Dead Poet Society 37 years later

 

     We all miss Robin Williams. Recently, I saw 'Dead Poet's Society' and thought about what has happened to the actors that were in the movie. Where are they now? Well...let's talk about this movie first.

   'O Captain, My Captain.' A line mostly said at the end of the movie when everyone says goodbye to their friend and mentor John Keeting (portrayed by the late Robin Williams) The story takes place in a private school for men. A lot of the male leads were in their mid to late twenties playing teens. 

    The story happens when, after meeting Keeting, they decide to start a club called 'Dead Poets Society' A club where they would read poems written by deceased poets. However, stuff happens that soon ends in tragedy for one of them.

       Neil Perry is one of the leads played by Robert Sean Leonard. HIs character, Neil, wants to be in plays and star in theater. His father (played by Kurtwood Smith) wants him to follow the family and become a doctor. Neil doesn't want that and decides to follow his heart.

    After starring in a play, his father pulls him out of school and Neil...commits suicide.

       The actor that portrays Neil will soon be a doctor in the show HOUSE which is one show I love. So... I guess he did follow the Perry family's footsteps after all.

    Ethan Hawke portrayed Todd Anderson. Ethan was eighteen when he was in the role. Might have been the only actor that was the teenage age...but then again...many of these actors could have been in their late teens.

   After the movie, Ethan went on to star in other movies such as 'Great Expectations', 'The Purge', 'Boyhood' and many more. HIs daughter, Maya, is also an actress and following her parents' footsteps. Ethan said that he was suffering from depression himself when starring in the movie.

   Josh Charles starred as Knox. Another student that wanted for a cheerleader to fall in love with. Although he seemed like a coward in the movie, Josh Charles is considered a hilarious actor. I started noticing him in more roles recently.

     One being in a show called 'Best Medicine.' Thankfully getting a second season, this show follows Charles as a doctor who only cares about patients and fears blood. 

  I remember Neil's father, portrayed by Kurtwood Smith, from a show called 'That 70's Show' where he portrayed Red. That show was funny.

   He even had a guest role in an episode of House where he reunited with Robert Sean Leonard. In his character in the movie, he's overbearing and wants his only son to follow in his father's footsteps. Finding out her disobeyed him pushed Neil over the edge to suicide.

 

   This movie was written by Tom Schulman who also wrote the screenplay for Honey I shrunk the kids' The film was even nominated for best picture but lost to Driving Miss Daisy. I think Dead Poets should have won, but Driving Miss Daisy is ok. 

   Best Director and Best Screenplay as well. It won for best screenplay but lost for director. 

     Robin, we will never forget you...and we miss you every day. 37 years later, and this movie is still worth seeing.

  Loved it from beginning to end. Sad about a death, but you can tell why one character wants to do something without upsetting his father...then again, he took the one way out which is the coward's way.

    This movie was great and it is worth seeing even after Robin is gone. One of the top 15 of the best Robin Williams Movie. I'd rank it at number 11. 'O Captain....My Captain'

How kids were punished in the past

 

   Long time ago...corporal punishment was known in schools and would make kids squeamish and fear their teachers. 

   Back before people talked about their feelings, teachers didn't care if they ended up fired. They only cared if the students would pay attention.

   Some used whips to keep students in line. Others would make kids have their hands out, sometimes showing their knuckles as a ruler is taken out and smacked against the knuckles feeling pain.

   Sometimes, kids would feel that pain all day. Other times, they would have red marks on their hand. Mostly, when my father was a kid, he would go to a Catholic school, and the nuns would do the same thing for the kids that would talk back or not know the lord's prayer.

 Back in medieval times, they were worst to the children. Even leading to spankings and other forms of threats that would not be tolerated today.

   Kids would be scared to even be seen by their teachers even if they've been punished. Never telling their parents in fear of getting hurt some more.

 Even the famous dunce cap is known back when my family, as well as I were kids. It would make kids feel as if they are stupid.

  Sitting or standing in a corner facing the wall. A dunce cap on their head to signify they were lower and weren't as smart as the other students.

    Now a days, people would feel ashamed and teachers would be fired. A couple of years after I left school, corporal punishment in schools were starting to take a different toll.

   Some parents started to become concern about their children's wellbeing as well as their mental health. I would be.

   I remember Bart Simpson writing on the chalkboard almost in every episode. Now a days, they're barely chalkboards in the schools. Been replaced by whiteboards. Now a days, kids don't even write on the Chalkboard anymore. But it was a form of punishment back when I was young.

      Now a days, using corporal punishments in schools is considered a ground for teachers being fired or placed under arrest.

   A lot of states are taking punishments involving being hit by a ruler or sent to the corner. But kids would still be sent to the principal's office for being rude or doing anything to hurt others.

    Somes schools now have concealers that can help troubled children.

    I guess back before the internet was born, kids were afraid of disappointing their teachers. Thinking that they would end up in detention or in a metal crate with nails sticking out.

   Getting slapped with a wooden board on their behind. Now a days, a few states still do it.... but it's miniscule at best. We now know that people need to open up about their feelings, so they won't be afraid to get punished just because they acted out. Thank God corporal punishment has diminished every year and kids are now safe to no longer fear their teachers. Unless they're sent to the principal's office.

The heat from hell- POEM

 

The heat feels as if

it's coming early

as if summer

is creeping closer

eliminating spring

It's May,

Almost Mother's Day,

and it's starting to feel,

like summer,

once in a while,

as the rain,

returns,

after the heat

A fan,

is turning on,

as we feel,

as if,

summer is 

already here

Beautiful skies,

allergies still here,

as Spring still has not left,

I feel sneezy,

watery eyes,

and hot at the same time

May is feeling as if,

Spring is leaving,

and when June arrives,

Summer arrives,

And when it comes,

we will melt away

Can movie sequels surpass the original?

 

    Seeing many movies, some of them end up having sequels. Some good...some...not so good. But can a movie sequel surpass the original that it becomes better than its predecessor. Here are some of them that are better than the original. So much better...that some movies, I don't even see the first.

  Shrek 2- The first Shrek was about an Ogre saving a princess who also was an Ogre. They fall in love and....

 ....in the sequel Prince Charming (voiced by Rupert Everett) finds Fiona not there. His mother, who is the fairy godmother (voiced by Jennifer Saunders) turns Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) into a human and well...it was great. The story was good, we had new characters and it should have ended there. The third movie was fine.... but it should not have made a fourth; and there's a fifth coming. NOT WORTH SEEING. But the second is the best of the Shrek Movies.

    Terminator 2: Judgement Day- If you remember the first Terminator movie, you will remember Arnold Schwarzenegger wanting to kill Sarah Conner (played by Linda Hamilton) in the sequel, he wants to save her son. It was amazing. Robert Patric played another Terminator sent to kill the young boy and Sarah Conner breaks out of a mental ward when the evil Terminator comes for her.

    ...After that...they started making more sequels to milk in money. They should have stopped at this one. Because after that...they started getting worse.

  Paddington 2- A couple of years ago, Paddington, based on a book, became a movie starring Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Bowen and many more. Nicloe Kidman was the antagonist who wanted Paddington stuffed.

   It was ok. The sequel was better. Hugh Grant frames Paddington and he is in prison where he makes friends, a mess and creates marmalade sandwiches for everyone. He finds a way out and tries to stop Hugh Grant from stealing jewelry. They made a third recently...it was fine, but the second one was better.

   Addams Family Values- I don't feel like talking about the cartoon or the sequel. Because both movies aren't worth it. 

    I want to talk about the 1993 version. The first movie came out in 1991. It was fine, funny, and the acting was good. The sequel, they have a baby. You think the baby would kill the movie. It doesn't...it makes it funnier. Wednesday and Pugsley are sent to Summer Camp; Fester falls in love with the nanny...and all hell breaks loose. I loved it from beginning to end. RIP Raul Julia...the best Gomez ever.

   The Rescuers Down Under- This movie is sadly underrated. It great from the voice acting to views of Australia. 

    A young orphan boy ends up in danger while saving a rare eagle. Bernard wants to marry Binaca, but never to gets a chance to propose since things get in the way. They meet another mouse while dealing with a villain (voiced by the late George C. Scott) capturing the young boy and stealing the rare eagle. It's a great movie and it's worth seeing. Sad it is not seen much, but it's worth it.

   Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back- The best Star Wars movie ever made. Better than the first, the prequels and sequels. Why? A dark truth is found out about what happened to Luke and Leia's father. The iconic quote: "No I am your father." still is true that is amazing writing finding out Darth Vadar is your father.

    When I saw it the first time, I already knew about the twist. It didn't surprise me. Obi Wan was protecting Luke from evil. This movie is worth the watch. It is better than the sequel trilogy with Rey...already knowing she is related to the dark side as well.

  Indiana Jones and the last crusade- Indiana Jones already had a sequel beforehand, but it wasn't worth it. This one concludes the whole Indiana Jones series (event though they made two more after this) This is worth the ending of a true great series.

   Sean Connery portrays Indiana's father. He knows something about the Holy Grail that contains everlasting life. A few bad guys that are considered Nazi's want to know as well. They kidnap Indiana's father and Indiana saves him. They go through an amazing adventure, almost die, and ride off into the sunset.... concluding the series.

  The Dark Knight- Christopher Nolan takes a crack at the Batman series. First off, Batman Begins is ok.... but I think Dark Knight was amazing. 

   Heath Ledger had to be one of the top three best Jokers next to Mark Hamill's voice and Jack Nicholson. Portraying a psychotic mastermind that wants to see Gotham burn. It was rumored Heath Ledger was going to be in the third, but he sadly passed away.

     The Dark Knight Rises wasn't that great either. The Dark Knight is the crowning winner of the Christopher Nolan Batman movies.

     There are so many good sequels that surpass the original. Puss in Boots had a sequel called the last wish which was amazing as well. Toy Story 2 and 3 were good. Spider Man 2 with Octoman as the villain was great. 

    Many movies like to have sequels, and when you find one that is better than the original...you know that the people writing them really do care about the original and want to make it better. Mission Accomplished on a few

Top 10 WORST live-action Disney movies

 

      Disney has had some hits and misses when it comes to certain movies. They used to have a renaissance when it came to the late eighties/early nineties with their animated movies from Little Mermaid to Last Emporer's Groove. Now....they decided to make most of their animated movies live action.

    Why? I don't know maybe because they want to milk more money. But it doesn't help when most of the live action movies are longer and doesn't follow the story. Here are some of them that I think might be salvageable.

    In 1994, They started their live action movies with a rare look at Rudyard Kipling's Jungle book. Mowgli is an adult and living in the jungle after his father was killed by Shear Kahn. I don't remember much of this movie...but it's pretty good and based on the book. 

   Not 100% accurate, but ok. 

   Pete's Dragon came out in the 70's that starred Mickey Rooney and it was more a musical. It was fine, and the dragon was a cartoon character.

   In 2016, another adaptation of Pete's Dragon happened. It was ok Not great but compared to about the worst ones.... it's in the middle. No singing or dancing. More about Pete trying to save a dragon that only he can see. Both are worth seeing

  The movie Christopher Robbin stars Ewan McGreggor as a grown-up Christopher Robin who goes into the hundred acre woods. Winnie the Pooh and his friends wonder if Christopher Robin is a changed man.

   He still a kid at heart as he's trying to find his childhood again while having a wife and two daughters as well. It was pretty good. But that's all I have to say about good live action movies based on Disney. Now....my top 10 WORST live-action Disney movies

10. Aladdin- First off, I love the original cartoon movie. Robin Williams will always be the Genie to me. He was replaced temporarily when the first sequel came out but came back for the second and last. Those were worth the watch. 

    This....is a train wreck. I don't want to say anything negative about Will Smith's performance, but it wasn't good. The actor that played Jafar...sucked. It just.... was too long and too boring. I just think it's skippable

 9. Mulan- The cartoon came out in 1998. It was great; Eddie Murphy voiced a side character and the music was great.

    The sequel...not so great. Eddie Murphy is replaced; there's no consistency on having any story plot happen...but at least it isn't as bad as the live-action Mulan.

     Mulan is already a warrior. She has a sister who is a bland character and well...it's hard to explain but it's not worth it. On the plus side, there are rare on this, the sword fighting is not bad, so hit and miss...but still not worth the watch.

 8. Cinderella- Ok....first things first, the cartoon was better. Lady Tremaine...in the cartoon, frightened people. The actress portraying her cannot carry a torch to the original. Even in the sequel Cinderella III: a twist in time.... Lady Tremaine is evil in there.

    That was a cartoon. Plus, Cinderella loses her father when she is about grown up. She can leave the house whenever she wants and Helena Bodama Carter as the fairy godmother.... oh lord. This movie is like sandpaper on a rice cake. Bland and boring.

 7. Pinocchio- Oh Tom Hanks. Sometimes I wonder if you'll say yes to any movie. The Benecio Del Toro Pinocchio was better than this.

    In the original, that came out 86 years ago, that Pinocchio knew how to get into trouble and end up in danger. This Pinocchio is like the Jesus version of a puppet. Always nice and cares. That isn't what Pinocchio is. I think this worth a don't bother on my list.

     

6. The Lion King- I saw this in theaters. Yes, they had the late James Earl Jones voicing Mufasa like he did back in 1994.

    This movie....will never capture the magic of the 1994 movie. Scar, voiced by Chiwetel Ejiofor, is not as threatening as the other one was. Simba is not great...but on the plus side...the adult Simba was voiced by Donald Glover. The songs were forgettable...the breathtaking views of Africa looked like a toilet...it was not...worth it. I'm sticking to the original.

5. Alice in Wonderland/Through the looking Glass- This is a two for because both movies are worth talking about.

   Johnny Depp portrays the Mad Hatter. I'm amazed he still has a career after that nightmare. Both movies focus on Alice as an adult. Going into an imaginary land called *ahem* Underland. Yes... Not Wonderland; Underland. Oh for the love of god.

   The Sequel doesn't help either. Sadly, it was Alan Rickman's final voice roll before his death. Tim Burton created both Alice movies. If I were you...I stick to the original cartoon.

 4. Dumbo- Another Tim Burton Failure. I tried to give it a chance. The acting was ok. The story.... that's another thing.

   The original Dumbo was the shortest cartoon movie. This one was almost two hours. Dumbo is found by two kids and their father. Michael Keaton portrays a villain who wants to buy the circus that Dumbo is a part of.

   I somewhat enjoyed it...but it's not great. The story feels weak and the actors are trying their best. I would say, if you wanna see it...go ahead, but the cartoon is better.

3. The Little Mermaid- There are problems with this movie. I have no problem with having an African American woman portraying Ariel. Some people did.

   What I didn't like about this movie is how long and boring it was. The plus side, Halle Bailey can sing and she's got a powerful voice. The problem is more the story. Ariel's father, portrayed by Javiar Bardem, is bland and forgettable. Melisa McCarthy is supposed to be Ursala.

     I'm sorry it's just...this movie is too long and forgettable because these actors can't portray a father figure or an evil witch like the original voice actors did. I'd skip this, but songs are good.

  2. Beauty and the Beast- When I was young.... I fell in love with Beauty and the Beast. The cartoon was great. The story was amazing and the songs...well you get the idea. Everything about the cartoon was spot on perfect.

   Then.... they decided to make a live action one and sucked everything I loved about that movie out of it. The songs...forgettable; Emma Watson, who is an ok actress, is auto tuned when she sings....and if the last pedal falls...everything in the castle DIES!

   I just.... what the fuck, Disney?  I have no desire to see this. But at least it isn't as horrible as the last one.

  1. Snow White- Wow. I've already mentioned a lot of hatred for this movie. The original, which was Walt Disney's first animated feature...is better than this trash they created.

   The story is so bland, it makes the live action Cinderella look better than this. Rachel Zegler, who I think is an ok actress, was wrong for the part of Snow White. The seven dwarfs...which are just magical creatures, are just horrid to look at. Everything about this film is wrong that IMDB made it lowest rated Live Action Disney Movie. NO SHIT! It deserves to be number one. Another reason this is number one...  way too many songs.

     See the original and skip this garbage.

    I'm glad I didn't mention all of them because it would take forever. I guess some people like this. However, I am not one of them. Yes Christopher Robin, Cruella and a few others aren't horrible but.... they weren't worth making. I guess this trend is going to stay since they are making a live action Rapunzel and Moana just came out. God save us. If you cherish the true Disney magic, stick to the cartoon and leaves these live action movies to a garbage can if you find one.

Earth Day....Forgetful?

 

As each year passes

there is something that keeps becoming

forgetful

do we know 

that every 22nd of April

is Earth Day

When I was young

Every Earth Day

we celebrate in school

cleaning up trash

planting a tree

doing stuff,

to make our planet,

much greener

Earth is our only home,

our planet

and yet,

we forget,

the most important thing,

to keep it green

We try not to use plastic,

but we have no other uses,

for other tools,

we throw most recycles,

in the garbage,

are we bad,

no,

forgetful maybe

The Ozone,

gets bigger,

as our Earth,

gets hotter,

as well,

as colder,

we are losing,

valuable resources

Getting older,

I've less cared,

about mother earth,

she never lets me forget,

every month,

I suffer

The rain,

the sun,

the sky so blue,

Earth is suffering,

sadly,

I am a cause,

like many others,

by forgetting,

Earth Day

Earth can sound like

Birthday

wondering if I

wonder

is every April 22nd

the Earth's birthday,

no,

a miscommunication

Today is Earth day,

A day,

that many,

like myself,

are forgetting,

and soon,

Earth Day,

the day,

will be no more,

celebrate while youcan