"The Guardian" showcases the U.S. Coast Guard

Hi all:

If you live in selected cities (alas, nowhere near me - more on that later), you can go to a Sneak Preview this Saturday 9/16/06 of the new movie The Guardian starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher.

I haven't seen the movie so this is a qualified recommendation, but I love the subject matter for personal reasons: It is based on true stories of U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers, and my dad has worked at the U.S. Coast Guard Research & Development Center here in Southeastern Connecticut for almost 30 years! So our family is personally aware of all the great services the Coast Guard provides, and I'm thrilled for this government service to finally get its big screen due!

I'm not really a Kevin Costner or Ashton Kutcher fan, but lots of people are, so if their big names can draw attention to the Coast Guard's work, then whoopee! Thank goodness for celebrities!

Here's the poster with more info. on the movie:

Click on the poster for trailers, photos, credits, downloads, and more. Check the top of the page for the search function to see whether the Sneak Preview is playing in your areas.

As I said at the top, the movie is not playing here in New London County, which seems odd since we're home to the:

• U.S. Coast Guard Research & Development Center
• U.S. Coast Guard Academy
• U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol
• U.S. Coast Guard Museum (soon to get a new building!)

Now I ask you: Doesn't this seem like a logical place to preview a movie about the U.S. Coast Guard? I'm just sayin'!

Anyhoo, if you go this weekend, come back and tell us what you think by clicking on "comments" at the end of this entry. I have to wait until 9/29/06 to see it. Sniff.

Enjoy!

hrh

"One Night with the King"

Hi all:

A new movie about the biblical character Esther opens October 13, 2006.


It's called One Night with the King and is based on a book of the same name by Tommy Tenney, who is also a co-producer on this project. The film's cast includes:

• James Callis (Battlestar Galactica) as Haman
• John Rhys-Davies (Raiders of the Lost Ark) as Mordecai
• Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia) as Samuel
• Omar Sharif (Doctor Zhivago) as Prince Memucan

Esther is played by newcomer Tiffany DuPont.

You can view a trailer at the film's website. It looks like a high-quality production. And certainly has a great cast.

Here are some movie stills. You can see more at the film's website.

Royal Wedding

Being Crowned Queen

The New Queen

Mordecai and Esther

I'm not sure if the movie will be released nation-wide. I hope so.

Look for it in your area beginning October 13!

hrh

Tonight I'm going "Over the Hedge"

Hi all:

Well, this is the big opening weekend for the movie version of "The DaVinci Code." I reviewed the book here. [You may have to register at Infuze to read the review, but it's a free site with lots of great content.] Anyhoo, the gist of my review is that the story is a crackin', fast-paced thriller - as long as you check your suspension of disbelief at the metaphorical door.

There's a whole cottage industry now debunking the novel's historical claims about the Catholic Church and its version of Christianity. But there are also experts speaking out about the bunkum' historical claims regarding DaVinci and his art, including art historian and Connecticut College professor, Robert Baldwin.

So instead of promoting this false and in some cases, slanderous, version of history, I'll wait until it comes to the discount theaters and go see another movie that's opening this weekend, too: "Over the Hedge."

This movie is based on a comic strip about animals coping with encroaching suburbia and stars the voices of Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carrell (looooove him in the American version of "Office"), Allison Janney, and William Shatner (?!). This site contains lots of info. about the movie from the comic strip's creators, Michael Fry and T Lewis.

Sounds like a winner to me! And I'm gonna' do my bit tonight to see that it's a winner at this weekend's box office, too!

hrh