This PETA approved film, which used the same technology that James Cameron used in Avatar for the NA’VI, stars James Franco and Andy Serkis as Caesar, the ape. The story revolves around scientist Will Rodman, played by James Franco, who is developing a drug to cure Alzheimer’s. He crosses paths with a baby ape whose mother was put down by security guards after she freaked and escaped throughout the company’s facility. He takes him home where lives with his Alzheimer’s stricken father. Will raises Caesar into adulthood when he discovers that he inherited enhanced genes from his mother was experimented at the company. From there Will takes his research to the next level and as they say, the plot thickens. I loved this movie and could watch it over and over again. If you haven’t seen it yet, buy it or rent it right away!

 I’ll be honest. I’m not into animal based movies even though I’m a huge animal lover, they just don’t entertain me. The last time I was truly enjoyed an animal themed movie was Marley and Me, which I really enjoyed. Then I went to see War Horse with my Mom and discovered an incredible story about the human spirit and its ability to triumph over hard times. The story is set in England in 1918 during the first world war. Jeremy Irvine plays Albert who trains a horse to work his father’s farm. He grows close with him, only to have his father auction the horse away to the British military. We follow his horse throughout his journey in the war. This horse brings out the best of people and brings together bitter enemies. The cast in this film was fantastic and Jeremy Irvine delivered such a good performance, I couldn’t ask for anything more. However, I would advise parents not bring their children to this movie simply because of the intense war scenes.

When I first saw the trailer for this movie on television I knew I had to see it. If you enjoyed films such as Encounters of The Fifth KindorThe Blair Witch Project that was filmed in a documentary style and with “footage” of real life events, then you’ll enjoy Apollo 18. It isn’t for everyone but it is good nonetheless. The story follows a team of astronauts who go on a secret mission to the moon. As events unfold it, it becomes clear to them why they were sent to the moon. Tensions rise between crew members when mysterious medical aliments arrive with no known origin and they discover why their mission was top secret. Overall I was very impressed with the movie. The cast did a wonderful job and there was plenty of well-written dialogue and action; even though the whole film was made like a documentary. If you enjoy horror/scifi movies then you’ll definitely want to see this.

To get the attention he needs, Cassidy escapes from jail and plants himself on the ledge of a hotel in a fake suicide attempt.  It captures the media’s attention, which is something he wanted because just across the street lies the building of Englander Jewelry, owned by David Englander, the owner of the alleged stolen diamond.  Cassidy believes he had the diamond all along, and set him up as a thief so Englander could collect the insurance money on the prized jewel.

From the beginning to the end, the movie is packed full of thrilling  twists. It has the audience constantly wondering what is going on, including who’s good and who’s bad.  With elaborate plots, daring break-ins and near-death experiences, the suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.

The ending is fantastic, as you will finally see the whole elaborate scheme as it comes to light,  in triumph and amazement.

I have to admit, I am more of a comedy guy myself, but I really enjoyed this movie.  I would definitely recommend Man on a Ledge and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.  The cast  played their roles with passion and power, and the plot was outstanding.  Don’t expect to see a lot of special effects, but they certainly weren’t needed.  This is a movie that invokes thought, which makes it an epic classic.

Get to know some of the insight about the movie by the man who’s book helped make it the success it is today. Get his take on the casting and find out why she was called “The Iron Lady”.

Highly creative, intelligent and motivated, the Cincinnati, Ohio resident has worked as a producer, writer, creative consultant, photographer, and researcher just to name a few.  The man of many titles refuses to get bored.  “I’m always thinking and planning,” laughs Karlage during our recent interview.  “However, the hard part is making it happen.”

He doesn’t seem to have too much trouble making it happen though.  This past year, the talented Karlage produced an independent feature film titled, The Farm.  Not only did he act as the film’s producer, but he also worked as its screenwriter and web developer.  Steve Olander directed and edited.

According to Karlage, The Farm is based on true events, and let’s just say, it’s not exactly about cows and chickens.  Rather, the film focuses on a young, married couple while on their honeymoon.  The bride’s aunt, who is a realtor, loans her and the groom a rustic farmhouse to stay in after their wedding.  The country abode, however, is hardly charming and the couple’s romantic retreat turns into a horrific nightmare of sorts.  Estella and her new husband, Johnny, become stranded at the farm due to inclement weather and they soon realize they are not alone.  Ghostly events begin to take their toll on the couple, and whether or not they can escape their ordeal is left to be unseen- or at least for now.

Karlage will not discuss too many of the film’s details at the moment, as The Farm is still in the editing process.  He hopes that its full length version will be released the end of February 2012.  Currently, only a shortened version can be seen, which was run at a festival in Ohio in October of 2011.

The paranormal-horror film has the perfect trifecta for the making of a hit:  a creepy setting, several very talented actors and a brilliant production crew.  Karlage proudly states that Hollywood is already beginning to take notice of The Farm, and he hopes that after its spring release, the film will gain even more praise and recognition from not only big name critics, but also from audiences across the nation.

I, personally, have no doubt that Rocky Karlage will soon become a household name after The Farm‘s major debut, earning him a much coveted mark in the film industry.  In fact, the film did so outstandingly well at its Ohio screening in the fall, that it was also invited to be shown at the 2nd Annual Independent Film Festival in California in March of 2012.  Karlage further states the film will have a sequel, which hopefully will premiere sometime next year.

The Farm is not the only big project that Karlage has under his wing.  He is also the creator of  the much loved and highly respected Ghost Walk Saga.  Karlage’s Ghost Walk is an epic ghost story based upon historic events in late 1800s America, centered around the prestigious Lane Family of Cleveland, Ohio.  The fictional characters were  founded by Karlage; however, they may be more real than they seem.  “I have been told by psychics that the characters created for Ghost Walk are very close to “people who actually exist or existed.”  For instance, take Ghost Walk‘s most popular character, Little Lela.  Lela, the mysterious girl whose story is unfolded in the series, is based upon the “real” spirit known to Karlage as Lilly Rose.  The producer states that Lilly Rose has visited him in her ghostly form many times over his lifetime.

“Lilly Rose is a little girl ghost that is always around me.  She makes herself known quite abit,” explains the Ghost Walk creator.  Karlage goes on to state that Lilly Rose, who according to sensitives passed away over 200 years ago, looks for her mother who may be trapped, paranormally speaking.  Karlage feels this notion to be true as he communicates directly with Lilly Rose.  Considered to be an intuitive, Karlage often receives messages from this little spirit.  And, according to other Ghost Walk staff members, Lilly Rose is beginning to connect with them as well.  “Lilly Rose just wants to be heard.  She has reasons for reaching out to me and pushes me with my plans,” confides Karlage.  “She is an inspiration behind Ghost Walk .” 

Karlage continues on to say how all the characters in the saga are amazing.  Each and every one of them is beautifully complex and fascinating, adding to the drama and intrigue of Ghost Walk.  “To me, the saga is the ‘Gone with the Wind of the Paranormal’,” chuckles Karlage.  “In all seriousness, the Ghost Walk stories are very important.  They have meaning, are educational and full of history.  And within each story they feature dangers that are real.”

Some of Ghost Walk‘s other characters, in addition to Little Lela, include The Ladies Three:  Miss Dorian Lane, Mistress of Lane Estate and Manor; Leila Trent, Dorian’s best friend; and Sara ‘the hunter’, guardian of Lane Estate.  The Main Men of the Estate are as follows:  Taggart, the foreman of Lane Estate; Siegfried Lane, Master Lane of the Estate; and Jonathan ‘Jack’ Dawson, Lady Dorian’s fiance.  There are also the two children:  Little Lela (also known to many as Lilly Rose) and William, who is Lela’s best friend.  In addition, the Romy gypsies are characters in the saga, and their caravan lives on the eastern border of the Lane Estate.

Within the Ghost Walk series, “monsters” are said to walk among the so-called ordinary population, unbeknownst to others.  These dark creatures may look typical, acting much like “real” individuals, when rather they are far from it.  The three main female characters become entrapped in the supernatural schemes of the evil master of an ancient secret society.  All the while, times and places depicted within the stories are historically accurate.  Karlage is particularly proud of this, as he is a lover of history.  Ghost Walk‘s president and producer has worked hard on his saga.

Ghost Walk:  The Harvest Ball was screened at the Indie Gathering International Film Festival in August of 2010, a most honorable accomplishment indeed.  Karlage’s Ghost Walk company continues daily to develop a high concept story that incorporates many aspects of art, such as photography, video and musical composition.  “Ghost Walk Productions will bring the Ghost Walk story to book and even cinematic reality,” explains Karlage.

In addition to the actual saga, Karlage hosts a blogtalk radio show titled, Ghost Walk Mysteries, which airs every Monday at 6 pm EST.  The weekly broadcast of old-time radio from the mysterious to the downright frightening transports listeners to an era past.

Ghost Walk also features an online store, which can be found at http://ghostwalk.miiduu.com/index.php?route=product/allproducts.  Here, one can browse various items, some of which are a tad creepy.  Karlage sells haunted dolls on the site, which are quite popular nowadays.  The dolls are said to hold the spirits of the deceased either by choice or because the spirits were forced into the dolls (or hosts).  Dolls are “adopted” regularly through the online store.  Karlage also offers a variety of jewelry, worry doll accessories, and smudging kits.  This season Ghost Walk Productions has joined forces with the FreeStore Foodbank to help ease the hardships of families in need.  Therefore, the online shop will give 25% of all sales to the foodbank til December 31, 2011.

And speaking of haunted dolls, Karlage excitedly takes a moment to mention his good friends and colleagues, Tom and Traci Watkins of Knight Paranormal Investigation out of Albany, Pennsylvania.  The Watkins are the founders of the famous “Doll House Cam.”  The two paranormal investigators started the idea simply enough a few years ago at their home.  The couple set up video cameras in the hope of capturing evidence of their haunted dolls moving about on their own.  According to the Watkins and those who watch the videos through www.dollhousecam.com, the dolls will move slightly, without any help- at least from the living.  On one occasion, one of the Watkin’s cameras caught something pretty phenomenal.  On March 20, 2009, a camera facing an empty stairway, caught a most extraordinary ghostly image.  The apparition stayed in view for nearly two whole minutes, something quite rare when it comes to capturing evidence of this kind.  The image, most likely a small child, is very easily seen in the film.  Traci Watkins was out of town that day, and Tom was busy with their three children in another section of the house at the time.  The paranormal footage is now on YouTube under the title, The Apparition.  Karlage helped put the video together along with colleague, Sharon Watkins.  The video is well watched and continues to amaze even the most skeptical of viewers.

When Karlage is not busy with making films or videos, and isn’t working on his Ghost Walk projects, he is spending time on his publication, Haunted Path Magazine.  Karlage is the magazine’s publisher and consultant.  He started Haunted Path in August of 2010 and it has been growing rapidly ever since.  Haunted Path Magazine is both a printed and online publication, as well as a website.  The magazine features special industry and life interviews, topics involving the paranormal, horror, spiritual and human interest.  There are also write-ups on all the latest books, movies and works of art in the world of the paranormal.  Editor Sharon Watkins and General Manager Traci Watkins work alongside of Karlage and their outstanding efforts are easily seen in each and every issue.  In addition to the magazine, there is Haunted Path Live, which is the radio version of the popular publication.  The weekly show is hosted by Maria Mazur of Knight Paranormal Investigation.  Each week a new guest is interviewed for the show.

Karlage confides to me that he is currently working on forming a band in order to promote his latest projects.  Although the idea is just in its beginning stages, he is quite excited about getting members together and coming up with a unified musical group; yet another “hat” for Karlage to try on.

Oh, and did I mention that Karlage is also a professional photographer?  “I don’t have much time for this anymore, but I do still enjoy it when I can,” states the talented Ohio resident.  “I have done a lot with fashion models in particular.”

Karlage was also chosen for Stanford’s Who’s Who “Black Book” 2012 and was published and listed as one of “Ohio’s Top 77 Poets.”

No doubt Karlage is incredibly gifted and passionate, but he’s certainly not one to boast his achievements.  During our interview I found him to be a genuine and modest person; quite rare in this day and age.  I found his kindness and humble nature to be extremely admirable traits indeed.  “My dad, the best man I ever knew, always told me that if I wanted to have friends, then I needed to be a friend,” states the gentleman.

While chatting with Karlage recently, I found myself wanting to ask him more and more questions.  To say the least, I was intrigued.  I wanted to know more about his inspirations, his mentors and what got him interested in the paranormal and horror.

For Karlage, as long as he can remember, has been fascinated by things that go bump in the night. ”I have always loved horror movies and have always been interested in the paranormal.  I love Hans Holzer books.  I used to be very much into H.P. Lovecraft, but it was a little too dark and creepy, so I got away from that after awhile.  I’m also a very big fan of Alfred Hitchcock,” says Karlage.  “I’m not so much into slasher films.  You know, the ‘in-your-face’ blood and guts kind of stuff.  I would much rather watch a suspense film, a psychological thriller, if you will.  Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy some of those gruesome movies at times.  They can be fun.  I respect the people who do those films, but I love something that makes me think and that’s why I love Hitchcock.”

“As far as mentors go, I would have to say Hitchcock again here.  I also must note William Stafford.  He was a college professor I had.  He was very well respected and his writing class was very hard to get accepted into.  He selected me; it was a huge honor.  I also look up to all the classical horror writers of the past,” says Karlage.

