1. Kate Jackson and Cheryl Ladd starred in the 1973 horror film, Satan’s School for Girls before they worked together as Charlie’s Angels.

2. David Copperfield, the magician and ex-beau of supermodel Claudia Schiffer, appeared in Terror Train along with scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis.

3. Prana Films, the company that produced the 1922 silent film horror classic, Nosferatu, declared bankruptcy after the film’s release to avoid paying copyright infringement costs to Florence Stoker, the irate widow of deceased Dracula novelist, Bram Stoker.

4. Wes Craven, the director of the Nightmare on Elm Street series, says that Freddy Krueger was named after a kid who bullied him in school. His appearance was based on a hobo who scared the horror master when he was a child.

5. The original title of Hellraiser, horror writer Clive Barker’s directorial debut, was Sadomasochists from Beyond the Grave.

6. Daria Nicolodi was Dario Argento’s long-time partner. She collaborated with him on a number of his films including the classics Deep Red: The Hatchet Murders and Suspiria. She is also the mother of Asia Argento.

7. John Landis directed An American Werewolf in London. He wrote the screenplay for the film when he was only 19. He would go on to direct one of the most famous - and expensive - music videos of all time, Michael Jackson ’s Thriller.

8. The apartment on Prospect Avenue in Washington, D.C. where many of the scenes of The Exorcist were filmed, was once inhabited by William Peter Blatty, the author of the novel on which the film was based. He lived there while a student at Georgetown University.

9. Linda Hamilton was moonlighting during her stint as Vicki in Children of the Corn. She was working on The Terminator at the same time.

10. The fake blood used in the original Dawn of the Dead was created from a mixture of food coloring, peanut butter and cane sugar syrup.

11. The house used in Rob Zombie’s House of 1,000 Corpses was the same house used in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

12. Leatherface, the terrifying character from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre films, is based on a real-life serial killer, Ed Gein. Gein liked to dress up in the skin of his victims. This habit also inspired Thomas Harris, the writer of The Silence of the Lambs. His Buffalo Bill character did the same thing.

13. Cary Elwes, who starred as Larry, an unwitting player in the Jigsaw puzzle killer’s game from the 2004 film, Saw, has played a serial killer himself. He was Ted Bundy in The Green River Killer and the unlikely murderer in Kiss the Girls with Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman.

14. Sigourney Weaver was nominated for an academy award as Best Actress - her first nomination - for her portrayal of Ellen Ripley in the 1986 sci-fi / horror classic, Aliens, the sequel of the 1979 original Alien.

15. Charles Lee Ray, the name given to the maniacal killer whose soul comes to inhabit a doll we all know better as Chucky, from the Child’s Play movies, is a combination of three horrifying - and real-life murderers. “Charles” comes from Charles Manson, “Lee” from Lee Harvey Oswald and “Ray” from James Earl Ray.

16. Stephen King supposedly wrote the part of Amanda in Cat’s Eye with Drew Barrymore in mind. She was a family friend of the King’s who loved cats. Drew once said that, ‘at night, Stephen would tell the best scary stories ever’.

17. Adrienne Barbeau was married to horror master, John Carpenter, from 1979-1984. She appeared in The Fog, Escape from New York, Someone’s Watching Me and Creepshow during that time.

18. Johnny Depp and Patricia Arquette both appeared in Nightmare on Elm Street films. Depp was Glen in the original Elm Street and Patricia, sister of Rosanna, David and Alexis, starred in the 3rd installment, which is also known as Dream Warriors.

19. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a silent film created in Germany during the tail end of World War I (1919). It is credited as the first modern-horror movie.

20. In the year 2000, the Library of Congress in the United States declared the 1928 horror film, Fall of the House of Usher, which is based on the Edgar Allen Poe story of the same name, as ‘culturally significant’. It was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

21. Mario Bava, the director of the 1960 horror classic, Black Sunday (La Maschera del Demonio) is the father of Lamberto Bava, who directed the Demons´ films. He also worked with Dario Argento on his 1980 film, Inferno.

