Material Monster

Plot points are linear links that make up the chain of traditional Aristotelian 3-act dramatic structure. This classic structure worked well in Hollywood for almost a century now. Although young movie makers are forcing the limits of this structure, plot points still rule the day as the “tent poles” that hold up of the circus of our dreams. Here are the plot points of The Handmaid’s Tale (1990), as I see them.

The Handmaid’s Tale (1990)

Starring: Natasha Richardson (Kate/Offred), Faye Dunaway (Serena Joy), Aidan Quinn (Nick), Elizabeth McGover (Moira), Victoria Tennant (Aunt Lydia), Robert Duvall (Commander)
Directed by: Volker Schlndorff
Writers: Margaret Atwood (novel), Harold Pinter (screenplay)

PROTAGONIST KATE’S DILEMMA: She wants to run away from the Bible-inspired male-dominated dictatorship of the future but does not want to leave her daughter behind.

PROTAGONIST’S DESIRE: To get back her freedom.

HER CHIEF OBSTACLE: The iron-clad brain-washing control of the system backed up by a Nazi-like security apparatus.

ESTABLISHING SHOT: An SUV winding its way up a desolate snowy mountain road.

INCITING INCIDENT: Kate is taken prisoner by the System.

PLOT POINT 1: Kate is forced to have sex with the Commander as his handmaid while his wife Serena Joy holds Kate tight in her lap. It’s all heartless reproductive business.

MID POINT EVENT: Since the Commander cannot impregnate her, Kate makes love to Nick, the commander’s driver, in order to survive as a fertile handmaid.

PLOT POINT 2: Kate slashes Commander’s throat and kills him.

3rd ACT RESOLUTION: Kate, carrying Nick’s child, runs away to a mountain top trailer with the help of Nick and the rebels, finding satisfaction in the hope that one day she’ll rejoin her daughter.

In Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, the author refers to Da Vinci’s painting, The Adoration of the Magi, which may conceal a hidden message. This painting was “lost” for over 100 years after Da Vinci was commissioned by the friars of San Donato in Florence, Italy.

In the era of Leonardo Da Vinci, students apprenticed with a master artist such as Da Vinci or Michelangelo. Apprentices copied the work of the master, and–once they proved that they could mimic his style–they could finish work that he started.

To study The Adoration of the Magi, art expert Maurizio Seracini–the only nonfictional character in The Da Vinci Code–used ultrasound scans. He discovered that Da Vinci did the underdrawing, but the paint over Da Vinci’s work was applied by someone else.

Seracini commented, “Leonardo never meant the painting to look like this.” In fact, Seracini discovered a series of drawings, one layered over the next.

WHAT WAS COVERED

Preliminary studies show a bloody battle in Da Vinci’s original work, but only two horsemen from that scene–in the upper right corner of the painting–are still visible.

On Mary’s left, there is an odd building, usually described as a ruined palace. However, Seracini’s studies reveal a lotus flower design at the top of a column, indicating Egyptian architecture.

In addition, a tree grows out of the stonework, and craftsmen appear to be working on it. Seracini speculates that Da Vinci was showing a Pagan temple being rebuilt.

LITERALLY, A COVER-UP

According to Seracini’s studies, the later painting may have been applied as much as 50 years after Leonardo Da Vinci sketched it.

The big mystery is, of course, why?

Did Da Vinci have a specific reason to stop working on this painting? Was the cover-up a form of censorship?

There is evidence that Da Vinci expected someone to tamper with his original design. He took the unusual step of sealing his underdrawing.

It’s impossible to conclude anything until more studies–and perhaps more information–are uncovered.

MORE MYSTERIES

This was not Seracini’s first “mystery” connected with Da Vinci’s paintings.

In fact, one of his earliest commissions was from UCLA’s Da Vinci expert, Professor Carlo Pedretti. He asked Seracini to help find another painting started by Da Vinci, the Battle of Anghiari, known at the time as Fight for the Flag.

According to Da Vinci’s own notes, he began the painting in June 1505. A letter written in 1549 mentions the completed mural, with reference to the importance of studying the horses closely, to see a “miraculous thing.”

