RE-MAKE

Why?

This is a subject I have ranted about on many occasions – just ask my Husband – and seeing as a particular subject has brought it into the foreground again, I feel compelled to  comment.

If it’s not broken – don’t fix it!

I don’t see the point of remaking a perfectly good film. Seriously. If a film has been made so well, why would you try to recreate that success years later with new actors/directors etc… it won’t and does not work. And what has brought about this latest set of ranting from me? This week it was announced that Baz Luhrmann is to direct a new 3D version of ‘The Great Gatsby’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

COME ON!!!

This is a 1974 film classic! Why would you try to remake that masterpiece? (bearing in mind it is a re-make itself) What’s the point? Do you really think Leo is going to be any better than Robert Redford (and I just want to point out I am a Leo fan). Is 3D really going to enhance this film? (do not even get me started on everyone using 3D  at the moment, it’s like the people who think it’s a great idea to make every musical now ‘actor-musician’ but I digress…) Was the 2000 TV Film successful – no – so why bother? It just makes me mad. What is the point of re-making films when there are so many great stories out there to be told! So many classic books that have never made it to film, new works that deserve some screen time. What about converting some plays? Seriously people use your imaginations!

Films that have been overly successful are usually due to a number of factors – right timing for the piece, great cast/crew that have a great bond/chemistry, lots of factors. And producers/directors come along thinking ‘hey let’s remake this film from 20 years ago – it was successful then, it will be successful again and we will make money’ WRONG! Do you really think you can make an Alfred Hitchcock film BETTER than Alfred Hitchcock?

I mean there are exceptions to this rule. For example ‘Little Women’. It was originally made into a film in 1933 starring Katherine Hepburn – but does anyone really remember this version? No because it was the 1949 remake that was far superior and the ‘definitive’ version in my opinion. Starring June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor,  Peter Lawford, Margaret O’Brien and Janet Leigh it was a beautiful film. So yes, sometimes re-makes can be better, but Hollywood, not satisfied with this then went and did 2 more re-makes of this film – one in 1978 starring Meredith Baxter (has anyone ever seen this??) and then the 1994 version with Susan Sarandon and Winona Ryder – why???

Here is a list (just for you Richard) of some notable films that were re-made and did not live up to their originals:

12 Angry Men

Alfie

It’s A Wonderful Life – remade in 1977 as ‘It Happened One Christmas’

The Karate Kid

King Kong

Little Miss Marker

The/A Little Princess

An Affair To Remember - remade in 1994 as 'Love Affair' (although 'AATR' was a re-make of the 1939 film 'Love Affair')

Miracle on 34^th Street

The Nutty Professor

Annie

Oceans 11

The Parent Trap

Dial M for Murder

Planet of the Apes

Psycho

The Time Machine

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane  - !?!?!?!$*##;@#$%^%%!!!

Yours, Mine and Ours

The Pink Panther


One re-make I didn’t mind was ‘The Italian Job’. I liked it because they brought it into the present day, they were able to incorporate modern technologies to make it their own film, without trying to be the original and they paid homage to the original. And also Hairspray – the musical version is SO much better than the original!

And then you get films like FAME! Well the original was woeful – nothing could possibly save it, so….I know, let’s re-make it and it will be much better – no people, have you never heard of the saying ‘you can’t polish a turd’?

Next they will be re-making ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ or ‘The Godfather’ – could you imagine anyone else other than Marlon Brando? What about ‘The Sound of Music’ or ‘Mary Poppins’ without Julie Andrews? Of course not! But 20 years from now some ‘bright spark’ will think it’s a good idea….

I am not saying all re-makes are bad, they aren’t. Especially if has been over 50 + years since the original and they can be updated and portrayed in a new way. It’s the classics, the Oscar winning, world renowned films, that are of a time/place, that just shouldn’t be touched. Leave them as they are and go discover something new. Go find or write your own ‘Gatsby’ and let’s not even talk about ‘sequels’…..

Rant over.

Honeymoon Update!

