Just a quick update. I am working on another page for this blog. It lists the movies referenced on here over the years, along with links to the posts referencing the movie (some movies are referenced in more than one post). The project is taking longer than I expected (of course), and I seem to hear King Julien shouting... "How long is this going to take?"
In honor of Independence Day, I created a list of movies filmed in each state. I have visited all 50 of the United States and each one has its own beauty and charm... and filming locations.
Except where noted, these movies were filmed entirely in that particular state according to IMDb (I linked each title to the listed filming locations).
So if you see these films, know that the scenery really is from the state it was filmed in. For instance, if you watch Runaway Bride, all locations are in Maryland (think that's NYC? Nope, it's Baltimore posing). Whereas if you watch Dances with Wolves, you'll see lots of South Dakota, but also Nebraska, Wyoming, and Kansas (thus the movie did not make this list).
As much as possible, I selected feature-length narrative films that showed in theaters rather than documentaries and small independent flicks.
And of course, this is not perfect or all-incluseive. Sometimes I found copious films to choose from so I limited the selection to three or four, and other times it seemed like scraping the bottom of the barrel to find one or two (a good indication those particular states don't offer decent film incentives).
(NOTE: Many of these movies contain content I would not recommend.)
Oklahoma! (1955) I listed this one for fun, since Oklahoma was not filmed in Oklahoma at all... 9 of the 10 filming locations were in Arizona, (and one studio location in CA).
Based on an actual event, Ron Howard directed the film with great attention to detail as it portrays the near-fatal voyage of Apollo 13 when an oxygen tank explosion cripples the spacecraft with astronauts Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton), and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) aboard.
So how does this film restore faith in humanity? Through several facets. The flight crew pulls together in crisis, treating each other with respect. And Houston Mission Control reveals masterful creativity and ingenuity as they put their heads together for solutions. Ebert describes them as, "...men trained to do a job, and doing a better one than anyone could have imagined." Examples of teamwork and courage abound.
But the biggest boost for my faith in humanity came while watching people around the world worry, watch, and pray for the safe return of three stranded astronauts. Millions praying for three. That's humanity--universal humanity.
Trailer: Apollo 13
Notes on content:
The language is a bit strong for a PG film, with several vain references to Deity, and frequent mild to moderate swearing. A possible F-word, but not distinct.
"The enemy of art is the absence of limitations." (Orson Welles)
Movies of yesteryear had more limitations, so filmmakers were creative with how they portrayed certain scenes. Hitchcock brought terror to his audience without showing graphic violence or gore. And in D.W. Griffith's silent film, Way Down East(1920), no crude language or vulgar images were necessary for the audience to grasp the meaning of a scoundrel's hand on an innocent girl's knee.
Too many of today's filmmakers buy into a no-holds-barred-push-the-envelope mentality and fall short in the creative department.
If filmmakers combined today's technology with yesteryear's stricter codes, we could have some incredibly creative films.
