Category: Movies

Any story as it relates to the movie business. For instance, there will be stories about Comedies, Action films, Classics, Love stories etc.

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Below is an excerpt from a movie-related story

Are you spending more time at home due to COVID-19? If so, some travel-related movies might help you better cope with this difficult time in your life. While you can find other things to do in your home, watching an uplifting movie can inspire you. All of these films are available for a fee or free with a trial on streaming video sites like Amazon, Google Play, Apple TV and YouTube

Amélie

Interested in watching a movie about Paris featuring more than 80 enchanting locations? Amélie (2001) is a feel good, romantic comedy about a French waitress (Audrey Tautou) who works in a quintessential Parisian café. Despite not having friends and losing her mother at an early age, she finds her job. In fact, this is in the lively Montmartre area. What’s more, she even has her own apartment nearby. She discovers a hidden treasure left behind by a young boy who previously lived there.

Background Information

After finding the boy and seeing his happiness, she inspires happiness to other people. The film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet was a big hit. In fact, it won Best Film in the European Film Awards.

Eat Pray Love

Largely panned by critics but a box office success, Eat Pray Love (2010) is based upon the 2006 memoir of American author Elizabeth Gilbert. Starring Julia Roberts in the lead role, Eat Pray Love chronicles Gilbert’s solo journey around the world after a painful divorce. Seeking solace in a year long excursion after leaving what seemed like a successful life and career, she visits Italy, India and Bali. There, she tries to find a balance in her mind, body and spirit. The film also stars James Franco, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Javier Bardem, Billy Crudup and Hadi Subiyanto.

Forrest Gump

Love it or hate it, Forrest Gump (1994) is one of the best-known travel-related movies. Starring Tom Hanks, the film covers three decades of his life. What’s more, it showcases some of the most important people and events in American history. For instance, Forrest plays football for Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama and later serves in the Vietnam War. That’s not to mention appearing on the Dick Cavett Show with John Lennon and meeting President Richard Nixon.

Background Information

While the story takes place mainly in Alabama, the travel-related movie features several other American towns and locations. For instance, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Biltmore Estate, Monument Valley and Lincoln Memorial. Described as a magical realism, comedy-drama, Forrest Gump also stars Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson. Sally Field co-stars as Forrest’s mother.

Into The Wild

A travel movie in every imaginable sense, Into the Wild (2007) is as inspiring as it can be discouraging. Primarily set in the desolate wilderness of Alaska, the film is a biographical adventure drama starring Emile Hirsch as Christopher McCandless. A scholar-athlete from Atlanta’s Emory University, McCandless leaves his comfortable lifestyle and wealthy parents to live a nomadic lifestyle. He eventually makes it to Denali National Park, with the tallest mountain in North America. An independent film with a budget of $20 million, the movie features several well known actors and actresses.

Actors In Into The Wild

Oscar-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden stars as Chris McCandless’ mother and acclaimed actor William Hurt as his father. Directed by Sean Penn, Into the Wild also stars Jena Malone, Hal Holbrook, Kristen Stewart, Vince Vaughn and Zach Galifianakis.

Lion

A biographical drama released in 2016, Lion depicts the journey of Indian-born Australian Saroo Brierley who is accidentally separated at age five. Based upon Brierley’s 2013 non-fiction book A Long Way Home, the film stars Dev Patel in the lead role. However it begins when the young protagonist at age five gets separated from his brother after falling asleep on a freight train in Khandwa, India.

Background On The Movie

Upon waking up, he discovers the train is moving and is unable to get off until it arrives days later in Calcutta, a distance of about 1,578 km or 980 miles. Unable to get back home, he ends up homeless before sent to an orphanage. He is adopted by an Australian couple and eventually makes it to Melbourne to study. He finds a girlfriend (Rooney Mara) but is driven to return to his home village to find his mother. Lion also stars Sunny Pawar as young Saroo, David Wenham as his adopted father and Nicole Kidman as his adopted mother.

