Great Riddlers: Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is a well-known English writer who has a very diverse portfolio. He has written successful novels, comic books, graphic novels, short stories and poems. Aside from art in the written form, he has also been involved in film. He co-wrote the screenplay for the movie MirrorMask. His works have earned him a large variety of awards and he has even set the record for being the first person to earn the Newbery and Carnegie awards for a single novel. He earned these awards for his 2008 novel The Graveyard Book. His childhood and his education were fairly normal but he was already reading fairly well by the age of four. He loved reading and had read vast amounts of novels by the time he was a young teenager, developing his style and interests. Later he became a fan of science fiction, which sparked his own novels in the genre. One lesser studied aspect of Neil Gaiman is his riddles. Riddles play a notable part in his works.

Skyfall Movie Review

Daniel Craig returns as James Bond in this movie that is also celebrating 50 years since the Bond franchise began. After a lengthy delay, and the 50 year celebrations, there was plenty of hype behind this, but did it live up to the expectations I had?

The movie starts off with a solid start. We begin with Bond hunting down an assassin who has just taken out a bunch of agents and taken a hard drive that holds valuable information. After an excellent chase scene Bond ends up being shot and falling off train that is travelling over a bridge and we last see Bonds body going down a waterfall. He is missing presumed dead, but come on, its Bond, it wouldn't be much of a film if he was.

Bond has been living under the radar for six months, since his apparent death. An attack on MI6 forces Bond to come back from obscurity to the aid of the British secret service. However, Bond looks more weather-beaten, older and damaged since coming back, and no longer the agent he was. M however signs him fit for duty and re-assigns him to locate the man he was originally chasing at the start of the movie. The hard drive that was stolen contained information for every undercover operative in the world, and could expose every undercover spy in the secret service.

This movie does include some exotic locations and excellent fight scenes, but this more Bond back to his roots, I felt like this movie took more from the novels than the movies. It tells a story, there is only action when the story requires it, the plot was extremely well done with some nods to the Bond of old, including seeing the old Astin Martin that Connery often drove, complete with ejector seat and machine guns, and a little sprinkling of the old Bond theme for great effect.

The Last Dragon Movie Review

Being born in the 80's and being a martial arts fan as a kid, I was always going to have a soft spot for this movie. I came across it when I was only small and because the name sounded familiar (Enter the Dragon being my favourite movie at the time). I didn't know then that this would be one of the only times it was ever shown to my knowledge on UK TV. I have never seen it on tv since, and only just recently re-purchased the DVD.

The movie is about a Kung Fu student named "Bruce" Leeroy Green, who wants to reach the final level, a feat only Bruce Lee achieved. The final level is achieved when you are surronded by a mystical glow, showing you are a true kung fu master. Leeroy's master tells him to go and search for a Kung Fu master in New Yor kby the name of Som Dum Guy. At the same time he has fallen for Music Video presenter Laura Charles who wants him to be his body guard to help her from Videogame King Eddie Arcadian. An evil Kung Fu master by the name of Sho-Nuff has also returned to town and wants to fight Leeroy, so he can be the kung fu master of Harlem.

The movie was made by Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, so naturally the soundtrack is outstanding. The movie features the best of R&B and hip-hop from the time, sprinkled with martial arts references, including 'Rythm of the Night' and '7th Heaven'. The soundtracks is one of the best I have heard in a movie and is strong throughout, with a very strong eighties vibe. If you own a soundtrack for a movie, this has to be it. It is particularly awesome when Laura Charles starts playing a song in the 7th Heaven studio and puts on Enter the Dragon, Leeroy gets WAY to exciting, it is slightly worrying at this point. The only one bad point about the music in the movie is Eddie Arcadian's girlfriend wants to be a popstar and is terrible, but unfortunately we have to suffer through her eye wateringly bad music video.

The Life and Career of Stephen Dorff

Stephen Dorff Jr. was born on July 29, 1973, in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the son of Steve Dorff, a country music songwriter who has worked with such luminaries as George Strait and Clay Walker, garnering multiple awards nominations. He also has composed the score for several television shows, making this a true show business family. Steve and his wife have another son, Andrew, who is a songwriter just like his father.

Though Dorff was born in Atlanta, his father's work was largely in Los Angeles, so the family relocated there, and that is where Dorff and his brother were raised. He attended several private schools in the area, mostly because he kept getting kicked out of them. By Dorff's own count, he was expelled at least five times from various schools in the Los Angeles area.

Despite his troublemaker status at school, casting directors in Hollywood seemed to love the fresh-faced kid, and Dorff soon became a child actor. He was first cast in several commercials for products such as Mattel toys and Kraft foods. By the mid-1980s, he had turned to much bigger acting gigs, actively pursuing film and television roles. His first gig was a one-time guest appearance in 1985 on the popular television show "The New Leave it to Beaver." The same year, he also got a one-time guest gig as Scott on the classic comedy series "Diff'rent Strokes."

Dorff didn't land a single gig in 1986, but then came back into the fold in 1987, when he got his first part in a television movie called "In Love and War" with Jane Alexander and James Woods. Later that year, he also landed his first feature film, a horror movie called "The Gate." Not only was it his first major motion picture, it was a lead role that got him noticed by more casting directors, who were suddenly eager to cast Dorff in their films, even as his troubles at school mounted.

