I wrote this seven years ago, too, for Themestream.
Lesser-grossing films have had sequels, thus, here is my idea for the follow-up to the biggest moneymaker of all time:
Several years after the sinking of the H.M.S. Titanic, it has been revealed that passenger Molly Brown (played by Kathy Bates in the original) has announced that the "Star of Omar," a centuries-old bracelet was among the priceless valuables lost on that ill-fated voyage. Brown recalls that the bracelet was in the pants pocket of the tuxedo that she loaned to Jack Dawson (Leonardo Di Caprio). Valued then at over $40,000, the piece is now worth billions in today's market.
Because the technology now exists which can allow another trek to the ocean's depths, Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton) spearheads another excursion to find the location of the stone in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. In thinking about the story told by Rose (Gloria Stuart), Lovett assumes that the "Star" can be salvaged and he and his crew (now including Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) can make Bill Gates look like a pauper.
Embarking on his quest, Lovett again descends to the site of Titanic's demise in his quest. Knowing that long ago Jack Dawson has become fodder for the sea creatures that inhabit the region, the captain's is relentless in his pursuit of the sunken treasure.However, things take a turn when the underwater explorers discover a submerged spacecraft inhabited by otherworldly creatures. These aliens have been living undisturbed for eons. To their surprise, Lovett and company discovers that Jack Dawson rules the colony. The alien race has the technology to resuscitate the non-living; thus, they were able to bring the dead Dawson back to life. Because the aliens thought him to be unlike anything that they had seen, they made him their "King of the Undersea World." They were not able to halt the aging process, however; thus Dawson (now played by Senator Strom Thurmond) is now over one hundred years old.
Lovett presents his case as to why he and his men have come. He states that they mean no harm and was only seeking the lost item. Dawson, who rules with a tight fist, has the surface-dwellers arrested, demanding that in exchange for the stone they give him his precious Rose.A retrieval craft is sent up and an exhumed Rose (again played by Gloria Stuart) is reunited with her long-lost love.The salvagers return, laden with their booty, and Jack and Rose are now allowed to spend their remaining days in loving splendor.
There you have it: a cost-cutting and effective sequel. Cameron can utilize film from both "Titanic" and "The Abyss." Or he can join with George Lucas and have the undersea kingdom made up of relatives of Jar Jar Binks, which can serve as a tie-in to the next "Star Wars."
All he needs do is talk Celine Dion out of retirement.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Recordings That Send Shivers Up My Spine
As far back as I can recall, music has always played an integral part of my life. Being raised in a household with a piano-playing mother and uncle didn't hurt, either. My dad tried to warble a bit, but his best work was in the shower. For me music has done more than soothed me when down, it is something of which I cannot live without. If I had to lose one of my five senses, I would not relish the loss of my sense of hearing.
If I did, then I would no longer be able to hear the strains, the melodies, and the performances of the following list of recordings that are "Heaven" for my ears. In no particular order have I compiled this list of performances that get my heart pounding with every perfectly blended note. This is a tribute to the artists, the lyricists, the band members, and Thomas Edison, who made all this possible for all to enjoy.
1. Love is Like an Itchin' in My Heart/The Supremes
2. That's Life/Frank Sinatra
3. Send in the Clowns/Judy Collins
4. Summertime/cast from the Broadway Show
5. Love Shack/The B-52's
6. Stayin' Alive/The Bee Gees
7. Fanny (Be Tender With Your Heart)/The Bee Gees
8. Yesterday/The Beatles
9. I Want to Take You Higher/Sly and the Family Stone
10. You Make Me Feel (like a Natural Woman)/Aretha Franklin
11. Until You Come Back to Me (That's All I'm Gonna Do)-Aretha Franklin