However, in the 1560s, the Medici family hired artist Giorgio Vasari (1511 - 1574)–one of Michelangelo’s students–to cover the Battle of Anghiari mural.

Vasari could have painted over the mural, but he probably didn’t. The project would have been enormous. The Anghiari mural is estimated to be about three times the size of Da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

Also, Vasari was an admirer of Da Vinci. Vasari once said about him, “Leonardo da Vinci was a man of regal spirit and tremendous breadth of mind; and his name became so famous that not only was he esteemed during his lifetime, but his reputation endured and became even greater after his death.”

According to Seracini’s studies, a brick wall that Vasari erected over the eastern side of the building–where Da Vinci’s Battle of Anghiari mural was supposed to be–probably conceals the mural.

On that wall, Vasari placed his own mural, Battle of Marciano in the Chiana Valley. As a clue, Vasari placed the message, “Cerca Trova” or–in English–”Seek and you shall find,” in his mural. This five-century-old message is the only one of its kind in the painting.

As of late 2005, more studies are necessary before the Palazzo Vecchio museum will approve the temporary removal of the Vasari mural, to see what’s behind the wall.

It may reveal yet another clue to the mystery of Da Vinci’s messages, as described in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.

Fiona Broome is an artist, Celtic (and Grail) historian, and writer. She is best known as the lead researcher for Hollow Hill, the ghost website: http://www.HollowHill.com/

Premiering in the Fall of 1998, Will & Grace has become one of the most celebrated shows of its time. Nominated for 49 Emmys, and winner of 12 (including Outstanding Comedy Series in 2000), the show follows the lives of two best friends who live together. With a plethora of other award nominations - 24 Golden Globes, 14 SAG Awards, and 6 People’s Choice Awards, Will & Grace continues to light up the small screen with its unique brand of comic humor and groundbreaking sitcom format…

Debra Messing stars in the role of Grace Adler, a straight interior designer who moves into an apartment with her best friend Will (Eric McCormack). Friends since college, Will is a successful lawyer who also happens to be gay (thus, keeping their relationship from becoming a permanent romantic one). Having dated before Will came out of the closet, the two maintain a more intimate relationship than mere casual friends. The comic sequences involving the two are complimented by Will’s flamboyantly gay friend Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes) and Grace’s sarcastic, alcoholic assistant Karen Walker (Megan Mullally)…

The Will & Grace DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the series premiere “Love and Marriage” in which Grace, having received an unexpected marriage proposal from her boyfriend, decides to get married. Meanwhile, Will believes the marriage will be a mistake, and he decides to risk his friendship with Grace in order to tell her… Other notable episodes from Season 1 include “Between a Rock and Harlin’s Place” in which Grace decorates Harlin’s apartment, but gets carried away with a cowboy theme, and “The Big Vent” in which Will and Grace begin listening to their neighbors through a vent in their own apartment…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Will & Grace (Season 1) DVD:

Episode 1 (Love and Marriage) Air Date: 09-21-1998
Episode 2 (A New Lease on Life) Air Date: 09-28-1998
Episode 3 (Head Case) Air Date: 10-05-1998
Episode 4 (Between a Rock and Harlin’s Place) Air Date: 10-12-1998
Episode 5 (Boo! Humbug) Air Date: 10-26-1998
Episode 6 (William, Tell) Air Date: 11-09-1998
Episode 7 (Where There’s a Will, There’s No Way) Air Date: 11-16-1998
Episode 8 (The Buying Game) Air Date: 11-30-1998
Episode 9 (The Truth About Will and Dogs) Air Date: 12-15-1998
Episode 10 (The Big Vent) Air Date: 01-05-1999
Episode 11 (Will on Ice) Air Date: 01-12-1999
Episode 12 (My Fair Maid-y) Air Date: 02-02-1999
Episode 13 (The Unsinkable Mommy Adler) Air Date: 02-09-1999
Episode 14 (Big Brother is Coming: Part 1) Air Date: 02-16-1999
Episode 15 (Big Brother is Coming: Part 2) Air Date: 02-23-1999
Episode 16 (Yours, Mine or Ours) Air Date: 03-02-1999
Episode 17 (Secrets and Lays) Air Date: 03-23-1999
Episode 18 (Grace, Replaced) Air Date: 04-08-1999
Episode 19 (Will Works Out) Air Date: 04-22-1999
Episode 20 (Saving Grace) Air Date: 04-29-1999
Episode 21 (Alley Cats) Air Date: 05-06-1999
Episode 22 (Object of My Rejection) Air Date: 05-13-1999

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Will & Grace (DVD).

