Midnight Massacre

My prayers and heart go out to the families of those who were murdered and the victims who were injured during the Aurora, Colorado shooting massacre. There is absolutely no excuse for the shooter. What he did was evil and senseless.

RIP Nora Ephron

I was sad to learn yesterday that Nora Ephron had passed away. She was a wonderful director and writer. She created films that will forever be enjoyable to watch. My two favorites from her are: Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and You've Got Mail (1998). I love An Affair to Remember (1957) and The Shop Around the Corner (1940), which inspired the two films, respectively. I love the chemistry between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, so I'll admit that I do get very wrapped up in the romantic aspect of both films. Also, the characters are very funny and I like the witty dialogue. Thanks for the great films, Nora.

Happy Birthday: Judy Garland

Happy 90th Birthday to Judy Garland! She had one of the most beautiful singing voices that I have ever heard. I was happy that TCM dedicated the entire day to her films. The Wizard of Oz (1939) is my favorite, it has been since I was a kid, but Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) is a close second. I hope that some of you were able to catch the Wizard of Oz documentary that was on TCM earlier today. It was both entertaining and informative. I loved learning more about what went on behind the scenes and how the public responded to the film during its initial release. I never get tired of The Wizard of Oz.

Happy Birthday: Tony Curtis

Happy Birthday to Tony Curtis! He was always so nice to his fans. I'll always remember listening to him talk about his days in Hollywood and what it was like working on some of the best classic films. Some Like it Hot (1959) is my favorite film with Tony and The Defiant Ones (1958) is my second.

Happy Birthday: Marilyn Monroe

Happy Birthday, Norma Jeane! Marilyn Monroe would have been 86 years old today! It's clear that the world still loves Marilyn. Just look at the Cannes promotional picture for this year, the show Smash, and the cover of Vanity Fair. Fantastic actress!

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is my new literary and show obsession. It is about seven families who are all fighting in order to gain control of the Iron Throne. I started book one, A Song of Dance and Fire, a little bit ago and the writing transports me completely to the world that author has created. It's full of detail and fantastic imagery. If you're looking for something mesmerizing to read, then you should have this on your list. It's definitely a 'Must Read' book.

The show, which airs on HBO, is one of the best shows on television. The acting is spectacular by all the actors involved. Peter Dinklage is my favorite because he plays Tyrion Lannister. Tyrion Lannister is one of the best characters ever created. He is brave, witty, courageous, funny, and kind. He is very different from the rest of his family, which is why I like him so much. I loathe his vile nephew, Joffrey, and his two cruel and conniving siblings, Queen Cersei and Jaime.

I'm not sure how large the budget is for the show, but it must be pretty large given how beautiful the sets and sceneries are. The amount of attention to detail that is displayed in the props and costume design is incredible. This might explain why both Season 1 and Season 2 only contain 10 episodes each. I've read that Season 3 will also contain 10 episodes. I wish they'd do 12 or 13 episodes instead because I cannot get enough of it!

It should be noted that Game of Thrones is not for children. It's full of violence, sex, vulgar language, and scenes that would most likely frighten them. It should also be noted that Game of Thrones is not just about  violence and sex. It's philosophical and it contains a lot of beautiful scenes. It's also extremely addicting, so once you start watching, I doubt that you'll be able to stop.

Happy Birthday: James Stewart

Happy Birthday to Jimmy Stewart! I look forward to watching his Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life (1946), on the big screen with my friends every year. I love watching him in Hitchcock classics, especially Rear Window (1954), Vertigo (1958) and Rope (1948). His performance in Harvey (1950) always puts a smile on my face and even thinking about him talking to a pooka makes me pretty happy. There are so many fantastic films that he was a part of. Thanks for the great films, Jimmy!