CafféLatté Magazine's 5 Fantastic Movies and Soundtracks

We all love movies, and there are many to satisfy all types of movie lovers. Have you ever tried to read the credits after a movie? I do, just to see how much people are involved. Well you know the answer, a lot of folks. I estimate between 100 to 300 people are involved in making a single movie. I mean, there is the location, equipment, extras, makeup, set designers, special effects, engineers, carpenters, proof readers, blueprints, writers, etc. 

After I watch a movie, I always wonder what you would you do if you worked on a movie and your name is one of many in the small fonts coming to the end of the credits? My favorite part of a movie is when it is mentioned that, "No animals were harmed in the making of this movie". Or, "The events depicted in this movie are fictitious. Any similarity to any person living or dead is merely coincidental." I decided to find out why this is said, because the Na'vi does not exist, and I can't remotely imagine some bloke going after the makers of Avatar claiming that one the Na'vi characters looks like his mother. 

And then there are the stylists. For instance, in Black Swan, instead of Natalie Portman's stylist, it is "Stylist to Ms. Portman", and then the person's name. I am sorry I did not get that info. So, the credits are just as important as the movie. What is really cool about movies are the Extras/ non-speaking part. It's not really glamorous, given the fact that the pay is not so great. Extra gigs average about $64.00 (USD) per day. And that is a non-union payment. Its like working at a fast-food restaurant. They don't pay you like you are important, but you are. Now, I am not daft, but I am surprised that unions hold so much power. I thought that unions here in Trinidad are so petty, like protesting for 9% more and pounding in the hot sun and rain for it. I mean if you must protest for an increase it has to be for something substantial, like, eradicating racism, like civil rights, or justice, or utilities, or even a 50% wage increase? Anyway, who really benefits from these protests? Sometimes the protestors get fired after everything cools down. Without further ado, CafféLatté Magazine's 5 Fantastic Movies and Soundtracks.

AVATAR

Director: James Cameron

Producer: Jon Landau

Writer: James Cameron

Theme Song: I See You

Song Writer(s): James Horner, Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell 

Song Composer(s): James Horner, Simon Franglen

Singer: Lenoa Lewis

You know there are some songs that no one else should sing, let alone karaoke, this is one of them. Considering this video is a karaoke version, it has cancelled my previous sentence. Leona Lewis has a beautiful voice and her feeling and power in this song cannot be copied.

TITANIC

Director: James Cameron

Producer: James Cameron, Jon Landau

Writer: James Cameron

Theme Song: My Heart Will Go On

Song Writer(s): James Horner (music), Simon Franglen, James Horner and Walter Afanasief(production), Will Jennings (lyrics),  

Song Composer(s): James Horner, Will Jennings

Singer: Celine Dion

Best person to sing this song is Celine Dion. No contest.

THE LION KING

Director(s): Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers

Producer: Don Hahn

Writer(s): Jonathan Roberts, Irene Mecchi

Theme Song: Circle of Life/ Can You Feel The Love Tonight

Song Writer(s): Elton John/ Tim Rice

Song Composer(s): Elton John, Tim Rice

Singer(s): Carmen Twillie, Lebohang "Lebo M." Morake, Elton John, London Community Gospel Choir

I had to put this here, the whole soundtrack is fantastically written.

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON

Director(s): James Schamus, Wang Hui Ling

Producer: Ang Lee, Hsu Li Kong, William Kong

Writer(s): Hui-Ling wang, Du Lu Wang

Theme Song: A Love Before Time

Song Writer(s): James Schamus, Elaine Chow

Song Composer(s): Jorge Calandrelli, Tan Dun, Yo-Yo Ma

Singer(s): Coco Lee 

When I first watched this movie, I was irritated with the bamboo flying scene, it was just too much, but it all added to the masterpiece of the movie. Where is Zhang Ziyi now? And Chow Yun-Fat?

THE GODFATHER

Director(s): Francis Ford Coppola

Producer: Albert S. Ruddy/(Robert Evans)

Writer(s): Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola

Theme Song: Speak Softly love

Song Writer(s): Larry Kusik

Song Composer(s): Nino Rota

Singer(s): Original singer Al Martino

The thing about "Il Padrino", is that there are some versions of the original soundtrack, that is so Sicilian that you can never tear yourself away from it. Its like you can taste taste the cannoli, and the olive oil and even the murder. It is really a piece of art, no, it is possibly the best movie soundtrack I have ever heard. Seriously, it makes you forget all the murder that you saw in the movie. In addition, it actually puts a classy spin on gang violence…way different than rap music.

BONUS

BICENTENNIAL MAN

Director(s): Chris Columbus

Producer(s): Chris Columbus, Gail Katz, Michael Barnathan, Neal Miller, Laurence Mark

Writer(s): Isaac Asimov, Nicholas Kazan, Robert Silverberg

Theme Song: Then You Look At Me

Song Writer(s): James Horner

Song Composer(s): James Horner

Singer(s): Celine Dion

Robin Williams as a robot. I liked that he can only do hilarious talk antics, and not physical antics. Well written movie.

 p.s: Do not be so dumb to think I am claiming copyright for these movies.

2012©LisaMarieBonaparte

Can it be done...

There is a photo on the internet that is spreading like wildfire. I tried to get the original source, but I can't find it, if you do get the original source don't hesitate to tell me the site. If you are the artist/photographer: WELL DONE!

Could you actually imagine if we had crayons like these when we were small? The lessons we could have learned regarding our friends, society and tolerance in differences. These were definitely perk me ups so I am going to do a Motivational poster in CafféLatté magazine character.

The pic says Tumblair... but who?

Here it is:

2012©LisaMarieBonaparte

CafféLatté Magazine Likes - Advertisements

This list is in no particular order. Lately, advertisements have taken a new high and some are just as entertaining, if not better than the primetime series. Superbowl ads are usually the must see, and some of them are really good. Some companies, like Orkin (Pest control), are really hilarious and have been consistently great lately, in this case, the one that really impresses will be shown here. Or just one will be randomly picked from the lot. Others may not be as impressive, but they are there for sentimentality. So lets get it on!

Orkin
Pest Control

Imagine you return from a great vacation with your family, only to return home and find two huge grimy rats in your room playing expert Guitar Hero. Grimy aside, those strings were the bomb! I liked how they are grimy, right down to the nasty claws and the gosh-be-gosh sickly yellow teeth and the sewer-looking matted fur. This is definitely one of my favorites.

Zazoo
Condoms

That child needed a Caribbean mother. Had it been me acting like this kid, my mom would first freeze, give the looks of all evil, drop her bag and give me the best whopping in the entire world, heck, the entire of world history in all the world! Genghis Khan would not even top that. And it would happen right there in that supermarket.

How many times have you witnessed a scene like this? Very good ad. If you can't stand the embarrassment rubber up! I prefer sex after marriage. Keep it simple.

PEPSI
Soda ad featuring Michael Jackson and his brothers

I was almost moved to tears for this ad, because I have almost forgotten how much Michael Jackson has influenced the world of music in the 80's. Some folks say alot of rude things about him, even now that he has passed away. However, I believe he was damaged emotionally, and that was the result of all his inner thoughts displaying itself on his lifestyle. Say what you want, you can never stop listening to his music.

This is a great ad, see young Alfonso Ribiero dancing like MJ only to meet the real MJ on the street, and then there is an impromptu street dance. Cool!

Volkswagen
Das Auto
The Force

This one is too cute to pass up and expertly acted in. Star Wars is definitely more than a cult classic and George Lucas must have thought that either, he would make alot of money, or he would make a Classic that would never die, or its possible he was just experimenting. Mr.Lucas, did you ever think that Star Wars would become one of the Best Fictional Movie franchise in the World? Sadly, I cant say that I was happy about the last three Star Wars movies. Something was missing from them.

The little Darth Vader tyke is played by absolutely adorable 6 year old Max Page. I hope to see more of him in the near future.

Twix
Candy Bar

This could happen. I think he burnt his finger on the iron. Which is awkward. It is funny though.

Not everyone can produce a great ad, but these here have some creative juices and were well thought of. About the Volkswagen ad, many ad agencies can have a Star Wars themed tv ad, but how do you put the Star Wars in the background and use the moment to sell your product. It was very well done, and the best for the year!

2011©LisaMarieBonaparte

Just For Laughs....

I found an excellent YOUTUBE video with hilarious pranks with even funnier reactions. The show is called Just For Laughs and I believe it is a British show. Here is a clip:

Enjoy your day!!

Diversity and Black Yellow, Brown and Pink

For a while I held off discussing race on CafféLatté Magazine, because I did not want to be controversial and add fire to the flames of hate. So bear with me and and chill. Here we go:

When I first got the idea for CafféLatté Magazine I was in college. Our project was to design a magazine layout on any subject, I believe it was our 2nd term, and it was one of the most projects oriented term at Katharine Gibbs School. I offered the idea to my professor and she was not too impressed, and I did not understand then, as I do now. Even though there are many interracial couples and mixed people in NYC, using a magazine to target them could cause some serious trouble. However, I was disappointed, but my mom grew us up to believe that if we don't stand for something, we cannot stand at all. And so I defended my right to design the magazine. On a conditional watery approval, I excitedly computerized my ideas. In a nutshell I got a good grade. Which is not so bad, but my layout was a bit off, and the heading font design had some issues, because even my mom had some problems with it.

For that sample mag I interviewed my first couple, they met at a factory, she was from Italy, and he was from North/South Carolina, they had three grown children, and they were only too happy to share their story. To this day they are still married and in love, and I think their last daughter just got married.

I was not always too open on the prospect of race mixing. I believed in pure race and anything that smacks of any other race, I could not be bothered. But inside of me, in my inner sanctum, there were questions, and blah answers to go with them. So, I sat and read and looked at movies. There was nothing that I held myself back from, except the book, Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler, which I think was basically a do not go there decision. All I had to do was read up on Germany's history during the period of WWII, plus countless of books, and tapes and articles on the Holocaust, The Pianist (personally, this is on of my favourite movies) and the Tattoo-skin lamp, and the Concentration camps and Anne Frank's Diary. I also looked at movies like Rosewood, and Roots, the movie and the book by Alex Hayley. I looked up KKK sites and felt repulsed, but because of free speech I remained with an open mind to hear what they had to say. I looked at the Black Panthers and what they wanted America to understand, and I read up on the Tuskegee Airmen. Basically I decided to educate myself, so that when I made a decision, it was not by hearsay or "theysay", it became I think and I understand.

In my last term, my Sociology Professor, said many things and warmed my heart. She began the term by stating her race, and she spoke about her DNA make up. She was one of the curious few who decided to do DNA testing to trace her ancestry. And one of the things she encouraged us to do, is to take that test, which I plan to do. She encouraged us to think about the world around us, and migration, and poverty, and what makes a freak, we also did a brief segment on American History X. If you are interested I will search to see if I have her name. She was lovely, and I profoundly remembered how she made Sociology very socially appealing.

Which brings me to my longtime guilty pleasure, the book, Stuff White People Like. I am a frequent visitor to the website and the stuff is hilarious. I look at it purely out of entertainment purposes. I don't take it too seriously, but author has made some pretty interesting observations. I have not read the book, but with some more guts, I will take a look in due time.


2011©Lisa Marie Bonaparte

A Long Week

First, I would like to say how sorry I am for missing so many days here. I am in training until next Tuesday, and it is for the whole day, so for my avid CafféLatté readers, I will post some more stuff next week.

Meanwhile take a look at this group of talented youngsters who love gymnastics, and they are really good too! I am also amazed at their professionalism at such a young age.

The video is posted by a group called Kids Who Rip. They show young people who keep themselves busy through sports and other creative activities. It is such a great site that I am checking it out as I am writing, its really awesome stuff!