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By: JJ Vega Traveling is a fun activity to do, for many is a luxury, for many is a must-do, for some it just sort of happens depending on the way the wind is flying. Regardless of your point of view on traveling, there are certain movies you should not see before your next trip if you want to be able to enjoy your vacation. There are many ways to travel: whether through plane, train, cruising or automobiles. 6 Movies Not To Watch When Traveling by AirplaneIf you are planning on flying on your next adventure – you should definitely avoid these films prior to your trip:  1. Airport – released in 1970. The movie is about an airport trying to remain open during a snowstorm, while a bomber plots to blow up a plane in the middle of the snowstorm. The movie spun three sequels: Airport 1975, Airport '77 and The Concorde - Airport '79, each with their own plots. 2. Alive – released in 1993. Alive tells the real story of a rugby sports team survival in the Andes after their plane crashes. The surviving team members decide to eat the flesh of their dead relatives and friends. Have you decided which of your family members and/or friends would be eaten first? This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “finger food.”  3. Air Force One – released in 1997. What happens when a group of terrorists decide to hijack USA President’s plane, Air Force One? Starring Harrison Ford as US President James Marshall, who is described as being a “Popular President” and a family man who loves his wife and daughter, and is a decorated Vietnam veteran and a Medal of Honor winner, who also speaks Russian. 4. Final Destination – released in 2000. Imagine you are a high school student traveling on a field trip to Paris with your school. As you are boarding Flight 180 en route to Paris, you have a premonition that the plane will explode in mid-air, killing everyone on board. What do you do? This is what happens to Alex as he is boarding Flight 180, which gets him of the plane along with others and setting off a chain of events. As the series of events begin to unravel, something starts happening to the survivors as they begin to die one by one through a series of bizarre accidents, and Alex looks for a way to cheat death's plan before it is too late. This movie grossed over $112 million worldwide and spun off 4 sequels and earning over $665 million worldwide. This movie made flying scary.  5. United 93 – released in 2006. Biographical film chronicling the real events of hijacked United Airlines flight 93 which occurred on September 11, 2001.
6. Executive Decision – released in 1996. The story of a terrorist hijacked plane demanding release of a political prisoner. Halle Berry plays Jean, the flight attendant who helps to take back control of the plane. Halle Berry became a hero for flight attendants everywhere for her magnificent portrayal of a woman in charge.
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If you are traveling by Cars – then you should avoid watching these movies before your trip:  1. Wrong Turn – released in 2003. Spun off 5 more Wrong Turn movies, with the last one: Wrong Turn 6 The Last Resort. When friends drive for a vacation break and end up getting lost in different place and/or end up arriving at their destination, where all the horrific “fun” begins. 2. The Hills Have Eyes – released in 2006. A family trip, ends up a disaster, when an “accident” derails them and forces them to wait for help in the middle of a desert. They find themselves near a site where nuclear testing had taken place and mutant “monsters” who have developed cravings for flesh. 3. Extraterrestrial – released in 2014. A group of friends who were going away on a trip, suddenly find themselves terrorized by aliens from outer space.  4. Backcountry – released in 2014. A couple decides to go on a camping trip. They get lost along the way and find themselves lost in the woods in the territory of a black bear who begins to haunt them.
5. Jeepers Creepers – released in 2001. Two siblings heading back from college find themselves haunted by an indestructible monster looking to replenish his body parts by feeding off of humans. If Cruising is on your itinerary, then these movies should NOT be on your list:  1. Titanic – released in 1997. Deadly shipwrecked after hitting an iceberg. Celine Dion’s heart is still going on. Kate Winslet promises to never let go of Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, as she lets him go, instead of making room for him on the door that allows her to float to safety. But alas, the movie was a world phenomenon and broke all sorts of box office records. Did we mention that Celine’s heart is still going on? 2. The perfect Storm – released in 2000. The story of a small commercial fishing vessel lost at sea with all hands after being caught in the Perfect Storm of 1991, starring George Clooney, and Marky Mark - Mark Wahlberg.  3. Speed 2: Cruise Control – released in 1997. Cruise Control follows Sandra Bullock vacationing in the Caribbean aboard a luxury cruise ship, that gets hijacked by a terrorist. It’s a sequel to the movie Speed starring Keanu Reeves.
