Top Movies of All Time according to IMDB - #3 The Godfather: Part II (1974)

The Godfather:  Part II (1974)

The adventures, trials and tribulations of the Corleone family continue in The Godfather Part II.  Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton.

The two Roberts are still on my list of favourite actors to this day.

At the Oscars . . . 

Won

Best Picture
Francis Ford Coppola
Gray Frederickson
Fred Roos
The movie became the first sequel to win the best picture award.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro was not present at the awards ceremony. Francis Ford Coppola accepted the award on  his behalf

Best Director
Francis Ford Coppola

Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted From Other Material
Francis Ford Coppola
Mario Puzo

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
Dean Tavoularis
Angelo P. Graham
George R. Nelson

Best Music, Original Dramatic Score
Nino Rota
Carmine Coppola
Nino Rota was not present at the awards ceremony.

Nominated

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Al Pacino

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Michael V. Gazzo

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Lee Strasberg

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Talia Shire

Best Costume Design
Theadora Van Runkle

Top Movies of All Time according to IMDB - #2 The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather (1972)

I love this movie.  Maybe it is just that I love so many of the actors in this movie -- Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Abe Vigoda and so many more.  I've always had a soft spot for Abe Vigoda from his days on the TV show, Barney Miller.

But really it has everything -- family, love, drama, life, death.  What more could you ask for?

The Godfather was nominated for 11 Oscars and won in three categories -- Best Leading Actor, Best Writing, and Best Picture.

If you are looking for something to binge watch some rainy summer day why not The Godfather I, II and III.  And if you are really into the Godfather, I hear there is even a video game.

Top Movies of All Time according to IMDB - #1 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

A while back I took a "quiz" on Facebook to determine how many of the top 250 movies of all time. I had actually seen. I scored 100 out of the 250 movies that were listed. If I was unsure about seeing a movie I didn't check it off so my score could possibly be much higher.

And then I started thinking that perhaps instead of binge watching old TV series I should binge watch movies. I decided just to take on the top 100 movies for a starter. Now I'm very sure I am going to agree with quite a few of the entries on this list but I already know I'm going to argue about a few as well.

So here is the top movie of all time according to IMDB:

#1 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

I loved loved loved this movie. Of course I don't think I've ever seen a Morgan Freeman movie I didn't love.

Tim Robbins plays a young banker who is found guilty of murdering his wife and her lover. He is innocent but I guess that doesn't matter. The movie is about his life in prison and his friendship with Red, played by Morgan Freeman.

My favourite scene is right after the arrival of donations for the prison library.  That is all I am going to say except that it is an uplifting moment.  



I really love the ending but I'm not going to give it away in case you've never seen the movie yet.  Let's just say it is good to never lose hope . . . and to be a very clever banker.

Both Robbins and Freeman give award worthy performances in this great story of hope.  I can't believe they didn't win any Oscars but the movie was nominated for:

Best Picture - Niki Marvin

Best Actor in a Leading Role - Morgan Freeman

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published - Frank Darabont

Best Cinematography - Roger Deakins

Best Sound - Robert J. Litt Elliot Tyson Michael Herbick Willie D. Burton

Best Film Editing - Richard Francis-Bruce

Best Music, Original Score - Thomas Newman

If you've seen this movie before, why not watch it again?  If you have never watched this movie, I really think you should.  But Parental Guidance is definitely necessary.

Enjoy!!

Aylmer, Ontario ~ Sweet Music, Quilt Squares, and Further Exploration

As I mentioned in my first blog post about Aylmer, I was told there wasn't much to see and do there.  I think I've already proved the naysayers wrong with just one 2 hour trip there.

I have two small gems to share with you from our first adventure in Aylmer.  First is that there are several Settlement Stories Quilt Squares in the area.  We "accidentally" found two.  Now I have a map from the website so I'll be able to "on purpose" find more.

The second little gem I would like to share is Music.  As we were walking down the main street of Aylmer I could hear music . . . quiet, lovely music.  Absolutely charmed when we found the source -- speakers on the lampposts.

I searched through In My World and found even more posts I've made over the years about Aylmer:

The Founding of Aylmer marker

Aylmer Wildlife Management Area

Gay Lea Dairy Heritage Museum

Letterboxing near Aylmer

Aylmer Wildlife Management Area. . . again

Settlement Stories Quilt Trail

Aylmer Wildlife Management Area . . . yet again.  Do you get the feeling we really enjoy this place?

The Pie Pantry . . . I heard a rumour that this lovely place has closed.

