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Showing posts from June, 2023

Instances of Ford Crown Victorias Taking Flight in Hollywood

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         The Ford Crown Victoria was a large sedan on a platform dating back to 1979, but unfortunately discontinued in 2011 . Its construction was body-on-frame, which is how conventional pickup trucks and old SUVs are built, owing to the Crown Victoria's reputation for being able to take a beating and still be drivable and cheap to service. Police departments loved and miss them dearly. The old proven technology and the old school construction contributed to making it a reliable American vehicle, even as sedans shifted to more modern unibody construction. More information about the Crown Victoria's legend status can be found in  this  article by Jesus R. Garcia, an automotive columnist.          Due to its mass production and having the reputation of a tank, the Crown Victoria was a very popular choice in Hollywood movies, especially the police interceptors . Many Crown Victorias have been susceptible to being destroyed for m...

The Hidden Hero in We Were Soldiers (2002) is Not A Soldier (spoilers)

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Introduction          History is written by the victors. The typical American war movie shows the struggle that American soldiers went through during a specific war. Rarely do we get a look at the enemy or the civilian population. We Were Soldiers (2002) is a very powerful and emotional war movie, not only because the soundtrack is somber and amazing, but because it puts the viewers into the shoes of many different people, notably a military leader, a helicopter pilot, a reporter on the front lines, the enemy, and the women that the men left behind to go to war. Unlike most war movies, We Were Soldiers attempts to humanize the enemy and shows the impact that the civilian population had on the home front.          We Were Soldiers is a 2002 war movie based on a 1992 book,  We Were Soldiers Once...and Young: la Drang - The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam. The book was written by Lieutenant General Hal Moore and Joseph Galloway....

The Biggest Mind Around Those with the Smallest - Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (spoilers)

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Hedy Lamarr. According to the National Women’s History Museum, Women’s History Month every March is meant to commemorate women’s contributions throughout history. Hedy Lamarr is one of many great women whose contributions to society changed the world.  She was known for her invention of frequency hopping that would be the basis for WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and satellites. She was also considered one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood, having inspired the model of Snow White and Catwoman.           Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story is a 2017 biography movie, directed by Alexandra Dean, about Lamarr’s story, incorporating real footage from her prime. She was regarded as one of the most beautiful Hollywood actresses, and nobody saw her for what she truly was outside her beauty. She had a very inventive mind that was fueled by her father during her childhood. Her invention, frequency hopping, during WWII was designed to guide torpedoes using signal...

The Punisher (2004) is Like a 1980s Action Flick, and The Power of Origin Stories (spoilers)

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Introduction          Thomas Jane's Punisher in The Punisher (2004) seemed to draw mixed reactions. I think this movie is underrated, although I have not read the comics or seen any other Punisher movies or the show. Allow me to tell you why I love this movie, but first, let's talk a little about who the Punisher is.          The Punisher, alter-ego Frank Castle, is an antihero created by Marvel. He was depicted as an assassin and adversary of Spider-Man, and made his first appearance in Marvel comics in 1974. He was a Vietnam veteran and skilled in hand-to-hand combat, guerilla warfare, and marksmanship. He is well known for the Punisher logo featuring a white skull. Unfortunately, it became a political symbol, and a new logo was commissioned to replace it in 2022. The Punisher is driven to single-handedly go to war against crime after the murders of his wife and children by the mob, and his methods are brutal and violent.    ...