4. Poseidon Adventure – released in 1972. The original “Titanic,” kind of. A luxurious cruise ship encounters a tsunami during a New Year’s Eve celebration. The ensemble cast make this movie a work of art with some unforgettable performances. My favorite scene is the one when Shelly Winters has to relive her days as a swimming champion. 5. Poseidon – released in 2006. Luxury Ocean liner capsize after encountering a rogue wave. Think of the “sorta kinda remake” of Titanic, which is a “sorta kinda remake” of Poseidon Adventure. If you are about to embark on your dream vacation by train, then you should probably skip the following movies:  1. Unstoppable – released in 2010. A runaway train carrying toxic chemicals moving towards a city, a young conductor works against time to prevent the disaster. It stars two sexy men: Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. 2. Transsiberian – released in 2008. Set on the Trans-Siberian Railway, an American couple (Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer) travel from a Christian mission in China to Russia becomes a nightmare after they befriend a pair of fellow travelers played by Mexican hunk Eduardo Noriega and the equally sexy and talented American actress Kate Rooney Mara. What could possibly go wrong when you have 4 sexy actors in one movie? 3. Last passenger – released in 2013. The train has no breaks, the driver is suicidal and a man and his son are trapped aboard.  4. Derailed – released in 2002). Secret agent (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is married and tell his wife he is going on a business trip, which he is – however, his wife decides to board the train suspecting he’s lying – only to see he is “traveling” with a beautiful woman. Little does his wife know that this woman is carrying a deadly virus on the train. And wouldn’t you know the train gets hijacked by terrorists.
5. Night Train – released in 2009. A passenger dies on the train. The dead passenger is carrying valuable diamonds. The conductor and the passengers who found the box of diamonds want to keep it for themselves and the adventure begins. If you are planning to do any site seeing of land marks, bridges, buildings, tunnels, on your next trip - you should certainly avoid watching these movies:  1. Die Hard – series with first movie released in 1988. John McClane (Bruce Willis), a police detective who often finds himself in the middle of violent crises and explosions of buildings and bridges, where he the hero. Might scare you enough to avoid tall buildings. 2. The Towering Inferno – released in 1974. Movie revolves around the Glass Tower, the world's tallest building catching on fire. Smoke begins on the 81st floor and the 138 stories tall building is evacuated. People die it’s a burning inferno or in this case a burning tower!  3. Skyscraper – released in 2018. Dwayne Johnson & Neve Campbell are a super cute couple with 2 kids. He is a former FBI agent who needs to rescue his family from a newly built humongous and beautiful skyscraper, the tallest in the world (we must erect them bigger!). Neve is not a damsel in distress, even doing some great stunts in high heel boots!
4. Ladder 49 – released in 2004. Starring hotties Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta as firefighters fighting a massive fire in a 20-story concrete warehouse. 5. 2012 - released in 2009 (go figure!). Epic science fiction disaster film, where just about every major and remote city and landmarks are destroyed by earthquakes, floods, fire, you name it it’s in there.  The beginning of a new year also marks the beginning of awards season for the entertainment industry, The Golden Globes, The SAG Awards, The Critics Choice Awards, The Oscars, and more. In a sea of awards, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA) focuses on awarding the year’s finest in film and television, from mainstream to 'gaystream,' with its annual Dorian Awards, named in honor of Oscar Wilde.
