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Showing posts with label Top 10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top 10. Show all posts

Friday, October 7, 2016

Top Ten Acupressure Points for Pain Relief & Other Problems

Acupressure therapy, sometimes called pressure acupuncture, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
It involves applying pressure to acupressure points that lie along meridians in your body to promote relaxation and treat illnesses. There are more than 400 acupressure points on the body.
It is believed that vital energy called qi (chi) flows through these meridians or energy pathways. There are 12 major meridians that connect specific organs, thus organizing a system of communication throughout the body. Illness occurs when one or more of these meridians are blocked or out of balance.








Most Western practitioners, however, attribute the benefits of acupressure to factors like reduced muscle tension, improved circulation and stimulation of brain chemicals called endorphins that act as natural pain relievers.

Irrespective of the underlying reason for its effectiveness, several studies have found this alternative therapy beneficial for relieving certain aches and pains.
The acupressure points are to be pressed with moderate pressure for a few seconds up to a couple of minutes and then released. For best results, take slow, deep breaths as you hold the acupressure points.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Top 10 Benefits Of Sugarcane Juice



Given its popularity to beat the heat, it should come as no surprise that India is one of the leading producers of sugarcane. It is called many different names depending on the local tongue, but it still is the same humble sugarcane bringing peace to every parched soul. Loaded with abundant minerals like calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and potassium, and vitamins like A, B- complex, and C, sugarcane juice also keeps you in top shape.

Why Sugarcane Juice Is Absolutely Amazing
Skin Benefits
1. Cures Acne
Sugarcane juice has been found to be effective in curing skin problems like acne.
What You Need
Sugarcane juice
Multani mitti
What You Have To Do Mix some multani mitti in the sugarcane juice to form a liquid of medium consistency.
Apply the mask on your face and neck generously.
Leave it on for about 20 minutes.
Use a wet towel to clean your face and neck.
Use this remedy at least once a week.
Why Does It Work
Sugarcane juice is a good source of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid, which helps to increase cell turnover (1). Also, acne results from blocked skin pores that sugarcane juice helps to remove by exfoliating your skin and thinning down the accumulation of dead cells
Health Benefits
2. Instant Energy Booster
If you are experiencing dehydration, sugarcane juice is one the best sources of instant energy.
What You Need
A glass of sugarcane juice
Why Does It Work
Sugarcane contains simple sugars, or sucrose, that is easily absorbed by your body . These sugars are utilized to replenish the lost sugar levels in the body
3. Ensures Safe Pregnancy
Sugarcane juice has been found to be a great addition to a pregnant woman’s diet. It facilitates quicker conceptions and safer pregnancy.
What You Need
A glass of sugarcane juice
Why Does It Work
Sugarcane juice contains trace amounts of folic acid or vitamin B-9 that is known to protect from neural birth defects like Spini Bifida . Also, research has discovered that sugarcane juice minimizes ovulating problems in women, thereby increasing chances of conception
4. Prevents Bad Breath And Tooth Decay
Bad breath is a major cause for social embarrassment. If you have a history of tooth decay leading to bad breath, you should consider sugarcane juice as a home remedy.
Why Does It Work
Sugarcane contains a host of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus that help build your teeth enamel The consistent flow of nutrients prevents decay and strengthens your teeth. Also, bad breath is another symptom of nutrient deficiency that sugar cane juice helps counter
5. Facilitates Development Of Bones And Teeth
To every growing child, hand a sugarcane stick and you can gladly forget teeth-related problems.
Why Does It Work
Sugarcane is an extremely rich source of calcium which helps build your skeletal strength, including bones and teeth.
6. Cures Febrile Disorders
Sugarcane juice is known to be extremely beneficial for curing instances of febrile disorders.
Why Does It Work
Febrile disorders are notorious for causing fevers with high temperatures. It causes protein loss. Sugarcane juice is known to replenish this loss of protein
7. Aids Liver Functioning
Sugarcane juice is regarded as one of the best treatments for liver-related sicknesses like jaundice.
What You Need
1 glass of fresh sugarcane juice
A dash of lime
What You Have To Do
Drink a glass of sugarcane juice mixed with lime, twice every day.
Why Does It Work
Jaundice occurs due to poor functioning of the liver as well as clogged bile ducts. Sugarcane maintains the glucose levels in your body and ensures speedy recovery (13). Also, being alkaline in nature, sugarcane juice helps maintain electrolyte balance in your body, and thus stops your liver from going into overdrive
8. Acts As A Digestive Tonic
If you have been suffering from digestive distress, you should consider including sugarcane juice in your diet for a healthier and stress-free life.
Why Does It Work
Potassium present in sugarcane juice helps balance the pH levels of your stomach and facilitates the secretion of digestive juices .
9. Combats Cancer
Sugarcane can also be a comprehensive deterrent to fatal diseases like cancer, especially prostate and breast cancer.
Why Does It Work
Recent research has discovered that the presence of flavonoids in sugarcane inhibits the multiplication of cancerous cells in the mammary glands, thus reducing risks of breast cancer
10. Aids People Suffering From Diabetes
Is sugarcane juice good for diabetics? If you think sugarcane juice is a bad choice just because you are suffering from diabetes, then you are wrong. Sugarcane can, in fact, be consumed by people with diabetes, but of course in moderation.
Why Does It Work
Sugarcane contains sucrose that has a low glycemic index. This helps to keep your blood sugar levels under control
How To Select And Store Sugarcane
Selection
The harvesting of sugarcane usually depends upon the age of the plant. This practice is, however, not the correct method since it does not take into account that the cane might have become over-ripe and aged. Instead, pick sugarcanes that have yellowed and whose leaves are dry. Tap on the mature cane to know if it gives a metallic sound. If it does, know that that cane is perfectly ripe and ready to be cut and consumed. Also, while cutting, make slanting swerves, closer to the root.
Storage
When you are purchasing large stalks, it is best to cut them up into smaller pieces so that you can refrigerate them. Make sure you rinse the stalks thoroughly and wait till they are completely dry before keeping them inside the refrigerator. Also, wrap each cut end of the stalks with a plastic wrap and securely fix it with an elastic band. This will prevent moisture loss from the stalks and keep them juicy fresh. If proper care is taken, they will be good to go for two weeks.
Interesting Sugarcane Facts
Sugarcane has no fats. It is, in fact, a 100% natural drink.
It is a grass plant of the genus Saccharum, and can be found in 36 varieties.
In 1493, Christopher Columbus took sugarcane to the Carribean to plant it there.
A mature sugarcane can grow up to 30 feet tall.
A single sugarcane plant can take 9 to 24 months to become mature, depending on the climate.
Sugar extracted from sugarcane juice contains only 15 calories!