22. Jamie Lee Curtis didn’t have to audition for her role as Kim Hammond in Prom Night (1980). She won the role based on her previous horror film work which included Halloween, Terror Train and The Fog.

23. In Psycho the 1960 film starring Jamie Lee Curtis’ mama, Janet Leigh, chocolate sauce was used to simulate the blood in the shower scene. Hitchcock stabbed a melon with a knife to create the slashing sounds.

24. Little Shop of Horrors (1960) is the fastest film ever shot. Roger B. Corman, a producer behind a multitude of B-movie classics, used the camera himself. Each scene was shot in one take. Filming was completed in two days and one night.

25. Poltergeist was directed by Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre), not Steven Spielberg. Spielberg was a producer of the film, however.

It’s tough finding quality movies, isn’t it? Here are 10 quality films you may have missed.

“C’est arrivé près de chez vous”: This foreign film will have you laughing your ass off, but you will feel like you are going to Hell for doing so. Also known as “Man Bites Dog,” this 1992 mockumentary is about a camera crew who follows around a serial killer in action. This dark comedy/drama is hysterical, shocking, and downright bizarre. “C’est arrivé près de chez vous” takes place in Belgium and is spoken in French. Film is rated NC-17.

“Swimming Pool”: This 2003 film is about a British mystery author named Sarah, who is suffering from writer’s block, so she accepts an offer from her publisher to move into his house in France with hopes that a change of scenery will give her a fresh start and inspiration to finish her book. The publisher’s daughter, a gorgeous girl name Julie, unexpectedly moves in with Sarah and she draws inspiration for her book from Julie’s wild lifestyle. Although this film does move at a plodding place, a lot is happening beneath the surface. The ending of this film, which I will not spoil, will leave you questioning what actually may or may not have transpired during this mystery/drama. Film is rated R.

“Hi, Mom!”: Brian De Palma directs this 1970 film, which depicts life in the United States during the 1960’s. This satire looks at such topics as racism and manipulation of the masses through the media. A young Robert DeNiro gives an excellent performance as an ex Vietnam Veteran. Film is rated R.

“The Ice Storm”: This 1997 film, featuring the likes of Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Tobey Maguire, Elijah Wood, Christina Ricci and Katie Holmes, is about a few Connecticut families in the early 1970s who find their lives spiraling out of control. This drama, directed by Ang Lee, is a very dark and honest film. Don’t expect to see any Hollywood ending here. Film is rated R.

“Sleepers:” Despite featuring stars such as Kevin Bacon, Robert DeNiro, Brad Pitt, Minnie Driver and Dustin Hoffman, “Sleepers” is probably one of the more overlooked and underrated films of the 90s. This film is about a about a group of young boys who commit a prank that goes wrong and they are then sent to a detention center where they are grossly mistreated. Years later, now as adults, they have the chance to get revenge on the man who harmed them. This crime/ drama/ thriller is definitely worth seeing. Film is rated R.

“The Woodsman:” Kevin Bacon stars in this 2004 film about a pedophile who attempts to start a new life after 12 years in prison. Bacon is superb and his real-life wife, Kyra Sedgwick, also turns in a strong performance. Well-made film on a very controversial subject. Film is rated R.

“In Good Company”: This movie made just over $45 million at the box office. It was not a total flop, but it is pretty sad that a good movie like this can only make that much, considering a piece of garbage like “Big Momma’s House 2” has grossed over $54 million and counting. “In Good Company” is a well-made film about a 51-year-old advertising executive played by Dennis Quaid, who has to work for a boss (Topher Grace) that is half his age. This 2004 film also features a very good performance by Scarlett Johansson. It is witty, charming, and definitely worth seeing. Film is rated PG-13.

“Sweet Sixteen”: Ken Loach directs this 2002 film drama about a young Scottish boy named Liam, who desperately wants to live a normal life with his mother once she gets out of prison. This film is in English, but the accents are so thick that you may need the subtitles. Excellent film though. Film is rated R.

