One of the first things you have to let go of when watching Blade Runner is the temptation to compare the movie with the book, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep”? By the number one SF writer of all time, Philip K. Dick.  Yes, the mechanical pets are absent, but a monologue discussing the absence of real animals in the future does appear in the film.  Yes, the ending is different, but the medium of printed word and published work is very different than the film medium, so time lapses, character development, etc., will be necessarily altered in the latter.  But Blade Runner also features some fine casting, decent special effects, and a complex storyline and premise that does justice to Dick’s writing style and genius mind.

The Hollywood shunned Sean Young fits perfectly in her stoic human role as Rachael - hmmm, interesting biblical allusion?.  Harrison Ford is convincing, just smoky voiced enough and of course dynamic enough as the bounty hunter seeking out the hiding replicants.  Daryll Hannah as Pris is quite interesting, as is her makeup and costuming.  A replicant ballerina, now that’s a first.

The sound track is absolutely stunning, utterly scintillating.  Vangelis matches the opening drama by the wailing wet woozy sounds of the sax.  It brings in the drums and consistently expresses in Blues and Jazz ensembles that are romantic and surreal at once the epic, daunting, and depressing bleakness of the reality of the future as Dick has depicted it.  Blade Runner is often categorized in the cyberpunk genre set as it is in 2019 Los Angeles.  Featuring the futuristic cyber-technology of cloning, hyped up surveillance tools and hyper advanced investigative strategies, carried out by the Harrison Ford character, blade Runner Deckard.

The film is visually dark and metaphysically, psychically dreary.   And the premise is true to the novel, with it’s emphasis on the preciousness of human and other life versus the futuristic and technological displacement we face.  While I am reticent about suggesting this, as I typically insist you read the book that precedes the film.  If the comparison thing is going to interfere with your experience of one of the best SF films of all time, don’t read “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep”? First.  But DO read it.  You will be amazed, after watching Blade Runner, at the depth of detail of the future mindset, mentality and morality.

If you love movies or modern electronics, you’ve probably set foot in a Best Buy store.  These rewarding superstores, containing everything from plasma televisions to quality refrigerators, are packed with a wide selection.  I recall getting hooked on Best Buy after I purchased my first DVD player.  Suddenly I needed that ideal movie supplier that could offer me a great variety of DVDs.  Well, it didn’t take long to realize that my local Best Buy was the place.

A key benefit to Best Buy is the location.  It is not difficult find a Best Buy in your immediate area.  Unless you reside out in the boon-docks, Best Buy is likely just around the corner.  Once you survey their selection of music and home entertainment, you will have a relationship for life.  I always enjoy their plethora of televisions, which offer such amazing quality pictures these days.  It’s fun to stand in front of that spectrum of widescreens and pretend that it will one day grace the wall of your living room.  Wow, that would be every man’s dream come true.  Best Buy offers a price range suitable for most families when it comes to purchasing a new home theater or stereo system.  These are products that really have to be tested and analyzed in person, so that we can be certain of what we’re dropping a chunk of money on.

Best Buy has incomparable prices from what I’ve experienced.  Have you ever spent some time browsing through the music store down at the mall?  A CD runs for 20 bucks these days.  Pop into your local Best Buy and you’re sure to find a better deal.  Why should we spend more than we have to?  DVDs offer the same kind of savings.  You’ll save considerable in comparison to those big movie chains, that typically offer a poor selection.

While Best Buy can provide you with great deals and savings, a prime benefit to their company is the service.  I’ve never entered a Best Buy without being greeted at the door.  In addition, employees always offer their assistance when they spot me browsing for a certain DVD.  This is refreshing in a world that has virtually forgotten about the customer.  No matter what your electronic or entertainment need, Best Buy is a good place to have a look when you consider the savings and numerous possibilities.

Star Wars: Fact of fiction? Your answer depends on your perspective. From a purely logical point of view, Star Wars is totally fictional. It is a futuristic sci-fi excursion into a universe of fantasty and illusion. However, from an emotional and even spiritual viewpoint, Star wars are all too real.  The original 1977 movie introduced us to The Force: “…an energy field that surrounds us, penetrates us and binds the galaxy together” explains the old Obi Wan Kenobi to the young Luke Sky Walker. George Lucas drew some of his inspiration for The Force and its meaning from the work of Joseph Campbell and his book The Power of Myth.

For both the Eastern sage and the modern metaphysician, The Force is a perfect example of the realness embedded in Star Wars. It is not God, otherwise George Lucas would have used that word. Instead, Lucas chose a more universally accepted phrase, one that could potentially be embraced by all religious followers.  The technology in the Star Wars Universe is superfluous to the power of The Force. Lucas makes this point abundantly clear.  If you strip away the technology, you are left with a story spiritual story. It is a hero’s quest. It is the quest of Annakin Skywalker doing battle with himself. Searching for the light inside the dark.

This is a battle we all go through and so from this perception Star Wars is not to be seen as fiction. Star Wars is about a universal battle in awareness.  To the degree that you are unaware of this battle in yourself, is likely the degree you will see Star Wars as unreal, pure fiction.

Do you believe in The Force? Even if you do not understand it, or call it by another name, is there a part of you that “uses the Force?” If there is not, then you will view all of Star Wars as fiction, the storyline plus the inner lives of the characters.  If you do believe in the Force, even in some mysterious or cosmic way, you will be able to understand it’s truthfulness.  Star Wars is about “us” not “them.” It is about every man woman and child and their destiny to rise up against darkness and find their true nature and understand their relationship to The Force.

So next time you watch a Star Wars movie, forget the Hollywood aspects of it, forget that it is just for fun, and see if you can put your attention on yourself. Be Annakin. Be Luke. Be Yoda. You will be surprised how real these movies become.  I believe it is there realness not their fantasy qualities that made them strike a chord with the world back in 1977. What is your point of view? Star wars: Fact or fiction?

Many actors can proudly wear the brand of stardom.  Fewer can tote the banner of subtle sensuality, commanding grace and seamless work in every single role they play.  Anthony Quinn is one that did all of the above.  He traversed the boundaries of ethnicity, playing various roles wherein the Mexican-Irish star was a Greek, an Italian, a Filipino, a Mexican, a Native American and many other distinctly defined identities.  Never faltering or falling out of character, so convincing was he in each.

If you didn’t know he had died in June of 2001.  Anthony Quinn is at the top of all our lists of sexiest older male actors.  And not just for his undaunted masculinity and sex appeal but Quinn had a versatility, an ability to cross genres without compromise.  A gift for switching roles and registers that inevitably earned him two Best Supporting Actor Academy Awards and numerous accolades.

Think of “Viva Zapata!”, for which Quinn won his first Oscar.  He played the boozing, carousing romantic Eufemio, a foil to Marlon Brando’s Emiliano Zapata.  Consider his starring role as Paul Gauguin in “Lust for Life”, for which he won his second Oscar.  He plays the balance in the dickering, challenging, competitive friendship with fellow artist Kirk Douglas’s Van Gogh.  There was his passionate rendition of Santiago in the TV adaptation of Hemingway’s “Old Man and the Sea”, a performance many might say deserved more recognition.  And his endearing Nick Acropolis, attempting to court the uninterested Rose Muldoon, played by Maureen O’Hara.

We could revisit each of the over 160 roles the Chihuahua born (1915) Anthony Quinn played in dramas, comedies, westerns, numerous other genre films and TV series and shows.  We could appreciate the many dedicated sites that speak his praises, but better, we could also rent or buy the films and revisit and confirm how we esteemed the stunningly flexible and fine actor in memoriam.

When I was in college, some of my favorite days in school were the ones that included a movie camera. I took a lot of film and video classes, and we had a lot of projects we had to do. I always had fun when we did these projects.  More than once I would give up my weekend of parties and friends in order to get projects done. I found playing around and filming to be more fun and also a better use of my time.

Itchy to film things, you may want to get a movie camera. The great thing is that even though there is the traditional and very expensive type of movie camera that is used in big movie making, you can use just about anything to make videos. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make something just for you. If you want make something to present to others, you may have to spend more money to get a quality item. Look for something professional.

If you just want to make home movies, you may be able to use your digital camera, though it’s not always practical. This can be a movie camera.  You take your clips and upload them to your computer and you can edit them together if you have video editing software.  Then save them on a CD to share with family and friends. If you want something that takes longer clips, you can buy a digital camcorder to use as a home movie camera. These movies can also be uploaded to your computer.

Want something more expensive to make better home movies or presentations, you have to do some research into what movie camera you may want. It will be up to what you want in a movie camera and what you want to do with it. Find out what features you can get, and decide which ones you need and which ones you can live without.  You can find a great prices on eBay, but make sure you are not bidding on an item that does not exist. If the seller won’t accept PayPal or a credit card, and then asks you to wire money to them via Western Union, they are trying to scam you, and you won’t get anything for your money. There are great deals there on real cameras, you just have to take your time and make sure they are the real thing.

Country music is certainly one of the most popular genres there is. Part of the appeal comes from the true to life lyrics that you often hear in a country song. Although the faces of country music have changed over the years, you can still hear the strong influence of some of the music pioneers within the lyrics. One of those who set the standard for what country music should be is Johnny Cash. One just needs to listen to Johnny Cash music to hear what a gifted and influential trailblazer he was.

In recent years the music of this American legend has once again taken certain stage. Although he has left this world, Johnny Cash music is going strong. Some of that can be attributed to an award winning movie which detailed his rise to fame. The movie is filled with Johnny Cash music, albeit sung by Joaquin Phoenix who takes on the daunting role of the man in the black.  The movie itself spurred a whole new generation to listen to and enjoy the music of this master.

Unlike when he first burst onto the scene, music isn’t sold on cassette or vinyl any longer. It’s now the age of the CD and that is even becoming a distant memory in favor of an MP3 player and an Internet connection. Johnny Cash music can be downloaded from many sites and it’s not uncommon to find a Johnny Cash song within the top ten downloads on any given site.  The songs all have a story to them. They touch so many people because they are incredibly genuine and raw. Johnny Cash faced some difficult times in his life and much of that was captured in his music. The songs are timeless and speak to generation after generation.

Of course you can listen to this music in other ways besides downloading it or running out to buy a CD. There are many DVD’s now available that also feature Johnny Cash music. Many of them come complete with footage of Johnny and his wife June Carter Cash performing. For any fan of their music it’s an extra special treat to watch them singing together. They had a rare chemistry that transcended into their music.  Musicians aren’t out of luck either when it comes to the music of Mr. Cash. Many songbooks have sheet music for the songs of Johnny Cash. Being able to play Johnny Cash music is an inspiration to those who hope to one day follow in his footsteps. Although anyone who was lucky enough to see Johnny Cash in person would tell you that he was definitely one of a kind.

As a child, I often dreamt of becoming a film maker. I know, I know, many people have the same dream. Individuals like Steven Spielberg actually go out and buy a movie camera, so that they can start making that dream a reality. This is a wise choice. I heard he even took it as far as hanging out on movie sets, uninvited. Man, that guy was born to be a director. Just look at where he is today. Is there any director bigger? I doubt it! It’s funny where an idea or dream can take you. For those who are completely determined, it can be all the way to the top. Maybe you want to make movies when you grow up.

These days there are plenty of wanna be directors and movie producers out there. Many of them are taking advantage of a simple movie camera and the Internet. This is a great idea. Make a short film or full length picture. It takes less funding than many expect. Just picture things on a small scale. Kevin Smith is the paradigm in this regard. He maxed out his credit cards to make a “cult classic” film called “Clerks.” Hey, we all love this flick. No one cares if the actors are were his buddies or that the film was shot in black and white with a low grade movie camera. It’s the finishing piece that matters. It’s hilarious! Now he makes bigger budget films, because he now has some clout. This is a typical process in Hollywood. You slowly climb to the top.

A perfect example of an idea and a cheap movie camera is “The Blair Witch Project.” Was this film great? Well, not in my opinion. I thought it was infinite shots of the dark ground and people screaming.  It’s the simplicity and concept that drew audiences in. These guys didn’t need an expensive movie camera or big celebrities. As a matter of fact, I think they used a hand held. Anyway, they built the Blair Witch legend up so much on the Internet that everyone started believing it was a true story. Therefore everyone went to see it and it brought in a fortune. That’s pretty sweet since it cost practically nothing to make. Hey, maybe you’ve got an idea and a movie camera. Well, what are you waiting for?

Movies have been a part of our lives for many years.  First there was merely the theater, then VHS tapes revolutionized the homes and entertainment possibilities were endless.  Nothing on TV?  Who cares!  Just pop in a video of your choice and all is good.  The world thrives on this form of escapism.  Movies give us that certain break from the norm, and allow us to tap into the lives of others.  They make us laugh, cry and sometimes look over our shoulder.  But whatever their goal, they always entertain.

This is clearly the age of DVD rentals.  VHS is certainly becoming a thing of the past.  Those bulky tapes that always have to be rewound, are being rendered obsolete in this compact world.  The Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) is ruling the movie markets.  Not only do they rid us of the burden of rewinding, but they allow us to pause with a clear shot, jump from scene to scene and display an unreal picture of color and clarity.