The year 1988 was a big one for the young actor, who was cast in a total of four made-for-television movies. By 1989, he was appearing in guest roles on television again, mixing those gigs in with more television movies.

X Factor: Er, Haven't We Seen You Before?

Has the X Factor exhausted the talent pool for contestants? We ask this question because the amount of returnees to the X Factor in 2013 seems to be huge. In the three weeks of being back on our screens there has been countless occasions where it has been reminded to us that a particular singer had already auditioned.

Amy Motram, Jade Richards, Melanie McCabe, Stephanie Woods, Dolly Rockers, all hopefuls for 2013 and all names that have sang in front of those judges before. But have they really gone away and perfected their performance or are the X Factor's producers now just scraping the barrel of talent?

Perhaps before casting aspersions though it should be a case of looking on an individual basis. Take Stephanie Woods for example, she was just 14 when when she first auditioned, perhaps too young to be in such a competition, but first time round she did make it to the Judges' House stage of the competition. Now 20 though, she's back and wowing the judges, receiving a unanimous "yes" to put her through to the arena auditions. She even reduced former mentor Sharon Osbourne to tears! Perhaps Stephanie summed up her return to the competition best, she told the judges "I've said if I don't get through today or this year then it's not meant to be but I want it so bad now, I'm so ready".

But on the other hand let's look at Jade Richards. Now 23, and four stone lighter, Jade is hoping for third time lucky in 2013. But what with her weight loss, does Jade think that it was her image that was the cause of her failure in 2011 and 2012?

Biography for Xavier Samuel

Xavier Samuel is an Australian actor who was born in Hamilton, Victoria, although he grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. Xavier's parents are Clifford and Maree Samuel. He has an older sister named Bridget and a younger brother named Benedict. Bridget is a stage manager, and Benedict is an actor, producer, and writer.

He completed his high-school years at Rostrevor College and graduated from that institution in 2001. He played Tom Snout in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in his final year at Rostrevor. Samuel enrolled at Christian Brothers College in 2001, studying drama under the guidance of Amanda Portus. He also began attending Flinders University Drama Centre in 2005, playing Hamlet in his graduate production. He studied under Professor Julie Holledge, a well-known acting teacher at Flinders.

He is best known for his role as Riley Biers in the 2010 movie "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse." He has also played leading roles in "A Few Best Men,""Further We Search," "Newcastle," "The Loved Ones," and "September." Samuel's professional acting debut was in the role of Jason in 2003 on the Australian television show "McLeod's Daughters." He also played Belvile in "The Rover," a 2005 CBC production. His professional stage performances include the role of Colin in the Windmill Performing Arts production of "Two Weeks with the Queen" in 2006. He also performed in "Osama the Hero" at The Old Fitzroy Theatre in 2006. Samuel's next stage role was in "Mercury Fur" at the Griffin Theatre.

He has primarily acted in movies since 2006. He played Theo in "2:37" and Will Turner in "Angela's Decision," which were both released in 2006. His next movie was the 2007 production "September," in which he played Ed Anderson. Samuel played the part of Fergus in the movie "Newcastle" and Boyd in "Dream Life," both of which were released in 2008.

Samuel starred in three productions during 2009. The first was a short work entitled "Drowning," in which he appeared as Dan. "Drowning" was directed by Craig Boreham and also starred Miles Szanto, star of "Elephant Princess." His next film was the horror/thriller "The Loved Ones," appearing in the lead role of Brent. "The Loved Ones" received several nominations for awards, although it failed to win any. Samuel also played Age in the 2009 feature "Further We Search."

Thanks for Sharing - Movie Review

Sex addiction seems to be Hollywood's newest obsession with the dramatic comedy "Thanks for Sharing," the drama "Shame," the comedy "Don Jon," and television's "Californication." Although writer-director Stuart Blumberg surely had good intentions for his film "Thanks for Sharing," its focus is too broad to satisfy most movie goers. Perhaps that's the secret of success for those other productions about sex addiction: a narrowed focus on one person and one addiction.

Thanks for Sharing (which gets its name from the meeting mantra expressed by recovering addicts) explores three men in a sex addiction recovery group and to a lesser extent one woman. The film looks briefly at their romantic relationships, families, friendships with each other, symptoms, temptations, and the overall group dynamics. That's a lot to cover in 112 minutes - too much, in fact.

The Story of Three Addicts

Mark Ruffalo stars as Adam, a recovering sex addict who is five years "sober." He's embarking on a new romance with Phoebe (Gwyneth Paltrow), a beautiful cancer-surviving over-achiever. She immediately reveals her breasts are fake because the old ones tried to kill her. However, Adam gives an evasive half-truth when she asks him if he's an alcoholic because she wants to avoid addicts like her ex-boyfriend. His initial secret will obviously surface later at the most inconvenient time possible. We learn almost nothing about Phoebe's history or why she consistently attracts addicts into her life, nor does Adam share the story of how his addiction originated.

His sponsor, Mike (Tim Robbins, whose performance is exceptionally strong here), gave his wife (Joely Richardson) a disease through his former sex addiction (now 12 years sober) and deals ineffectively with his grown son (Patrick Fugit), who has an ongoing drug addiction. While Mike remains the 12-Step guru at their daily meetings, he's often out of control with his family. The hints of family dysfunction could be a movie entirely by themselves.

