Oh no, not another LIST

Guess what Rick (played by Humphrey Bogart) ISN'T saying to Sam in this scene from the 1942 classic, Casablanca? 

One of the most misremembered lines in film history comes from this movie. What is commonly remembered is "Play it again, Sam."

What Rick actually said is "You played it for her, you can play it for me." (it's at 1:46 of the clip).

Similarly, in Empire Strikes Back, when Darth Vader finally takes responsibility for being Luke's father - (Guess they didn't have Child Support Services in a Galaxy, Far, Far Away) - Vader is misremembered to have said "Luke, I am your father."

What Vader actually said was "No. I am your father."

However, a coworker - and others - who haven't seen these movies wouldn't know those quotes - or even the mistaken quotes. With that ... wait for it ... Here ... wait for it ... is MY list of the 10 movies that if you claim to like movies - you need to see before you die:

1. Gone with the Wind - I read the book during my spring break of my junior year of high school and then watched the movie. The story, the backstory and Clark Gable chucking the deuces is epic.

2. Ben Hur - Chariot races, ocean battles ... and a cameo by Jesus. This is an early example of a movie by men for me.

3. Casablanca - Boy meets girl, boy loses girl in World War II, boy and girl meet in gin joint, girl uses boy, boy loses girl, boy gains beautiful friend. That's the condensed version, but there's singing, kissing, and gun-play in between.

4. The Godfather I & II - I lump the first two movies together because they were were an extension of one film. Fredo was responsible for Vito almost getting whacked in Part I and got the kiss of death in Part II.

5. Star Wars - An incredible tale of boy meets girl, who turns out to be his sister; fights villain, who turns out to be his father; meets mentor, who dies nobly. Oh, and Han shot first.

6. Pulp Fiction - We found out what a Royale With Cheese is, how to dispose of a headless body and how to revive someone who ODs on heroin.

7. Hoosiers - A true-story about the little team that could. They ran the Picket Fence, but didn't get caught watching the paint dry.

8. Rocky II - Forget about the original - which won the Oscar for Best Picture. Why? Because Rocky LOST!! The sequel shows the dangers of illiteracy, commitment to family and the true resolution: Yo Adrian, I did it!

9. Forrest Gump - This movie had more catchphrases than almost any movie in history. I think I might watch the movie later one to see how many catchphrases there are. My favorite? "Run Forrest, run!"

10. Top Gun  - This is the movie that started the conversation in my office. A 27-year-old colleague had NEVER seen this movie (or Star Wars, for that matter). In honor of that colleague - and another who loved this movie for the VOLLEYBALL SCENE ... here you go.

Until next time ...

Vacation? I swear we're working ...

This well-muscled guy is President Barack Obama - whom critics say "seems to always be on vacation."

The Prez - who recently announced he was running for reelection - was knocked for playing golf when the recent tragic events in Japan initially unfolded.

At least he wasn't complaining about fellow students making cell phones calls from the library to check on family members.

But how true are the claims that Obama does nothing but spend time frolicking at the beach?

According to factcheck.org, just like the myth that Greedo Shot First, claims of Obama being a vacation-isto are greatly exaggerated.

In his first year in office, Obama spent all or part of 26 days on Vay-Kay.  In comparison, President Reagan spent all or part of 42 days on vacation in his first year. Before telling the nation to "Read My Lips," George H.W. Bush spent all or part of 40 days on vacation in his first year; while George (Dubya) Bush spent all or part of 77 days on vacation in 2001.

Jimmy Carter spent 19 days and Bill Clinton took 21 vacation days.

But the Best Vacation Award goes to the lawyers for the man pictured below:

Yes, that's the same guy. And he - Barry Bonds - isn't on trial for gaining 30 pounds of muscle and 1-2 helmet sizes via "unnatural" methods (allegedly).

He's on trial for allegedly lying to a federal grand jury about  whether of not he used ... "unnatural" methods (allegedly).

However, the lawyers for Bonds rested their case today without calling a single witness.

One could say that the defense thinks the prosecution has done such a great job of mucking up its case that no defense is needed.

Or .. since it is Spring Break, maybe Bonds' lawyers are trying to join Jack Box in Cancun?

Until next time ...

Greedo Shot First .. Why we're here

Who is this guy and why are we here?
The handsome fellow featured in the photo is Greedo, the bounty hunter. He had the misfortune of running into Han Solo in a bar early in the movie Star Wars.
What happens next is what urban legend is made of:

There was an exchange of words and then gunfire. When the puff of smoke cleared, Greedo was slumped over the table dead. Since 1977, the question has raged - Who shot first, Han or Greedo.

The answer depends on which version of the movie you're watching ...

In the original film, it was Han who shot first.

But as hanshootsfirst.org and Peter Howell of the Toronto Star wrote, in subsequent re-releases on video and DVD, Star Wars creator George Lucas changed the scene to make it appear that Greedo shot first because Lucas wanted to make Han look less of a rogue and more of a good guy. 

So what's the answer? To paraphrase Ben Kenobi, both Han and Greedo shot first, depending on your point of view.

This recap is an explanation of what this blog is about, or as Obi-Wan so aptly put it: "You're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view."

Until next time ...