12. Amazing Grace -Jessye Norman
13. I'm Every Woman-Chaka Khan
14. Superstition -Stevie Wonder
15. Do I Do -Stevie Wonder
16. As-Stevie Wonder
17. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds-The Beatles
18. Something-The Beatles
19. All You Need is Love-The Beatles
20. Over the Rainbow-Judy Garland
21. Crazy-Patsy Cline
22. What's Goin' On-Marvin Gaye
23. I Want You-Marvin Gaye
24. Old Time Rock & Roll-Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
25. Climb Every Mountain-from the Broadway musical "The Sound of Music"
26. New York, New York-Frank Sinatra
27. I Left My Heart in San Francisco-Tony Bennet
28. Fever-Peggy Lee
29. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas-anyone
30. The Christmas Song-Nat "King" Cole
31. This Christmas-Donny Hathaway
32. Theme from "Goldfinger"-Shirley Bassey
33. Johnny Angel-Shelley Fabares
34. Macarther Park-both the Richard Harris and Donna Summer renditions
35. Let's Stay Together-both versions by Al Green & Tina Turner, respectively
36. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy-The Andrews Sisters
37. Freak Out-Chic
38. Good Times-Chic
39. People-Barbara Streisand
40. Love Me Tender-Elvis Presley
41. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas–Bing Crosby
42. Never Can Say Goodbye-The Jackson 5
43. Bennie and the Jets-Elton John
44. Nessun Dorma-Aretha Franklin
45. The Look of Love-Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, as well as Isaac Hayes's version
46. I Will Survive-Gloria Gaynor
47. Rescue Me-Fontella Bass
48. Stormy Weather-Lena Horne
49. Never, Never Gonna Give You Up-Barry White
50. Freeway of Love-Aretha Franklin
51. Midnight at the Oasis-Maria Muldar
52. You Don't Bring Me Flowers-Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond
53. People-Barbara Streisand
54. Somewhere-Barbara Streisand
55. Sexual Healing-Marvin Gaye
56. 1999-Prince
57. When Doves Cry-Prince
58. Baby, I'm a Star-Prince
59. (Come on, Baby) Light My Fire-Jose Feliciano
60. Ode to Billy Joe-Bobbie Gentry
61. Ain't No Mountain High Enough-both the Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell and Diana Ross versions
62. Ebb Tide-Nancy Wilson
63. Shake Your Groove Thing-Peaches & Herb
64. Can You Feel What I'm Saying-Minnie Riperton
65. Get Down Tonight-KC & the Sunshine Band
66. Copacabana-Barry Manilow
67. Chuck-E's in Love-Rickie Lee Jones
68. Dancing Queen-ABBA
69. I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round)-Alicia Bridges
70. Take a Bow-Madonna
71. Vogue-Madonna
72. When I Need You-Leo Sayer
73. Flashlight-Parliament
74. Knee Deep-Parliament
75. 1812 Overture-Arthur Fieldler and the Boston Pops
76. And I'm Telling You, I Ain't Goin'-Jennifer Holiday
77. Great Balls of Fire-Jerry Lee Lewis
78. Strange Fruit-Billie Holliday
79. The Man That Got Away-Judy Garland
80. You and I-Rick James
81. Haven't Got Time for the Pain-Carly Simon
82. I'm Coming Home-The Spinners
83. Nobody Does it Better (theme from "The Spy Who Loved Me")-Carly Simon
84. You're No Good-Linda Ronstadt
85. Don't Wanna Fall in Love-Jane Child
86. Notorious-Duran Duran
87. Let's Dance-David Bowie
88. I Can't Believe that You Love Me-Barry White
89. Boogie Wonderland-Earth, Wind & Fire & the Emotions
90. Got to be Real-Cheryl Lynn
91. Best of My Love-The Emotions
92. Don't Ask My Neighbors-The Emotions
93. Since I Fell for You (1971)-Laura Lee
94. Teach Me Tonight (1977)-Phoebe Snow
95. Ain't Understanding Mellow-Jerry Butler/Brenda Lee Eager
96. Anything for Your Love-Nancy Wilson
97. I Feel for You-Chaka Khan
98. Vertigo/Relight My Fire-Dan Hartman
99. Deja vu-Dionne Warwick and Isaac Hayes
100. I'm Not in Love-10cc
101. Smiling Faces Sometimes-The Temptations
Whew! It is obvious that I have a lot of free time on my hands. Rolling Stone, and all you other compilers of lists, eat your hearts out!
If I did, then I would no longer be able to hear the strains, the melodies, and the performances of the following list of recordings that are "Heaven" for my ears. In no particular order have I compiled this list of performances that get my heart pounding with every perfectly blended note. This is a tribute to the artists, the lyricists, the band members, and Thomas Edison, who made all this possible for all to enjoy.
