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The Jungle Book (2016) or: The Less Desirables Movie of the Week

29 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by TGBII in Movie Review

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a/perture Cinema, Ben Kingsley, Bill Murray, Christopher Walken, Garry Shandling, Giancarlo Esposito, Idris Elba, IMDb, Lapita Nyong'o, Neel Sathi, Netflix, Rotten Tomatoes, Scarlet Johansson, The Jungle Book, The Less Desirables

Salutations™!!

a/perture cinema, the Official Movie Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents The Less Desirables Movie of the Week, The Jungle Book (2016), starring Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley and Bill Murray.

The_Jungle_Book_(2016)

©2016 Walt Disney Pictures

Per IMDb: “After a threat from the tiger Shere Khan forces him to flee the jungle, a man-cub named Mowgli embarks on a journey of self discovery with the help of panther, Bagheera, and free spirited bear, Baloo.”

Mowgli (Neel Sathi) has been raised by Alpha female wolf named Raksha (Lapita Nyong’o) since he was a toddler. There has been a pact between all the animals that they could gather at a certain waterhole, the remnants of the wet season during a drought, without fear or danger of violence. Akela, the Alpha male of the wolf pack (Giancarlo Esposito), gets annoyed with Mowgli for his use of human tricks, like making tools and so on, and wants him to only act like the rest of the pack.

Suddenly, a large, mean, scarred tiger named Shere Khan (Idris Elba) shows up and senses something foul. He smells a human (we find out later that Mowgli’s human father scarred Shere Khan with fire) and wants him dead. Akela and Raksha refuse to hand him over so Shere Khan tells them that when the rains come, the truce between the animals will be over and he will come and take the man cub anyway. Later, the rains come and the pack decide to send Mowgli to the man village but Raksha refuses. Mowgli senses he’s endangering the pack and other animals so he decides to go. Bagheera the black panther who brought Mowgli to Raksha says he’ll escort Mowgli back to the village. Along the way, Shere Khan attacks but Bagheera fends him off long enough for Mowgli to get in the middle of a wildebeest herd that keeps him safe from Shere Khan but not necessarily safe from harm. The wildebeest herd is caught in a landslide from the rains and ends up in a raging river. He ends up safe and finds some food.

While chasing some thieving monkeys that stole some food, he encounters a very large python named Kaa (Scarlet Johansson). She hypnotizes Mowgli and tells him (and us) his story. She has him in her grips and is about to eat him when a large sloth bear named Baloo (Murray) shows up and saves him. It turns out Baloo needs him to do some chores for him, you know, as payback for saving his life. I’m leaving the rest of the story for you to watch yourself. I will say though, that Christopher Walken as King Louie is pretty cool. He’s more eerie than in the 1967 version. Dark, like Colonel Kurtz from Apocalypse Now!, especially in that old temple and in the shadows.

This film is far superior to the 1967 animated version, but that version still has a place in my heart, as I am a Disney freak. That being said, the effects in this film are nearly flawless and stays true to the animated version. Even though it is CGI, it doesn’t look like it and after the first bit, you start thinking these animals are really talking and doing what they’re doing in the film.

I don’t think that Neel Sethi had ever played in anything before and he was quite the actor. To be able to act like that in a CGI Green Screen world is amazing. He had to take parkour lessons to be able to move about like that. Idris Elba plays Shere Khan perfectly. His voice is awesome and it comes across here as deep and menacing. Same with Ben Kingsley. Kingsley’s voice is deeper and he sounds like a wise mentor, which fits his character. Bill Murray as Baloo brings his comedic abilities to the forefront as only a Bill Murray could do. The film is dedicated to Garry Shandling, who voices Ikki, an Indian crested porcupine. Shandling passed away after recording his parts and before the film was released.

Rotten Tomatoes rates the film 95% Fresh with an Audience score of 87%. IMDb has it at 7.5 stars out of 10. I watched the film on Netflix and I am so glad I did. I rate it 4.5 stars out of 5. Have you seen it? What did you think? What would you like to read/hear me review?

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I could get used to this.” – Baloo

In Memoriam or: So Long, 2016

02 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by TGBII in Life as We Know It

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Abe Vigoda, Afeni Shakur, Alan Rickman, Alan Thicke, Alan Young, Alexis Arquette, Amber Rayne, Andrew Sachs, Anton Yelchin, Antonin Scalia, Arnold Palmer, Arthur Hiller, Balls Mahoney, Bernard Fox, Bill Nunn, Billy Paul, Bob Bennett, Bobby Hutcherson, Bobby Vee, Carrie Fisher, Charmian Carr, Chyna, claus Ogerman, Curtis Hanson, David Bowie, David Huddleston, Debbie Reynolds, Denton Colley, Donald Williams, Doris Roberts, Douglas Slocombe, Dwight Jones, Edgar Mitchell, Edward Albee, Fidel Castro, Florence Henderson, Frank Finlay, Fyvush Finkel, Gardnar Mulloy, Garry Marshall, Garry Shandling, Gene Wilder, George Gaynes, George Kennedy, George Michael, george Voinovich, Glen Frey, Gloria DeHaven, Gordie Howe, Greg Lake, Guy Clark, Guy Hamilton, Harper Lee, Henry Heimlich, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Hugh O'Brian, Janet Reno, Jimmy Bain, Joe Alaskey, John Glenn, Jon polito, Joseph Moscolo, Keith Emerson, Ken Howard, Kenny Baker, Kimbo Slice, Larry Drake, Leon Russell, Leonard Cohen, Liz Smith, Lou Pearlman, Marni Nixon, Maurice White, Melvin Lair, Merle Haggard, Michael Cimino, Michael Herr, Michael Massee, Mose Allison, Mr. Fuji, Muhammad Ali, Nancy Reagan, Nate Thurmond, Nick Menza, Pat Summitt, Patty Duke, Paul Kantner, Pauline Oliveros, Pete Burns, Peter Shaffer, Peter Vaughn, Phillis Schlafly, Prince, Ralph Stanley, Ray Tomlinson, Rene Angelil, Richard Adams, Rick Parfitt, Rob Ford, Rober Vaughn, Ron Glass, Rudy van gelder, Sammy Lee, Scotty Moore, Signey Toly, Sir George Martin, Steven Hill, Terence Bayler, Tim LaHaye, Tony Burton, Vilmos Zsigmond, William Christopher, William Schallert, Zsa Zsa Gabor

Salutations™!!

2016 was a rough year for losses of notable names in the sports, music, movies, pop culture, all around. We are probably at that time in our lives when those we admired, looked up to, watched, listened to and wanted to be like are passing on. Many of these people became popular at a time when celebrity and notoriety were new phenomena, becoming more and more in the public eye with cable channels and more visible availability to the general public. Some were behind the scenes and some in our faces and in our ears. While 2017 may or may not offer any reprieve from the onslaught of these deaths, let’s hope the list is at least smaller.

This is not, by any means, a full, comprehensive list of those we lost but I hope it’s a good tribute.

January –
1.Vilmos Zsigmond, 85, American Hungarian cinematographer (McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Deliverance, Close Encounters of the Third Kind).
10. David Bowie, 69, musician.

MOVIES-alanrickman_t658

Alan Rickman 1946-2016

14. Alan Rickman, 69, actor (Die Hard, Bottle Shock, Harry Potter series). René Angélil, 73, music producer and husband of singer Celine Dion.
18. Glen Frey, 67, musician.
23. Jimmy Bain, 68, musician (Rainbow, Dio, Phil Lynott).
26. Abe Vigoda, 94, actor (Godfather, Barney Miller)
28. Paul Kantner, 74, musician (Jefferson Airplane).Signe Toly Anderson, 74, musician (Jefferson Airplane).
30. Frank Finlay, 89, actor (Othello).

February –
3. Joe Alaskey, 63, voice actor (one of Mel Blanc’s successors for Bugs Bunny, Yosemite

george_kennedy_1975

George Kennedy 1925-2016

Sam, etc.). Maurice White, 74, musician (Earth Wind & Fire).
4. Edgar Mitchell, 85, astronaut.
13. Antonin Scalia, 79, American Supreme Court Justice.
15. George Gaynes, 98, actor (Police Academy, Punky Brewster).
19. Harper Lee, 89, writer (To Kill a Mockingbird).
22. Douglas Slocombe, 103, British cinematographer (Indiana Jones series).
23. Donald E. Williams, 74, astronaut.
25. Tony Burton, 78, actor (Rocky series, one of only four characters to be in each film).
28. George Kennedy, 91, actor (Cool Hand Luke, Naked Gun).

March –
5. Ray Tomlinson, 71, American computer programmer (invented the modern day email system).
6. Nancy Reagan, 94, American First Lady and actress.
8. Sir George Martin, 90, British record producer, composer, conductor (The Beatles). Claus Ogerman, 85, German composer, arranger, conductor (Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Diana Krall).
10. Keith Emerson, 71, British musician (Emerson Lake & Palmer/Powell)
17. Larry Drake, 67, actor (Darkman).

p01hghgp

George Martin 1926-2016

22. Rob Ford, 46, Canadian politician.
23. Ken Howard, 71, actor (1776, J. Edgar).24. Garry Shandling, 66, actor and comedian.
29. Patty Duke, 69, singer and actress (The Miracle Worker, Valley of the Dolls, The Patty Duke Show).

April –
2. Amber Rayne, 31, porn actress.
6. Merle Haggard, 79, musician.
12. Balls Mahoney, 44, professional wrestler.
17. Doris Roberts, 90, actress (Everybody Loves Raymond, Remington Steele).
20. Guy Hamilton, 93, British film director (Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever, The Man with the Golden Gun). Chyna, 46, professional wrestler.

art-Prince3-420x0

Prince 1958-2016

21. Prince, 57, musician.
24. Billy Paul, 81, musician.

May –
2. Afeni Shakur, 69, activist and Tupac Shakur’s mother.
4. Bob Bennett, 82, American politician (R – Utah).
8. William Schallert, 93, actor (The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Teachers).17. Guy Clark, 74, songwriter, singer (“New Cut Road,” “The Carpenter”).
19. Alan Young, 96, actor (Mr. Ed).
21. Nick Menza, 51, musician (Megadeth, drummer).

June –
3. Muhammad Ali, 74, boxer.
6. Kimbo Slice, 42, mixed martial artist. Peter Shaffer, 90, British playwright (Equus, Amadeus).
10. Gordie Howe, 88, Canadian ice hockey player. Christina Grimmie, 22, singer (winner of NBC’s The Voice).

800px-muhammad_ali_nywts

Muhammad Ali 1942-2016

12. George Voinovich, 79, American politician (R – Ohio).
19. Anton Yelchin, 27, actor (Star Trek films).
23. Michael Herr, 76, American writer (screenplay co-writer: Full Metal Jacket). Ralph Stanley, 89, musician.
28. Scotty Moore, 84, musician (Elvis Presley). Pat Summitt, 64, college basketball coach.

July –
2. Michael Cimino, 77, film director, screenwriter, producer and author (The Deer Hunter).
16. Nate Thurmond, 74, NBA player.
19. Garry Marshall, 81, actor, director, producer, writer, voice artist, and comedian (Happy Days, Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride).
24. Marni Nixon, 86, American soprano (West Side Story, My Fair Lady).
25. Dwight Jones, 64, NBA player. Tim LaHaye, 90, evangelist and author (Left Behind).
30. Gloria DeHaven, 91, actress (Modern Times, Best Foot Forward).

August –
2. David Huddleston, 85, actor (Blazing Saddles, The Big Lebowski). Terence Bayler, 86, actor (Time Bandits,  Monty Python’s Life of Brian, Brazil).
13. Kenny Baker, 81, actor (Star Wars (R2-D2)).

gene-wilder

Gene Wilder 1933-2016

14. Fyvush Finkel, 93, actor (Picket Fences, Boston Public).
15. Bobby Hutcherson, 75, musician.
17. Arthur Hiller, 92, director (Silver Streak, Outrageous Fortune).
19. Lou Pearlman, 62, producer and fraudster (Backstreet Boys, ponzi schemes).
23. Steven Hill, 94, actor (Mission:Impossible, Law & Order).
25. Rudy van Gelder, 91, sound engineer (John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk).
28. Mr. Fuji, 81, professional wrestler/manager.
29. Gene Wilder, 83, actor (Blazing Saddles, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Young Frankenstein).

September –

arnoldpalmer

Arnold Palmer 1929-2016

1. Jon Polito, 65, actor (The Big Lebowski, Homicide: Life on the Street).
5. Hugh O’Brian, 91, actor (The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Shootist). Phillis Schlafly, 92, American writer and political activist.
11. Alexis Arquette, 47, actor/activist (The Wedding Singer, Pulp Fiction).
16. Edward Albee, 88, writer (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?).
17. Charmian Carr, 73, actress (The Sound of Music).
20. Curtis Hanson, 71, director (LA Confidential, 8 Mile).
24. Bill Nunn, 62, actor (Do the Right Thing, Spider-Man).
25. Arnold Palmer, 87, golfer.
26. Herschell Gordon Lewis, 90, splatter horror film director.

October –

1peteburns

Pete Burns 1959-2016

20. Michael Massee, 64, actor (The Crow, Spider-Man).
23. Pete Burns, 57, British singer (Dead or Alive).
24. Bobby Vee, 73, singer.

November –
7. Leonard Cohen, 82, singer. Janet Reno, 78, first woman attorney general of the United States.
11. Robert Vaughn, 83, actor (The Man from U.N.C.L.E, Bullitt, Magnificent Seven).
13. Leon Russell, 74, musician (“Lady Blue, “Tight Rope”).
14. Gardnar Mulloy, 102, tennis player.
15. Mose Allison, 89, musician.
16. Melvin Lair, 94, politician (R – Wisconsin).
18. Denton Cooley, 96, surgeon (implanted first artificial heart).
23. Andrew Sachs, 86, actor (Fawlty Towers).
24. Florence Henderson, 82, actress (Brady Bunch). Pauline Oliveros, 84, electronic art composer.

1leonardcohen

Leonard Cohen 1934-2016

25. Fidel Castro, 90, Cuban President. Ron Glass, 71, actor (Barney Miller, Firefly, Serenity).

December –
1. Sammy Lee, 96, physician and Olympic diver.
6. Peter Vaughn, 93, actor (Remains of the Day, Game of Thrones).
7. Greg Lake, 69, musician (Emerson Lake & Palmer/Powell).
8. John Glenn, 95, astronaut. Joseph Mascolo, 87, actor (Days of Our Lives).
13. Alan Thicke, 69, actor, songwriter (Growing Pains, Diff’rent Strokes theme, Facts of Life theme).
14. Bernard Fox, 89, actor (Bewitched, Hogan’s Heroes, Titanic).
17. Henry Heimlich, 93, surgeon and medical researcher (Heimlich maneuver).
18. Zsa Zsa Gabor, 99, actress.
24. Richard Adams, 96, author (Watership Down). Rick Parfitt, 68, musician (Status Quo). Liz Smith, 95, actress (The Royale Family, The Vicar of Dibley).

1carriefisher

Carrie Fisher 1956-2016

25. George Michael, 53, musician.
27. Carrie Fisher, 60, actress (Star Wars, Blues Brothers).
28. Debbie Reynolds, 84, actress (Singin’ in the Rain, mother of Carrie Fisher).
31. William Christopher, 84, actor (M*A*S*H).

That’s 114 notable names (if I counted them correctly) that we lost this year. Some of them I didn’t even know we lost until compiling this list. Ron Glass, Robert Vaughn, David Huddleston and William Christopher were a few I didn’t know about. Again, while 2017 may not be gentle on us either, we can hope. I think part of it is we’re used to only about one or two A-list celebs departing a year with more B- and C-listers, but this year, we had many A-listers. Many of them older than I thought. Hope you all have a great 2017!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“It would be wonderful to think that the future is unknown and sort of surprising.” – Alan Rickman

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