Posts Tagged ‘movies’

With Satellite TV Watch All of Jack Nicholson’s Movies

There are not many other actors as recognizable today as the legendary Jack Nicholson. His work spans six decades. His achievements include three Academy Awards and nine other Academy nominations. Jack Nicholson is indelibly part of American cinema culture forever.

With satellite television, you can get to know Jack Nicholson. During the past 60 years, he has played in not less than 65 movies. Without renting every movie, you can instead turn on the television set and enjoy a Nicholson movie marathon. You can even choose to do so in HD.

Beginning with the movies more widely know, Nicholson won his first Best Actor award for his role as in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975). The movie takes place in a mental hospital. Nicholson plays McMurphy, a rebellious anti-Establishment protagonist who happens to be considered mentally insane. McMurphy expresses his desire to make choices and enjoy the personal freedoms experienced outside the walls of a mental hospital. His desires are reigned in by the dominating Nurse Ratched. The movie won over 30 awards overall, including five Academy Awards. It was the first film to ever win Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director, and Writing.

Iconic figure Jack Torrence, crazed writer and family-man who takes the job as hotel caretaker for the winter, was played by Jack Nicholson in 1980 in The Shining. The haunted hotel leads Jack into madness, who later attempts to murder his wife and son. While not critically acclaimed like his other films, the character played by Nicholson has become a part of popular cinema culture. As there are a couple different versions of the film, with certain parts edited or cut out, watching the Shining on satellite television may give you a richer experience when accompanied with the rentable version. True enthusiasts of The Shining look for the minor discrepancies between the versions.

Jack Nicholson won Best Supporting Actor in the 1983 Terms of Endearment. Nicholson plays retired astronaut Garret Breedlove, neighbor to Shirley McClain’s character Aurora Greenway. Not in the original novel, Nicholson’s role was written for actor Burt Reynolds and then offered to James Garner. Only after Reynolds could not fill the role because of a prior commitment and Garner and the director could not work out differences of opinion was the role finally offered to Nicholson. Nicholson was said to have commented that he knew he would win the Oscar as soon as he read the script.

Jack Nicholson never lost relevancy to succeeding generations, partly due to his ability to land seminal roles in culturally iconic movies. Two examples are his roles as the Joker in the 1989 release of Batman and Col. Nathan Jessep in the 1992 film A Few Good Men. Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of comic character Joker will go down as one of the best character development projects ever accomplished in the comic-book-movie genre widely popular today. The face of the Joker alone is embedded into today’s popular culture; not to mention the eerily fun yet dangerous persona of the villain. Speaking of villain, apart from playing an angry colonel so well that he received an Oscar nomination, Nicholson delivered a powerful, five-word line that will go down in cinema history. From now on the phrase “I want the truth” will always be followed by the famous rebuttal, “you can’t handle the truth,” coined by Nicholson’s character Jessep.

With more than 65 movie roles, Jack Nicholson is part of American cinema culture. Watch his movies and appreciate the diversity of his characters in HD on satellite TV. It’s the best way to experience film.

The Best Football Movies of All Time

I was pretty fixated on the NFL draft last night, which got me in the mood for my next favorite thing after football: movies. And what better than a football movie on NFL draft day? I’ve seen them all, trust me, and feel like I have a pretty good handle on some of the greatest of all time. So, without further silliness, here are my favs, in no particular order.

Nick Nolte and Mac Davis brought us the seedier, steamier side of the NFL in North Dallas Forty. Derived from the book by the same name, written by former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Pete Gent, the movie is as good today as when it came out in 1979.

Brian’s Song is one of those movies that had it all, including the ability to make tough men cry. I’m not so tough, so I get weepy just thinking about how good this movie really is. James Caan and Billy Dee Williams star in what are arguably the best roles of their careers in a made-for-TV movie of all things.

If you’ve never seen the original The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds, do yourself a favor and get a copy of it ASAP. Reynolds is an incredibly believable quarterback-turned-convict. The movie is benefited from the use of real life NFL stars Joe Kapp and Ray Nitschke, and is one of the greatest guards-versus-inmate movies of any genre.

Two movies you might not immediately consider are from a different era. The 1925 silent film The Freshman is the father of all underdog-becomes-hero movie in which the water boy becomes the star of the big game. Also, the Marx Brothers’ classic, Horse Feathers, from 1932, is a movie to be cherished by all. It’s nonstop Groucho Marx as the president of Huxley College, bound and determined to implement a quick fix for the school’s lousy football team. The two “ringers” Groucho winds up with are, of course, Harpo and Chico. Needless to say, hilarity by the bucketsful, ensues.

