Friday, August 31, 2007

Casting

Tom Cruise allegedly turned down the role in the film, and agreed to develop the script with the producers. However, he would in the end change his mind, and was cast in the lead as Maverick. Val Kilmer was initially uninterested as well, but Director Tony Scott persuaded him to join the cast.[4]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gun_%28film%29

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Writing

The primary inspiration for the film was discovered by one of the producers, finding an article in the May 1983 issue of California magazine which would form the basis of the film.[1] The article, Top Guns, was about the TOPGUN fighter pilots at the Miramar Naval Air Station, located in San Diego, self-nicknamed as "Fightertown USA". Numerous screenwriters allegedly turned down the project.[2] Bruckheimer and Simpson went on to hire Jim Cash and Jack Epps, Jr., to write the first draft. The research methods, by Epps, included an attendance at several declassified Top Gun classes at Miramar and gaining experience by being flown in an F-14. The first draft failed to capture the imagination of Bruckheimer and Simpson, and the first draft is considered to be very different from the final product in numerous ways.[2]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gun_%28film%29

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Plot

Tom Cruise plays Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a cocky young United States Navy F-14 Tomcat pilot with VF-1 Wolfpack flying off USS Enterprise. Maverick is the son of Duke Mitchell, a fighter pilot shot down during the Vietnam War and listed as missing in action with no details, a mystery which haunts Maverick. Former Top Gun instructor pilot (and later Member of Congress) (and current criminal) Randy “Duke” Cunningham claimed to have been the inspiration for Maverick, although the movie's producer denied this, saying that the character was not based on any specific aviator.[1]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gun_%28film%29

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

The dance scene in popular culture

The movie, Risky Business, was filmed in Diana Levy's house on Linden Ave. in Highland Park, IL The scene of Tom Cruise dancing in his underwear to Bob Seger has become a popular culture touchpoint, and is often shown in parody:

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risky_Business

Monday, August 27, 2007

External links

Hard Eight • Boogie Nights • Magnolia • Punch-Drunk Love • There Will Be Blood

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_%28film%29

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Awards

2000 Academy Awards

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_%28film%29

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Documentary

The Magnolia DVD includes a lengthy behind-the-scenes documentary, That Moment. It uses a fly-on-the-wall approach to cover nearly every aspect of production, from production management and scheduling to music direction to special effects. As Magnolia is arguably Paul Thomas Anderson's most ambitious work to date, the behind-the-scenes documentary is also an in-depth look into his motivation and directing style. Pre-production included a screening of the film Network, as well as Ordinary People. Several scenes showed Anderson at odds with the child actors and labor laws that restrict their work time. The character of Dixon has further scenes filmed but, from Anderson's reactions, appear not to be working. These scenes were cut completely and have never been shown on DVD.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_%28film%29

Friday, August 24, 2007

Music and soundtracks

Paul Thomas Anderson has stated that the screenplay was written largely around the songs of Aimee Mann.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_%28film%29

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Script vs. final cut

A published version of the shooting script (Newmarket Press, 2001, ISBN 1-55704-406-6) indicates that there was substantial additional material to be incorporated into the film which did not make the final cut. In particular, the character of Dixon, the boy Jim Kurring met while investigating the shots in the first act, returns in a scene in the diner near where Donnie and Jim return the money, with his father (the Worm) in an extended dialogue exchange which indicates that Worm's father is abusive toward both Dixon and himself.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_%28film%29

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Themes

Magnolia is a thematically rich film. Many essays and other writings have been composed on it. Some themes that are often associated with the film include:

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_%28film%29

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Raining Frogs & Exodus 8:2

The movie has an underlying theme of Fortean unexplained events, taken from the 1920s and 1930s works of American intellectual Charles Fort. Fortean author Loren Coleman has written a chapter about this motion picture, entitled "The Teleporting Animals and Magnolia," in one of his recent books. [2]The film has many hidden Fortean themes. The fall of frogs is merely one of them. One of Charles Fort's books is visible on the table in the library and there is an end credit thanking Charles Fort. [ISBN 1-416527-36-2 Mysterious America']

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_%28film%29

Monday, August 20, 2007

Overview

Magnolia starts with an introduction describing three events that set the mood for the movie by urging the audience to think about supposed coincidences which occur "all the time." The events, which are well-known urban legends, are:

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_%28film%29

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Origin

Born on the Fourth of July was written in Santa Monica, California during the fall of 1974 in exactly one month, three weeks and two days.[1] It tells the story of Kovic's life growing up in Massapequa, New York, joining the Marines going to Vietnam, getting shot, finding himself wheelchair bound, and eventually starting a new life as an anti-war activist.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_on_the_Fourth_of_July