Some of the Most Misunderstood Films of All Time

Compared to painting, sculpture, or music, movies are an extremely young artistic medium. The unique implications of a moving camera compared to a live performance are so vast that it has taken many years for film to fully develop as an artistic medium. It's natural, therefore, that filmmakers should have experimented with a wide variety of different forms and narrative techniques. Imagine their frustration when their movies, which they had carefully written, nurtured through development, and finally released, were vividly misunderstood by the very audiences the films were aimed at. These are just a few of those misunderstood gems.

The Shining

When the talk turns to misunderstood classics, there's hardly a better starting point than the filmography of Stanley Kubrick, who spent the better part of thirty years acting as a sort of one-man misunderstanding machine.

In "The Shining," Kubrick knocked horror fans for a loop by driving them up to a spooky old mansion in the mountains and throwing at them a monster, who turned out to be a normal guy. No rubber suits, no aliens, and not even one car chase were worked into this thriller. Audiences took it as a simple story about an ax murderer. What those audiences overlooked was that the film, and the book on which it was very loosely based, had many kinds of subtext. Author Stephen King has publicly stated that the book was a meditation on his own struggles with alcoholism. Kubrick, for his part, left his own interpretation open to speculation. Entire cottage industries exist to decipher the symbolism in Kubrick's movies, and "The Shining" is no exception. Quite a lot of evidence has been gathered-online, naturally-in support of "The Shining" being an extended metaphor for the domination of the Americas by white Europeans. As usual, everybody is free to interpret the film through their own lens, but one thing "The Shining"isn'tis a simple slasher pic.

Jake Gyllenhaal: A Biography

With the September 20, 2013, release of "Prisoners," fans are lining up to find out everything they can about one of the film's lead actors, Jake Gyllenhaal.

The American actor has roots that are firmly planted in the film industry. He was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1980. His parents are screenwriter Naomi Foner and film director Stephen Gyllenhaal. He went to elementary school with members of the mega-popular band Maroon 5 and graduated from a private high school, Harvard-Westlake, in 1998, where his classmates included Adya Field and Jason Segal.

Before finding success as an actor, Gyllenhaal worked several jobs, including as a bus boy at the restaurant of a family friend and as a lifeguard. In the latter job, he has been credited with rescuing a swimmer who had been stung by a jellyfish-and subsequently urinating on the stings to alleviate the swimmer's pain.

During childhood, Gyllenhaal was regularly exposed to film and landed his first role at the age of eleven, playing the son of Billy Crystal's character in the comedy "City Slickers" (1991). He was cast for a role in "The Mighty Ducks" the following year, but his parents would not allow him to accept it, because he would have been required to be away from home for a couple of months.

In 1993, Gyllenhaal appeared in "A Dangerous Woman" along with his sister Maggie. His career slowed for a bit during high school, largely because of his parents' objections whenever he'd land a role. It wasn't until he landed a leading role in "October Sky" in 1999 that he saw a glimmer of the success that would become his future. The film is an adaptation of Rocket Boys, the autobiography of Homer Hickam. The role is generally regarded as Gyllenhaal's breakout performance.

Silent Movie Acting - Not Just Melodrama

If you have ever seen some of the old TV comedies there is a chance you may have seen an episode or two where they spoof silent movies. In general the parody consists of a lot of title cards and plenty of melodramatic acting.

In many instances they were not that far off the mark. Some silent films because of the story or a director that lacked imagination would use a ton of title cards to get the narrative across.
Sometimes it's a contest to find out what you will see more of the actor's on the screen or the dialogue cards. It's a given with the nature of silents that there must be a certain amount of explanation so audiences could understand what was going on.

However people like Charlie Chaplin showed what was possible. Chaplin was able to make feature length films let alone shorts with the minimum of title cards hereby demonstrating the power of pantomime to carry the narrative.

And his pantomime did not really consist of wild overblown gestures with bug-eyed facial expressions. Charlie Chaplin's acting could be as naturalistic as any actor that came after him. The same goes for America's Sweetheart Mary Pickford. She foregoes many of the melodramatic tendencies and hones in on more true to life style.

Pickford like Chaplin would from time to time exaggerate their countenance as well as body language but more often than not it was done to create a certain effect and then it was back to the natural.

Douglas Fairbanks goes back and forth between these two worlds in Mark Of Zorro. In one scene Fairbanks as the mild mannered Don Diego Vega meets up with some villainous soldiers who demonstrate to him what they are going to do if they ever catch up with Zorro.

Format for Writing a Screenplay - What You Need to Know

What format for writing a screenplay is one of the major stumbling blocks of the budding writer. But it doesn't have to be, as there are numerous scriptwriting aids, downloadable information and examples available, in all aspects of screenplay writing. Why then, you may ask, are questions still being asked on the web. For example I found this writer asking...

"Help! I've been told that one must use a 12pt New Courier font with page margins of 1.5" on left side (for binding) and 1" on the right side, top and bottom. I'm confused, because when I read sample scripts, they invariably seem to be able to cram more lines and character spaces on a page. How?

I agree that your script should be presented in the format the industry expects. It not only makes you look more professional, with the Final Draft being more pleasing to the eye, but more importantly YOUR HARD WORK will be less likely to be thrown out.

Your content and story maybe the next blockbuster, but without that presentation you will fall at the first hurdle.

Five Amazing Chick Flicks

Women love them, men fear them, and Hollywood keeps on making them better and better. Chick flicks are those sappy movies that are best watched with a glass of wine and a box of tissues. Most women have seen the classic chick flicks that include "Dirty Dancing," "Pretty Woman," and "Ghost," but many others are just as amazing although not as well known.

John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale star in "Serendipity," a story about destiny and true love. Jonathan Trager (Cusack) and Sara Thomas (Beckinsale) meet by chance while doing some shopping and feel an instant attraction to each other. Although both of them are engaged to other people, they grab a bite to eat at a small café called Serendipity 3. Deciding that fate is at work, Sara writes down her name and phone number on the inside of a book and then sells it to a used book vendor. She tells Jonathan that if being together is their destiny, he will eventually come across that book and will be able to contact her.

Because it is a true chick flick, the two do find each other again under the stars in a light snowfall at the skating rink in New York's Central Park. The bulk of the film details the twists, turns, and misunderstandings that lead to that point. At various times, the viewer will wonder whether the two will lose each other forever or simply find each other too late.

Viewers should have two boxes of tissues near them when watching "Message in a Bottle," as Robin Wright Penn, Kevin Costner, and Paul Newman will keep them teary-eyed throughout most of the movie. This is a story about true love and gut-wrenching loss. Wright plays the role of Theresa Osborne, a city-dwelling researcher for "The Chicago Tribune" who finds a love letter in a bottle that washed up onshore. She tracks down the letter's author, a seafaring North Carolina native, Garrett Blake (Costner), who hasn't yet come to grips with the death of his wife, Catherine. His father, Dodge (Newman), lives nearby.

Great Movies for Guys to Enjoy Over and Over

A number of movies are made specifically for girls' nights. They usually follow a basic formula, and they star a few famous women and a handful of handsome men. When they end, you can typically be assured that everything will work out well for the lead characters and everyone will live happily ever after.

While a large number of men have watched these movies, they can rest assured that Hollywood is still making movies specifically for men. From mobsters and contract killers to racecars and outer-space adventures, plenty of great guy flicks promise to take viewers away from the real world for a few hours on any given afternoon.

One of the best movies for men is 1994's "Pulp Fiction," which was written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Some fans of the movie who had seen his previous work, "Reservoir Dogs," were already familiar with his nonlinear storytelling style. Those who witnessed his wizardry for the first time felt themselves caught up in a film like never before. "Pulp Fiction" tells the story of two California hit men and the intertwining tales of other lives they touch over a few strange days. From a guy's point of view, this movie has an abundance of male camaraderie, prolific use of colorful language, and a ridiculous amount of gunplay and gore. While many women love the movie, this film is ideal for guys to enjoy time and time again.

In 1999, David Fincher introduced a testosterone-fueled film called "Fight Club." Starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt as two men who start an underground fighting ring, this film is full of explosions, blood, and violence. At the start of the film, the protagonists are simply trying to find a way for men to get in touch with their baser instincts in order to truly appreciate their lives. Brutal fistfights are cleverly interspersed with humorous situations, a combination that male audiences can easily appreciate. "Fight Club" is another film that was viewed in theaters by men and women alike, but it is replayed on networks for men, such as FX and Spike.

Those looking for an enjoyable trip to the movies are likely to enjoy "Rush," which hit theaters on September 27, 2013. Every eighteen months or so, director Ron Howard treats audiences to a film that is big on energy and excitement, and this year's offering is no different. "Rush" tells the amazing story of Formula One racers James Hunt and Niki Lauda before and after the 1976 German Grand Prix. In a sport with virtually no room for mistakes, both drivers pushed their bodies and their machines to the limit in the quest for that year's championship. Lauda almost lost his life in a horrific crash that year, and he had to overcome third-degree burns on his face and head in an attempt to finish the season. Howard does an exceptional job showing the speed and danger the two drivers faced in one of the best racing movies-and best guy movies-of all time.

Empowering The Youth To Take Action Against Crime

In the last year, the various crimes against women have been brought under the spot light. Although these crimes may have been taking place before, they were not given due importance in the newspapers and the various other forms of media.

However, after the gruesome rape case that took place in Delhi, the nation was jolted into the reality of how serious the problem really is. The fact is that there are a number of crimes that are being committed every single day. Many of these cases include a violation of the rights of women and children.

In recent time, the media has played a major role in making sure that these crimes are highlighted. It is because of this effort that the public have become aware of the situation. They can now raise their voice and work to make sure that the safety of the common people remains a priority.

News channels play a major role in bringing crime under the spotlight. In order to further this effort, a number of entertainment channels have joint the team as well. There are shows that are dedicated to crime and helping the public understand the mind set of criminals.

A great example of this genre of television is Gumrah. The show recreates crimes that have taken place in India. A set of actors in act the entire crime from the planning stages to the implementation. It is explained to you in details so that you can understand the thoughts of the criminals.

Films That Race to the Finish

It used to be that films about car racing catered to a specific audience, mostly young and predominantly male. But recently, car racing films have tried to reach across the aisle and bring in more female fans. With more complex plots and terrific action sequences, car racing films have grown in popularity in recent years.

Much is expected of a new biopic film released in September 2013. "Rush" tells the story of the Formula One rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the mid-1970s. Directed by acclaimed American master Ron Howard, the film is a joint production effort between Universal Pictures (United States), StudioCanal (United Kingdom), and Pathé Productions (France). Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl take on the roles of Hunt and Lauda, respectively. The film was released to critical acclaim, with many calling "Rush" the best sports drama film in a long while. Apart from "Rush," there have been many other car racing films that have achieved success at the box office. Some of the most memorable are elaborated upon in greater detail below.

"Days of Thunder"

Directed by the late Tony Scott, "Days of Thunder" features Tom Cruise teaming up with "Top Gun" director Scott once again. The film, which also stars Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, and Cary Elwes, follows the fortunes of a young NASCAR racing driver, Cole, played by Cruise. The early part of the film sees Cole and his archrival Rowdy Burns battle it out on the racetrack. At the Firecracker 400 in Daytona, each of them suffers major injuries from crashes that bring them together in the process. Cole takes longer to recover than Rowdy, and as a result he is shut out from the racing team. After Rowdy suffers another accident, Cole is allowed to get back on the race track. The final race is the Daytona 500, in which Cole overcomes the new hotshot Russ Wheeler to become the new champion. Film critics were mostly positive about the film, but some called it "Top Gun" on wheels.

Great Riddlers: Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective invented by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, conceptualized in 1887 and this series ended in 1927. During this time the character became very popular with the novels and short stories appearing in magazines. Since this time the character of Sherlock Holmes has been adapted into countless TV shows, plays and movies. Most famously and most recently Holmes was portrayed by Robert Downey Jr in the film Sherlock Holmes in 2009. He received a Golden Globe award for this portrayal and it did well enough to warrant a sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. In addition to this movie there are currently two popular TV shows based on Sir Conan Doyle's works entitled 'Sherlock' and 'Elementary'. Both of these shows were picked up for extra seasons.

On to the character himself, Holmes is an eccentric man who cares little for the plainness of society. He is somewhat inverted and he is always calm and collected. But his main character trait that we are concerned about is his ability to take the smallest and meaningless facts or traits of a person or situation to draw large assumptions. In this sense he is very good at solving riddles. 

Why "How I Met Your Mother" Is The Most Creative Thing On TV Right Now

Ever since Friends ended back in May 2004, sitcoms started to copy the format that Martha Kauffman and David Crane used back in 1994--get in a group of actors, make them be friends on a tv show, put them in a familiar location (coffee-shop, bar, diner, etc.) and earn loads of money making people laugh.

Except, it's not really that simple. And that's why so many TV shows failed (miserably) after Friends. They were either trying too hard to become Friends, or just not trying hard enough.

Then in the fall of 2005 (yes, that long ago!), Carter Bays and Craig Thomas created How I Met Your Mother, a show whose title explains what the past 9 years of our lives have been about. Ted Mosby, in 2030, sits his two teenage kids on the couch and starts telling him the story of he met their mother.

And then we flashback to present-time.

It's been one hell-of-a-ride with this show. The ensemble cast is pretty much the perfect group of friends to hang out with (or, in this case, to look at) and the realism that this show tries to show is incredibly amusing to watch. There are no sitcoms out there right now with such "realistic" yet entertaining plotlines as this show.

Now we get to the good stuff, the stuff that really drew me in. The creativity. No show out there is as creative as the ideas that come out of Carter Bays and Craig Thomas (who, by the way, claim that this show is based on actual events from their lives). HIMYM isn't afraid to take risks, to make us cry and laugh at the same time, to be so crazy yet real all in once place.

Recent episodes like last season 8's "The Time Travelers" which aired on March 25th 2013 show that creativity and beautiful writing is what drives this show the most. 

A Biography for Danny Trejo

Danny Trejo is an American film actor born on May 16, 1944. He has appeared in many films, usually as a villain or antihero. His most memorable films include "Con Air," "Desperado," "Heat," and "Machete." Trejo frequently collaborates with film director Robert Rodriguez.

Trejo was born in Los Angeles and is the son of Dan Trejo and Alice Rivera. Robert Rodriguez is Trejo's second cousin, although neither man was aware of this relationship until they filmed "Desperado." Trejo spent much of the 1960s in California prisons and became a champion boxer for the welterweight and lightweight divisions In San Quentin Prison. He also joined a twelve-step program during his incarceration and says that he has been sober since 1969. Trejo enrolled in Pitzer College in Claremont, California, upon his release from prison but left after one semester.

He was speaking at a recovery meeting in 1985 when one of the attendees invited Trejo to watch the filming of "Runaway Train." He got a job as an extra, and screenwriter Edward Bunker recognized Trejo as a former inmate of San Quentin, where Bunker had also served time. Bunker offered Trejo a job training star Eric Roberts to box. Director Andrei Konchalovsky was also impressed by Trejo and offered him a more prominent role in "Runaway Train."

Trejo has since appeared in many films with A-list actors such as Charles Bronson, Nicolas Cage, Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford, and Robert De Niro. He typically plays small roles, which allows him to routinely appear in five or more films per year. Major films in which Trejo has played a significant role include "Blood In, Blood Out," "Marked for Death" and "Once Upon a Time in Mexico."

His first leading role was Machete Cortez in the 2010 action film "Machete," which was followed by the 2013 sequel, "Machete Kills." Trejo originally appeared as Machete in a trailer for "Grindhouse," a B-grade action film directed by Robert Rodriquez and Quentin Tarantino. The trailer was originally intended as a spoof, but it became so popular that Rodriquez decided to make a film based on the character of Machete.

Best Horror Movies for Halloween

No Halloween is complete without blood-red candied apples and horror movies. Some horror flicks are so good they stick in the mind for a lifetime. This list is sure to induce spine-chilling, spooky fun this Halloween.

"Psycho"

A no-brainer for a Halloween movie list is the classic 1960 Alfred Hitchcock film "Psycho." Starring Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates and Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, the film is praised by critics as a work of art in cinematography. Marion Crane is a secretary who embezzles a large sum of money from her boss. She goes on the run, taking refuge on a stormy night at the remote Bates Motel. The lodging is deserted due to a detour from the main highway. The motel is owned by a shaky young man named Norman Bates and his domineering and mentally ill mother. "Psycho" is a twisted and murderous tale one might think could only be concocted in a mind such as that of Hitchcock. Unfortunately, Hitchcock got his inspiration from the true story of Ed Gein. A truly perverse man, Gein enjoyed digging up human remains to fashion into tools. He wore the skin of corpses like clothes. The movie "Ed Gein," released in 2000, is also a great Halloween movie.

"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"

Ed Gein inspired another classic thriller that's perfect for Halloween, the 1974 film "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Marilyn Burns plays Sally Hardesty and Paul A. Partain plays Sally's brother, Franklin. On a trip to their family homestead, the siblings and their three friends become stranded without gas. They stop at a house to find help but instead find a chainsaw murderer and his cannibalistic family. "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" was remade in 2003.

"The Shining"

It would be inappropriate to mention twisted stories without crediting Stephen King for his tales of suspense and horror. Of the many King plots from which to choose, "The Shining" and its creepy cast is the best choice for a spooky Halloween movie night. The 1980 film, based on King's 1977 novel, stars Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance and Shelley Duvall as Jack's wife, Wendy. Jack accepts a job as the off-season caretaker of the Outlook Hotel. Jack, Wendy, and their son are to take care of the hotel during the winter months when the snows are so deep no one can reach the place. This also means the Torrance family can't leave. As it happens, the lodging is built on a Native American burial site, and the previous caretaker, overcome with cabin fever, slaughtered his family before committing suicide in the grand hotel.

Movies Based on Hockey

If you are a true hockey fan, you probably enjoy seeking out movies on the sport to add to your collection because you simply can't get enough of the action. There are a wide variety of flicks to satisfy your desire to be on the ice, while providing you with the excitement, heartache, suspense and drama of the game. Whether you enjoy a good comedy or prefer a realistic tragedy, there is something for everyone.

One of the most popular comedy movie series about hockey is "The Mighty Ducks." The original was released in October 1992. The story follows former star hockey player Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez), who is now an egocentric lawyer. Ironically, he goes to court after being stopped for drinking and driving. As part of his restitution, Judge George Coe (Judge Weathers) orders Bombay to coach a peewee hockey team. Irritated at first, Bombay nonetheless sets out to make the team he calls The Ducks a winning team. Throughout the film, he confronts his past, gets close to the boys, and gives back to the community. "The Mighty Ducks" is an excellent film for the whole family that teaches the importance of teamwork and the joys of hockey. Those who enjoy the film should also enjoy "D2" and "D3: The Mighty Ducks" sequels.

If you are looking for a realistic drama about hockey, "The Rhino Brothers" is the story of one young man's struggle on the way to play in the professional hockey league. Stefan Kanachowski (Curtis Bechdholt) returns home after playing in the minors. His family doesn't say much to him because they assume he will follow in the path of his older brother Sasha (William MacDonald), who also played in the minors before returning home. Stefan is determined to be more than his brother, who still lives at home and spends the majority of his days drinking. Through the love and support of his mother Ellen (Gabrielle Rose), Stefan overcomes his older brother's jealousy and rises to the top. The film was released in July 2002.

Tips for Anime Newbies: "Which Anime Should I Start With?"

Anime is a type of entertainment. Just as books, movies, television and video games are. Asking where to start in this medium is a very broad question. There are many types of anime including romance, comedy, science fiction, adventure and much more.Similar to how a teenage girl would choose to watch a romantic mystery and a professional may choose to watch a documentary, your choices will be based on your personal preferences.

Ask yourself questions like:

"Do I want to be intellectually challenged?" "Do I want to cry?" "Do I want to laugh?" "What are some great classics?" "Which titles will my friends/family and I be able to discuss together?" "Can I learn something from this anime?" "Do I want to see sword fights? robot fights?" "Is there going to be mature themes in this anime?"... The list goes on.

Below I listed a variety of some of the best anime of all time. I would recommend the following to anyone.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Genre: Action, Mecha, Psycological

Lelouch Lamperouge is a Britannian prince who was sent to Japan, as a result of bargaining in the midst of war, along with his sister Nunally. One day the Britannian forces raid a Japanese city and wiped out everything in sight. From that day on, Lelouch swore to his Japanese friend, Suzaku, that he would one day obliterate Britannia.

7 years after that eventful day Lelouch has become a strategic genius and a tactical mastermind.On his way to school he is caught up in a "terrorist attack" and meets a girl called CC. CC grants Lelouch the power of kings, a power called geass. This ability allows Lelouch to compel anyone he chooses. Lelouch decides to use this new power to accomplish his goal of destroying Britannia.

In this journey Lelouch becomes the leader of the Black Knight resistance and takes the role of a masked mastermind by the name of Zero.

Death Note
Genre: Psycological Thriller, Mystery, Dark Fantasy

A genius high school student, Light Yagami, who is bored of mundane everyday life, encounters a notebook called the Deathnote. The Deathnote was dropped form the sky by an equally bored "Shinigami"(God Of Death). This book allows Light to kill anyone by writing their name in the book. After multiple experiments and tests Light decides he wants to exterminate all the criminals of the world and become the god of the resulting earth.

A Closer Look At American Beauty

I've been in the mood of searching for and watching "classic" movies no matter how old they are. Last weekend, I finished God Father Triology, which I have watched twice and still find the movies astonishingly wonderful and interesting. Last night, I watched American Beauty, for the first time, getting to know by accident how well the movie did at the 1999 Academy Awards and other international film festivals. And gosh, I gotta share with you right away because this movie truly deserves the title, one of the masterpieces of all time that brings a perfect blend of intelligent screenplay, perfect acting and a powerful story!

Whereas some movies will glide by as "good" until they might, decades later, slip into the realm of "classic", American Beauty is one of those rare films whose place among the classics has been guaranteed since its appearance. In this movie, a metaphorical magnifying glass is placed over American society and in particular the lives of people living in a typical middle-class suburban. However, I do think the message of this movie is applicable not only to American society but also to all societies around the world. It's the film's tag line: "Look closer".

The movie is a story about Lester Burnham, a man in his mid-40s going through an intense midlife crisis. The nice-looking 2-storey house complete with shutters and the bright red door does a great job of hiding and trapping Lester, his boring life and dysfunctional family. Lester's relationship with his wife Carolyn is not a warm one. While on the surface, Carolyn strives to present the image that she's in full control of her life, inside, she actually feels empty and desperate. 

The Best Special Effects in Halloween Movies

Since the advent of special effects, modern movies have been able to bring monsters, ghosts, and even dinosaurs to life. The first horror movie that used heavy effects was, arguably, "Nosferatu" in 1922. However, older movies had to rely entirely on practical effects such as prosthetics, makeup, and optical illusions. As technology progresses, it's becoming more and more difficult to distinguish the lines between what is real and what is computer generated; in some cases, it's nearly impossible. However, the best special effects are not always better when it comes to Halloween horror movies. The ones that are technically less advanced often look even more terrifying than the computer-generated images that appear real to the untrained eye.

"A Nightmare on Elm Street" is an excellent example of a terrifying effects-heavy film that was released shortly after Halloween. From the scene in which Freddy Krueger's scarred face presses against the wallpaper to the infamous blood geyser scene, "A Nightmare on Elm Street" is packed with frightening special effects. "A Nightmare on Elm Street" was made in 1984, but the effects used in the film still hold up to modern standards even though they were created without the technology moviemakers have at their disposal today. Distorted camera angles and bizarre dream sequences add to the spooky atmosphere of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" even when Freddy Krueger isn't onscreen.

"Sleepy Hollow" was another great horror movie packed with special effects. Even though "Sleepy Hollow" was released two weeks after Halloween, this movie truly embodies the spirit of All Hallows' Eve. After all, Halloween is a night full of ghosts and spirits, and "Sleepy Hollow" is about the headless ghost of a Hessian horseman and the forensic scientist who is trying to put an end to his reign of terror. "Sleepy Hollow" has plenty of impressive and frightening offerings, but the most grim of all is arguably the hollow tree filled with human heads. The tree, which bleeds if its bark is cut, opens up as a portal to the underworld and unleashes the horrible headless horseman on the nearby village.

3 Easy Tips On How To Find A Good School To Grow Your Acting Skills

Do you want to be an actor or actress? One thing is for sure, you have to be talented in acting as not everyone can do it. Acting has become popular today, as more people are hyped by the movies and TV programs being produced every day, and each day, these programs seem to be getting better and better. Acting has also become a career for many people and looking at the successful ones in the industry, everyone would like to be in their shoes! If you have the talent and would like to nurture it, you need to find a good school to learn more about acting. Below are some tips to help you find a good acting school.

• Lecturers

Your lecturers will always have an idea on the best schools for acting. In addition, they are the best people to give you referrals on the best acting instructors. An instructor will guide and assist you to have consistency in your skill. You may be criticized a lot and your flaws may be announced to everyone during the acting sessions, but it is all for your own good! If you find an instructor who only points out the good side of your acting skills, then you may not know where you need improvement and everyone needs to improve their skill, especially when you are just getting started.

Quench Your Anticipation With The Iron Man 3 Trailer

The newest movie within the Marvel Comics series is due to be launched and a good deal of its enthusiasts are already looking forward to it in eager anticipation. Self-described genius, playboy, billionaire and philanthropist Tony Stark now has a strong enemy in the evil Mandarin. In the upcoming Marvel movie, Iron Man's quest takes a distinct turn from his past displays of power as well as antics, testing his courage to the limits. Stark discovers the limit of his scruples and also traits whilst desperately trying to hold on to his loved ones.

This latest trailer shows Tony Stark fully outfitted within his upgraded armour along with his variety of devices developed with the newest technologies in the soon to be unveiled film, Iron Man 3. The producer of the movie would be none other than Marvel Studios, in close association with both DMG Entertainment and also Paramount Pictures, with the distribution element being taken care of by Walt Disney Studios. Iron Man is the character from Marvel Comics and Iron Man 3 is a sequel of both successful precursors: both of which met with huge success following their first appearance.

For those who are interested in a little background of this series, Tony stark and his alter ego came into being quite a while ago in 1963 in Marvel's Tales of Suspense #39 and it grew in popularity after then. 

Movie Review - The Book Thief

She finds her love of reading as a way to shut out the horrors of Nazi Germany. She steals them, shares them, and uses their words and thoughts to nurture those around her. In doing so, she creates a magical world that inspires them all.

Based on Markus Zusak's international best-selling book, "The Book Thief" is about Liesel, an extraordinary and courageous young girl who finds solace in stealing books. Set in 1938, the movie opens with Liesel's mother taking her daughter and son to live with a foster family in a German working-class neighborhood outside Munich. Unable to care for her children, Liesel's mother must give them up. However, on the train ride, Liesel's younger brother dies, and in the snow-covered ground, he is laid to rest. There, at age nine, she steals her first book, "The Gravedigger's Handbook" and thus begins her love affair with books.

She tries to adapt to her new life with the foster parents Hans and Rosa portrayed by Oscar winners Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson. Hans kindly takes her under his wing, gains her trust and when he discovers she's illiterate, he teaches her how to read. Rosa, the stern one, sees problems with this new addition and questions the decision to take her in. Liesel, played by Sophie Nélisse, at first wants to run away, but then finds a budding friendship with schoolmate Rudy (German youngster Nico Liersch). Over the next six years, the characters are affected by Hitler's rise to power and the war that follows.

Books are at the center of this film, not so much for their physical presence but for their ability to unleash a freethinking society, one that can make up its own mind. When Hitler came to power, Nazi Germany was obsessed in suppressing dissident viewpoints, ideas contrary to their ideologies and the party line agenda. Public book burnings were one way to control the masses and force them to give up the thoughts, the words, and the stories that gave direction to their lives.

The book burning is one of the strongest scenes in this movie because it's a turning point in young Liesel's life. She attends and initially she is caught up in the jubilant celebration. However, her composure slowly changes when she realizes something is shamefully wrong. When pushed to take part in this horrific act, she becomes one of us and we feel her turmoil destroying the very thing she loves. Over the loud speakers, the rantings of German-speaking official combined with the flames of the burning books creates a terrifying scene. It foretells of the tragedies to come and that no one is safe in this warped and misguided world. From this moment on Liesel must live a double life, one seeking truth, the other obeying the Nazi dictates.

"Twelve Years A Slave" - A New Film Report

"I Was All Set To Shout... !

I was all set to shout 'ACADEMY AWARD!'-- from just hearing the initial reviews for "TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE". I'd been led to think it was going to be the film that would raise all of our consciousnesses to a level we had never before known. We were going to see a film about a free black man, birth-named Solomon Northup, who is kidnapped under false pretences, and soon finds that he is now a slave with a new name, Platt-- far from his native home-Saratoga Springs, New York-and without much of a chance of escaping his fate. If this weren't true, it wouldn't work

"You're Supposed To Be Hit!"

Of course, when you come to a film such as this one, you're supposed to be hit with some powerful punches and character interplay that give you more than awful facts. This movie could have been so much more than it was. I saw minor artistry and tiresome sequences. I blame the director for not being able to give us the good actors here-- attached to energized plot movements. Steve McQueen had a great opportunity to use a talented man, Chiewetel Ejiofor, to portray the slave who'd been a violinist. He's a brave man, quite resolved to take the hell of lashings, brutal verbal assaults, and the grimness of family loss for twelve years at the hands of merciless masters.

Autograph - How to Get an Autograph

Getting an autograph requires patience and tenacity. If you want a player to sign something for you, you will need to wait near where he will pass by. You should not yell or antagonize the player for any reason. You will need to observe the area where the player may go during a break in the game.

You may also need to get to a sporting venue very early so you will have the opportunity to get close to the players while they are warming up. Some players are relaxed during warm-up so they are more likely to give you a minute or two of their time.

If you are attending a professional tennis tournament, you may have the opportunity to get within inches of all of the tennis players including the most famous ones. Tennis players generally must move from their locker room quarters to the courts without the aid of any security.

If you are hoping for a player's autograph, you should smile and politely ask the player to sign your ball or program. Make sure that you have a pen ready. The players at a tennis tournament only have a few minutes to spare while transitioning between matches so you will need to be prepared.