GALECA is a nonprofit organization comprised of over 100 professional entertainment journalists across the U.S. "GALECA's mission is to generate camaraderie in an unsettling media environment, preserve and champion the art of constructive criticism, and remind the world the LGBTQ community has a significant history of enhancing culture at large." The wins come across 25 categories, from mainstream to LGBTQ-centric, from Rising Star to Music Video of the Year. And GALECA’S 2014/15 Dorian Award Nominees and Winners are: FILM OF THE YEAR Birdman - Fox Searchlight Boyhood - Sundance Selects/IFC The Grand Budapest Hotel - Fox Searchlight The Imitation Game - The Weinstein Company Pride - CBS Films FILM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR - ACTOR Steve Carell, Foxcatcher - Sony Pictures Classics Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game - The Weinstein Company Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler - Open Road Michael Keaton, Birdman - Fox Searchlight Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything - Focus Features/Universal FILM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR - ACTRESS Essie Davis, The Babadook - Sundance Selects/IFC Anne Dorval, Mommy - Roadside Attractions Julianne Moore, Still Alice - Sony Pictures Classics Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl - 20th Century Fox Reese Witherspoon, Wild - Fox Searchlight FILM DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel - Fox Searchlight Ava DuVernay, Selma - Paramount David Fincher, Gone Girl - 20th Century Fox Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Birdman - Fox Searchight Richard Linklater, Boyhood - Sundance Selects/IFC LGBTQ FILM OF THE YEAR The Imitation Game - The Weinstein Company Love is Strange - Sony Pictures Classics Pride - CBS Films Stranger by the Lake - Strand Releasing The Way He Looks - Strand Releasing FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR Force Majeure - Magnolia Pictures Ida - Music Box Films Mommy - Roadside Attractions Stranger by the Lake - Strand Releasing Two Days, One Night - Sundance Selects/IFC UNSUNG FILM OF THE YEAR Obvious Child - A24 Love is Strange - Sony Pictures Classics Pride - CBS Films The Skeleton Twins - Roadside Attractions Snowpiercer - Radius/TWC DOCUMENTARY FILM OF THE YEAR (theatrical release, TV airing or DVD release) The Case Against 8 - HBO CitizenFour - Radius/TWC Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me - Sundance Selects Life Itself - Magnolia Pictures Regarding Susan Sontag - HBO VISUALLY STRIKING FILM OF THE YEAR (honoring a production of stunning beauty, from art direction to cinematography) Birdman - Fox Searchlight The Grand Budapest Hotel - Fox Searchlight Interstellar - Paramount Snowpiercer - Radius/TWC Under the Skin - A24 CAMPY FLICK OF THE YEAR Annie Gone Girl Into the Woods Maleficent Tammy TV DRAMA OF THE YEAR Fargo - FX The Good Wife - CBS How To Get Away with Murder - ABC Mad Men - AMC The Normal Heart - HBO TV COMEDY OF THE YEAR The Comeback - HBO Modern Family - ABC Orange is the New Black - Netflix Transparent - Amazon Veep - HBO TV DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Lisa Cholodenko, Olive Kitteridge - HBO Jodie Foster, Orange is the New Black -Netflix Andrew Haigh, Looking - HBO Ryan Murphy, The Normal Heart - HBO Jill Soloway, Transparent - Amazon TV PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR - ACTOR Matthew Bomer, The Normal Heart - HBO Matthew McConaughey, True Detective - HBO Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart - HBO Kevin Spacey, House of Cards - Netflix Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent - Amazon TV PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR - ACTRESS Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder - ABC Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback - HBO Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife - CBS Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black - BBC America Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge - HBO TV MUSICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR Beyonce, MTV Video Music Awards - MTV Neil Patrick Harris, “Sugar Daddy,” The Tony Awards - CBS Jessica Lange, “Life on Mars,” American Horror Story: Freak Show - FX Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Madonna, et al., “Same Love,” The Grammys - CBS Prince, Saturday Night Live - NBC LGBTQ TV SHOW OF THE YEAR Looking - HBO Modern Family - ABC Orange is the New Black - Netflix Please Like Me - Pivot Transparent - Amazon UNSUNG TV SHOW OF THE YEAR Getting On - HBO Looking - HBO Orphan Black - BBC America Please Like Me - Pivot Transparent - Amazon TV CURRENT AFFAIRS SHOW OF THE YEAR Anderson Cooper 360 - CNN The Colbert Report - Comedy Central The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - Comedy Central Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - HBO The Rachel Maddow Show - MSNBC CAMPTY TV SHOW OF THE YEAR American Horror Story: Freak Show How to Get Away with Murder Jane the Virgin Peter Pan Live! Penny Dreadful MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR Nicki Minaj, “Anaconda” Perfume Genius, “Queen” Sia, “Chandelier” Taylor Swift, “Blank Space” Meghan Trainor, “All About That Bass” THE "WE'RE WILDE ABOUT YOU!" RISING STAR AWARD Ansel Elgort Jack Falahee Ellar Coltrane Jack O'Connell Gina Rodriguez Finn Wittrock WILDE WIT OF THE YEAR (honoring a performer, writer or commentator whose observations both challenge and amuse) Stephen Colbert Rachel Maddow Bill Maher John Oliver Jon Stewart WILDE ARTIST OF THE YEAR (honoring a truly groundbreaking force in the fields of film, theater and/or television) Xavier Dolan Neil Patrick Harris Richard Linklater Jill Soloway Tilda Swinton TIMELESS AWARD (to an actor or performer whose exemplary career is marked by character, wisdom and wit) George Takei  Our friends over at Orchard Winfield Productions are making Season 1 (6 episodes) of the People You Know available to our Connextions Magazine readers for free - but this offer is only available until the clock strikes midnight on 12/31/14 as a holidays' present! This just might be my newest guilty pleasure and if you have an extra 2 hours, 26 minutes & 51 seconds before the end of this year, then do yourself a favor - get your friends together, pour some of your favorite adult beverage and have a "gay old time" with a marathon of People You Know. Everyone will fall in love with at least one of the characters in this for adults only show. During the first season of People You Know, sinners fall and saints rise, as you follow a group of friends as they learn hard truths about love, relationships, friendship and life. People You Know tackles the story of having it all in the most iconic, demanding and cutthroat city in the world, New York City. People you Know is a provocative series where the seven deadly sins corrupt a group of thirty-something urbanites, threatening their chance for happiness and love, as they strive to achieve their dreams while surviving the drama. At every turn, these friends get pushed to the limit and run the risk of losing all they hold dear. Monty St. James: The Boy Scout, whose passion to lend a helping hand to those in need at times causes him personal turmoil. His good old southern boy roots and attitude has all the boys swooning. Mia St. James: The Girl Next Door, she's every guy's fantasy and every girl's obsession, but one girl, Jenna, has her heart. Jenna Naidu: The overachiever, with a tough exterior and sweet, soft heart. Christian Torres: Latin Lover with a tough exterior at work, but a cuddly puppy in his love life, looking for love in all the wrong apps. Billy Bennett: still a lot to learn about surviving in a big city, a bit of an enigma. Brady Campbell: The Hot Gay Nerd, has a "very large" intellect, perfect combination of brains and looks. Reese Adams: Party boy, in love in love with one of his male friends and big mouth hides his own insecurities. Emma Young: party girl with a weird background that is still unfolding. Three-time MAC award winner and veteran of NY stage, Steve Hayes plays Patrick Carter. Steve Hayes is best remembered for his performances in the films Trick and Big Gay Musical. He also hosts his highly popular web show Steve Hayes: Tired Old Queen at the Movies. Steve’s character, Patrick Carter, is the master of sexual innuendo and always ready with a scandalous quip. He often acts as the voice of reason, even if he won’t listen to his own advice. The series also stars Pandora Boxx, an alum of RuPaul’s Drag Race, who plays Adora Jarr, a twisted bartending version of herself. She has performed around the world first with the sold out Off-Broadway comedy show Lick this Boxx and debuted a new comedy show Missed Connections in New York City in September. “Each character has a moment in the season where they must decide if they are on the side of the saints or the sinners. The choices they make have a direct effect on everyone else, which makes it so much fun to watch,” says co-creator Baltimore Russell. “The thing