“Before Sunset”: It is hard to believe that this film made just over $5 million at the box office. This film, which stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as two people who have seen each other for the first time in nine years following a weekend they shared together in Vienna, has some of the most real dialogue and real moments that I have ever seen in film. This 2004 Richard Linklater film also has one of the best endings in recent memory. Great follow-up to the 1995 film “Before Sunrise.” Film is rated R.

“Play it Again, Sam”: Woody Allen stars as Allen Felix in this 1972 comedy / romance about a recently divorced film critic who tries to get over his wife by dating again. Hysterical film. Allen wrote the screenplay for this, and Herbert Ross directed it. Diane Keaton turns in a fantastic performance. Film is rated PG.

Keep these movies in mind next time you are at the video store and are unsure what to rent.

Please add your comments as to which good movies your recommend.

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If you have seen quite a few movies it can sometimes be difficult to find a diamond in the rough. Here is a list of some good movies you may have missed.

“The King of Comedy”: Martin Scorsese’s forgotten dark comedy / drama about an aspiring comic, played by Robert DeNiro, who will go to great lengths to become successful in showbiz. DeNiro is hysterical in this film, in a creepy, dark and weird sort-of-way. This film, which came out in 1983, is masterfully directed by Scorsese, and also features some great performances by Jerry Lewis (as himself) and Sandra Bernhard.

“Tape”: If you like car chases and explosions, well, this movie is not for you. Richard Linklater’s 2001 film is about three old high school friends who discuss some events that happened during their high school years in a motel room in Michigan. This whole film literally takes place in a motel, but if you think it’s boring, think again. The acting is superb, the script is intelligent, and the ambiguity of this film will have you thinking about what may or may not have happened for days.

“Dear Frankie”: This 2004 British film is about a deaf boy who desperately wants to meet up with his father that he has never seen. The movie features some outstanding performances by Jack McElhone (Frankie) and Emily Mortimer (Lizzie).

“Mean Creek”: This 2004 drama/thriller, which is written and directed by Jacob Aaron Estes, is an outstanding look at teenagers who seek revenge on a bully. It is a very accurate and heartbreaking portrayal of how kids sometimes act during adolescence. Rory Culkin and others give very strong performances.

“Open Water”: You may have missed this 2003 movie because you heard bad things about it and decided to not see it. Give it a chance. This movie is very underrated. It’s a film about a couple that goes scuba diving in the water and is stuck in the middle of the ocean after their tour boat mistakenly leaves them. Yes, a good chunk of this movie takes place in the ocean, it’s very low budget, and the acting is not exactly Oscar-worthy. But that is why the film succeeds. It comes across as so real that it is frightening. I will not spoil the ending, but it is one of the best in recent memory. It literally left me speechless.

“This Boy’s Life”: This 1993 drama is about a young boy and his mother who flee from his abusive father. Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro turn in very good performances in this film.

“In America”: Based on true events, this 2002 film is a fantastic look at an Irish immigrant family adjusting to life in the U.S. Sisters Sarah and Emma Bolger give two of the greatest child performances that I have ever seen. Samantha Morton of “Minority Report” fame and Paddy Considine are excellent as the girls’ parents. This movie will surely touch you.

“Secretary”: In this 2002 drama/dark comedy/romance, Maggie Gyllenhaal works as a secretary after she is recently released from a mental hospital, and she then starts having an affair with her boss played by James Spade of “Boston Legal” fame. Very strong performances and an original script make this one worth watching.

“Ghost World”: This is an excellent film starring Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson as two high school graduates who find out that the real world is not all it’s cracked up to be. Steve Buscemi is excellent as the middle-aged loser the girls try and play a prank on. This 2001 film’s conclusion is great.