Well it's only 8 weeks and 3 days now until our Honeymoon (not that I'm counting or anything...) and I thought I  would share some more details of this epic adventure, so y'all know what we have in store - but not too much - just a bit of a teaser, as I will be going into much more detail whilst actually on the holiday! So let's start at the very beginning.....

San Francisco 

We are spending 5 days in this beautiful (altho one of those days is dedicated to getting over jet-lag!). SF is a place I have always wanted to go and have heard nothing but great things from everyone I know that have been there, so here is a run down on this city.....

Accommodation: Hotel des Arts

Highlights:
Hop-on Hop-off Tour of San Francisco
Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour
Alcatraz - night tour
San Francisco Movie Sites Tour (we had to get some Clint Eastwood/Dirty Harry films in the trip somewhere!)
Napa Valley Wine Country Tour
Golden Gate Bay Cruise
Visit - The Emabrcado, The Piers and Fisherman's Wharf
Beach Blanket Babylon

We then hop in our hire car and start the 2 day journey down the West Coast to Los Angeles! (side note it doesn't actually take 2 days to drive to LA - for those that have never been - we just want to take our time and stop and see the sites!)

Accommodation: Inn at Morro Bay

Highlights:
17-Mile drive (The Lone Cypress, Fanshell Overlook, Spanish Bay, Point Joe, Lodge at Pebble Beach)
Monterey
Carmel (the home of Doris Day)
Pacific Grove
Morro Bay
Hearst Castle
Malibu
Santa Monica
Venice Beach

By the end of this 2 day drive/sightseeing adventure we will be ready to have a good night's sleep before 2 days of excitement, fun and adventure at......DISNEYLAND!!!

Accommodation: Disneyland Paradise Pier Hotel

Not really much more to say about this - 2 days filled with Disneyland magic! I AM SO EXCITED!! After our second full day at Disneyland, we leave our hotel in Anaheim and transfer to our cheaper, but location friendly hotel in Hollywood!

Accommodation: Hollywood Orchid Suites

Highlights:
Grand City Tour of Los Angeles and Hollywood Homes
Hollywood Blvd sightseeing
Behind-the-Scenes-Tour of the Kodak theatre, Grauman's, El Capitan, Egyptian and Roosevelt Hotel
Warner Bros. Studio VIP Tour
Hollywood Museum

We then pick up our next hire car and start the drive thru the desert to meet up with the Adlems in LAS VEGAS!

Accommodation: MGM Grand

Highlights:
Grand Canyon
Hoover Dam
Checking out the Hotels and Casinos
Hanging out with Ann and Andrew

After a few days we then jump in a plane, leaving the West Coast behind, and head across country to New York!

We are staying in NYC with our friend Lauren at her apartment in Manhattan - where I have stayed the previous times I have visited. NYC is not going to be as tour/tourist filled as the other cities as we have both been before and we want to spend time catching up with all the friends we have living here and checking out some great bars and restaurants and just generally exploring the place. We are here for 9 days , so we do have a list of things we may or may not do depending on how we feel!

Highlights:
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Museums
Lincoln Centre Tour
Greenwich Village Walking Tour
Sopranos Tour
Movie Sites Tour
Yankees vs Red Sox game
Sightseeing Cruise on the Hudson
Brooklyn Bridge

Shows:
Anything Goes
Catch Me If You Can
How to Succeed in Business

After 9 fabulous days we will be heading to our final destination - for a bit of relaxation to finish off this epic trip - Miami!

Accommodation: Fountaine Bleau

We wanted to end the trip with a few days relaxing lying by a pool, drinking cocktails, eating and not doing a lot do our travel agent suggested a resort in Miami. So that's pretty much what we are going to do - we may hire a pool cabana one day and do a tour of Key West, but otherwise it will be plenty of  lying pool side or o the beach!

So that's the overall plan - well highlights anyway! We have been given some great recommendations from friends on places to go, where to eat, shop etc... but if anyone else had any recommendations please send them our way! I will do my best to update each city as we go with all the details! Ok... back to work so I can actually afford this trip!