that compels the characters to action is the same thing that might be also holding someone else back from achieving their dreams.” "We see the characters love and scheme and fall victim to their own insecurities. It’s what really makes the show relatable," says John Dylan DeLaTorre, co-creator. “Anyone can watch the show and find a character to identify with and then root for them to succeed. It’s that drama and intrigue that sets the show apart from other series.” Production of the final 7 episodes of season one will take place in mid 2015 and it might come to a TV network near you, but you can NOW enjoy the first 6 episodes of season one. We wanted to post the first episode here, but because of its adult content, we are not able to, but you can see the official trailer here and follow this link to view the full series: People You Know  White Frog
Family Drama Capturing the true spirit of kindness, positivity in humanity and love, White Frog removes the screws from the closet door, one twist at a time. With each turn you feel the heartfelt journey of a young teen leading you to the impactful and extrodianry love within a family struggling with facing the truth of their son. Chaz Young (Harry Shum Jr.) is the perfect son, the most popular kid in school, headed for Stanford, and unconditionally adored by his upwardly mobile parents (BD Wong and Joan Chen). His younger brother Nick (Booboo Stewart) lives in his shadow, brilliant but isolated by his Asperger’s Syndrome. At home, chaz keeps the peace between his father and mother while running interference for Nick, who is barely acknowledged by his conservative parents. When Chaz dies in a tragic car accident, the family spirals into disarray. In an effort to keep his borther’s memory alive, Nick tentatively reaches out to Chaz’s school friends to try making sense of his untimely death. In doing so, Nick quickly realizes that his brother had a secret life. The truth of his brother’s life will change his own forever. Released on DVD July 16, 2013 Available at www.WolfeOnDemand.com As reviewed and featured in Connextions Magazine, Issue 13.  Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land
Documentary Filmmakers: Michael Lucas & Yariv Mozer Michael Lucas teams with Israeli director Yariv Mozer (The Invisible Men) to examine a side of the Holy Land that is too often overlooked: its thriving gay community. When many people think of Israel, it is often in terms of modern war or ancient religion. But there is much more to the Jewish state than missiles and prayers. Undressing Israel features interviews with a diverse range of local men, including a gay member of Israel’s parliament, a trainer who served openly in the army, a young Arab-Israeli journalist, and a pair of fathers raising their kids. Lucas also visits Tel Aviv’s vibrant nightlife scene—and even attends a same-sex wedding—in this guided tour of a country that has emerged as a pioneer for gay integration and equality. Undressing Israel impressively offers honest reviews of what life is like for gay men, as documented by the gays who live there. Before watching this very well filmed documentary, I am among those who would have stereotyped the land and the people of Israel. Yes, I thought they still rode on camels. After watching the insightful 45 minute film, I am happy to report that Israel has been put on my bucket list. My favorite quote from the film: “The best thing about Tel Aviv is that you don’t need to have the gay bars and gay places, because everything is gay friendly. We don’t need the labels.” Watch the trailer here --> http://www.undressingisrael-themovie.com/ As featured in Connextions Magazine, Issue 13.  Cloudburst
Romance/Drama Internationally-Acclaimed, Award-Winning Independent Film, starring Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker I laughed, I cried, I related, I understood, and I felt the heartache. Two geriatric disabled lesbians and one young gay buck, hit the road and head for Nova Scotia. On their quest to be legally married, they encounter many bumps in the road that bring light-hearted laughter, and this emotional ride offers a suspenseful ending that will surely have you in tears. The movie addresses LGBT issues such as aging, family stigmatism, and marriage. The cinematography is outstanding. My partner and I watched this movie together and both agreed that every couple, lesbian or not, should have this film in their que. Released on DVD July 30, 2013 Twitter: @Cloudburst_film |
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