Forensic Files

Forensic Files

What is our fascination with dead bodies? Have we turned into freaks who are calloused to dead horrifying corpses? Do we even notice them anymore? What do you think? In this brief blog, we will look at some of the most popular series and think about why we are hooked on them?

CSI MIAMI

Horacio Cane (David Caruso) leads a team of forensic investigators in Florida.  Follow them as they solve gory crimes with dazzling film style in the tropical setting of Florida. Cities, swamps, beaches and resorts all hold crime solving stories.

 

In 2006, BBC News published an article stating that "CSI Miami" was the world's most popular television series featured in more countries than any other series. 

It premiered on Sept 23, 2002 on CBS and ended April 8, 2012 after 10 seasons and 232 episodes. This show is now streaming on Netflix. 

Who was the first to apply this science to forensics?
James Marsh was the first to apply science to the art of forensics. He was called in a murder trial to give evidence as a chemist in 1832. The defendant, John Brodie, was accused of poisoning his grandfather with arsenic-laced coffee.  Marsh performed a test by mixing a sample with sulfide and acid. While he was able to detect arsenic as yellow arsenic trisulfide, when it was shown to the jury, it had deteriorated, allowing the suspect to be acquitted due to reasonable doubt. 

Bones  

Forensic anthropologist, Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan and cocky FBI agent Seeley Booth (above) build a team to investigate murders. 

I have viewed bizaar dead bodies on "Bones" such as a corpse melted on cardboard boxes, buried in concrete, wedged in a smashed car from the junkyard, and a body chopped up in the swirl of an air conditioner unit. Bones always insists that the objects be brought into the lab to analyze; this adds to the scenes, as the objects sometimes are almost impossible to transport!

 

 

 CSI Crime Investigation

An elite team of police forensic experts work their cases in Las Vegas. This was the first CSI. This series ran from (2000 - 2015) for a total of 335 episodes. Premiered Oct. 6, 2000 and ended Sept. 27, 2015. Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue (below) are part of this legendary cast.

  

CSI:New York 

This is the first direct "spin-off" of "CSI Miami" with Gary Sinis with Melina Kanakaredes (photo below) leading a group of police procedural forensic experts. (Sept. 22, 2004 to Feb. 22, 2013) for a total of 197 original episodes.

LET'S NOT FORGET "SHERLOCK"

 

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman 

"wow" us in this British rendition of "Sherlock". I can never get tired of watching it. This "labor of love" updates the writing of Arthur  Conan Doyle bringing it up to modern times using the original stories. Doyle writes of Sherlock using tools of forensic science long before they were used in our real world of crime solving. Now streaming on NetFlix. There are three new episodes! 

 

 Arthur Conan Doyle was a physician, writer and producer. Sherlock Holmes and his crime fiction, are considered milestones in the field of crime fiction.

Back to my original thought.. .

   why are we so captivated by forensic files?

Could it be these type stories challenge us analytically as we go on an adventure with the team viewing the evidence and putting the pieces together to solve the case? We get to be "Sherlock" for an hour or so and tie the evidence together as he does to take a hunch at who the killer is.

  

The viewers journey is unique with each different case; as you watch shows such as "Bones" and experience the cast of specialists "draw you in" with their "witty banter" while you are viewing bones, bugs, dirt and other forensic evidence. These clever specialists are dedicated to their work and their relationships with each other become an important part of the episodes. Dialogue flows smoothly in "Bones" and the writing is seamless as we watch episode after episode still wanting more!  

T

The Flash. . . . .

(2014) starring Grant Gustin is about a forensic expert who wakes up from a coma with amazing new powers and squares off against forces theatening the city. 

This is a part of DC comics and received 5 stars and is now streaming on Netflix.

To me, this is the American version of "Sherlock" only adding super hero powers. Fresh new energies with the Grant Gustin and Candice Patton and the supporting cast. I give it a thumbs up!

 

Thank you for sharing in our musing!

Please follow us for movie news, coupons and inspiration. 

Click here: our websites:   men's website is:  http://www.earthoceanfirejewelry.com 

or women's website:   http://www.earthoceanfirewomen.com 

P.S. we  will automatically send you a FREE  (7 page) list of "film noir" movies and where they are streaming in a PDF file.  for signing our e-mail list. We did the work for you. The list includes classic "film noir" and newer "film noir" films; titles, actors, brief description and where to watch them.

P.S.S. Here are some more blog titles you might like...just put title in search at bottom of blog.

                        "Dark Comedy" "Science Fiction" "Spaghetti Westerns" 

For further studies here are some great sites!

  AMC                     HTTP://WWW.FILMSITE.ORG

   Roger Ebert          HTTP://WWW.ROGEREBERT.COM

   You Tube              HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM

   CRITERION           HTTP://WWW.CRITERION.COM   
   IMDB                   HTTP;//WWW.IMDB.COM

 

  

    

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Bold Film Divas of 1930's and 1940's

Bold Divas of 1930's and 1940's

The ultimate outspoken women who took advantage of a time in film when there was freedom, , ,

The 30's and 40's was a significant time period for women.  They were realizing that they could have a career as well as a family.  They could hold a position in a man's world and have a voice.

Film did not have as many restrictions at this time from rating codes and rules. The directors and actors had freedom to express their creativity and art without limiting boundaries. This later changed in the 1950's when women were expected to be housewives as the "Ozzie and Harriet" role models.

I will feature some of these female pioneers. . .

Ida was born in London. She was an actress, director and writer. She was born to a show business family. In 1933, her mother brought Ida with her to an audition and Ida got the part her mother wanted. "Her First Affair" (1932) was the beginning of her film career.

Ida, a bleached blond, came to Hollywood in 1934 and played small, insignificant parts before moving on to become one of the first recognized female directors in Hollywood. All of her films were cutting edge and dealt with women's issues. The most famous and controversial being "Outrage", a film that dealt with the subject of rape.

She was an actress in the following films: "Mr Adams and Eve" (1957-58)    "High Sierra" (1941)   "On Dangerous Ground " (1951) and "The Bigamist" (1953)

Vivien Leigh was a British stage and film actress. She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her performances as Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind" and Blanche DuBois in the film version of "A Streetcar Named Desire."

Rita Hayworth started her career  when she did splendid dancing with Fred Astaire in the film "You'll Never Get Rich" (1942) She had a 60-film career!  look up her biography its very interesting!

Known for "Gilda" (1946-47),  "Lady From Shanghai" (1947), "Cover Girl" (1944), "Pal Joey"(1957) 

Katherine Hepburn is the most "outspoken" woman I have ever watched on film. She dressed with high style and carried herself that way too. She was known for her spirited personality.

In the more recent film "The Aviator" by Martin Scorsese, Cate Blanchett portrays a shocking resemblance to Hepburn following through with acting to match!

For 26 years she partnered with Spencer Tracy in films and then had another acting era where she played a middle aged star in several famous films. She was a leading lady in Hollywood for more than 60 years!

Known for:   "The African Queen" (1951), "On the Golden Pond" (1981), "Philadelphia Story" (1940) "Bringing Up Baby" (1938), "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" (1967)

 I first watched Lauren Bacall in the movies she made with Humphrey Bogart. What an interesting couple.  There was true romance between them. Bogart left his wife and married her even though he was quite a bit older than her. The marriage lasted  from 1945 until his death in 1957.

Films they did together:  "To Have and Have Not" (1944), "The Big Sleep" (1946), "The Dark Passage" (1987), Key Largo" (1948) 

 

  

 Joan Crawford and Bette Davis

These two are known as the greatest dueling women in Hollywood history.

A new Fox TV Series called "Feud: Bette and Joan" was released March, 2017. This TV series is still in season 1. Susan Sarandon plays Bette Davis and Jessica Lang plays Joan Crawford. Other stars are Kathy Bates, Stanley Tucci, and Catherine Zeta Jones. Be sure and take time to watch these great actresses portray Bette and Joan!

These two actresses were both born under the sign of "Aries"; Bette Davis was born April 5 and Joan Crawford born March 23. From San Antonio, Texas, Joan Crawford started out as a dancer and spent two years on the East Coast as a dancer. Joan Crawford made over 83 films.

Bette Davis was also interested in dancing and danced until she discovered stage and gave up dancing early in her career. Davis was born in Massachusetts.

Some of her best known films are:

"All About Eve" (1950), "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" (1962), "Now Voyager" (1942), "Jezebel" (1938)

Joan Crawford is known for these films:   "Mildred Pierce" (1945), "The Woman" (1939), "Possessed" (1947), "Sudden Fear" (1952),  "Above Suspicion", "Flamingo Road" (1949), "Grand Hotel" (1932), "The Women" (1939), "Female on the Beach" (1955)

AFTER THIS TIME PERIOD OF FREEDOM AND BOLDNESS IN THE MOVIES, the 1950's brought quite the opposite for women. The 1950's was a time of "Ozzie and Harriet" role models. Women were expected to be housewives. Women were now type-cast in home-maker roles. Film was starting to be regulated and rated causing the movie makers to not be as free with their expression.

Thank you for letting me share with you. I apologize if I left out your favorite diva from this time period. There were several more really big stars that I did not have time to cover. Nelda

 

P.S. Please remember to follow our e-mail for our weekly newsletter. Movie updates, coupons and recipes all in one packed page.  

    men's website:    http://www.earthoceanfirejewelry.com

          women's website:    http://www.earthoceanfirewomen.com

P.S.S. When you join our e-mail list you will automatically receive a PDF file of "film noir" movies both classic and more recent ones. This is our free gift to you.  Enjoy!

             

Here are a few very good sites to research:

AMC          http://www.filmsite.org
   
IMDB          http://imdb.com
 
YouTube     http://www.youtube.com

Also Roger Ebert, for individual film reviews.
Roger Ebert       http://www.rogerebert.com

Japenese Poetry

Japanese Poetry

My love of poetry has inspired me to introduce you to a beautiful form of poetry. I will give you a few simple rules so you can write poems in this Japanese style.  

There are many types of Japanese poetry, however, I will introduce you to only two so you can try them.

1. What is a haiku?

A haiku is a Japanese poem consisting of three lines and 17 syllables.  Each line must contain a specific number of syllables.  The first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables and the third line has five syllables. The haiku is one of the most beautiful of poetic forms.

Here is an example of a poem written in "haiku" form

(5 syllables)  proud, free butterfly:
(7 syllables)  I wanted to fondle you;
(5 syllables)  bright wings ripped.
       (2)  you died.

(5) soft? skin does not age
(7) only the image darkens,
(5) bodies remember. . .

(5) body and body. . .
(7) same as always, nothing more. . .
(5) a slight pause in time. . .

(5) at dawn I picked two 
(7) flowers: at noon
             I sold one
(5) to fill my stomach. . .

What are the rules for making a haiku?

As mentioned, the haiku contains three lines. With syllables alternating 5, 7 and then 5.  Rhyming is not necessary.  Rules regarding word repetition, punctuation and capitalization are left to the writer's discretion.

Go ahead an try composing a "haiku." There many subjects to choose from:  War, Nature, Love, Politics, Music, Art, Global Warning, Relationships, whatever you are inspired by!

Thousands of haiku are composed every year, and for the most part, represent Japanese subjects such as landscapes, seasons, birds, insects, flowers, phases of the moon and other natural phenomena. Haiku offers a writer the chance to suggest a scene, a landscape or a mood that is open to interpretation. It is left to the reader to fill in the details of the painting suggested by the writer or Haiku Master.  

History of the Haiku. . .

Haiku was officially born in Japan at the beginning of the Tokugawa shogurrate (1603-1770). The haiku style grew out of the popular pastime known as Renga, in which one or more poets supplied alernating sections to short, five-lined verse known as tanka verse. The seventeenth century poet, Matsuo Basho (1644-94) elevated this form into a high literary form. Today haiku remains the most popular form of literary expression in Japan and its popularity in the West continues to grow.

II. What is Naga-uta?

 Japanese poetry form of 5, 7, 5 syllables is called a "haiku."  The form 7,7 is called a "renga" and when a "haiku"and renga are linked, the resulting form is called a "tanka." A series of "tankas" is called a "naga-uta."

Example of a "naga-uta" form poem

(5) In my former life:

(7) I blind beggar of fourteen,

(5) one day touched your life. . .

(7) You, wilier street-urchin,

(7) were fifteen, having wise eyes.

by:  Aaron Brown

I hope you have the chance to try writing in this style. It is magical!

  

  










Don't forget to follow us with your e-mail. I have a "Dinner and a Movie" newsletter that I send out about every 10 days. I give the latest blog post and jewelry news too. A recipe and movie suggestions for you to try. Too much fun! 
You can sign up with your e-mail on every page of our websites!
Our men's website:  
 http://www.earthoceanfirejewelry.com 
Our women's website:
www.earthoceanfirewomen.com 
Our blogger website:
www.EARTHOCEANFIRE.blogspot.com 

Related blogs you might be interested in:

Cinema of Hong Kong
http://earthoceanfire.blogspot.com/2017/06/cinema-of-hong-kong.html 

 Martial Art Movies
http://earthoceanfire.blogspot.com/2017/12/martial-art-movies.html

The Golden Age of Japanese Cinema
http://earthoceanfire.blogspot.cp,2107/06/the-golden-age-of-japanese-cinema.html 

Japanese Anime
http://earthoceanfire.blogspot.com/2017/05/japanese-anime.html

 

We will automatically send you a free list of "film noir" movies both classic and newer ones. . .7 pages of info and where the movies are streaming! We did the work for you! Enjoy and follow us today! Follow us here on blogger or on our website.