1. Love is Like an Itchin' in My Heart/The Supremes
2. That's Life/Frank Sinatra
3. Send in the Clowns/Judy Collins
4. Summertime/cast from the Broadway Show
5. Love Shack/The B-52's
6. Stayin' Alive/The Bee Gees
7. Fanny (Be Tender With Your Heart)/The Bee Gees
8. Yesterday/The Beatles
9. I Want to Take You Higher/Sly and the Family Stone
10. You Make Me Feel (like a Natural Woman)/Aretha Franklin
11. Until You Come Back to Me (That's All I'm Gonna Do)-Aretha Franklin
12. Amazing Grace -Jessye Norman
13. I'm Every Woman-Chaka Khan
14. Superstition -Stevie Wonder
15. Do I Do -Stevie Wonder
16. As-Stevie Wonder
17. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds-The Beatles
18. Something-The Beatles
19. All You Need is Love-The Beatles
20. Over the Rainbow-Judy Garland
21. Crazy-Patsy Cline
22. What's Goin' On-Marvin Gaye
23. I Want You-Marvin Gaye
24. Old Time Rock & Roll-Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
25. Climb Every Mountain-from the Broadway musical "The Sound of Music"
26. New York, New York-Frank Sinatra
27. I Left My Heart in San Francisco-Tony Bennet
28. Fever-Peggy Lee
29. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas-anyone
30. The Christmas Song-Nat "King" Cole
31. This Christmas-Donny Hathaway
32. Theme from "Goldfinger"-Shirley Bassey
33. Johnny Angel-Shelley Fabares
34. Macarther Park-both the Richard Harris and Donna Summer renditions
35. Let's Stay Together-both versions by Al Green & Tina Turner, respectively
36. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy-The Andrews Sisters
37. Freak Out-Chic
38. Good Times-Chic
39. People-Barbara Streisand
40. Love Me Tender-Elvis Presley
41. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas–Bing Crosby
42. Never Can Say Goodbye-The Jackson 5
43. Bennie and the Jets-Elton John
44. Nessun Dorma-Aretha Franklin
45. The Look of Love-Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, as well as Isaac Hayes's version
46. I Will Survive-Gloria Gaynor
47. Rescue Me-Fontella Bass
48. Stormy Weather-Lena Horne
49. Never, Never Gonna Give You Up-Barry White
50. Freeway of Love-Aretha Franklin
51. Midnight at the Oasis-Maria Muldar
52. You Don't Bring Me Flowers-Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond
53. People-Barbara Streisand
54. Somewhere-Barbara Streisand
55. Sexual Healing-Marvin Gaye
56. 1999-Prince
57. When Doves Cry-Prince
58. Baby, I'm a Star-Prince
59. (Come on, Baby) Light My Fire-Jose Feliciano
60. Ode to Billy Joe-Bobbie Gentry
61. Ain't No Mountain High Enough-both the Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell and Diana Ross versions
62. Ebb Tide-Nancy Wilson
63. Shake Your Groove Thing-Peaches & Herb
64. Can You Feel What I'm Saying-Minnie Riperton
65. Get Down Tonight-KC & the Sunshine Band
66. Copacabana-Barry Manilow
67. Chuck-E's in Love-Rickie Lee Jones
68. Dancing Queen-ABBA
69. I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round)-Alicia Bridges
70. Take a Bow-Madonna
71. Vogue-Madonna
72. When I Need You-Leo Sayer
73. Flashlight-Parliament
74. Knee Deep-Parliament
75. 1812 Overture-Arthur Fieldler and the Boston Pops
76. And I'm Telling You, I Ain't Goin'-Jennifer Holiday
77. Great Balls of Fire-Jerry Lee Lewis
78. Strange Fruit-Billie Holliday
79. The Man That Got Away-Judy Garland
80. You and I-Rick James
81. Haven't Got Time for the Pain-Carly Simon
82. I'm Coming Home-The Spinners
83. Nobody Does it Better (theme from "The Spy Who Loved Me")-Carly Simon
84. You're No Good-Linda Ronstadt
85. Don't Wanna Fall in Love-Jane Child
86. Notorious-Duran Duran
87. Let's Dance-David Bowie
88. I Can't Believe that You Love Me-Barry White
89. Boogie Wonderland-Earth, Wind & Fire & the Emotions
90. Got to be Real-Cheryl Lynn
91. Best of My Love-The Emotions
92. Don't Ask My Neighbors-The Emotions
93. Since I Fell for You (1971)-Laura Lee
94. Teach Me Tonight (1977)-Phoebe Snow
95. Ain't Understanding Mellow-Jerry Butler/Brenda Lee Eager
96. Anything for Your Love-Nancy Wilson
97. I Feel for You-Chaka Khan
98. Vertigo/Relight My Fire-Dan Hartman
99. Deja vu-Dionne Warwick and Isaac Hayes
100. I'm Not in Love-10cc
101. Smiling Faces Sometimes-The Temptations
Whew! It is obvious that I have a lot of free time on my hands. Rolling Stone, and all you other compilers of lists, eat your hearts out!
Larry Hagman: A Texan for All Seasons
With the ascension of George W. Bush to the rank of "leader of the Free World," seven years ago, it would seem that all things Texan are becoming in vogue. Well, I don't know if that is a long-lasting trend, but I want to pay tribute to one of the Lone Star State's premier sons and one of Hollywood's underrated and beloved talents: Larry Hagman, the once and always JR Ewing of "Dallas."
It is hard to believe that almost three decades ago, in 1978, the actor formerly known as Tony Nelson of "I Dream of Jeannie" would transform himself from that bumbling astronaut to the icon of corporate greed, Mr. Ewing. Never before had such a deliciously evil character graced the small screen.
