volvulus (a stomach torsion condition).

A heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life.

JOHN GROGAN
(born March 20, 1957)
A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours.
Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy,
about seizing the moment and following your heart.
He taught me to appreciate the simple things - a walk in the woods, 
a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight.
And as he grew old and achy,
he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity.
Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness
and above all else, unwavering loyalty.
- John Grogan

Movie Trailer:

      

Monday, November 5, 2012

We Bought A Zoo


Everyone has a story to tell and a 2011 comedy drama film, We Bought A Zoo directed by Cameron Crowe based on the 2008 memoir of the same name by Benjamin Mee tells a true story of himself, a single father and his family who bought and moved in an old house on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon with a dilapidated zoo in August 2006 and took on the challenge of preparing the zoo for its reopening to the public in July 2007 after a major refurbishment.

The story begins with a freelance journalist, Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) who has lost his wife and still grieving his loss. He decides to start a new life by buying a house with a zoo in the back, his seven years old daughter is delighted with the idea but his fourteen years old son is not happy about it and retreats away to his artwork which have grown more macabre since the death of his mother.

Benjamin, coping with the devastating loss of his wife while struggling to raise his children with financial problems and the staff grew skeptical in a zoo that was crumbling around them. To make things worse, the visiting of local council to inspect the park now and then and if Benjamin couldn't complete the costly renovations in twelve weeks, the animals will have to destroy.

In the film, the zoo is called Rosemoor Wildlife Park and is situated in America instead of Dartmoor Zoological Park (originally Dartmoor Wildlife Park) in the South West of England and the story also differs in that Benjamin Mee and his two children bought the zoo after the death of Benjamin's wife. The fact is they bought the zoo before Benjamin's wife, Katherine died on March 31 2007 after a short battle with an aggressive brain tumour.

The real Benjamin Mee and his family at his zoo
Benjamin Mee (center) with his son Milo, daughter Ella, brother Duncan and mother Amelia. 
Today, the real Benjamin along with his children Milo and Ella, brother Duncan and mother Amelia still live at and run Dartmoor Zoological Park with a fantastic collection of 250 exotic animals including the widest variety of big cats in the south west of England. In 2011, Dartmoor Zoological Park is being voted as the UK's Top Wildlife Attraction with drawing in more visitors than ever.

Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, 
just literally 20 seconds of embarrassing bravery, 
and I promise you, something great will come of it. 

Movie Trailer:

      

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Food, Inc


Food, Inc is an American documentary film directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Robert Kenner and narrated by Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser released in 2008. The film explores how food is grown, where the food at the grocery store really comes from and what it means for the health of the future generations.

There are few segments in the film; the industrial production of meat (chicken, beef and pork), the industrial production of grains and vegetables (primarily corn and soy beans) and the economic and legal power, such as food label laws of the major food companies.

Just like the slogan in the poster said, "You'll never look at dinner the same way again." after watching it.

Movie Trailer:

      

Full Film: 

Friday, November 2, 2012

The Legend of 1900

The Legend of 1900 (La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano) is a 1998 film directed by the Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore inspired by a theater monologue, Novecento (Nine Hundred) by Alessandro Baricco.


Shortly after the Second World War, Max Tonney (Pruitt Taylor Vince), a jazz musician enters a secondhand music shop just before the closing time to sell his Conn trumpet. He is broke and badly in need of money. Clearly torn at parting from his prized possession, he asks to play it one last time. The shopkeeper recognizes the tune from a broken record matrix he found inside a recently acquired secondhand piano from a cruise ship that served as a hospital ship in WWII and now slated for demolition. While the record is playing and Max begins to tell the story of 1900.

On the 1st of January in 1900, Danny Boodmann (Bill Nunn), the mechanic of the transatlantic liner Virginian bound for America, finds an abandoned baby in a box on board the ship. He decides to keep him and name the boy Danny Boodman T.D. Lemon 1900 (a combination of his own name, an advertisement found on the box and the year he born). Everyone call him by his nickname, 1900, the boy grows up and raises in the engine rooms hiding from the ship's officers until Danny's death in an accident. 1900, at his eight is forced to survive aboard on the ship as an orphan and for many years, he travels back and forth across the Atlantic. In 1927, 1900 (Tim Roth) a charming, iconoclastic young man befriends with Max who plays trumpet and together they join in the ship's orchestra. Increasingly lured by the sound of the piano in the first-class ballroom, 1900 eventually became a gifted pianist. He soon becomes a virtuoso whose reputation spreads beyond the confines of the ship. Even the famous jazz piano player, Jelly Roll Morton (Clarence Williams III) of New Orleans jazz fame gets on board for a challenge with him to a piano duel.

