My picks for entertainment ~ suggested movies, TV shows, music, and books ~ so you can enjoy some quality ME time! (ATTN Korean drama addicts! This blog has lots of K-drama love.)
If you were to ask any Brando fan to name their favorite Brando movies, I seriously doubt that "The Ugly American" would be on anybody's list. Nevertheless, I'm recommending this movie. Why? Because ...
The novel “The Ugly American” was published in 1958 and in 1963, the book was adapted to film by Universal Pictures. Marlon Brando (1924 – 2004) played the part of Ambassador Harrison Carter MacWhite. Many critics gave Brando great reviews for his acting; however other critics did not have praise for either the movie or Brando. If you're a fan, you can watch this movie on YouTube, in English, with Spanish subtitles and decide for yourself.
“There Will Be Blood” (2007) is a movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis. He won an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
If you are a fan, then you will love the actor but you will hate the character he played. Oh my! What a horrible awful awful man!! You never want to meet someone like that in real life! If you know someone like that then surely you must go in the opposite direction every time it looks like you're going cross paths. If I were keeping a list of movies I hate, this film would be at the top of the list. I HATED THIS MOVIE!!!
If you are a loyal fan of Daniel Day-Lewis (Sir Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis) then you have probably seen this movie. It’s not a recent film. It was released 10+ years ago. The movie is “There Will Be Blood”.
I don’t care for all of the movies where Daniel Day-Lewis is the star, even if he is a “Sir”. But I do know that he always gives 200% whenever he gives a performance.
This film won 2 Oscars. One award was for Best Achievement in Cinematography: Robert Elswit. The other was given to Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
He was good! He played his part well. He was so good that I HATED HIM!!
I HATED THIS MOVIE!!!
If I met any of those people in real life I would run away from them!
I only liked 2 characters: the adopted son (of Daniel Day-Lewis) and the girl he fell in love with.
As for the character played by Daniel Day-Lewis and that preacher he was always butting heads with?
I HATED BOTH OF THEM! I HATED THEIR GUTS!!
So was there blood? If you have not seen the movie, I don’t want to spoil it for but … yeah! Blood was definitely shed.
Sean Fennessey, a writer for The Ringer, a publication that covers sports, pop culture, and tech, provided a succinct description of this film in his movie review:
Never crawl out? Never??
What a relief to know that it was just a movie and not a historical account of real events.
So relax. If you are pursuing the American dream … dream on!
I discovered the art of Monica Stewart while searching for work by African-American artists similar to that of Lavarne Ross. Mr. Ross knows how to capture motion, and his most famous work is called "Tribute", which features African ballerinas. Ms. Stewart's art radiates grace, movement, and emotional depth.
Admirers have nothing but good things to say about this gifted female artist. Monica Stewart’s art has been described as “a contemporary expression of culture and sisterhood” because she captures “women of color celebrating life”. She gives her work “an authentic, ethnic flavor”.
The next time you watch the movies “Waiting to Exhale” or “Romeo Must Die”, watch them very carefully. Her artwork has been showcased via these films. Cool huh? :)
Stewart is best known for her pastel paintings, which she loves for their brilliance and flexibility.
Her work often centers on Black women, capturing moments of joy, reflection, and sisterhood. She once said, “I have a good understanding of myself as a woman, so I do tend to paint a lot of women”.
Her art explores universal human experiences, aiming to evoke personal meaning for each viewer.
🖼️ Famous Works
Some of her most popular pieces include:
“Unity” – a vibrant portrayal of African-American women dancing in harmony.
“Graceful Motion”, “Dance of Joy”, and “Rejoice!” – all celebrate movement, rhythm, and spiritual uplift.
Her prints have appeared in films like Waiting to Exhale, Romeo Must Die, and the sitcom Living Single.
🏆 Recognition & Impact
Stewart’s art has been featured on California State Lottery and Bank of America calendars, as well as family record books, journals, and photo albums.
She’s a nationally recognized artist, with her work displayed in galleries and stores across the U.S.
Though she didn’t complete her formal art degree, her talent was nurtured early on and reignited in the 1990s, thanks in part to encouragement from novelist Terry McMillan, who was one of her first collectors.
In 2020, I published a short blog post introducing Yuna, a Muslim Malaysian singer/songwriter. It's been 5 years, and this fabulous lady has been very busy. There’s quite a bit happening with her, and it’s a mix of music, activism, and a heartfelt return to her roots. Link to previous post.
New Malay EP in the works: Yuna is currently writing and producing a new EP in Bahasa Melayu, her first full Malay-language project since Bicara in 2017. She’s excited to reconnect with her Malaysian fanbase through this release, expected later in 2025.
Sold-out homecoming concert: In October 2023, she performed Yunaverse in Kuala Lumpur—her first major Malaysian concert in five years. The show featured songs from her 2023 Malay EP Masih Sunyi and other fan favorites.
Acoustic sets & fan meets: She’s been active with intimate performances, including a fan event in Bangsar in late October 2023 where she also launched a new single.
💿 Recent Releases
Album “Y5” (2022): A genre-blending project born during the pandemic, Y5 was released as a full-length album after dropping five EPs throughout the year. It showcases R&B, soul, and disco influences.
🧵 Independent Artist Journey
Yuna has embraced full independence, producing music from a home studio she built in her father’s office. This shift gave her creative freedom and marked a personal rebirth as an artist.
🌍 Advocacy & Impact
Support for Palestine: Yuna has been outspoken about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, which has led to a loss of followers, gigs, and international invitations. Despite this, she remains committed to advocacy.
Freedom Football & YZ Label: She co-founded a fundraiser called Freedom Football and donates 15% of profits from her fashion brand YZ Label to humanitarian causes.
🏡 Return to Malaysia
Though based in Los Angeles, Yuna has expressed a deep emotional connection to Malaysia—especially Kuala Lumpur’s Sungei Wang Plaza—and has hinted at moving back permanently to be closer to her aging parents.
Yuna’s journey right now is a beautiful blend of artistic evolution, cultural reconnection, and bold activism. If you’d like to explore her discography or dive deeper into her advocacy work, I’d be happy to guide you.
Watched “Chandni Bar” (2001) as a Friday night movie pick. Chose this film because I was not familiar with any of the Indian actors or actresses. As far as the acting, the script, etc. … it was fine. I say “fine”? But according to Wikipedia: “The film was a critically acclaimed hit and it won four National Film Awards.”
Well! I don’t want to spoil it for others who have not seen the film. Don’t get me wrong. The performances were award-worthy. It’s just that … if I were to use one word to describe the storyline, that word would be “hopeless”.
Throughout the movie, I kept hoping. But my hope was never fulfilled. I was very moved by the characters and the harsh realities of life they faced daily; especially as the threads of their daily lives were sewn into the fabric of the criminal underworld. Definitely not a Cinderella fairy tale.
Someone described it as a handbook to life in Mumbai. What do I know? I'm American and to me, it was a very sad movie with a very sad ending.
Do you like Bollywood movies? Bollywood is a name inspired by the word “Hollywood”, the word that is synonymous with American cinema, films, and movies. It merges “Bombay” and “Hollywood” and is used to refer to Hindi or Indian cinema. I enjoy watching Bollywood movies. The music and dancing are always great. The comedies can be very funny. The science-fiction flicks are kind of quirky. But the drama films? Oh, the drama!!! Full of life’s complexities. Mixed marriages: not so much interracial, but interfaith, i.e. two different religions. Main characters always faced with choosing sides: loyalty to family versus allegiance to country, or on a broader scale, to the world we live in. Having to answer life’s difficult questions:
● Where do I take a stand?
● How do I defend my loved ones?
● If I know or even suspect imminent danger, isn't it my duty to warn others, so they can protect themselves?
There are 3 specific movies that address and answer these questions. Producers and directors of Bollywood cinema did not shy away from the content but chose to address the post 9/11 environment in the United States, broach the topic of terrorism, and bring it even closer to home in three films: “Kurbaan”, “My Name is Khan”, and “New York”. Each film starts out with a loving couple, who should be like every other loving couple in the whole wide world: bonded together in a blissful union by promises of fidelity, secure in the hope of living happily ever after forever. The happily ever after part of their lives is going quite well until … 9/11 happens.
Kurbaan is an intense Bollywood drama; a love story set against the backdrop of a terrorist plot.
My Name is Khan is the story of a loving couple in this movie. Even though the man suffers from Asperger syndrome, he is very gifted in many ways. However, a tragic incident tests their relationship.
New York is a movie about three all-American kids. Indian-Americans studying at a university, doing all the things that crazy college students do while pursuing their higher education, and then, 9/11 happens.
Of these films, my favorite is “My Name is Khan”. I’m not the only one who was impressed with this movie. Fox Star Entertainment, an American company, thought so highly of this foreign film that they bought the distribution rights to it.
Have you watched any of these films? If not, you should put them on your watch list. ♦♦
A listing of my five (5) favorite female violinists, along with a few bio facts and a little bit of background information on how I discovered these fabulous musicians.
(1) British Violinist Vanessa-Mae
Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson is a British violinist known simply as Vanessa-Mae (?? Chén Mei). She was born October 27, 1978, to a Singaporean mother and a Thai father, but she was adopted by a British citizen and was raised in England. At the age of 4, she started playing the violin. My discovery of this talented violinist was accidental. Several years ago, I joined a music club so that I could buy world music at discount prices. I heard her play a song that was very popular during my teenage years. In fact it was one of my favorite pop songs and hearing her play it brought back a joyful memory for me. The name of the musical piece was “Classical Gas”, which was composed and originally performed by Mason Williams. When I heard her play it, I became an instant Vanessa-Mae fan. So I bought some of her albums to add to my music library. Her album sales were so phenomenal that in 2006, she was considered one of the wealthiest entertainers under 30 in the United Kingdom. Ms. Mae calls her musical style “techno-acoustic fusion.” I call it mind-blowing!
(2) American Violinist Karen Briggs
My late husband introduced me to the new age music genre and one of the best selling artists in this genre is Yanni. While listening to a televised Yanni concert that he was video taping (his hobby) so we could re-watch the program over and over, I was introduced to this fantastic female violinist: Ms. Karen Briggs.
Ms. Briggs is also known as the “Lady in Red”. She was born on August 12, 1963, in Manhattan, New York. She was blessed to come from a family of musicians. She started playing the violin at age 12 and at age 15, she decided that she wanted to play professionally. I had never heard of this virtuosa until I watched her solo performance on Yanni’s Live at the Acropolis concert. I could say she was splendid or even magnificent. But if you saw her perform you would say the compliment was insufficient. There are no words to sufficiently describe her. She toured with Yanni for thirteen years. Her latest performance was in 2019. She was invited to perform in Iraq and she was the only woman in the ensemble. Unfortunately because of COVID-19, her 2020 live performances have been canceled until further notice.
(3) Irish Violinist Máiréad Nesbitt
In America, we are fortunate to have a PBS station (Public Broadcasting Service) which airs most of the Celtic Woman concerts. I love these remarkably talented female singers. They voices are magical, even heavenly. Máiréad Nesbitt (pronounced like “parade” with an “M”) does not sing. However, this adorable violinist appears as a solo violinist at all of Celtic Woman concerts. Her parents are both music teachers and all of her siblings are musicians. She has been playing the violin since the age of six. The NY Times describes her as “A demon of a Fiddle Player.” I know they mean that as a compliment. However, I think the best word to aptly describe all of the performances that I have seen is … electrifying! She lights up the stage and literally dances all over the place while she’s playing. You can’t take your eyes off of her. Fans are encouraged to follow her Twitter feed (@MaireadNesbitt) to keep up with her activities.
(4) American Violinist Lindsey Stirling
My youngest daughter told me that it was impossible for me to say that I liked female violinists and not know about Lindsey Stirling. So I looked her up on YouTube. OK! So now I can say that I like female violinists. Ms. Stirling was born on September 21, 1986, and attended junior high and high school in Arizona. She is not only an excellent violinist, be she is a composer and a dancer.
According to her true life story, she said in an interview with NewMediaRockstars, an online magazine which shines a spotlight on successful YouTubers, “…ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wished that I could dance, but my parents said, ‘You [can] choose violin or you [can] choose dance, but we can’t afford both’”. She chose the violin, i.e. her parents paid for and supported her violin playing. However, when it came to being a dancer she didn’t give up her dream. It’s just that her parents didn’t pay for dancing lessons. Her YouTube music videos are enchanting; especially the Christmas videos. She started her YouTube channel in 2007 and she presents her very own choreographed violin performances. The YT channel is the best way to keep up with her.
(5) Lebanese Violinist Hanine El Alam
Once again my late husband gets the credit for discovering this jewel. He was searching for either Arabian music or Arabian artists (another hobby) and found Hanine El Alam. Words to describe her performances? Exotic. Exciting. Exhilarating. In a 2017 article published by Scene Noise, she is described as follows:
“Hanine El Alam is a fiercely talented and diverse violinist from Lebanon. Her “performances” are hardly just that; they are dazzling, larger than life spectacles, featuring adorned dancers, magnetic collaborations and a full band blending techno, Latin and Arabic flavors — not to mention the razzle-dazzle wardrobes. Her music videos are equally as dramatic and extravagant.”
That quote says it all. I could not have said it better. For more about her, she has an official website and you can find her on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
I grew up during the 60s and the 70s. Amy Winehouse recreated that throwback vibe. It’s a pity she departed so soon.
Amy Winehouse passed away in July 2011. But her music endures.
“Back to Black” is the signature song by Amy Winehouse that she left for us to remember her by.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Enter Amy Winehouse. 14 September 1983
Exit Amy Winehouse. 23 July 2011
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Music is my weakness. So many songs have left an imprint on my life, and as life passes, those songs still move me. No doubt, it’s that way with everyone.
But in my generation, so many talented souls departed this life way too early than they should have — like Janis Joplin (1943–1970), Jim Morrison (James Douglas “Jim” Morrison, 1943–1971), etc.
I grew up during the 60s and the 70s, and I always tell my kids that the music of my generation was the best! That’s why the artists and musicians of their generation “sample” it. But every now and then, there are singers from my kids' generation that hearken back to that old-school sound I remember.
You would think the artists in later generations might learn from the tragic stories of others and not repeat history. But they don’t learn, and they do repeat the tragic history.
Yet when another bright one finally gets to shine their light, and no sooner than they are in the spotlight, their candle is blown out.
I was just starting to enjoy her raspy, soulful sounds when it was announced that she was gone.
Glad she did a duet with Tony Bennett to leave as part of her legacy.
CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Amy Winehouse had been singing for several years before she became a global sensation. She started performing as a teenager and was a featured vocalist with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in 2000, when she was around 17. By 2002, she had signed with Simon Fuller's 19 Management and was recording songs. Her debut album, "Frank", was released in 2003 and received critical acclaim, but it was her second album, "Back to Black" (2006), that catapulted her to international fame. So, she had been actively singing and developing her career for about six years before she truly broke into the mainstream.
This blog post is about one of my favorite Indian actors, Aamir Khan. It's
fair to say that he is one of the first Indian actors I came to know
who made me want to watch more Indian and Hindi cinema, even though
they have to be English-subtitled. His full name is Mohammed Aamir
Hussain Khan. He started his career as a child actor.
“In
2001, he founded Aamir Khan Productions, whose first release, Lagaan,
was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
and earned him a National Film Award for Best Popular Film and two
more Filmfare Awards (Best Actor and Best Film).” (Quote Source:
Wikipedia)
My first favorite AK film? Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001) –
As far as the storyline goes, people are living in this small
Indian village, being oppressed by the British rulers. One of the men
in the village is Bhuvan (played by Aamir Khan). He challenges this
arrogant British guy, Captain Andrew Russell (played by Paul
Blackthorne), to a game of cricket. If he wins, the Brits can't
collect any taxes. Well, the Captain is so certain that he will win,
he agrees.
The villagers are wondering if Bhuvan has LOST HIS MIND!
He doesn't know how to play cricket!! The captain's sister,
Elizabeth Russell (played by Rachel Shelley), knows her brother is a
proud, crude, and cruel jerk! She also knows the villagers don't know
the rules of the game. So she secretly teaches Bhuvan and the
villagers how to play the game so that at least they have a chance of
winning.
I am not really familiar with any of Aamir Khan's work
before this film was released. I liked the movie for its historical
value, but also because it was the film that introduced me to this
cultured and refined actor. He really left a lasting impression. By
the way, the word “Lagaan” means “tax”. This movie has won
several awards. It was even nominated for an Oscar in the category
of Best Foreign Language Film. Definitely Oscar-worthy.
My second favorite AK film? Fanaa (2006) – A painfully beautiful
love story; emphasis on the pain part. A young man, Rehan Qadri
(played by Aamir Khan), meets a blind girl, Zooni Ali Beg (played by
Kajol). He falls in love and pays for her to have eye surgery to
regain her vision. The surgery is successful ONLY … she does not
know who paid for the operation, and she never knew what Rehan looked
like.
When they meet again, she falls in love with him, not realizing
that he was the one who helped her regain her eyesight. They get married
and have a son. The problem is that she does not know her husband is
linked to a terrorist organization.
When she finally realizes his secret, she
is faced with a major decision. Should she report her husband, the
father of her child, to the law enforcement authorities so they can
capture him? The story was so tragic yet so touching and beautiful.
I was extremely moved by the performances of both Aamir Khan and his
leading lady, Kajol.
Horatio Alger Jr. (1832 – 1899) could be looked at as an American Charles Dickens; although his writings never reached the level of popularity where so many of his books were so good they were adapted to film and often quoted. The similarity is in the subject matter of his books. Horatio Alger Jr. wrote young adult novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of middle-class security and comfort through hard work, determination, courage, and honesty. Does that plot sound familiar? You're right. Charles Dickens often wrote stories like that. Alger didn't just write juvenile novels. He also wrote novels for adults, poems, short stories, and biographies of famous people, such as American presidents James A. Garfield and Abraham Lincoln. His first work was published in 1849, and several of his writings were published posthumously after his death on July 18, 1899. If you collect or read vintage books, Alger's writings are recommended.
[UPDATE: March 20, 2025 - You know what they say. Get it while it's HOT! Apologies, but the movie that was once available on YouTube to watch online for free, is no longer available. For more info, please scroll down to the bottom of this post. Thank you.]
**
Maureen O'Hara is one of my favorite actresses. (Born Maureen FitzSimons; 1920 – 2015). She was an Irish actress and singer. I remember her for her flaming red hair. I thought she was gorgeous! I have seen her in so many movies. But I found a movie that I had not seen. She starred in this movie with another one of my favorite male leading actors, Jeff Chandler (born Ira Grossel; 1918 – 1961).
* Flame of Araby (a.k.a. Flame of the Desert), released in 1951. *
Jeff Chandler plays the part of Bedouin
chief Tamerlaine and Maureen O'Hara plays the Tunisian Princess
Tanya. Of course, you know as soon as they meet sparks fly! They
make a charismatic onscreen couple. The Bedouin chief is searching
for the legendary black stallion Shahzada. To be the one who catches this prize steed is all he could ever want. All that he could ever want that is …
until he met the Princess Tanya.
It's a love story with both a hero and
a heroine. A wonderful wholesome family movie. I enjoyed it!
**
You can watch this classic film on Daily Motion. (However, it may not be in your language.)
Kenny Rogers Had a
Remarkable Career. Here are a few highlights:
* Kenny Rogers joined
the folk-pop group The First Edition in the late 1960s, which scored
a major hit with the psychedelic track “Just Dropped In (To See
What Condition My Condition Was In)” in 1967. This marked Rogers’
transition from jazz and folk to mainstream pop and country.
* In 1978, Rogers
released “The Gambler”, which became his signature song. He won a
Grammy, and it later inspired a series of five American Western
television films, between 1980 and 1994. Kenny Rogers played the
character Brady Hawkes.
* In 2013, Kenny
Rogers was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, honoring his
six-decade career. He retired in 2017, and his final studio album
“You Can’t Make
Old Friends” featured a touching duet with Dolly Parton,
echoing their earlier hit “Islands in the Stream”. 🌅
Late Career Milestone: Hall of Fame and Farewell: Kenny Rogers passed
away peacefully at home on March 20, 2020, at the age of 81.
🎸 1. Glen
Campbell played backwards guitar on this track.
🎤 2.
Kenny Rogers wasn't supposed to be the lead or a star (He was just
one of four lead vocalists in The First Edition. The group needed one
more song for their album, and Rogers suggested this one. It became
their breakout hit and launched Rogers' career.)
🎥 3.
The Song was featured in the cult classic "The Big Lebowski" and resulted
in introducing the track to a whole new generation and cementing its
place in pop culture.
Do you fancy BBC Masterpiece Contemporary Mystery movies or television series?
The BBC political thriller titled “Page Eight” is about a British intelligence analyst who refuses to compromise his integrity.
What happens to him is what usually happens when civil servants will not budge on their principles and ideals of Right versus Wrong, and their principles and ideals do not line up with their boss, i.e., the chief executive leader who says: I know what is best for our country and I am the one in charge, with the authority!
In his case, Mr. Worricker (the character masterfully played by Bill Nighy) butts heads with the British Prime Minister. He found some real information on page 8 of an intelligence report that points a finger in the direction of the Prime Minister and … Oh dear!
He has to leave his job? No. Rather he chooses that it is time for him to resign from the MI-5 service and move on. To spice up this not “atypical” political thriller plot, he meets a young woman (played by Rachel Weisz) that he has the power to help because of his access to confidential official government secrets. Does he help her? But of course! She helps him as well. In his line of work, it’s really hard to find someone you can trust.
Priyanka Chopra as a boxer? Get real! No way! Those were my initial thoughts. By the time the movie was over, I was eating my words. PC worked it! She was super awesome playing the role of a real-life female boxer, Mary Kom.
Let me explain. Here’s where I took a left.
What had really happened was that before watching the Bollywood movie, I had already seen an American movie. Million Dollar Baby (2004); which starred Clint Eastwood and Hilary Swank. Expected a really good flick. Some girl was going to go out there and kick butt like Layla Ali. Anticipated a story of victory, triumph, rising above the opposition, working against the odds, overcoming … all that feel-good stuff! You know?
That is NOT what happened!
Loyal Clint Eastwood fan, but that movie disgusted me! It wasn’t just a disappointment. It made me mad!!
So! Using my flawed logic … I figured the film with Priyanka Chopra was probably just going to be an Indian-style “version” of Million Dollar Baby.
Mea culpa. Mea culpa. 10,000 humble apologies!
Can you spell the word WRONG in all kinds of ways?
I can spell it at least 3 ways.
Number 1 WRONG: Totally underestimated Ms. Chopra’s acting prowess. She delivered on her performance.
Number 2 WRONG: Didn’t know there was such a person as Mary Kom. She’s a really awesome Indian woman who opened a door for others to walk through.
Number 3 WRONG: Boxing for women is hard … in America. Boxing for women IN INDIA? Seriously? My Indian sisters are truly on their own. Any woman who can rise up and make her mark in that field of sports … the world should know her story.
Loyal fans of Priyanka Chopra-Jonas will appreciate this enthusiastic Bollywood movie review of the film about a real-life Indian female boxer called Mary Kom.
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