50 Years On and Marilyn Will Never Be Forgotten

Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the death of Marilyn Monroe, you wouldn’t think that it had been that long as she is still very much in everyone’s lives. She is constantly referenced in songs and films, a lot of her films are classics and still shown on TV. She was without a doubt one of a kind and I find her fascinating, amazing and incredible. She played the dumb blonde role on so many occasions but was far from that! She was so much more and that is why I love her!

No story is more tragic than the life Marilyn had, it was never easy but she just seemed to get on with it. She was full of controversy even after her death rumours spread which she was not able to deny, I always find that terrible as it seemed as though people would not let her rest in peace. Let’s face it she was just a girl who wanted to be loved and be happy, and who doesn’t want that?

Blood Brothers

Having been to see this musical at the theatre earlier this year, I was very happy to hear the song titled ‘Marilyn Monroe’ as she really played a massive part in describing the story in the show. I hadn’t really heard much of the music before hand but really loved the tribute to Marilyn in the song. Which is reprise three times throughout, with slightly different lyrics but all mean so much.

Nicki Minaj – Marilyn Monroe

An amazing tribute song to such an idol, I really love how they have a few quotes in and address how difficult life must have been for Marilyn. Inspiring us that if she could do it so can we. So even in 2012 the 50th year since her untimely death tributes are being paid in song to the fabulous actress.

My Week with Marilyn (2011) – My Review

The film based on a book and brought to the big screen with Michelle Williams putting in a brilliant performance as Monroe which really was captivating from start to finish. Just showing that she is still very much capable of being the main focus in a film, baring in mind this film is based on the making of another film! Which does not happen very often at all.

Smash (2012) TV Show

Premiered this year, it’s about a production of a Broadway show based on Marilyn’s life. This just shows that Monroe is still well thought about 50 years after her death, just backing up my thoughts on this blog post. The TV series has been a massive hit in the US and I am watching from the UK on Sky Atlantic. Hopefully a lot of people are really appreciating this well thought about TV series which just shows what it’s like behind the scenes on Broadway. One thing is for sure I really want to see this musical about Marilyn, such a shame it is just a TV show.

So even in 2012 which marks the 50th year since Marilyn’s death she is a the main subject of a TV show and in song lyrics and has songs about her. She is still one of the biggest stars, even with her tragic untimely death. I really do think it is such a sad story as all she ever wanted was to be loved and happy. Her legacy will forever live on, as will her very famous quotes about pretty much everything. But it always seemed to go back to love and men. “It’s not true I had nothing on, I had the radio on” – one of my personal favorites. She always seemed to have such a good sense of humour even if people were trying to trap her. Saying the unexpected she really was something else. Another who appeared to be too far ahead of her time and wanting to be equal but will rather old-fashioned values as well.

I still have a few of her films which I have not seen yet and are on my must see lists! I really do want to see everything Marilyn made and enjoy each and every one of her films. The one’s I have seen are just fantastic I am sure I won’t be disappointed in the rest.

RIP forever Marilyn Monroe . . . Norma Jean ❤

August 5, 2012 1

London 2012: Opening Ceremony

Danny Boyle took on the task of doing the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. A film theme was seen throughout as it celebrated the best of British. Everything from well-known and loved actors, songs, films and athletes were all involved from start to finish.

The ceremony focused on how England has changed and developed over the years, with countryside to start with and then what happened as the industrial revolution hit and brought all the way up to the present day and how social media has now taken over everyday life. It really was just breathtaking and incredible to watch. The appearance from Kenneth Branagh near the start and his small speech from Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ was just fantastic, he looked so proud to be there and involved so happy which made it even better to watch.

We were never really sure what was going to happen next and which direction the show was going to head in. We had a brilliant performance from Rowan Atkinson as his very famous character Mr Bean with a Chariots of Fire piece. It really was so funny. Helping to show the sense of humour side to Britain which was talked about as being very important from the off. The vision from Boyle was truly amazing to come up with all of the different things. Mary Poppins defeating Lord Voldemort and J.K Rowling reading an extract from Peter Pan.

My favorite part came when Daniel Craig as James Bond was shown with the Queen and her greeting of “Good Evening Mr Bond” was just incredible. As he then escorted her to the opening in such incredible style, making it look like she jumped out of the helicopter to get there. Showing that The Queen really does have a sense of humour and willing to get involved in an amazing show.

After the unbelievable spectacle that we saw unfold the athletes were to come in and that took so long, tweets at that point were rather amusing and spot on that it was like a Geography lesson when countries we had never heard of kept appearing. I didn’t think I knew that few countries as we started a guessing game at each letter and I don’t think we ever got them all right!