Jelly Roll MortonWith all his life living on the ship, Max has encouraged 1900 to go on dry land but he never leaves the ship. Apparently, the outside world is too "big" for his imagination and he rather stays current in it. Max leaves the ship's orchestra in 1933.

Back to the mid-1940s, SS Virginian is scheduled to be scuttled and sunk far offshore. Max who believes that 1900 is still on the ship and attempts to convince him to leave the ship. But he is too daunted by the size of the world and feeling that his fate is tied to the ship, 1900 cannot bring himself to leave the only home he has known.

The film is not based on true story but the character acted by Clarence Williams III was real. Jerry Roll Morton (October 20, 1890 - July 10, 1941) who claimed to have invented jazz outright in 1902, at the age of fourteen, he began working as a piano player in a brothel and in 2008, he was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

The Legend of 1900 is one of the best film with glorious music, beautiful cinematography and a terrific jazz piano duel that shouldn't be missed.

Movie Trailer:




浣溪沙



《浣溪沙》 晏殊

一向年光有限身,等闲离别易销魂。酒筵歌席莫辞频。
满目山河空念远,落花风雨更伤春。不如怜取眼前人。

世间最珍贵的不是 ‘得不到’ 和 ‘已失去’, 而是现在能把握的幸福。

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Late Blossom (그대를 사랑합니다)

Love is always an open arms. If you close your arms about love you will find that you are left holding only yourself and relish love in the old age is like an aged wine; it becomes more satisfying, more refreshing, more valuable, more appreciated and more intoxicating!

Late Blossom (그대를 사랑합니다) is a 2011 South Korean film written and directed by Choo Chang-min about the love story of two elderly couples who live in the same neighborhood.

Four senior citizens, Kim Man-Seok (Lee Soon-Jae), Song Ee-peun (Yun So-Jeong), Jang Kun-Bong (Song Jae-Ho) and Jang's wife Jo Soon-yi (Kim Soo-Mi) living in a hillside village.

Kim is a widow and a cranky milkman with a short fuse and a foul mouth. He wakes the village early each morning with his noisy, battered motorcycle to deliver the milk in the neighborhood. One day when he goes up a slope, he meets Song, a lonely woman who scavenges for scrap paper to sell for her daily expenses while roaming around the town at daybreak. Both of them had a tragic post-love story; Kim had a loving wife but he neglected her and eventually led to her death due to an unattended cancer; Song believes she is getting bad karma for leaving her mother and not being able to save her sick child when her husband left them. As two of them meet again and again each days, Kim feels something special towards Song and they slowly develop the kind of love which makes Kim smile from ear to ear just at the thought of Song.

Song parks her handcart at a junkyard and gets to know Jang, the caretaker of the parking lot next to the scrap yard. Jang has a wife who suffers from Alzheimer's after their three children left them to start their own families. Jang works from dawn till late at night and takes care of his wife after work when he comes home. One day, Jang wakes up late to work and forgets to lock his house door and asks Song to fasten it for him. Meanwhile, Jang’s afflicted wife, Jo walks out from the unlocked house and wanders around in the town. Fortunately, Kim sees her in the playground and drive her around to find her home. Jo happily sitting on the back of Kim’s motorbike and thinking that is Jang who driving her in a blossom garden.

The film revolves around four of them, a simple yet truly endearing tale of beautiful twilight love. You will smile for the sweetest moments between Kim and Song and laugh for the funniest friendship times between them until the bittersweet ending of the two couples that makes you cry.

Towards the end of the film, Jang gathers all his three children, daughter-in-laws, son-in-law and grandchildren in his house just to see them the last time before he griefs to make the decision to commit suicide together with his wife after he finds out that she is suffering from a terminal illness. In an enclosed room with charcoal burning stove, Jang says to his wife, "I will still want to be with you again in our next life ... ..." The next morning, they were found died on the bed holding each other hands.

After attending the funeral, Song decided to leave Kim as she realised that death will happen to them in the near future too and she will not be able to bear the bitterness of separation with Kim. She wants to keep the sweet memories of them in her heart.


The film ends with a doctor removing the oxygen mask from Kim in the hospital while he smiling and imagines of driving Song on his back in his old motorbike ... ...

Life's greatest happiness is to have someone hand in hand in life. 

Movie Trailer: