The Stu View Movie Heroes

National Lampoon's Vacation Reunion

2013-01-07T10:10:00.001-08:00

Not only one of the most fondly recalled comedies of the eighties but also a defining moment in the career of Chevy Chase up until that point, National Lampoon's Vacation manages to remain as funny today as it was on first viewing in 1983.

Spawning three sequels of varying quality, National Lampoon's Vacation was an instant smash hit upon release. Despite the warm and wacky brilliance of Christmas Vacation, this first entry in the series remains, in the eyes of many fans, the definitive Vacation movie.

Prior to Vacation, Chevy Chase was primarily known for playing witty, rather acerbic leading men who always got the girl. Therefore, it was probably quite a risk for him to take on the role of well-meaning family man Clark W. Griswold, a clumsy but loveable dolt who is determined to take his wife and children on a cross-country trip to "America's favourite family fun park" Wally World. The risk paid off handsomely though as, alongside Fletch, Clark Griswold remains Chase's most popular film character.

With Chase and Beverley D'Angelo the series only constant, each Vacation movie featured different actors in the roles of children Rusty and Audrey. In the 1989 offering National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, a fourteen-year old Johnny Galecki, still many years away from the part of Leonard in The Big Bang Theory, played Rusty.

Recently, the actors who played Rusty and Audrey in the original Vacation movie - Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron - met up once more with their screen parents Chevy Chase and Beverley D'Angelo for a near 30-year National Lampoon's Vacation reunion...

By the way, sharp-eyed readers may notice that only three sequels to Vacation are mentioned. There is no way I'm including the utter crud that was Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island...

Sir Christopher Lee - Christmas Message 2012

2012-12-26T03:57:00.000-08:00

Sir Christopher Lee's annual festive message is just as anticipated by fans at Christmas as the Queen's Speech.

That he still takes time out on Christmas Day, at the age of 90, to film this message is a true measure of the man and the respect he obviously has for his many fans.

Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas Sir Christopher and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

A Laurel and Hardy Christmas

2012-12-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

Even though they never made a fully-fledged seasonal movie that was completely dedicated to the theme of Christmas, there is something magical about watching Stan and Ollie at this time of year and, indeed, during any holiday period.

Despite the boys not making an 'official' Christmas film, there are a number of their outings which make a nod towards the Yuletide season and it is these which I happily present to you here for the perfect little Christmas treat!

Big Business (1929)

One of Laurel and Hardy's most famous silent shorts and unquestionably one of the greatest short comedy films ever made, Big Business is a delightful orgy of destruction and reciprocation as Stan and Ollie try to sell a Christmas tree to a rather belligerent householder, played by perennial foe James Finlayson.

Enjoy in full here...

The Fixer Uppers (1935)

The penultimate short from the boys before they concentrated exclusively on feature films, The Fixer Uppers contains a glorious opening which sees Stan and Ollie selling Christmas cards door to door. As Ollie explains, he has designed them himself while Stan has written the 'beautiful verse'.

Here is a selection of Stan's "tenderest thoughts"...

Merry Christmas Mother

Merry Christmas Ma

Hi Mommy Mommy

and a hot cha cha!

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Coming through the rye

I wish you a Merry Christmas

Even as you and I

Twas Christmas day in the poorhouse

and the boys were feeling blue

The boys in grey were fighting

A Merry Christmas to you!

A Merry Christmas husband

Happy New Year's nigh

I wish you Easter greetings

Hooray for the Fourth of July

Babes in Toyland (1934)

As can be seen from the above poster, this full length Laurel and Hardy feature was also known as March of the Wooden Soldiers. Once a fixture on American television at Christmas, this was one of Oliver Hardy's personal favourites.

Stanley Dee and Ollie Dum work at the toy factory in Toyland and it isn't long before they are causing chaos, mixing up an order for six hundred soldiers one foot high and instead creating one hundred soldiers six feet high!

Enjoy in full here...

If you are a big fan of Stan and Ollie, then I highly recommend The Laurel and Hardy Forum You can now also sign their petition to get Laurel and Hardy back on our television screens here Laurel and Hardy TV Petition

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year. See you next year!

The Lone Ranger - Full Trailer

2012-12-11T03:34:00.001-08:00

Starring Johnny Depp, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Gore Verbinski, it's not surprising that The Lone Ranger has a 'Pirates of the Caribbean' feel to it - particularly in some of the humour employed by Depp's Tonto.

This new full-length trailer includes some nice little touches of humour which were lacking from the teaser trailer, as well as upping the action quotient. I am predicting another smash hit for the Depp/Bruckheimer/Verbinski triumvirate and am very much looking forward to the film's release in Summer 2013.

Screen Shots - For a Few Dollars More

2012-12-10T10:36:00.002-08:00

Regular visitors to The Stu View will be aware of my deep admiration for Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy and both Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef.

Of the three Dollars movies, I personally rate For a Few Dollars More as the greatest (despite the majority of fans more than likely opting for The Good, The Bad and The Ugly). The dynamic of Eastwood and Van Cleef as a team works well and, with the incredibly intense Gian Maria Volonte putting in a dramatic powerhouse performance as the ultra black-hearted villain Indio, the film boasts a very strong set of leading players.

Sergio Leone was a director of exquisite style who had a great flair for creating epic westerns on a grand, almost operatic, scale. He had a great love of art and, after viewing his finest films, you can see this love bearing fruit on the screen. Indeed, many stills taken from Leone's greatest work would not look out of place hanging on the wall of an art gallery, as an appreciative audience discuss their many merits.

Here are some stunning stills from For a Few Dollars More which really show the directorial genius of Sergio Leone at his best.

Clint and his seemingly ever-present cigar.

Someone is about to get hurt...and it's not Clint.

A simply stunning example of Sergio Leone's love for faces.

One of the most intense western villains of all-time - Gian Maria Volonte as Indio.

A scene with religious overtones? Indio relays plans to his gang (disciples?) from the pulpit.

Another prime example of Leone's love of facial close-ups.

Clint's bounty hunter comes across Colonel Mortimer for the first time.

Lee Van Cleef as Colonel Mortimer.

Beautifully lit portrait of Van Cleef.

Klaus Kinski as the hunchback.

Colonel Mortimer opens the safe for Indio and his gang while Clint lurks in the background.

However heinous his actions, Indio is arguably the most charismatic villain in western movie history.

The significance of the watch is revealed at the climax.

The dramatic final shoot-out.

Simply stunning shot of Lee Van Cleef from the closing moments.

Could easily be from a painting, couldn't it?

A Preview of Trouble with the Curve with Clint Eastwood

2012-12-02T06:27:00.003-08:00

In his 82nd year, and four years after the simply stunning Gran Torino, screen legend Clint Eastwood is back in front of the camera in the sweet comic drama Trouble with the Curve.

The aforementioned modern classic Gran Torino was, to all intents and purposes, meant to be Clint's swansong as far as acting went; Clint wanted to concentrate on directing instead. Perhaps it is the fact that Trouble With the Curve marks the full directorial debut of Clint's long-time assistant director Robert Lorenz that has lured the Hollywood icon back to acting duties. In fact, an interesting little piece of trivia to note is that Trouble with the Curve is the first film that Clint Eastwood has acted in without also taking on directorial duties since In the Line of Fire way back in 1993.

Clint's latter career has seen him excel as the grouchy, curmudgeonly old-timer struggling to come to terms with modern life and Trouble with the Curve is no exception. Here he plays Gus, a legendary baseball scout who is starting to struggle with failing eyesight. This struggle brings his daughter (Amy Adams) back into his life and, as they embark on a scouting trip, they begin to rebuild their fractured relationship.

An impressive supporting cast includes the ever reliable John Goodman, Ed Lauter and, perhaps in a career-best performance, former teen heartthrob singer Justin Timberlake.

Above all though, it's great to see Clint Eastwood back in an acting role and I, for one, hope that it will not be his last. Nearly sixty years after his acting debut, Clint has lost none of that magnetic screen presence that he has always possessed - in fact, age seems to have magnified that presence to an even greater degree.

Movie Stars Off-Set - Candid Photo Gallery

2012-03-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

Just for a nice change of pace here on The Stu View, here are some lovely, candid shots of various Stu View-favourite Hollywood superstars - both past and present - relaxing off the movie set.

Lee Van Cleef

Jennifer Aniston

Charles Bronson & Jill Ireland

George Clooney

Marilyn Monroe

Richard Pryor

Johnny Depp

Clint Eastwood

20 Facts About...Eddie Murphy

2012-03-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe but Eddie Murphy is celebrating 30 years in film this year. He made his big screen debut in Walter Hill's 48 Hours in 1982. Here are 20 other facts about the fast-talking comedy star.

20
Facts
About...

Eddie
Murphy

1. Born on April 3 1961 in Brooklyn, New York, Eddie Murphy's middle name is Regan.

2. Taking Richard Pryor as his inspiration, Eddie began writing and performing his own stand-up comedy routines at the age of 15.

3. At the age of 19, Murphy was hired as a back-up performer on the legendary television comedy show Saturday Night Live. He soon became the show's most popular attraction.

4. Classic characters created and performed by Murphy on Saturday Night Live included Gumby, Buckwheat and poet Tyrone Green.

5. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, Murphy was cast opposite Nick Nolte in the 1982 movie 48 Hours, on the strength of his performances on Saturday Night Live.

6. Eddie Murphy won a Grammy in 1984 for the album Eddie Murphy, Comedian.

7. Murphy is the only Saturday Night Live cast member to host the show whilst still a regular. This happened in 1984 when he stepped in for planned host Nick Nolte, who was ill.

8. Both Sylvester Stallone and Mickey Rourke were considered for the role of Axel Foley in Beverley Hills Cop.

9. Dan Aykroyd wrote the part of Winston Zeddemore in Ghostbusters with Eddie Murphy in mind but Murphy could not commit to filming due to schedules.

10. Eddie Murphy released a pop album in 1985 entitled How Could It Be. Party All The Time, taken from the album, reached number 2 on the US Billboard Charts.

11. He has a total of 8 children, 5 daughters and 3 sons.

12. Eddie Murphy was ranked number 10 on Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-up Comics of All Time.

13. On Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups, Murphy came in at number 40.

14. The most successful film at the box-office featuring Eddie Murphy is Shrek 2 (2004), which stands at number 22 on the list of all-time highest grossing movies.

15. The most successful live-action Murphy movie at the box-office remains Beverley Hills Cop from 1984.

16. In 2006, Eddie Murphy won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Dreamgirls. This performance also garnered him an Oscar nomination.

17. He has been nominated for Golden Globe Best Actor on 3 occasions - Trading Places (1982), Beverley Hills Cop (1984) and The Nutty Professor (1996).

18. Eddie has played multiple roles in 7 different movies.

19. Eddie Murphy was due to be the host of the 2012 Oscar Ceremony but pulled out after his friend, film director Brett Ratner, resigned as producer.

20. Murphy is rumoured to be the voice of Hong Kong Phooey in an upcoming live-action movie version of the Hanna-Barberra cartoon.

20 Facts About...Steven Spielberg

2012-01-22T06:43:00.001-08:00

With Steven Spielberg's latest movie War Horse riding high (get it?) at the box office, The Stu View takes a look at arguably the most famous film director of all time.

20
Facts
About
Steven
Spielberg

1. Steven Allan Spielberg was born on December 18 1946 in Cincinatti, Ohio.

2. He joined the Boy Scouts when he was 12.

3. Spielberg made several 8mm amateur films in his early teens.

4. His film directing debut came with the made-for-tv movie Duel starring Dennis Weaver. Duel is still highly regarded today and is considered a cult classic.

5. Steven Spielberg's cinema debut as a director came in 1974 with The Sugarland Express starring Goldie Hawn.

6. Spielberg's first huge box office hit was Jaws in 1975. He followed this with Close Encounters of the Third Kind in 1977.

7. Steven Spielberg's most successful film at the box office is Jurassic Park (1993). It sits at number 18 on the list of the biggest box office films of all time.

8. The list of the top 100 highest-earning films of all time contains 7 films directed by Steven Spielberg.

9. Steven Spielberg's first Oscar nomination for Best Director was for Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

10. Steven Spielberg has received a total of 6 Best Director Oscar nominations and has won on 2 occasions -
in 1994 for Schindler's List and 1998 for Saving Private Ryan.

11. Schindler's List also won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1993.

12. Steven Spielberg met his wife Kate Capshaw on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

13. In 2005, Empire Magazine rated Spielberg the Greatest Film Director of All-Time.

14. Steven Spielberg was one of the founders of Dreamworks Pictures, along with Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen.

15. Steven Spielberg is a close friend of former President Bill Clinton.

16. Spielberg is a big fan of video games .

17. Steven Spielberg owns one of the original Rosebud sleds from Citizen Kane (1941).

18. Gwyneth Paltrow is Steven Spielberg's god daughter.

19. In a recent interview, Steven Spielberg named Elliott from E.T. as the character he is most fond of.

20. Steven Spielberg's latest directorial project is a biopic of Abraham Lincoln starring Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role.

Sights and Sounds of the Golden Globes 2012

2012-01-16T12:51:00.001-08:00

The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards have come and gone. Here are some sights and sounds from the event, held at the Beverley Hilton Hotel in Beverley Hills, California.

Host Ricky Gervais was once again on fine form. His best quip - "You don't need
to thank everyone you've ever met or members of your family who have done nothing. Just
the main two - your agent and God"

The lovely Kate Beckinsale in probably the most pointless red carpet interview ever. Why do they always have to ask "Who are you wearing?" Does anyone really care?

They even ask a Knight of the Realm the same question - "Who are you wearing?" By the looks of him, I think it's Primark.

Same question again. Is this the world's worst interviewer? Please stop!

Congratulations to the always excellent Kelsey Grammer on winning the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Drama for Boss. Like the beard too!

Best Actor winner George Clooney with his girlfriend, ex-WWE wrestler Stacy Keibler.

Her Madgeness

Discussing The Tourist

Angelina Jolie, just before she turned sideways and disappeared behind the microphone stand.

The legend that is Morgan Freeman auditions for the role of
the next Bond villain.

Sir Christopher Lee - New Year Message to Fans

2012-01-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

Regular readers of The Stu View will know that I have long been a huge admirer of Sir Christopher Lee, one of the last true legends of the silver screen. I had the distinct honour of meeting the great man himself back in 2003 at the International Centre for Arts on The Mall, London. That is a day I will never forget.

Members of his official website will know that every year during the Christmas season, Sir Christopher records a video message for his fans and, despite only being a few months away from his 90th birthday, 2011 was no exception.

The following videos are courtesy of The Official Christopher Lee Website.

What a wonderful 2011 it was for Sir Christopher Lee. On a personal note, I would just like to thank him for still taking the time to record these messages for his fans and wish him a Happy and Healthy New Year.

The Official Christopher Lee Website

Merry Christmas from The Stu View

2011-12-18T12:12:00.000-08:00

I would just like to take this opportunity to wish all readers of The Stu View a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

This has been a great first year for The Stu View and the popularity of the site is still growing steadily. The Official Stu View Fan Page on Facebook is closing in on 400 fans, there are over 250 followers of The Stu View on Twitter and we also have a presence on YouTube.

The last couple of weeks has seen a Movie and TV Store added, where you can purchase DVDs, Blu-Rays, Books, T-shirts and Figures. If you haven't looked yet, then click the tab at the top of the page and have a browse.

2012 will hopefully see The Stu View continue to grow with the frequency of new posts increasing and more videos posted to The Stu View YouTube Channel.

I sincerely hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and I will see you at the start of 2012!

Chuck Norris Facts - The Return

2011-11-30T15:05:00.000-08:00

Published on The Stu View in October, Chuck Norris Facts - The Best Of has quickly become the most popular article on the site, attracting hundreds of views every day. So, in best movie tradition, when something proves popular, create a sequel!

Chuck Norris once asked for a Big Mac at Burger King...and got one.

This particular batch of Chuck Norris facts are a little bit different though - they are all actual facts about the man himself and not the myth.

Alternative Chuck Norris Facts

1. Carlos Ray Norris was born on March 10th, 1940 in Ryan, Oklahoma.

2. He joined the US Air Force in 1958 and it was during his service that he acquired the nickname Chuck.

3. During his armed forces service, Norris began training in the martial arts, particularly the form known as Tang Soo Doo.

4. Chuck Norris opened a chain of karate schools during the sixties and his more famous clients included Steve McQueen, Priscilla Presley and Donny Osmond.

5. Norris won the World Professional Middleweight Karate Championship in 1968 and held it for six straight years before retiring in 1974.

6. The 1969 Dean Martin film The Wrecking Crew saw the first on-screen appearance of our Chuck.

7. Chuck Norris famously fought Bruce Lee on-screen in Way of the Dragon (1972)

8. Steve McQueen encouraged Norris to take acting lessons and pursue a career in the movies.

9. His first starring role was in the film Breaker! Breaker! in 1977.

10. Chuck Norris has starred alongside such acting legends as Lee Van Cleef, Lee Marvin and Sir Christopher Lee.

11. Seven of Chuck's films have been directed by his younger brother Aaron.

12. The highest-grossing film with Chuck Norris in a starring role is Missing in Action from 1984.

13. Norris made an uncredited cameo appearance in the smash hit comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story in 2004.

14. The CBS TV series Walker Texas Ranger, starring Norris as Cordell Walker, ran for 9 seasons between 1993 and 2001.

15. Chuck Norris has been married twice and has 5 children - the eldest 48 and the youngest 10.

16. Norris is a staunch Republican and publicly endorsed Governor Mike Huckabee during the 2008 Presidential election.

17. In 1990, Chuck Norris founded the charity KickStart, aimed at helping school children stay away from drugs.

18. Chuck Norris has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

19. Chuck was made an honorary Texas Ranger in 2010.

20. Chuck Norris is to star alongside other action movie legends in the upcoming The Expendables 2, his first film since 2005's The Cutter.

The Expendables 2

Unsung Movie Heroes - Lee Van Cleef

2011-10-23T11:54:00.002-07:00

The first in an occasional series looking at those film stars who, whilst enjoying both the respect of their peers and the praise of a healthy fan base, never quite attained that top-level superstar status. The series aim is to pay tribute to their work and hopefully inspire some readers to search out some of the movies mentioned. The first star to get the tribute treatment is the man with the steeliest gaze in movie history - Mr Lee Van Cleef.

It's hard to imagine that the man with the hawk-like face and a gaze that could burn through solid steel was once, albeit only briefly, an accountant. Oh...and his first name was really Clarence. Not that there's anything wrong with being an accountant or being called Clarence. It's just difficult marrying those facts with the classic hard-man screen image of a certain Lee Van Cleef.

After also serving in the Navy during World War II, the man born Clarence LeRoy Van Cleef Jnr made his screen debut in one of the greatest westerns ever made - High Noon. Although the villainous role was only a small one and had no dialogue, it ensured Van Cleef was noticed by producers and led to regular character work for him; mainly as western heavies.

Despite regular work over the next 10 years, including roles in such classic movies as Gunfight at The OK Corral and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Lee Van Cleef was still just a jobbing actor with no name value. Thoughts of quitting the movie business altogether were forming in his mind. Little did he know that accepting a role in a low budget Italian western to be filmed in Spain in 1965 would change both his mind and his fortunes forever.

Italian director Sergio Leone was looking for another American actor to play opposite Clint Eastwood in a sequel to A Fistful of Dollars. Charles Bronson was approached but declined the offer. The future Death Wish star would finally appear in a Leone picture in 1969's epic Once Upon a Time in the West. Van Cleef was eventually offered the role in For a Few Dollars More and was so successful Leone cast him, in a different role, in the final part of the trilogy - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Many Italian-produced westerns would follow for Van Cleef, with the quality varying greatly from poor to very good. Some of the better efforts included Death Rides a Horse, God's Gun and the quirky and very enjoyable Sabata.

As the popularity of westerns began to decline as the seventies wore on, Van Cleef returned to the States and made notable appearances in, amongst others, The Octagon opposite Chuck Norris and in John Carpenter's classic sci-fi actioner Escape from New York. He even had his own TV series, the somewhat short-lived The Master.

Lee Van Cleef suffered a heart attack and passed away on December 16th 1989 at the age of 64.

Lee Van Cleef - The Top 5 Movies

For a Few Dollars More (1965)

To my mind the best of Sergio Leone's iconic Dollars trilogy. Lee Van Cleef is superb as Colonel Mortimer, a bounty hunter who teams up with Clint Eastwood's Man with No Name to take down the villainous Indio (an intense Gian Maria Volonte) and his gang. Director Leone is really at the height of his powers here and the atmosphere he conjures almost drips off the screen. Superb camera work, a memorable score, wonderful locations, a great storyline and excellent performances all combine to make this one of the greatest westerns of all time.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)

Undoubtedly the most famous and fondly remembered entry in the Dollars series, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is a huge, swirling epic which still stands as one of the finest movies ever made. At just under 3 hours long, the film takes you on an incredible journey as 3 disparate characters search for a box of gold buried in a grave. Lee Van Cleef gives his greatest ever performance here as the cold-hearted villain Angel Eyes.
Magnificent. Momentous. Memorable.

Death Rides a Horse (1967)

This has often been accused of trying to be For a Few Dollars More and, to a certain extent, that may be true. However, director Giulio Petroni creates an excellent atmosphere, which means this spaghetti western can definitely stand on its own two hooves as it were. Van Cleef is superb here and is ably supported by a number of familiar faces from Sergio Leone's westerns including Luigi Pistilli and the unmistakable Mario Brega (pictured right). The only weak link is a rather bland John Phillip Law, who actually went on to make a decent Sinbad in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad in 1973.

Sabata (1969)

Another Italian western outing for Mr Van Cleef and this one employs a nice change of pace as it plays a bit more heavily on the comedic side. With the character of the unflappable, gadget-loving, irresistible-to-women Sabata, Lee Van Cleef created his very own western James Bond. The plot of Sabata is sometimes hard to follow, with double crosses turning into double-double crosses and then double-double-with-triple-back-somersault crosses. However, it is still very entertaining to watch and makes a very worthy addition to any spaghetti western fan's collection.

Escape From New York (1981)

It's fitting really that director John Carpenter cast Lee Van Cleef opposite Kurt Russell in this classic cult movie. Russell has stated that he based his character Snake Plissken's vocal characteristics on that of Clint Eastwood, Van Cleef's co-star from the Dollars movies 15 years before.
Once again, Lee Van Cleef is on top form as Prison Commissioner Bob Hauk, who forces Plissken into going on a rescue mission to bring back the kidnapped US President.
Escape from New York happily sits in my list of top 10 favourite movies of all time and is essential viewing for any fans of sci-fi action films.

Well, I hope this article has maybe made you want to rediscover some of the great films that Lee Van Cleef has been in and maybe even a couple of the poor ones too! Even in the worst films of his career, Van Cleef never gave a bad performance and ,indeed, his mere presence rescued some films from being complete disasters.

The Man with the Steely Gaze will always remain one of my favourite actors.

Lee Van Cleef 1924-1989

Amazon.co.uk Widgets

Chuck Norris Facts - The Best of

2011-10-10T11:01:00.013-07:00

Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.

Born Carlos Ray Norris on March 10 1940, former World Karate Champion Chuck Norris is one movie action star who is a genuine tough guy in real life. Those martial arts skills, along with his real-life Republican leanings and the stoic way he dispatches many a bad guy on-screen, led to an internet phenomenon called Chuck Norris Facts which began in 2005.

Consisting of wild, hyperbolic claims about Chuck's toughness and masculinity, the Facts became so popular that books have been released and the Great Man himself even read out his favourite facts on television.

These are my own personal favourites...

Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.

If you spell Chuck Norris in Scrabble, you win. Forever.

When Chuck Norris pokes you on Facebook, you can actually feel it.

Chuck Norris grew a beard at eighteen. Seconds.

Chuck Norris called 911 to order Chinese food and got it...

The Chuck Norris Forecast - Partly cloudy with a 90% chance of pain

Chuck Norris makes onions cry.

Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups. He pushes the world down.

Chuck Norris doesn't call wrong numbers. You answer the wrong phone.

Chuck Norris divides by zero.

BC stands for before Chuck.

Saturday Cartoon Show - Daffy Duck Double Bill

2011-10-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

Welcome to October's Saturday Cartoon Show. As I mentioned in the inaugural Cartoon Show post, one of my all-time favourite cartoon characters has to be Daffy Duck.

I never fail to laugh at the rascally Daffy's slow burn temper which, on most occasions, erupts into a furious cavalcade of frustrated yelling and lively physical orchestrations. More than any other Looney Tunes character, Daffy Duck best represents the human race in general; annoyance at life's various foibles never far from the surface.

Before we get to the Daffy double bill, here are a few facts about the bad-tempered feathered one...

1. Daffy Duck made his first appearance in Porky's Duck Hunt in 1937.
2. He has starred in 133 Warner Bros cartoons - only Bugs Bunny (166) and Porky Pig (159) have appeared in more.
3. Mel Blanc voiced Daffy Duck for a record 52 consecutive years.
4. Daffy was paired with Bugs Bunny in a number of cartoons from 1951 onwards.
5. His famous catchphrase "You're despicable" was also born during this period.

Now sit back and relax as the wild and crazy duck stars in a double bill of cartoon delight.

Yankee Doodle Daffy (1943)

Duck! Rabbit, Duck! (1953)

The next Cartoon Show is in November but come back to The Stu View next week for some amazing facts about movie tough guy Chuck Norris.

The Saturday Cartoon Show - Bugs Bunny and Popeye

2011-09-25T05:07:00.000-07:00

When I was younger Saturday morning was all about cartoons. From the slapstick violence of Tom & Jerry to the smart, knowing humour of Bugs Bunny, it was a cavalcade of animated fun and genius voice work.

Classic cartoons such as these should not be for the exclusive viewing rights of children however. Adults can still revel in the innocent, glorious humour and even identify with certain characters; the everyday frustrations of Daffy Duck (one of my favourite cartoon characters ever by the way) and the never-say-die attitude and pure determination of Wile E Coyote being two examples.

As Saturday morning television in the UK now seems to be obsessed with showing various celebrity chefs cooking pieces of pork in numerous ways, I think the time is right to relive the days of old and bring back Saturday cartoons.

Join me here on The Stu View for lots of animated brilliance from the likes of Bugs Bunny, Popeye, Daffy Duck, Hong Kong Phooey and Scooby Doo. There will be a cartoon show one Saturday every month.

I know today is Sunday but, for today, just pretend it's yesterday (eh?)

The cartoons for this month have something in common; they are both two-handers. The first, Bunker Bunny, features just Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam (both voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc), whilst Shuteye Popeye sees the mighty sailor having just a resourceful mouse for company.

Sit back and enjoy...

Bunker Bunny (1949)

with Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam

Shuteye Popeye (1952)

with Popeye the Sailor

Now, if you're interested folks, Daffy has some rather marvellous gift ideas for you...

Tower Heist Official Trailer

2011-09-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

Tower Heist is an action-comedy directed by Brett Ratner, the man whose previous directorial offerings include the Rush Hour series and X-Men Last Stand.

Released in November, I think Tower Heist looks very promising indeed and what a cast too. Not only do we get to see Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy together in the same film but the likes of Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck, Tea Leone and Judd Hirsch are also involved.

Eddie Murphy seems to be returning here to the fast-talking, shady type he is so adept at playing but which we haven't really seen from him since the heady days of 48 Hours and Trading Places.

This is one to mark in the diary.

20 Facts About...Johnny Depp

2011-08-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

A number of readers of The Stu View are fans of Johnny Depp. I myself am also a fan, as is my wife; although her reasons for admiring the brooding, dark-haired, devilishly handsome actor probably differ greatly to mine!

Add this fan base to the imminent release of Depp's latest film The Rum Diary and the timing is perfect for a post all about the man who is one of the very best actors working in Hollywood today.

Here are twenty facts that you may, or may not, know about the man who went from pretty boy teen idol to accomplished, top-drawer Hollywood superstar.

20 Facts about...Johnny Depp

1. Johnny Depp was born John Christopher Depp II in Owensboro, Kentucky on June 9, 1963.

2. His family is of French descent but Depp also believes there may be some Native American blood in his family lineage.

3. Depp dropped out of high school to become a rock musician and played guitar in local band The Kids.

4. In 1983, aged 20, he married make up artist Lori Ann Allison, the sister of one of his band mates. They divorced in 1985.

5. During their time together, Lori introduced Johnny to Nicolas Cage, who advised him to take up acting.

6. Johnny Depp made his film debut in Wes Craven's horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984. He was one of Freddy Krueger's victims.

7. Depp had a small role in Oliver Stone's Platoon in 1987.

8. The Fox television series 21 Jump Street, which first hit screens in 1987, made Depp a teen idol. Despite staying in the show for four seasons, he was never really happy and decided from then on he would only accept projects which felt right for him.

9. His first major film role was that of Edward Scissorhands in Tim Burton's quirky cult classic from 1990.

10. Johnny Depp has collaborated with director and close friend Tim Burton on seven occasions - Edward Scissorhands (1990), Ed Wood (1994), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (2005), The Corpse Bride (2005), Sweeney Todd (2007) and Alice in Wonderland (2010)

11. Burton and Depp are currently working on the gothic horror tale Dark Shadows.

12. Depp was engaged to Winona Ryder from 1990 to 1993.

13. He has been in a relationship with singer Vanessa Paradis since 1998. The couple have two children.

14. After his break-up from Winona Ryder, Depp had one of his tattoos changed from 'Winona Forever' to 'Wino Forever'.

15. Based on the famous Disney ride, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) turned Johnny Depp into a true global superstar.

16. Depp's truly wonderful, eye-rolling portrayal of pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, based on Rolling Stone Keith Richards, earned him his first Oscar nomination.

17. Johnny Depp has been nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award on three occasions - Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl in 2004, Finding Neverland in 2005 and Sweeney Todd in 2008.

18. His portrayal of Sweeney Todd earned Depp the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in 2008.

19. Johnny Depp's most popular film at the box-office is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006). It took over $1 billion worldwide and sits at number 6 on the all-time list.

20. Johnny Depp has appeared in 3 of the top 10 grossing movies of all-time - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (6), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (8) and Alice in Wonderland (9).

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

21 Jump Street

Ed Wood

Movie Captions

2011-08-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

Just a few movie photo captions to lighten up the start of another working week.

"They washed one side of my hair in ordinary medicated shampoo..."

"Best a man can get, my arse!"

You just won second prize in a beauty contest...

Primark reveals its Autumn 2011 Collection

"Could you possibly tell me where the Blue Oyster bar is please?"

Christopher Lee, Prince of Terror - Dracula AD 1972 Featurette

2011-08-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

For all fans of Christopher Lee, and Hammer Films in general, this is a short but very sweet post featuring a rare promotional film for Hammer's 1972 vampire offering Dracula AD 1972.

The picture quality isn't particularly good but this somehow adds an extra bit of atmosphere to the featurette, almost making it seem like you have just discovered it yourself in a dusty basement.

The short footage of Christopher Lee with his wife Gitte and daughter Christina is fascinating.

By this point in time, Christopher Lee had become disenchanted with the Hammer Dracula series and the direction the films were taking. Each successive film gave him less and less to do and the character of Dracula almost became a peripheral figure.

Dracula AD 1972 certainly did not improve things and bringing the character into the modern day was probably a mistake. However, the film did have 2 big plus points in its favour - Peter Cushing was back as the Count's nemesis Van Helsing and the prologue of the movie, featuring a 19th-century battle between the two enemies on top of a runaway coach, is truly spellbinding stuff.

Top 10 Animal Film Characters

2011-07-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

Never work with children or animals.

That old show-business idiom, actually a quote attributed to comedy legend W.C. Fields, has stayed within the Hollywood vernacular for years - acting as a warning that these creatures (human or otherwise) are unpredictable, unfettered by the chains of convention and, in the case of children anyway, a possible pain in the backside.

They can also be inveterate scene-stealers, snatching all the attention away from their supposed more famous co-stars. Animals in particular are experts at grabbing the limelight, whether four-legged, two-legged, fur-covered, feathered or skin-covered only.

There have been many memorable animals in movies over the years and here are 10 of the best.

10. Lassie
Bless her. Where would scores of endangered cute kids with perfectly positioned dimples be without this brave girl? The first Lassie movie, Lassie Come Home, appeared in 1943. Pal, the canine actor who played Lassie in this movie and six other big screen outings, was actually a male and lived to the ripe old age of 18. All of the subsequent dogs to play the canine hero (even to this day) were descendants of Pal and were all male; the thicker coat of the male collie looks better on screen and their larger size more easily matches them against the various child actors.

9. Cheeta
Unlike most of the other animals on this list, our humorous and good natured ape friend Cheeta was a pure movie creation. The character of Cheeta never appeared in the original Edgar Rice Burroughs novels; in fact, there were no chimps in those stories at all.
Tarzan's hairy friend (Cheeta, not Jane) was portrayed by a number of chimpanzees over the years; sometimes by several apes in one film.
Everyone should have a friend like Cheeta.

8. Laughing Gravy
Seen here with Stan & Ollie in the film that bears his name, Laughing Gravy is surely the cutest and most loveable dog ever to appear on the big screen. However, in this Laurel & Hardy short, the landlord of their boarding house throws the little pooch out into the snow and it's up to the boys to rescue him.
As well as being adorable, Laughing Gravy wins the prize for most unusual and original name for a pet too!

7. Scrat
If ever you need inspiration to persevere with a tough task or laborious project, then indomitable squirrel Scrat from Ice Age is it. This little guy does not know the meaning of the word quit and is determined to hold on to his precious acorn, no matter what. He has been buried under the snow, encased in ice blocks and struck by lightning; even falling in love with a female saber-toothed squirrel doesn't divert him from his task for long. What a guy.

6. Garfield
Pampered puss Garfield is the first feline entry into the top 10. The laid-back cat originally appeared in his own comic strip, written by Jim Davis, in 1978. He didn't appear on the big screen until 2004. Garfield is lazy, eats too much, has a sarcastic streak and, despite enjoying a typical easy cat-life, hates Mondays. Without getting too much into all that psycho-babble claptrap, this cynical but loveable moggy is probably a metaphor for what we all want to be. I hate lasagna however.

5. Marmaduke
Huge Great Dane Marmaduke is a real comic strip veteran, having first appeared way back in 1954. He waited 56 years to make his film debut; the motion picture bearing his name appearing in June 2010. Marmaduke is playful, friendly and loyal but, despite his huge frame, can sometimes be nervous and easily alarmed. His large clumsy body also gets him into a number of physical scrapes, which is probably a familiar scenario for any owners of large, boisterous dogs. Any dog that wears shades deserves their place in the top 10.

4. Puss-in-Boots
He's Spanish, he's brave, he's bold, he's heroic, he's a swashbuckler and a lover...he is also a cat that wears boots. Now firm friends with Shrek, Puss-in-Boots was originally hired to kill the big green ogre. Despite being a whiz with a sword, the Latino feline's most dangerous and cunning weapon is undoubtedly his cute, doe-eyed stare. Now starring in his own movie, due out later this year.

3. Frankie
If Laughing Gravy is the cutest and Lassie is the smartest, then pug Frankie is undoubtedly the 'dog' with the greatest line in wise-cracking patter in movie history. I use the term dog loosely as Frank is really an alien in disguise - a Remoolian to be exact. Initially an informant, Frank later becomes an employee of Men in Black, eventually working as an assistant to Agent Z as the position offers a better dental plan. His favourite songs are I Will Survive and Who Let the Dogs Out.

2. Clyde
Partnering Clint Eastwood in Every Which Way But Loose and Any Which Way You Can, Clyde the Orang-utan almost pulls off the impossible by out-cooling Clint. The laid back ape likes drinking beer, listening to country music, punching out members of the Black Widows biker gang, stealing Oreos from old ladies and...er...taking a dump in police cars. He's also a dab hand at scrapping Cadillacs - even when the driver is still in them. Right turn, Clyde!

1. Donkey
The fastest-talking, most relentlessly cheerful and optimistic animal in the history of film. Despite never seeming to stop talking, Donkey is actually a good listener and can offer quite sound relationship advice (particularly if you are large, green and can make candles from your ear wax).
Donkey gets the number one spot for his fine singing. His repertoire includes Try a Little Tenderness, On The Road Again, I'm a Believer and, rather brilliantly, Papa Don't Preach.
Enjoys eating waffles.

Watch Online - Laurel & Hardy in The Flying Deuces

2011-06-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

Watch full movies online with The Stu View

We present for your viewing pleasure Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in their 1939 feature The Flying Deuces, in the first of what will hopefully be a fairly regular series of film showings and retrospective reviews here at The Stu View.

Legal Stuff - all of the films that will be available to view here are now in the public domain and hence have no copyright owners. That means these movies are freely available to the viewing public.

I've written a little retrospective look at The Flying Deuces below but I'm sure most of you will want to watch the movie first...

The Flying Deuces (1939)
Starring Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, James Finlayson, Charles Middleton

The Flying Deuces has the distinction of being the first Laurel and Hardy feature that was not made at Hal Roach Studios, instead being produced by RKO. Aficionados of Stan and Ollie know that the boys did not have a good time when they worked for the major studios in the 1940s but Flying Deuces is a nice little movie that holds up well against their Roach produced output. It is obvious that Stan Laurel still had major creative input here - something that was ludicrously taken away from him by the big studios during those 40s dark days.

Despite not being one of their classics, The Flying Deuces has a number of memorable sequences and bits of inspired dialogue, such as the following line from Stan when discussing reincarnation with Ollie:

"Oh, I'd like to come back as myself. I always got along swell with me."

Stan playing Waiting for the Sunrise using bed springs as a harp and Ollie singing Shine on Harvest Moon while Stan does a soft-shoe shuffle are the two stand-out moments for me.

The quality of this Laurel and Hardy film, despite not being made by Hal Roach, shows just how much better their 1940s movies would have been had the big studios understood what Stan and Ollie's comedy was all about and had given them creative control instead of just dictating scripts and weak gags to them.

20th Century Fox and MGM - shame on you!

Laurel & Hardy 21 Disc DVD Box Set
Laurel & Hardy Sons of the Desert
Laurel & Hardy The Flying Deuces

New Movie Trailers 2011 Part 2

2011-06-23T05:08:00.000-07:00

Part 2 of our look at some enticing new movie releases due out in the latter half of 2011.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Scheduled UK Release: August 2011
Starring James Franco, Andy Serkis, John Lithgow
Directed by Rupert Wyatt
Opinion seems to be divided so far on the potential of this latest adaptation of the Planet of the Apes saga. Currently The Stu View is residing on the side of the doubters. Undoubtedly the motion capture CGI looks truly outstanding but is that going to be all this film has going for it? I hope I'm proved wrong. Call me old-fashioned and traditionalist, but give me men in gorilla masks riding on horseback and Charlton Heston being abusive after being caught in a net any day.

Puss in Boots
Scheduled UK Release: December 2011
Starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zack Galifianakis
Directed by Chris Miller
Another shot fired in the continuing battle between Dreamworks and Pixar for animation supremacy. For me, Dreamworks always has the edge and this looks like a belter. Set before the eponymous hero meets up with the giant green ogre, Puss In Boots looks like it contains all the in-jokes, subtle visual gags and general fun of the Shrek series from which it has been born. If financially successful (which no doubt it will be) expect a sequel or two.

The Three Musketeers
Scheduled UK Release: October 2011
Starring Logan Lerman, Orlando Bloom, Matthew Macfadyen
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson
The Stu View likes nothing more than having a bit of a swash and buckle every now and then and this latest instalment in a very long line of adaptations of Alexandre Dumas' novel looks like harmless fun. Judging from the trailer, it seems like an amalgamation of traditional Dumas and Pirates of the Caribbean. This will probably get mauled by overly serious critics but I, for one, am looking forward to it.

Cowboys and Aliens
Scheduled UK Release: August 2011
Starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde
Directed by Jon Favreau
Helmed by Jon Favreau, the director of the Iron Man movies and...er...Elf, Cowboys and Aliens should do exactly what it says on the tin. It has got cowboys in it and, oh, it's got aliens too - surely this is every boy's dream film? A brilliant concept, some great-looking action sequences and a top cast should all combine to make this one of the films of the year. Can't wait!

If you want to let people know your opinions on these movies, or indeed any others, you can post a comment below or on The Stu View Facebook page here http://on.fb.me/StuVwe

New Movie Trailers 2011

2011-06-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

Part one of a two-part look at some upcoming movie releases.

The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships have just begun, it's raining and the average temperature here in the UK is on a par with that of Greenland. All of that means it must be summer!

New Movie Releases
The summer season is of course the traditional part of the year for the major film studios to release what they hope will become major box-office blockbusters. A number of major contenders for biggest blockbuster of 2011 have already stepped up to the plate; Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides, The Hangover II, X-Men First Class and The Green Lantern have all made their mark at the cinema box-office.

The first six months of 2011 have been pretty impressive in terms of quality of entertainment on the big screen, so let's take the opportunity to get a sneak peak at some of the new movie releases that still lie in wait for us during the remainder of the year...

The Muppets

Scheduled UK Release: November 2011
Starring Jason Segel, Amy Adams
Directed by James Bobin
This should be a smash hit over the Thanksgiving/Christmas season. It has been twelve years since the last Muppet big screen outing, Muppets in Space, and I am looking forward to welcoming our furry friends back into the cinema, especially after those pretty dire TV movies of the last decade. The only downside could be the casting of the two human leads. Jason Segel and Amy Adams are both pretty bland and seem to have less charisma between them than a partially eaten digestive biscuit. Mind you, who cares when you've got Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy Bear (my personal favourite), Gonzo and the rest of the Muppet troop on hand? It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights...

Mr Popper's Penguins

Scheduled UK Release: August 2011
Starring Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Angela Lansbury
Directed by Mark Waters
Jim Carrey seems to be a man in need of another major movie as his box-office clout has weakened considerably over the last few years. Could this be the fortune reviver his film career needs? Probably not but Mr Popper's Penguins does look like an enjoyable family outing and it will probably do decent business. After all, who doesn't like penguins - they're cute, inquisitive and waddle when they walk. Looks like Jim is going to be outshone here!

Zookeeper

Scheduled UK Release: July 2011
Starring Kevin James, Rosario Dawson
Directed by Frank Coraci
Kevin James is a highly likeable comic actor and he never fails to charm whatever the role. Here he plays another loveable loser in what looks like a good solid dose of enjoyable family entertainment. As with Mr Popper's Penguins, you just can't fail with animals and the voices of the zoo inhabitants are provided by an A-list cast including Sylvester Stallone, Nick Nolte, Cher, Adam Sandler and Don Rickles.

Moneyball

Scheduled UK Release: November 2011
Starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Robin Wright
Directed by Bennett Miller
Sports movies generally fall into one of two categories - Excellent (Rocky, Invictus, Jerry McGuire) or Piss Poor (Rocky V, Leatherheads). Hopefully, from the looks of the trailer, Moneyball will fall into the former category. Things should be helped by the fact that Aaron Sorkin is one of the screenwriters and, of course, the excellent Brad Pitt is the lead. Mind you, the excellent George Clooney was the lead in Leatherheads and that still sucked.

I would love to hear your thoughts on these movies and which, if any, you are going to see. You can leave comments below or on The Stu View fan page on Facebook.

Come back very soon for New Movie Trailers part two which will feature, amongst others, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and The Three Musketeers.