“Welcome to The Dollhouse” directed by Todd Solondz, this 1995 drama/dark comedy is the story of a 13-year-old girl who is picked on both at school and at home. You want to laugh at her for the verbal abuse she receives, but then you remember how painful it was to get picked on at that age. Excellent film.

Keep these movies in mind next time you are not sure what to rent. You will not be disappointed.

War films abound and each year sees new releases on the subject — everything from ancient battles to the most recent conflicts. The following selections showcase the struggles and challenges war brings to a variety of points of view. The following films from different historical wars portray various angles of the crisis that impact different parties — commanders, soldiers, reporters, women, children, civilians, etc… They make for dramatic viewing based on historical accuracies.

Saving Private Ryan is a recent dramatic replication of D-Day when the allies landed in France during the darkest days of WWII to face the Germans. Starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon, this Steven Spielberg offering is a graphic telling of the race to save the last of a family of fighting brothers. Critically acclaimed, this is the closest thing to D-Day most of us will ever witness.

Apocalypse Now, though a war film classic, still deserves acclaim from modern audiences. Based on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, it is reset during the Vietnam conflict and stars Marlon Brando and Charlie Sheen. While portraying the war and its horrific atmosphere, it also delves into the corruption of power, the dark acts that humans seem capable of inflicting.

Zulu starring a young Michael Caine is a war film based on the British conflict with the Zulu tribes of the South African region. Originally released in 1964, this film is based on a true event — when 140 British soldiers faced the impossible task of defending themselves against 4,000 Zulu warriors.

Paradise Road, also based on true events, tells the story of women trapped behind enemy lines and held by the Japanese in prison camps on the island of Sumatra during WWII. While portraying the hardship the women faced in captivity with graphic realism, it also demonstrates their hope and courage demonstrated by their use of music to uplift them in their struggles. The film stars Glenn Close, Julianna Margolis and Jennifer Ehle.

Gettysburg is a testament to the generals — to the commanders and soldiers of the Civil War. The film is lengthy, but so factually detailed as to bring the history of this pivotal battle to life. Also graphic, it is a star-studded cast that acts so brilliantly you forget who they are — they are soldiers and the movie is well-deserving of its critical acclaim.

The Patriot is the blockbuster featuring Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger in a film about the Revolutionary War. All the action and period history one comes to expect from a film of this nature — it does everything right: good historical detail, dramatic battle scenes and a fine back story that add the personal touch to draw in its audience — an excellent film about a nation’s birth.

Enemy at the Gates stars Jude Law and Rachel Weiss. It is a film about the battle of Stalingrad, but is specifically about the role of snipers with a dramatic back-story that is at once believable as it is compelling. The Russians faced off with the Germans in one of WWII’s bloodiest battles which reduced most of the city to rubble. It does a good job retelling a battle that most Americans may not be familiar with.

A Very Long Engagement is a foreign film set during WWI, or rather, the years just after but with multiple flashbacks to the war. Several men are sent to no man’s land by their own troops as punishment for self-inflicted wounds. One woman does her utmost to find out if any survived including her lover. An interesting tale about a practice that has a basis in truth.

Platoon is an interesting selection because it does not portray the traditional war story of enemy against enemy. Instead, it depicts the dilemma of fighting within ones own ranks — when one’s fellow soldiers are corrupt. Set during the Vietnam War, it is also a graphic portrayal of war from an angle not usually seen. Fine acting from its stars — Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen.

The Killing Fields, also based on fact, is from the point of view of reporters caught in Cambodia at the time the Khmer Rouge took over — during the Vietnam War era. Starring Sam Waterson, Haing S. Ngor and John Malkovich, this award-winning film depicts the plight of war correspondents struggling to report with accuracy and forced to risk their lives to get their stories to press.

Hope and Glory is a British film about a boy’s memory of the Blitz — German air raids across London and what he and is family faced with both humor and desperation. One laughs and cries equally hard during this movie which will probably go down as a classic.

