Jewish Entertainment

There is virtually no record of the earliest music of the Christian church except a few New Testament fragments of what are probably hymns. Some of these fragments are still sung as hymns today in the Orthodox Church, including “Awake, awake O sleeper” on the occasion of someone’s baptism.

Being Jewish, Jesus and his disciples would most likely have sung the psalms from memory. However, without a centralised music industry, the repertoire of ordinary people was much greater than it is today, so they probably knew other songs too. Early Christians continued to sing the psalms much as they were sung in the synagogues in the first century.

Aside from hymns taken from the Bible itself, the earliest hymn still in use today is probably O Gladsome Light (Greek, Phôs Hilaron). In the fourth century, Basil the Great referred to it as already being a rather old hymn.

Some of the popularity of Arianism in the fourth century can be attributed to the catchy songs that the priest Arius composed in its support. The popularity of the songs helped increase the popularity of his teachings. Ephrem the Syrian composed a number of hymns later in the fourth century that supported what eventually came to be recognised as more orthodox doctrines.

Troparia and Kontakia are two early forms of hymns that became incorporated into the Church’s worship.

At the conclusion of the Fifth Ecumenical Council, Emperor Justinian I is reputed to have composed a hymn summarising the council’s conclusion, Only begotten Son. That hymn was since incorporated into the Divine Liturgy of John Chrysostom and is still widely sung today.

The tradition of Christian hymns in the English language is closely tied to Protestantism. Protestant hymns can range from the Reformation organ pieces of J. S. Bach to the American folk hymns found in The Sacred Harp. Martin Luther composed a number of hymns in the 16th century, reportedly borrowing some of their melodies from popular tavern drinking songs of that period.

Another famous hymn composer is Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley. Some hymns, particularly Christmas carols, are widely embraced by various denominations while many hymns are restricted to certain religious traditions. In some cases this is due to doctrinal differences reflected in the words of the song but in many cases it is the result of tradition and the use of denominationally-produced or -approved hymnals.

The use of hymns was a factor in several historic schisms among Protestant denominations with more traditional members insisting on the use of only the psalms in the service.

Harry Rockwell
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/the-rising-popularity-of-christian-music-11245.html

It is not really amazing to learn that many celebrities love tattoos, nor is it surprising that those who are in the public eye and in the media have quite a considerable influence on the general people’s fascination with tattoos. The stars have tattoos, so all of their fans want tattoos too. For celebrities, age is not a factor; older as well as the younger ones have them. We know all of these people– but do we also know about what unique styles of artwork they have?
One of America’s most popular movie stars, Robert DeNiro, has made an appearance in movies, sporting numerous tattoos. Whether or not his fans realize that they are only accessories, and he uses Temporary Tattoos for his films. The fact is in real life Robert DeNiro has only one Real Tattoo, that of a black panther. Another actor who shows off many tattoos in his movies is Johnny Depp; all of his, however, are real. Bruce Willis also has a few tattoos; most notably the symbol of his movie “Die Hard.”

Tattoos have also been in style with many noted musicians. Former teen idol Justin Timberlake has a guardian angel, and a few more. Rapper Eminem has more tattoos than countable, including his daughter’s name and his own.

Some sports celebrities also vouch for tattoos. Michael Jordan has his fraternity symbol tattooed above his chest, while Dennis Rodman is a virtual canvas of artwork.

Not to be defeated, many female stars also show off various degrees of artwork. Young actress Drew Barrymore is essentially a canvas full of tattoos; it is believed that she designed them herself. Reese Witherspoon is more understated, wearing only one small star tattoo which is rarely visible. Pamela Anderson too has a variety of tattoos, the most notable being the word ‘Mommy’ on one finger, which reportedly used to read ‘Tommy.’ Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has five stars to represent each member of her family, her husband’s initials, and the time-honored Jewish phrase ‘I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.’

Some of today’s supermodels who also sport tattoos are Kate Moss, Christy Turlington, and Stephanie Seymour. All of them use Tattoos as a temporary form of fashion accessories. Most supermodels who opt for tattoos show fewer and smaller designs than celebrities in other fields.

While many celebrities have had tattoos for a very long time, the popularity of tattoos amongst stars has been ever-increasing, both in the number of celebrities who opt for them and the number of tattoos that they have. A very few have only permanent tattoo; more and more are taking on a large number of different temporary tattoos like Water Transfer , Glitter, Crystal Tattoos. Out of these, crystal tattoos are the most popular amongst women, as it adds a dash of glamour to their personality.

As celebrities show off their tattoos, and this is picked up by the media, it presents a growing influence for their fans, especially amongst the younger generation, who want to ape them. As with anything else that stars do in the public eye, their influence with tattoos helps this form of artwork become more prevalent, more popular, and more acceptable to most of the people.

Niraj Gera
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/celebrities-love-tattoos-700764.html

It is a truism that Chanukah has become the Jewish equivalent of Christmas. This is most obviously demonstrated by the directive of the P.C. Police on high, that everybody wishes each other a Happy (generic) Holiday. I consider this to be insulting to everyone, and to the inherent (and Constitutional) right to celebrate his or her own applicable holiday.

Chanukah is most definitely NOT equivalent to Christmas, either in its (proper and traditional) mode of celebration, or its importance to the religious calendar. Christmas is, to all outward appearance, the most important and widely celebrated holiday in the Christian calendar. By all rights, parenthetically, Easter should be much more important, as the celebration by believing Christians of Christ’s resurrection, while Christmas, as we know it today, is of surprisingly recent vintage, and of highly questionable dating on the calendar. But an examination of Christian dogma and practice is beyond the scope of this piece, and surely beyond the expertise of this author.

By contrast, Chanukah, a beautiful and joyous holiday, to be sure, is considered by observant Jews to be relatively minor in the Jewish calendar. By way of example, Jews are permitted to work on Chanukah, drive on Chanukah, write on Chanukah (as I am doing right now), etc. These activities are prohibited to Jews not only on the “major” holidays of the Jewish calendar, but every single week on the Sabbath. I concede, of course, that these rules are mostly honored in the breach by Jews worldwide.

Nevertheless, it bears pointing out that, while nearly every Jew in America can tell you when Chanukah is and, in greatly varying degrees, what the holiday commemorates, I wonder what percentage of them can tell you when and what, for example, Shavuot is, and what it commemorates. I daresay that it is a small minority, indeed. Notwithstanding that, Shavuot (which takes place approximately 7 weeks after Passover) is very much a major holiday to Jews. Its observance is mandated in the Torah, which is what makes it so important. In the days when the Temple in Jerusalem stood, it was one of only three annual holidays on which Jews made pilgrimage and sacrifice to God. In Jewish tradition, it also commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and represents, agriculturally, the festival of the first fruits of the season. The activities described above, while permitted on Chanukah, are proscribed on Shavuot.

Chanukah, by contrast, is not commanded to Jews in the Torah; the reason for this is obvious: the events commemorated on that holiday took place at least 1,000 years after the revelation at Sinai. The victory a small number of Jewish rebels over a exponentially larger force of Greco-Syrian forces and the miracle of a single day’s supply of oil burning for eight days is a wonderful reminder of our heritage, but falls somewhat within the rubric of the old joke about every Jewish holiday being based upon the principle: “they tried to kill us, we won, now let’s eat.”
 
That being said, there are many rules, regulations and special prayers said on Chanukah (after all, Judaism is a religion very much given to rules, regulations and special prayers). I certainly do not, therefore, mean to diminish Chanukah, but merely to put in into a proper Jewish perspective.
 
Needless to say, we all know that Chanukah has taken on a very outsize importance, particularly in America. Many or most Jewish children (and perhaps some adults), feeling left out of the beautiful Christmas celebrations, including, most particularly, the music, the decorations and of course, the gifts, have turned our lovely holiday into a Jewish Christmas, involving major gift giving (never a tradition amongst Jews in earlier times). I won’t even get into the question of so-called “Chanukah bushes,” as the very concept makes me gag, so I am unable to write about it.
 