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Scientific criticism of Scientology's beliefs

A 1971 ruling of the United States District Court, District of Columbia (333 F. Supp. 357), specifically stated, "the E-meter has no proven usefulness in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any disease, nor is it medically or scientifically capable of improving any bodily function."[157]. Scientology publishes the following disclaimer in its books and publications: "The e-meter is an electronic instrument that measures mental state and change of state in individuals and assists the precision and speed of auditing. The E-Meter is not intended or effective for any diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any disease"[158] and that it is used specifically for spiritual purposes.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Friday, August 17, 2007

Scientology versus the Internet

In the 1990s Scientology representatives began extensive operations on the Internet to deal with growing allegations against Scientology on the Internet. The organization states that it is taking actions to prevent distribution of copyrighted Scientology documents and publications online by people whom it has called "copyright terrorists."[154] Critics say that the organisation's true motive is to attempt to suppress the free speech of its critics.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Scientology and psychiatry

The Church of Scientology is one of a number of groups involved in the anti-psychiatry movement, and one of the few organizations that publicly oppose the study and application of psychology in addition to psychiatry.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Scientology as a commercial venture

The Church of Scientology and its many related organizations have amassed considerable real estate holdings worldwide, likely in the hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as a large amount of other funds from the practice of auditing.[78] Hubbard was accused in his lifetime of adopting a religious façade for Scientology to allow the organization to maintain tax-exempt status and to avoid prosecution for false medical claims.[140] There have been numerous accounts from Hubbard's fellow science-fiction authors and researchers, notably Harlan Ellison, Neison Himmel, Sam Merwin, Sam Moskowitz, Theodore Sturgeon, Lloyd Arthur Eshbach, and Lyle Stuart,[128] of Hubbard stating on various occasions that the way to get rich was to start a religion.[141] This is referenced, among other places, in a May 1980 Reader's Digest article, which quotes Hubbard, "If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion."[142] The Church says that "One individual once claimed L. Ron Hubbard made such a comment during a lecture in 1948. The only two people who could be found who attended that very lecture in 1948 denied that Mr. Hubbard ever made this statement" and that therefore it is an "unfounded rumor." The Church's statement does not address any of the other individuals who have stated that they personally heard Hubbard make such a statement, some saying that he said it on multiple occasions. The Church also suggests that the origin of the "rumor" was a quote by George Orwell which had been "misattributed" to Hubbard. However, Robert Vaughn Young, who left the Church in 1989 after twenty years, said that he had discovered the Orwell quote, and suggested that reports of Hubbard making such a statement could be explained as a misattribution of Orwell, despite having encountered three of Hubbard's associates from his science fiction days who remembered Hubbard making statements of that sort in person.[74]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Scientology as a cult

In some instances, former members have claimed the Church used information obtained in auditing sessions against them.[124][125][126] While such a claim would be actionable as extortion, blackmail or harassment within most legal jurisdictions, no such claim has to date been legally confirmed against Scientology based solely upon use or revelation of auditing records.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Monday, August 13, 2007

Scientology as a state-recognized religion

The Church pursues an extensive public relations campaign for recognition of Scientology as a bona fide religion.[98] The organization cites numerous scholarly sources supporting its position, many of which can be found on a website the Church has established for this purpose.[99] Different countries have taken markedly different approaches to Scientology. Scientology is considered a legitimate religion in Thailand[citation needed], Taiwan [100], and Australia, and thus enjoys and regularly cites the constitutional protections afforded in these nations to religious practice.[101] Scientology is also regarded as a religious charitable organization in Holland, Hungary, Portugal, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, India, Albania, South Africa, Slovenia, Croatia, Japan, Sweden, Austria, New Zealand and France.[102] Some countries, mostly in Europe, have regarded Scientology as a potentially dangerous cult, or at least have not considered local branches of the Church of Scientology to meet the legal criteria for being considered religion-supporting organizations.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Scientology and other religions

Scientology teaches that it is fully compatible with all existing major world religions and that it does not conflict with other religions or other religious practices;[89] and some ministers from other churches have adopted Scientology practices.[90] However Scientology has been questioned by other religious groups:

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Controversy and criticism

Of the many new religious movements to appear during the 20th century, the Church of Scientology has, from its inception, been one of the most controversial. The organization has come into conflict with the governments and police forces of several countries (including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany) numerous times over the years, though supporters note that many major world religions have found themselves in conflict with civil government in their early years.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Friday, August 10, 2007

