#EllenGreene

[duranduratulsa]

Up next on my 90's Fest Movie 🎬 🎞 🎥 🎦 📽 marathon...One Fine Day (1996) on glorious vintage VHS 📼! #Movie #movies #comedy #romance #romanticcomedy #romcom #onefineday #georgeclooney #michellepfeiffer #MaeWhitman #alexdlinz #sheilakelly #CharlesDurning #AnnaMariaHorsford #AmandaPeet #gregoryjbara #EllenGreene #joegrifasi #RobertKlein #MichaelMassee #bittyschram #hollandtaylor #mariannemuellerliele #vintage #VHS #90s #90sfest #durandurantulsas4thannual90sfest

[adamwatchesmovies]

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

When making a list of “remakes that are better than the original”, don’t forget to include Little Shop of Horrors near the top. To be fair, it's more of an adaptation of the off-Broadway musical than the original Roger Corman picture, but it still counts. Darkly funny, with catchy songs, memorable characters, and special effects so good you won’t believe this film was made in 1986, you'll happily hit "play" again the second it's over.

Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis) is a nerdy little guy who pines for his co-worker at the flower shop, Audrey (Ellen Greene). With business at an all-time low, their boss Mr. Mushnik (Vincent Gardenia) allows Seymour to display one of his unusual plants in the shop. "Audrey II" (voiced by Levi Stubbs) draws huge crowds but this isn't a typical plant. It doesn’t feed on water, soil, and sunlight; it wants blood.

For the 1960s version of Little Shop of Horrors, a remake was just what the doctor ordered. This film builds upon its foundation and improves every aspect. Right from the get-go, you’re greeted with catchy tunes modelled after 60’s rock and roll, doo-wop, and early Motown. I bet you didn't expect Rick Moranis or Steve Martin (in a small but memorable role) to have first-class vocal cords but do. You'll have a hard time choosing which number is the best, though any with Tichina Arnold, Michelle Weeks, and Tisha Campbell is a serious contender.

The special effects bringing Audrey II to life are nothing short of amazing. It's more than a prop, it's a fully-realized character with fully articulated libs and an unforgettable voice (Levi Stubbs does an amazing job). The carnivorous flora delivers a full range of emotions without that most crucial feature: eyes. For anyone thinking of making a living in the special effects industry, this is mandatory viewing. You see what they were able to do back in 1986 and you combine that with today’s technology, there’s nothing you can’t do.

Audrey is just the first of many characters to treasure. We could talk about the cameos but that would be spoiling the surprises. Instead, let's focus on Seymour and Audrey. I admire director Frank Oz for having the guts to make us follow two loser protagonists. We see square-jawed Adonises and flawless beauties all the time. How about something different? Seymour and Audrey are weak, kind of pathetic and just a dime’s width from hitting rock bottom - but you like them. If they manage to turn this Audrey II thing into a success and they get together, they could move out of the perpetual slump they’ve fallen into and live happily ever after. Too bad a dark comedy like this one makes no promises about a happy ending.

Having seen both the theatrical and director's cut, I'm unsure which version to recommend more. I like both but I’m going to lean towards the Director’s cut. The theatrical version feels like it doesn’t commit to itself the way the other one does. Little Shop of Horrors is so much fun I don’t think you can go wrong either way, but since test audiences demanded the ending be changed to the one that can be found in the theatrical version, maybe check that one out first and then if you’re brave enough, see the other.

Little Shop of Horrors is everything I want to see in a musical. There are good numbers throughout, many laughs, and memorable characters. There are plenty of iconic scenes and from a dark comedy/monster movie point of view, the special effects are amazing. The casting is perfect. I’d love to see this one on the big screen with a crowd cheering and singing along (but not too loud, I still want to hear the movie!). Whichever version you choose, it's a winner. (Theatrical & Original Cuts on DVD, February 19, 2016)

[broadwaygirl918]

Wishing Little Shop’s Ellen Greene a very happy birthday! #littleshopofhorrors #ellengreene #audreyfulquard #happybirthday https://www.instagram.com/p/CaSVuj3Fa74/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lil-yetis]

The inimitable Ellen Greene. #littleshopofhorrors #ellengreene #drawing #doodle https://www.instagram.com/p/CHHx2FjD5_C/?igshid=7cv6qgd2uao2

[fugandhi]

“LiTTLE SHOP of HORRORS!”

Still one of my all-time favorite musicals (with an extraordinary ensemble cast)! I don’t know too many musicals, but this one is a lot of FUN!

🎶🍿📺

[themsmichele]

Happy 35th Anniversary to this epic movie #littleshopofhorrors 🎉🎈🎬 #stevemartin #rickmoranis #epicmovie #anniversary #ellengreene https://www.instagram.com/p/CXqmzlpLW36/?utm_medium=tumblr

[doomonfilm]

Thoughts : Léon - The Professional (1994)

Luc Besson may not have a perfect record in terms of films, but I’d dare say that he does have a few perfect films under his belt.  His initial run was one for the ages, and it all started with a pair of iconic action/thrillers with deeper currents running under their foundations.  The second of these films was the iconic Léon: The Professional, and it was a film that made stars out of several up and coming talents.

Léon (Jean Reno) is a professional ‘cleaner’ living in Little Italy.  At heart, he is a simple man : he enjoys whole milk, old movies, taking care of his house plant and himself, and the money he makes as a hit man courtesy of Tony (Danny Aiello) is set aside for him for safe-keeping.   Léon‘s comfortable world is turned upside-down one day when his young neighbor Mathilda (Natalie Portman) narrowly escapes death (unlike her family) at the hands of corrupt DEA agent and drug addict Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman).  She hides at his place, soon discovering Léon’s secret profession and imploring him to impart his wisdom on her so that she can exact revenge.  Much to the behest of Léon, Mathilda attempts to kill Stansfield on her own, resulting in Léon coming to her rescue while become the primary target of Stansfield.  With pressure on the streets reaching Tony and far beyond, Léon and Mathilda are forced to do all that they can in hopes of survival against Stansfield and all of the resources at his disposal.

I love the way that Luc Besson takes a classic film dynamic and turns the entire thing on its ear by placing it in a high stakes, life or death world.  The relationship between Léon and Mathilda falls somewhere between The Odd Couple and Paper Moon, with a healthy dose of Lolita thrown in for good measure.  Mathilda’s bleak home life (and its eventual eradication at the hands of Stansfield) puts Léon squarely in the role of protector, and Mathilda’s convenient interest in Léon‘s profession (fueled by a need to avenge the death of her young, innocent brother) propels the pair into a student/teacher dynamic that leads both of them down the path towards a point of no return.

Those final two dynamics are key two Léon, as his somewhat ‘normal’ world is suddenly rocked.  Being a ‘cleaner’ of his caliber is already a full-time dedication, as your entire lifestyle becomes geared towards being hyper-aware of the possibilities of danger that present themselves, regardless of environment.  Being cast in the role of caretaker to Mathilda puts him neck-deep into the role of guardian and protector to an adolescent young girl with raging feelings of confusion, revenge and attraction being thrown around haphazardly.  It’s a wonder that Léon is able to survive and thrive in both realms as long as he does in the film, which further becomes a testament to his natural abilities as a lethal threat.

While being an action movie and revenge film at heart, Besson does take the time to probe into thoughts on masculinity, femininity and defined roles cast upon both sides, be they self-defined or otherwise.  Initially, we are given the parallel threads of Léon and Tony, with their mafioso dynamic inherently coming off as alpha, dominant, powerful and misogynistic, connected to the abuse Mathilda receives as the hands of her father (as well as his carnal lust and blatant disrespect for his wife).  Though fueled by revenge initially, Mathilda’s eventual admiration of Léon leads her down the path of emulating (and eventually attempting to replace) Léon as a potential new master in the field of ‘cleaning’.  Léon knows that he should be a tough guy in the world he exists in, but he is clearly in touch with his softer dynamic (read, feminine side) through small glimpses into moments when he lets his guard down : taking care of his plant, his pure joy at Gene Kelly rollerskating and singing a love song, and even his embarrassment at Mathilda’s advances all key us in to the fact that Léon is much more than a heartless killer.

Jean Reno brings a strong, silent reserve similar to John Wayne, but an underlying intensity more reminiscent of Clint Eastwood, with a sense of humanity and tenderness that offsets all of it beautifully.  Natalie Portman showed the acting range of women many years her senior by handling some extremely adult material with the assurance of an experienced veteran.  Gary Oldman is a true force of nature, managing to bring sheer feelings of terror from his two calm but oppositely intimidating personalities he seems to switch between at will.  Danny Aiello plays the ‘voice of reason’ with personal confidence, but an underlying sense that he cannot be fully trusted, or is only giving you a portion of the big picture.  Michael Badalucco helps us become fully invested in Natalie Portman via a truly despicable display as her father.

For all that can be (and has been) written about Léon - The Professional, the true joy of the film is experiencing it... taking in the spectacle, the grace the camera moves within the world, the over the top bullet-hell the characters become immersed in... this film is a masterpiece of several stimulus levels working in complete harmony.

[n0nb1narycode]

40 Days of Halloween! (Sept. 27th) Day 6: Pushing Daisies! 🎃 [This show was soo good! I still hate that it was cancelled, to this day!] 🎃 • • • • • • #40daysOfHalloween #Day6 #PushingDaisies (#PushingDaisiesTVshow) #LeePace (#swoon ) #AnnaFriel (#swoonagain ) #ChiMcBride #KristinChenoweth #EllenGreene #SwoosieKurtz #BryanFuller #BarrySonnenfeld #NeverShouldveBeenCancelled #Halloween #iLoveHalloween #AllHallowsEve #Samhain #Fall #Autumn (#theBestSeason) #MattyHorror #HalloweenAllYear #happyhalloween (at Jersey City, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUWhIcCrDeh/?utm_medium=tumblr

[hahamagartconnect]

THINGS WE LOVE

Baby Doll by Ellen Greene  (Hand painted vintage gloves)

[lojowerkz]

SHARING OF THE GREEN - ELLEN GREENE Arguably one of the greatest Musical Theatre performances ever cut from a film. Thank GOD a black and white work print and audio survived. (MORE in the first comment) #LoJoWerkz #LoJoWerkzDailyDope #DAILYDOPE #EllenGreene #LittleShopofHorrors #SomewhereThatsGreen #RickMoranis #ClassicMovieMusicals #RareMusicalFootage #AmazingDeletedScenes #BroadwayDIvas #GreatestMusicalTheatrePerformances #StPatricksDay https://www.instagram.com/p/B92rI4WFj24/?igshid=bspyhev9v9pv

[worksinprogressillustrations]

Here's another fun piece I was working on recently. Let me know what you think. #littleshopofhorrors #audrey2 #aliens #alien #groot #guardianofthegalaxy #tree #plantshop #ellengreene #rickmoranis #stevemartin #marvel #myart #artofinstagram #dailyart https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Gl9Arh_gk/?igshid=r7c3gb2dskp1

[anniec1369]

With everything going on lately, I've lost track of how many movies I've watched this week... Watching this now... #littleshopofhorrors #directorscut #frankoz #rickmoranis #ellengreene #musical #horror #movies #bluraycollection #dontfeedtheplants #horrornerd #horrorchick #musicalnerd #snarkmastergeneral #nerd #shenerd #fairygoremother #shenerdroom https://www.instagram.com/p/B8uK-yRFryu/?igshid=1cf3nfkvssrgv

[adamwatchesmovies]

Rock-a-Doodle (1991)

Partially animated, partially featuring live-actors, Don Bluth directs Rock-a-Doodle, loosely based on the Edmond Rostand comedy Chantecler. This is a movie for babies. They won't have seen everything this story does but better elsewhere. Adults will find it tedious, recognize the bad writing, and be annoyed by the characters. It made me a little mad to sit through its 74-minute running time.

Chanticleer (voiced by Glen Campbell) is a rooster whose croak brings the sun up in the morning. One day, the sun begins to rise without his crowing. As the barnyard animals mock the bird for his delusions of grandeur, he leaves his home for the big city. Actually, this was all part of a scheme by the evil Grand Duke (voiced by Christopher Plummer), a magical owl that despises daylight. In reality, Chanticleer's crow DOES bring up the sun and now that he's left his post, daylight will never come again. When young Edmund (Toby Scott Ganger) is turned into a kitten by the Grand Duke and drawn into the storybook he's reading, the “boy” and a slew of barnyard animals go on a quest to bring back their friend and save the world from the eternal darkness.

I’m not kidding when I say this movie makes me angry. The writing is sloppy, the direction is awful and the tone so sugary-sweet it gives you a toothache… but you can’t quite dismiss Rock-a-Doodle because of the animation. What a waste. All that talent by the animators, all of that money poured into a story that is nothing but a glorified babysitter for the littlest of children. That's what this is, with the live-action segments bookending the story, the cute little kitten protagonist, the strict distinction between real life - which is "safe" and the fictional world, which is filled with danger - and the narration, whose job is to oversimplify and explain every single action before it actually happens.

There’s nothing to this story, just an excuse to string you along until the clock runs out with a few pauses here and there to feature unmemorable songs. The musical numbers make Rock-a-Doodle scream “Disney Wannabee” in the worst ways. It becomes so desperate for tunes to pad out its running time the soundtrack even resorts to having some of the evil owls singing to Tocatta and Fugue in D Minor. How lazy can you get?

Considering its intended audience, maybe I should give the picture some mercy but I refuse. While the movements are fluid and colors bright, nothing about this tale will enrich or stimulate those who watch it in any way. It doesn’t even contain original characters or anything memorable for the kiddies; there are too many barnyard animals for any of them to get more than a couple of quirks and the kid is bland. Rewatching it as an adult you'd be embarrassed to hear that you liked Rock-a-Doodle growing up. (On VHS, January 19, 2015)

[rikaswork]

"Feed me Seymour." _  LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS December 19, 1986 #littleshopofhorrors #rickmoranis #christmas #merrychristmas #christmastree #meekflowershop #audrey #SeymourKrelborn #EllenGreene #Audrey2 #stevemartin #levistubbles #funko #funkotoys #funkopop #toys #actionfigure #actionfigurephotography #toys #toyphotos #toyphotography #toycommunity #toycrewbuddies #geekphotos #geekphotography #geekery #geeklife #geeky #geek #geekculture https://www.instagram.com/p/B6eatsXhqW9/?igshid=xojws0b9rm7f

[suitcasealmond]

[cultfaction]

#Repost @thehorrordoctor • • • • • • Feed Me Seymour! 💀——————————————————— Little Shop of Horrors (1986) director: Frank Oz ——————————————————————— #LittleShopOfHorrors #FrankOz #RickMoranis #SeymourKrelborn #EllenGreene #HorrorComedy #VincentGardenia #SteveMartin #Audrey2 #Movie #HorrorJunkie #HorrorAddict #HorrorFan #Movies #BehindTheScenes #HorrorMovie #HorrorClassic #CreatureFeature #Monster #Creature #Creatures https://www.instagram.com/p/B3akRbvlZJj/?igshid=1v9r3toy5a4kq