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Animals In The Movies

Posted on April 22, 2012 6:00 am by Streamer

The star of this year’s Oscars in Hollywood was not one of the A list stars we are used to see gracing the red carpet, but a small Jack Russell called Uggie, who stole the show in the award-winning French silent movie, The Artist. Uggie is just the last in a long list of animal stars who have graced the silver screen, dazzling us with their performance and acting abilities.

CGI Versus Real Life

Animal themes in movies have been popular for decades, and kids are still entranced by movies such as the Jungle Book or Bambi 50 years after they were originally made. As these sorts of movies were animated, the film makers neatly stepped around the issues presented by getting large numbers of animals to perform to cue. With animation and especially with computer generated movies, animals can be made to do practically anything.

Welfare Concerns

Animals which are used to perform in movies are by and large very well treated. Trainers will have invested considerable time and effort in their animals and will try to protect their investment from harm. Animals are given plenty of rest and food breaks, and most movie sets where animals are working are inspected by animal welfare charities to ensure everything is above board and as it should be. Many movies will have several similar animals on set so that for certain shots different animals can be used so as not to put all the stress on one animal only.

Training Techniques

Obviously some animals are easier to train than others. Horses, dogs and cats can be made to do far more things than a rodent or reptile. The techniques which work best are those which offer rewards for positive behaviour rather than punishing negative behaviour. Some trainers will use herbal equine performance supplements to help keep horses focused in their training, and with dogs the trick is often getting the animal attached to one particular toy or treat to be used as a reward. It is impossible to force an animal to do something against its will, and cooperation and partnership with the trainer is key. Trainers know their animals well, and an animal which is under the weather will not cooperate well. The use of items such as herbal equine performance supplements or canine equivalents can be used to ensure an animal stays in the best condition possible.

Famous Movie Animals

Dogs and horses are probably the best known animals to have featured in the movies. Lassie was the star of several movies in the 1970s, and Black Beauty is an all-time classic. Children’s movies featuring dogs such as Beethoven were huge box office hits, and spawned a whole series of sequels. The Wizard of Oz wouldn’t be the same without Toto, and would Elizabeth Taylor have become such a star without her role alongside a horse in National Velvet? The biggest animal movie star though, in all senses of the word, was Keiko, the killer whale who starred in Free Willy.

Citations:

The Equine Warehouse offer a range of herbal equine performance supplements – perfect for that budding movie star animal!




Ideas for College Movie Nights

Posted on April 20, 2012 6:00 am by Streamer
The Twilight Saga: New Moon

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)

Students in college have an entire new world to adjust to. You will be in a new place, away from all of your old friends, so you will need to make new friends. You may find that this is hard, but when you’re at college, you will see that your college hosts a number of events to make socialization easier for you. They host highlighter parties, comedy nights and even movie nights. If you love to watch movies and you are wanting to make some new friends, this will be a great way for you to do it. You will get to mingle with other students who like movies, just as you do, and they always say, birds of a feather will flock together!

College movie nights are so much fun! They may have a theme or they may not. Some will be organized by the college and some may just be put together by clubs or groups of students. There are many different genres of movies that you can watch and some nights may even have a theme. If you like to watch comedies, there are many great movies that can be selected. You can watch Death Becomes Her, a movie about an actress who wants to stay forever young, or even Meet the Parents, which shows all the disasters of meeting your significant other’s family.

If you would rather watch something scary, there are so many great choices that you can make! The Exorcist is a classic horror movie about a young girl who gets possessed by a demon and has to be exorcised by a Catholic priest. There are always the horror series, like Halloween or Friday the 13th with serial killers like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees. Then, there are newer horror flicks, like Orphan and Paranormal Activity. Two of the latest horror releases, The Devil Inside and The Woman in Black may also be great choices.