Scientology and celebrities

The Church of Scientology has consistently attracted artists and entertainers, particularly Hollywood celebrities. L. Ron Hubbard saw to the formation of a special Church of Scientology which would cater to artists, politicians, leaders of industry, sports figures and anyone with the power and vision "to create a better world"[68]. There are eight of what are referred to as Celebrity Centers across the world, though Hollywood is the largest and most important.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Scientology splinter groups

Although "Scientology" is most often used as shorthand for the Church of Scientology, a number of groups practice Scientology and Dianetics outside of the official Church. Such groups are invariably breakaways from the original Church. The Church takes an extremely hard line on breakaway groups, labeling them "apostates" (or "squirrels" in Scientology jargon) and often subjecting them to considerable legal and social pressure. Breakaway groups avoid the name "Scientology" so as to keep from being sued, instead referring to themselves collectively as the Free Zone or Ron's Org.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

The Church of Scientology

The Church of Scientology has said that it had as many as 10 million members as of 2006,[55] though actual membership figures it has released indicate a far smaller total. Third party estimates of Scientology's worldwide membership range from less than 100,000[56] to approximately 500,000.[57] According to a 2001 survey published by the City University of New York, 55,000 people in the United States would, if asked to identify their religion, have said Scientology.[58]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Meaning of the word 'Scientology'

Although today associated almost exclusively with Hubbard's work, the word "scientology" predates Hubbard's creation by several decades. Philologist Allen Upward used the word "scientology" in his 1901 book The New Word as a synonym for "pseudoscience",[47] and this is sometimes cited as the first coining of the word.[48] In 1934, the Argentine-German writer Anastasius Nordenholz published a book using the word positively: Scientologie, Wissenschaft von der Beschaffenheit und der Tauglichkeit des Wissens ("Scientology, Science of the Constitution and Usefulness of Knowledge").[49] Nordenholz's book is a study of consciousness, and its usage of the word is not greatly different from Hubbard's definition, "knowing how to know".[50] However, it is not clear to what extent Hubbard was aware of these earlier uses. The word itself is a pairing of the Latin word scientia ("knowledge", "skill"), which comes from the verb scire ("to know"), and the Greek λογος lógos ("reason" or "inward thought" or "logic" or "an account of").

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Monday, August 6, 2007

Origins

Scientology's doctrines were established by Hubbard over a period of about 34 years, beginning in 1952 and continuing until his death in January 1986. Most of the basic principles were set out during the 1950s and 1960s. Now described as an "applied religious philosophy," Scientology was at first secular; Hubbard began to characterize Scientology's beliefs and practices as a religion in 1953, and by 1960 he had redefined it as a "religion by its basic tenets."[41]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Funeral service

At a Scientology funeral service, the minister speaks directly to the thetan (the individual as a spirit) and grants forgiveness for anything the deceased has done so he can begin life anew.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Church ceremonies

Scientology, as practiced by members of the Church of Scientology, includes the social ceremonies for marriage, birth, and death, that are a part of most religions. The ceremonies are performed in front of the congregation by an ordained Scientology minister.[37] Most, if not all, of the actual ceremonies used were written by L. Ron Hubbard and are collected in the book, Ceremonies of the Church of Scientology.[38][39]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Friday, August 3, 2007

Silent birth and infant care

Hubbard stated that the delivery room should be as silent as possible during birth.[31] This stems from his belief that birth is a trauma that may induce engrams into the baby. Hubbard asserted that words in particular should be avoided because any words used during birth might be reassociated by an adult later on in life with their earlier traumatic birth experience. Hubbard also wrote that the mother should use "as little anesthetic as possible."[32]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Xenu and Body Thetans

Among these advanced teachings, one episode revealed to those who reach OT level III is the story of Xenu and his Galactic Confederacy.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

The upper levels of Scientology

Scientologists who have achieved the State of Clear may continue onto the Upper or OT (Operating Thetan) Levels. These courses are available by Church invitation only after a review of the candidate's character, ethics and contribution to the Aims of Scientology.[26] The contents of these advanced courses are held in strict confidence within the Church and individuals who have read these materials may neither discuss nor disclose what they contain without jeopardizing their standing in the Church.[citation needed] Presently, there are eight such levels, OT I to VIII. Church management has promised to release a ninth OT level once certain expansion goals are met.[27] The highest level released to date, OT VIII, is only granted at sea, on the Scientology ship, the Freewinds, which was established to provide a "safe, aesthetic, distraction-free environment" where this OT level could be delivered.[28]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology