Search Results for: blog a far off place 1993

Scary Places: Union Cemetery in Easton, Connecticut

Okay, so you might expect a cemetery, especially at night, to be a bit spooky. But, some say that Union Cemetery in Easton, Connecticut is especially full of unexplained phenomena. The cemetery dates all the way back to the 1600s, so there is a lot of history there. Of course, the cemetery is closed after dark and the Easton Police regularly patrol it, but that doesn’t stop curiosity seekers from breaking the law. Visitors have reported taking photos of orbs, light rods, and ectoplasmic mists. There is one apparition, the White Lady, who many people have reported seeing over the … Continue reading →

Gypsy (1962) (1993)

“Gypsy” is a Sondheim musical based on the true life story of Gypsy Rose Lee, the most famous stripper in our history. This may seem like a strange movie for me to review, but let me explain why I found it worth discussing. Two versions of the film were done, one in 1962 and starring Natalie Wood and Rosalind Russell, the other made in 1993 and starring Bette Midler and Cynthia Gibb. I’ve seen them both, the Bette Midler version just last night. This review will encompass both films. Madame Rose has two daughters, one named Louise and the other, … Continue reading →

A Far Off Place (1993)

“A Far Off Place” features Reese Witherspoon, already a very mature and well-grounded actress at the age of 17. She easily carries this film over some potentially rough spots in plot and script. Her character is Nonnie Parker, born and raised in Africa on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. Her father has been working for some time to help bring an end to the poaching activities taking place in the area. Elephants are being slaughtered right and left, their tusks being chopped off and stolen. Colonel Mopani Theron has been tracking these men down and giving them as good … Continue reading →

A Message from Leonardo DiCaprio

I was looking in my Yahoo inbox the other day and I see an email titled “A Message from Leonardo DiCaprio.” Woohoo! Okay, it wasn’t THAT type of message, but he is an honorary board member of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and was sending out an email about the IFAW’s Animal Action theme this year, which is “Under One Sky.” Actually, this week is Animal Action Week and “Under One Sky” was created to highlight “the importance of protecting biodiversity, habitat, and ecosystems,” according to Leonardo. For four decades now, the IFAW has been trying to spread … Continue reading →

Just Like Heaven (2005)

In “Just Like Heaven,” Elizabeth Masterson (Reese Witherspoon) is a young doctor who is working her way up to attending. She wants this promotion more than anything else in her life, to the point of excluding a social life and even sleep. When we meet her, she’s working through a twenty-six hour shift at the hospital, tired but pulling it together for the sake of her patients. Her sister Abby wants her to come over and meet this guy, and she says she will, but things keep coming up. Finally off work and on her way to her sister’s house, … Continue reading →

Gone Before 30

As the world still tries to recover from Heath Ledger’s untimely death, some are remembering others who died young. ABC News did a segment on stars that died before they reached age 30. I have already blogged about many of the people on the list. Some died because of violence such as the Notorious B.I.G and Tupac Shakur. Some took their own lives like Kurt Cobain. Still others succumbed to drug use like Brad Renfro, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and River Phoenix. When I first heard of Heath’s death, I immediately thought of River. Talented yet troubled, both gave us … Continue reading →

Hidalgo (2004)

The 2004 movie “Hidalgo” is based on the true story of Pony Express courier Frank Hopkins, circa 1890. Half-white and half-Indian, he doesn’t feel like he belongs in either world. His horse Hidaldgo is an Indian horse and is the best animal around. Together they have carried the mail all over the country. As the movie begins, Frank (Viggo Mortensen) is given the task to deliver a letter to the troops stationed at Wounded Knee. He doesn’t realize that he’s just delivered the order for the Army to kill all the Indians camped there, and when he discovers what has … Continue reading →

Ele-Facts

I had an interest in elephants sparked by a conversation today about mahouts — elephant handlers in India. An acquaintance who has traveled far and wide was describing the relationship between elephant and handler, a life-long bond that sounds a lot like a marriage or other partnership. I’ll definitely be writing about mahouts in the near future! But for now, I wanted to share some interesting ele-facts about Asian elephants. The elephant is one of a few animals that use tools. Elephants use sticks to scratch themselves and can learn to use a variety of objects for a variety of … Continue reading →

The Lion King 1 ½ (2004)

“The Lion King 1 ½” is my favorite out of the three “Lion King” movies, mostly because of the sheer comedic genius of Nathan Lane, who voices Timon the meerkat. He’s hysterical, and he makes the movie. In this film, we get to see what was happening even before Simba was born. Timon was an outcast in his meerkat town. He couldn’t do anything he was asked to do – he was flighty and irresponsible. He caused many a cave-in of the meerkat tunnels, and other disasters too numerous to mention. His mother feared he’d never make a decent meerkat, … Continue reading →

Duma (2006)

One night while driving through a semi-colonized part of Africa, a boy named Xan and his father happen upon an orphaned cheetah kitten. Knowing he’ll never survive on his own, they take the kitten back home and raise it, along with other animals they’ve collected along the way. Soon Xan and the cheetah, Duma, are closer than brothers and the thought of returning Duma to the wild is too much to consider. However, if left tame much longer, Duma will lose all his instincts and will never be able to defend himself. Xan reluctantly agrees to help his father return … Continue reading →