Seizing The Day

My favorite TV show of all-time is Rod Serling’s classic “Twilight Zone” which aired from 1959 to 1964. The show and its creator, host and writer for most of the episodes, Mr. Serling himself won several Emmy awards for his work on the show. Many of the stories have stood the test of time and will last forever.

Sure, some of the stories were whacky and out there but most of them were well-written stories with memorable plot twists, especially at the end (the Twilight Zone trademark). There were always wonderful metaphors and allegories sprinkled throughout the stories.

Here are some of my favorite stories off the top of my head:

• Walking Distance: A stressed out buiness man somehow manages to go back in time to his old neighborhood and childhood. The scene where he meets his dad is unforgettable.
• Kick the Can: One of the best ever! An old man tries to make everyone remember how it feels to be young again!
• Time Enough At Last: A bookworm survives the nuclear war and can finally find the time to read all the books he wants until another tragedy occurs.
• A Stop at Willoughby: Businessman dreams about living in a paradise called Willoughby that he dreams about during his long commute to work.
• The Changing of the Guard: A professor regrets that he wasted his entire life teaching boys nothing worthwhile only to be visited by many of his students (ghosts!) and realizes his life meant more than he thought. It smacks of Goodbye Mr. Chips and It’s a Wonderful Life and even “Dead Poet’s Society”! What a trio!
• The Trade-ins: An old man who’s very ill and his wife decide to get younger bodies but can only afford one body so the old man gets it since he’s sick. The problem is that now his wife is still an old woman.
• Eye of the Beholder: A woman has extreme cosmetic surgery because she’s hideous and wants to fit into society.
• Number Twelve Looks Just Like You: In the future, people can choose how they will look. One woman rebels against this conformity and wants to remain her own flawed self.
• Night of the Meek: Art Carney plays a drunk that wishes he could be Santa for one Christmas.
• Nothing in the Dark: An old woman is afraid to die and becomes a shut-in. Death comes knocking in a surprising manner.
• To Serve Man: Aliens come to Earth and everyone loves them except one scientist who has suspicions.

Those are just a few of my favorite episodes that same to mind without any research. I’m sure there are many more that I can’t recall right now. They are all wonderful little movies to me with big life lessons. I love Rod Serling and consider him a genius. Sadly, he died very young at the age of 50 in 1972 from a heart attack. He was famous for being a chain smoker and known to enjoy a drink of two. It wasn’t a surprise that he suffered heart problems at such a young age (50) and died during heart surgery.

Still, he’s left us an incredible body of work. Not just the work on the zone but also all of the award winning plays he wrote for live television in what they call the Golden Age of television. Also, he worked on the script for “Planet of the Apes” including one of the most memorable cinematic endings ever when Charleston Heston sees the Statue of Liberty. Pure Rod Serling and a Twilight Zone moment indeed.

Here are FIVE episodes in their entirety. “Walking Distance” and “A Stop at Willoughby” are extra special because they were written by Rod Serling and believed to be very personal to him. They were about men getting older and feeling the stress and pressure of their careers and dream of a simpler more peaceful time and existence. Rod was feeling the same pressure thanks to the intense grind of his career.

“The Changing of the Guard” is also considered important because it was another one written by Serling and supposedly echoed his own doubts about whether or not his life’s work (his writing) really meant anything to anyone just like the professor in the story wonders if his work meant anything. I truly wish Serling knew how timeless and important his work was. I hope he knew deep down. I feel solace from the fact that he did enjoy massive success in his lifetime with many awards and praise for his writing.

“Walking Distance” (My favorite)

“A Stop at Willoughby”

“The Changing of the Guard”

“Kick the Can”

“Time Enough At Last”

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Guilty pleasure time! I LOVE “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days ”! Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson are wonderful together in this fun, funny and touching story. In short, it’s about two people trying to use the other for their own professional gain but something unexpected happens along the way while pretending to care about each other.

The entire cast was enchanting as well. That’s always the sign of a good movie. Every little role was filled perfectly by excellent actors. The friends are believable, not just fillers or props used to setup jokes. They also reveal a lot about the main characters, providing subtext that only adds to the enjoyment and enhancement of the love story.

The movie shows you that no one can control that beast known as love. It’s a magical ethereal thing that no one knows when it’ll strike or how it happens. There they were, learning every little thing about each other, the good and the bad and blammo!

One of the sweetest scenes ever is when Andie (Kate Hudson) goes to Ben’s parents house and meets his whole family and gets to learn a lot more about him and starts to realize that she actually has feelings for him. It’s a tender moment that gets you. The song “Feels like Home” is a perfect selection for the scene and movie. The other great song for the movie comes at the end by Keith Urban, “Somebody Like You”.

Here’s the trailer to whet your whistle

Here’s the fantastic song “Somebody Like You” with clips from the movie by Keith Urban.
Whenever I’m down I’ll pop this movie in or play this music video and I feel fantastic immediately!

I remember enjoying this show called “James at 15” when I was a kid. I thought he (Lance Kerwin) was so cool. What did I know? I think I liked him cause I looked a little like him. Plus, from what I remember, the shows were entertaining and always had some life lesson to learn. Think After School Special meets movie of the week.

I did some research and it appears James, or the actor Lance Kerwin, is in his 40s now and a minister somewhere. He hasn’t acted since 1995 so his film career is long gone but memories of his day in the sun remain for many of us kids from 70s.

Here’s Lance back then and today

Here’s the original intro to the series

Here’s the intro to the show when it became James at 16

Here’s a scene with Kate Jackson from the red hot Charlie’s Angels series

I enjoyed the TV show Family Ties but the episodes where Michael J. Fox’s character falls in love with his soon to be real life wife Tracy Pollen’s character was the show’s high point. Maybe it’s because we know the two actors actually fell in love with each other that adds something special to the shows. Also, they’re well-written, funny and touching. The song “At this moment” also added a great deal to the experience. I like the way Alex Keating (M.J. Fox) tries his best to convince himself that he doesn’t love this woman who’s nothing like the kind of girl he wanted to marry. Isn’t that the way love goes? So wonderful.

Here are both episodes in six parts

I’m numb from having just experienced this wonderfully poignant song called “From Where You Are” by Lifehouse, one of my favorite bands. The music video is so well-done that it leaves you full of so many emotions and memories of friends you don’t see anymore for one reason or another. Perhaps they’re no longer with us, maybe you just lost touch through the years. Still, so many people touch our lives in deep profound ways that they last forever even if they physically disappear from your daily life.

Personally, I’m thinking of my childhood chums Charlie, Dave B, Lee, Cesar, Gerard, Big Peter, little Peter, Joey, and everyone in the North Ward of Newark, NJ. I don’t see any of them anymore and haven’t for many years but memories remain. The echoes of laughter and goodtimes still reside inside my head and heart. The same for all the first girlfriends and boyfriends we had growing up. Remember how monumental it was to hold hands? GASP! Ah, the sweet innocence of youth.

The ending of the video is extra special so I won’t spoil it for you in case this is the first time you will experience it. All I can say is that it’s a very moving message that will hit you hard. It’s a serious subject matter that I hope and pray improves with increased awareness and knowledge. Maybe experiencing songs and videos like this one will help change some lives?

The lead singer was inspired to write it after losing his friend at 16 years of age. The emotions are clearly evident by his performance. Also worthy of note, the long line of cars driving and disappearing all of a sudden is powerfully symbolic.

The lyrics follow the video

	Lifehouse - From Where You Are
	Found at skreemr.com

FROM WHERE YOU ARE

So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you
Yeah, I miss you
So far away from where you are
Standing underneath the stars
And I wish you were here
I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way the sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things I never thought that they’d mean everything to me
Yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here
I feel the beating of your heart
I see the shadows of your face
Just know that wherever you are
Yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here
I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way the sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things
I never thought that they’d mean everything to me
Yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here
So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you
Yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here

I really loved the Emmy award winning “ThirtySomething” which was on the air for only a few years from 1987 to 1991.
I remember thinking man those people are so old but now I don’t think that way anymore. Great stories and wonderful characters. Everyone remembers the theme music to the show I’m sure.

My favorite episode was the one where Gary dies tragically (the long haired dude). I still think of that one from time to time. It was such an emotional experience if you were a fan of the show. The acting was superb and the message was so powerful. Here’s this person, Nancy, struggling for her life against cancer and everyone’s celebrating her remission then out of the blue a healthy vibrant friend is killed. Her reaction was utter disbelief and denial. “It’s not right! I’m the one that’s supposed to die! Not Gary!”

The acting performance by Michael as he receives the news of his friend’s death is chilling. Up until that moment I always thought he was kind of wooden kind of actor but he shined like never before in this episode. It’s one of the best acting performances on TV or film that I’ve ever witnessed.

Another fantastic job was turned in by Melanie Mayron whose character had an on again off again romantic thing with Gary. She took the news the hardest of all because they were actually not speaking due to some trivial spat. Another eye-opening life lesson about forgiveness and how painful it can be if you don’t make peace with those you love should they pass away unexpectedly.

The ending of that episode was especially memorable as Nancy reads a passage from the Alice in Wonderland book he gave her before his untimely demise. They showed images of a laughing happy Gary riding his bike as they faded to black.

Here’s the entire epsiode. It’s an unforgettable experience.

The intro’s to Disney movies always make me feel good. I get goose bumps and feel like a kid again. I don’t know if it’s because it makes me think of my youth or because it makes me think of my kids and how much we all enjoy Disney/Pixar movies. Perhaps it’s a combination of the two. Who knows. All I do know is that I love it.

So, I decided to put together a collection of the best Disney intro’s through the years. There were plenty to choose from too. Form the classic tinkerbell and Cinderella’s Castle intro all the way to the modern Pixar variation that started with the Toy Story movie (my personal favorite movie and Disney intro!)

Enjoy!

I’ve grown to love Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory more with time, especially since I’ve become a dad three times over and each child has fallen in love with the movie (along with the recent remake, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Each time, I’ve fallen in love with this classic movie and story all over again.

The music is wonderful, such as “Candy Man”, “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket” and especially my favorite, “Pure Imagination”. Here’s the scene where we were introduced to “Pure Imagination”. I remember as a kid wishing I could go to such a place where everything was made of candy and chocolate.

I think one of the reasons why I love this movie so much is because it’s all about keeping in touch with your inner child. It stirs up childhood memories and dreams which always fills you with youth and inspiration. It’s such a marvelous feeling. I also enjoy watching the expressions on kids’ faces as they watch the movie.

Here’s the Golden ticket scene.

Here’s the entire movie compiled from 12 clips on YouTube (plus the trailer)

Here are the lyrics including some of the dialogue for the “Pure Imagination” scene and song

Willy Wonka:
[Spoken]
Hold your breath
Make a wish
Count to three

[Sung]
Come with me
And you’ll be
In a world of
Pure imagination
Take a look
And you’ll see
Into your imagination

We’ll begin
With a spin
Traveling in
The world of my creation
What we’ll see
Will defy
Explanation

If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Wanta change the world?
There’s nothing
To it

There is no
Life I know
To compare with
Pure imagination
Living there
You’ll be free
If you truly wish to be

If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Wanta change the world?
There’s nothing
To it

There is no
Life I know
To compare with
Pure imagination
Living there
You’ll be free
If you truly
Wish to be

Year later, I still think about Gladiator, the Oscar winning movie starring Russell Crowe who also won the Oscar for his amazing performance. It wasn’t just an action movie, even though there was plenty of that for sure. What stays with me are all of the powerful moments such as the scenes when Maximus walks through a field while feeling the wheat with his fingertips as that haunting music plays in the background. Other chilling scenes are when he survives certain death in the arena for the first time and the anguish of discovering his murdered wife and child, which in essence is the moment his will to live vanquishes and propels him to accomplish all that does. His courage and bravery born out of the tragic death of his family. I liked how he would kneel down and grab a handful of dirt and smell it and feel it before a big battle. The ending is also incredibly moving and memorable. His visions of walking through the field towards his wife and child to re-unite is unforgettable.

There are tons of great lines as in every great film. Some of my favorites are all from Maximus:
“What we do in life echoes in eternity.”
”Strength and honor.”
“At my signal, unleash hell!”

I think a critical element to any great movie is the music and soundtrack. Gladiator has an magnificent soundtrack scored by the great Hans Zimmer (Lion King). The woman that sings the chilling vocals is perfect. My favorite track is the one called Elysium, the music played whenever Maximus walks through the fields.

I know we don’t live in Roman times and I am not a gladiator, but I’m inspired by this movie and its music. I feel somehow more motivated to combat whatever foes that get in my way and feel confident that I can overcome any obstacles that I encounter. I know it’s silly but that’s how I feel. Maybe it’s because I’m Italian and I feel some sort of connection to the story….I don’t know what it is. I just love it.

Here’s Elysium

Here’s a tribute to the movie along with the scene of Maximus
walking through the fields.