In recent years, after decades of angst, handwringing and litigation over such issues (add these to the list of things I don’t care about) as Christmas trees and crèches on public property, political correctness seems to require that we take the word “Christmas” out of our vocabulary and replace it with the word “Holiday.” This, presumably, is intended to ensure that everyone, whether he or she celebrates Christmas, Chanukah or Kwanza, feels included in the good cheer. To my astonishment, I have actually heard the term “Holiday Tree” uttered over the last few years. Well, folks, it’s not a “Holiday Tree,” it’s a Christmas tree. I say that knowing that the Christmas tree in the home goes back only to Victorian times among Christians and most certainly is pagan in its origin. Again, “nuff said” about the history of Christian observance.
 
Many Christians are pushing back against this trend, and rightly so. It is my custom, as it should be everyone’s, I believe, to wish his or her non-Jewish friends and acquaintances a Merry Christmas. Once upon a time, Christian Holidays were frequently an occasion for pogroms against Jews, but that is not the case today, and certainly not in America. Christians are entitled to celebrate their holiday joyously and unashamedly, and to call it by its right name. We Jews, of course, are entitled to the same privilege.

Speaking for myself, I enjoy and appreciate the Christmas (yes, Christmas) season. The decorations are beautiful, as is the music (In addition to the well-known Christmas carols, I particularly enjoy Handel’s Messiah and Ave Maria, for example). It is a welcome relief from what would otherwise be a cold and dreary time of year, with short days and long nights. But I do not delude myself; it is emphatically NOT my holiday, and I appreciate it from a distance, and as an outsider. I see nothing whatever wrong in this, although perhaps, some Jews might differ with me. And I, for one, do not need Chanukah to compensate for the absence of Christmas in my life. Chanukah stands on its own merits, and I enjoy it and celebrate it for what it is: a lovely and meaningful Jewish holiday.
 
As for us in the Jewish Community, we would be infinitely better off directing our energies hitherto expended in neutering Christmas, to such issues as support for Israel, bringing unaffiliated Jews into “the fold,” and improving the lot of Americans and humankind in general.
 
Happy Holidays? No, sir! Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Joyous Kwanza, and Happy and Healthy New Year to all of us!
 

Warren Graham
http://www.articlesbase.com/religion-articles/happy-holiday-bah-humbug-710047.html

Exchanging gift items is a very popular and common practice across multifarious culture worldwide Gifts can be given or exchanged in special occasions like cultural festivals or social events and can be given as rituals. Gifts can be handed over to people as a gesture of appreciation, indebtedness, thankfulness or gratitude. All over the world, every culture has its very own personal way of exchanging and accepting gifts and in most cases, the practices are as different as salt and sugar. However, there are certain very vital factors which need to be borne in mind before presenting someone with a gift. First and foremost is to ensure the value of the gift and in these cases one should invest similar to the amount that the other person has invested on a gift. The occasion and timing of handing over the gift is extremely important as well. One should be well aware of the etiquettes followed by various cultures and at times one must also keep the religious concerns in mind while presenting one with a gift item.

In countries like china and Japan , it is considered mandatory that gifts are offered and received with both hands. It is a polite gesture according to their custom and a gift once received, the receiver must thank the giver in full heart. The gifts should never be opened in front of the one who has presented the gift and in most cases gifts are opened after the guests have left unless personally insisted by the guest to open the gift. In case of professional situations, gifting is equivalent to bribing in china and therefore it is considered as illegal. In china, the color of the gift is also an important deciding factor. Liquors are commonly gifted according to Jewish customs as wine is a very significant part of their religious belief as well. Much on the contrary, Muslim cultures forbidden alcohol and Muslims usually use their right hand in offering or receiving gifts as the left hand is considered unclean. Hindus too are wary about using the left hand though they may use either hands or the right one in receiving and offering gifts. They are against opening gifts at the time they are received. In European countries, gifts are appreciated immensely though they are not handed over as a ritual unlike Asian countries. Wines, liquors and handicrafts are appreciated by European cultures and during social celebrations, exchange of customary gifts are common as it is across all cultures.

Robert Baird
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/gift-giving-in-various-cultures-293972.html

Lasko Kosher Cruises, which recently merged with Suite Life, a leading kosher cruise operator for the past seven years, has announced that it will be adding the first Glatt Kosher cruise to Israel and Egypt to its list of 2009 sailings. This “Ancient Empires” cruise will include 13 days aboard Celebrity Cruises’ brand new Equinox leaving from Rome, Italy on Tuesday, August 18, 2009.

The Ancient Empires itinerary features culturally rich ports of call including Rome and Naples, Italy; Athens and Rhodes, Greece; Ephesus, Turkey; Alexandria, Egypt; and Haifa and Ashdod, Israel. Guests will sail around the Mediterranean Sea visiting ruins, perusing architecture and sampling the flavor of these ancient empires.

The Israel/Egypt cruise, like all Lasko Kosher Cruises, offers premium accommodations plus three fresh, gourmet Glatt Kosher, Cholov Yisroel meals and snacks daily as well as three minyanim a day in a dedicated shul on board. All are complimentary and reserved for Lasko Kosher Cruises passengers exclusively.

Lasko brings onboard a full staff of mashgichim to kasher a designated portion of the galley in advance of the sailing and maintain 24-hour presence in the kitchen. A Lasko Kosher Cruise representative is also onboard every cruise to tend to guests’ personal needs.

“Our all-inclusive destinations at sea are distinguished by the quality of the ships we use, the standards of Kashrut we uphold, and the unique vacations we provide our guests,” said Sam Lasko, a partner in Lasko Kosher Cruises and founder of Lasko Family Kosher Tours, which has been serving the Jewish community for over 20 years, most notably in Kosher for Passover hotel programs. “We pride ourselves on the personal attention we provide, from the moment a customer calls to book until they disembark. Going that extra mile to create a warm family environment is part of our operating philosophy.”

“What is so nice about a kosher cruise is that you enjoy a true luxury vacation yet you don’t have to compromise any of your religious practices,” added Avrumi Flam, a partner in Lasko Kosher Cruises and a singer well known in the tri-state area Jewish Community. “We make you feel like you’re home, but you’re actually in the most fascinating destinations you would otherwise not be able to experience without the services of a kosher tour company like Lasko.”    

In fact, in addition to delicious gourmet dining, Lasko Kosher Cruises is known for its esteemed scholar in residence program, inspiring lectures from highly respected rabbis, and entertainment provided by popular jewish musicians. Among the other added-value features of a Lasko Kosher Cruise are extensive tea rooms between meals as well as personalized tours that visit Jewish related points of interest and explore the culture of the Jewish people. As an independent yet integrated group of each cruise, guests are always free to partake in all of the ship’s programs and exhilarating excursions.  

“When we launch Celebrity Equinox in Europe in 2009, some of her first voyages will include calls at Ashdod and Haifa,” said Dondra Ritzenthaler, senior vice president of sales, Celebrity Cruises. “We know that our guests will be as thrilled to discover these parts of Israel as they will be to discover all that the ship herself has to offer.”

In 2009, Lasko Kosher Cruises is also offering nine other first-class sailings: two seven-day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, January 18th and January 25th; two seven-day cruises to Alaska, June 28th   and August 2nd; a seven-day cruise to the Baltic region and Russia, August 9th; two 10-day cruises to the Eastern Mediterranean and exotic Greek Isles, June 26th and August 7th; a seven-day cruise to the Norwegian Fjords, August 16th; and a combined Northern Europe/Norwegian Fjords cruise for 14 days leaving August 9th.

Lasko Kosher Cruises is now taking reservations for all of its 2009 cruises. Lasko Kosher Cruises, an affiliate of Lasko Family Kosher Tours, the largest kosher tour operator in the world, is based in South Florida. The company partners exclusively with top-tier cruise lines such as Celebrity Cruises and Costa Cruises, and embarks from different ports of call around the world. Lasko Kosher Cruises uses independent kosher supervision through Rabbi Levi Teitlebaum, director of the Ottowa Vaad HaKashrus (OVH), and Rabbi Yossi Birnbaum, the Israeli Field Representative of DSJ Global Kashrus Organization. For more detailed itinerary information or to reserve a cabin now, call 866.604.9838 or visit www.koshercruises.com.

Risa Chopp
http://www.articlesbase.com/cruising-articles/lasko-kosher-cruises-offers-first-glatt-kosher-cruise-to-israel-and-egypt-705856.html

The origins of abstract art can rightly be attributed to the imagination of man. Abstract art is distinguishable from fantasy art, which makes imaginative characters and myths its subject. It is closer to reality as it reflects the real in figurative terms.  In other words, abstract art depicts real forms in a simplified or rather reduced way, keeping the original subject the same.

Abstract art did not originate all of a sudden nor is it the outcome of the 20th century thinkers. In the Jewish and Islamic religion, depiction of human beings was banned. As such, they took recourse to all forms of decorative and non-figurative arts or calligraphy.

Wassily Kandinsky is regarded as the inventor of non-figurative art in the 20th century. Gradually, his paintings moved out of figurative subjects. In 1910, he created the first figurative work of art- a watercolor sans any reference to reality. Kandinsky not only became the first abstract artist, he also took pains to promote it as a theorist. After Kandinsky, it was the Russian painter, Kasimir Malewich, who took abstract art to the next level. Melewich’s paintings mostly focused on simple geometrical forms.  

The landmark events in the mid-twentieth century changed the course of abstract art. The World War II, persecution of Jewish people by Hitler, and denunciation of modern art by the Nazis led to the immigration of hundreds of avant-garde European artists into the United States of America, especially New York. This created a new wave in the American art scenario prompting the birth of Abstract Expressionism.

Abstract expressionism is more a concept of performing art than a style. This movement stresses the trend of pushing the conventional boundaries beyond all limits. Some of the famous artists of this movement are Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko.

Currently, there are two primary segments of abstract art. One segment, known as Color Field Abstract Art, features unified blocks of color. Mark Rothko is one of the pioneers of this genre. The second segment includes multiple genres- Surrealism, Expressionism, Cubism, and Action painting. Regardless of all these influences, the core of abstract art paintings remains the capturing of the essence of the artist’s subconscious on canvas.

Suzanne
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/abstract-art-a-breakthrough-in-artistic-expression-722792.html

Whether you perceive rap as a musical art form or fad you wish would just fade away, there’s no denying the impact it’s had on the American musical scene. With its explosive lyrics and supercharged rhythms, rap burst onto the musical radar in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. As it grew, combining deejaying with emceeing and break dancing, rap evolved into an entirely new genre known as hip hop. However, at its heart, rap music was essentially the work of inner city youths addressing the troubles and concerns associated with urban life.

Rap can be traced back to West African singers/storytellers called the Griots. However, in the United Sates, the genre got its start in the Bronx, New York, when the exiting middle class immigrants and their businesses were replaced by poor black and Hispanic families. Accompanying these poor people were crime, drug addiction, and unemployment. It seemed like overnight street gangs appeared on every corner of the Bronx. At the same time, “Times were changing,” according to Henry A. Rhodes of the Yale New Haven Teachers Institute, “with the advent of the seventies people were getting into music and dancing and going to clubs.” The first person to bring rap to the clubs was Cool Herc, a Jamaican immigrant whose style of spinning records led to the development of break dancing. Other American DJ’s contributed to the rap scene. These included Theodor, who developed the technique known as “scratching,” which involved the DJ spinning a record backwards and forwards very fast while the needle was in the groove, and George Saddler, known as Grandmaster Flash, who was an expert at “punch phasing.” Another American deejay, Afrika Bambaataa, tried to replace gang rumbles and drugs with rap, dance, and the ‘Hip Hop’ style.

Today, says Rhodes: “Even though rap is proportionally more popular among blacks, its primary audience is white and lives in the suburbs.” He notes that the more rappers are packaged as violent black criminals, the bigger the white audiences become. “I do not think anyone can account for the popularity of rap to a white audience no more than one could account for the popularity of the black entertainment in the ’speakeasies’ to the white audiences of the late 1920s and 1930s,” says Rhodes, “other than the attraction which exists for something that is taboo or forbidden by one’s social group.” According to Rhodes, Run-D.M.C. was the first black rap group to break through to a mass white audience with their albums, Run-D.M.C and King of Rock, both produced by a white, Jewish punk rocker named Rick Rubin. Some critics have argued that with the influence of whites on the rap music scene, it is only a matter of time before rap starts to lose its popularity in the black community goes out of style. Rhodes disagrees. “I believe that rap music can withstand the influence of other (ethnic/social) groups and still remain popular and flourish.” Some consider that a blessing, others a curse.

To read other articles on rap visit our blog.

Download Rap Music for free legally on our site.

To view and listen to the Top Rap Songs see our site.

Eztracks
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/rap-urban-music-going-suburban-69533.html

Are you a movie dunce? Do you not know your Corleone from your Kurosawa? Would you recognise a lightsaber if it hit you in the face? Well, don’t panic. To help you catch up on your movie knowledge here’s a crash course in the top 10 movies of all time, as voted by the readers of the Internet Movie Database. Careful, though… here be spoilers.

10. Star Wars IV: A New Hope

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away . . .

Luke Skywalker, farmhand and son of Darth Vader, is torn from his home when his aunt and uncle are murdered by Imperial Storm Troopers searching for the stolen plans to the Death Star, a space station with weaponry capable of destroying planets. Luke escapes with his two droids, Jedi Knight Obi Wan Kenobi, smuggler Han Solo and first mate Chewbacca.

After escaping Tatooine, the ragtag crew stumble upon the Death Star shortly after it has destroyed the planet Alderaan. Caught by its tractor beam, their ship is dragged in. While attempting to escape the Death Star the team rescue Princess Leia, held prisoner in the ships bowels. During the rescue Obi Wan sacrifices himself to allow the others to escape.

In a grand finale, Luke destroys the Death Star by firing a missile into a weak spot in the structure of the ship and Darth Vader, is cannoned off into the depths of space.

Quote: I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.

Trivia: Al Pacino, Burt Reynolds and James Caan reportedly turned down the role of Han Solo.

9. Pulp Fiction

A movie whose various plotlines are far too intertwined to summarise in a paragraph or two, Pulp Fiction simply tells the story of a day in the life of a group of unusual people—two hitmen, the wife of a gangster, and a boxer who killed in the ring among others.

Edited to tie each story together, the movie often plays out of sequence—to the point where the final scene and the opening scene take place at the same time. Full of pop culture references and quotable lines, Pulp Fiction stays true to form as a Tarantino movie.

Quote: Zed’s dead, baby. Zed’s dead.

Trivia: Vincent Vega (John Travolta) is the brother of Vic Vega, also known as Mr Blonde, in Reservoir Dogs.

8. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Set during the US Civil War, the movie follows the three protagonists Blondie (The Good), Snake Eyes (The Bad) and Tuco (The Ugly) in their search for a hoard of gold stolen by bank robber Bill Carson. All three want 50% of the gold—resulting in a good old-fashioned standoff. Snake Eyes is shot dead, and the honorable Blondie allows Tuco his share of the booty.

Quote: You see, in this world there’s two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.

Trivia: Clint Eastwood wore the same poncho for all three ‘Man With No Name’ movies—without washing it once.

7. Schindler’s List

Schindler’s List tells the true story of Oscar Schindler, a Nazi industrialist who becomes so moved by the plight of the Jewish people during World War II that he devotes himself to saving as many as he can. Even after rescuing over 1,100 Jews from the gas chamber, Schindler bemoans the fact that he could have saved more had he sacrificed everything he had.

Quote: I could have got more out. I could have got more. I don’t know. If I’d just… I could have got more.

Trivia: Steven Spielberg refused to take any pay for the film, claiming that it would feel like he was taking ‘blood money’.

6. The Seven Samurai

Regarded as Akira Kurosawa’s greatest film, the Seven Samurai tells the story of a terrorised village in war-torn 16th Century Japan. Constantly attacked by gangs of bandits, the residents enlist the services of seven ronin, or samurai without masters, to protect them.

Despite initial tensions between the villagers and the samurai, they together successfully defend the village against the bandits. However, their success comes at the cost of the lives of four samurai.

Quote: What’s the use of worrying about your beard when your head’s about to be taken?

Trivia: The three samurai whose characters survived the film were the first three to die in real life.

5. Casablanca

Hiding out in Casablanca, Morocco during World War II, exiled American and former freedom fighter Rick Blaine passes the time running a popular nightspot. Blaine’s tedium is interrupted when Czech Resistance leader Victor Laszlo arrives with his beautiful wife Ilsa—Blaine’s ex-lover.

Blaine holds the key to Laszlo’s safe passage out of the country, and Ilsa offers herself to him in exchange for her husband’s safety. Blaine faces the choice of sacrificing Laszlo to win back Ilsa, but in the end decides to do the honorable thing…

Quote: If that plane leaves the ground and you’re not with him, you’ll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.

