SEAN CONNERY'S BIRTHDAY

SEAN CONNERY was born on August 25th, 1930 in Edinburgh, Scotland. 

According to WIKIPEDIA: 

In 2004, a poll in the UK Sunday Herald recognised Connery as "The Greatest Living Scot" and a 2011 EuroMillions survey named him "Scotland's Greatest Living National Treasure".  He was voted by People magazine as the "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1989 and the "Sexiest Man of the Century" in 1999. Connery shares the record for the most portrayals as James Bond with Roger Moore (with seven apiece). In June 1965, Time magazine observed "James Bond has developed into the biggest mass-cult hero of the decade".

The Digital De-Aging Process in Movies

Watching the fifth and last Indiana Jones movie, you can spot one of the latest developments in SFX, namely, the digital de-aging process. According to Wikipedia: "In motion pictures, whether for film (cinema), television, or streaming, de-aging is a visual effects technique used to make an actor or actress look younger, especially for flashback scenes. This is often accomplished via digitally editing the image or using computer-generated imagery (CGI) overlays or touch-ups."

In cartoons, the process is very easily achieved, as you can see here:

In real life pictures, the process is more complicated, but the results are similar:

However, the question remains: why can't they create something like this on real human beings?

INDIANA JONES GOES OUT WITH A BANG!

The new and last INDIANA JONES adventure has been released to rather lukewarm reviews from the critics but also, to generally delighted audiences and the franchise starring Harrison Ford has apparently ended its run with the fifth installment which I think is a wise decision. In my opinion, in spite of a few misses here and there, the series goes out with a bang.

FAREWELL, INDY!

When the pandemic lockdown was declared, some people freaked out and went on a toilet paper hoarding spree. And toilet paper became as valuable as anything Indiana Jones might search for. 

Thus, this 2020 cartoon:

I vaguely recall I once played an Indiana Jones inspired character on a comedy stage play many years ago. Can't remember the plot or the play's title but I can say it had a very successful run since we went past the 100 performances mark.

I was never the Harrison Ford type but since this was a screwball comedy, nobody cared!

BULLITT

BULLIT, starring Steve McQueen as Lt. Frank Bullitt was released on October 17, 1968.

              It was directed by Peter Yates with a screenplay by Alan R. Trustman and Harry Kleiner, 

                                          based on the book MUTE WITNESS by Robert L. Pike.  

The plot was fairly simple and dealt with San Francisco police detective Lieutenant Frank Bullitt and his team, Delgetti and Stanton who are tasked by Walter Chalmers with guarding Ross over the weekend, until he can be presented as a witness to a Senate subcommittee hearing on organized crime on Monday morning.

BULLIT became one of my all time favorite films. I remember exactly the day I went to see it back in my hometown of Mexico City. I was 17 years old and I immediately bought the soundtrack LP and attired myself with a dark blue turtleneck sweater and a pair of boots similar to the ones worn by McQueen.

                                                              

I'm just glad I didn't own a car back then or I would've certainly totalled it trying to emulate the famous car chase which is still considered to be one of the greatest car chases in cinema history. 

Of course, as was the case with almost every great film of the sixties, MAD Magazine featured a very funny spoof of the movie, written by Al Jaffee and illustrated by the master of caricature, Mort Drucker.

And, as I frequently do whether the occasion fits or not, I shall celebrate this event by listening to Lalo Schifrin's excellent jazz score and watching BULLITT for the umpteenth time!

VA-ROOOO-OOOOOM!

                                                       The complete story of the film can be found here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullitt

And more photos from BULLITT here:

https://www.pinterest.com.mx/ferllera/bullitt/

The First and the Best James Bond 007!

Remembering Sean Connery on his birthday. The first and the best James Bond 007!

The Last Time We Saw Every 007...

Best Bond farewell? Sean Connery, without a doubt!

NO TIME TO DIE...

 Just came back from watching NO TIME TO DIE. What a huge disappointment!!!! The theme song, unremarkable, dull and forgettable.  Brings you completely down.  The villain is pathetic. Blofeld has no weight whatsoever in the plot. Ana De Armas is easily the best thing in the entire movie. It’s obvious the producers are taking 007 into a very different direction, one that I am not interested in following. Good bye 007, and good riddance!  I’ll keep watching Sean Connery and Roger Moore over and over till I die!!