Waiting the arrival of Team GB and as it got closer you could hear the crowd getting more excited as that meant we would eventually find out who was going to light the flame and what it was going to look like! But after Team GB lead by Chris Hoy arrived we did not have long to wait. With David Beckham passing the flame onto Sir Steve Redgrave but that wasn’t it. He carried the flame into the stadium but along with other brilliant Olympians they passed torches and flames onto some promising young athletes which kept in with the theme of inspiring a generation which I found to be an incredible touch to it all. The flame was amazing as well as it all lit up and then formed a huge flame as it all lifted together another breathtaking moment which became even more breathtaking as the incredible fireworks began!

This brought a cue for the ending and what better way that a British anthem . . . Hey Jude was to be sung, which would and should have been incredible but Sir Paul McCartney really seems to be struggling now. If only they had kept the Artic Monkeys around to help him sing it. It really was a brilliant idea for the ending though, as we waited and waited for Hey Jude at the Queen’s Jubilee concert.

Overall though it was a truly incredible opening ceremony, so moving from start to finish and such an amazing way to start the 2012 Olympic Games. Really proud to be British!

Come on Team GB!

July 28, 2012 0

The 7 Batman Films

Batman has always been my favorite superhero/comic book based film series. The older ones and then Nolan’s reboot was exactly what I wanted to see. I cannot really explain where, when and why my love for Batman started but it did and still exists. I still love the older films and bought the DVD box set years ago. Yes I do have a soft spot for Batman Forever and even slightly for Batman & Robin – yes I do realise that people are going to judge me for that but I remember seeing that film at the cinema just before my 10th birthday and let’s face it I probably hadn’t seen anything like that at the time. I know now it is so cheesy and just not in the same league as the other films but I cannot help but remember what it was like watching it for the first time in the cinema, it was exciting. I saw Batman Begins in the cinema on its release and the same with The Dark Knight, which I then saw another two times making that my record of three times for a film at the cinema. The Dark Knight Rises I attended a 5 am screening and will be heading back to the cinema this afternoon for a second viewing. It’s not only Batman that I find myself loving but the villains are always so interesting and brilliant as well. The actors who have been in the films always seem to be spot on with it and create something really special to watch from start to finish.

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July 25, 2012 1

The Expendables 2 (2012) Trailer . . . I’m Back!

After seeing the trailer for The Expendables 2 before The Dark Knight Rises I have watched it a few times since then. For the absolutely brilliant moment we see Arnold Schwarzenegger appear with a brilliant one liner of “I’m back” . . . I think it’s just fantastic. So tongue in cheek and a fantastic moment! Also it looks better than the first film!

July 24, 2012 0

Magic Mike (2012) Review

The story of Mike a male stripper . . . But he’s more than that!

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July 23, 2012 4

Footloose (2011) Review

Ren MacCormack moves to a small town where public dancing and playing loud music have been banned. Obviously coming from Boston he does not understand the small town mentally behind all of this and vows to change things.

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July 21, 2012 0

The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Review

The epic conclusion to the Legend of Batman . . . The Dark Knight Rises

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July 20, 2012 7

25 Today!

That’s right I am 25 years old today and decided on a birthday post of the last 25 years top of the cinema box office for each year! I have seen most of the films and actually seen a lot of them at the cinema as well, Aladdin being the first film I ever went to see at the cinema! So it just shows that I have contributed to the top grossing film at the cinema too, especially with 3 viewings of The Dark Knight!

1987 – Fatal Attraction

1988 – Rain Man

1989 – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

1990 – Ghost

1991 – Terminator 2: Judgement Day

1992 – Aladdin

1993 – Jurassic Park

1994 – The Lion King

1995 – Die Hard: With A Vengeance

1996 – Independence Day

1997 – Titanic

1998 – Armageddon

1999 – Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menance

2000 – Mission: Impossible II

2001 – Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone

2002 – Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

2003 – Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

2004 – Shrek 2

2005 – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2006 – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

2007 – Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

2008 – The Dark Knight

2009 – Avatar

2010 – Toy Story 3

2011 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II

2012 – Marvel’s The Avengers (so far)

So . . . Happy Birthday to me!!!

July 16, 2012 2

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) Review

Peter Parker is in high school and living with his aunt and uncle after a night his parents had to suddenly leave. He is never really told anything about why they had to disappear and one day he finds a clue which leads him to Dr. Curt Connors.

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