 

 

 

 

     

Surrealism

SURREALISM in Film

Surrealism is growing in popularity during our present days of disturbing world events and upheavals in our own country.  It is an interpretation of the artists viewpoint as he creates art using his medium of choice.

I feel a good approach to studying surrealism is to study the individual artists and their bodies of work.  This way we can absorb their feelings and understand their thoughts at the time they were creating their art.

 Who is more surreal than David Lynch?

Remember Eraserhead?? (photo at top)

For years, we have tried to figure out what exactly does this movie mean?

It circulates around the viewer circles every so often and will always remain an iconic mystery.

 

David Lynch is a talented film maker known for his surreal style. "Wild at Heart"; "Blue Velvet" and "Mulholland Drive" and the TV series "Twin Peaks" are attributed to David Lynch. He came out with a new "Twin Peaks" recently.  

"Mulholland Drive" is one of his most commercial films. I have seen this film a few times and I always feel that I didn't get it! After reading Roger Ebert's review of the movie, I felt a little better." The movie is a surrealist dream-scape in the form of a Hollywood film noir, and the less sense it makes, the more we can't stop watching it." To read the full review go to this link:

http://www.rogerebert.com 

Roger Ebert commented in 1990, "There is something inside of me that resists the films of David Lynch. I am aware of it, I admit to it, but I cannot think my way around it. I sit and watch his films and am aware of his energy, his visual flair, his flashes of wit.  But as the movie rolls along, something grows inside of me -- an indignation or unwillingness, a resistance.  At the end of "Blue Velvet" and "Wild at Heart" -- I was angry as if a clever con-man had tried to put one over on me."

The Cohen Brothers have a string of first class movies done in a variety of styles. Their movies often have a surreal, dream-like quality to them such as

"O' Brother Where Art Thou" and "Barton Fink" 

 

                         "Beetle Juice" by Tim Burton

          The Nightmare Before Christmas" by Tim Burton

Tim Burton has made a career full of magical movies.

Tim Burton is from Burbank, CA.  Some of his most famous movies are:  "Pee-wee's Big Adventures"; "James and the Giant Peach"; "Beetlejuice"; "Batman"; "Edward Scissor-hands"; "Batman Returns"; "Ed Wood"; "Mars Attacks"; "Planet of the Apes"; "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"; "Alice in Wonderland"  . . . and the list goes on.

 
 

NEW SERIES "FALLING WATER". . .

Gale Ann Heard, who's well known as executive producer on AMC'S "The Walking Dead", has come out with a new show "Falling Water."  She says that this show is different for her because it is not dealing with aliens or monsters. Also does not delve into time-travel, zombies or anything like that.

It deals with something we all do which is dream.  The film follows three strangers which slowly realize that they are dreaming separate parts of a single common dream. 

The first episode aired on USA NETWORK  October 13, 2016. "Don't Tell Bill"

The second episode of the first season aired on USA Network  Saturday, Oct 15, 2016 at 9 a.m.    

"Three Half-Blind Mice" 

Surrealism is often provoking, alluring, maddening, or darkly funny.  This style is often used in Dark Comedy to mask taboo subjects that would otherwise be too harsh to swallow! (see my blog "Dark Comedy") for more on this subject.  Dream-like in its nature, you might see an inanimate object such as a clock talking to you or jumping off the wall or a table walking around or smoke coming out of someones head. If you see things like this, this movie is probably in a surreal style.

There are many art forms that use surrealism such as art, writing, music, or film. I hope to write another article on surrealism soon!  Have fun exploring surrealism film! 

 

Thanks for visiting! Please join us for blog updates and news. click here:  

http://www.earthoceanfirejewelry.com

We automatically send out a FREE gift of a comprehensive "film noir" list when you sign up for our e-mail list on our website. It is in PDF file form and is about 7 pages of information for you to add movies to your movie watching list.



P.S. You might also be interested in some of my other articles. Just click on the title you are interested in -- they are automatically linked -- list is at bottom of home page
click here to go to main blog page:  http://www.EARTHOCEANFIRE.blogspot.com

Other articles:    "Street Art"- "Japanese Anime" - "Dark Comedy"

References for more study:                        

                          

References:   

 AMC                  http://www.filmsite.org

IMDB                http://www.imdb.com

Roger Ebert       http://www.rogerebert.com 

 

You Tube            http://www.youtube.com

Criterion            http://www.criterion.com