And as for inspiration, Karlage has no problem answering that question either.  “My wife.  She is incredibly supportive and she always encourages me.”

It is quite obvious to me that Mr. Rocky Karlage has a lot on his plate, but unlike most of us, he can handle it- and well.  Karlage is, indeed, a rarity in the film industry with his combination of friendliness, creativity and dedication.  His production, The Farm, will most certainly make even the hardest to entertain, stand up and cheer; a frightening cinematic delight that it sure to please.  Karlage has come far, but doesn’t plan to stop here.  His hardworking ways and determination will take him to places many others in the industry only dream about.  With his creative and brilliant mind forever churning, Karlage has no reason to hang his hats up anytime soon.

For more information on Rocky Karlage and his work, please view the following sites:

http://thefarmfilm.com/

http://ghostwalkproductions.com/

www.blogtalkradio.com/ghostwalk

www.linkedin.com/in/rockyohio

http://hauntedpath.com

www.facebook.com/littlegirllilly

Actress Cindy Morgan, who portrayed Lacey Underall in the classic 1980 comedy, Caddyshack, and starred as dual characters, Lora/Yori in the original Tron, is still just as radiant today as she ever was.

Yet, Morgan is so much more than just a pretty face.  I recently had the extreme honor of catching up with the actress and found her to be an absolute delight to talk with.  Confident, down-to-earth, intelligent and beautifully genuine describe Morgan well.

Born in the great town of Chicago, Illinois to Polish and German parents, Morgan was just the girl-next-door.  She attended Catholic school and eventually went on to college, becoming the first in her family to do so.  While at Northern Illinois University, Morgan studied communications.  During her collegiate years, she played records on the radio.  And when a local station wanted Morgan to report the news for them, a change had to be made.  Originally born as Cynthia Ann Cichorski, the Midwestern coed took on the name Cindy Morgan.  Morgan was inspiration from the tale of Morgan le Fay, who was King Arthur’s half sister; a book she read as a child.

Post graduation, Morgan took on a job reporting the weather for a local television station, but also kept her hand in radio by working the graveyard shift at a rock station.  She later began working at auto shows, which brought Morgan coast-to-coast.  It was then that she decided to move out to Los Angeles, and in 1978, became the Irish Spring girl.  With her fresh-faced look, it was easy to see why Morgan was cast for such a job.  While the blonde beauty spent time doing television advertisements, she also studied acting.  It wasn’t long after that Morgan landed her first big screen role in one of the funniest movies of all time.

First time director, Harold Ramis, began working on a comedy called Caddyshack.  The film featured many big name actors and was inspired by writer Brian Doyle-Murray and his memories of working as a caddy back in Winnetka, Illinois.  Bill and John Murray, in addition to Ramis, were also caddies back in the day and were able to bring forth their stories to the making of the movie.  The comedy and its colorful characters were based on real-life golfers and caddies through the eyes of Ramis and the Murray brothers.

Ramis decided to film Caddyshack on a golf course in Davie, Florida even though the story was to be set in the Midwest.  The South Florida course was picked as it did not have any palm trees and was far away from California.

From gopher puppets to unscripted dialogue, there was quite a bit of insanity on the set of Caddyshack, as Morgan recalls.

The film starred actors Chevy Chase and Bill Murray, as well as stand-up comedian, Rodney Dangerfield.  With an all-star cast, one could only assume that a young actress in her first big film would be a bit nervous.  According to Morgan, she distanced herself from the actors before the movie was even set to be filmed.  “I just stopped watching their work so that I wouldn’t be intimidated,” confided the actress.  By refusing to watch Chase and Murray, in particular, Morgan didn’t feel as flustered walking into filming that first day.  She merely introduced herself to the men, made friends and began working.

From day one on the set of Caddyshack, there was a whole lot of crazy.  Ramis was inexperienced as a director and it sometimes showed.  {Bill} Murray was on production just six days, and all of his lines went unscripted.  For the climatic golf course explosions which appeared at the end of the film, things didn’t go quite as predicted.  The massive fire balls were not approved by the country club owners because they feared the golf course would be badly damaged.  Movie producers were eventually able to convince the club owners to attend an off-site meeting, and it was then that the Caddyshack crew set off the explosions.  In addition, the golf course was near the Ft. Lauderdale Airport, and after the explosives went off, an incoming pilot reported what he believed to be a crashed plane.  Little did he know that it was one of the most famous scenes of Caddyshack coming together.

The silliness in front of the cameras also existed behind the cameras as well.  The cast of Caddyshack partied throughout the wee hours of the morning, only for them to wake up a few hours later to film.  Some members of the crew drove around in golf carts late at night on the course.  That is, until the keys were taken away from them.  However, that hardly stopped the crazy antics.  The cast and crew soon learned how to hotwire the carts.

Morgan’s first time being filmed for Caddyshack was a bit of a challenge.  The famous pool scene with the diving board was daunting, especially since Morgan is legally blind without glasses and contacts.  Hardly a swimmer, forget a diver, Morgan feared the worst.  “One month before filming I had to take all kinds of lessons, including swimming.  I couldn’t have my contact lens in for the scene, and so I had to literally climb the ladder blind.  I walked out on the board and saw nothing,” recalled the actress.

Her second scene wasn’t any easier.  “I had to film the nude scene.  I had never done anything like that before.  I was in Catholic school and was the Irish Spring girl!  I was suddenly told that a Playboy photographer would be coming out to do a shoot of the scene.  I was furious, so I contacted my agent and he said, “Honey, you’re not a doe-eyed girl from the Midwest, handle it.”  Morgan remembered that many people were standing in the room during the scene, making it even more uncomfortable.  “I stopped the filming and cleared the set,” stated the actress.  With her contract on the line, and the possibility of not ever being able to work again, the strong-minded Morgan fought for her right as a woman in the film industry in 1979.  “They ended up sending in the photographer, but no shoot was done.  I’m from Chicago, and let’s just say my broadcasting background came in handy.  I stood my ground and I’m hard-headed.  No one was going to win that battle.  That was the day Lacey became Lacey.”

When I spoke with Morgan I asked her what her favorite scene was in the movie.  Without any hesitation she stated it was the infamous piano scene opposite Chevy Chase.  According to the actress, many scenes in Caddyshack were improvised and unscripted.  The piano scene was no exception, which was set at the house of Ty Webb, Chase’s character.  “Harold Ramis told me to sit down at the piano next to Chevy.  He said, ‘Sing me a love song.’  Next thing I know, I look over and see the cameras are on and rolling.  I thought, ‘Oh my God, they’re shooting this!’,” exclaimed Morgan.  Needless to say, the piano scene was never set to be in the movie at all and everything involved was improvised, from the singing to the tequila.  It was also at this point in the film that Morgan and Chase were butting heads.  The two had had a fight just prior to the scene.  The atmosphere was indeed tense.  “I was mad at him {Chase}.  He was challenging me, even while the cameras were rolling, and pressing buttons,” recalled Morgan.  Filming the massage scene in Ty’s bedroom was not the least bit relaxing for the actress.  “We filmed in the middle of a Florida summer.  It was really hot; my make-up kept running because I was sweating so bad.  Chevy just kept trying to make me mad.  He spilled all that oil on my back on purpose; it wasn’t in the script.  When I blurted out suddenly, ‘You’re crazy,’ that was genuine.”  For Morgan, her relationship with Chase was “love-hate.”  When things between the two were good, well, they were really good.  Chase helped Morgan on the set at times and was a friend.  “I loved all my scenes with Chevy.  He is a comic genuis,” fondly stated Morgan.  But when things were bad, well, let’s just say the actress had to watch her back… literally.

After Caddyshack, Morgan got the role of Dr. Lora Baines/Yori in the original Tron, which was released in 1982.  Actor Jeff Bridges portrayed Kevin Flynn in the film.  Dr. Baines was the computer programmer or “User” of Yori, who was part of the digital world.  Tron was a Disney film and one of the first of its kind with state-of-the-art computer graphics and special effects.  Its amazing visuals and talented cast made it a box office success.  It became a cult favorite and later turned into a massive franchise.  Tron achieved movie making history, as it was the first computer generated film.  Acting in this type of movie wasn’t always easy.  There were a couple of times that Morgan had difficulty visualizing objects or settings that weren’t actually there, but said she got through it all with the help of her amazing colleagues.  “I worked with great actors.  The reality of it all was in each other’s eyes,” explained Morgan.  In 2010, TRON: Legacy was released, and to many fans great dismay, Morgan was not in the returning cast.  Therefore, an online campaign, Yori Lives!, was started up by these very same fans in order to bring Morgan’s character, Yori, back to life once again.  It has proven quite successful and Morgan cannot thank her supporters enough.  And because of the campaign, Morgan makes appearances all over the U.S. at various conferences and expos signing autographs and doing “meet and greets” for her Tron followers.  Morgan is greatly humbled by this and tells me it is a tremendous honor to be so loved.

In addition to both films, Caddyshack and Tron, Morgan has appeared on numerous television shows over the years.  She has starred on Chips, The Fall Guy, The Love Boat and Matlock, just to name a few.  Jane Wyman, aka Angela Channing, was Morgan’s co-star on the popular 1980 series, Falcon Crest.  Morgan greatly enjoyed working with Wyman and has some very special memories of her.  When asked if Morgan had a favorite television show she acted on, she quickly answered with Bring ‘Em Back Alive.   The adventure series, which appeared on television back in the early 80s, starred Morgan and her co-stars Bruce Boxleitner and Ron O’Neal.  “I loved that show.  I did my best work with Bring ‘Em Back Alive,” fondly stated the actress.

Morgan has done more than just acting.  In 1995, she was the associate producer for three television movies:  Out There, Dead Weekend, and Amanda and the Alien.

In 2003, Morgan supplied her voice for the Tron 2.0 PC game, and in 2006 she was the voice of Emily S. Preston in Night Traveler, a multimedia adventure series.

Today, the very talented and motivated Morgan is working on a book about her experiences in acting, specifically while on the set of Caddyshack.  A definite must-read for the movie’s fans, much like myself.  And until the book is released, be sure to check your television guide for Bio Channel’s Caddyshack: The Inside Story.  The documentary features some of the cast and their experiences on the set.  Filming secrets are exposed and many humorous stories are recounted.  Morgan is interviewed in the documentary, sharing her own personal memories of the movie.  Once Morgan’s book is published, she plans to go back into radio.  When not writing or traveling to conferences, Morgan spends time at her home in Florida.

She is also passionate about charity events, such as ones which support the U.S. military.  Morgan’s father fought in WWII.  In 2006, she headed the Caddyshack Reunion Golf Tournament at the Willow Crest Golf Club in her home state of Illinois.  The tournament reunited some of the original Caddyshack cast along with other various celebrities.  It was done for a good cause as it raised funds and awareness to benefit the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, an organization to help families of the National Guard and reservists on active duty.

One thing in particular that I picked up on while talking to Morgan was that she has a very kind and genuine nature.  The loyal actress adores all of her fans and supporters.  She attends conferences and expos across the nation to sign autographs, take pictures and talk.  Whether those waiting in line to meet Morgan are followers of her character, Yori from Tron, or those who knew and loved her as Lacey Underall in Caddyshack, she is there for each and every one of them.  In addition to her meet and greets, Morgan also enjoys chatting with her fans via social media sites, such as Facebook.

Personally, I’m a Caddyshack fan.  I most likely have seen the movie nearly a hundred times.  I must admit, when younger, I wanted to be like Lacey.  She was sexy, confident and had great style.  She was always, without a doubt, one of my favorite characters in the film.   I asked Morgan how she feels when she watches herself in the classic comedy.  “It was really hard for me to watch in the beginning.  I was very critical of myself, saying things like, ‘I wish I had done that line differently.’  It’s easier to watch now though.  I was very lucky to have been a part of that movie.”

Although Morgan may no longer enjoy skinny skiing or going to bullfights on acid, there is a part of her that still embodies Lacey.  And, even if the actress did not reprise her beloved role in TRON: Legacy, Yori does still live on.  Morgan’s positive attitude and fearless nature keeps the characters of her past, strong within her soul.

A big thanks goes out to Ms. Cindy Morgan for taking the time to do this wonderful interview with me for The Expressionist Magazine.  It was an honor to have such an opportunity.

***For more information on the actress, please visit her website at www.Cindy-Morgan.com

I recently had the privilege to speak with Jesse Daley, Co-Host of ‘What’s Up on Thee Website and who also has small roles on Nickelodeon’s TV series “Big Time Rush.”  I got to learn more about him, where he’s come from, what he’s currently doing, and where he plans to go in the future.

When did you first know you wanted to be an actor? 

I have always been interested in the entertainment industry, however it really wasn’t until a few years ago that I thought I’d give it a shot in the ‘business’ as an actor!

What was your first TV/Movie appearance? 

The first job I had was a being a model for “Motorola” !  It was a print campaign which ended up being international which I thought was pretty awesome!  After that I started being an ‘extra’ on certain shows on networks such as Disney/Nickelodeon, and I’ve slowly worked my way up to some small speaking roles recently!

You’re the Co-Host of “What’s Up on Thee Website. How has that been for you? What’s the best part about it? 

I have LOVED being a part of “What’s Up!”  It is really fun for me to be able to talk about current events, (usually positive ones as there is enough negativity in our world).  My co-host, Jennifer and I have not recorded a new episode in quite a while as we have been busy but we’re hoping to do more episodes in the studio soon!

You’ve been spotted on Nickelodeon’s TV series “Big Time Rush” What’s it like to be contact with the cast?

I’ve been very fortunate to have some small roles on “Big Time Rush”, everyone is extremely kind and welcoming.  The main actors, James, Carlos, Logan and Kendall are really good guys and I’ve become friends with them!

Do you have any long term goals? Plans with future projects, tv shows, movies, ect? 

At this point I am taking everything a day at a time.  I’d love to work on TV shows in the near future as a series regular.  I enjoy comedic roles, as well as some more dramatic/serious ones.  I think being on a soap opera would be kind of fun actually!  The plot lines in those are pretty ridiculous!

How do you like to spend your free time? Any hobbies, interest, or activities?

I love the beach!! and I love to surf and skate!

What is your advice to anyone considering a future in acting or any other career?

My advice to anyone and everyone is to follow your dreams.  If you have a goal and work everyday towards it, you will meet it. Also I believe that we all should treat each other with respect. And finally–have FUN.  Life’s awesome..so live it up!!!

You can follow Jesse Daley on his Official Twitter page and check out his official website at:

Twitter.com/jessedaley

Jessedaley.wordpress.com

April 17th is going to be a very special day for producer, Stan  Arthur.  For on that day, Arthur will be showing his independent documentary, My Anniston:  Edward Wood, at the Sunscreen Film Festival in St. Petersburg, Florida.  Arthur, a St. Petersburg native, is a video producer and multimedia specialist at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida.  Getting acknowledgment for a film he worked so hard on and put so much passion into, is monumental and a dream come true for Arthur.

My Anniston:  Edward Wood is a film about an 84-year-old African American man with a profound story to tell.  Edward Wood’s tale is an inspirational one, and often times, humorous.  As a veteran of the U.S. Navy, Wood was part of the American Civil Rights Movement and was one of the few who actually saw the 1961 Freedom Riders Greyhound bus burn as a result of an angry KKK mob in Anniston, Alabama.  From the comforts of Wood’s own living room, memories are recalled and stories rich with history are told.  Wood describes what it was like living in Anniston during a time when African Americans fought for equal rights.  Back in the 1950s and ’60s, in the deep of the South, life then was far different for these people.  Wood understands this period in history all too well.  His father was a slave, and his grandfather, a white slave master.  As a storyteller, Wood does a great job of keeping his listeners deeply engaged.  Arthur adds, “his stories are amazing.”

Arthur is very proud of his film, as he should be.  My Anniston:  Edward Wood is sure to please, as it is well-constructed, smart and unique.  This Florida filmmaker certainly put his heart and soul into the making of this wonderful creation.

A screening of Arthur’s documentary will take place at the Sunscreen Film Festival in beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, near the bay.  The festival is ideally located, which in turn, attracts many visitors.  And speaking of visitors, did I mention, celebrities?  If you should visit the Sunscreen Film Festival, be sure to bring your pen and autograph book.  Last year Patrick Wilson, Billy Dee Williams, and even John Travolta walked the festival’s red carpet.

Muvico Baywalk 20 is hosting the Sunscreen Film Festival this year.  It arrives into town Wednesday, April 13th and runs til Sunday, April 17th.  My Anniston:  Edward Wood will be shown Sunday, April 17th from 3-4 pm.

The film is certainly a  must-see and one that will be talked about for years to come.

For more information on My Anniston:  Edward Wood, go to www.facebook.com/myanniston

www.imdb.com/title/tt1847651/

For more information on the Sunscreen Film Festival, go to www.sunscreenfilmfestival.com

Today, Greco is a talented filmmaker.  And while there is no white smoke or magic wands in his career, Greco is indeed creating illusions for audiences all across the nation.  “A magician and filmmaker are actually two very similar professions.  Both require the willing suspension of disbelief on the part of the audience,” says Greco.  He goes on to describe that still images are projected at 24 frames a second, resulting in the perception of movement.  “Film is an illusion,” explains the director.

Greco says that as a young boy he didn’t just admire Copperfield for his magic, but for his ability to convey a story with each performance.  “He could weave a narrative around the trick,” recalls Greco.  The filmmaker says that is what he tried to do with his own magic shows in school.  “Every performance got a little bigger and I eventually levitated a girl on stage in high school.”  It was during this time that a good friend of Greco’s introduced him to a Steven Spielberg film, Empire of the Sun.  “I always loved movies, but when I saw that film, everything changed,” confides Greco.

The gifted writer-director was born and raised in Hollywood, Florida; a small town wedged between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami.  And as Greco calls it, “the ‘other’ Hollywood.”  Greco’s childhood was for the most part fairly traditional.  He grew up in a blue collar, middle class family with two very loving parents.  However, Greco admits that despite the happy times, things weren’t always easy.  “Life wasn’t perfect.  I grew up watching a parent battle mental illness.”  Greco overcame his challenges and went on to follow his dreams.  With a great love for magic and a creative passion, Greco set out for film school.  He was accepted at Florida State University, where he was fully able to express his artistic talents.  “As a filmmaker you never stop learning.  But when you are a film student, you can fail safely.  Try things.  Learn what works and what doesn’t.  In fact, I encourage all film students to fail.  Fail bravely.  See what the medium is capable of, and find your own voice,” advises Greco.

Greco’s first film, a short documentary titled, The Ghost of Drury Lane, was directed while he was in London. Greco took part in a study abroad college program during the time.  The award winning short is about the ghosts that allegedly haunt the backstage corridors of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Covent Garden, as told by the octogenarian manager George Hoare.  Sadly, Hoare has since passed away, but the Drury Lane legends continue on.  According to Lane employees, Hoare’s ghost roams the darkened corridors late into the night.

After graduating from Florida State University, Greco took on an assistant job for a certain someone in Los Angeles.  That certain someone turned out to be Mr. James Cameron.  “I often tell people that working for Jim was my ‘grad school,’” states Greco proudly.  Fresh out of college, Greco began helping Cameron on the set of one of the largest blockbusters of all time, Titanic.  Watching him {Cameron} work was a gift.  I learned a lot from my experience,” fondly recalls Greco.  “He was a great mentor and he was the one who signed my application to join the Directors Guild of America.”

Cameron wasn’t Greco’s only great mentor; he was blessed with quite a few over the years.  Bruce Beresford, director of the films Driving Miss Daisy and Tender Mercies, was always a dear friend to Greco and offered him much insight on the art of filmmaking.  George Hickenlooper also held a very special place in Greco’s heart.  Hickenlooper recently passed away and Greco says he misses him greatly.  “His new and last film, Casino Jack, just opened and Kevin Spacey was nominated for a Golden Globe.  George would be so proud,” expresses Greco.  In addition to their own great films, Beresford and Hickenlooper acted as executive producers to Greco’s film, Canvas.

In 2006, Canvas was released starring such honorable actors as Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden, Emmy Award winner Joe Pantoliano, and Devon Gearhart.  The film was inspired by Greco’s childhood and the influences his parents made on his life during his youth.  Canvas embraces the reality of living with a schizophrenic parent.  Pantoliano stars as a Florida construction worker struggling to make ends meet and facing the trials of being a father and husband in a family where mental illness reigns.  Greco reflects much on his own personal strifes of dealing with a mentally unstable parent, but also uses happy nostalgia to inspire the making of this film.  Canvas reflects a time in Greco’s childhood that was fondly remembered.  Greco’s father encouraged the love of sailing with him when he was a boy.  A cherished memory that the film beautifully captures.  When it comes to inspiration, Greco explains that every script has its own type of motivation.  “Ultimately, everything I do begins with an emotion; a feeling.  I write from that feeling and try to communicate that feeling to the audience.”  Canvas went on to win Best Feature Film in the Alice in the City sidebar of the Rome Film Festival after winning several Audience Awards at U.S. film festivals, including the prestigious Sarasota Film Festival.  Canvas was also invited to Roger Ebert’s Film Festival just outside of Chicago where it received a much coveted “Thumbs Up” Award.  “It was something I will never forget,”  remembers Greco.  Canvas has been the recipient of many honorable awards and has earned much praise and recognition over the last few years.  It was released by Screen Media Films, Universal Studios Home Entertainment released it onto DVD, and it has since appeared on Showtime.

Greco, in addition to his work in film, has directed music videos, including “Take Me Home,” from the widely popular HBO series, True Blood, and also “Hope is a Thing” for singer/songwriter Lisbeth Scott (Munich, Avatar).  Greco has had the distinct pleasure of working alongside the two time Academy Award winning cinematographer, Haskell Wexler.  Greco also has produced web content for the Walt Disney Company.

Currently, the filmmaker is busy working on several projects.  One is a road trip drama entitled, Miracle Mile, while the other is a light hearted film that the whole family can enjoy.  Firecrackers, which is still in development, is a feel good story about how a talented jump rope team got its start.  The Firecrackers have wowed and amazed audiences across the nation from stadiums and the Macy’s Day Parade to a presidental inauguration and television appearances.  Firecrackers is being described as “The Blind Side meets The Bad News Bears” kind of film.  Greco and a production team attended the University of Kentucky and Sycamore High School last year to film the team during a few of their halftime shows.

There is no doubt that Greco is the highly creative mind behind many smart and well made films and videos, but what about the actors that help make the magic come alive.  Over the years as a filmmaker, Greco has worked with many greats such as Harrison Ford, Matthew Modine and Cloris Leachman, just to name a few.  When asked if he had an actor in particular he’d like to work with one day in a film, Greco had a hard time narrowing down his list.  “There are so many wonderful actors working today,” states the director.  “But I would love to work with Robert DeNiro.  He’s an American treasure. I also think Anthony Hopkins is brilliant.  He could read the phone book aloud and I’d be captivated.”  In the film industry, there are quite a few brilliant artists as far as Greco is concerned.  “Anyone who is able to get a movie made or have a piece of art produced, I admire,” expresses Greco.  “I love the work of Chris Nolan.  He is always breaking new ground.  And, of course, James Cameron.  I think Avatar is a wonderful film that has so much relevance to the plight of our own planet.”

Behind every great career, there are the pros and the cons; the high and the low moments that define us.  For Greco, the hardest part of filmmaking is the search for financing.  “Just ask any filmmaker,” confides the director.  “You are asking people to believe in something that doesn’t exist yet; an idea.  Fortunately, there are plenty of people who still believe in dreams and want to see them come true.”

And as far as regrets?  “I see that everything that happens, even the ‘mistakes,’ are opportunities for growth and understanding.  With that said, I do have a few wishes.  I wish I could have met Jim Henson before he died.  I love the Muppets and the original Muppet Show was brilliant,” Greco states.

On the flipside, working as a filmmaker can be quite an entertaining experience.  Greco says he loves to be able to collaborate on set with the actors and crew.  “Everyone who works on a movie contributes something and it is my job as the director to bring out the best in everyone, ” explains Greco.  “Actors are so much fun to work with.  Watching a gifted actor work is a thrill.”

Being a filmmaker also means lots of traveling and not just within the United States.  To be able to visit other countries around the world is a privilege many of us don’t get to experience.  “I love Italy; Rome is my favorite city.  I also enjoy visiting London, Shanghai and New Zealand,” confides the director.

The movie industry definitely has both its perks and its challenges, and getting started as a filmmaker can be daunting.  Greco had a handful of wise mentors to help guide him along his journey and make transitioning into the industry, smooth.  He learned much from these great men and cherished each and every one of his experiences with them.  But for some film students who are just starting out, mentors are few and advice doesn’t come easy.  According to Greco, a successful filmmaker must learn to follow their own path as honestly as possible.  Greco says he has seen too many young filmmakers trying to be other people and their work is then devoid of authentic meaning.  “There is nothing wrong with aspiring to be successful, but ultimately being true to yourself and honoring your own voice is more important, ” counsels Greco.  I must say, this is well-stated advice for all aspiring filmmakers, in addition to all the rest of us out there needing some words of wisdom in life.

Greco is a true talent; his filmmaking is masterfully done.  He has worked hard in the field and will continue to amaze audiences  with his gift of creativity for many years to come.  “I want to continue doing what I love to do, and inspire people with my work,” responds the filmmaker.  After all, Greco is indeed a magician, living out his childhood dream and making people fall in love with his craft.  Only a few individuals  in this world possess such an ability, and Greco is most definitely one of them.

For more information on Joe Greco and his filmmaking career, please visit www.canvasmotionpictures.com.

I admit, I watched the first Zoolander, and I honestly don’t know why I watched the whole thing.  Maybe because I was extremely bored, or maybe because I wanted to burn some extra brain cells I didn’t want, I don’t know but I did.  Either way, its one movie I vowed never to watch again.

Personally, I think this is one road Viacom should not go down again.  Have we completely run out of ideas that we need to sequel a terrible movie.  I know tons of great movies that still have yet to have a sequel such as Forrest Gump, Top Gun and movies like that; BUT ZOOLANDER… REALLY.

If Viacom does come out with Zoolander 2, I would love to do an exit poll to see what people really thought of the movie; I bet I would receive some comments I could not post on a public blog!

Tell me your thoughts, would you buy tickets to Zoolander 2?  Did you see and enjoy the first one?

