Do You Know These Famous Movie Motifs?

As a narrative element, a motif can be a powerful tool that supports the main story in a movie. It can come in many forms, such as a physical object, sound design, music, colors, dialogue line, or a symbol. A rose may represent love. A shattered glass usually emphasizes the suspense or foreshadows terrible news.

Many filmmakers experiment with them in their own way, trying to make their vision appear stronger to the viewers. A great example is the use of oranges in Godfather, where the oranges are visible on the screen when somebody is about to be killed. There are also more popular motifs that almost have to be used in a movie from a specific genre or the scenes that take place in particular locations.

Representing London and New York

A good portion of American-made movies is set in New York City. Often we can marvel at unique locations around the famous streets, such as when watching Woody Allen’s productions. One of the commonly recognized objects that we instantly associate with NY is the characteristic yellow cab.

Memorable scenes featuring the iconic vehicles come from the Taxi Driver. A beautiful aerial shot over the series of yellow cars from Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous also comes to mind, as well as Joker’s rampage throughout NYC-inspired Gotham City.

On the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean, taxis do not look especially remarkable. But it doesn’t mean nothing is standing out from the crowd. On the contrary, London’s public transportation system catches the eye with its big red double-decker buses. I’m sure we’ll be able to spot one or two in almost every Brit-friendly motion picture.

Las Vegas lights

Speaking of distinctive places that everybody knows, Nevada’s particular location awakens a familiar feeling in every movie fan. The bright and shiny city of Las Vegas undoubtedly absorbs all the attention when featured on the screen. The colorful neon lights can serve multiple purposes in a film, depending on whether it’s a serious drama like Leaving Las Vegas or a light comedy like The Hangover.

Various casino games can also make an excellent movie motif or even the whole theme. Nowadays, looking for the best online casinos is not too hard. There are many opportunities to play, and the popularity of the games makes people appreciate those moments on the big screen, whether it is a James Bond type spinning a roulette wheel or a bunch of friends having a night out.

The mysterious Orient

A dragon is one of the most important symbols in Chinese culture. It represents strength and power, as well as good fortune. A movie lover should associate the dragon with China, in one form or the other. There are usually little things on locations or people’s appearance, such as jewelry or decorations.

The big ones can often be spotted during festivities and special occasions. There is one in the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and another in the form of a huge golden dragon statue in Van Damme’s movie The Quest.

Continuing with the Asian theme, let’s move to nearby Japan. The country may be familiar to us for many reasons. One of them could be its highly developed cities filled with modern technological solutions and almost futuristic architecture. All of that makes for the perfect scenery in sci-fi movies. But it also pairs well with a deeply human side of a story, like in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation.

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Famous Stage Plays That Embrace Games

Back in the days of Shakespeare, theatre was one of the most widely accepted and talked about means of spreading cultural capital and ideas, with the working man or woman able to find out more about how their rulers ticked on the stage than perhaps anywhere else.

These days, theatres have become places where rich people like to hold business meetings during the interval and where a miniature tub of ice cream costs more than a three course dinner, although there are some shows which still try to keep things fun and entertaining.

Fortunately, there are plays that manage to buck the trend and include aspects that will still appeal to the masses rather than only the well-heeled few. One of these is games, whose application in a stage play can vary from symbolism all the way through to bringing about a plot twist.

Here are some of the world’s most famous stage plays that featured or were based around popular games.

All of these plays managed to weave game dynamics into a piece of compelling drama

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead – Tom Stoppard

This Stoppard masterpiece is one of the great stage plays of the 20th century and is still revered to this day by theatre goers and critics alike. 

Classic games are used in the play in order to toy with the question of whether the fate of people, and the world they live in, is predetermined, ruled by chaos, or if there is a half-way house that means things can be predicted through probabilities and equations. 

This makes for a gripping and challenging play which is actually a reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The message being conveyed to onlookers can be construed in many ways, but the main one seems to be that as much as peoples’ live are defined by determinism, it is man’s innate desire to compete and throw caution to the wind that throws up life’s chaotic nature. This point is poignantly put across by Stoppard in a scene where two characters ponder the sort of calculations and probabilities that modern day blackjack and craps players face every time they are dealt a hand. 

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead still regularly plays at some of the top theatres around the US and, indeed, the world.

Sit back and enjoy the show

A Streetcar Named Desire – Tennessee Williams

Card games are at the very heart of this American stage play classic, which was set in the bustling city of New Orleans.

As was the case in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, the games in this play are largely symbolic, often revealing the motivations and personalities of characters rather than being pivotal to the plot or story arcs.

The game that the two protagonists Stanley and Blanche tend to play is poker, with a game being played in one of the play’s very first acts as well as in one of the final acts.

One of the best runs of the play took place at the Circle in the Square Theatre in 1988, with big names like Alec Baldwin, Jessica Lange and a budding James Gandolfini of Sopranos fame lighting up the boards.

Modern Immersive Theatre Plays Borrow Video Game Conventions

While the two plays above are classics which very clearly used games to get their intended messages across to the audience, there are now contemporary theatre plays which are borrowing other aspects of gaming culture to not only enhance their stories but also the way in which their plays are viewed and interacted with as a whole.

Immersive theatre has been a booming trend in recent years and has altered the role of the audience member, turning them from an inert observer into an active and intrinsic part of the play itself.

The Drowned Man, a play set in Hollywood but which ran at London’s Temple Studios, was a perfect case in point, pretty much turning audience members into active parts of the story they were watching, as if they were themselves an avatar in a video game.

There is no doubt that, as gaming culture proliferates, audience members will become less willing to sit back and be passive observers.

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Ann Coulter – a famous writer and a University of Michigan graduate

Everyone knows that Ann Coulter is a famous writer. She is an author of such bestsellers as ‘How to Talk to a Liberal’, ‘Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right’, ‘Godless: The Church of Liberalism’ and so on. Perhaps, you have even read a few book reviews about her works. However, what you may not know is that she graduated from the University of Michigan. She got her J.D. from University of Michigan Law School. If you are currently studying there, you are probably thinking about how she also had to deal with the task of writing University of Michigan essays. Perhaps, you would like to take a look at the University of Michigan supplemental essays that were submitted by people who became successful in life.

What helped Ann Coulter succeed is her endless desire to work hard to achieve her goals, as well as her motivation to do more. Apart from writing University of Michigan essays, she was also an editor of the Michigan Law Review. Having graduated, Ann Coulter worked as a clerk at the United States Court of Appeals, as well as worked as an attorney in the Department of Justice Honors Program. Apart from that, she is also known as a political commentator and a columnist. There is no doubt becoming a student at the University of Michigan has been a rather stressful experience for her as well. The application process can make you feel really frustrated, not to mention the fact that writing Michigan supplemental essays is a very hard thing to do. Your piece of writing needs to impressive. You need to stand out from the crowd. That is the reason why so many applicants experience difficulties writing Michigan supplemental essays.

Yet, what every applicant needs to keep in mind is that they have enough knowledge to be able to submit an unconventional applications essay and become a student at the University of Michigan. It was not easy for Ann Coulter as well but she found strength to deal with this process and became a successful writer and a lawyer despite the fact that the University of Michigan acceptance rate is a number looking at which may make you feel discouraged. All in all, you need to mull over what you are going to write in one of those University of Michigan essays and how you are going to present yourself. Think of it this way: your essay will be the first piece of information the review committee will learn about you. Make sure you submit one of the most memorable University of Michigan essays to secure your spot at this educational institution.

Another useful tip to take into account is to look through the list of famous people who have graduated from colleges and universities you are interested in. The thing is that imagining how they had to deal with the same difficulties you are currently facing may be quite inspiring. In addition to that, seeing what they have managed to accomplish after graduating can be very motivating as well. No matter whether you are fascinated by the career path of Ann Coulter or someone else, allocate a few minutes to read their biography. You will find out about their first jobs which will remind you that working hard is always of key importance. You need to have desire and motivation if you are aimed at achieving success in the field you are interested in. Going to college such as the University of Michigan is the first step for you to take on the road to success.

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Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection First Time Ever on Blu-ray!

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, A LANDMARK COLLECTION SHOWCASING THE LEGENDARY MONSTERS IN MOTION PICTURE HISTORY

UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS: COMPLETE 30-FILM COLLECTION AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™ ON AUGUST 28, 2018 FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Universal City, California, August 22, 2018 – Thirty of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces starring the most famous monsters of horror movie history come together on Blu-ray™ for the first time ever in the Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection on August 28, 2018, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Featuring unforgettable make-up, ground-breaking special effects and outstanding performances, the Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection includes all Universal Pictures’ legendary monsters from the studio that pioneered the horror genre with imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror in unforgettable films from the 1930s to late-1950s.

From the era of silent movies through present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. The Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection showcases all the original films featuring the most iconic monsters in motion picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Starring some of the most legendary actors including Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains and Elsa Lanchester in the roles that they made famous, these films set the standard for a new horror genre and showcase why these landmark movies that defined the horror genre are regarded as some of the most unforgettable ever to be filmed.

Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection includes a 48-page collectible book filled with behind-the-scenes stories and rare production photographs and is accompanied by an array of bonus features including behind-the-scenes documentaries, the 1931 Spanish version of Dracula, Featurettes on Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., and Jack Pierce, 13 expert feature commentaries, archival footage, production photographs, theatrical trailers and more. The perfect gift for any scary movie fan, the collection offers an opportunity to experience some of the most memorable horror films of our time.

The Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection includes Dracula(1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Mummy (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Werewolf of London (1935), Dracula’s Daughter (1936), Son of Frankenstein (1939), The Invisible Man Returns (1940), The Invisible Woman (1940), The Mummy’s Hand (1940), The Wolf Man (1941), The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), The Mummy’s Ghost (1942), The Mummy’s Tomb (1942),Invisible Agent (1942), Phantom of the Opera (1943), Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), Son of Dracula (1943), House of Frankenstein (1944), The Mummy’s Curse (1944), The Invisible Man’s Revenge (1944), House of Dracula (1945), She-Wolf of London (1946), Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954, and includes a 3D version), Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955), Revenge of the Creature (1955 and includes a 3D version) and The Creature Walks Among Us (1956).

 

BONUS FEATURES:

  • Behind-the-Scenes Documentaries
  • 3D Versions of Creature from the Black Lagoon and Revenge of the Creature
  • 1931 Spanish Version of Dracula
  • Featurettes on Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., and Jack Pierce
  • 13 Expert Feature Commentaries
  • Archival Footage
  • Production Photographs
  • Theatrical Trailers

 

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: 13, 1930s, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, ...

Oscar Nominee Mickey Rourke to Become Immortalized in Famous Hollywood Ceremony

OSCAR(R)-NOMINEE MICKEY ROURKE TO BECOME IMMORTALIZED IN FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD CEREMONY

ROURKE WILL BE THE 254th CELEBRITY TO HAVE HANDS & FOOTPRINTS IN CHINESE CEMENT ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 31st

(Hollywood, Calif., October 18, 2011)–The most famous place in Hollywood, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (www.chinesetheatres.com), is set to honor its 254th celebrity, Oscar(R)-nominee Mickey Rourke, with his own hand and footprints ceremony on Monday, October 31 at 11:00 AM. The masters of ceremony and guest speaker will be announced.

Up next, Rourke can be seen in the visually-stunning 3D epic adventure Immortals, starring Henry Cavill, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz, Isabel Lucas, Freida Pinto, Stephen Dorff, and John Hurt. Directed by Tarsem Singh, written by Charles Parlapanides and Vlas Parlapanides and produced by Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton and Relativity’s CEO RyanKavanaugh, Immortals tells the story of the ruthless King Hyperion (Rourke), who leads his bloodthirsty army on a murderous rampage across Greece to find a deadly weapon that will destroy humanity.  A mortal chosen by Zeus named Theseus (Cavill) must lead the fight against Hyperion and his evil army with the fate of mankind and the Gods at Stake. The film will be released by Relativity Media on November 11, 2011.

Rourke received widespread acclaim for his performance in Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and wins for Best Actor at the Golden Globe Awards, BAFTAs and Independent Spirit Awards.  Rourke’s career is one marked by his ability to create riveting performances and to leave indelible impressions on audiences. His impressive list of feature credits includes John Madden’s Killshot, Tony Scott’s Domino and Man on Fire, Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Larry Charles’ Masked and Anonymous, Steve Buscemi’s Animal Factory and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Rainmaker. Rourke earned a place for himself in Hollywood with his stellar ability to mesmerize audiences in earlier films, including Michael Cimino’s Desperate Hours, Alan Parker’s Angel Heart, Mike Hodges’ A Prayer for the Dying, Adrian Lyne’s Nine 1Ž2 Weeks, Cimino’s Year of the Dragon, Stuart Rosenberg’s The Pope of Greenwich Village, Barry Levinson’s Diner, Lawrence Kasdan’s Body Heat, Francis Ford Coppola’s Rumble Fish, Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate and Steven Spielberg’s 1941. Rourke recently starred in the blockbuster sequel, Iron Man 2 and was also seen in The Expendables.