Aylmer, Ontario ~ Town Hall

Aylmer, Ontario ~ Main Street Ontario Mural

Aylmer, Ontario ~ Spicer's Bakery and Spicer's Deli

Aylmer, Ontario ~ Mennonite Furniture Gallery

Aylmer, Ontario ~ Spare Moments Craft Supplies

If you have any recommendations for other places I should check out, I'd love to hear from you.

Aylmer, Ontario ~ Spare Moments Craft Supplies

I'm sure everyone in Aylmer knows about Spare Moments.  I even knew of its existence.  But I thought it was a little craft store and didn't realize that it has expanded A LOT.  Hal and I spent time browsing through all the different departments -- wedding, floral, knitting, gifts, Christmas . . . and scrapbooking.  I had a wonderful time and was inspired by all the products and finished projects.  I love inspiration.  I'm going back there today.  I need some embroidery thread and . . . well who knows what else.

Aylmer, Ontario ~ Mennonite Furniture Gallery

You would think by now I would have run out of things to say about Aylmer, Ontario but I am just getting started.  If you enjoy beautiful furniture, you need to stop at this gem of a store -- Mennonite Furniture Gallery just down the street from the Town Hall.

The young lady you see in the first photo was so friendly and knowledgeable.  Best of all, we when let her know we were just window shopping, she didn't walk away.  Yes, I have had that happen before.

What do you think about this pine set?  

Aylmer, Ontario ~ Spicer's Bakery and Spicer's Deli

Spicer's Bakery is on the main street of Aylmer, just past the Town Hall.  It has been around as long as I can remember.  Among my favourites when I was growing up were the slab cakes and the flaky buttery dinner rolls.  I would eat those rolls like they were cookies.

We enjoyed our visit last week.  Hal and the young lady behind the counter had lots to say to each other.  She was wearing an AC/DC t-shirt which totally impressed Hal.  We each picked a delicious treat but I couldn't buy any bread . . . it was too fresh to slice and wrap yet.  

We did enjoy our treats though.

As we were leaving the store we noticed that Spicer's had a deli right next to the bakery.  That was new to us.  Too full of chicken and cookies to feel like trying the deli out . . . but when we return to Aylmer for another visit we will definitely check it out.

Aylmer ON ~ Main Street Ontario mural

More about our quick trip to Aylmer ON the other day . . . 

Hal is addicted to two foods -- Tim Hortons breakfast sandwiches AND Kentucky Fried Chicken.  As we are driving along the main street in Aylmer, he sees a KFC sign.  Apparently Hal's van stops of its own accord whenever such a sign is spotted.  While Hal went in to order himself some chicken, I took the opportunity to photograph this mural on the side of the building just west of KFC.

I thought about stitching all the photos together but then you wouldn't be able to see all the amazing detail in this mural.  I think on my next trip to Aylmer ON I need to get a better photo of the story behind the mural.

Aylmer, Ontario ~ Town Hall

It has a while since I've blogged about Places to Visit and I figured it was time to resurrect this feature.  Since it starts with the letter A and it is close to home, I chose Aylmer ON as my first Place to Visit.

Aylmer is a town of 7492 (2016 census) in SW Ontario.  I posted on Facebook for ideas of things I should see and do and received only a few suggestions, although those few were excellent.  I continued to explore the town online and my list grew quite large.  So for those who think there is nothing to see or do in Aylmer, over the next few days I am going to prove you wrong . . . LOL.

One of our stops today was to the Town Hall.  We didn't go inside.  Can we go inside?  What's in there?  Do I need to make an appointment?  I don't know so more research is required.  Or, of course, when I return for further visits I suppose I could just knock on the door and see if someone answers.

The Cenotaph is beautiful with red and white flowers and wrought iron benches.

Also on the Town Hall property you can find a Heritage Tree and a Settlement Stories Quilt Block.

Behind the Town Hall, I discovered a band shell in a pretty little park which also has a water feature.  I love water features.

Aylmer is definitely in the spirit to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday.

I have so much more to tell you about Aylmer just from this short visit and I have plans to return as many times as it takes to see everything worth seeing and doing everything worth doing in Aylmer Ontario.

Please, if you have any suggestions of places I should visit and write about, I would love to hear from you.

My newest book . . . Scrapbooking with Sketches #4

I have a new sketch book, Scrapbooking with Sketches #4, ready to ship. 200 pages of sketches and sample layouts. I wasn't going to start advertising it until after Canada Day . . . but . . . my publisher has an excellent sale on right now and I wouldn't want you to miss out.

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While you are there, check out some of my other books. Thanks!!