Okay, so we all know the story about the Victorian-era miser named Ebenezer Scrooge who gets taken on a journey of self-redemption, with the help of three ghosts.  I believe I have seen all versions of the tale (I personally always liked the 1970 Albert Finney Scrooge), but I wasn’t too sure about the latest installment to the classic.  I mean, it is a cartoon, right?  Well, not your traditional, run-of-the-mill cartoon by any means.  It is beautifully crafted, so much so, it doesn’t even feel like you are watching animation.  And yes, it is shown in 3D.  Now, when I think of 3D, I think cheesy.  I think the effect was ruined for me back in the 80s with such 3D movies as Jaws III and Friday the 13th III. Let’s just say after seeing these corny fright flicks, my expectations were pretty low for Disney’s A Christmas Carol.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  The 3D effect was brilliantly used here, and not overused like in some older films.  It’s not so “in your face” or over-the-top, but more like you are actually in the film itself.

There is an all-star cast, which makes the movie even more enjoyable.  Jim Carrey stars as Ebenezer Scrooge, and does an excellent job with his portrayal. In addition, he plays the three ghosts.  Colin Firth, Gary Oldman, Robin Wright-Penn and Carey Elwes also star.  Robert Zemeckis shines with his adaption of A Christmas Carol.  In fact, many movie critics are calling it one of his most polished pieces to date.  You may know this director by a famous collection of films including Forrest Gump, Back to the Future, and his other well loved animation, The Polar Express starring Tom Hanks.  Many seem to think that Zemeckis’ A Christmas Carol may become more popular than The Polar Express.  This could indeed happen as crowds rush to the theater to see the season’s hottest new film.

I will say though, A Christmas Carol is not recommended for young children.  Parents may be confused by this since this is a Disney animation, two words that children love dearly.  However, in this case, there are quite a few mature scenes, some even considered frightening and dark.  In addition, Zemeckis’ makes much use of Old English dialogue, which may not be easy to understand for younger viewers.

So now that I know what magic and intelligence this new version of A Christmas Carol possesses, I definitely urge those who ask the question, “Why another?” to change their mindset and get to the theater this holiday season to see this beloved classic come to life in a whole new, refreshing way.

I asked friends and family in a recent Halloween poll what their favorite scary flicks are.  Here are some of their responses:

20.  The Texas Chainsaw Massacre-the original:  This flick was supposedly based on true events, which makes it just that much scarier.  I could easily picture myself stranded on the side of the road in some honky donk country town out there in Texas, having this happen to me.  A good reason to always carry a cell phone, keep your gas tanked filled and to not trust anybody!

19.  House of Wax:  Who doesn’t want to see Paris Hilton get gruesomely murdered?  The movie is unsettling, but more than anything, is entertaining to watch.  I especially liked the movie theatre scene.

18.  The Others:  Nicole Kidman was excellent in this haunting film.  There is no blood or gore, which can be quite refreshing.  I enjoyed the movie’s surprise ending.

17.  Silence of the Lambs:  Anthony Hopkins was well cast as everyone’s favorite cannibal, Hannibal Lecter.  Many of us still quote lines from the movie as of today.

16.  The Birds:  Great classic Hitchcock thriller, especially for all you bird lovers out there.  I know some people who refused to buy a parakeet after seeing this movie.  I always hated the one scene with the farmer who was found with his eyes pecked out.  To a young child, this made for terrible nightmares and a irrational fear of chickens.

15.  The Strangers:  This movie greatly disturbed me, and made it difficult to watch the whole way through.  The masks used by the three killers would be perfect for trick or treating.

14.  Alien:  As a child, I was terrified seeing this film.  I’m not much for space horror or sci-fi, but this is such a classic and one of the most intense horror movies to date.

13.  Paranormal Activity:  Yes, this is the just released thriller that is captivating movie audiences everywhere.  I have been told that it is extremely suspenseful, and probably would make for a great date movie since most people will find themselves grabbing the person next to them in absolute fear.

12.  Psycho:  Another Hitchcock favorite.  Yes, the blood used in the shower scene was only Hershey’s chocolate syrup, but in reality there was nothing sweet about this horror flick.  Most who saw this movie refused to use their showers after this, making bath tubs increasingly popular again.  And Anthony Perkins made it downright terrifying to be a “momma’s boy.”

11.  The Blair Witch Project:  Okay, so this movie got mixed reviews.  At first everyone loved it, thinking it to be a real documentary about three lost college kids in the woods.  Then, after we all learned those college kids were merely actors and there was a script involved, the movie’s reputation became greatly damaged.  I, personally, loved this movie and despite the fact it wasn’t based on true events, I still enjoy watching it each and every Halloween.  The eerie moaning sounds emanating from the woods and the child handprints inside the creepy house always freaked me out.

10.  Saw (I and II):  When I watch this movie, I imagine what I would do if something like this were to happen to me.  Could I gauge my eye out in order to find a hidden key that I would need to free myself from ultimate death?  Or would I possibly be able to cut off my foot with a dull, rusted saw just so I could to get to another level?  Yes, I would probably have to, but thinking about it and seeing different straining scenarios played out in this movie, is definitely not much fun.

9.  House:  A cult classic, I believe.   This flick is not only scary, but humorous too, which is hard to pull off successfully.  William Katt is great in this movie; an actor you don’t get to see very often.  And then there is George Wendt, our favorite Cheers bar patron, who provides comic assist to this film, not to mention Richard Moll, formerly of Night Court, who makes a mean ghost. One of the greatest parts in House is the troll scene, and the nightmarish monster woman with her slinky dress and red fingernails.  A can’t miss during the season.

8.  The Uninvited: This is a film that pre-dates many other horror films.  The Univited came out in 1944, and is still haunting movie fans to this day.  The mysterious tale revolves around a ghostly seaside abode discovered by a brother and sister. Some feel that it’s the vintage horror flicks that are much more terrifying than the modern day slasher, gore films.  I couldn’t agree with this more.

7.  The Sentinel:  This 1970s horror film stars Ava Gardner and Fright Night‘s Chris Sarandon and is set in a Brooklyn Heights apartment.  The movie is full of surprises, including a very sexually disturbing scene involving a young Beverly D’Angelo.  The ending of this movie is very frightening, and so is an earlier scene involving a half naked old man with a cut off nose.  Did I spark your interest yet?

6.  Freaks:  Another downright scary, and visually disturbing vintage horror flick.  It debuted in 1932, and was about sideshow carnival freaks.  There was no fancy special effects or make-up artistry used, which brought a truly terrifying factor to the film.  It was all very real and all very creepy.

5.  The Sixth Sense:  Perhaps it’s a tad played out by now, and we all know the surprise ending, but this is a Halloween classic.  If you are into the paranormal, you will truly appreciate this movie even after seeing it for the gadzillionth time.  I can still remember seeing this the first time at the theatre and the unified gasps of all the movie goers after the amazing ending was revealed.  One of the best ghost films ever.

4.  It:  Simple name, scary movie.  This is a movie that defined what it’s like to be clown phobic.  If you aren’t scared of clowns prior to this film, you can almost guarantee you will be afterwards.  It took me years to walk by storm drains after seeing the film. “They all float down here…”  Beware of big rubber shoes and bright red noses.

3.  Rear Window:  This is by far one of my all time favorites.  Rear Window is a psychological thriller without any blood or guts to be seen.  Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly are phenomenal here.  As a woman, it is worth it to see this movie just for Kelly’s beautiful change of costuming throughout.  Talk about elegance!  But as a horror lover, this is a must-see.  Hitchcock is genius with Rear Window.  This flick makes me miss my apartment days for sure.  Disturbia, starring Shia LaBeouf, is a modern day version of this classic, but holds no comparison.

2.  The Shining:  Another favorite horror movie of mine.  Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall were perfectly cast in The Shining.  The acting was superb and the one liners in this movie are classics to this day.  ”Heeere’s Johnny!”  When I first saw this movie as a child, there was a lot I didn’t understand.  Seeing it as I got older, I definitely understood and that wasn’t always a good thing.  Many of the scenes in this film are not only frightening and gruesome, but deeply disturbing.  I was particularly scared of The Shining as a child mostly because my dad was a dead ringer for Jack Nicholson.  Having a dad that looked like a deranged killer was a bit unnerving.

1.  Halloween-the original:  When I took this poll, most people responded with this movie as being their all time favorite.  It conjures the image of what Halloween should be:  fallen leaves strewn across quiet neighborhood streets, carving pumpkins, watching scary movies, trick or treating and what the “boogeyman” is.  This movie set the standards for all other classic horror movies.  It also put Jamie Lee Curtis on the map.  The soundtrack to this film is one of the most listened to of all scary movie soundtracks of all time. Afterall, it just wouldn’t be Halloween without Halloween.

Brian has been with the group for years, and has since moved on to other paranormal ventures like his new paranormal radio show, which is set to debut in October of 2009.  We had the esteem privilege to sit and talk with him, about his journey in the paranormal, his time on Ghost Hunters and see where he’s headed in the future.  We also have the podcast of the interview if you would like to listen on our podcast link.

Did you ever have a real paranormal experience before you started to investigate it?

Yeah, that’s how I started out in my paranormal career. I was eleven at my friend’s house. I was sleeping over there. He always said his house was haunted. So that night I was on the top bunk, he was on the bottom, and it was then I saw a full bodied apparition walking through his room. It freaked me out enough that I wanted to know more about the stuff. That’s where I started.

What do you love most about the paranormal, what is so fascinating about it to you?

The whole point of knowing do they actually really exist. There is no real proof, no scientific proof ghosts exist. It seems like the more you go investigate the less you find. If there are ghosts they are so diligent on not being found out. That’s one thing I am fascinated about, trying to find that one good piece of evidence, the one that blows everyones mind.. still haven’t found it yet.

What made you say… TODAY I am going to be a paranormal investigator?

After the experience when I was younger, I started reading and doing research. Then when I was old enough to go out by myself at night and drive, when I was around 16 to 17 years old, I started to go into different buildings and places to find another ghost. The passion grew so I wanted to find more places to investigate.

Did you ever have a group of your own prior to TAPS, or do your own private investigations?

TAPS was my first group. I did it by myself for two years prior, but in 1999 I joined TAPS. That was my first real experience with a group.

When did you join TAPS and why?

It was a fluke actually. In 1999 I wanted to join a group so I Googled “Rhode Island” and the word “paranormal,” and the first one that came up was TAPS. I clicked on their site. I saw Jason Hawes was one of the co-founders of the group, so I emailed him. Then like five minutes later the phone rang. He must have been online at the time. I did leave my phone number, and he asked me to meet him at Bess Eat’n Donuts in Warwick, Rhode Island and I joined… it was a fluke.

From your experience, what is the most common mistake paranormal investigators make on evidence?

Orbs. Someone will take a picture of a room with tons of dust particles in the air. They see the picture and they’re like, “Look, look, orbs!” They really have to realize a lot of it’s nothing but dust. That’s one of the common mistakes with groups on their websites. It’s a big mistake. That is just now being realized.

How important is it to keep your heart and emotions out of the research when you investigate?

On a technical standpoint, I never do, but it’s hard not to. If I were someone doing an investigation, I never would because when dealing with some entities they feed off your emotions, and if you come in with your emotions ablaze, they can pick those things up and use it against you. The only emotion I show is when I find something. You should be calm, cool and collective. It can also distort what you see. If you want to see something bad enough, your imagination can take over and you will see a ghost that’s not there. So the best thing to do is investigate the way you should. If you find something, you find something, if you don’t, you don’t… just let it be the way it is.

What advice do you have for amateur or independent paranormal investigators?

Best thing is don’t go in there thinking you need 10k dollars of equipment. You need knowledge more than anything. You go into an investigation you make sure you have knowledge and book smarts. On the equipment, you don’t need that much money in it, if you think you do, then your not ghost hunting the right way. When I go in, I have my EMF detector, flash light, digital recorder and camera, that’s it. You don’t need a DVR, you don’t need a thermal camera. Just go in and have some fun, but make sure you bring knowledge. If you go in without any concept of what your doing, that could get you in some serious trouble.

I know you’ve investigated graveyards. Many people say they are not haunted, and why would they be? The person’s body is there and they’re not connected to it anymore. Do you believe that? Any proof that the statement is wrong?

I have been to many cemeteries, that’s where I started. I saw some things and caught some things. I have seen some apparitions and shadows. Why are they there? Maybe they want to be with their body. I never really found out why they stay with their body, but some of them do, and heck it works for me because I get to investigate them.

What was the most frightening experience you had as a paranormal investigator?

I would have to say back in 2003 when I did an exorcism with my mentor Keith Johnson. She was 87 years old, and turned into a demon. Her eyes turned black, she talked in all different kind of languages and it took four to five people to hold her down. That was really scary and the most frightening thing because it wasn’t just a spirit, but demonic and attached to a human, and a human can hurt you. It wasn’t just dealing with a ghost but dealing with a live person and that is sometimes scarier than dealing with a ghost. That was one of the most frightening experiences of my life.

While working with TAPS, what was your most memorable experience?

I would have to say the St. Augustine Lighthouse down in Florida. It was amazing. We were shooting that part of the show, Jason and Grant went in, then said there was something in there they wanted us to investigate. So, me and Dustin went in there, and all hell broke loose. The things were talking to us, we said hello and it said hello back, we saw full body apparitions walking up stairs, full battery drains on everyone in the whole crew in the lighthouse. Everything you could possibly get while dealing with a ghost you got in that St. Augustine Lighthouse that night. I was totally flabbergasted; it was the Holy Grail of ghost hunting. Funny thing is, they didn’t want us to investigate the lighthouse, they said nothing ever happens in there.

Who were you closest with on the team and why?