One of my favorite football movies of all time has got to be Jerry Maguire starring Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger, and Cuba Gooding Jr., who won an Oscar for his role as “Show Me the Money” wide receiver, Rod Tidwell. While this movie didn’t necessarily have me at hello, it did grow on me, particularly the Arizona locales. I’ve spent a lot of time at Sun Devil Stadium and it was great to see so many familiar locations. In a strange way it kind of made me feel a bit like an insider. I really loved the relationship between Cruise and Gooding Jr., and didn’t at all feel like the love story between Cruise and Zellweger detracted at all. There’s certainly nothing wrong with a movie that leaves you feeling good about things.

There’s never a shortage of great football movies on DISH Network. In fact, between the premium channels, pay-per-view, and DISH ON Demand, there are more than 16,000 movies to choose from each month. Many of them, of course, are football movies so get in the game and score the winning touchdown with one of the great DISH TV packages!

Top 5 Movies of All Time

I was negative fixated on the NFL draft other night, which let me in the humor for my next pet thing aftermost football: motion-picture shows. And what well than a football picture show on NFL drawing twenty-four hours? I’ve considered them all, hope me, and spirit like I have a pretty hot handle on whatsoever of the top ten movies of all time. So, without advance silliness, existing are my favs, in no particular order.

Nick Nolte and Macintosh Davis worked us the seedier, steamier side of the NFL in Northward Dallas Forty. Came from the record by the same identify, written by former Dallas Cowboys wide recipient Pete Gent, the top ten movies of all time is as close today as when it fell out in 1972.

Brian’s Song is one of the top ten movies of all time that it all, taking on the power to clear tough men cry. I’m not so awful, so I get snuffling just logical about how great this top ten movies of all time very is. James Caan and Billy Dee Williams star in what are arguably the thickest roles of their vocations in a made-for-TV film of all things.

If you’ve never determined the first The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds, do yourself a prefer and get a written matter of it ASAP. Reynolds is an unbelievably likely quarterback-turned-convict. The top ten movies of all time is benefited from the role of real life NFL stars Joe Kapp and Ray Nitschke, and is 2 of the broadest guards-versus-inmate motion-picture shows of any musical genre.

Two best and top movies of all time you might not now deal are from a another era. The 1922 understood film The Freshman is the father of all underdog-becomes-hero pic in which the water boy goes the major of the big back. Also, the Marx Brothers’ authoritative, Horse Feathers, from 1931, is a movie to be loved by all. It’s nonstop Groucho Marx as the chairwoman of Huxley College, certain and determined to accomplish a quick fix for the school’s terrible football game team. The two “ringers” Groucho rolls up with are, of grade, Harpo and Chico. Needless to sound out, mirthfulness by the bucketful, results.

One of my dear top ten movies of all time has made to be Jerry Maguire starring Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger, and Cuba Gooding Jr., who gained an Oscar for his use as “Show Me the Money” large pass catcher, Rod Tidwell. While this movie didn’t necessarily have me at hullo, it did produce on me, specially the Arizona locales. I’ve spent a lot of meter at Sun Devil Stadium and it was great to meet so many familiar locations. In a other way it kind of made me feel a bit like an insider. I really loved the relationship between Cruise and Gooding Jr., and didn’t at good feel like the love songs betwixt Cruise and Zellweger detracted at all. There’s surely nothing wide with a movie that imparts you feeling full about matters.

The 10 Most Popular Movies of All Time – A Cheat Sheet

Are you a movie dunce? Do you not know your Corleone from your Kurosawa? Would you recognise a lightsaber if it hit you in the face? Well, don’t panic. To help you catch up on your movie knowledge here’s a crash course in the top 10 movies of all time, as voted by the readers of the Internet Movie Database. Careful, though… here be spoilers.

10. Star Wars IV: A New Hope

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away . . .

Luke Skywalker, farmhand and son of Darth Vader, is torn from his home when his aunt and uncle are murdered by Imperial Storm Troopers searching for the stolen plans to the Death Star, a space station with weaponry capable of destroying planets. Luke escapes with his two droids, Jedi Knight Obi Wan Kenobi, smuggler Han Solo and first mate Chewbacca.

After escaping Tatooine, the ragtag crew stumble upon the Death Star shortly after it has destroyed the planet Alderaan. Caught by its tractor beam, their ship is dragged in. While attempting to escape the Death Star the team rescue Princess Leia, held prisoner in the ships bowels. During the rescue Obi Wan sacrifices himself to allow the others to escape.

In a grand finale, Luke destroys the Death Star by firing a missile into a weak spot in the structure of the ship and Darth Vader, is cannoned off into the depths of space.

Quote: I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.

Trivia: Al Pacino, Burt Reynolds and James Caan reportedly turned down the role of Han Solo.

9. Pulp Fiction

A movie whose various plotlines are far too intertwined to summarise in a paragraph or two, Pulp Fiction simply tells the story of a day in the life of a group of unusual people—two hitmen, the wife of a gangster, and a boxer who killed in the ring among others.

Edited to tie each story together, the movie often plays out of sequence—to the point where the final scene and the opening scene take place at the same time. Full of pop culture references and quotable lines, Pulp Fiction stays true to form as a Tarantino movie.

Quote: Zed’s dead, baby. Zed’s dead.

Trivia: Vincent Vega (John Travolta) is the brother of Vic Vega, also known as Mr Blonde, in Reservoir Dogs.

8. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Set during the US Civil War, the movie follows the three protagonists Blondie (The Good), Snake Eyes (The Bad) and Tuco (The Ugly) in their search for a hoard of gold stolen by bank robber Bill Carson. All three want 50% of the gold—resulting in a good old-fashioned standoff. Snake Eyes is shot dead, and the honorable Blondie allows Tuco his share of the booty.

Quote: You see, in this world there’s two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.

Trivia: Clint Eastwood wore the same poncho for all three ‘Man With No Name’ movies—without washing it once.

7. Schindler’s List

Schindler’s List tells the true story of Oscar Schindler, a Nazi industrialist who becomes so moved by the plight of the Jewish people during World War II that he devotes himself to saving as many as he can. Even after rescuing over 1,100 Jews from the gas chamber, Schindler bemoans the fact that he could have saved more had he sacrificed everything he had.

Quote: I could have got more out. I could have got more. I don’t know. If I’d just… I could have got more.

Trivia: Steven Spielberg refused to take any pay for the film, claiming that it would feel like he was taking ‘blood money’.

6. The Seven Samurai

Regarded as Akira Kurosawa’s greatest film, the Seven Samurai tells the story of a terrorised village in war-torn 16th Century Japan. Constantly attacked by gangs of bandits, the residents enlist the services of seven ronin, or samurai without masters, to protect them.

Despite initial tensions between the villagers and the samurai, they together successfully defend the village against the bandits. However, their success comes at the cost of the lives of four samurai.

Quote: What’s the use of worrying about your beard when your head’s about to be taken?

Trivia: The three samurai whose characters survived the film were the first three to die in real life.

5. Casablanca

Hiding out in Casablanca, Morocco during World War II, exiled American and former freedom fighter Rick Blaine passes the time running a popular nightspot. Blaine’s tedium is interrupted when Czech Resistance leader Victor Laszlo arrives with his beautiful wife Ilsa—Blaine’s ex-lover.

Blaine holds the key to Laszlo’s safe passage out of the country, and Ilsa offers herself to him in exchange for her husband’s safety. Blaine faces the choice of sacrificing Laszlo to win back Ilsa, but in the end decides to do the honorable thing…

Quote: If that plane leaves the ground and you’re not with him, you’ll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.

Trivia: The line ‘Here’s lookin’ at you, kid’ was voted the 5th most well known movie line in history by the American Film Institute.

4. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The third and final instalment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King offers an epic finale to Frodo’s quest (thousands of extras took part in the filming to add to the drama). Finally arriving at Mt. Doom, Frodo is overcome by exhaustion and the stress of bearing the Ring. Helped by Sam, Frodo manages to make his way into the volcano.

At the last moment he finds himself unable to throw the Ring into the magma, choosing instead to wear it. Gollum, surviving Frodo’s earlier attempt on his life, attacks Frodo and bites off his finger, removing the ring. Losing his grip, Gollum falls into the pit along with the Ring, breaking its hold over Frodo and killing Sauron.

With Sauron’s death his army is destroyed, just in time to save the army of Men, poised to fight to the death at the gates of Mordor.

Quote: Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can’t carry it for you… but I can carry you.

Trivia: The Return of the King used over seven times the number of special effects shots used in an average movie.

