Titanic Rising – The Unsinkable Film Resurrects Itself in 3D

Categories:

Current Events, Historical, Movie Themes, Trivia

April 9, 2012

by Jenna Maxwell

The epic film “Titanic” hit theatres for its second go around last week, which marks the 15-year anniversary of the film as well as the 100-year anniversary of the actual Titanic disaster.  The film, which retells the story of one of history’s biggest tragedies at sea, has been reinvented this time in a 3D format to further punctuate the intense action, excitement and adventure that were found as part of the original film. And of course, there are some terrific early 1900′s period costumes in this film too. Not a fan of 3D?  Not to worry, the movie will also be released in its regular format as well. 

To get you really excited about the rerelease of Titanic as well as to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the original Titanic sinking, we thought it would be fun to share some interesting Titanic facts as well as trivia tidbits.

  • If the Titanic were built today, it would cost over 400 million dollars.  Back in 1912, the cost of a first class ticket to board the Titanic was approximately $4,700, which in today’s dollars would be roughly the equivalent of $50,000!  In other words, to ride this ship you needed to be, in a word, loaded.
  • It cost over 200 million dollars to make the movie “Titanic”; prior to the rerelease it had grossed approximately $1,843,201,268 dollars.  That figure is now likely to increase substantially!  Looks like that initial 200 million dollar outlay may have been money well spent.
  • Although it is a commonly repeated rumor, no one actually ever claimed that the Titanic was unsinkable.  (Okay, now you tell us…)  The truth is that an article written about the ship was a little misquoted, as it only said that once the watertight doors were shut, the ship would be “practically unsinkable.”  Not quite the same thing.
  • The tradition of breaking a bottle of champagne on the bow of a ship before its first sailing was unfortunately overlooked before the Titanic set sail.  (Uh oh…)
  • The lookouts in the crow’s nest of the Titanic were not equipped with binoculars.  Had binoculars been used, they may have seen the iceberg in time to avoid impact.  As it was, by the time the iceberg was spotted, it was only about 30 seconds until impact.  Sadly, the last minute effort to turn the ship only made the iceberg hit the starboard side of the bow, rather than have it hit it head on.  Had the ship hit the ice head on, perhaps it would have only suffered minor damage. 
  • After impact, the Titanic took 2 hours, 40 minutes to sink. 
  • The Titanic carried only 20 lifeboats, as it was thought the ship looked too cluttered with the full amount necessary to rescue all the passengers that would be on board.  The total rescue capacity of the 20 lifeboats was 1,178 but only 711 were rescued.   Even if all the lifeboats were filled to capacity, 1,023 persons would have been left behind.  To make matters even more tragic, however, many of the lifeboats were not filled to their full capacity, which further exacerbated the death toll taken in the catastrophe.  Perhaps the crew initially did not realize the magnitude of the situation and set some lifeboats afloat in the icy sea before they were completely filled.
  • As a reverent gesture, it was James Cameron’s original intent to not have any song playing before, during or after the film.  James Horner and Will Jennings secretly wrote “My Heart Will Go On” and had Celine Dion record the demo.  This song went on to win the Academy Award for the “Best Original Song” and has since made its mark as one of the most overplayed songs in all of history.   

Sail on out to find Titanic 3D (for a limited time only) in a theater near you!

You can view the official Titanic 3D movie website link here.

Titanic 3D – Official Trailer

 

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The Hunger Games – Girl on Fire!

Categories:

Costume Suggestions, Entertainment, Movie Themes

April 2, 2012

by Jenna Maxwell

If you’ve seen the huge blockbuster hit of the spring, The Hunger Games, the name Katniss is a familiar one.  Katniss, the noble teenage heroine that shines in The Hunger Games begins as an impoverished girl fighting for her family’s survival in District 12 of Panem.  When her baby sister Primrose is unfortunately selected to be the female tribute representing District 12 in the annual event known as The Hunger Games, Katniss bravely volunteers to take her place, an act of unprecedented courage.  Each of the 12 districts have a male and female tribute selected for a total of 24 teenagers, aged 12-18 who will fight to the death while on live television until only one survivor remains.

Katniss is a rich character with some pretty amazing wardrobe changes during the film; many of these are quite spectacular as well as memorable. We suspect that the Hunger Games look will be popular this coming Halloween season and thought you might enjoy taking a peek! 

 

 

The Girl on Fire Jumpsuit:

Katniss and Peeta wore very sleek and powerful looking jumpsuits in the introductory parade; fortunately these were also fireproof!  Made of stretchy black fabric with an embossed plastic on it that almost looks like leather.  These jumpsuits were apparently so tight on the actors that they were made in two pieces otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to get in and out of them!

 

 

The Red Interview Dress: 

This stunning red dress not only looks classy and elegant, but is also adorned with bazillions of Swarovski crystals for some added big bling factor.  The dress also has the unique ability to light itself into flames when Katniss spins around–now that my friends, is some kinda HOT!

 

 

Survival Gear:

Perhaps not as flashy as some of her other duds, we still have to give some big kudos to Katniss’ tough girl fashion flair while surviving out in the rough and wild places.  A cool leather jacket, sleek black pants, boots and her signature side braid capture the essence of the chick power she simply exudes.  Her weaponry of choice, her infamous bow and arrow completes this amazing look.

 

 

Just Plain Funky:

You can’t write about the costumes from The Hunger Games without mentioning Effie Trinket.  Her eccentric and bizarre look speaks for itself with its futuristic drama and some pretty outlandish details including poufy dresses, crazy hats, pink eyelashes and even at times, blue lipstick. 

 

 

 

For those who have not yet seen this blockbuster movie, here’s a link to the Hunger Games trailer.

Which Hunger Games look is for you?

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Easter Eggs and Other Easter Traditions Explained

Categories:

Easter

March 26, 2012

by Jenna Maxwell

Have you ever wondered who dreamed up the idea of Easter Eggs?  What about the Easter Bunny in that funky Easter Bunny costume — where did that tradition come from?   With Easter just around the corner, we thought it would be fun to explain a little bit about the history of some of the more common Easter traditions.

Easter Bunny-Tradition states that on Easter this wily rabbit brings baskets full of Easter eggs and toys to children.  Although this custom has been around for a very long time, as it turns out, the Easter bunny has its roots as a pagan rather than a religious symbol.  In Ancient days, long before the Christian holiday of Easter was even celebrated, pagan villagers adopted this hare as a figure of their own holiday as it represented to them the beginning of new life.

Pagan cultures of long ago often celebrated the various seasons and the many different things associated with each of them. In the spring, the world began to come to life again with plants and flowers growing and blooming.  These ancient people celebrated this renewal of life and were thought to believe that these rituals would assist in the perpetuation and fertility of crops, animals and even human beings.  The Saxons worshiped a maiden goddess of fertility known as Eastre, and she was frequently glorified during a springtime village gala. (As a side note, Halloween also has its roots as a pagan celebration associated with harvest time.)

When Christian missionaries came to convert these pagan people to Christianity during the second century, these celebrations eventually were adapted to become Christian holidays rather than pagan holidays.  The festival of Eastre was near the time of Christ’s resurrection, so as time went by, the holidays were assimilated into one celebration, and of course, the Easter Bunny came along for the ride.

Easter Eggs-Eggs have been the symbol of rebirth since ancient days as well.  It seems only natural that a springtime holiday would have the symbol of an egg associated with it, as the earth does appear to be somewhat reborn during the springtime months. The tradition of dyeing eggs during springtime celebrations has been around since the time of the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Christians adopted the custom of decorating eggs and used the eggs to symbolize the ideals of rebirth and resurrection.  In the 600’s, Pope Gregory the Great actually made it illegal to eat eggs during Lent (the 40 days before Easter) so that when Easter finally came and it was then again okay to eat eggs, the eggs seemed like a very delicious and special treat.  Over the years it has become a custom all over the world to decorate eggs around the time of Easter. 

Knowing a little bit of history about your favorite holidays makes it even more fun and enjoyable.  Now when you bite the ears off that chocolate bunny or munch a peanut butter filled chocolate egg, you can think about the long history involved to make that Easter fun happen! 

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Spring Has Sprung!

Categories:

Easter, Trivia

March 19, 2012

by Jenna Maxwell

You’re feeling it.  The daylight hours are definitely longer and finally the sun is setting much later in the day.  You’ve likely experienced some warmer days as well, and perhaps springtime flowers are blooming in a place near you.  Birds are building their nests and the hope of a post-winter thaw looms closer than ever!   Here are some fun facts and trivia about spring to help get you excited about yours!

  • The Vernal Equinox occurs on March 21.  This is the day when daylight and nighttime hours are nearly the same, approximately 12 hours each.  This occurs when the earth’s position in its orbit around the sun places the equator in a direct line with the sun. 
  • A bee must collect pollen from approximately 2 million flowers in order to make honey the equivalent of a one-pound comb.    Speaking of honeybees and pollen, bees actually have a preference when it comes to the flowers they choose.  Their faves seem to be the yellow and blue posies, no one really knows why.
  • Spring Fever is completely legit.  If you are feeling more energetic due to the onset of spring, you are not alone.  Scientists have proven that as daylight increases and the weather warms up, the body makes less melatonin (which makes you sleepy) and more serotonin (which makes you feel good).  These hormonal fluctuations actually will cause a form of mild giddiness, jubilance and a surge of energy that may be noticeable to some; it’s not your imagination.  If you are feeling an uncontrollable urge to do your spring cleaning or are unusually amorous, it may be an after effect of these hormonal ebbs and flows, just go with it, it’s completely normal.  You may also find yourself getting fewer colds and flu bugs as well.  Warmer weather decreases the onset of these annoying maladies– say a fond farewell!

  • Birds must learn to sing.  It’s completely true.  Although birds are born with the natural ability to sing, they must be taught the bird songs that are indigenous to their own species.  The only way for them to do this is through hearing other like birds sing these complex songs.  Interestingly enough, it’s very rare for a bird to be able to learn the songs of another species of bird.  The Mockingbird is well known as the great imitator amongst birds, and seems to easily learn and sing the songs of other varieties of birds, but this is apparently a unique talent.
  • Kids grow twice as fast in the springtime as they do during the other months.  If yours suddenly seem to be sprouting rapidly upward, don’t be surprised!  It seems logical, too, that kids are likely hungrier because of this phenomenon.  If food is also disappearing around your place at a very rapid pace, then yes, it must be spring!
  • Most popular U.S. Spring Break getaways: Beach: Miami, Key West, South Padre Island, Myrtle Beach, Maui Mountain/Ski Vacations:  Jackson Hole, Aspen, Lake Tahoe, VailFamily Trips: Washington DC, New York, Orlando, San Diego

Enjoy the longer days, the long-awaited winter thaw, and the warmer weather  Finally, spring is in the air!

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Spring Blockbusters Soon in a Theater Near You

Categories:

Movie Themes

March 12, 2012

by Jenna Maxwell

The signs of spring are everywhere.  As you moved your clock ahead one hour this past weekend you set into motion one of many rituals that signal what lies ahead: longer days, warmer weather and of course, the long awaited Spring break.  This spring, Hollywood has lots of fabulous movies in queue, just waiting to hit the theaters for your viewing pleasure.  Here are a few exciting films that you will not want to miss that all debut this month!  Shed your winter doldrums once and for all with a quick escape to a movie theater near you!

21 Jump Street

Watch the hilarious shenanigans of two friends who reconnect at the Police Academy where the duo do their absolute best at mostly pathetic underachievement. Resigned to an assignment that uses their youthful looks to infiltrate the world of young crime, the goofy twosome pose as high school students in order to help break up a drug ring.  In order to add legitimacy to the ruse, the pair must first move back in with their parents and eventually set up a bust that is to happen right during the High School Prom!  Starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, 21 Jump Street promises to be a pleasant surprise with lots of hilarious fun in store.  21 Jump Street hits theatres March 16, 2012.

The Hunger Games

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S9a5V9ODuY

In a futuristic society known as Panem, now divided into 12 districts, a 16-year old girl named Katniss lives with her parents inside one of the poorest districts.  Panem is located in what once, many years ago, was United States.  In the distant past, the districts had taken up a battle against the Capitol but unfortunately were defeated in the war.  As part of the surrender agreement, the districts now must comply with the demands of the Capitol.  This agreement states that annually each district must send both one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called “The Hunger Games”.  During the games themselves the rules sometimes are altered along with the level of audience participation that will occur.  However, one thing remains constant during the Hunger Games.  The games are a fight to the death, and all of it is featured live on television.  When Katniss’ younger sister is selected to be the female participant in the Hunger Games, Katniss bravely volunteers to take her place and finds herself in a situation where she must kill or be killed.  The Hunger Games will be in theatres March 23, 2012.

Wrath of the Titans

Perseus, the son of Zeus has been striving for a quieter life raising his son but like many of the best-laid plans, his hopes for a simpler existence comes to a screeching halt.  There is trouble brewing between the gods and the Titans and the gods are quickly losing control of the imprisoned Titans; in particular, their fiery leader Kronos.  Kronos had been overthrown by his sons Zeus, Hades and Poseidon and was left to rot in a stinking dungeon in the deep abyss of the underworld.  As Kronos aligns himself with Zeus’ traitorous son Ares, as well as Hades who has now traded in his loyalty, Perseus must now find his calling and make a brave quest into the underworld in order to rescue a captured Zeus, and of course, save the world.   Wrath of the Titans premieres March 30, 2012.

Mirror Mirror 

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4079329561/

The enchanting fairy tale of Snow White is revisited in this exciting epic story containing the things all good adventures are made of–jealousy, betrayal and of course, romance. 

In Mirror, Mirror a wicked queen and stepmother (played by Julia Roberts) schemes to take over a kingdom and then tries to win over the handsome and charming prince.  To her horror, the queen discovers that the prince is already enamored with the local princess, Snow White, who has completely captured the prince’s heart.  Not to be outdone, the evil queen quickly banishes Snow White to the forest where a man-eating beast anxiously awaits her arrival.

Luckily for Snow White she is discovered by a band of undersized ruffian highway robbers and is taken under their wing.  In time, and with proper training from her new subjects, Snow White grows into a strong and indomitable young woman, determined to reclaim her birthright.   With the help of her new little friends, Snow White and crew set forth on a magical battle that retells the classic story of Snow White like it has never been told before.  Mirror Mirror hits theaters March 30, 2012.

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