Each week, Hagman's J.R. would delve into his malicious bag of tricks and wreck havoc on all who entered into his circle. He made life hell for his siblings Bobby (Patrick Duffy), Gary (Ted Shackleford), and "black sheep" Ray (Steve Kanaly). He was a thorn in the side of their respective spouses, and forced his own better half, Sue Ellen (marvelously played by Linda Gray) into an asylum for her repeated bouts with alcoholism. Hey, if you were married to such a disreputable shark, you'd be a lush, too.
Even JR's mother, Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) was fodder for his machinations. He didn't care much for her second husband (film and stage star Howard Keel) after the death of his beloved "daddy" Jock (the late Jim Davis). Competing with father-in-law for the affections of mother as well as control of the family, Ewing did as much as he could to foil the relationship.
As a major player in the Texas oil market, JR accumulated many enemies, chief among them Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval), brother to Pam (Victoria Principal), Bobby's much beset-upon wife. Their continuing rivalry lasted the entire 13-year-run of the series with Barnes constantly being upstaged by the deliciously crafty JR.
With the exception of his mother, sister-in-law Pam, and nymphomaniac niece Lucy (Charlene Tilton), there seemed to be no woman that JR would not bed. The bedroom became Ewing's company "subsidiary" where deals were "consummated," for want of a better word. It is no wonder that he was loathed by most of Dallas's male population.
I realize that the character's actions and lines were the creation of a fine and gifted group of writers. However, Hagman brought all of this to life with his vivid portrayal. So popular was the character during the show's heyday, the "Who Shot JR?" still remains a Neilson ratings powerhouse. It is beyond me why he never received an Emmy for his outstanding work. Even more than a decade after the last first-run episode was shot, Hagman's JR is still etched in the memory of American consciousness.
William Forsythe's "Blake Carrington," "Joan Collins's "Alexis Carrington-Colby," or even William Devane's "Greg Summer" could not hold a candle to Hagman in the acting department.
Not bad for a guy whose real mother, Mary Martin, is lovingly remembered donned in tights as Peter Pan!Texans can, at least, be proud of this native son.
The above is an article that I originally wrote for the now-defunct "Themestream" website. It is written here in its original form, with a few modification.
It is hard to believe that almost three decades ago, in 1978, the actor formerly known as Tony Nelson of "I Dream of Jeannie" would transform himself from that bumbling astronaut to the icon of corporate greed, Mr. Ewing. Never before had such a deliciously evil character graced the small screen.
Each week, Hagman's J.R. would delve into his malicious bag of tricks and wreck havoc on all who entered into his circle. He made life hell for his siblings Bobby (Patrick Duffy), Gary (Ted Shackleford), and "black sheep" Ray (Steve Kanaly). He was a thorn in the side of their respective spouses, and forced his own better half, Sue Ellen (marvelously played by Linda Gray) into an asylum for her repeated bouts with alcoholism. Hey, if you were married to such a disreputable shark, you'd be a lush, too.
Even JR's mother, Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) was fodder for his machinations. He didn't care much for her second husband (film and stage star Howard Keel) after the death of his beloved "daddy" Jock (the late Jim Davis). Competing with father-in-law for the affections of mother as well as control of the family, Ewing did as much as he could to foil the relationship.
As a major player in the Texas oil market, JR accumulated many enemies, chief among them Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval), brother to Pam (Victoria Principal), Bobby's much beset-upon wife. Their continuing rivalry lasted the entire 13-year-run of the series with Barnes constantly being upstaged by the deliciously crafty JR.
With the exception of his mother, sister-in-law Pam, and nymphomaniac niece Lucy (Charlene Tilton), there seemed to be no woman that JR would not bed. The bedroom became Ewing's company "subsidiary" where deals were "consummated," for want of a better word. It is no wonder that he was loathed by most of Dallas's male population.
I realize that the character's actions and lines were the creation of a fine and gifted group of writers. However, Hagman brought all of this to life with his vivid portrayal. So popular was the character during the show's heyday, the "Who Shot JR?" still remains a Neilson ratings powerhouse. It is beyond me why he never received an Emmy for his outstanding work. Even more than a decade after the last first-run episode was shot, Hagman's JR is still etched in the memory of American consciousness.
William Forsythe's "Blake Carrington," "Joan Collins's "Alexis Carrington-Colby," or even William Devane's "Greg Summer" could not hold a candle to Hagman in the acting department.
Not bad for a guy whose real mother, Mary Martin, is lovingly remembered donned in tights as Peter Pan!Texans can, at least, be proud of this native son.
The above is an article that I originally wrote for the now-defunct "Themestream" website. It is written here in its original form, with a few modification.
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