Fun for both adults and children, The Simpsons is one of those rare shows that smashed the conventional wisdom of its time and redefined its genre. By creating a truly adult cartoon, and not one watered-down for a younger audience, The Simpsons kept its finger of the pulse of American TV viewers, providing an unmatched wit with its biting satire. It’s a combination that opened the door for later prime time animated series such as Futurama, King Of The Hill, and The Family Guy. But in the end, none can come close to the originality and hilarity of The Simpsons, one of the best shows from any genre in television history…

The Simpsons (Season 4) DVD offers a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “Kamp Krusty” in which Bart forges his report card so that Homer and Marge will allow him to go to Kamp Krusty, a traditional summer camp for America’s youth. But the summer camp is anything but traditional, and the kids soon learn as they’re forced to make cheap wallets and perform other acts usually reserved for Third World foreign laborers. The kids endure until it’s revealed that Krusty will not be visiting as promised, the news of which prompts Bart to spark an uprising… Other notable episodes from Season 4 include “Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie” in which Bart’s punishment (that he can not see the new Itchy & Scratchy movie) threatens to drive him to the brink of insanity, and “Duffless” in which Homer’s arrest for a DWI forces him to submit to a campaign of anti-drinking films and AA meetings (made all the worse by Marge’s request that he quit drinking for one month)…

Below is a list of episodes included on The Simpsons (Season 4) DVD:

Episode 60 (Kamp Krusty) Air Date: 09-24-1992
Episode 61 (A Streetcar Named Marge) Air Date: 10-01-1992
Episode 62 (Homer the Heretic) Air Date: 10-08-1992
Episode 63 (Lisa the Beauty Queen) Air Date: 10-15-1992
Episode 64 (Treehouse of Horror 3) Air Date: 10-29-1992
Episode 65 (Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie) Air Date: 11-03-1992
Episode 66 (Marge Gets a Job) Air Date: 11-05-1992
Episode 67 (New Kid on the Block) Air Date: 11-12-1992
Episode 68 (Mr. Plow) Air Date: 11-19-1992
Episode 69 (Lisa’s First Word) Air Date: 12-03-1992
Episode 70 (Homer’s Triple Bypass) Air Date: 12-17-1992
Episode 71 (Marge vs. The Monorail) Air Date: 01-14-1993
Episode 72 (Selma’s Choice) Air Date: 01-21-1993
Episode 73 (Brother from the Same Planet) Air Date: 02-04-1993
Episode 74 (I Love Lisa) Air Date: 02-11-1993
Episode 75 (Duffless) Air Date: 02-18-1993
Episode 76 (Last Exit to Springfield) Air Date: 03-11-1993
Episode 77 (So it has Come to This: The Simpsons Clip Show) Air Date: 04-01-1993
Episode 78 (The Front) Air Date: 04-15-1993
Episode 79 (Whacking Day) Air Date: 04-29-1993
Episode 80 (Marge in Chains) Air Date: 05-06-1993
Episode 81 (Krusty Gets Kancelled) Air Date: 05-13-1993

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of The Simpsons (Season 4) DVD.

Widely considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest, show in television history, I Love Lucy signaled the ascendance of the prime time TV era. The brainchild of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, I Love Lucy revolutionized the television industry with its extensive use of a live audience and the employment of multiple camera angles. The result of true comic genius, the show’s ability to entertain is just as relevant today as it was fifty years ago…

The I Love Lucy DVD offers a number of hilarious episodes including the series premiere “The Girls Want To Go To The Nightclub” in which Ethel seeks to celebrate her 18th Anniversary with a trip to the Copacabana, while Fred wants to go to the fights. When it’s agreed that the girls will go to the club while the boys go to the fight, Fred and Ricky decide to spy on the girls so they call up a friend to get some dates for the club. But Lucy and Ethel have already talked to the same friend, and they decide to pose as Fred and Ricky’s dates… Other notable episodes from Season 1 include “The Quiz Show” in which Lucy seeks to make some extra money by pulling off a fake stunt, and “Drafted” in which Lucy and Ethel mistakenly believe that Ricky and Fred have been drafted into the Army…

The following is the I Love Lucy (Season 1) DVD episode guide:

Episode 1 (The Girls Want to Go to the Nightclub): Air Date: 10-15-1951
Episode 2 (Be a Pal): Air Date: 10-22-1951
Episode 3 (The Diet): Air Date: 10-29-1951
Episode 4 (Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her): Air Date: 11-05-1951
Episode 5 (The Quiz Show): Air Date: 11-12-1951
Episode 6 (The Audition): Air Date: 11-19-1951
Episode 7 (The Seance): Air Date: 11-26-1951
Episode 8 (Men are Messy): Air Date: 12-03-1951
Episode 9 (Drafted): Air Date: 12-10-1951
Episode 10 (The Fur Coat): Air Date: 12-17-1951
Episode 11 (Lucy is Jealous of Girl Singer): Air Date: 12-24-1951
Episode 12 (The Adagio): Air Date: 12-31-1951
Episode 13 (The Benefit): Air Date: 01-07-1952
Episode 14 (The Amateur Hour): Air Date: 01-14-1952
Episode 15 (Lucy Plays Cupid): Air Date: 01-21-1952
Episode 16 (Lucy Fakes Illness): Air Date: 01-28-1952
Episode 17 (Lucy Writes a Play): Air Date: 02-04-1952
Episode 18 (Breaking the Lease): Air Date: 02-11-1952
Episode 19 (The Ballet): Air Date: 02-18-1952
Episode 20 (The Young Fans): Air Date: 02-25-1952
Episode 21 (New Neighbors): Air Date: 03-03-1952
Episode 22 (Fred and Ethel Fight): Air Date: 03-10-1952
Episode 23 (The Moustache): Air Date: 03-17-1952
Episode 24 (The Gossip): Air Date: 03-24-1952
Episode 25 (Pioneer Woman): Air Date: 03-31-1952
Episode 26 (The Marriage License): Air Date: 04-07-1952
Episode 27 (The Kleptomaniac): Air Date: 04-14-1952
Episode 28 (Cuban Pals): Air Date: 04-21-1952
Episode 29 (The Freezer): Air Date: 04-28-1952
Episode 30 (Lucy Does a TV Commercial): Air Date: 05-05-1952
Episode 31 (The Publicity Agent): Air Date: 05-12-1952
Episode 32 (Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio): Air Date: 05-19-1952
Episode 33 (Lucy’s Schedule): Air Date: 05-26-1952
Episode 34 (Ricky Thinks He is Going Bald): Air Date: 06-02-1952
Episode 35 (Ricky Asks for a Raise): Air Date: 06-09-1952

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the I Love Lucy (DVD).

Among all the comedies available today, the Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVD ranks number one in the “must see” category. Few comedians can find an audience among a broad range of demographic groups, and with varying tastes among individuals, it’s quite difficult to find universally entertaining people. But Blue Collar Comedy Tour showcases four stand-up comics of such ability. The stand-up routines are filmed in Phoenix with intermittent features on the exploits of each of the men as they travel the country on their popular comedy tour. Opening up with all four men fishing in a lake, amazingly even the conversations between these men are hilarious and entertaining. What then could we expect when they take the stage? Only the best of modern redneck, working man comedy…

One of the rising stars of stand-up, Ron White brandishes his liquor and tobacco drenched persona along with a loveable sarcasm to produce one of the better comic routines of the decade. White chronicles his 9-minute plane ride to Phoenix which almost ended in tragedy when the plane was forced to turn around in mid-flight due to equipment trouble. But the event didn’t phase the alcohol-induced outlook of White who advises the passenger next to him (a man who has something to live for, unlike White) that if one engine goes out, the other will take them right to the scene of the crash. And to top it off, they’ll beat the paramedics by thirty minutes…

White’s act is well followed by Larry The Cable Guy, a redneck’s redneck who lives by the catchphrase “Get ‘r done!” Speaking in a redneck dialect that borders on another language, Larry The Cable Guy is a barrel of laughs for any American who loves apple pie. Providing unique insight into the world at large, his audience is presented with the great conundrum of the dog dish water purifier (among other things). Why should he buy a water purifier for an animal that eats its own crap? If you’re unfamiliar with this guy’s routine, you need to pick up a copy of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVD just for him alone (or for that matter - any of these comics merit a full-length DVD by themselves).

Beginning the second half of the movie is Bill Engvall, a comic who takes a more well-spoken, family man approach to his routine. I first saw Bill on The Tonight Show when I was ten years old. He delivered the best stand-up routine I’ve ever seen, and I still remember much of it word-for-word to this day… Central to the routine was his trademark tagline “Here’s your sign” (referring to a “stupid sign” handed out to people who make dumb remarks). Just like his colleague Jeff Foxworthy, Engvall has managed to keep that tagline not only going, but while inventing a hilarious treasure trove of new material. This guy is just plain funny…

Rounding out the final one-man routine is Jeff Foxworthy, perhaps the most famous of the crowd due to his widely promoted “you might be a redneck if…” jokes. Foxworthy starts off with a standard routine that’s really funny (this part of his career has been widely overlooked), but then he naturally moves into the part of the routine that people love to hear - the redneck jokes. My favorite of the whole Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVD is his line “If a beaver bites off your nipple, you might be a redneck”. Based on a true story, you simply have to watch Blue Collar Comedy Tour in order to understand just how hilarious that one is…

But the funniest part of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVD is when all the comics are finished with their individual routines and they gather together on stage to tell personal stories to the audience. Each story keeps the belly laughs rolling, and each comic has his moments, but Ron White steals this part of the show with his “tater salad” story. Recounting the story of his recent drunk in public arrest (he was actually drunk in the bar - they threw him into public), White tells the tale of his rise from a small town in Texas to a life replete with criminal aliases such “tater salad” and his fathering of a child named “tater tot”. You just have to it to really enjoy it!

With a host of talented funnymen, the Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVD is grade-A entertainment. Certain to be an enduring classic for years to come, this is one comedy film you don’t want to miss…

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour (DVD).

I just got off the phone with a friend and we were talking about Flight 93, the movie is out. I heard that it is excellent, actors were like the real people, and it was done tastefully and was very realistic. A very well know movie critic said if you went to see the movie then would be with the people who died on that flight.

So, my friend and I talked about whether she was going to go or not. We were saddened by just talking about the movie. We still pray for all those people on 911. We talked some more and our usual bright conversation was like that at a funeral.

I got off the phone and was deeply disturbed about what happened to the people on that flight. I am not talking about the anger, or the sorrow or anything like that. I expressed that since 911.

Why was I so disturbed by talking about that movie? I did not know any of the people who got killed, their friends or relatives either. I’m beyond the hurt, grief and disbelief.

SO WHAT DISTURBED ME TALKING ABOUT THAT MOVIE? WHAT?!

I finally realized what made me so disturbed beyond what we all can feel seeing tragedy.
These people were not in combat clothes or mode. They were not trained to be the enemy. They did not kill anyone. Nor had they done anything to deserve a fate like they got.

What disturbed me was that they were people just going about life. The right to live was taken from them without the right of any human being on this planet to do so. That was disturbing enough. Then I realized that the killers did it in the name of their god. The one true GOD is all giving, loving and does neither contain nor dispense evil. For a true GOD is all good. EVIL cannot exist in ONE TRUE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE. EVIL is the absence of good or GOD. This evil that was done to the people on flight 93 was EVIL, therefore if it was done for the high-jackers god then their god. Their god exists in hate, vengeance and EVIL. That is not the GOD of the Universe.

May the one TRUE GOD have mercy on the souls of the victims of 911. May GOD continue to use THE United States of America as the hammer of the world. This great nation is why there are chances at true peace on this planet for without this nation how much more evil would be allowed to grow unchecked and without challenge?
GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Thanks for reading …peace.

RICH

The housemates have been banged up in the lunatic asylum that is the Big Brother house and one will be leaving this weekend. Here are the “first impressions” of the housemates during their short stint as reality TV stars thus far.

Pete Bennett
Win Odds: 11/10
Since falling down the stairs to enter the house and being asked if he was “on something” by Bonnie, Pete has emerged as the favourite to win and at present looks unstoppable. The Tourette’s sufferer is genuine, funny and at the moment is liked by all the housemates despite him not joining one of the two “camps”. It’s early days yet but Pete will be odds on to win within the next few days.

George Askew
Win Odds: 16/1
George has not come to the forefront as yet in that he has not paired off with one of the female housemates nor has he done anything to rile anyone else. He has bonded with Mikey and appears to be part of the “in crowd” for the time being at least and should be safe for a few weeks yet.

Mikey Dalton
Win Odds: 16/1
Mikey has emerged from the shadows this week and has taken over the mantle as the leader of the “Big Brotherhood” following Shabaz’s exit. He has also paired up with Grace and has formed an alliance with George. Originally thought to be quite a boring housemate, Mikey looks to have done enough to stick around until the latter stages.

Richard Newman
Win Odds: 16/1
With Shabaz gone, Richard looks set to revel as the “only gay in the village”. He sees himself as a father figure to the group and looks set to battle Sezar for the role of alpha male. He has found friends in Lea and Nikki but may find his position in the house precarious after some of the weaker members of the group are picked off.

Nikki Graham
Win Odds: 20/1
Given that Nikki’s pre-entrance video suggested she wanted to find love in the house, she hasn’t made any effort to pair up with any of the available men in the house, preferring to find comfort in gay Richard. Nikki may adopt the role of “baby” in the group due to her childlike behaviour despite being older than six other housemates and showed during the infamous “bottled water” scene she could explode into fits of tantrums should she not get her own way. Despite being part of the London nightclub circuit scene, she has not formed alliances with Sezar, Imogen, Grace or George and is in danger of finding herself an early casualty if her behaviour irritates the others.

Lisa Huo
Win Odds: 20/1
Lisa is the other leader of the “Big Brotherhood” but could also find herself in a precarious position when she is eligible to be voted out of the house. She has found a friend in Pete but her laddish behaviour, coarse language and chainsmoking could grate on the other housemates when they are looking for reasons to nominate people for eviction.

Imogen Thomas
Win Odds: 20/1
Before entering the house Imogen said she would “make all the boys fancy her” and she has certainly done that. She shared a kiss with Sezar after three days and appears to revel in stringing him along. Should he grow bored of her and if she wanted to score points off Grace, Imogen could also move on to Mikey who described her as “beautiful”. Bar a short interaction in Welsh, she has failed to bond with fellow countryman Glyn, preferring the company of the London social set.

David Walker runs free Big Brother bets and Mikey Dalton websites. Updated Big Brother 7 articles are available at both of these websites.

Lately, there is a big complaint about people not going to the movies anymore. They say the box office is hurting, then you read about the hundreds of millions of dollars that the top movies are making with each new release and you wonder what these people are talking about. The truth is, movie entertainment is right up there with television. People still love to go to the movies. And why not? There are just as many great movie moments as there have been television moments. What follows is just a small sampling of that very long list.

Who could forget the classic movie “Casablanca” when at the end Humphrey Bogart sends Ingrid Bergman on her way, telling her that the problems of two people don’t really mean anything in this crazy world. Who could forget the tears in her eyes or the look on his face? And if that wasn’t enough of a great moment for one movie then how about just a few minutes later when Louie informs Rick that he’ll be leaving Casablanca with him and Bogart spits out the now classic line “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Need more?

What about the classic thriller “Bride Of Frankenstein” when the monster, the bride and Dr. Frankenstein are all trapped in the tower along with the poor innocent couple? The monster, played brilliantly by Boris Karloff, tells the couple to leave but then instructs Dr. Frankenstein to stay, uttering the chilling line “We belong dead”. Three words that said more than so many movies couldn’t say in 90 minutes.

And if that isn’t enough, what about in the classic movie “The Wizard Of Oz” when at the end of the movie, after a long a weary search to find her way back to Kansas, Dorothy finally gets the answer to how to return home. When she tells the good witch that she’s ready the good witch utters the now classic line “Then close your eyes and tap your heels together three times. And think to yourself, ‘There’s no place like home’”. How many parodies have there been on this line and this movie since?

If you want to see the strength and courage of a woman determined to see her way through anything, look no further than Scarlett O’ Hara of “Gone With The Wind” when she spoke one of the greatest lines in movie history when she said, “As God is my witness, as God is my witness, they’re not going to lick me! I’m going to live through this and when it’s all over, I’ll never be hungry again - no, nor any of my folks! If I have to lie, steal, cheat, or kill! As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again”. There wasn’t a dry eye in the movie theater when she spoke these lines.

Just 5 lines and 4 movies that wouldn’t take up half your day. But these 4 movies alone would give you a day of memories that would be hard to forget. Think of all the thousands of great movies and great lines over the years.

Think about it and think about what life would be like without the movies.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Entertainment

Initially broadcast in the Fall of 1996, Everybody Loves Raymond became an instant ratings boon its parent network, remaining a constant in the Nielsen Top 15 for its nine season run. Following the life of sportswriter Ray Barone (Ray Romano), audiences watch in hilarity as Ray and his wife attempt to deal with each other as well as Ray’s neurotic and dysfunctional family which includes Ray’s brother and his parents who live across the street…

The Everybody Loves Raymond (Season 3) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere in which Ray and Debra’s house gets quarantined after they spray for termites. Moving into Frank and Marie’s house along with the kids, they decide to give Ray’s parents a dose of their own medicine, but quickly learn that it’s near impossible to turn the tables on their annoying relatives… Other notable episodes from Season 3 include “Getting Even” in which Debra vows revenge on Ray for embarrassing her, prompting Ray to drive himself crazy in anticipation of her retaliation, and “Moving Out” in which Robert attempts to move out of his parents house and into a garage apartment only to realize that the couple he’s now living with are clones of the very parents he sought to escape…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Everybody Loves Raymond (Season 3) DVD:

Episode 48 (The Invasion) Air Date: 09-21-1998
Episode 49 (Driving Frank) Air Date: 09-28-1998
Episode 50 (The Sitter) Air Date: 10-05-1998
Episode 51 (Getting Even) Air Date: 10-12-1998
Episode 52 (The Visit) Air Date: 10-19-1998
Episode 53 (Halloween Candy) Air Date: 10-26-1998
Episode 54 (Moving Out) Air Date: 11-02-1998
Episode 55 (The Article) Air Date: 11-09-1998
Episode 56 (The Lone Barone) Air Date: 11-16-1998
Episode 57 (No Fat) Air Date: 11-23-1998
Episode 58 (The Apartment) Air Date: 12-07-1998
Episode 59 (The Toaster) Air Date: 12-14-1998
Episode 60 (Ping Pong) Air Date: 01-11-1999
Episode 61 (Pants on Fire) Air Date: 01-18-1999
Episode 62 (Robert’s Date) Air Date: 02-01-1999
Episode 63 (Frank’s Tribute) Air Date: 02-08-1999
Episode 64 (Cruising with Marie) Air Date: 02-15-1999
Episode 65 (Ray Home Alone) Air Date: 02-22-1999
Episode 66 (Big Shots) Air Date: 03-01-1999
Episode 67 (Move Over) Air Date: 03-15-1999
Episode 68 (The Getaway) Air Date: 04-05-1999
Episode 69 (Working Girl) Air Date: 04-26-1999
Episode 70 (Be Nice) Air Date: 05-03-1999
Episode 71 (Dancing with Debra) Air Date: 05-10-1999
Episode 72 (Robert Moves Back) Air Date: 05-17-1999
Episode 73 (How They Met) Air Date: 05-24-1999

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Everybody Loves Raymond (Season 3) DVD.