Keith Johnson was my mentor, he kept me going and taught me everything I need to know. It was like a big brother/little brother, father/son situation. I started getting close with Steve Gonslaves. I knew him a few years before the show started. I urged Jason and Grant to get him on the show; I wanted him by my side. I shared a hotel room with him, and investigated with him constantly. The first episodes of Ghost Hunters, they didn’t know what to do with us because we didn’t talk. The producers wanted them to make us talk. The reason why we didn’t was because we were so in sync with each other with ghost hunting, so we didn’t need to talk. We just would go into a room and we knew what each other was doing; you were supposed to be quiet anyway on a ghost hunt.

Does your paranormal side venture into UFOs, legends and what have you?

Well, I think I saw a UFO when I was 16 -years-old here in Warwick, Rhode Island. It was a scary situation, creepy actually. I saw a triangle in the sky with yellow, red and blue dots on it. I believe in stuff like UFOS; we can’t be the only intelligent life form in this solar system. Cryptozoology, like Bigfoot maybe, the Chupacabra, I don’t know. The Jersey Devil, Moth Man, no, I don’t think so. The Moth Man was just a gimmick. I have never seen anything like a huge moth. Voodoo, zombies… yeah, I believe in those. Vampires and werewolves, do I believe in them, even though they are in the limelight now? Probably not, but ghosts can’t be the only thing. I do believe in other things in the paranormal but I never ventured into those areas but one day I might.

Lets move on to your current gig… paranormal radio. Tell us how you got involved with paranormal radio?

I haven’t started it yet because of the baby, but when I talked to Fred Angel, he wanted me to do a paranormal radio show and I had done one a year ago with Donna LaCroix called Demon Radio and it got a huge reception. People wanted to hear us on the radio, Blog Talk Radio. We crashed Blog Talk Radio twice. For Blog Talk Radio you don’t get much of a following, and the last show we had, had 35k people. So Fred Angel asked me if I would do a radio show, and I said, “Alright, I can do it.” It’s under a business I started called Beware Promotions, probably called the Brian Harnois Hour. It’s not your mother’s paranormal radio show. I am going to get down to the nitty gritty of things. I am going to take the drama and bring it to the forefront; there is just too much drama in the field now and I am sick of it. I want to call attention to it so the drama dies out and we can get back to investigating before Ghost Hunters started. We aren’t a community anymore, and that is why I want to do this. I hope it kicks off and becomes a success. We can do a lot more things in the future. It should start in October, at night, around Halloween. I am not going to be nice to the guests. I am going to do the hard hitting questions like Larry King and Don Irmus.

If people want to get a hold of you, see what your doing… how can they?

Very easy, I have a bunch of websites: www.brianharnois.net, www.wicks.com/brainharnois/brainharnois, and www.bewarepromotions.com. This {last} one connects different para-celebs, and para-events… you know, be like an agent for the people in the paranormal fields. We connect groups with groups. We are going to be like the the TAPS family and get other groups where they can all communicate on cases and help them to get the case done. Right now it’s got a good review; lots of groups and radio stations that want to be represented. I want to bring the whole paranormal community together and it’s growing fast. The other websites are www.facebook.com/brianharnois or www.myspace.com/wheezy.

Before we finish up, let’s do a quick drill to find out more about you.

1.Favorite Food – Pizza

2.Favorite Horror Flick – Night of the Living Dead

3.Favorite All Time Movie – Star Wars

4.Favorite Song – “Summer Breeze,” by Temp Negative

5.Favorite TV Show – Scrubs

6.Favorite Hobby – ghost hunting

7.Most memorable childhood moment – The haunting at my friend’s house.

8.Favorite Sport – Football

9.Favorite Team NFL – Bills, MLB – Red Sox, NBA – Celtics, NHL – Bruins

10.Most Used Quote – “Dude, Run!”

11.Favorite Book – World War Z,  by Max Brooks

Ghost Hunters became one of the first shows on television that actually took you around to these different places and showed you a real ghost investigation. The investigators come out to each location and set up some amazing high tech and oh so expensive equipment which makes viewers sit in awe to see what they can capture.

The group featured on Ghost Hunters is actually TAPS, and TAPS has really set the bar on the standards for investigation groups across America in terms of how to investigate and how to call a place based on evidence. TAPS also has a huge network of ghost hunting teams across the globe; to be one of their teams in their network you must apply and accept their basic beliefs.

However, for one of their former members, Brian Harnois, his humble roots in ghost hunting began by a personal experience, and living both sides of the spectrum he truly believes that ghost hunting should remain simple and fun.

Brian’s love of ghost hunting and the paranormal started back when he was very young, around 11 years old. He spent the night over at one of his friend’s houses, and his friend told him that the place was haunted. That didn’t deter Brian from coming over and having a fun sleep over with his friend. However, this particular night he would see first hand that his friend wasn’t joking. Brian remembers settling into bed that night; his friend had the bottom bunk, and Brian took the top. He laid there about to shut his eyes, when out of nowhere a full bodied apparition appears and walks through the room only to disappear as fast as it came. Only a true ghost hunter could fall asleep after seeing something like that.

From this point on, Brian’s fascination for the paranormal blossomed. He started reading up on ghosts with books that told of ghostly tales to more scientific books that focused on topics such as demonology for instance. Finally around the age of 16 to 17, he was able to drive himself around at night and that’s when he started his life of investigating. He would stay out till the wee hours of the morning, or whenever his curfew brought him home, gathering evidence and trying to find another spirit like the one in his friend’s house.  No matter where that took him, he didn’t care if it was a cemetery or a house, he was going to find one.

So, what keeps Brian coming back for more?  It’s the idea that there is no real or scientific proof that ghosts exist. It’s his mission in life to capture that one piece of indisputable great piece of evidence that wows everyone. He is also bugged by the fact, and any real investigator will understand, that the more you investigate the less you find.  If there are ghosts around, they are diligent on not being found.  If they are out there, Brian is diligent on making them known; they can’t hide forever with him on the job.

In 1999, Brian was interested in joining a paranormal group and his first and only group came by a fluke as he says. One day he sat at his computer with a mission, to find a paranormal group, so he Googled “Rhode Island” and “paranormal” as keywords, and the first listing was TAPS. Brian started from the top of the list, and clicked TAPS. He found that the group was located right in his home city of Warwick, and Jason Hawes was one of the co-founders.  He e-mailed them his name and request, along with a phone number and upon clicking the send button, hoped they would respond. Ironically, within a few minutes, he got a phone call from Jason who asked to meet him at Bess Eaten Donuts in Warwick, and from that point on he came on as tech-manager for TAPS.

While on the TAPS group Brian got the chance to visit some pretty impressive places.  Some were truly haunted and some were not; they were able to debunk all the claims the owner experienced. It was at Eastern State Penitentiary where he coined the phrase, “Dude, run!”  This happened when something spooked the camera man, which spooked Brian in a rare occurrence.  He never really got to live that one down. However, one of his most memorable cases was here in Florida at the St. Augustine Lighthouse.

“It was amazing. We were shooting that part of the show and Jason and Grant went in, then said there was something in there they wanted us to investigate. So, me and Dustin went in there, and all hell broke loose. The things were talking to us, we said hello and it said hello back. We saw full body apparitions walking up stairs, full battery drains on everyone in the whole crew in the lighthouse. Everything you could possibly get while dealing with a ghost you got in that St. Augustine Lighthouse that night. I was totally flabbergasted; it was the Holy Grail of ghost hunting. Funny thing is, they didn’t want us to investigate the lighthouse. They said nothing ever happens in there.”

Throughout his tenure with TAPS, he left once and returned, but in his return he was no longer the Tech-Manager.  That title went to one of his best friends, Steve Gonslaves.  That didn’t bother him at all; he knew Steve earned it. Despite leaving TAPS and coming back, Steve and Brian remained close.  It was Brian, after all, who convinced Jason and Grant to bring Steve on board. The pair was magical when they investigated because they knew what each other was doing. There was no need for talking, which Brian laughed at because it really got the producers of Ghost Hunters irritated. They wanted them to talk and didn’t know what to do with the pair, so they compromised and talked more. Brian was also taught by one of the best, Keith Johnson, who he credits as his mentor and today still shares a tight bond with beyond the Ghost Hunters realm.

Today Brian is a happily married man, a role he takes very seriously. He is also the proud daddy of two beautiful children whom he loves spending time with. Brian has also left the TAPS team and is currently pursuing new ventures in the paranormal realm. He has a new website that is coming out soon, and has a paranormal talk radio show called “The Brian Harnois Hour” which is set to take the airwaves in October, close to Halloween.

The Brian Harnois Hour is a project by his company, Beware Promotions. “ It’s not your mother’s paranormal radio show. I am going to get down to the nitty gritty of things. I am going to take the drama and bring it to the forefront; there is just too much drama in the field now and I am sick of it. I want to call attention to it so the drama dies out and we can get back to investigating before Ghost Hunters started. We aren’t a community anymore, and that is why I want to do this. I hope it kicks off and becomes a success, so we can do a lot more things in the future with it,” explains Brian.

Beware Promotions is Brian’s “baby,” something he is trying to put together quickly so it can benefit ghost hunting groups and paranormal affiliates everywhere. It will even benefit those who need the services of these groups.

“Beware Promotions will connect different para-celebs, para-events. You know, be like an agent for the people in the paranormal fields. We connect groups with groups; I call it a big umbrella. We are going to be like the the TAPS family, and get other groups where they can all communicate on cases and help get groups to get the case done. Right now it’s got a good review; lots of groups that want to be represented, radio stations, and a bunch of people that want to be represented. I want to bring the whole paranormal community together and it’s growing fast,” states Brian.

Brian has had the opportunity that not many ghost hunters will ever get, and still he prefers the old fashioned way. He was on television, radio, and now he brings his experiences and connections to ghost hunting groups across the world. His ambition to find the invisible is unmeasurable; it’s what makes him so good in the field. Like many investigators in any field, Brian’s ways are based on knowledge and truth.  He reports only what he finds and what is true, leaving his emotions aside to give us cold hard facts. There isn’t anything that makes one more true in life, making his words credible. I look to see some great things for this amazing individual in the future. Believe it or not, with all he’s done already his career is just beginning.

If you want to contact Brian or know what he’s up to, check out these sites and look for his radio station set to air in October 2009. These sites will have the details:

www.facebook.com/brianharnois

www.myspace.com/wheezy

www.wicks.com/brianharnois/brianharnois

www.bewarepromotions.com

www.brianharnois.net

Click here to read the actual transcribed interview with Brian and The Expressionist Magazine, or listen to it on our podcast. It can also be found at our paranormal magazine, Beyond The Limits.

Patrick was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer almost two years ago.  The actor bravely fought for a cure, while fighting for his life, never once giving in to the disease that was ravaging his body.  Swayze in the last few months of life looked frail and sickly but his heart was full of strength and will.

This is not the first time this disease has taken out an actor of his caliber, just look at Michael Landon.  Swayze’s best and most recognized roles include Dirty Dancing (Johnny Castle), and Ghost (Sam Malone).  Swayze was currently working on a television series “The Beast.”  According to A&E this series had a respective 1.3 million viewers during the short 1 year of publication before being pulled.  Swayze remarkably went through the series without pain killers because they would affect his performance.  Swayze was also putting together a memoir of his life with his wife; look for that to hit stores in the future.

We will all miss this great actor, and wish his family our best in a time of tragedy.

It seems that day has come.  The starlett already was an entrepreneur with a spray tan product and leggings, but now it appears Lohan will be teaming up with the head of her 6126 fashion brand and will take television by storm, creating her own production company, “Unforgettable Productions.”

She already did a TV movie for the Family Channel, one of the first television roles she’s had since her meltdown.  It appears that her hand in television won’t be performing, instead it will be production, a faux-reality series and a dating show.

This appears to be a step into the right direction for this troubled child star, and though history we see many child stars went down the same path she did.  So congratulations to Lindsay Lohan; we can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next.

The 1984 comedy about a group of paranormal investigators in New York City has emerged as a cult classic.  It’s hard to believe that 25 years ago I was sitting in a movie theatre with my friend watching Ghostbusters.  The story line was new and fresh, and the characters were lovable.  Dan Ackroyd starred as Dr. Raymond Stanz, Bill Murray was Dr. Peter Venkman and Harold Ramis portrayed the very dry Dr. Egon Spengler.  Actor Ernie Hudson hooked up with the ghost busting trio later in the movie as Winston Zeddmore. Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis and Annie Potts also joined the all star cast.  The Ghostbusters, equipped with jumpsuits and proton packs, had to save “The Big Apple” from an ancient Sumerian god, otherwise known as Gozer the Gozerian.

The movie was no doubt a success.  T-shirts and bumper stickers began popping up everywhere with the famous movie quote, “He slimed me.”  Just about every kid in the 80s owned a Ghostbusters metal lunch box, and paranormal investigation was introduced to America in a whole new way.  The movie still has many of us today quoting its lines.  Ghostbusters is just as much loved now as it was in its debut year of 1984.  There are rumors of a third Ghostbusters film being made, and an official Ghostbusters video game has been flying off store shelves.  The movie’s merchandise (t-shirts, DVDs, and Halloween costumes) are still selling strong.

Then, there are the Ghostbuster fans that take their adoration for the beloved movie to a whole other level.  Groups of men and women all over the country are dressing up in patch covered jumpsuits and driving around in their Ecto-1′s.  To some it may seem silly, but to many of the movie’s fans, these ghost busting guys and gals are celebrities.  They attend conventions and their “get-ups” are nearly identical to those used in the movie.  When it comes to Ghostbuster trivia, these guys know everything.

I recently was fortunate enough to interview Tampa Bay’s own Ghostbusters.  Patrick Creel, the creator/founder of the group, said he had wanted to be a Ghostbuster since the tender age of four.  As Creel got older, he began attending many sci-fi and horror conventions.  There was one main thing these conventions were lacking:  Ghostbusters.  It was then that Creel decided to put together a group.  So, in January 2008 he got his crew together for the FX Show.  Creel’s group ended up winning best sci-fi costumes.  According to Creel, the rest was pretty much history.  More people got involved with the Tampa Bay Ghostbusters and bigger things would soon follow.

Kimberly Balevre remembers bumping into Creel at several conventions in 2008.  ”He was dressed as a full-out Ghostbuster with music even coming out of the proton pack!” recalls Balevre.  ”We got to talking, became friends, then started dating and now live together.”  Balevre admits she always wanted to portray a female Ghostbuster, so this year at MegaCon 2009, she got her chance. In addition to her Ghostbuster role, Balevre also enjoys playing her version of Janine.  Jason Rawley, the third group member, also joined last year.  ”I wanted to just put on the uniform and show off my props to entertain people and see where it would take me,” states Rawley.  Currently, Tampa Bay Ghostbusters have five members:  Patrick Creel, Jason Rawley and his wife Dawn, Kimberly Balevre and Ken Plant.

It seems that most of us who have seen the movie have a favorite character or Ghostbuster.  Perhaps there is a specific Ghostbuster we find ourselves identifying with.  With the Tampa Bay Ghostbusters, each member plays the role of a character based around their own personalities in the Ghostbuster mythos.  According to the group, “none of the members really assume the roles played by Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd or Harold Ramis.  We are ourselves for the most part; we just ramp up the sarcastic humor and biting wit in order to play a Ghostbuster.”  Balevre exclaims, “I don’t incorporate it into the group really, but I consider myself to be a Ray Stanz type.  When he slid down the fire pole and was dorking about that firehouse and blew up the chandelier off the ceiling [in Ghosbusters 1] and had the occult book store [in Ghostbusters 2].  I was like, ‘Yup, I’m Ray!’”

And speaking of Ran Stanz, the Tampa Bay Ghostbusters have had the great honor of meeting the actor who portrayed him in the movie.  When Creel met Ackroyd it was one of the best experiences of his life.  ”To me, this was the Holy Grail of people in my life to meet and I have met him twice.  He was the creator of Ghostbusters.  He is the definition of a gentleman.  He loves his fans and fans like us, he really loves.  He has made himself very accessible to the Ghostbuster community; he cares about what he has created.  A 100% class act.”  Balevre remembers when he referred to her as the female cadet of the group and then got up and hugged her.  Rawley believes Ackroyd ranks at the top of most celebrities when it comes to his charisma and fan dedication. “He definitely went out of his way for us and it’s very encouraging to see someone like him who is not ‘too big’ for their fame.”

The Tampa Bay Ghostbusters take much pride in their wardrobe, gadgetry and even their vehicle.  But how do these guys and gals acquire such fancy equipment and accessories?  According to the group, they build all their own props.  Creel works at a home improvement store, which aids in the Ghostbuster’s prop making, such as the proton pack and other various pieces of equipment. Creel states that the props do just what the ones in the movie do, before they add in the effects.  Their uniforms are Air Force flight suits with equipment and attachments that have to be found or built.  In addition, the group says they refer to a Ghostbuster fan community site online in which research and resources can be shared.  As far as a vehicle, Rawley recently purchased a Chevy HHR and along with Ghostbuster Ken Plant, began converting it into the Ecto-1X.  Rawley claims this is a “somewhat secret that everyone knows about.”

So, what do the Ghostbusters do when they’re all suited up and ready to go?  ”We attend comic/sci-fi and horror conventions in Tampa and Orlando.  These conventions include the “Spooky Empire Screamfest,” the “FX Show,” “MegaCon,” and the “Tampa Comic Con.”  In October, the group gets festive.  Creel and his fellow Ghostbusters march and throw beads in Ybor City’s Guavaween parade, which is a smaller version of Mardi Gras.  When they’re not attending conventions or hamming it up for parade crowds, the Ghostbusters help raise money for local charities and appear at their events such as “Stars of Hope,” the “Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,” and animal shelters.  ”Doing the charity events came naturally as my wife and I already supported the “Leukemia and Lymphoma Society” due to [my wife] Dawn being diagnosed with and surviving AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) years before,” states Ghostbuster Jason Rawley.

Who makes up the majority of the Ghostbuster’s fan base here in Tampa Bay?  ” We run into a lot of other adults our age who remember Ghostbusters fondly, but it’s amazing how the younger generation also recognizes us from a movie that pre-dates them,” explains the group.  ”In this way, we can have a good time challenging the kids with our humor and entertaining their parents all at once.  Also, as the 25th anniversary comes into play and Ghostbusters is being seen more and more, new fans emerge and old ones remember what at a fantastic movie Ghostbusters is.”

So, what is it that makes Ghostbusters such a classic?  According to the group, “Few movies combine just the right elements of comedy, drama, sci-fi, story, characters, setting and effects perfectly, but Ghostbusters pulled it off.  Here we are 25 years later and it still makes everyone’s top list of movie comedies.  Our success as a group is also a testament to how enduring Ghostbusters is.”

Since the movie is so great, how many times have these guys seen it?  Rawley says that he remembers going to the Largo library as child and seeing Ghostbusters in the VHS section for rent.  ”We would select three movies and I’d say about 75% of the time, Ghostbusters would be one of them.  I saw the movie so many times growing up, that it is according to Webster’s dictionary, ridiculous!”  Balevre says she has seen the movie too many times to remember and Creel confesses, “I know this will sound sick, but the amount of times I have watched Ghostbusters, between both movies (1 and 2), I would say it would at least take up a good year of my 30 years of life on this planet.”

And how do the Tampa Bay Ghostbusters feel about the new video game?  Rawley says he can’t wait to play it, while Creel is proud to have beat it.  ”I love it!  They really captured the original Ghostbusters magic.  I’m very impressed as a fan,” states Creel.

The Tampa Bay Ghostbusters have felt great success since their debut in 2008 and plan to embrace even more success in the coming years.  ”We have seen our work get us noticed by professional people in the movie and entertainment industries and I hope that as we continue, we will see more and more positive results from that,” states the group.  ”In the meantime, we will just continue to do what good we can in our community.”

And so here is the question I have been dying to know:  Do the Tampa Bay Ghostbusters really ghost bust?  ”Amateurs at best!  We get asked that a lot, but one thing we can all say is that we believe there is definitely something out there,” states the group.  Well, perhaps these guys aren’t paranormal experts in the field, but to the fans of Ghostbusters, they are the real deal.

To learn more about the Real Tampa Bay Ghostbusters, visit them at www.myspace.com/tampabayghostbusters

In addition to the Tampa Bay Ghostbusters, there are other Florida divisions, as well as divisions throughout the United States.  For more information on joining a Ghostbuster division or finding out their locations, go to the website: gbfans.com.

Growing up in the 80s, it was taboo to say the word “damn” on the television or radio.  Now anything goes except the “f-bomb” and sadly enough, the word God.  In today’s radio and television we glorify sex, murder, gangs, blood, guts and gore.  Though absolutely hilarious, we show television programs that depict people doing stupid stunts that we all want to try.  Now, none of this stuff would have been seen 20 some years ago. Yet, today this is what our children are watching and want to be like. Where did our values go?  Ask the ACLU.

Despite all the violence, swearing and sex on television, the silver screen, radio and the Internet, those that watch also idolize these situations and celebrities that are running a muck.  This is a scary situation that predicts a dismal future.  Why you ask?  Those that idolize and want to replicate these stunts and behavior are our children.

Since the 1980s with morals in the trash can, we have seen a huge increase in violence.  I don’t know how many times children and those easily influenced have been on trial for a crime they saw or heard through music, television or the movies.  They literally act them out in real life, forgetting that this is not the way of life we live.  Those on the silver screen that were killed or raped or what-have-you, are sitting nicely in their trailers collecting a huge paycheck to “act” that incident out and “play” a victim.  However, our children don’t know that, and neither to the easily influenced.  That does not excuse the fact that now their lives are forever ruined and the reality of their actions slap them hard in the court of law.  They don’t have a name to get them off of their crime, and their victims may not always get up or live their lives the same again.

With this new revolution of “anything” goes I have also seen an alarming increase of parental disrespect by children that the parents just take and do nothing about.  I see troubled teens turning to the fantasy world for answers, when their parents are right in the next room… or are they?

That’s exactly my point, as parents it’s our duty to monitor what our children are watching and listening to.  It’s okay to let them watch that stuff and listen to those explicit lyrics in music as long as you do your job and parent them.  Talk to them about that song or movie, tell them what is right and what is wrong and why it’s wrong and what the consequences are.  Tell your children that talking back, and disrespecting you as a parent is wrong and will not be tolerated.  Let them know that you are always here to help them out with any problem they have, and that the only role model they need in their lives is you.  Like it or not you are their role model, and they should mimic you in everything you do; another reason to live life the best way you can.  Modern America, with all the goodies and luxuries we want, condemns us to work almost around the clock.  Yet, those who suffer are the children, despite the fact they can go to school in their own BMWs.

Don’t let them be influenced by these celebrities, and don’t let fantasy glorify your children or family into doing something that they will forever regret.  As America turns for the worst down the road of morality, it’s our duty to remind those what the right morals are that our founding fathers infused into our great country.  Be their parent and not their friend, that is the only way you can keep from seeing your child’s face in the newspaper for something you absolutely don’t want.

I can think of two great songs that depict what I am saying to the fullest.  Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young sang, “Teach your children well, their father’s hell did slowly go by, and feed them on your dreams, the one they picked, the one you’ll know by.”  And probably the one by Whitney Houston, “I believe that children are our future, teach them well and help them lead the way, show them all the beauty they posses inside.”  It’s a simple thing to do, while lending wisdom to your child and spending quality time with them.

America has an unquenchable thirst for knowing everyone’s private life.  We need to know who shopped where, who’s dating who, who’s tanning at what beach, who’s wearing what and so on and so fourth.  None of this has anything to do with something that can touch our lives.  Instead it’s become an obsession that has caused paparazzi gangs to go and take pictures of these celebs while they are minding their own business. The frenzy has even led to people profiting off this information such as the Sun and Enquirer. These companies often take the truth and distort it while we fuel the fire by purchasing these publications.

We made television shows like the entire !E station that is dedicated to the red carpet and celebrity gossip, one of the hottest stations on television.  Then there are Joan and Melissa Rivers, the mother and daughter duo, who report about nothing except fashion blunders on the red carpet.  Don’t worry about the job these actors and actresses have done, it’s what they wore out in public that matters.

The insanity around this obsession has even turned Joan Rivers into a cat woman with plastic surgery, trying to avoid being on the wrong side of what she exploits. Quite ironic, don’t you think.  In doing so she ruined her face to avoid the same fate she gives her stars… oh, the hypocrisy of it all.

As Americans over the last few years we’ve become worried about our personal lives being exploited and known by the government.  It’s unseen that anyone should know our personal lives other than those whom we choose to tell.  If we were the target of such exploitation who knows what we’d do.  However, we don’t seem to have a problem when it’s done to our favorite stars.

We’ve completely made their personal lives more important and more in demand than the work they put out for us to enjoy.  Secrets have cost American Idol stars the championship, and have cost some celebrities major acting roles.

The paparazzi have even caused the famous to lose their lives, such as Princess Diana, just for a picture with her beau. In addition, they have ruined celebrities’ reputations, but at least we know what their personal lives entitle.  We say at The Expressionist, “Don’t give into the madness; it’s an invasion of privacy, and you wouldn’t want it done to you so why do it to someone else.”  Instead look at these people’s amazing talents and focus on that.  It’s what made them of interest in the first place.

Sadly, the Kung Fu actor was found dead in a hotel in Thailand on June 4th.  He apparently hung himself in a closet, naked, and oddly enough other parts of his body were tied together too.

Thai police call it suicide, but many are asking more questions into how valid that assumption is.  How could Carradine hang himself, when his legs and hands were bound also.  The pieces are not adding up, which many are overriding the suicide claim calling it murder.

His death shocks the world, his manager Chuck Binder goes on record to say “He was full of life, always wanting to work… a great person.”  Something that doesn’t sound like someone who is suicidal.

Despite acting, David also is a notable artist, musician, composer, and musical performer… oh yea he also sculpts.  An artist in many fields, its a sad day for all the arts.

He is survived by his wife, Annie Bierman, and three children including actresses Calista and Kansas. He was 72 years old.

Bea Arthur:  We all remember her as Dorothy from the “Golden Girls.” Arthur played the  tall school teacher who took in her pesky mother Sophia when she left the Shady Acres Nursing Home.  She moved into Blanche’s home in Miami and became one of her best friends and roommates.  Dorothy was always the brunt of  jokes due to her lack of dating, but her character was always the dependable, sound one of the group who gave wisdom and guidance through all the tough times.  The original series ended when Dorothy married Blanche’s uncle played by Leslie Neilsen. Arthur died at the age of 85 from cancer.