Grauman’s Chinese Theatre hands and footprints ceremony is rich in tradition and provides the four million plus people a year who visit the site an opportunity to experience the lore of Hollywood up close, for here lay the handprints and footprints of Hollywood’s most notable talents. Unlike any other award in Hollywood, be it an Oscar(R) or a sidewalk ceremony, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre handprints-footprints tribute is the most selective of all,since over the course of nine decades, only 250-plus such honors have been presented.

Movieexhibitor Sid Grauman, one of Hollywood’s best known and most creative showmen, opened The Chinese in 1927 and launched the handprints-footprints ceremony a year later. Among the first handprints and footprints were those of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. Recent celebrants have included: Brad Pitt,George Clooney, Johnny Depp and Jennifer Aniston.

Today, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre forecourt is among the world’s most photographed tourist sites, annually attracting as many visitors as the Taj Mahal in India and the Prado Museum in Madrid. In any given year, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre hosts over 40 red carpet film premieres and since it opened, it has hosted three Academy Award(R) ceremonies and numerous world premieres, including those for internationally-acclaimed film franchises, such as Star Wars and Harry Potter.

Mickey Rourke’s ceremony will be broadcast live via streaming video on: http://www.chinesetheatres.com.

About the Chinese Theatres

Since 1927, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre has been the home of the most important, star powered red carpet movie premieres and special events, where Hollywood’s biggest and brightest talents have come to watch their movies. The most famous movie theatre on the globe is world-renowned for its unique forecourt of the stars, featuring cement hand and footprints of major movie stars, from Marilyn Monroe to Brad Pitt, and numerous stars from all eras of Hollywood. In addition to being amajor international tourist destination, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, and its six adjacent cinemas, the Chinese 6, are everyday working movie theatres, hosting millions of moviegoers year round. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was declared a historic-cultural landmark in 1968, and there has always been a restorationprogram in process to maintain the theatre’s beauty. With its current, on-going facelift and new added amenities and event spaces, guided by a new and vigorous ownership team, the Chinese Theatres and its famed “hands in cement” forecourt will continue to be the preferred location for tourist visits and the entertainment industry’s most prestigious red carpet premieres for years to come.

IMMORTALS

Release Date: November 11, 2011

DIRECTOR: Tarsem Singh (The Fall, The Cell)
WRITERS: Charles Parlapanides and Vlas Parlapanides
CAST:  Henry Cavill- THESEUS (Superman: Man of Steel)
Stephen Dorff- STAVROS (Somewhere)
Isabel Lucas- ATHENA (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen)
Freida Pinto- PHAEDRA (Slumdog Millionaire)
Luke Evans- ZEUS (The Raven, The Three Muskateers)
Kellan Lutz- POSEIDON (Twilight series)
John Hurt- OLD ZEUS (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 & 2)
Mickey Rourke- KING HYPERION (The Wrestler)
PRODUCERS: Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, Ryan Kavanaugh
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Tucker Tooley, Tommy Turtle, Jeff G. Waxman

Visionary director Tarsem Singh (The Cell, The Fall) transports us in this epic tale of treachery, vengeance and destiny in Immortals, a stylish and visually spectacular 3D action adventure. As a power-hungry king razes ancient Greece in search of a legendary weapon, a heroic young villager rises up against him in a thrilling quest as timeless as it is powerful.
The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) and his murderous Heraklion army rampage across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. With ruthless efficiency, Hyperion and his legions destroy everything in their wake, and it seems nothing will stop the evil king’s mission.

As village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus (Henry Cavill) vows to avenge his mother, who was killed in one of Hyperion’s brutal raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra (Freida Pinto), her disturbing visions of the young man’s future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final, desperate battle for the future of humanity. Immortals is produced by Gianni Nunnari (300), Mark Canton (300) and Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter).   

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/immortals

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