Blackhawk Down depicts the battle U.S. troops faced with the Somalis during the 1990s. The city of Mogadishu is the scene of the battle when a handful of troops seemed to have the whole city against them. Highly dramatic and realistic, it showcases the plight of combat troops in desperate situations.

Life is Beautiful is a foreign film set in Italy. Its poignancy is breathtaking. This is a holocaust film that is remarkably uplifting — see it for that irony alone. In any case, one family faces the camps with both imagination and ingenuity.

Master and Commander is war at sea when ships depended on its sailors to man the sails of galleons and corsairs. Starring Russel Crowe, this adventure is another realistic offering about war at sea in the era of cannon fire when the Brits faced off against the French in every corner of the watery world.

Finally, Titus features the Shakespearian play brought to life showcasing Anthony Hopkins as the Roman general who captures a Goth queen. Graphically dark, it is ancient war and intrigue brought to the screen. The film also stars Jessica Lange at her wicked best.

Of course, there are many fine war films not mentioned—one could certainly include The Deerslayer, Tora Tora Tora, Dances with Wolves, etc…but these are a few that provide different wars seem from differing angles.

Let me know whether you enjoyed these war movies, and whether there are any other war movies you enjoyed, by adding your comment below.

There is no shortage of films that portray dogs. The following article features just a few standouts dog-lovers can now rent on DVD. Most are geared for families and both children and adults are bound to love them.

My Dog Skip is as delightful as it is poignant. One of the best dog movies released in the last decade, it has universal appeal. Set in a small Mississippi town, it is a young boy’s coming of age story as well as the story of a family forever changed with the introduction of a dog named Skip.

Because of Winn-Dixie is based on the Newberry Award winning novel by Kate DiCamillo. It is the coming of age story of a young girl. Her sour luck changes when she meets up with a mutt near her local grocery store.

Where the Red Fern Grows in based on the novel of the same name by Wilson Rawls and features a couple of coon-hunting hounds and a young boy’s love for them. This one gets my top pick for best dog movie.

The Shaggy Dog is a classic Disney fantasy recently re-released to Dvd. This comedy portrays a boy is able to transform himself into an Old English Sheep Dog, a.k.a. the shaggy dog. It’s lots of fun for children to imagine life from a dog’s eye view.

Far From Home: Adventures of Yellow Dog is survival story of a boy and his pet yellow lab. After surviving a sailing accident, the two set off to try to survive life in the wilderness. A great film for hard-to-please boys — it’s a film nearly impossible not to pay close attention to.

The Journey of Natty Gann is another survival story — though this one features a girl traveling the rails across America to find her father in the Northwest. Along the way she meets and is accompanied by a wolf-dog. The film also stars a young John Cusack as a fellow rail-rider.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is the hilarious trip taken by three pets — two dogs and a cat — across plains and mountains to find their owners. Don Ameche, Sally Field and Michael J. Fox provide the voices of these animals that have lots of personality.

Snow Dogs is a recent hit starring Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. Based on a Gary Paulsen novel, this film is set in Alaska and stars some snow-loving sled dogs who drive this movie into action. A very good choice for families.

A Dog of Flanders is based on a nineteenth century children’s tale. The adventures of a young orphan named Nello and his dog Patrasche are recounted with lots of period detail.

The Sandlot is the story a group of boys whose baseball games are plagued by a beastly canine. This film is another surefire hit for boys, but girls will certainly enjoy it too!

For animated doggy fun, try All Dogs Go To Heaven. Set it New Orleans during the 1930s, it stars Charlie B. Barkin, a not-so-saintly German Shepherd who cannot go to heaven until he performs a good deed.

There are a few doggy films made just for adults too. Try Must Love Dogs starring Diane Lane and John Cusack and The Truth About Cats and Dogs starring Uma Thurman for a dog-day double-feature.

All of these films are available on DVD to be rented or purchased.

Have I missed any good dog films? What do you think of these dog movies? Let me know by adding your comments below.

When famed Japanese director and writer Akira Kurosawa died in 1998 the film world mourned one of its most inspiring identities.

