The powerful but arrogant warrior Thor is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard and sent to live amongst humans on Earth, where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.

Worldview 7/10

Thor is an interesting movie because it portrays a very interesting worldview derived from Norse mythology. However, Norse mythology is not widely believed like it was before the Christianization of Scandinavia. So Marvel Entertainment took a humanistic approach on the story. They replaced the idea of magic and supernatural with science saying that “Magic is science we don’t understand.” And so with the exception of the power of the hammer the supernatural became quite natural.

Throughout the movie there were some great themes and proverbs. Odin points out that, ”A wise king never seeks out war but he must be ready for it.” As well he tells Thor that the hammer is a, ”Weapon to destroy or a tool to build” Both of these statements are valuable lessons for anyone who has any form of power or authority. There was a strong emphasis on duty and responsibilities which is a fantastic lesson for those young folks who are beginning to have responsibilities of their own.

Other themes include the acknowledgment of the evil of deception lived out in the life of Thors brother. As well as the benefits of choosing loyal friends. The romantic aspect of this movie was on the disappointing side. Like most Hollywood productions the relationship is superficial and has no strong basis for a lasting relationship.

Content 6/10

Very little content. Thor is hit by a van, some violence in fights between the Frost Giants and Thor and company, a hospital fight, a rough encounter with the FBI and Thor, and the destruction of a robot. Some mild language and *spoiler* Loci commits suicide by dropping off the edge of the plant he is on.

Technical Aspects 8/10

The cinematography in particular was quite good. The writing was very cheesy. But with the characters and storyline, that writing style fit the movie perfectly.

Conclusion:

Thor has some interesting themes and is one of the first Sci-Fi type movies that I have thoroughly enjoyed. I would recommend it to more mature children  as it has some violent content and magical/mythological themes that must be acknowledged as being false. overall a decent flick.

Purchase Thor here to support these reviews. (Blu-ray)

Walt Disney Pictures has released the official synopsis for Marvel Studios’ upcoming sequel film Thor: The Dark World that hits theaters on November8, 2013.

Marvel’s THOR: THE DARK WORLD continues the big-screen adventure of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s THOR and Marvel’s THE AVENGERS, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all. 

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skaragard, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, THOR: THE DARK WORLD is directed by Alan Taylor, produced by Kevin Feige, from a story by Don Payne (credit not final) and screenplay by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (credit not final) and is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book “Journey Into Mystery” #83 in August 1962. 

THOR: THE DARK WORLD is presented by Marvel Studios. The executive producers are Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Victoria Alonso, Craig Kyle and Nigel Gostelow. The film releases on November 8, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Dustin Hoffman leads this all-star cast frantically looking for a cure for this deadly virus before the government goes for a more drastic approach.

A nice thriller that uses some big name actors to their strengths and puts a reality check on certain things that could happen if something like this would happen.

My rating 80%

Directed by Richard Donner, With the passage of years, Murtaugh’s daughter Rianne is now about to upgrade Murtaugh to grandfather status, while Riggs’ relationship with internal affairs officer Lorna Cole means he’ll become a proud papa. Elsewhere on the family front, Chinese triad members in Los Angeles smuggle families from the mainland, but this is only one item on the criminal agenda of triad leader Wah Sing Ku, who executes balletic martial arts maneuvers with blinding speed. Riggs and Murtaugh tackle the troublesome triads with an assist from wickedly witty, sharp-edged newcomer Lee Butters and private detective Leo Getz.

Directed by Richard Donner, Roger Murtaugh is only eight days away from retirement and his partner, Martin Riggs, once again manages to get them both into hot water with both the LAPD and the bad guys, who this time are Jack Travis and a gang of hoodlums selling armor-piercing bullets. Joe Pesci returns as the fast-talking schmuck Leo Getz. A new addition to the cast is Rene Russo as Lorna Cole, a sergeant from internal affairs sent to investigate Riggs and Murtaugh, but who ultimately ends up falling in love with the caffeinated Riggs.

Rene Russo (Patrick McMullan)

Last night in New York, Rene Russo made a strong argument for a comeback in a striking black leather frock that avoids looking like something from a dominatrix’s closet with a contrasting melon-colored panel. Ms. Russo, who recently returned to the screen after a long absence in Thor, and who is not actually in the Bourne movie, played the evening’s femme fatale without looking like she was wearing a costume–maybe there’s room for her in the next sequel?

Who would have ever thought that the director of Predator would be able to pull off a classy remake of a Steve McQueen movie?  Not just a remake, but a remake where things are changed for modern audiences and it makes sense and actually benefits the finished product.  John McTiernan directed this movie based off of the original 1968 McQueen version, and changed the entire execution of the theft sequence to make it more palpable to people in these much more troubled times.  He’s also managed to make an elegant heist movie, a less dirty, Mamet-lite type film with a charismatic and attractive lead actor where throughout the entire movie you don’t really view him as the antagonist at all.  It’s not a monumental achievement or anything, but it’s noteworthy.

Pierce Brosnan stars as the titular character, a wealthy man who – to combat boredom, presumably – decides to start stealing art.  Not just art, but a Monet worth around $100-million.  Doing so attracts the attention of well, obviously the police, but an intelligent and ridiculously attractive insurance investigator, Catherine Banning (Rene Russo).  Banning knows he took the painting, Crown knows she knows, and the rest of the film is a dance, a tango where they give and take from one another in a battle of intellect and heart.

Yeah, I wax a bit romantic on the film making choices that McTiernan makes, but it works so well.  It doesn’t hurt that Brosnan is clearly a handsome man that exudes class, and that audiences would have a hard time ever rooting against the man.  Russo is at her slinky, sexy best in this film, one that gives us a glimpse, well LONG lingering stares more like, of just how attractive she truly is.  It’s a wonderful movie, no one gets hurt, and we all have a good time.

4 / 5

Scene 4: Asgard; Thor’s [Would-Be] Coronation

[Note: There is a deleted scene before this that I consider absolutely critical, and beomoan its exclusion from the final cut. Later I will also put up scene notes for all of the deleted scenes, with links in case you should want to read them in the order I would put them in.]

I have one big plot question about this scene (which I love): Why?

Why is Thor to be made king on this day? Odin still looks pretty good. We learn later, reading between the proverbial lines, that Odin is perhaps getting old even by Asgardian standards and needs perhaps more of this special Odinsleep than normal. So I suppose we can guess he’s going to hand over the reigns early? So why isn’t Thor made king promptly upon his return from Earth? He’s “already made [Odin] proud,” right? What about all of Odin’s previous Odinsleeps? We know from the film it’s happened before, more than once. Why wasn’t Thor made king then? Why was Loki made king? (More on that later.) Of course the real “why” is the plot required it, but it would be nice to have this tightened up a bit more. One line of dialogue probably could have done it, but I guess it would be tough to avoid the “explaining-things-to-the-audience” feel. A novelization would also be nice. I volunteer, if anyone’s asking, LOL.

Going past the why, we get to the wow. The opening shot is truly awesome, in the original meaning of the word. As best I understand this is a lavish practical set combined with CGI extension, and 200 extras plus there has to be some CGI crowd in there too. The connection between real and not-real is seamless — it all looks real. And grand and epic and stunning. You really feel the scale of it. This is a real coronation.

I’ve read some criticism of the music in Thor. I don’t agree, although from a sort of marketing standpoint it probably is too bad there’s not a really hummable or duh-duh-duh-duh-able theme ala Star Wars or something. Particularly here, I think the music is great; it adds to that feeling of grand and epic, and also triumphant. IMO, 90% of the time, assuming the music isn’t supposed to be a “character” in the movie in a sense, as it sometimes is, music should not be noticed on a casual viewing by a casual viewer. It should skillfully augment whatever is going on on-screen, but in such a way that you’re crying or cheering with the characters, not thinking, “Gee, that’s really cool music.”

Aren’t the helmets great? Thor’s is cool, it’s kind of a shame we don’t see it more (such as, perhaps, when they go off to battle? isn’t that what helmets are for after all? apparently Thor’s is just for hamming it up on the walk to the throne). Odin’s is great, looks very cool how they worked the eyepatch into the helmet. And Loki’s, well, what more can be said. His is awesome, and such a part of the character. In one of the DVD extras, I think it was, Hiddleston says that that piece that comes over the brow at the nose kind of forces you to peer out from under it which automatically gives you a bit of a mischievous look — masterful.

As an aside, I wonder the crowd is supposed to be. When I say that I’m really getting back to wondering what Asgard is supposed to be. Are some of them royalty of some sort? Does Asgard have the same kind of societal structure as Earth — are there merchants and bartenders and artists and sanitation workers and government administrators and people between jobs? It isn’t that necessary to the movie to know any of that, but…there is a sort of odd emptiness to Asgard. Compare the scenes on Earth — we see a pet shop employee, a lady working at a diner, a blue-collar worker stopping in at the diner, government workers, medical workers, etc. It’s fine, you need to really concentrate on some heavy-duty dramatic relationship stuff in the Asgard scenes. But I’ve heard Asgard’s going to be more fully developed in Thor 2 — looking forward to it.

And our characters, more wow!

The Warriors Three are mostly window-dressing here (they were introduced in a deleted scene) so I’ll skip them.

Jaimie Alexander’s Lady Sif has one moment, where she rolls her eyes at Thor’s antics…but she’s smiling. Movies-only here, so I’m not going to interpret this as some kind of flirting. I’m going to put it along side Rene Russo/Frigga’s rolling her eyes — and smiling — at Thor. I think there is a real point to be made here. Thor probably engages in a lot of antics, and we know he’s got that arrogance/vanity/entitlement thing going on from elsewhere in the movie…but he’s also full of such a love of and exuberance for his family, his friends, and for life in general that everyone tolerates it, perhaps even finds it charming. You can imagine he’s always gotten away with everything because when he smiles and laughs afterward you can’t help but smile and laugh along with him.

So, Chris Hemsworth does a great job communicating that to us with his body language and expression as he twirls Mjolnir on his way to the throne and smiles that winsome come-on-you-know-you-love-me smile. Thor is loving this. All eyes on him and everyone clapping and loving him — the crowd is likely loving it too. They’re there for a spectacle and Thor is giving them one. I think Hemsworth is sometimes not given enough credit for his acting in Thor, probably because his character is more transparent than the enigmatic Loki. But here’s a great example of playing something that’s transparent very well — he has to put in just the right amount of hamming it up. Too little and he isn’t the Thor the movie needs him to be for his character arc, too much and you could start to question whether everyone would really put up with him…plus he would look really, really silly.

Odin…not so much! What a nice contrast between Anthony Hopkins’s Odin-the-teacher holding his little boys’ hands and Odin-the-I’m-going-to-seriously-kick-your-tail-if-you-don’t-cut-out-this-baloney sitting in full regalia on the throne and communicating oodles of disapproval…with no dialogue and only one eye, and without falling into overacting with some sneering or growling or something. I think I’ve heard this guy’s considered a decent actor.

“Thor, Odinson, my heir,” Odin begins. Cut to Loki, eyes closed, there’s a slight muscle movement seen in his jaw. I watched it frame-by-frame, his eyes were closed already from the beginning of the cut to him. What is he thinking? Is he jealous, because Thor is the heir and he is not, or is it painful for him to hear this because it rubs salt in the wound that he’ll always come in second? Is he thinking, “I can’t believe this is happening, this is crazy, Thor isn’t ready”? On this note-taking viewing it occurred to me for the first time, is he concentrating to work some magic that allows the Frost Giants in through his secret paths? I smell a poll!

Another aside…if Loki sees that Thor’s not ready (and let’s face it, he was right), why didn’t Odin? This may be a wee bit of a plot hole, but you could imagine that Odin is in denial, or perhaps just optimistic. Certainly he’s not happy with what he sees here. But he could be thinking, once he’s king, he’ll straighten up, set aside this foolishness.

Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is highly enigmatic here, as he would have to be — he’s up to some heavy-duty mischief here that’s also highly secret. He looks up once near the end of this scene…has he just let the Frost Giants in? Did he need to do anything actively at this point to let them in? I hadn’t thought about it before this viewing but I presume he did. He would need to control the timing of the Frost Giants’ arrival pretty closely I’d think — and he certainly didn’t look nervous in the deleted scene with Thor. So, I figure either he went to physically open whatever passageway there is in between that deleted scene and the coronation scene, or he did so “mentally”…maybe during the coronation scene.

Thoughts? (Reminder, PG comments only, please.)

1-Lamat: Every star – a Sun

Note: Please read these one day at a time. I’ll be updating the days as they come…

Prelude: Hit the Ground Running

In the Tzolkin round there are only two portal days that fall on the last day of a trecena. They are 13-CAUAC and 13-AHAU.