Where Would You Go?

Movies are a fad. Audiences really want to see live actors on a stage - Charlie Chaplin


So, last week I watched the movie Chaplin starring Robert Downey Jnr, which is loosely based on the life and Biography of Charlie Chaplin. I had seen the movie years ago, and felt like a trip down nostalgia lane - and it was. Not just the re-discovery that Robert Downey Jnr is a fabulous actor, but it also took me back to a time when this world - silent movies - were my fascination, my passion.


I spent the majority of my early-mid teens immersed in the glamour and intrigue of the early 20th Century film world. The glamour of names like Chaplin, Pickford, Fairbanks, Swanson, Valentino, Bow, the intrigue of 'Pickfair', the creation of United Artists, the scandals and just the general creation of the motion picture.


So last night, on the way home from my Swing Dance class in Fremantle (swing originally came out of dances like the Charleston - a popular 1920's partner dance - there is a connection here I promise), I started thinking about travelling back to that time period. What would I do and where would I go if, in fact, I had my own DeLorean?

Everyone has different points in history they would like to travel to, if they had means, and see things/people/places that have been lost in time or immortalised through books, film, stories and legends. For me I really would only want to travel within the last 150 years or so, that's really where my fascination lies. Sure, civilisation has been evolving over thousands and thousands of years, but the things that really capture my attention are the more recent ones. I mean, sure I would probably want to have a quick wander around Dickensian London, and discover the world of Oliver Twist and Jack the Ripper - but maybe not too closely, and just see how different London was compared to the London I lived and breathed for 2.5 years. But mainly it's America in the 20th Century that fascinates me.


I have always had a love for the era's between 1920-1960. I don't know why, it's something I can't explain, but I am drawn to America during this period. From the 1920's Silent Era, to the invention of 'Talkies', from the glamour of the Ziegfeld Follies & Gypsy Rose Lee to the Wall Street crash of 1929 plunging the country into Depression. From FDR to Hoover, the  Gangsters, MGM Musicals to WWII and the 1940's with all the Big Band music to the Golden Age of Hollywood and Doris Day, this is where my passion lies, even to the extent that for a lot of my teens I wanted to be an historian. I was lucky enough, as part of my Year 11 History class, to be able to study 'America: Between the Wars' and this just helped to fuel the fire. So I guess, if I were to jump in the Delorean and have Doc set the date, these are some of the things I would like to do:

• Experience when the Movies became more than 'a fad'
• Drink Gin from a tea cup in a real 'Speakeasy'
• Have a dance lesson with Gene Kelly
• Crash the set of Gidget
• Ride in a Chrysler Imperial E80 
• Become an avid listener of many Radio Programs
• Participate in a Dance Marathon
• Join the hordes of screaming fans at Grauman's Chinese Theatre for the premiers of Gloria Swanson and Charlie Chaplin films.
• Explore New York City and the birth of 'Broadway'
• Participate in the war effort
• Cut my hair short, put on a Cloche hat and dance the Charleston
• Listen to the Glenn Miller Orchestra LIVE
• Make a Mack Sennett picture
• Be an extra in a Beach Party Movie or MGM Musical 
• Wear authentic Vintage Clothes!
• Hang out at the Cotton Club
• See Babe Ruth hit a home run
• Experience the music of Gershwin and Cole Porter for the very first time
• See the HOLLYWOODLAND sign
• Go to opening nights of so many shows
• Have a soda at Schwab's Drug Store
• Walk around the MGM Studio lot - when it was still MGM
• Sneak a peak at Hoover's secret files!
• Be at the first meeting of United Artists
• Be styled by Max Factor
• Attend a party at Pickfair
• Hear the Andrews Sisters live - and many other performers for that matter!

I wouldn't want to try and change the world or the events of history causing my very own 'Butterfly Effect' because, as the wise Doc Brown said: 'the consequences of that could be disastrous'. And I believe everything happens the way it does for a reason. I would just like a glimpse into those times that interest me, so that I may have a better understanding of them, a better grasp on what was or wasn't, in any case, it would be interesting.

So, where would you go?

25 Random Things

1) I am addicted to Grey's Anatomy. Seriously.....and a West Wing Junkie!

2) I love eating milo out of a glass filled with cold milk

3) My goal in life is to be the voice of a Disney Princess...

4) I don't do mornings....ever

5) I have 'emotional' pressure points.....if you press my right hand I laugh and am happy, if you press my left hand it makes me sad!

6) I LOVE costume parties!

7) I am a fan of Young Talent Time....and proud!

8) I love cheesy 80's pop songs/ballads.....bring on Rick Astley!

9) I love it when tv shows have musical theatre references

10) I LOVE 70's/80's/90's Tv Themes

11) When I am bored, I do things like this :)

12) I always order a 'special' burger at McDonalds

13) I have really bad road rage - pedestrians annoy me

14) When my sugar levels are low I get grumpy.....so give me chocolate!!

15) I HATE curry

16) I used to want to be a journalist like Lois Lane

17) I LOVE playing mini-golf

18) I want to be a Mouseketeer

19) I collect Musical Theatre Scores/Cast Recordings and other quirky merchandise 

20) I am scared of horses

21) I HATE mice and rats

22) I don’t eat breakfast – it’s not that I don’t like it, I just forget

23) I bake cupcakes…..and they are good

24) I hate being the first to arrive anywhere, yet hate being late.

25) I want to travel more and see more of America and Europe

Honeymoon Adventures

So, as was mentioned in my somewhat scarce blogs from last year, I was getting married....well now I am....married that is. So last year was a crazy, stressful, wonderful time spent planning and organising every last detail - of which there were many - and the day itself exceeded expectations, it really is the best day of your life. But, as wonderful as it was, it was also nice for all the stress and anxiety be over and to just be married:) Which just leaves us no with the fun part....planning the HONEYMOON! (oh yeah and spending the rest of our lives together.....)


I love planning holidays. Organising things is what I do well, and this is not exception! So where are we going you may ask? Well, after 8 years together (!) it turns out we have never actually had a proper holiday! Sure we have had the odd weekend away, but any major trip, longer than a week, has resulted in it being a work trip for either one of us with very little time to fully relax and enjoy. We have both wanted to explore the USA a bit more so.....America the Beautiful here we come!


It is currently 11 weeks and 4 days til we depart......not that I am counting or anything.....so I imagine there will be a few blogs in the coming months tracking our planning/packing process as well as the trip itself! We will be gone just under 5 weeks and a trip like this definitely needs planning! For a bit of a teaser here will be some of our destinations:


San Francisco
Disneyland - it is a destination within itself!
Los Angeles
Las Vegas
New York
Miami


When I say I like organising holidays.....I really mean that. NO seriously! Itineraries and all, from monthly calendars, to daily itineraries (all colour coded), to our own travel 'booklets' rather than carrying around 5-6 Lonely Planet guides. Too much you might say? Maybe for some, but I figure if I am going to be somewhere for a short amount of time, I am going to make the most of it. I mean, not every minute of the trip is planned....really....REALLY! There are just some things you need to think about in advance so you are not walking around in some foreign city not really sure what to do or where to go! Luckily my Husband is happy to smile, say 'yes dear' and just go with the flow! So I look forward to updating you on the Honeymoon adventures that lay ahead - but needless to say I (we - well I am sure he will be at some point!) am very excited!! So stay tuned.......

The West Wing

So, I have just finished watching all 7 seasons of what is possibly the best television show ever written - The West Wing. I could never do the show justice trying to describe how brilliant this piece is, how amazing the writers/creators/actors/Aaron Sorkin - are, but I am indebted to those that suggested I watch this show after I had finished my epic Will & Grace Marathon earlier in 2010.


Last night I watched the final 2 episodes - 'Institutional Memory' and 'Tomorrow', and whilst still in mourning, and not quite sure what I am going to do this evening as I have no more episodes left to watch, I thought I would take up the challenge by my friend Richard and share some of my highlights - both good and bad - from the series. For reference, here is Richard's blog:


http://rwhyde.blogspot.com/2011/01/west-wing-my-loves-and-few-hates.html


I agree with most of these, but here are my own to throw into the mix, in no particular order - and certainly not everything as that would pretty much include the ENTIRE series!


*Spoiler Alert* - if you are currently watching TWW or plan to at some stage, you may not want to read on in case of major spoilers!


LIKES


Any scene with Martin Sheen & Stockard Channing together - you don't get much better than that!


Donna & Josh finally sorting it out!


CJ & Danny finally sorting it out!


Scene between Sam & Mallory in Season 1 where it become apparent that the White House Deputy Communications Director has nothing to say about the White House or Roosevelt Room.


Season 7 - Josh recruiting Sam back to the White House as he did in the very beginning - I love parallels.


Episodes: Two Cathedrals, Shutdown, Access


Mallory giving President Bartlett the 'Bartlett for America' napkin back in the final episode.


CJ becoming Chief of Staff


Allison Janney


The genius that is - Martin Sheen


Stockard Channing being amazing and looking absolutely stunning - ALL OF THE TIME!


Sam writing '"the streets of Heaven are too crowded with angels tonight" in the car.


Bartlett rant at Dr. Jenna Jacobs over her opposition to homosexuality by quoting the Bible 'chapter and verse' : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHaVUjjH3EI


Bartlett rant at God in 'Two Cathedrals' : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FScv89J6rro


Storyline with Zoey being kidnapped and Bartlett stepping dow from the Presidency


Casting Alan Alda as Vinick


The entire cast


Season 2 flashbacks to the Bartlett for America campaign and everyones back grounds


Santos winning me over - it was touch and go for a while!


CJ and the Turkeys - Eric & Troy.


That President Bartlett calls her by her full name 'Claudia Jean'.


Donna & Danny both telling Josh & CJ to get a life and commit to a relationship.


Charlie throwing the kid from the Big Brother program against the wall and telling him to give CJ respect.


Season 1 finale.


Donna standing up to Josh and getting a new job - leaving him with a temp.



Donna becoming Chief of Staff to the First Lady.


The Plane.


All the 'protective father moments' with Bartlett.


'Live' debate between Vinick & Santos.


Abbey, Amy, Donna & CJ getting drunk at Abbey's birthday party.


Big Block of Cheese Day.


Danny coming back dressed as Santa.


Toby and his stress ball and how he reminds me of Eyore.


Mad TV Parody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnxQk8C_-kE


John Spencer filming the opening scene of the Pilot episode (9 pages) in one take!


DISLIKES


Will Bailey  - should have kept Danica McKellar around!


Sam leaving in Season 4.


Aaron Sorkin leaving in Season 4.


Mandy - not really a fan, I also think they should have actually had her written out of the show rather than just disappearing with no trace.


Mrs Landingham dying - NOT OK! Altho I get the reasoning for it, and I loved Lily Tomlin as her replacement - still not ok!


Leo dying - altho inevitable it still sucked.


Falling out between Leo and Jed and then the fight in 'The Birnam Wood'.


Fitzwallace dying - seriously? Was that necessary?


Josh being pushed out after his screw up.


CJ's body guard being shot - what's with all the death?


Andy turning down Toby after he bought her the house.


Bartlett needing a cane.


Margaret's unexplained pregnancy, then no mention of the baby again after she gave birth?


Richard making me choose only 1 favourite character - not fair!.......it was CJ.


Crying for the entire final episode.


Fear of never finding a show as good.


THE SHOW ENDING!!!


I am sure I will add to this over time, but this is a start :) So what are your thoughts? 

My Home Town

One of the things that inspired me to start up this blog again last year, is the inspirational musings of the very talented Al Silber (follow her blog here http://alexandrasilber.blogspot.com/). Al recently wrote a blog on her home town; Birmingham, Michigan. So I thought I would 'borrow' her idea and tell you all about my home town, Perth.

Perth - the most isolated city in the world, no, really. There are many people that come here and complain that it's doesn't have the hustle and bustle and bright lights of a big city, actually they complain about everything (which begs you to ask why they are here in the first place?). True it's a lot more laid back than a lot of places, but I think if they took their blinkers off and had a really look, they would find many hidden treasures to this city. These are a few of my favourites things (pun intended)......


1. Beaches
We have some of the most beautiful, tranquil beaches sweeping our West Australian coastline, that are right on our doorstep! It's only a short trip from door step to ocean for a lot of people and even driving along the coast during the winter you marvel at the scenery!

2. Fremantle

Fabulous, laid back, coastal 'town' which comes to life on the weekend with it's laid back attitude, great markets and fishing boat harbour among many things...

3. The Ellington
Groovy, New York style, jazz club with fantastic artists....and also the location of my Wedding reception:)

4. Milk and Honey
Cafe in Northbridge on James Street - I love this place! Great food, friendly staff, quick and efficient service, reasonable prices and most importantly,,, they make a good hot chocolate!
5. Restaurants
Coco's, Red Cabbage, Cheers, Merchant, Cicerello's, Duende, Funtastico, King St, Zafferano
6. Kings Park
A great place for a picnic with friends or loved ones with spectacular city views. Also a relaxing city get away to lay in the sun and read a book, walk thru the botanical gardens or just enjoy the outdoors in the middle of the city!

7. South Perth Foreshore
My favourite place in the world - you don't get a better view than that!

8. Wanneroo Royal Botanical Gardens Mini Golf
I LOVE mini golf......what can I say? it's one of my guilty pleasures! That and an ice cream on a hot day - what could be better! And this is definitely my fave course in Perth!
9. Weather
Anyone who has ever been to Perth will understand! Just beautiful! Except for maybe when they predict cyclones that never arrive......I think the next cyclone should be called 'Godot'......
10. Swan Valley
having dozens of wineries a short drive away is always a handy thing...and a nice outing on the weekends!
11. Driving Down South
Being able to jump in the car....when I actually have time off (what's that you ask???) and in less than 2 hours, due to the new freeway, be in Australind visiting my Dad and then heading down to all the beautiful places in the South of Western Australia - Busselton, Margaret River (which also has it's abundance of wineries), Yallingup, Dunsborough, Pemberton, Denmark, Albany...the list goes on....
12. His Majesty's Theatre
The oldest theatre in Perth - built in 1904 - and my place of employment as a Front of House Manager for the last 3 years as well as a Performer. Such a beautiful building with such a rich history of the arts in our city....and to think they nearly tore it down!

13. Rottnest
Our little island get-away - I definitely do not go there as much as I should, but it's great to know I can jump on a Ferry at Fremantle and in 30mins be on an island, surrounded by beautiful bays and beaches, the odd pub and cute quokkas!

I must admit I have strayed from this city I loved, I have given in to the temptation of places like Sydney and London and no doubt I will do it again, but every time I am away, it really makes me appreciate and love Perth, just that bit more, and I know I can always come home.

I would like to end with a quote from Al that I think sums everything up perfectly;

'I recently had an incident with a several people who were very negative about Detroit, spoke of it with an almost savage, desparaging, flippant dismissal; as if there was nothing of merrit to see or do, spoke as if the people there were foresaken members of a larger American society.

I beg you, reader: be kind to everyone about their hometown. Everyone is from somewhere-- even Detroit, Hull, Queens and Bagdhad! If someone tells you they are from somewhere, that they grew up somewhere, that their days were formed and shaped in a place, be respectful for no greater a reason than that. Ask how they felt about it, ask about their favorite memories, places, their views on the merits and downfalls. You may be surprised. Enlightened. You might even learn something. '

and now, enough idea stealing and onto some more random ramblings......