Kurosawa was a true emperor – his influence spread far and wide beyond his own borders, given homage in a range of western movies, from the `spaghetti westerns’ of the 60s and 70s, to the Star Wars saga.

The man who would be the world’s greatest writer and director was born in Tokyo in 1910, the youngest of nine children. His early life was marred with tragedy. He witnessed the devastation and death caused by an earthquake in 1923, and his beloved older brother Heigo committed suicide.

Kurosawa found solace in art. By the age of 19 he was exhibiting his paintings, but in 1936 his destiny took a hand and he entered to the world of filmmaking. He directed his first film Sugata Sanshiro in 1943, but it wasn’t until 1950 that he made the film that marked as one of the world’s great directors.

Earlier in his career, Kurosawa had worked with a young Japanese actor called Toshiro Mifune. In Rashomon, the two combined forces to begin a movie partnership that would spawn some of the most imitated films in screen history.

In Rashomon, Mifune plays Tajomaru, a bandit accused of killing a samurai and raping his wife. Tajomaru and the injured wife give radically different versions of what happened – a psychic is called in top channel the murdered husband, but a different version of events is heard. Finally a woodcutter who witnessed the crimes offers his own version.

Kurosawa’s many layered way of looking at a story continues to be imitated – as recently as 2002, the Chinese film Hero used the same approach, telling the one story from different points of view.

Kurosawa and Mifune made 16 films together, including Seven Samurai, Yojimbo and Throne of Blood (based on Shakespeare’s MacBeth) and are still widely regarded as one of the most dynamic actor/director teams ever to have existed.

But the collaboration ended in a rift with the completion of Red Beard in 1965 – the red beard Mifune had to grow for the title role kept him from working on other projects and put the actor under financial strain. The two remained estranged for 30 years but were briefly reconciled before both men died.

But the movies from that period of collaboration created an international sensation. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences created a `foreign film’ category of its Oscar awards so that Rashomon could be honored. The character Mifune and Kurosawa created for Yojimbo of the down at heel ronin (masterless samurai) became the inspiration for Clint Eastwood’s nameless character in the spaghetti western `Dollar’ films. Seven Samurai was remade by Hollywood as The Magnificent Seven – even Rashomon was remade by Hollywood as The Outrage. George Lucas cited The Hidden Fortress as a major influence on Star Wars. Lucas also made good use of Kurosawa’s favorite `wipe effect’ to change scenes.

The rift with Mifune, and a failed attempt to direct his first American film Tora! Tora! Tora! led to a bout of depression in 1971, when Kurosawa attempted suicide by slashing his wrists. The attempt failed, but it wasn’t until 1975 that he again won a best Foreign Language Film Oscar for Dersu Azala, which he made in the Soviet Union.

In 1980 he returned to full strength as a director, when admirers Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas helped finance Kagemusha, the story of a poor thief who is recruited to impersonate a dead warlord.

His next film Ran was a Japanese version of King Lear, which set him firmly back on his throne as the Emperor of Film. Ran was an international success, and like Kagemusha, starred Kurosawa’s new muse, actor Tatsuya Nakadai.

Kurosawa made only three more films before his death, and each was an intensely personal retrospective of the events of his own life. Dreams drew on actual dreams Kurosawa had as a child and a young man, presented in eight bittersweet vignettes.

Rhapsody in August looks back at the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki in 1945.

His final film, Madadayo, is a gentle, Goodbye Mr Chips kind of story about a retired schoolteacher. He was planning to make another film when he died of a stroke at 88. His greatest muse and estranged friend Toshiro Mifune had died just ten months earlier.

In 1990, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Kurosawa with a lifetime achievement award. In 1998, George Lucas and Martin Scorsese were among the 35,000 actors, directors and admirers that gathered to mourn him at a public funeral service held at the Kurosawa studios in Yokohama.

One cannot always get a grand sense of a country even when one travels there. The history of a nation and the particular stories bound up in the lives of its inhabitants are not readily apparent in the one- or two-week stints one normally has for vacations. The following films provide a sense of Australia and New Zealand through fictional films and films based on actual facts to give the viewer a greater personal and historical sense of a place and its peoples. Also, the films are simply good and fun to watch.

The Piano, directed by Jane Campion, is set in the wilderness of Victorian-era New Zealand. It stars Holly Hunter who won an Oscar for her marvelous performance of a mute woman who travels to a foreign land with her daughter to marry a man she does not know. A young Anna Paquin also won a supporting Oscar for her portrayal as the woman’s precociously cartwheeling daughter. The piano plays a pivotal role in the machinations of the film’s drama. Beautiful and not to be missed by film connoisseurs.

Rabbit-Proof Fence focuses on the plight of Aboriginal peoples — specifically half-caste children who were removed from their Aboriginal families to be assimilated into the white culture. The film that stars Kenneth Branagh demonstrates strong performances from its young stars — especially from the Everlyn Sampi who plays the eldest girl determined to trek across Australia to return to her home. Based on true events, you will not forget this film once you’ve seen it.

Japanese Story directed by Sue Brooks features actress Toni Collette playing the role of her company’s tour guide to a rich Japanese client. Their subsequent driving tour does not go as planned — but this film is not some comedic misadventure. Instead it is a rich documentation of person and place, of individual culture and universal humanity. It is riveting and will last with the viewer long after the film has been watched.

Gallipoli directed by Peter Weir stars a young Mel Gibson and Mark Lee as fast friends in Australia during World War I. The initial part of the film is set in western Australia and the desert in which the pair become stranded. The latter half of the film sees them enlist in the Australian army, train under the pyramids in Egypt and meet their separate fates in Turkey. This powerful film should not be missed — it is rare to find this part of the Great War on film and the storyline is quite well-written.

Oscar and Lucinda stars Cate Blanchett and Ralph Fiennes in a unique film set in the Australian outback. The captivating scenes are visually stunning and portray a subtle characterization. Gambling and interest in glass provide the catalysts for the plot which is rather thought-provoking in its odd way. See it simply for the glass church—if nothing more; that is a most brilliant touch!

Other must-see Aussie films include The Adventures of Priscilla, Picnic at Hanging Rock and Walkabout. As many of today’s big screen stars hail from Australia, we may see more films from its actors and directors set there.

Let me know what you think of these films, or can recommend any other movies from down under.

I recently posted a number of questions about movies. Here are the answers.

1.) Allison Janney

2.) Daniel Craig

3.) Ellis Boyd Redding

4.) 12 year’s old. Taxi Driver was shot in the summer of 1975, making Jodie (born November 19, 1962) 12 at the time.

5.) Ethan Hawke

6.) 1939

7.) Gus Van Sant

8.) Gloria Swanson

9.) Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

10.) True: He won Best Supporting Actor for the 1996 film “Jerry Maguire”

11.) “Citizen Kane”

12.) “Titanic”

13.) True: the film is in pre-production

14.) Paul Haggis

15.) “Crash”

1. The role of Lester Burnham in “American Beauty” was originally offered to Chevy Chase and Tom Hanks. Kevin Spacey ended up taking the part.

2. Tom Cruise became the first actor in history to star in five consecutive films that grossed $100 million in domestic release; “A Few Good Men” (1992), “The Firm” (1993), “Interview With The Vampire” (1994), “Mission Impossible” (1996) and “Jerry Maguire” (1996).

3. According to Forbes Magazine, “King Kong,” which cost $207 million to make, is the sixth most expensive Hollywood film ever made. The most expensive ever was the 1963 film “Cleopatra,” which would cost $286.4 million to make today.

4. Actress Laura Linney, who has appeared in films such as “Kinsey” and “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” lives in Connecticut near actors Kevin Bacon and Michael J. Fox.

5. Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, and Dustin Hoffman were all offered the part of Michael Corleone in “The Godfather,” but all refused.