This is true when placing the portal and core day template on top of a Tzolkin round beginning on 1-Imix. After reading just the opening pages of Mayan Calendar Astrology: Mapping Your Inner Cosmos by Kenneth Johnson I learned again that there are some other, fascinating traditions concerning where the Tzolkin round begins, like 8-Chuen, another portal day – observed in Momostenango, Guatemala. Another tradition emphasizes the fact that any attempt to mark a circle’s beginning or end is futile to begin with. More on that later.

So the trecena beginning 1-Lamat (according to the model I’ll continue to follow until convinced otherwise) culminates on the portal day 13-Ahau, as Captain Universe and all crew and passengers on board prepare for a new go around the Seven Seas of Creation. As the current cycle draws to its conclusion, gravity focuses on the precise end-point and punch-line/message, i.e., 13-Ahau (hence “Credits”). So, my suggestion is that aspects of Ahau rule the 1-Lamat trecena at least as much as aspects of Lamat.

Generally speaking, and according to William and Viola the first sun-sign of the trecena – the one next to the number One – rules the story of the process, while the crest (stages 6, 7, and 8) make up the message of balance within the context of the story. I’m not contesting this deep wisdom, just offering an additional consideration that pertains to this particular trecena (1-Lamat).

If this suggestion is true, it might be interesting to investigate the possibility that the 13^th stage plays the same role, maybe to a lesser degree, in all trecenas following, say, 1-Kan, where 13-Cib begins to gravitate the entire process down to manifestation and ascension. Well, I guess I have to wait and see (about 158 days until 13-Cib).

So let’s consider aspects of Ahau that might go hand in hand with those of Lamat. The first thing that came to my mind was Romance and beauty, and this is what you’re bound to find in this, the concluding episode of the 1-Imix melodrama (5^th season coming up next!).

Born on this day: Roger Daltrey, Avril Lavigne, Willem Dafoe, Rene Russo, Tiffani Thiessen, Keith Allen, Engelbert Humperdinck

“Won’t you take me by the hand? Take me somewhere new! I don’t know who you are but I – I’m with you.” Avril Lavigne (1-Lamat)

1-Lamat begins the trecena of the Spiritual abundance embodied by the maturity of learning yesterday’s lessons to the letter. It is the last chance to gather insights and precious lessons from the current frame of awareness. Beginning mid July, the Tzolkin autumn will begin, and it’ll be time to manage the seeds that are collected Now.

It is the last trecena of the round, located in the 13^th uinal a.k.a. Saturday. The resolutions I decide to focus upon are all going to be packed and shipped over to the next Tzolkin round. These will then be unpacked according to my personal sequence, and applied to my future reality.

Stage 13 is the equivalent of the Fruit stage of the natural cycle in the Flora domain. So what do I do with fruit? I can eat it, save the seed for next season, or let it rot on the vine or the on ground after falling under the tree.

So, metaphorically, these are my options regarding whatever my awareness picks up during the next 12 days. Let’s say I’m 3 months after finishing a house renovation. A good friend shares his experience and viewpoint and singles out an idea I can implement to make my home even more beautiful.

I can disregard it, I can “consume” it right now and get my ladder and tools, or I can just keep it for the next round of renovations.

BTW 1: the temporary synchronicity between the Tzolkin and solar seasons on the Northern hemisphere has more or less ended by now. Remember? We had the beginning of warmer days around March when 1-Chuen and 1-Kan – the first 2 spring trecenas were in the Tzolkin as well. Next time this happens will be in about 4 years, but it’ll be different.

BTW2: There are two gorgeous teen starlets from the mythological 90′s TV show Beverley Hills 90210 who have their birthday this trecena. One is 1-Lamat, the other on the other side. That other one shares the same sun-sign as her male partner through many of the earlier seasons (Brian Austin Green, 4-Cib). If you’re into that kind of anthropology, feel free to search them out…

Going back to the above quote from Levigne – I thought of it as being a perfect statement for (one facet of) the current global consciousness.

I’d love for someone to take me somewhere new. I have no fear of the other anymore. I sense a new strand of trust gently washing over everyone, over me. I don’t know who’s waiting for me on the other side of this Tzolkin round, on the other side of the globe. But now I know that I’m with them already right now.

To establish this nearness with You I don’t’ need to know your name or envision your face. All I need to do is to emote, either internally or externally.

That’s it. End of story. No Skypes, no Galaxy threes, no airfare, no couch-surfing.

This concept resonates with Lamat. Every star has two sides to it – two observers. You never really know who’s looking down at you from the night sky. There are so many of them; there are so many of us. The multiplying aspect of Lamat means that the more convinced you are about something – the more surprised you’ll be one day when you realize that the opposite view can be just as convincing.

This Lamat duality is especially potent where Lamat rules – the 13^th Uinal. It is the dilemma between fruit and seed, between One and Thirteen and back again.

To illustrate this duality, I offer two great singers who were both born 1-Lamat. An old-school male and a supposedly more current female. Naturally, the male speaks separation, and the female unites (rather romantically, don’t you think?).

Here’s Humperdinck asking you to release him:

As you were, Prince Humperdinck.

And here’s Avril Lavigne with that song I talked about.

Born on this day: Mickey Rourke, Madeline Kahn, John Travolta, Omar Hakim, Tom Seaver (MLB)

“But the servant must wait, while the master bates.” – Madeline Kahn (2-Muluc), History of the World Part I

Boy, 2-Muluc. If there ever was a day in which José Argüelles came up with the idea that Muluc is the moon – it would be today.

The moon reflects the sun as water does. The moon draws and releases bodies of water.

2-Muluc is recognizing this feminine heartbeat that’s so easy to overlook. For the star (Lamat) to become a near source of Light (Ahau) it must first recognize the pattern of reflection in this world; the play of origin and destination. The key for achieving this realization lies in Muluc – one of the 3 Gathering signs in this trecena (and the other two are?).

Muluc tells me that gathering begins with a true intent of gratitude and sharing later. The Offering of water means that I’m gathering water not just for myself and my own, but as an offering to another or to the Divine. This liberation from personal indulgences creates a gap in mind and awareness.

When I gather just for my own survival my awareness is not the same. When I gather through Muluc I allow new available space in my being. This space wiggles and vibrates with refreshing overtones, as all new space does, and gives me the gift of adaptability. These two ingredients – the gap and the fluidity – are exactly what creation needs to present me with new abundance in places I never knew before.

Madeline Kahn first impressed me when women in general began to draw my attention. Her depiction of the Roman queen picking partners for tonight’s orgy out of a squad of centurions stuck in my mind as a teenager.

Moving from screen to stage, here is Omar Hakim (2-Muluc) kicking ass alongside great musicians – Sting (3-Cauac), Branford Marsalis (4-Oc), Kenny Kirkland (4-Cib) and Darryl Jones (8-Ik, previous trecena):

When you have a rhythm section duo (Hakim and Jones) that has exactly 7 signs between them, going from North (8-Ik) to East (2-Muluc) you have strong foundations for any band.

And finally, for true romance, here’s Mickey Rourke (2-Muluc) and Kim Basinger (8-Caban) dancing to the voice of Joe Cocker (3-Lamat): [Click here when the kids aren't around]

Born on this day: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Nelson Mandela, Eddie Murphy, Chico Marx, Newt Gingrich

“(- Now, then, baboons, what is a corpuscle?) – That’s Easy. First ‘s a Captain, then ‘s a Lieutenant then ‘s a Corpuscle.” – Chico Marx (3-Oc), Horse Feathers

Yesterday’s dilemma is resolved by today’s sun-sign Oc and its message of Love and loyalty, along with the 3^rd stage of rhythm and motion.

The Dog has similar meanings in various cultures. In Islam he’s the one animal admitted into heaven. In the Greco-Egyptian stream the Dog is Sirius the faithful dog-star (duo-star, to be exact) that faithfully affects affairs down here on Earth from millions of light-years away. According to other studies it is also associated with the planet Mercury, governing faithful communication of knowledge and wisdom.

In the Book of Numbers (12:4) Caleb Ben Yefune was one of the twelve scouts who went in front of the camp to tour the promised land. Of the twelve, he and Joshua were the only ones who told the people that the land is good, and that any adversaries there are no match for them. As a reward, they were the only two who were admitted into the promised land, as the old generation of the Desert all died away.

Caleb (or Kelev) means Dog, and the word itself can be meaningfully divided: Lev means heart and Ke-lev means ‘all heart’ or ‘as a heart’.

For the Maya Oc carries a torch in his jaws and leads the way for Man down the dark labyrinth  of the underworld.

All this symbolism makes perfect sense, and it comes together to stand for the kind of love and devotion that goes beyond death. When coupled with the 3^rd stage, which is the fuel that drives the next 10 days – I get something very romantic and warm-hearted. It feels like a key ingredient during the current edition of Ascension on Saturday.

Here’s Chico (3-Oc) and Groucho (6-Ahau, previous trecena) Marx in a Night at the Opera, questioning the existence to Santa and showing us how contracts and other written speeches should be treated:

Oddly enough, someone went out of their way to add symbolic captions during this snippet.

“… and when I say we don’t deserve it I know what I’m talking about.” – Chico the Aviator

Here’s Eddie Murphy (3-Oc) in Raw impersonating and resonating with Cosby (8-Kan) and Richard Pryor (11-Ik):

Born on this day: Trey Parker, Tina Turner, David Bowie, Marie Fredriksson (Roxette), Sean Connery, 1st Atomic Bomb (Hiroshima)

“But what is so alarming about laughter?” – Sean Connery (4-Chuen), The Name of the Rose

Chuen is the spirit of art and craft, and today it appears on the trecena of the Star to become a what’s called a Rock-Star. You know, like Ziggy Stardust.

Art assumes a stable expression on 4-Chuen; firm foundations of creativity to build upon. Hence – Rock (solid)-Star. It originates from love (Oc), transmutes loyalty to others into loyalty to a higher self, and thus enhances creation by adding a weaving motion to the flow of time. Chuen weaves ideas into the tapestry of existence, and turns mundane time into a play of destiny.

Going back to the cultural discussion under 3-Oc, it seems that Chuen embodies the other aspect of the planet Mercury (the first being faithful communication – Oc). This other aspect deals with the craftiness and ingenuity that complement and are the result of the first aspect.

Here’s Sean Connery (4-Chuen) as a progressive Jesuit along with a budding Christian Slater (7-Muluc):

Watching all that burning, I thought about the twin towers. Also about that Russian officer who rushed into a burning library to save what became the oldest and most authentic Mayan codex.

Then, I thought about all those thousands of Mayans who had to suffer the Flame of the Father on the stake, a century after the church did the same thing to heretics and whores in Europe (the plot of the movie supposedly takes place during the early 14^th century).

But then, on a lighter note becoming of the Chuen nawal, I thought of Ron Perlman (12-Ik, 1-Chuen trecena), who was young during that scene when he got to experience the joys of immolation – only to reincarnate through Fire during the Nazi occupation of East Europe as Hellboy.

Born on this day: Ron Paul, Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th US President), Fred Alan Wolf, Mike Myers, Matt Cain (MLB), Claus von Stauffenberg

“BIBLE – Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth” – Mike Myers (5-Eb), The Love Guru

5-Eb means knowing how to find and follow your one true path of integrity and purpose, which must always lead upwards and onwards, like a staircase. Having established Chuen in the previous stage, I now return to the theme cardinal direction for the first time (south) and incorporate the essence of Eb in order to walk the path of the Stars.

5-Eb also means knowing what moves you forward and what keeps you back, as the Buddha once said (Buddha being the Hindu name for Mercury). Since Eb is a sensitive and communal sun-sign, those boosters and obstacles can be the subtlest things – an orchard in bloom, a far-away snowcapped peak, an off remark.

Rather than keeping things hidden inside, today I share my thoughts about where I am and where I’m heading. I pin-point the landmarks that offer promise, and those that present challenge. I rally my tribe to follow me down the star-spangled path of the universe.

You know, like Ike.

Born on this day: Andy García, Meat Loaf, Beck, John McEnroe, Mayer Amschel Rothschild

6-Ben: A free-flowing conduit

I think you have to be born on a Ben day to be the head of a distinguished family dynasty, like old Mayer was in the mid 18^th century. He raised his five daughters and five sons – literally raised them, as any spiritual ladder/leader does; from the ghetto to the very top of the world.

Of course, the five sons in particular were his life-long project. In due time, he sent each son to a different country in Europe in order to establish a financial and political beachhead. All five sons succeeded beyond imagination. When the French Revolution came along the family business got a boost from supplying Britain with mercenaries – a business move many think they still use today.

In his recent book, Kenneth Johnson depicts Ben-types as being insatiable at their worst. They can never quite get enough of anything. Does this trait fit Mayer’s card by some strange coincidence?

Biographies aside, 6-Ben embodies a unique mix of tradition (6) and family (Ben). These two words seem to go along well together, and share a mutual web of meaning. As opposed to the example I gave above with Rothschild and the extremities of the Ben aspect, 6-Ben is a balanced and nurturing mother – the kind of guiding light of the family and home that Ian Lungold talked about. She draws her power from the last Eastern sign we had – Muluc, and her every action is dedicated to elevating herself and her family.

Born on this day: Muhammad Ali, Sarah Palin, Waco siege end

“I’m the greatest thing that ever lived. I’m so great I don’t have a mark on my face. I shook up the world.” – Muhammad Ali (7-Ix)

After Muluc, the second Gathering sun-sign in this trecena appears on stage Se7en. Ix is the sign of magic and of skill. It embodies a gathering of spiritual potential.

The Starry Shaman 7-Ix lives on the top of the Magic Mountain. He shows me the path that I’ve walked so far, through 19 trecenas, and teaches me that the ultimate purpose of the journey is something magical and profound, something that’s lying in ambush for me on the next Tzolkin round.

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For those of you out there with some extra time on your hands, I recommend watching this extensive documentary about the Waco siege, which ended on the kin 7-Ix.

Born on this day: Bryan Adams, Émile Zola, Gates McFadden (Star Trek TNG), Swami Vivekananda

“In a day when you don’t come across any problems — you can be sure that you are traveling in the wrong path.” – Swami Vivekananda (8-Men), Pearls of Wisdom

Panoramic vision is one of the gifts that the Eagle was given by the Maker. This aspect is true for all Men days, but 8-Men has a special twist to it.

Let’s say I have panoramic vision but at the same time I’m also biased towards a particular course of action. I will probably use my vision to pursue that course without considering alternatives. Maybe it’s just because I’m used to it.

8-Men doesn’t have that problem. Since this kin is multiplied by Lamat’s energy, and ultimately leads to enlightenment (13-Ahau) it has no permanent bias to speak of. It is an idealized version of Men that is totally free on all levels because of its fine balance.

Jesus, meet Krishna

On September 11^th 1893 (2-Men) Swami Vivekananda (8-Men) took the stage at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, representing India and Hinduism, and gave the following famous speech:

Some say that this speech brought the spiritual philosophy of the sub-continent to the West for the first time. Well, I’m not too sure about that, but I’m pretty sure it’s the first time an Indian guru was recorded on tape, speaking to some seven thousand people in Illinois.

Born on this day: Tori Spelling, Warren Buffett, Marlon Brando, Gabi Ashkenazi (previous Israeli Chief of General Staff)

“After all, we’re not murderers, in spite of what this undertaker thinks.” – Marlon Brando (9-Cib), The Godfather

[That's all the Brando I'm going to throw in here at this stage. Moving on.]

The cardinal direction of the trecena appears again today, 9-Cib. This day has a special emphasis on our ancestors and on honoring their memories and wisdom (even more than other Cib days).

Honoring fore-bearers and parents is a value that is common to all mankind, and it seems to be indispensable. If I thought I can do without it when I was a child, chances are I’ll have no choice but to do without it when I have my own children (because they’ll do the same to me, or because my parents are no more).

Since the next stage is manifestation, stage 9 stands for the actions and factors that lead to it. It is always close to the now, but not quite (t)here. The wisdom and tranquility of our ancestors (Cib) is the same. It is available to me through reminiscing at any given time, but it’s already disembodied and above the material plain, so it’s never here.

Maybe this is the reason why Kenneth Johnson points out that the Nine days are usually reserved for remembrance  rituals, taking place in graveyards and memorial sites. I assume (I’m still in the opening pages of his book) that 9-Cib and 9-Ahau are especially devoted to those, and for good reason.

Old Roles Models of the 30+

Many of the things I didn’t pick up at school came from music lyrics and TV (thank goodness I had the former to balance off the latter!). One of the shows I watched regularly was Beverley Hills 90210. Although we talked about yesterday’s episodes during recess, it wasn’t all admiration and mimicry. The common vibe around the table was that it’s all imported Americanism, that should be consumed with caveats.

Looking at some clips the other day, I realized how much indoctrination went into the many scenes and dialog created for the series.

For example, here’s daddy’s girl Tori Spelling (9-Cib) discovering her steady boyfriend Brian Austin Green (4-Cib) with the bad girl Tiffani-Amber Thiessen (1-Lamat) in the back of a limo. Classic, right?

To those who don’t know the show, Tori Spelling is type-casted as daddy’s girl who doesn’t give her boyfriend anything beyond 2nd base for the first 15 years of acquaintance or so. A moral dilemma is presented to the young stud, born under the 1-Ben trecena (Austin-Green). He’s dying to manifest his sexual desires, but at the same time he’s going steady with a promising JAP prospect who’s daddy owns the network.

Enter the temptress - Thiessen (1-Lamat), who’s probably subconsciously tailoring herself to be a very successful Manhattan female executive. She pursues her pray like a seasoned negotiator, slowly drawing the male sucker down to her den of sins. Lamat is known for its insatiable thirst for its pet indulgences (referring to the black hole/drunken God symbolism).

Note that in this romantic triangle, all three actors are born under southern sun-signs (Lamat and Cib), but the steady girlfriend shares the same sun-sign with her b/f (Cib), while the mistress is a different aspect of the South (Lamat), and, crucially – much less “heavy” (stage 1) than the old bag Spelling.

This seedy scene leads to Spelling kicking Austin-Green out and breaking up with him. He doesn’t have a word to say. This, though, doesn’t prevent them from getting married much later.

My point here is that, as a teenager exposed to such blatant West Coast propaganda in relatively formative years (and, BTW, as a Projector in the Human Design system) I had to place myself within one of the type-cast categories firmly established in the show, and also do the same for my peers (and they did the same to me). I could be the biker, the loose girl, the chaste and serene boy – whatever. They were all there lined on the shelf for me to pick up, mix and match.

You’re wondering what’s happening on Wall St.? It’s infested with cloned Walshes, Taylors, Sanderses, Silvers, and McKays.

Born on this day: Chris Noth (Sex and the City), Cameron Diaz, Reese Witherspoon, Avigdor Lieberman (Incumbent Israeli Secratery of State), Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Incumbent Turkish PM), Marco van Basten

The Star (1-Lamat) manifests as the Global Heartbeat (10-Caban)

One aspect of Caban has to do with frequencies, modulations, and harmonics. The rules that govern these sciences seem to permeate and remain relevant on all planes and spectra.

For example, in harmonics there is a term called resonance. Resonance appears in music as well as in color. It manifests in network meetings under pavilions and during live performances on stage.

It happens when I write something and you know what I mean.

But always, every time the trecena chimes Ten – responsibility dawns. Other 10′s might take a break. Not 10-Caban. Since it carries within it the resonant message of all previous manifestations, 10-Caban chooses responsibility every time. It’s very logical to do so. It is the only thing conceivable.

Now the Banks in Madrid can Fall. We’re the Champions. Again!

As I write these words Spain is celebrating its successful defending of their European title in football. The Spanish national team beat Italy 4-0 in the finals to win the Euro title for the second time in a row. In between these two wins they also won the World cup, and just now became the first team to ever win three major international titles in a row.

Watching a final always has this uplifting sensation attached to it. I know that I’m watching something that millions are watching with me at the same time. It’s like a global heartbeat that goes “Ooo!” and “Ahh!” in unision, rippling through the fabric of collective experience.

This is one aspect of 10-Caban.

I wonder if it’s the same when the Miss Universe pageant goes live…

In tribute to the Netherlands, who splashed out way too soon this year, here is one of my all-time favorites Marco van Basten (10-Caban) scoring his most famous goal. It was the finals match against the USSR, during the Euro ’88 football championship. It’s a rare, clutch goal indeed.

It’s amazing how many famous footballers these days were born either on Caban or Muluc days…

Born on this day: Britney Spears, Condoleezza Rice, Kiefer Sutherland, Dominic Monaghan (portraid Merry in LOTR 2001-3), Chris Farley

“I can get a great look at a t-bone steak by shoving my head up a bull’s ass but I’d rather take the butchers word for it.” – Chris Farley (11-Edznab)

I wouldn’t bet on an end-date if I wasn’t willing to gamble on the extraordinary off-chance. You know, like Van-Basten’s shot in the finals.

But then, coming back to reality, I count numerous “end dates” that came and went in the past. The usual example would be the Y2K bug, but there were famous men and women of divination that clearly marked a certain date for something extraordinary to happen, on cue. And then that date came and went into obscurity, followed by the fame and name of the professed prophet.

However, I only need one end-date to be correct in order to manifest this long-awaited “Event”. I’m sick of waiting and I have no more fear of catastrophes. But most of all, I’d like an end-date to be true in order to, ultimately, have it behind me, already!

I can go on and on, by the way – going back and forth between heart and mind, cause and effect, Orient and Occident. The mirror does that to me.

In essence, 11-Edznab means Reality as a twist in the plot, as an anti-climax. The key question 11-Edznab asks me regarding my preoccupation with end-dates and prophecy that works is – Then what? You still need to clean up, remember? Don’t you know the destiny of Man?

I mean, think about it. Just about now – aren’t you in a mood for another Adventure?

“- So you’re staying?

- I’m staying.”

Tom Hagen (7-Kan) to Michael Corleone (12-Ik), The Godfather Part II

A legend in his time

Here’s Chris Farley (11-Edznab) interviewed by Jay Leno (1-Caban):

Born on this day: [music]Prince, Miles Davis, Antonín Dvořák, Alban Berg, Butch Vig (Garbage, “Nevermind” producer), Jonas Hellborg; [stage/screen] Steve Martin, Peter Sellers, Kyle MacLachlan, Ewan McGregor, Tim Allen; [politics] John C. Breckinridge (14^th US VP)

“There is something liberating about just having what you need, on your bike… A tent, a roll mat, a little bit of food, a bit of petrol in your tank and a vague idea of where you’re going and that’s all you need.” – Ewan McGregor (12-Cauac) voicing Cauac’s Abode in Freedom

The third and last Gathering sign is Cauac – rain clouds are collecting water and bringing a storm of Purification and freshness.

Here’s my story about getting caught in a rainstorm, and the valuable lessons I couldn’t have experienced and learned otherwise.

About 7 years ago I had a motorbike and I used to drive it to work and back every day for two years. Work then was about an hour’s drive away from home, and I drove through everything but snow.

One cold and wet February evening I was running a fever, but felt obliged to attend a masonic meeting in Haifa. I was really into Freemasonry back then. So I wore my suit, packed my regalia, donned my storm-proof suit and helmet and took the drive through heavy rain.

On my way back I remember I had fever shivers. Rain kept falling, and the serpentine Haifa roads were running like rivers. At one point the car in front of me made an abrupt stop. I saw it too late.

I hit both front and rear breaks emphatically, and immediately lost control of the bike. It fell away from me and started spinning on the road, sparks flying. I kept sliding on my knees, just like Elvis, holding my palms in front of me. I then used the rear bumper of a parked car to stop my slide.

Besides a couple of tears in my nylon over-pants, I was unharmed. I didn’t know that right then. I just got up and caught my breath. A couple in a car rolled their window down and asked me through the rain if I was alright. I waved thanks and started looking for my bike.

I was lodged underneath a parked car by the pavement. I yanked it out, straightened the handle bar and bent leg levers, and tried to start it.

It wouldn’t start. This was the opening my awareness needed to suddenly flood me with cold sweat and apprehension. What did just happen? Are you sure you want to ride that thing just now? 35 miles to go, raining, the bike might have lost a vital organ… After adrenaline slowed time enough for me to know exactly how to avoid injury, my mind proceeded to slow me down even further with speculations of what could have been, and what’s best to do now.

[Ian Lungold described this phenomena beautifully when he talked about the mind's speed limit, and how intuition takes over when it has to. Without this bike experience, I wouldn't relate and identify with his description as much as I do.]

Thankfully my bike started after a while, and I rode it through the rain all the way back home. A tow-truck and a taxi were out of the question.

Later, when I sold the bike, I thanked the Gods of the Road for the huge discount they gave me on my tuition fees.

We’ll stay up all night

Butch Vig produced the following masterpiece track from the album “Version 2.0″ by Garbage. I used to watch this video almost every day back in the late 90′s, but I didn’t get some of it till I watched it again just now.

As a novice dad of a 1-year-old, I just laughed my lungs out when I saw the kids riding their parents in the parking lot (around the 3 minute mark). 13 months ago I wouldn’t have got it:

Born on this day: Ethan Jesse Coen (younger brother of filmaker duo), Ron Howard, Alan Arkin, Nigel Terry, Arjen Robben

“Why did you let me kiss you if you didn’t want to go steady?” – Ron Howard (13-Ahau) as a broken-hearted Richie Cunningham

13-Ahau. Clock strikes 13, it is almost tomorrow.

Stage 13 undoubtedly affects the following stage 1. One is never a beginning. It is a seed of yesterday’s fruit.

Could it be that 13-Ahau is the fruit of the entire round that’s ending? Could it be exercising its effect on the entire round to come?

If it does, then any other day on the Tzolkin must do the same.

The Tzolkin round is circular and endless. I apply beginning dates and end-dates just so I’ll be able to grasp its dance somehow. A dance that cannot be frozen inside a word for more than one day.

However, taking this powerful masculine sun-sign Ahau and coupling it with number 13 must mean something. The same goes for tomorrow: 1-Imix – the young alligator in the swamp marks the beginning of Fall.

To conclude this round with a rainbow, and with a bunch of cute furry rabbits (Lamats) being kicked around by 13-Ahau, here’s Alan Arkin in the Muppet show.

“I’ll catch you on the flip-side.”

Love,

Eagle

Directed by: Richard Donner

Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Rene Russo

How in the world did we, as a society, love the hell out of the Lethal Weapon series? To me, that suggests massive problems that our statesmen really need to address. I don’t care if that was twenty years ago, we still haven’t fully paid for the crimes of enjoying Lethal Weapon.

In this wacky adventure of the original buddy cops, they have to stop an evil ex-cop from distributing machine guns and armor-piercing ammo to street thugs. With the wacky help of a new (woman!) cop and the wacky antics of wacky Joe Pesci, this promises to be the wackiest cop movie yet! Now with exactly the same amount of 90% car chases!

This movie has so many one-liners that characters will actually continue talking OVER other characters who are saying plot-related things. It’s so ridiculously stupid and filled with dumb explosions that you can’t help but try so very hard not to cry. This movie and the rest of its series were so popular that EVERYTHING IN THEM is now cliche. That’s amazing and horrifying and it just makes me want to leave. Leave anywhere, it doesn’t matter. Just leave.

Rolled DVD  182

The Thomas Crown Affair

You gotta love how Bill Shatner seems to have a sense of humor about himself…I mean reprising his roll from TJ Hooker…the campiest cop show EVER…on the big screen nonetheless!!! Kudos Bill!!

Thomas Crown Affair

I have always dug Pierce Brosnan!! Remember Remington Steele??!? He has a great way of pulling off the “suave” agent, thief, PI, whatever.

Lethal Weapon

OK, yes these were ALL highly entertaining. I will say thatHollywoodhas the formulaic blockbusters down to a science. But what happened to these types of movies??? I cant think of anything currently that had this “Richard Donner” feel to it…help me out here and I missing something?

Ransom

Ah, Mel Gibson before he got all squirrelly on the Jews. One has to love a movie with a different twist. And who doesn’t like Lt. Dan, aka Gary Sinise…

Get Shorty

All I know is Danny Devito is one twisted little dude. Say what you will, I still like john Travolta…the whole Mini van gag is classic.

Outbreak

I love the whole, “worlds gonna end because of virus X” movies…if you’re in the medical field you might not, unless you went to Mercy School of Nursing of course…

Major League

They should’ve stopped at the first one….that’s all I have to say

In the Line of Fire

Clint Eastwood….something about old dudes in action roles I just don’t get. Seriously, who made that casting decision?

Freejack

Thank God Mick Jagger stuck to music…the man is the WORST actor EVER. Yet, I still sit through this whole thing when it is on…im a sucker for sci-fi

Mr. Destiny

This is one of those that you have to see. Jim Belushi is tolerable, but something about “what if” and “second chance” movies I cannot get enough of…I mean seriously…don’t we all wish we had another chance at something? Or with someone?

Starring

One of my biggest gripes about most movie-goers is they think they are better than the films they see. They seem to expect every single frame to be worthy of an Oscar and anything less than that is garbage. Sure, there are a lot of things a person can do with 90 minutes than watch something utterly useless and kind of stupid, but where’s the fun in that?

That’s why I do not quite understand the venomous hatred of this movie. Despite being another stuido cash-grab using an old property from decades past, it’s actually pretty funny. Sure, some of the jokes are hackneyed and sophomoric, but so was the show. That didn’t stop the show from being beloved by millions over the years. So where’s the problem?

Was it the cast? Aside from the animated Rocky and Bullwinkle coming into the live-action world, their supporting cast was brilliantly selected. Their enemies Boris (Alexander) and Natasha (Russo) with their fearless leader, Fearless Leader (DeNiro) were sublimely cast and seemed to have a good time poking fun at the characters and at themselves. DeNiro also had a great scene when talking to Boris and Natasha where he even spoofed his own iconic lines from Taxi Driver when he questioned, “Are you talking to me?“

Could it have been the slew of great comedic actors, from Billy Crystal to Johnathan Winters to Jeff Ross to Whoopi Goldberg, that brought this movie down? Most of them weren’t in it long enough to make a dent on the story, so it couldn’t have been them.

But what about that story? Sure, the idea that the FBI has a doll-faced agent (Piper Perabo obviously training for her role in Covert Affairs with this film) would need to enlist the services of Rocky and Bullwinkle to defeat three cartoon characters-turned-real sounds very far-fetched, but this entire movie is far-fetched. If you think that Rocky and Bullwinkle should have starred in a movie with a Bourne-esque storyline filled with danger and international intrigue then you are a complete moron. Plus, you should know that the bad guys from Pottsylvaniya are no match for Moose and Squirrel.

So why the hatred? Is it because it’s so hackneyed? Then this movie isn’t for you. This movie is for the folks who loved and cherished the original show and all of the stupid and pointless things that happened on there that were actually funny. If you saw this movie and hated it then it is your fault to begin with because everything about this movie, from its marketing, to the trailers, even the DVD box presents it just the way it is–a movie based on a cartoon with a ludicrous plot and bad (but funny) jokes. Want something more cerebral? Look elsewhere!

IMDB Trivia Tidbit: This film was originally in pre-production in the early 1990s, with Danny DeVito and Meryl Streep set to play Boris and Natasha. Legal problems with copyrights prevented the film being made until several years later.

Rolled DVD  221

Outbreak

Someone is going to pay.

Academy Award® Winner Mel Gibson & Academy Award® Nominee Gary Sinise

Return In the

15th

Anniversary Blu-ray™ Edition of

“Ransom”

Out In Stores on June 5, 2012

Film Synopsis:

Tom Mullen is the epitome of the American dream; rich and successful with a wife and kid. His seemingly perfect life is turned upside-down when his son, Sean, is kidnapped for ransom. Mullen tries to handle this the police’s way but decides to take matters into his own hands in order to save his son. An action filled remake starring an Oscar power cast and crew with actors Mel Gibson (Best Director, Braveheart, 1995), Gary Sinise (Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Forrest Gump, 1994), producer Brian Grazer and Academy Award winning director Ron Howard (Best Director, A Beautiful Mind, 2001).