3. The Godfather: Part II

Split between two timelines, the second instalment of The Godfather trilogy follows Don Vito Corleone through his adolescence in Sicily and New York during the early 20th Century, and later his rise to power as a Mafia Don. It also returns to a point a few years after the conclusion of the first movie, with Michael Corleone running the family interests following his father’s death.

After learning that his brother Fredo has betrayed the family, Michael must order his execution.

Quote: I know it was you Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!

Trivia: Robert de Niro won an Oscar for his portrayal of a young Vito Corleone. De Niro and Marlon Brando are the only actors to win Oscars for the portrayal of the same character.

2. The Shawshank Redemption

Based on a novella by Steven King, The Shawshank Redemption tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a successful banker wrongly convicted for the murder of his wife and her lover. Given two life sentences, Dufresne is sent to the maximum security Shawshank Prison where he befriends Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, a lifer who helps him adjust to prison life.

Over the next twenty years their friendship grows while Andy has a positive effect on the inmates, helping to establish a prison library and education system. Unfortunately, the mean-spirited and criminal warden beats down Andy’s spirit until he finally escapes through a tunnel that took him two decades to dig.

In a final act of revenge Andy exposes the warden’s crimes, driving him to suicide to avoid being sent to prison. Red is later released on parole, and tracks down Andy to a beach in Mexico.

Quote: Get busy living, or get busy dying.

Trivia: The mugshots of Morgan Freeman as a young man are actually pictures of his real life son, Alfonso.

1. The Godfather

Adapted from Mario Puzo’s seminal Mafia novel, the first instalment of The Godfather trilogy sees Don Vito Corleone, head of the Corleone crime family, struggle with the realities of a changing world. When he refuses to work with drug dealer Virgil Sollozzo in a scheme to push heroin in New York, he falls foul of Sollozzo’s backers the Tattaglia family.

When Vito is wounded in an attempted assassination his son Michael—previously determined to have nothing to do with the family business—volunteers to kill Sollozzo. Following the execution Michael is sent to Sicily to hide out until it is safe to return. After Michael’s brother Sonny is executed by the rival Barzini family, Michael safely returns and takes his place as the head of the family in time to see Vito Corleone die of a heart attack. In revenge for the attacks on his family Michael arranges for the murder of the heads of the other families, to take place during the baptism ceremony of his nephew.

Following the baptism Michael orders the execution of the father of the baptised child—and his own brother in-law—Carlo Rizzi, in retribution for Carlo’s role in setting up Sonny’s death. The movie ends with the widow, Michael’s sister Connie, suspecting that Michael was involved in Carlo’s death.

Quote: I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.

Trivia: Sofia Coppola, the director’s daughter, played the baby baptised at the end of the movie. She returned to play the role of Michael’s daughter Mary in The Godfather: Part III).

So there you have it. If you’ve been paying attention you should now have just enough knowledge of the top ten movies of all time to bluff your way through a conversation with a movie buff. These bare bones won’t take you far, though, so I suggest you set aside some time, get a big bucket of popcorn, sit back and enjoy the best of Hollywood. You won’t be disappointed.

The 10 Most Popular Movies Of All Time – A Cheat Sheet (Part 1)

Are you a movie dunce? Do you not know your Corleone from your Kurosawa? Would you recognise a lightsaber if it hit you in the face? Well, don’t panic. To help you catch up on your movie knowledge here’s the first instalment in your 2-part crash course in the top 10 movies of all time, as voted by the readers of the Internet Movie Database. Careful, though… here be spoilers.

10. Star Wars IV: A New Hope

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away . . .

Luke Skywalker, farmhand and son of Darth Vader, is torn from his home when his aunt and uncle are murdered by Imperial Storm Troopers searching for the stolen plans to the Death Star, a space station with weaponry capable of destroying planets. Luke escapes with his two droids, Jedi Knight Obi Wan Kenobi, smuggler Han Solo and first mate Chewbacca.

After escaping Tatooine, the ragtag crew stumble upon the Death Star shortly after it has destroyed the planet Alderaan. Caught by its tractor beam, their ship is dragged in. While attempting to escape the Death Star the team rescue Princess Leia, held prisoner in the ships bowels. During the rescue Obi Wan sacrifices himself to allow the others to escape.

In a grand finale, Luke destroys the Death Star by firing a missile into a weak spot in the structure of the ship and Darth Vader, is cannoned off into the depths of space.