Another Movie Excerpt

You may not be familiar with the Wilhelm Scream. But if you enjoy war, action or even comedy films, it’s very likely that you’ve heard it. So what is it you ask? Well, it may just be the most famous movie scream in the history of Hollywood. Once you see and listen to you, you’re certain to agree!

What Is The Wilhelm Scream?

So what exactly is the Wilhelm Scream? It’s the now familiar sound effect first used in the 1951 movie “Distant Drums” starring Gary Cooper. The film is based upon an 1840s U.S, Army battle in Florida during the Second Seminole War. Typically, you hear a movie scream if someone is shot, thrown off a cliff or attacked. Like most famous movies, the Scream required several takes.

Private Jessup in Distant Drums

In that original “Distant Drum” scene, an alligator in the Florida Everglades attacks a character named Private Jessup. While he is being dragged underwater, he screams “oowww!” You might notice that you can still hear Jessup scream even when he is underwater!

Who Was Private Wilhelm?

A few years later, another film – “The Charge at Feather River” – features a pipe smoking character. He is shot in the leg with an arrow and once again screams out. This actor was actually dressed as a cowboy sitting on his trusty horse. Unfortunately, he was not able to fill his pipe. The Wilhelm Scream is heard a second time and in this case, Union soldier Private Wilhelm is struck with a spear. A third scream is heard as an Indian warrior falls after getting stabbed.

The rest, as they say, is history. It’s clearly one of the most famous movie screams ever. In fact, it just appeared in the 2021 Netflix film “Red Notice”. The action flick stars Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds.

The Wilhelm Scream Revival

The revival and the coining of the name Wilhelm Scream is credited to motion picture sound designer Ben Burtt, who used the bit in all of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies. The sound clip eventually became sort of an in-joke amongst Hollywood film studios. Since its initial use, the Wilhelm Scream has been used in over 250 films, video games, and television. This includes more recent popular films like “Avatar”, “Frozen 2″, “Toy Story” and “Wonder Woman”. Even more recent movies like (Buzz) “Lightyear”, “Free Guy”, “Encanto” and “Avengers: Infinity War” feature the scream. If that’s not enough, there are also, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” and “Nightmare Alley”.

The Howie Scream

Another scream, dubbed as the “Howie Scream” also became a part of pop culture but has never achieved the fame of the original. In a scene from the John Travolta film, “Broken Arrow”, former Oakland Raider Howie Long screams out in pain, hence the name “Howie Scream.”

Today there is a punk rock band from Massachusetts called A Wilhelm Scream and a funk soul band from Australia. The Bamboos has a single titled “Wilhelm Scream” and another single from James Blake with the same titles. And yes, you just know that there are Wilhelm Scream apps on both iTunes and Google Play.

Scream Compilations

Check out some of the uses of the Scream on YouTube for more famous movies. There are longer versions and there are shorter versions and there are even video that presents almost of all of the uses paying homage to this classic bit of trivia. With this in mind, don’t be surprised the next time you hear the Wilhelm Scream!

March 16, 2020May 20, 2023 Randy Yagi Books, Family Friendly, Health, Movies, Travel

Travel Movies To Watch If You’re Stuck At Home

Are you spending more time at home due to COVID-19? If so, some travel-related movies might help you better cope with this difficult time in your life. While you can find other things to do in your home, watching an uplifting movie can inspire you. All of these films are available for a fee or … Continue reading Travel Movies To Watch If You’re Stuck At Home

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Visitor Guide To Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

If you're like many movie and TV fans, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is the very first place to visit in Los Angeles. Located at one of the world’s most famous film studios, the Studio Tour provides you the experience of a lifetime. In fact it allows you to see where many movies and TV … Continue reading Visitor Guide To Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

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Beat The Summer Heat In These Cooler American Cities

The warmer months are here and like you, many are hitting the road for that long-awaited summer vacation. But not everyone will want to spend their well-deserved time off in scorching summer heat or unbearable humidity. Instead, why not choose destination with a cooler summer climate and great places to stay. If you do, you'll … Continue reading Beat The Summer Heat In These Cooler American Cities