What a Battle!!!

I just witnessed the greatest tennis match I have ever seen.
The legendary John McEnroe said it was the greatest game ever played in the open era.

The King of Grass - Roger Federer
vs.
The King of Clay - Rafael Nadal

They've met the last 3 years in the Wimbledon Final with Federer beating Nadal all 3 times. In fact, Federer has tied Bjorn Borg's record 5 straight Wimbledon Finals and today he was primed to overtake Borg's record. Nadal has won the last 4 French Open Championships and no man since Borg has won the French and Wimbledon back to back; so Nadal was ready to finally beat Federer and match Borg's record.



The drama was set, ready to sweep everyone away.....but nobody could've predicted the majesty and sheer exuberance these two men displayed today.

Nadal won the first 2 sets 6 -4......it seemed Federer was down;
but he came back in a 3rd set tiebreaker........then a 4th set tiebreaker.....
now it was all even.......two rain delays.....
4 hrs of playing and now into the 5th and final set..............
it was even up to 7 - 8 in Nadal's favor......
Finally, with the day turning into night.........after the longest championship match ever played, NADAL overtook the King and became the rightful champion.

It was so amazing....and I was rooting for Federer and still loved it....that's how amazing it was.


If a measly little tennis match can give me these kind of emotions; think about how that last Battle of Armageddon is going to be....... i mean, really.........all the drama, spectacle, pain, heartbreak, excitement, victory.............and we know who's already going to win it, but it will be great.


This makes me want to watch the final battle of Lord of the Rings - Return of the King......that was an awesome battle put on film.

I wonder who's gonna film the Battle of Armageddon?......and are we gonna watch the replays over and over in heaven......all sitting up there admiring the warrior skills of each other?
Actually we'll be in the NEW EARTH....so we'll have new, cool plasma screens all over the place.

I can't wait......even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly

Harvey Korman - The Funny will never end

Harvey Korman
(1937 - 2008)

One of the funniest actors I ever saw. Watching him and Tim Conway crack up Carol Burnett on her TV show in the 70's will forever live on in reruns and DVD sales.

His turn in Blazing Saddles was also too much.

Cheers to you, Harvey!

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-korman31-2008may31,0,2304229.story

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-korman30-2008may30,0,5523599.story

Memorial Day - Favorite War Movies

In honor of all those who have laid down their lives for this country,
I offer my Top Ten War Movies

War movies are one of my least favorite genres of film; however, as I age, I grow more appreciative of those who've gone before; and particularly, those who sacrificed, so that I could live in freedom.
These films helped me understand that a bit better:

• PLATOON (Vietnam)

I was a child during Vietnam and didn't understand what it was all about....why were there so many different views about it, etc... When I saw Platoon the first time, I was a little shell-shocked. I couldn't talk about it for a few days. It made such an emotional impact on me. I still have trouble with contemplating the depression built into that movie - its palpable. The use of Barber's ADAGIO FOR STRINGS in the middle of this movie changed my life. Musically, I was never the same after I heard that.

• Glory (The Civil War)

My favorite war movie. The story about the first black regiment in the Civil War. The story, music, and Denzel Washington's "tear" is the greatest "war" moment on film.

• Dances With Wolves (The Civil War)
  

What the new Europeans did to the Native Americans when they came over the pond, was deplorable, unnecessary and wrong......I didn't get that until I saw this movie

• John Adams - Miniseries (Revolutionary War, French/English War)
  

A truly great piece of film making. This fortified my appreciation for our Fore Fathers and those who fought The Revolutionary War

• Casualties of War ( Vietnam)
  

This is the true story of a situation that happened in the Vietnam War. Its heartbreaking and powerful. Very gruesome and adult. The music is some of the best ever put on screen;
haunting and poignant. This is Michael J. Fox's best acting ever.

• Lawrence of Arabia (WWI)
  

Okay, I'm breaking the rules.....this is not about Americans, but the story of T.E. Lawrence, the eccentric British officer who united the desert tribes of Arabia against the Turks during World War I. I didn't know anything about this man or this part of World History....it is fascinating. Probably the greatest technical movie on this list....you will not see better camera work anywhere.

• Letters from Iwo Jima / Flags of Our Fathers (WWII)
  

So this is a little against the rules, but I have to place these two Clint Eastwood directed movies together as one. They tell the story of the Battle of Iwo Jima during WWII from two different perspectives. Flags from the American point of view and Letters from Japan's point of view.

• Saving Private Ryan (WWII)
  

A very cool opening. Probably the overall best opening 30 minutes of any war movie. You actually feel like your on the battlefield. Bloody and Gross; but Awesome!

• Three Kings (The Gulf War)
  

Funny and a bit shocking. I didn't know this stuff happened in the Gulf War.......so many things that get hidden in our society and government. God Help Us!

• No End in Sight (Iraq)
  
  

This is a little cheat because its not a movie; but its an enlightening documentary on The War on Iraq. Don't let the Bush bashing keep you from seeing this doc....its not that bad. I honestly thought to myself, "Where have I been the last 5 years?" after I watched this documentary

Movies I wished I could place on the list but the subject matter is not about Americans:

• BRAVEHEART
• SCHINDLER'S LIST
• LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
• TEA WITH MUSSOLINI

Honorable Mentions:

• Patton
• The Longest Day
• The Patriot
• Gone With The Wind
• Apocalypse Now
• The Deer Hunter
• Tora Tora Tora
  

Movies that sing

"Listen….can you hear it?........The music…. I can hear it everywhere: in the wind; in the air; in the light. It’s all around us All you have to do is open yourself up. All you have to do is… listen."

"Sometimes the world tries to knock it out of you; but I believe in music, the way that some people believe in fairy tales."

- August Rush
_________________________________________________________________________________

Ok..... so YES..... you can predict where this movie is headed from the the first 5 minutes of this film; the premise is hard-fetched; the sentiment is mighty; however, this movie beats the snot out of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN ( the critically acclaimed movie of the year - and Best Picture for 2008 Academy Awards)

For the musician or just the lover of music, you can not pass the opportunity to watch August Rush (now available on DVD). The songs are good; the arrangements are stellar mixing rock & classical together. It's the emotion of music....the sappy stuff......the stuff most people who are not musicians are too afraid of. It was, my opinion, the best movie of 2007.....next to Ratatouille.

Every once and awhile, a movie will come along and challenge your own dreams and beliefs. August Rush is the latest among other music-oriented offerings to make one forget about the failures and concentrate on the dreams again. The last movie to have this kind of impact was 1995's Mr. Hollands Opus.

Now, certainly, there have been many movies about music or musicians; biographies and historical dramas that have entertained and even inspired. Check these out (notice: not all are family oriented)

La Vie en Rose (2007) -
the story of Edith Piaf , French singing sensation

Ray (2004) - the story of Ray Charles

Walk the Line (2005) -
the story of Johnny and June Cash

Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)-
the story of Loretta Lynn

Bird (1988)- the story of Charlie (Bird) Parker
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)- the story of Billie Holiday
Shine (1996) - the story of pianist David Helfgott

and last, but not least........


Amadeus (1983) -
the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart