Monday, December 22, 2014

BB 12.22.14


Brock Breed‎MB Phoenix Fan Page
12/22/14
Good morning and welcome to Monday, Phoenix family and friends! Not much time left to finish your shopping or wrapping, or baking, etc. What's one dish your family has to have at Christmas??
Today's WTF Holiday movie is : Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas). For those that may not have heard about this one, here's the plot summary:
In 1914, World War I, the bloodiest war ever at that time in human history, was well under way. However on Christmas Eve, numerous sections of the Western Front called an informal, and unauthorized, truce where the various front-line soldiers of the conflict peacefully met each other in No Man's Land to share a precious pause in the carnage with a fleeting brotherhood.
Trivia: This film is dedicated to the soldiers who fraternized on Christmas 1914 in several places on the front.
The film was originally supposed to be rated R. However, after film critic Roger Ebert criticized the rating, the MPAA officially changed the rating to PG-13.
Towards the end of the film Major General Audebert says "i've been ordered to arrest a cat for treason", A cat portrayed in the film as Felix/Nestor, was actually arrested and shot for espionage after it arrived in French lines wearing a new collar and bearing a note (in French) which read "which regiment are you from?". The general in charge decided just to follow the letter of the law, the cat was shot for spying.
The character of the Male opera singer is based on that of German tenor Walter Kirchhoff (1879-1951), who travelled to the front in order to perform for the troops. His performance was met by cheers from the French lines, where upon he decided to climb on to no-mans-land to see who was cheering.
Goofs: When Anna and Nikolaus talks about the time they met for the first time, they say "Oslo". Oslo, capitol of Norway, was called Kristiania until 1924.
In the film the musical exchange is prompted by the Scottish troops: in reality, most incidents began with the German troops singing carols from their trenches (but not exposing themselves to the enemy - both sides remained in their trenches) with the opposing troops countering with carols of their own. The film was advertised as "based on a true story", but neither the marketing nor anything in the film claims it to be a historically accurate account of the events. At the end of the closing credits it states, the story is based on a compilation of various documented events which took place along the front during WW1. Director Christian Carion said in the DVD commentary that he included Scots, rather than English, in the story because he wanted bagpipe music.
Have a fangtastic day, my friends!  Brock

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Sunday, December 21, 2014

BB 12.21.14


Brock Breed‎MB Phoenix Fan Page
December 21 
Good morning Phoenix. It's Sunday, time to rest before the activities of the week overwhelm us all!
With that in mind, today's WTF Holiday movie is an oldie but a goodie. White Christmas.
Trivia: The "Sisters" comedy act that Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye perform was not originally in the script. They were clowning around on the set and the director thought it was so funny that it was written in.
According to Rosemary Clooney, in Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye's "Sisters" performance, Crosby's laughs are genuine (and unscripted). Many takes were attempted, but Crosby was unable to hold a straight face due to Kaye's comedic dancing. The scene shown in the film was the best take they could get (which includes some laughter from Kaye as well).
Rosemary Clooney was not allowed to record her voice for the soundtrack album because it was being released by a record company (Decca) other than hers (Columbia). She was replaced on the soundtrack album by Peggy Lee.
Although this movie musical has been a beloved favorite for decades - especially at Christmastime - there has never been an official "original soundtrack" album released in any form. Decca controlled the soundtrack rights, but Rosemary Clooney was under exclusive contract to Columbia, who would not allow her to appear on a competing label. As a result, Decca and Columbia each released their own White Christmas albums in 1954, although neither is an official soundtrack. Decca's album featured the movie cast minus Rosemary Clooney, with Peggy Lee taking over Clooney's part. Columbia's album had Rosemary Clooney singing 8 songs from the film. Both albums have been issued on CD in recent years.
This was 1954's most successful film. The second most successful was The Caine Mutiny (1954), which featured Rosemary Clooney's husband, José Ferrer.
Goofs: During "The Best Things" dance number, at the end of the number, on the very last twirl around a kneeling Danny Kaye before she falls into his arms, Vera-Ellen trips over Danny Kaye's outstretched left foot. She recovers so smoothly that it is very difficult to catch.
At the start of his surprise party, General Waverly blows out the candles on the cake at his table. At the very end of the movie the candles are lit again.
While the quartet is singing "Snow" on the train to Vermont, shadows of the crew and camera can be seen on the table's edge as the camera pulls back.
The Columbia Inn Station Wagon that picks them up at the train station has a black and yellow California license plate when they are supposed to be in Vermont.
Have a fangtastic Sunday!  Brock

