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The Robot’s Voice: 10 Revelations From the ‘He-Man’ Soundtrack Producers
Like many who spent time on Eternia in the ’80s, what I remember most about the original “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” cartoon is its insanely catchy theme song. That deceptively simple title track not only stirred our emotions with its sweeping melody, but managed to repeat the main character’s name 10 times in under a minute and a half. No wonder it’s so iconic! And yet as memorable as it was, the rest of the show’s music has largely been forgotten… until now. Making its long awaited debut, La-La-Land Records presents a deluxe 2-CD set of the “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” soundtrack, featuring over 90 minutes of previously unreleased music. I talked with John Takis and Neil S. Bulk, the album’s Producers, about the series’ signature sound and what it took to bring this meticulously restored television score to life.
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HubSpot: The 12 Greatest Advertising Movies Ever Made
The first official TV commercial aired in 1941 when a paid announcer uttered the magic words: “America runs on Bulova time.” Since then, television and advertising have been inseparable. From classic sitcoms like “Bewitched,” to dramas like “Thirtysomething” and “Melrose Place,” stories set in ad firms have fascinated viewers for decades. Yet none of those shows captured the essence of advertising better than AMC’s brilliant “Mad Men.” With its nuanced dialogue, stylish art direction and superb performances, the series riveted our attention like no other. Alas, all good things must come to an end. To help ease the sense of loss as its final season approaches, here’s a list of 12 movies that could teach Don Draper a few things about the business.
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Variety: ‘Pretty Woman’ Anniversary: 12 Hookers with Hearts of Gold
When it premiered on March 23, 1990, “Pretty Woman” made one thing perfectly clear: Hollywood has an obsession with the world’s oldest profession. From Gloria Swanson playing a harlot in the silent melodrama “Sadie Thompson,” to Sasha Grey as a high-priced escort in Steven Soderbergh’s “The Girlfriend Experience,” prostitutes have been a movie mainstay since the pre-code era. Yet unlike Jane Fonda’s icy call girl in “Klute” or Pam Grier’s psycho streetwalker in “Fort Apache, the Bronx,” Julia Roberts’ happy-go-lucky Vivian Ward was a hooker with the proverbial heart of gold. On the 25th anniversary of “Pretty Woman,” here’s a look at 11 working girls (plus one working guy) who would give you the shirt off their backs… provided they were wearing one.
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The Robot’s Voice: 10 Things We Learned From ‘Transformers’ 1986 Cast & Crew
It’s hard to exaggerate the impact that The Transformers: The Movie had on those of us who saw it in the summer of ’86. Back then, all I expected was a snazzier version of the TV series. Instead, the film played like a trippy collaboration between Ralph Bakshi and Sam Peckinpah. With its slaughter of everyone’s favorite characters shown in a more elaborate fashion than we had any reason to expect, “more than meets the eye” didn’t quite cover it. At a recent tribute screening presented by the American Cinematheque and Dammaged Goods, I spoke with the movie’s story consultant Flint Dille, voice director Wally Burr and voice actors Neil Ross and Michael Bell about its enduring legacy.
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HubSpot: The 12 Best Sales Movies of All Time
Pssst! Have you heard the one about the traveling salesman? Well if you’re a film fan, chances are you’re well acquainted with the profession. From the iconic Fuller Brush man lugging a suitcase of merchandise in the 1940s, to a slick young corporate raider trading stocks in a modern brokerage firm, Hollywood has romanticized the art of selling since films were first invented. There’s just something inherently gripping about the psychological chess game between buyer and seller that audiences respond to. So whether you prefer comedy or drama, you’re bound to enjoy a few movies on this list … and that’s a money-back guarantee.
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Variety: The Kinkiest Movies Ever Made
The marketing campaign for “Fifty Shades of Grey” emphasizes one teasing question: Are you curious? And yet the implication that audiences haven’t already seen this type of provocative bedroom action on screens before is more than a bit naïve. Bondage, S&M and all manner of naughty behavior have been depicted in film for years. To help stoke the fires before “Fifty Shades of Grey” arrives in theaters, here are 16 of the kinkiest movies ever made.
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Variety: Laurence Fishburne Puts a Hit on Fred Savage at ‘Goodfellas’ Read
Introduction: “This is going to be a lot of fun watching people get killed!” So joked director Jason Reitman as he kicked off the latest installment of Film Independent’s popular Live Read series on Thursday night with perhaps his boldest selection yet: Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas.”
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Variety: The 10 Best Guilty Pleasures of 2014
Introduction: When Pauline Kael wrote “movies are so rarely great art, that if we can’t appreciate great trash, there is little reason for us to go,” she may as well have been describing some of the films on this list. Combining elements of high and lowbrow art with varying degrees of success, these ten titles make up for in verve, goofiness and style what they lack in depth.
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Variety: Mark Hamill Goes to the Dark Side at Live Reading of ‘The Empire Strikes Back’
Introduction: “Welcome to the first live screening of ‘The Interview!’”
So teased Jason Reitman at the start of Thursday’s live reading of “The Empire Strikes Back” held in downtown Los Angeles. The event, part of Film Independent’s Live Read series, was moved from its previous home at LACMA to the larger Ace Hotel Theatre due to audience demand.
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Variety: ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ at 30: The Best and Worst of Eddie Murphy
Introduction: From the moment he took the stage at 30 Rockefeller Plaza and shouted “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” it was only a matter of time before Hollywood came calling for Eddie Murphy. The comedian’s edgy humor, whip-smart intelligence and go-for-broke energy all but ensured a quick transition to feature films. Beginning his movie career with a series of impressive costarring performances, Murphy made the leap to leading man status in the action-comedy classic “Beverly Hills Cop.” Released on December 5, 1984, it remains his most financially successful live-action film to date. On its 30th anniversary, here’s a look at Eddie Murphy’s ten best roles, plus five that should be forgotten.
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Matthew Chernov 