One of the most popular movies with college students right now is the Twilight Saga. Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn part 1 tell the story of Bella, a human girl who falls in love with Edward Cullen, a mysterious vampire. She also falls for her best friend Jacob Black and finds not only her heart but her whole world caught in a battle of good versus evil. Finally, another great movie if you enjoy romance is the ever popular A Walk to Remember.

No matter what theme you should choose for a college movie night or what movies you watch, you are sure to have a great time. College movie nights are a great way for you to better adjust to college and meet new people who may become your best friends. Even if you do not think you’ll like the movies being played, head on out. You will find that you may actually like movies from a different genre than you are used to, and if all else fails, you will at least have met some new people!

About the Author

Perry S. is a writer for MyCriminalJusticeCareers.com. For the people that are interested in forensic science and want to learn the ins and outs of how to become a forensic scientist, this site is great.

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Five Reasons Our Kids Shouldn’t Watch Disney Shows

Posted on April 15, 2012 6:00 am by Streamer

Disney shows have certainly changed over the years. The Mickey Mouse Club no longer exists, and instead of happy-go-lucky tweens singing and dancing, Disney is now filled with inappropriate content and awful role models.  If you have a tween at home, they probably watch Disney. But before you think the network is harmless, you may want to consider giving your child an alternative network to watch. Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t let your child watch disney shows.

 

1. The outfits are too scandalous.

Has it ever occurred to anyone that nine year olds shouldn’t be wearing booty shorts or a face full of makeup? Yet it seems that on every Disney show, some young girl is dressed too sexy for her age. Thanks to the media, our daughters already have a hard enough time dealing with their image. They think they have to be skinny and have a big chest in order to be considered beautiful, and the trashy outfits being worn by kids on Disney isn’t helping them overcome this belief.


2. They force popularity down their throats.

Every single show on Disney is about the popular kids in school. What about the less popular kids? These shows idolize the idea that being popular is the only way to live, and this is not the case. Our children cannot grow up in a world where they are so determined to be popular that they will take any action in order to do so. We need to teach our kids to be who they want to be and that popularity doesn’t matter.

3. Where are the parents?

Only a handful of Disney shows ever include a parent. Most of the time, these kids walk around and do whatever they want without any type of parental guidance. While it’s understood that it’s a TV show, our kids are gullible, and if they see a star doing something without their parents permission, it will make our kids want to do it too. Disney should be building a child’s relationship with their parents by showing happy families on their shows. Instead, they are telling kids that there is no need for parental guidance.

4. There’s no moral to the story.

Disney shows used to teach kids how to be a better person or how to treat people right. Now, all the Disney shows are solely about entertaining. Kids don’t take away anything from these shows anymore other than a new word or a new hairstyle idea.

5. They contain inappropriate content.

There should not be any making out on Disney shows, and yet, kissing and makeout sessions are a large part of most Disney shows. Young girls do not need to think that going around and kissing boys is a good idea, especially at such a young age.
Don’t assume that Disney is a harmless network for your child to enjoy. It has definitely changed over the years, and not for the better.

Ashley Cole is a stay at home mother, avid gardener, and freelance writer who loves to focus on her passions. She always uses a grammar checker when she works to ensure her writing is clear and free of any grammatical errors. She can’t always remember grammar rules so she lets the grammar checker do it for her.




Where to Find Furniture And Equipment For Your Home Theater

Posted on April 8, 2012 6:00 am by Streamer


Image by gsloan

If you have a den, basement, or extra room in your house, you may want to consider turning that room into a home theater. A home theater can be a wonderful space your entire family will love. You will have the ability to watch your favorite films in the comfort of your own home. A home theater space doesn’t have to be expensive. Home theaters are more popular than ever, making it easy to find hundreds of retailers. With a little research, you can find quality viewing equipment, furniture, and decorative products all at a low, affordable cost.

A great place to begin your research for home theater equipment and furniture is the internet. The internet is a great place to find hundreds of manufacturers and retailers that sell specific home theater products. You can find thousands of items and read up on information and reviews to see what other customers like best. The downside of using the internet is not being able to see the items firsthand. Also, if you order big pieces of furniture or equipment, you will have to pay a lot to have them delivered. It is great to use the internet to find local retailers.

Shopping Around At The Chain Stores

If you want to shop in your local community, you can probably find everything you need in major chain stores. When you begin to shop for viewing screens, speakers, and surround sound options, visit your local Best Buy or Fry’s. Stores that sell electronics and appliances are always your best option. They will have the largest selections of flat screens and sound devices. These locations are also great because you can go into the stores and test products before you buy them. If you are unsure of what to get, professional staff should be able to give you helpful advice.

Next, you will probably want to shop for home theater furniture. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on home theater chairs. For comfort, all you need is a nice couch or recliner. You can even be creative and do throw pillows on the floor. Finding comfortable seating for your space can be done just about anywhere. Your local furniture stores are the best way to start. If you do want to spend more money and get something that is more like a real theater chair, look for manufacturers online. Many merchants allow customization of theater chairs. This means you can have them designed in whatever material, style, and color you desire.

Finding the right furniture and equipment for your home theater space is easy. It will be more affordable than you think.

Elite Home Theater Chairs – Custom made high end home theater chairs, Superior Quality, 10 Year Warranty. Create your elite home theatre seating on our site.




Greatest Ballet Films Ever

Posted on April 1, 2012 6:00 am by Streamer

There’s something just so elegant about the ballet. The movement of the human body in this form of dance is something many spend years trying to achieve. The whole ballet area, from the tutus to the Bloch flats and pumps, to the music is one that astounds many. In fact, much of what we wear and is in fashion at the moment can be seen to be directly influenced by ballet and ballet films. Bloch flats and pumps and tutus have all had, or are having their day and are very popular in common, everyday culture.

Hollywood and other movie producing areas have created many wonderful films to do with ballet. Some of these look at the beauty and others the temperamental nature of this art – here are some of our favourites.

Black Swan

Nathalie Portman stars in Darren Arfonsky’s film of light and shadows. The film is a creative masterpiece, that oozes style and beauty. Portman performs wonderfully, dancing off her bloch flats and pumps in this emotional thriller. Arfonsky manages to show the delicate and fragile state of someone performing at the top of their level wonderfully and it is an aptly highly acclaimed film and rightly so.

Billy Elliot

Though, Northern England during the early 1980s doesn’t seem like the most apt place to set a ballet movie – that’s where Billy Elliot is placed. Situated in a mining town during the strikes that crippled the country during the period, Billy wishes to get his Bloch flats and pumps on and become a ballet dancer. Unfortunately, his brother and dad, who are hard mining folk, far from understand that Billy need to dance, rather than break coal. The film is one of the best loved British films of the last few decades and it is easy to see why.

The Turning Point

This film was nominated for 11 Oscars and is probably the most realistic of all the ballet based films of all time. The movie has, possibly the most truthful and realistic dancing of any ballet film ever and stars Anne Bancroft and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Critics love this film because of its realistic portrayal of the Bloch pump wearing types.

Red Shoes

Having won two Oscars in 1949, Red Shoes is one of the most loved movies on ballet of all time. It’s a true tale of love and having to make a choice between a man, or a passion. Does Vicky choose to fall in love, or continue to dance? The original version was written by none other than Hans Christian Anderson as a fairy story, but was changed around for the big screen.

Center Stage

This film is possibly one for the times and is a great teen movie. Like all teens who love the fine things in life, from bloch flats and pumps to nice cars. Center Stage talks about having to come to terms with being an adult, dealing with change and romance, while still trying to keep parents and school happy. Each member must decide on their future as an adult and as a dancer. A tale of the hard realities of not only ballet, but many careers.

Citations:

Fashion That Is Different offer a great range of bloch flats , fashionable ballet shoes which can be worn every day.