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Saturday, December 20, 2014

BB 12.20.14


Brock Breed‎MB Phoenix Fan Page
December 20
Good morning/afternoon Phoenix ! Exciting news about Carys' book! If you haven't signed up for Lara's newsletter, what are you waiting for? She loves to give out sneak chapter peeks, plus you can get free goodies! If you need the link, holler and one of us will make sure to hook you up.
Today's WTF Holiday movie is Love Actually.
Trivia: Kris Marshall returned his pay check for the scene where the three American girls undress him. He said he had such a great time having three girls undress him for twenty-one takes, that he was willing to do it for free, and thus returned his check for that day.
Knowing about Billy Bob Thornton's quite unique fear of antique furniture, Hugh Grant would sometimes flash a piece of antique (which is abundant in England) in front of Thornton just before the cameras rolled, and watch him freak out in amusement.
In the scene after Sarah leaves Harry's office following their conversation about her feelings for coworker Karl, two clocks can be seen on the wall showing the time in New York and Brazil. Laura Linney (Sarah) is from New York and Rodrigo Santoro (Karl) is from Brazil.
The very last seconds of the movie the screen is filled with more and more scenes, each smaller and smaller, of people reuniting with loved ones. In the last split second, they form a big "heart" (or "valentine").
Goofs: The scene where John is trying to kiss Judy goodnight, but is too shy, they are wearing the same clothes that they wear at the concert. The concert is their first date. They go to the concert after they had their first kiss. It should have been the other way around.
When Sarah and Karl are in Sarah's room, Sarah's alarm clock over her bedside table says that it is five to twelve. A bit later we can see the same alarm clock and it is ten to twelve. (Karl's watch has another time altogether, but this is not necessarily a goof.)
In the "Wisconsin" scene where Colin meets the American girls and Carol-Anne walks in, you can see a British style light switch near the door.
The license plates on the President's car as he pulls up are not US government plates but plates from the State of Washington.
Have a fangtastic day everyone!  Brock

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Friday, December 19, 2014

BB 12.19.14

Brock Breed‎MB Phoenix Fan Page
December 19 
TGIF Phoenix!! How's everyone this fine cold morning?
Today's WTF Holiday movie selection is..... The Nightmare Before Christmas!
Trivia: Tim Burton has said the original poem was inspired after seeing Halloween merchandise display in a store being taken down and replaced by a Christmas display. The juxtaposition of ghouls and goblins with Santa and his reindeer sparked his imagination.
According to Henry Selick, Vincent Price was originally cast as Santa Claus. However, after the death of Price's wife, his own health began to fail and his voice performance was very frail and weak. The tracks were deemed unusable which led to, much to Selick's regret, the role being recast.
Was originally going to be a part of the Disney Animated Features canon, but was deemed too scary to be released under the Walt Disney Pictures banner.
Some of the presents Jack delivers to the kids are nods to his other films. The snake looks like a Sandworm from 'Beetlejuice', and the Cat and Duck are both featured in 'Batman Returns' - the Cat as the mascot for the department store Catwoman blows up, the duck being similar to the ship the Penguin crashes the party with.
Goofs: During "Kidnap Mr. Sandy Claws" Shock has black gloves that disappear and re-appear throughout the song.
When Sally is raising the basket up to Jack's window Jack is writing on the chalkboard. When he stops writing the chalk he is holding disappears.
As the Mayor turns on the reflector light at the town meeting, some bats fly off it, scared by the sudden light. Here you can clearly see the wires that they are suspended by.
Have a super fangtastic day!  Brock

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Thursday, December 18, 2014

BB 12.18.14


Brock Breed‎MB Phoenix Fan Page
December 18 
Good morning Phoenix. The countdown is on - only a week till Christmas. Are you ready? I'm not. *grins* Hey - *looking around and whispering conspiratorially* I need some good ideas for gifts for Jenna. Anyone got any ideas?
Today's WTF Holiday movie is none other than How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
Trivia: The prosthetic make-up Jim Carrey wore took 3 hours to apply. Carrey felt so horribly confined and uncomfortable in the latex skin he needed counseling from a Navy SEAL who taught him torture-resistance techniques.
The Whoville set was built mostly on the backlot of Universal Studios behind the still-standing Bates Motel (from Psycho). During a break in filming Jim Carrey surprised and scared tourists on the Universal Backlot Tour by running out of the hotel wearing a dress and brandishing a knife. Nobody recognized him, and the tour guide at Universal Studios will tell you the story when you pass by the hotel on the Backlot Tour.
Jim Carrey's Grinch suit is covered in yak hairs, which were dyed green and sewn one by one onto a spandex suit.
The scene where The Grinch is directing his dog, Max, before stealing Christmas, is Jim Carrey doing a parody of director Ron Howard.
Everything in the film revolves around a swirl, the same as in the original drawings of the book. This includes the clouds. If you look closely at several scenes, several times the initials "C.H.", "J.C.," and "R.H." briefly form as the clouds move. This stands for actor Clint Howard (Whobris), actor Jim Carrey (The Grinch), and director Ron Howard.
Anthony Hopkins recorded all the narration for the movie in one day.
Goofs: When the Grinch is distributing letters to the people of Who-ville, he clearly only has two letters in his hand but he throws about 10 others into people's mail boxes.
At the point when the Grinch visits Who-ville, the color of his eyes changes from yellow to white occasionally.
Just before the Grinch and Max return to the mountain through the pipe, Max is missing his collar. It's back on him after they arrive at the dump on the mountain.
Have a fangtastic day everyone!  Brock

  • Cathy Hunter Loatheeeeeeeeeeeeeee this movie!!!!!! Nah I lovvvvvvvvvvvvve this movie!!!!!!
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