DVD rentals are definitely taking our local video stores by storm.  Now when we enter a Hollywood or Blockbuster, DVDs have their own selection to be reckoned with.  Movie goers everywhere appreciate the quality sound and special features that come standard with most DVD rentals.  After spending six years working in video stores, I became more than familiar with these cinematic wonders.  In fact, the market for VHS is really fading.  Most people have conformed to the world of DVDs.  Whether it’s for the convenience or simply the sound and picture quality, DVD rentals are the home entertainment choice of today.

The great thing about this new revolution, are the capabilities.  Renting films online has without a doubt, given the big video store chains a run for their money.  In fact, most are probably converting to the Internet due to this new innovation.  Netflix.com is certainly a prime example of this phenomenon.  With DVDs being so light and compact, they are easily sent through the mail without big postage fees.  Of course, the company pays all the postage anyway.  Simply by signing up with an online movie rental service, you can have three rentals out at a time with no risk of late fees, for as low as 20 bucks a month.  You can’t really beat that at your local video store.  In my opinion, the best part is avoiding the crowds and chaos we all encounter when renting movies.

Yes, DVD rentals have come along way in the last few years.  Sometimes I wonder how it can get any more convenient than it already is, but I’m sure it will.  It always does.

Who doesn’t wish they could win the lottery? The only people who don’t buy a lottery ticket every now and again are the people who are already rolling in dough. For the rest of us, the few dollars we spend picking our lucky lotto numbers gives us a chance to change our lives. Everyday we hear of regular people hitting it big on the lottery and walking away with millions. There are things you can do to increase the chances of you becoming one of those people.

Most of us, who do play the lottery, have our own system. We may pick numbers that have a personal significance to us. For instance, your lucky lotto numbers may be the birthdates of your children or the date of your wedding anniversary. Other people choose numbers out of a hat each week with the hope that lady luck will smile down on them.

Some games actually pick the numbers for you. This is done by computer and after ordering a ticket, the computer randomly picks the lucky lotto numbers for you. It may be six or seven numbers, it’s largely dependent on the rules of the particular game. Many people who have won large lottery jackpots claim this is the way to go.

You can also purchase books and software programs that promise to increase your odds of hitting it big. They are all designed on different principles and usually don’t reveal too many details until you’ve bought the product. The majority also don’t come with any type of money back guarantee so once you’ve spent that money there’s no way to get it back if the information isn’t helpful. To that end, be extra careful before you order just any program without doing any research.

One such program uses math and statistics as it’s foundation. A computer studies all of the lottery draws made for that game in the past and then calculates how often certain numbers came up. This program will then tell you what the lucky lotto numbers have been up to this point so you can play them with the hope that history does indeed repeat itself.

It’s almost impossible to win the lottery. In fact many people state that you have a better chance of being hit by lighting than you do of winning the lottery. This may be true but you’ve got to remember that you can’t win if you don’t play. So spend a few dollars and play your lucky lotto numbers because you may just be the next millionaire in waiting.

Who doesn’t like kung-fu flicks? I think it’s safe to say that millions of us watched these cheesy films as kids, and maybe even still do on occasion. On this is for sure, they’re not nearly as popular as they were back in the day. Folks now are more interested in CG and things a human body cannot truly do without the assistance of a computer. I suppose this is only natural since we have the technology. The classic martial arts weapons are also becoming a thing of the past. These days it’s all about high-tech firearms and explosives. It’s not realistic for Jet Li to face an opponent in downtown Los Angeles with a Tiger Fork or 8 foot spear. Martial arts are definitely evolving to suit the times.

If you’re into some sort of martial style, then you already know that the martial arts world is changing and evolving. That stuff Bruce Lee was rambling on about is dead on the money. Talk about a fellow that was far ahead of his time. Folks commend him now days, while he caught plenty of grief back then. As fighting styles continue to evolve and intertwine, martial arts weapons are getting less popular. Now let’s ponder this issue for a moment. Traditional martial arts weapons, aside from the knife, are not viable in modern day life. There are literally over 100 of them, and most are too large or obscure to wield in a public setting. Besides, in reality no martial arts weapons can compete with a firearm. We heard Bruce Lee say it back in the early 70’s and it holds true today. That nunchaku scene you saw last week in a kung-fu flick was entertaining and all, but only a fool would brandish those if assaulted in an alley or dark parking level. A knife, tazer, firearm or can of pepper spray would be much more effective.

Don’t get me wrong! When it comes to traditional martial arts weapons and forms, they do have their place. They can be fun to learn and certainly build precision, strength and coordination. Furthermore, you can still purchase any of them you please. However, if you’re doing it for real self-defense, you might want to ask yourself what’s really practical.