Dom DeLuise:  DeLuise was a lovable character on and off television.  He struggled with his weight all his life but he loved food which made him a great cook, thus producing top selling cookbooks throughout the years.  He also appeared on his own cooking show in the 80s that made him a household name.  DeLuise, however, played in more than just television; he starred in a number of movies including Blazing Saddles. The cause of his death is unknown. The family is not leaking out the actual cause of death, but we do know he battled cancer for almost a year.  He died at the age of 75.

The Expressionist gives our condolences to the families of these wonderful actors, and realize that television will never be the same again.

The movie is based on a family who had a very sick child dying from cancer in 1987.  The trip to and from Southington for treatment was a long drive for the boy who suffered on his trip back to his home.  The family decided to move closer to the treatment facility, but realized the mortgage on their home and rent would be tough to carry with the heavy medical bills.  They found a home in Southington, where the rent was cheap, mainly because the house was an abandoned funeral home.

Upon arrival, they found a ghastly sight in the basement where her sick son slept.  The room adjacent to his bed was the morgue; inside was left over Formaldehyde, and embalming utensils. There were blood stained walls and floors.  The stainless steel tables where the bodies were cut up and prepped on were still there.  It was not a pleasant sight.

The house had a history of having a medium there, where local survivors of their late family would come to talk to their dead loved ones.  In an attempt to make the seance more effective, the undertaker would cut the eyelids off some of the dead to gain power for their medium; this is where it’s been thought they brought a few nasty demons into the house.  Over time the city realized some of the coffins in the Southington Cemetery were empty because the funeral home never buried people in coffins; instead they were in the home, walled up.

The sick boy was the target of these demons, but in the end, the malevolence moved from the son to the entire family.  The events were so brutal in some cases, the family thought they would die.

This movie depicts all these great events, but does leave some things out.  I was a bit convinced this movie would embellish the truth to make it more horrifying.  After watching A Haunting in Connecticut, I was very impressed to see they didn’t embellish or make things up and it was still just as frightening.  That made this movie all the more better in my eyes.  The only thing they didn’t do was tell the real name of the city; they called it Goatington, when it was really Southington.

A Haunting in Connecticut hits close to home for me.  I lived in Southington, CT from 1979 to 1989.  That summer of 1988, I broke my arm and had a lot of time to watch TV.  The events in that house made the news and front page in The Meriden Record Journal and The Bristol Press.  Her son and I went to the same hospital, and their house was only a few houses away from the Southington Hospital.  In fact, I was only four streets down from this house and I remember the day that the sick son set the place ablaze.  Today that house is still there but looks different from the rebuild.

I would seriously recommend going to see this movie.  It’s frightening, it’s factual and it’s well laid out.  The movie will keep you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what will happen next.  I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Its hard to believe it’s been that long.  Nickelodeon has changed so much over the years; now its one of the leading channels that promote “Go Green” education for children, it played a huge role in the 2008 Presidential election; bringing children’s opinion to the forefront.  Nickelodeon has even made an award show where kids pick the winners just like the Oscars.

March 28th at 8:00 PM, former WWE Heavyweight Champion and renown actor Dwayne Johnson hosts this celebrity gala thrown by kids.  There will be slime, messes and famous faces blasting through your television; all of which Nickelodeon is famous for.  This year one new award will be given out as opposed to the classic orange blimp; this new award is a green blimp that goes to the one individual who has promoted and contributed most to “Go Green” ways.

For all the tween girls out there, the Jonas Brothers will perform live for the first time on Nickelodeon.

If you have children, and you want to let them vote, there is still time.  Go to http://www.nick.com to vote.

On March 27th a new horror movie is set to release called  A Haunting in Connecticut, which happens to be based on a true story. It’s not often a horror flick is based on a true story; in fact, I think one of the last one’s was The Amityville Horror. This movie is directed by Peter Cornwell, and written by Adam Simon and Tim Metcalf.

I can’t wait to see this movie and how it’s portrayed, because this one actually hits close to home for me. When I was a child, I used to live in Connecticut; the same city actually as where this haunted house was located. I delivered the Meriden Record Journal that took a particularly close interest into this house. I also used to ride past the house every day delivering my papers. Today, the family recalls their period of horror and has made a documentary with the Discovery Channel’s hit series, “A Haunting.”  This is probably the closest to the truth production you will get because it’s narrated by the family that lived there.

The house was an old funeral home converted into a regular living home. Honestly, that’s something that just should not be allowed; just think of the creep factor that comes into play with that. Dead bodies were displayed where you sit down and watch television. People were embalmed in your basement and that awesome refrigerator was a human meat closet.

The events in this home not only caught the attention of the local newspapers, but the nightly news and Connecticut radio stations also took notice. Who am I kidding? Connecticut is so small that the entire state knew about it. Connecticut is known for its hauntings and paranormal happenings, but when Ed and Lorraine Warren come out to investigate, it must be the real deal. The Warrens investigated the Amityville Horror house in New York, and are considered to be Connecticut’s most prestigious demonologists and ghost investigators.

The happenings at this house were nothing short of amazing. It started when the family moved in, and the boys slept in the basement. The boys looked every night at a stainless steel door that went into a kitchen like room. At first they thought it was a kitchen, but there was embalming equipment left behind, along with blood stained walls.  The boys and their parents quickly learned what that stuff was. The oldest son would experience paranormal activity in the old embalming area. Naturally, this freaked the boys out, especially when the oldest son would hear his name being called.  However, the boys’ parents completely ignored their pleas that the place was haunted.

One day the eldest son confronted the man calling his name, and this spirit or demon completely took control over him almost turning him evil. The older son became belligerent towards his family, attacking his younger brother who was his best friend, and started to isolate himself from everyone. The boy had cancer, which many say, made the possession even easier.

The boys’ cousin came to live with them, and she had some strange phenomena happen to her. After the eldest son was transferred to a mental institute, things really got out of hand. Jewelry, and sometimes even people would levitate, crosses disappeared, the women were sexually mishandled, lights would turn on and off, and stationary objects would fly across the room.

When Ed and Lorraine Warren came out to the house, they quickly found a demon present. The family finally did an exorcism of the house, where things got really ugly. The mom was thrown across the room in a trance like state and suspended on the wall, while she grasped her neck like she was being choked. Statues of the Virgin Mary melted, and books flew across the room. The demon was becoming aggressive and deadly. Finally, it was removed from the house. Their son instantly became mentally stable again, and the gloom in the house diminished.

The family said they would not stay in the house in case it came back, and moved out almost the very next day. Today the house still stands, but I don’t know if anyone lives there. After all the news coverage and gossip, it should scare anyone away. If anyone does live there, they either have never heard of the horrors that came from this house or simply dismiss them. I would think the police and the city would not let anyone inhabit the frightening abode.

I am anxious to see how close to the truth the movie gets; however, it is a horror flick, which means embellishment and lots of special effects. I expect to see a lot of events that didn’t even happen.  I know one scene in particular that I saw on a commercial shows writing all over the oldest son, which did not take place.  

Here is an interesting link from Carmen Reed who actually experienced this horror. It is her official web site that has photos from when they lived at this house. http://www.carmenreed.com 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G62UJ5LCSmI[/youtube]

Best Picture:   “Slumdog Millionaire”

Director:   Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”

Best Actor:    Sean Penn, “Milk”

Best Actress:   Kate Winslet, “The Reader”

Best Supporting Actor:   Heath Ledger “The Dark Knight”

Best Supporting Actress:   Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

Best Original Screenplay:   Dustin Lance Black, “Milk”

Best Adapted Screenplay:   Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire”

Best Foreign Film:   “Departures,” Japan

Best Documentary Feature:   “Man On A Wire”

Best Documentary Short:   “Smile Pinki”

Best Animated Feature Film:   “WALL-E”

Best Art Direction:   “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Best Cinematography:  ”Slumdog Millionaire”

Best Score:   A.R. Rahman, “Slumdog Millionaire”

Best Song:   “Jai Ho,” from “Slumdog Millioniare,” A.R. Rahman, Sampooran Singh Gulzar

Best Costume:  ”The Dutchess”

Best Makeup:   “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Best Animated Short Film:   “La Maison En Petits Cubes”

Best Visual Effects:   “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

So the glam is over, its off to work towards next years awards.  After all the dust has cleared, “Slumdog Millionaire” was the big winner last night.  Now that the awards are presented, do you agree?  Discuss by adding comments to this post and see if people agree with you.

ICE AGE 3, is coming this summer!

The sub-zero heroes from the worldwide blockbusters Ice Age and Ice Age: The Meldown are back, on an incredible adventure…for the ages. Scrat is still trying to nab the ever-elusive nut (while, maybe, finding true love); Manny and Ellie await the birth of their mini-mammoth, Sid the sloth gets into trouble when he creates his own makeshift family by hijacking some dinosaur eggs; and Diego the saber-toothed tiger wonders if he’s growing too “soft” hanging with his pals. On a mission to rescue the hapless Sid, the gang ventures into a mysterious underground world, where they have some close encounters with dinosaurs, battle flora and fauna run amuck – and meet a relentless, one-eyed, dino-hunting weasel named Buck…

ICE AGE 3, to be fully produced in 3-D, is the latest instalment to the hit ICE AGE franchise, which has grossed more than $1.2 billion around the world.

ICE AGE 3, will be directed by Oscar®-nominated Carlos Saldanha, who directed ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN and co-directed ICE AGE. The film is being produced by Academy Award®-winning Blue Sky Studios, the creative force behind all the ICE AGE films and the upcoming DR. SEUSS’ HORTON HEARS A WHO. The crazy animated cast are voiced by stars including John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary and Ray Romano.

You’d think someone with a tarnished good girl reputation would produce somewhat tasteless movies. Instead, Lohan has twice worked with Disney on projects such as Herby the Love Bug and the Parent Trap remakes. Both of these movies are family friendly and entertaining to watch. Parent Trap, a movie that made Haley Mills famous in the 60s, made Lohan famous in the 90s. She played a well kept pre-debutant child from England and her rough Californian tomboy twin sister from America. They meet at camp and decided to switch lives so they can see their other parent they never met. The girls decide they would rekindle their parents’ love for each other and get them back together again. Lohan was spectacular in this family film and is still fun to watch even to this day. It will make you laugh, cry and will show you the true innocence of this young lady.

Then there is Herby the Love Bug, another big hit for Disney throughout the 60s and 70s, which Lohan revived in 2005. She played the owner of the car that she got from a second hand dealer. The car was in disarray, but she put love and effort into reviving it. Later, Lohan’s character finds out the car has a mind of its own.  Herby is then entered into a race and easily wins, bringing it back into a legacy. Lohan reviving this movie was wonderful for the younger generation because it brought back a lovable character we grew up with and introduced it to a new generation. That inspired this generation to go back and watch the original Herby movies, bringing the old car back to life again.

Lohan has also done some movies that expose issues most teenagers face in school today, such as with the movie Mean Girls. This movie is about popular girls who think they are better than everyone else.  Mean Girls also points out what this kind of cold hearted person does to others and how senseless this kind of behavior is. In the end, Lohan’s character rebels and turns against the “cool crowd,” who she once had wanted to be accepted by.  Parents should watch this to see what kind of peer pressure their children face in school and how popularity becomes an obsession as well as a health risk. What extent would your child go to be accepted?  

Sure, Lohan’s behavior has been less than desirable. She has shown true lack of responsibility and almost became the character she portrayed in Mean Girls. Nonetheless, she has had a wonderful career and has made movies that will impact our lives and our children’s lives. Her actions could be used by parents to show our children what not to do and why you shouldn’t idolize or make a celebrity a hero. So there is a positive to the tabloids after all. If Lohan cleans up her act and takes life more seriously, I am sure without a doubt, her acting career will soar to the sky. We, as Americans and human beings, should try to encourage Lohan to do the right thing and help her in a time of need, instead of plastering her across the tabloids to sell papers. Really, does that make us any better than her? I think not.

He has been a positive impact in Hollywood on and off the big screen; that’s why it’s so tough to hear about his son Jett Travolta’s death.  Nobody should ever lose a child, and its worse when you are well known because the world forever reminds you of the loss.  You’ll see it in magazine posts, celebrity television shows, you name it. It’s harder for a celebrity to grieve and put things to rest, so it’s our job to allow him to do so.

We are saddened by the Travolta family’s loss and wish them all the best.  We hope this tragedy heals soon and encourage all those out there, despite the fact it is news, to be respectful for the mourning family.  The Expressionist gives our deepest condolences to this man who will forever be in Americans’ hearts.

WHITE CHRISTMAS

Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, an all-Irving Berlin song score, classy direction by Hollywood vet Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood), VistaVision (the very first feature ever shot in that widescreen format), and ultrafestive Technicolor! Crosby and Kaye are song-and-dance men who hook up, romantically and professionally, with a “sister” act to put on a Big Show to benefit the struggling ski-resort lodge run by the beloved old retired general of their WWII Army outfit. Crosby is cool, Clooney is warm, Kaye is goofy, and Vera-Ellen is leggy. Songs include: “Sisters” (Crosby and Kaye do their own drag version, too), “Snow,” “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” and more. Christmas would be unthinkable without White Christmas.

1954/2:00/musical comedy

 ———————-

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

TWO SHOWS!!!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 ~ 3:00PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 ~ 3:00PM

Perhaps the most beloved American film, Frank Capra’s masterwork deserves its status as a feel-good communal event, but it is also one of the most fascinating films in the American cinema, a multilayered work of Dickensian density. Earnest do-gooder George Bailey (James Stewart) recognizes his life as wonderful and truly rich, even in its humdrum and bleak nature, only after suffering many hardships, mishaps and fateful trials. He is given encouragement through a fateful meeting with a whimsical, endearing, trainee-angel named Clarence (Henry Travers), who shows him just how bleak the world would be without him. Get out your hankies and listen for ringing bells: this is one family Christmas tradition you don’t want to miss.

1946/2:10/family

E.T. captured a generation and has been quoted as “one of the best movies ever.”  It’s one of those movies you can watch over and over again with your family and never get tired of.  I doubt there is anyone that hasn’t seen it, but if you haven’t, its a must see.

The movie is about an alien who crashes to Earth, and desperately tries to get back to his home.  Throughout the way, he finds a family and befriends their young boy (Elliott) who wants to help him get back to his family where ever he came from.  The bond is so strong that they forever are intertwined, which almost kills them both as the Alien Task Force tries to probe the ailing E.T.  Finally, Elliott gets E.T. home by breaking away from the captivity.

The movie defined the 80s, and was the spring board to Drew Barrymore’s successful career.  She was 8, I believe, when she appeared as the sister to Elliott (Henry Thomas), who helps him take care of E.T.

If you want to take your family to this event the information is as follows:

Date:  November 1, 2008
When:  Gates open at 5:00 PM, Film starts at 7:00 PM
Where:  Al Lopez Park – 4810 N. Himes Ave.
Cost:   Free

Fri., Sept. 12 at 7:30 *
Sat., Sept. 13 at 2:00 & 7:30
Sun., Sept. 14 at 2:00
Doors open 1 hour before showtime

 * Opening Night Special Guest

Friday, August 22 at 7:30
Saturday, Aug 23 at 2:00 & 7:30
Sunday, Aug 24 at 2:00 & 7:30
Doors open 1 hour before showtime
TICKETS:
$11.50  Adult
$10.50  Student (with ID)
$9.50   Senior, Military

*tickets available at the box office in advance or day of show John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway.

This interactive presentation of the 1978 film has been customized with on-screen lyrics for all the songs so that audiences can sing along!  1978/1:50/musical/35mm.

You’re the star in the Audience Costume Parade!  Come dressed as your favorite characteror in a costume inspired by the movie.

PG – Parental Guidance Suggested Some material may be inappropriate for younger
children.

Tampa Theatre opened in 1926, and was considered one of the premier theatres in the Tampa Bay area. The designer John Eberson was a master designer of theatres and made only a few around the USA. Having this jewel in our backyard helped put Tampa on the map. 

You’ll see from the moment you step foot inside this theater that it is a work of art. Gargoyles loom around the theater walls, the sky glows stars before the show, the ornate furniture still remains in the theater which is of the time period, and the grand marble steps when you enter will take your breath away. Today it’s one of the only two deck theaters still standing, and one of six John Ebersons still in use. Little has changed since Tampa Theatre opened its doors back in October of 1926.

The theater was built in the silent film era, so it’s no surprise that “Ace of Cads,” a silent film, was the first motion picture on their square silver screen. During the life of Tampa Theatre, Disney bestowed the honor of premiering “101 Dalmations.” Premiers are something every theatre dreams of having at their establishment and Disney, one of the biggest names in entertainment today, chose Tampa Theatre to have one.

Unfortunately with the urban sprawl away from downtown Tampa, and theaters started to have multiple screens in one establishment, Tampa Theatre lost its luster throughout the 1960s and 70s. Within this time, the theatre would close, and remained abandoned for quite sometime. Like most theatres back then, demolition was inevitable, but the citizens of Tampa realized what they had and fought to keep the wrecking ball from destroying this beautiful work of art.

In 1973, the City of Tampa took control over the dilapidated theatre and started to restore the palace back to its original glory. In 1978, the theatre was back to its ways, showing independent and nationally acclaimed movies. It also set a standard on theatre restoration for the rest of the country.

In 1988, Tampa Theatre was deemed a historic landmark, an honor not many places are bestowed and now forever ranks as one of the oldest operating theatres in the US, protected by this historic preservation act. 

Today Tampa Theatre is run by a non-profit organization. They have independent movies and plays and they continue to bring back the old classics that once played on the square screen in their “Summer Movie Classics” series. The mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ, which was recently completely restored, plays before each movie as an added treat for patrons, it really is a sight to see and hear.  Tampa Theatre is good, clean, wholesome fun for the whole family, in a museum-like atmosphere which is a work of art in and of itself.

If you see only one of the “Summer Movie Classic Series” at the Tampa Theatre this year, this is the one.  Bring your family and friends to watch this classic as they did back when the movie first hit the silver screen.

This movie is so popular there are 2 showings, Sunday August 3rd, at 3:00 P.M. and Monday August 4th, at 7:30 P.M.  Cost of admittance is $8.00 for adults, with discounts available for theatre members.

Tampa Threatre is located on Franklin Street in downtown Tampa.  Parking on the street is free, parking garages and private lots will still cost the fee charged.

Don’t miss seeing this movie as it was intended to be seen.  This opportunity comes around once in a lifetime.

The Dark Knight was one of the most anticipated films of the summer, made obvious by the overwhelming box-office records of the opening weekend. The publicity of the film has been tremendous from teaser trailers to a special edition DVD release of the original, Batman Begins. With previous Batman series sequels having been progressively more and more disappointing, we had to hope that maybe this time around, somebody might get it right… and somebody did. The Dark Knight was the single most satisfying film of the summer and will continue to reel in the crowds, including those who have already seen it.

The plot is seamlessly continued from the first film without dwelling too much into the past. A brief cameo by the Scarecrow brings us up to date and ready to demand payment for the clever cliffhanger left to us in the first: Lieutenant Gordon’s delivery of the Joker card to Batman. Fans of the first film, the comic books, and the Batman legend were squirming in their seats with anticipation. Frank Miller’s newer generation of graphic novels is brought to the screen with as much depth and psychologically twisted chaos as one would expect out of director Christopher Nolan (of Memento fame) in 27 shades of black.

Every cast member holds his own to the monumental storyline presented to us by Nolan and his co-writer and brother Jonathon Nolan. Christian Bale returns as the Dark Knight staying true to his original portrayal, with only a slight lapse in the climax to a certain character’s unfortunate end. We would have expected more from Bruce Wayne, at least. Overall, Bale has come back fierce, stronger and more confident in this role attempted by so many, with a few more impressive stunts.

With Maggie Gyllenhall introduced in the character of Rachel Dawes and the new face of Aaron Eckhart as the District Attorney Harvey Dent and later Harvey Two-Face, we see that adding new talents has not hurt the chemistry at all. Gyllenhaal enters the series fresh, picking up where Katie Holmes left off and leaves what is surprisingly, a good impression. She makes the character her own without reminding us that she is a replacement, despite her starkly different look. Eckhart both charms and disgusts us in his well-played transition from town hero to villain.

Michael Caine as Alfred, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, and Gary Oldman as Lt. James Gordon all return in their roles, each bringing something familiar and something new to the screen. Each role seems to pick up right where it left and builds as the movie develops. It is a pleasing to go to a movie that keeps us interested in each character’s individual presence and story. Caine provides witty relief and a father-figure presence and with excellent comic delivery. Freeman’s Fox character evolves and challenges Wayne on an ethical level, bringing the story once again into a deeper reality than other comic-book protégés do. Oldman allows us into the character of Gordon and his personal life, affecting that of Batman’s and continuing on with the classic Batman story. We expect greatness out of such experienced actors, and are happy that they do not let us down.

The performance most anticipated however, and for good reason, was that of the late Heath Ledger in the role of the Joker. His portrayal of the Iconic villain has taken a tremendous leap from the goofy prankster of Caesar Romero and creepy funny man Jack Nicholson, and turned it into something far more sinister and far more raw. Ledger steals the screen away from any sense of safety and brings us to the brink of darkness, dangles us over it with a manic laugh, and then plunges us in. What is perhaps the scariest part of this twisted clown and psychopathic criminal mastermind is how real Ledger makes him in both his speech and his mannerisms. Gone are the days of the high pitched madman and here he is now, in all of his chaotic glory ready to take on the Bat. Bale’s and Ledger’s play off of each other is brilliant. They go through stirring stretches to make the villain and hero not just face off, but “complete” each other as the psychotic yin and yang of comic book epics.

Despite the ominous and pleasing shadows cast by the suspense of the movie, it is not without its brief moments of humor and reasons to smile. The theme of humanity is stressed, even in the darkest of times. The more you watch the more you see the two faces of humanity, the dark and the light, and as you watch them both appear in every character you greater appreciate the depth of it all.

On a technical note, Nolan mirrors the emotions of the story wonderfully once again. We were especially struck by the smooth and dark color scheme as well as the master sound mixing that effortlessly pulls the audience in and then takes us on an audio thrill ride of sorts. The simple roar of the Batmobile or crisp effects under Batman’s glider transport us even further into Gotham City and Batman’s legend and leave us with a taste of modern effect capabilities.

What really makes The Dark Knight a great sequel is that it does not overdo it. It is simple and crisp, from lighting and sound to the graphics and the costumes. It is anchored in a gritty reality and underlined with such depth that The Dark Knight makes other comic book movies seem like just Sunday Morning Cartoons rather than modern masterpieces. Nolan takes what we liked about the first movie and elaborates upon it almost nonchalantly. It just fits. There are things for the old fans and for the new fans, from the bat cycle and a whole new arsenal of technology and gadgets to a new villain and a new Commissioner.

This movie is fast paced despite its length, romantic, tragic, and sometimes sadistic and twisted. The only truly disappointing part is that it left us desperately wanting more and not knowing when we will get it or in fact what we will get. As long as the next movie is as fulfilling as this one, we are prepared to wait.

* this review was writen by C. Eversoll and J. Duggan*

Tickets can be purchased at the box office for $8.00 for all ages, excluding Sing-A-Long films. Tampa Theatre members get special price discounts.

Tampa Theatre for those who do not know, is located on Franklin Street in downtown Tampa. Parking is free at the meters on Sundays, though parking lots will still charge on Sundays.

Platinum Blonde

7/6 3:00 PM

Ninotchka

7/13 3:00 PM

The Adventures of Robin Hood

7/20 3:00 PM  1938

Tickets are available at the door and are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for students, seniors, and active military. Anyone not familiar with The Beach Theatre, it is located at 305 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach 33706.

Here is the rest of the schedule:

Married Life

Monday, 6/30, 7:30 p.m.

The Counterfeiters

Monday, 6/30, 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 7/1, 3:00 p.m.

Paranoid Park

Monday, 6/30, 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 7/1, 5:00 p.m.

Personally, I had my mouth agape watching Sandler walk the narrow line of acceptable and gone too far, just waiting for him to accidentally cross it.  This movie picked fun at the violence in the Middle East which is currently dividing the world.  It made a joke out of the Palestinian Terrorists and the Israeli Counter Terrorists who are currently at war with each other. It doesn’t stop there, it has a rich real estate tycoon, who happens to be white, trying to cause a fight between his Palestinian and Israeli business owner tenants; using the KKK to try to accomplish his goal so he can put them out of business, clearing the way for his downtown mall.

Overall, the movie was a bit slow, mainly due to a bad plot.  Sandler tries to make a joke throughout the movie by putting Hummus on everything he ate; which must have gone over my head because I didn’t find that funny at all.  It gets worse, after each hair style the Zohan completed, he made love to his seasoned aged client, which is something I found to be completely unnecessary.

Sandler brought it all together for the last scene of the movie; the Zohan and his Palestinian terrorist counterpart, “The Ghost” join forces to defeat the KKK, and save their businesses.  The moral of the story, the fighting between these two groups is wasteful and accomplishes nothing in the end, together they could be strong, divided they fall.  Had Sandler not finished the movie this way, the movie would have been a complete catastrophe.

The movie is funny, and if you don’t take things to heart you will mildly enjoy this comedy.  I would rank “The Zohan” as alright for a Sandler movie.  Thank goodness it’s not “Punch Drunk Love, but it’s not Happy Gilmore either.”

Sadly, they have almost become extinct.  They used to be on the Cartoon Network after TNT gave up showing them.  They were pulled from the Saturday morning cartoon line up, and now almost non existant on the Cartoon Network or Bravo stations.  They have come and gone to more modern cartoons.

On July 28th, 2008 the Tampa Theatre will bring them back from the dead and show these wonderful cartoons on the screen they were originally shown on, before feature presentations!  Yes, the Looney Tunes are back for 1 day only.  So bring your kids, bring your family and head down to Tampa Theatre in downtown Tampa.

Tickets are $8.00, and the show starts at 3:00 PM.  What a wonderful way to spend the day with your family.

Well this Sunday, Father’s Day, there is something special going to take place at the Tampa Theatre.  Yes, they will be showing 6 original shorts as they were designed for the square screen, of the Three Stooges, the original masters of slap stick comedy.  Titles include: Punch Drunks (National Film Registry), Who Done It, Woman Haters, Yes We Have No Bonanza, Movie Maniacs, Mummy’s Dummies.

You don’t want to miss Larry, Moe and Curly doing some of their legendary acts on the silver screen, in a theater many of these shorts played in when they were first made!

Starts at 3:00 PM, and tickets are $8.00.  Go to http://www.tampatheatre.org/comingAttractions.php#STOOGES for more details. 

Remember, the Tampa Theatre is a NON PROFIT organization.  All money goes to keeping this wonderfully historic building active and able to be enjoyed by the next generation of movie lovers.  This theater put Tampa on the map!