Trivia: The line ‘Here’s lookin’ at you, kid’ was voted the 5th most well known movie line in history by the American Film Institute.

4. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The third and final instalment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King offers an epic finale to Frodo’s quest (thousands of extras took part in the filming to add to the drama). Finally arriving at Mt. Doom, Frodo is overcome by exhaustion and the stress of bearing the Ring. Helped by Sam, Frodo manages to make his way into the volcano.

At the last moment he finds himself unable to throw the Ring into the magma, choosing instead to wear it. Gollum, surviving Frodo’s earlier attempt on his life, attacks Frodo and bites off his finger, removing the ring. Losing his grip, Gollum falls into the pit along with the Ring, breaking its hold over Frodo and killing Sauron.

With Sauron’s death his army is destroyed, just in time to save the army of Men, poised to fight to the death at the gates of Mordor.

Quote: Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can’t carry it for you… but I can carry you.

Trivia: The Return of the King used over seven times the number of special effects shots used in an average movie.

3. The Godfather: Part II

Split between two timelines, the second instalment of The Godfather trilogy follows Don Vito Corleone through his adolescence in Sicily and New York during the early 20th Century, and later his rise to power as a Mafia Don. It also returns to a point a few years after the conclusion of the first movie, with Michael Corleone running the family interests following his father’s death.

After learning that his brother Fredo has betrayed the family, Michael must order his execution.

Quote: I know it was you Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!

Trivia: Robert de Niro won an Oscar for his portrayal of a young Vito Corleone. De Niro and Marlon Brando are the only actors to win Oscars for the portrayal of the same character.

2. The Shawshank Redemption

Based on a novella by Steven King, The Shawshank Redemption tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a successful banker wrongly convicted for the murder of his wife and her lover. Given two life sentences, Dufresne is sent to the maximum security Shawshank Prison where he befriends Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, a lifer who helps him adjust to prison life.

Over the next twenty years their friendship grows while Andy has a positive effect on the inmates, helping to establish a prison library and education system. Unfortunately, the mean-spirited and criminal warden beats down Andy’s spirit until he finally escapes through a tunnel that took him two decades to dig.

In a final act of revenge Andy exposes the warden’s crimes, driving him to suicide to avoid being sent to prison. Red is later released on parole, and tracks down Andy to a beach in Mexico.

Quote: Get busy living, or get busy dying.

Trivia: The mugshots of Morgan Freeman as a young man are actually pictures of his real life son, Alfonso.

1. The Godfather

Adapted from Mario Puzo’s seminal Mafia novel, the first instalment of The Godfather trilogy sees Don Vito Corleone, head of the Corleone crime family, struggle with the realities of a changing world. When he refuses to work with drug dealer Virgil Sollozzo in a scheme to push heroin in New York, he falls foul of Sollozzo’s backers the Tattaglia family.

When Vito is wounded in an attempted assassination his son Michael—previously determined to have nothing to do with the family business—volunteers to kill Sollozzo. Following the execution Michael is sent to Sicily to hide out until it is safe to return. After Michael’s brother Sonny is executed by the rival Barzini family, Michael safely returns and takes his place as the head of the family in time to see Vito Corleone die of a heart attack. In revenge for the attacks on his family Michael arranges for the murder of the heads of the other families, to take place during the baptism ceremony of his nephew.

Following the baptism Michael orders the execution of the father of the baptised child—and his own brother in-law—Carlo Rizzi, in retribution for Carlo’s role in setting up Sonny’s death. The movie ends with the widow, Michael’s sister Connie, suspecting that Michael was involved in Carlo’s death.

Quote: I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.

Trivia: Sofia Coppola, the director’s daughter, played the baby baptised at the end of the movie. She returned to play the role of Michael’s daughter Mary in The Godfather: Part III).

So there you have it. If you’ve been paying attention you should now have just enough knowledge of the top ten movies of all time to bluff your way through a conversation with a movie buff. These bare bones won’t take you far, though, so I suggest you set aside some time, get a big bucket of popcorn, sit back and enjoy the best of Hollywood. You won’t be disappointed.

James Shenton
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/the-10-most-popular-movies-of-all-time-a-cheat-sheet-55149.html