Quote: I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.

Trivia: Al Pacino, Burt Reynolds and James Caan reportedly turned down the role of Han Solo.

9. Pulp Fiction

A movie whose various plotlines are far too intertwined to summarise in a paragraph or two, Pulp Fiction simply tells the story of a day in the life of a group of unusual people—two hitmen, the wife of a gangster, and a boxer who killed in the ring among others.

Edited to tie each story together, the movie often plays out of sequence—to the point where the final scene and the opening scene take place at the same time. Full of pop culture references and quotable lines, Pulp Fiction stays true to form as a Tarantino movie.

Quote: Zed’s dead, baby. Zed’s dead.

Trivia: Vincent Vega (John Travolta) is the brother of Vic Vega, also known as Mr Blonde, in Reservoir Dogs.

8. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Set during the US Civil War, the movie follows the three protagonists Blondie (The Good), Snake Eyes (The Bad) and Tuco (The Ugly) in their search for a hoard of gold stolen by bank robber Bill Carson. All three want 50% of the gold—resulting in a good old-fashioned standoff. Snake Eyes is shot dead, and the honorable Blondie allows Tuco his share of the booty.

Quote: You see, in this world there’s two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.

Trivia: Clint Eastwood wore the same poncho for all three ‘Man With No Name’ movies—without washing it once.

7. Schindler’s List

Schindler’s List tells the true story of Oscar Schindler, a Nazi industrialist who becomes so moved by the plight of the Jewish people during World War II that he devotes himself to saving as many as he can. Even after rescuing over 1,100 Jews from the gas chamber, Schindler bemoans the fact that he could have saved more had he sacrificed everything he had.

Quote: I could have got more out. I could have got more. I don’t know. If I’d just… I could have got more.

Trivia: Steven Spielberg refused to take any pay for the film, claiming that it would feel like he was taking ‘blood money’.

6. The Seven Samurai

Regarded as Akira Kurosawa’s greatest film, the Seven Samurai tells the story of a terrorised village in war-torn 16th Century Japan. Constantly attacked by gangs of bandits, the residents enlist the services of seven ronin, or samurai without masters, to protect them.

Despite initial tensions between the villagers and the samurai, they together successfully defend the village against the bandits. However, their success comes at the cost of the lives of four samurai.

Quote: What’s the use of worrying about your beard when your head’s about to be taken?

Trivia: The three samurai whose characters survived the film were the first three to die in real life.

So, you’re up to date on five of the top ten most popular movies of all time – but that’s not good enough! To complete your movie knowledge, why not read up on the top five movies in the final instalment of your crash course?

what is burt reynolds name in the smokey and the bandit movies?

Not Air Hockey Tables: Hockey Movies to Inspire Pt. 2

You won’t find any air hockey tables in these realistic portrayals of hockey struggles. Check out these great hockey movies today to inspire you to greatness on and off the ice.

Maurice Richard aka The Rocket

This French language biopic about hockey player Maurice “The rocket” Richard tells his story about growing up and the hard work he put in to finally play for the Montreal Canedians and lead them to an unrivalled record of five Stanley Cup championships. The film won several awards for hits realism to history and dialogue, with much of the film reviewed by Richard himself before his death.

Mystery, Alaska

This fictional story about a small-town ice hockey team that goes on to play the New York Rangers from the NHL is an uplifting story about what can be achieved through hard work, perseverance and a little bit of luck. One funny thing about the film is that the New York Rangers roster is entirely made up since the players from the real life team declined to be a part of the film (probably because they get beat). The film stars Russell Crowe, Hank Azaria and Burt Reynolds.

The Mighty Ducks

The first film in an eventual trilogy, this popular kids film about a ragtag group of youngsters who are coached by Gordon Bombay, a successful Minneapolis defense attorney who is sentenced to community service coaching the team after being arrested for drunk driving. The team eventually come together to battle a much better team than them but win out thanks to their drive and heart. It’s a great film with a classic performance by Emilio Estevez as the coach.

Sudden Death

This heavy hitting action film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme was written by the wife of the Penguins owner Howard Baldwin. Van Damme stars as a Canadian-born firefighter who finds himself in the middle of a kidnapping plot at Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The kidnapper is disguised as Iceburgh, the Pittsburgh Penguins mascot and there is a great fight scene between the mascot and Van Damme near the end (guess who wins?) If you’re looking for a great action flick with a hockey setting you’ve got to watch “Sudden Death.”