Celebrate the 15

th Anniversary Edition, digitally re-mastered for the first time ever on Blu-ray Disc, featuring deleted scenes, commentary from Director Ron Howard and behind-the-scenes footage! (can say “exciting” or “gripping” or something like that; can’t say “never before seen” though unless there is new bts footage on this release that truly is being seen for the first time)

.

Talent/Cast: Mel Gibson

(Lethal Weapon franchise), Rene Russo (Thor), Gary Sinise (Forrest Gump), Brawley Nolte (Affliction, Hotel Rwanda), Liev Schreiber (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), Donnie Wahlberg (Blue Bloods), etc.

Director: 

Ron Howard (Splash, Apollo 13)

Producers: Scott Rudin,Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind), Kip Hagopian (Ransom)

Writers:

Screenplay - Richard Price (The Color of Money) and Alexander Ignon (TV’s “The Wedding Dress“)

Release Date: June 5, 2012

Suggested Retail

1 Disc Blu-ray = $20.00 U.S.

Price:

Rating:

R for Graphic Bloody Violence and Strong Language (bonus material not rated)

Feature Run Time:

121 minutes

Bonus Features:

Extensive Deleted Scenes, “What Would You Do?” Featurette,

Commentary with Director Ron Howard, Captivating Behind the Scenes Special with Cast and Filmmakers, International “Theatrical Trailer”

Aspect Ratio:

1.85:1

Audio:

Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Languages:

English

Subtitles:

French

# # #

©2012 Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc.

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With The Avengers having recently been released, I thought it would be a great idea to look back on all the Marvel Cinematic Universe films that have been released (read: search engine optimization).  The only one that I’ve already reviewed is Captain America so feel free to go back and read that one after reading this stirring bit of literature I’m probably not going to provide you with here.

Of all the Marvel movies that have been made and were rumoured to be being made, I thought that Thor would have been the hardest sell to mainstream movie audiences.  I don’t know much about the comic book version of the character, other than he fucking bored me.  I didn’t expect the cinematic interpretation of the Norse mythology behind the character to be anything even remotely approaching interesting.  And then a funny thing happened: Kenneth Branagh was named as the director and I thought to myself that at the very least, it’s going to be high quality boredom.  I just wasn’t expecting a movie that was a fun popcorn summer blockbuster, but that’s exactly what Branagh delivered.

Of course, all the directing miracles in the world wouldn’t be able to save a Thor movie if the actor playing Thor was completely unsuited for the part (I’d use Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze from Batman & Robin as an example but fuck that, that movie had more problems than just one miscast).  Thankfully, Chris Hemsworth got the part (and doubly thankful that Triple H didn’t), and as a heterosexual male, even I had to admit that dude was ripped.  He was Thor.  He also had a weird Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You accent going on for the whole movie, which was somewhat disorienting, but whatever, he was great.

Honestly, the entire movie was pretty great all around, visually stunning, great casting, super performances and a surprising amount of fun.  I might have truly loved it if I was completely familiar with Asgaardian stories and such, but let me just give it a solid thumbs up mark.

4 / 5

Recently, director James Cameron re-released his 1997 blockbuster “TITANIC” in remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of R.M.S. Titanic. Because it is a disaster movie, I decided to post my favorite disaster films in the list below: 

TOP TEN (10) FAVORITE DISASTER FILMS

1. “2012″ (2009) - After a second viewing of Roland Emmerich’s movie about a possible apocalyptic disaster, which is based loosely on the 2012 phenomenon, I realized that it has become a favorite of mine. John Cusak, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Thomas McCarthy, Danny Glover and Woody Harrelson starred.

2. “The Day After Tomorrow” (2004) - Roland Emmerich also directed this film about catastrophic effects of both global warming and global cooling in a series of extreme weather events that usher in a new ice age. Another personal favorite of mine, it starred Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum, Sela Ward and Ian Holm.

3. “Battle: Los Angeles” (2011) - Aaron Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez starred in this exciting movie about the experiences of a U.S. Marine platoon battling invading aliens in Los Angeles. Jonathan Liebsman directed.

4. “A Night to Remember” (1958) - Roy Ward Baker directed this Golden Globe award winning adaptation of Walter Lord’s book of the same name about the sinking of the Titanic. As far as I am concerned, this is probably the best cinematic version of that particular event. Kenneth More, David McCullum, Ronald Allen and Honor Blackman co-starred.

5. “Titanic” (1953) - This is my second favorite movie about the Titanic and it centered around an estranged couple sailing on the ship’s maiden voyage in April 1912. Great drama! Directed by Jean Negulesco, the movie starred Barbara Stanwyck, Clifton Webb, Robert Wagner, Audrey Dalton, Thelma Ritter, Richard Basehart and Brian Aherne.

6. “Independence Day” (1996) - Produced by Dean Devlin and directed by Roland Emmerich, this movie is about a disaster of a science-fiction nature, as it depicts a hostile alien invasion of Earth, and its effects upon a disparate group of individuals and families. The movie starred Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Vivica A. Fox, Randy Quaid, Margaret Colin, Judd Hirsch and Robert Loggia.

7. “Titanic” (1997) - James Cameron directed this latest version of the Titanic sinking that won eleven (11) AcademyAwards, including Best Picture. Centered around an ill-fated love story, the movie starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar nominee Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Frances Fisher, Bill Paxton, Kathy Bates and Oscar nominee Gloria Stuart.

8. “In Old Chicago” (1937) - Based on the Niven Busch story, “We the O’Learys”, the movie is a fictionalized account about political corruption and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Directed by Henry King, the movie starred Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche and Oscar winner Alice Brady.

9. “Outbreak” (1995) - Wolfgang Petersen directed this tale about the outbreak of a fictional Ebola-like virus called Motaba at a town in Northern California, and how far the military and civilian agencies might go to contain the spread. Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Morgan Freeman, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kevin Spacey and Donald Sutherland.

10. “The Poseidon Adventure” (1972) - Based on a novel by Paul Gallico, the movie centered around the capsizing of a luxurious ocean liner by a tsunami caused by an under sea earthquake; and the desperate struggles of a handful of survivors to journey up to the bottom of the hull of the liner before it sinks. Ronald Neame directed a cast that included Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Oscar nominee Shelley Winters, Carol Lynley and Frank Albertson.

As a treat, here is a video clip featuring scenes from recent, well-known disaster movies.