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Top Ten Steven Spielberg Films (Rodney Twelftree)

There are filmmakers, and then there are people who change the film industry forever. Unless you’ve been living in an alternate dimension, or perhaps visiting from some outlying celestial plane, then you should already know the name of Steven Spielberg. Ever since he burst onto the scene in the mid 70’s with Duel, and more successfully with Jaws, audiences have flocked to see his films in droves. Whether it’s the popcorn munching thrills of the latest Indiana Jones adventure, the shocking and saddening wartime bravura of Schindler’s List, or the thunderous bass levels of Jurassic Park, it’s an undeniable fact that for over thirty years Mr Spielberg has been giving film fans the movies they’ve wanted to see. Of course, every director has his darker moments, such as the critically acclaimed but commercially lacklustre Munich, and the tribute film to Stanley Kubrick AI: Artificial Intelligence, Spielberg isn’t one to be tagged as a specialist director – he’s capable of making all manner of films, much to our eternal delight. In later years he began to take on various producer roles, involved in more production areas of film-making than just directing, and has industry-birthed many a Hollywood director along the way (Joe Dante, Joe Johnson, to name two).
With the gargantuan task of trying to choose the ten best films directed by Steve Spielberg, as opposed to a ten best films he’s been involved in in any way, I sat down with some DVD copies of his films and tried to determine exactly what makes a “good” Spielberg film. Is it financial success? Critical acclaim and Oscar glory? What about those films with an enduring legacy, such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, or Raiders Of The Lost Ark? The variety the man has given us through the years makes determining the best ten films a hard choice indeed. But then, that’s why we’re here – to try and provide some clarity and closure on these types of questions.
10. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
et, extra-terrestrial, steven spielberg best film
I start the list of the Top 10 Spielberg films with one of his most famous, probably THE most famous of all Spielberg films. Family friendly, almost saccharine in places, ET remains an iconic, character driven science fiction opus that still touches the heartstrings to this day. When an alien creature is left behind on Earth by mistake, he befriends a young human lad, Elliot (Henry Thomas) and hides out in wait for the Mother Ship to return. Elliot, together with his sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore, prior to her drug and alcoholic spiral that makes LiLo look like a fairy princess!) and elder brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton) must keep ET (as they call him) safe from both their parents and the prowling authorities. The great thing about ET is that the young cast perform so far above their age that it’s scary. Barrymore, as well as Thomas, are superb as the young siblings looking out for ET, in such a way it’s almost heartbreaking to watch their innocence sullied by Governmental forces at play. Indeed, the finale of this film borders on the nightmarish for younger viewers (I know it scared the hell out of me as a kid!) but the resolution is indeed a happy one. Often criticised by film fans for its overly sentimental mushiness towards ET, both in his relationships with the humans and with his discoveries on Earth, ET is a damn fine family oriented film that even today stands proudly as one of science fiction’s greatest achievements.
9. AI: Artificial Intelligence (2001)
artificial intelligence steven spielberg top 10 movies
After the death of legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, Spielberg took on the job of “completing” the great man’s last project, a film version of Brian Aldiss’s story “Super-Toys Last All Summer Long”. In what would become one of Spielberg’s most ambitious films, to take an idea by Kubrick and turn it into a film, essentially in homage to him, AI: Artificial Intelligence remains one of Spielberg’s darkest films to date. Filmed in a very Kubrick-ian manner, with long steady-cam shots and a sense of framing and style in keeping with the late director’s trademark elements, a lot of critics at the time felt the film to be more Kubrick than Kubrick, and unlike anything Spielberg had ever achieved before. Overt sentimentality from child-star Haley Joel Osment’s key performance as the titular “super toy”, a robotic child who imprints on a set of adoptive parents when their own child is comatose, and a healthy sense of wonder using the ideas of Pinocchio (including the Blue Fairy); some might feel this film straddles dark drama and sugary light in a way that’s hard to swallow. But I believe this film to be among the most emotional of any Spielberg has directed: it’s interesting to note that since AI was released, Spielberg hasn’t directed any films with children as central characters. Perhaps he exorcised his “childhood drama” demons making this film. Alternately dark and wonderful, filled with imagery and allegory you could discuss until the cows come home, AI: Artificial Intelligence may just be Spielberg’s most intelligent film.
8. Jurassic Park (1993)
jurassic park, steven spielberg greatest film, top 10 spielberg
Box office blockbuster is the perfect recipe of a Hollywood thrill-ride, and the kind of film Spielberg could direct with one eye closed. Unlike the inferior sequel, the original Jurassic Park was a great balance of audience thrills and deft use of revolutionary CGI effects. When Terminator 2 burst onto the scene the previous year, Spielberg had obviously recognised in James Cameron’s blockbuster the ability for computers to not only add to the film-making toolbelt, but to completely revolutionise the things that could be done on-screen. The decision to use computer effects, rather than the old-school stop-motion stuff Ray Harryhausen had created (and Stan Winston had perfected for the original Terminator), proved to be the catalyst for the success of Jurassic Park, and the dawn of a new Hollywood era. While nowadays computer effects are present in almost everything we see on screen (including TV commercials), when Jurassic Park burst onto the screen, it took audiences into a place we’d never seen before: photo realistic creatures on screen. Spielberg only ended up using a few minutes of full CGI effects for Jurassic Park, but by utilising every trick in the handbook on film-making, he made it seem like a lot more. Animatronics, puppets, heck, even shadows on a wall, whatever he could get away with to scare the living heck out of viewers, he used. While Jaws may have defined the term “blockbuster”, and Star Wars redefined the modern example of “spectacle”, Jurassic Park combined both in equal measure, and became one of the highest grossing films in history off the back of it.
7. Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade (1989)
indiana jones and the last crusade, steven spielberg top ten
While many hold the original Indiana Jones flick, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, in high regard, by far the most fun entry into the franchise was the third film of the series, introducing Sean Connery as Indy’s father, and giving us the starlight starbright acting ability of one Alison Doody. Okay, so Doody was a doo-doo, at least from an acting perspective, but Last Crusade has something going for it that no other Indy film has: a rollicking sense of fun. After the lacklustre Temple Of Doom, Spielberg needed to refresh the franchise to keep the audience, and he did so. Indy’s father, by far the film’s most sparkling element, is Henry Jones, a man Indy describes as more interested in people who’ve been dead for a thousand years in another country than his own son. This family discontent is the driving force behind much of the comedy in Crusade, as Indy and Henry trade verbal blows and escape by the skin of their teeth from the clutches of a resurgent Nazi force. After Henry is kidnapped while searching for the Holy Grail, supposedly the cup Christ used during the Last Supper, Indy is seconded by a wealthy philanthropist (Julian Glover, in fine form) to continue the search. Along the way, Indy uncovers a plot by the Nazi’s to capture the Grail for themselves in their quest for world domination. Crusade also features an appearance by the late River Phoenix, as Young Indy, where we take much delight in seeing the formation of the scar on Harrison Ford’s chin, Indy’s fear of snakes, and the moment he got that hat. Some elements of the film may undo the careful characterisations formed in the previous films, such as turning Marcus Brody into a dithering clown, but on the whole, the pulp feel and rapid paced sensibility of Raiders is achieved again with this, the brilliant second sequel to an movie classic.
6. Minority Report (2002)
minority report, steven spielberg top 10 films,
The first cinematic teaming of crazy Tom Cruise and Mr Spielberg, Minority Report is a damn fine piece of filmmaking. Based on the Philip K Dick story of the same name, Minority Report shows a world in the near-future that has become almost crime free, due to the future-seeing Pre Crime unit. Using a link to three mutant humans known as “precogs”, who have the ability to view future events of significant violence (like murders, robberies and such), the Pre Crime unit is responsible for arresting those who are about to commit these acts. The validity of Pre Crime as a concept is constantly questioned, regardless of success rate, due to the drop in crime. However, when leading Pre Crime agent John Anderton (Cruise) discovers that he himself is about to commit a crime, he naturally runs like hell to either stop the event from happening, or escape entirely. Mind-bending special effects and a first rate story, told with exquisite skills by Spielberg and performed by a first rate cast, Minority Report is one of the truly great science fiction films to come out of the last twenty years. Intelligent, breathless and a genuine thrill-ride, Minority Report shows Spielberg at the very top of his game.
5. War Of The Worlds (2005)
war of the worlds, steven spielberg, best spielberg film,
Pure, unadulterated Spielberg popcorn piece, this remake of the 50’s sci-fi classic featured Tom Cruise in his second outing with Spielberg, after Minority Report, and while in real life Cruise had to contend with jumping on couches and a credibility factor approaching the level of anger directed at George W Bush, his performance in the film is both galvanising and altogether human. When mysterious alien craft rise from the ground and start obliterating everything around them, humanity is thrown into chaos. Herded like sheep, the pack mentality begins to form as society crumbles, both literally and figuratively. Man becomes beast, a survival of the fittest gene overriding common decency when push comes to shove, and all the while the somewhat selfish Ray Ferrier (Cruise) tries to survive the onslaught with his children in tow, he is forced to make decisions that will forever alter him as a man. Key performances from Dakota Fanning, and to a lesser extent Justin Chatwin, elevate this beyond a simple “When Monsters Attack” sideshow: this is a family on the precipice both with each other, but with their surroundings. Spielberg seems able to direct films like this in his sleep; big budget, scary, and featuring some iconic scenes, all filmed with the slick assured hand of somebody who knows how, and when, to use every trick in the film-making handbook to get the story told.
4. Catch Me if You Can (2002)
catch me if you can steven spielber top 10 films
Poetic, delightful, almost serendipitous film from the master, Catch Me If You Can features a brilliant performance from star Leonardo DiCaprio, as serial fraudster Frank Abignale Jr, who conned his way through thousands of dollars and numerous “careers” before being caught by pursuing officer Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks). Lighter than normal Spielberg fare, Catch Me was a box office and critical success, and remains one of the most accessible DiCaprio films of the last decade. It’s a film for the sake of it, there’s no pretension or cinematic in-joke at the viewers expense; a great story (a jaw dropping story!) with good characterisation and a wonderful soundtrack from John Williams. The most heartbreaking part of the film, however, is the always-excellent Christopher Walken as Abignale Snr, who tries to keep his son from being caught, with the good intent of a loyal father. Walken will bring a tear to your eye in this film, especially for those of you who’ve had a father like him, or are a parent yourself. Spielberg seems to have a certain joy in this film, with what seems like a fairy-tale sheen of good-old-boy “will he get away with it?” layered thickly over proceedings.
3. Saving Private Ryan (1997)
saving private ryan, steven spielberg top 10 movies,
Of all the films in this list, indeed in all of Spielberg’s oeuvre, Saving Private Ryan is the one which has had the biggest impact on me, and caused me to write the most words about it. Harrowing, bereft of Hollywood cliché and redefining the War Film genre in a single, 20 minute opening sequence, Saving Private Ryan was a bloodthirsty double-take of historical relevance unseen perhaps since Oliver Stone took on Vietnam in Platoon and Born Of The Fourth Of July. Led by the always great Tom Hanks, accompanied by a veritable stable of A-list talent (among them Ed Burns, Vin Deisel, Giovanni Ribisi and even Matt Damon), as well as several underplayed cameo’s, somehow Spielberg manages to make the film look matter-of fact, almost documentary-esque. Undeniably powerful, perhaps accorded a somewhat ambivalent legacy in the intervening years due to the prevalence of other directors to over-use Janusz Kaminski’s rapid-shutter cinematography (Ridley Scott, I look at you, man) to dilute the effect, Saving Private Ryan is a master-class in taut, tense, often shocking storytelling. While perhaps not as personal a story as, say, Schindler’s List, what it does do is reinforce the sacrifices the brave men of the Allied forces in WWII made, and that in itself is worth noting.
2. Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
indiana jones raiders of the lost ark, steven spielberg great blockbusters
How can this film not be number 1, you ask. Go ahead, ask. Raiders, otherwise known as the first Indiana Jones movie, remains one of those unassailable classics a la Casablanca and Gone With The Wind. Film that everybody knows (or should know) and films that have become iconic touchstones for a generation of film-goers. Harrison Ford’s sardonic, pitch perfect portrayal of the vagabond archaeologist who seeks the famed Ark of the Covenant (supposedly the last resting place of the actual Ten Commandments), pursued by vile Nazi villains and a French competitor, became a world-wide smash upon initial release. The years have been kind to Raiders, the poster-child for pulp adventure films ever since its release. Brendan Fraser has carved a career out of trying to get involved in a film like Raiders, for example. Spielberg himself revisited the franchise (perhaps unwisely) in recent times, unable to recapture the sheer exuberance and fun of the original. Violent, mythical, hilarious and thrilling, Raiders remains perhaps the definitive action/adventure movie of all time.
1. Jaws (1975)
jaws steven spielber best film, movie, cinema, blockbuster
While he may have drawn some acclaim previous to Jaws with films such as Duel and The Sugarland Express, it wasn’t until the film about a shark killing swimmers in a New England island community arrived that Spielberg himself came to prominence. Known by many as the progenitor of what Hollywood terms the modern “Blockbuster” event film, Jaws captured the public imagination in a way film hadn’t done so previously. It terrified, it thrilled, and above all it entertained. Featuring some of cinema’s greatest shocks, and one of Hollywood’s most immortal monologues by the late, great Robert Shaw, Jaws remains the single greatest example of a film preying on a primordial dread of ours to date. You can keep your Blair Witches, your Paranormal Activities and the like, because if there’s one film guaranteed to scare the living bejeezus out of every single person who watches, it’s Jaws. The legacy of this film has dulled in later years due to the increasingly stupid sequels (although Jaws 2 wasn’t a total write off), if you pause for a moment and revisit the original, you’ll find yourself once more too scared to go into the water. And for a film 35+ years old, that’s no mean feat.
Authors Note: Okay, so where was Schindler’s List, you ask? And Close Encounters? Surely this list is some sort of forgery, a bogus list intended to illicit cries of “you idiot” across the interweb. I assure you, that is not my intent. There are, after all, only ten spots available in this list. Had there been an eleventh and twelfth spot, those two films would have parked themselves neatly down there. Schindler’s may have won Spielberg his first Oscar, and it’s a great film in its own right, but sadly, after mulling over the merits and failures of all Spielberg’s films, Schindler’s couldn’t quite make it into the top ten. I look forward to the retribution that will no doubt follow me onto the comments pages, but isn’t that the true beauty of film: to be able to make lists like these and not be agreed upon by everyone?
thanks http://www.top10films.co.uk/

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Top Ten Movies of Akira Kurosawa

Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest and most influential film directors of all time, Akira Kurosawa’s astonishing body of work includes classics such as Seven Samurai & Ran…

Akira Kurosawa is one of the greatest Japanese filmmakers, and in fact, one of the most acclaimed directors to have ever done it. In a career spanning over fifty years, he directed 31 feature films. Their influence cannot be understated and compiling a list of his best works is a hard task as there are so many incredible films to chose from. Most filmmakers never make a masterpiece during their lifetime. Some are lucky enough to make one or two but Kurosawa is one of the very select few who accomplished making many. His filmography is littered with magnificent movies and even his lesser works are better than most others would be able to deliver on their best days.
Kurosawa is the director that also really opened up the eyes of the West to Japanese cinema when Rashomon was entered at the Venice Film Festival in 1951 and proceeded to win the festival’s highest award, The Golden Lion. This breakthrough opened the floodgates as soon the films of Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi and Yasujirō Ozu all received high critical praise and even commercial success in Europe and the United States. Below you’ll find ten of the Japanese master’s essential works. It should also be noted that eight of these titles star Toshiro Mifune, Japan’s most renowned actor. The director and actor made a grand total of 16 films together from 1948 till 1965, which was without a doubt the most fruitful period in the career of both men and arguably constituted the greatest director-actor collaboration in the history of cinema.

10. Red Beard (1965)

redbeard_akira-kurosawa_top10filmsThe last film that Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune made together is the first entry on this list. Ironically, it was the beard referred to in the title of the movie, that ultimately caused the greatest director-actor partnership in the history of film to come to an an end. Production of the movie took two years and for most of that time Mifune was forced to keep his natural beard, which made it virtually impossible for him to do other work. This was the straw that broke the camels back, as the relationship between the two men had already been strained, and the two never worked together again. Red Beard also was Kurosawa’s last film to be shot in black and white and one of his most restrained films to star Mifune. The story of a young doctor who interns at the clinic of the much older and established Dr. Niide (Mifune) does away with much of the director’s famed visual style in order to present a far more stark and intimate portrait of a master-student relationship. Like most of Kurosawa’s films, Red Beard’s storyline is firmly planted in the director’s favourite themes of humanism and existentialism. Not as well known as his other period pieces, Red Beard is a beautiful film, which should be seen by all serious cinema aficionados.

9. Stray Dog (1949)

stray-dog_akira-kurosawa_top10filmsProbably unbeknown to those who are not very familiar with Kurosawa’s work, the director made plenty of films which were not set in samurai times and with Stray Dog he delivered a classic Japanese entry in the film noir genre. The film deals with a novice detective whose gun is pickpocketed on a busy tram and who spends the rest of the movie trying to get it back, especially after it turns out the firearm has been used in various crimes. And even though I’m not sure of this, it might be the first film to deal with a police officer losing his gun, a subject which almost constitutes its own mini-genre nowadays. The film also pre-empts later buddy cop movies, as Mifune teams up with the older and more experienced Takashi Shimura, another Kurosawa regular. Stray Dog was the third movie Mifune and Shimura did together for Kurosawa and there would be many more in the years to come. Pay special attention to the eight minute sequence without dialogue in which Mifune walks through Tokyo and its underbelly in search for his gun. It’s one of the film’s many highlights. A must-see for Kurosawa and film noir fans alike.

8. Throne of Blood (1957)

throne-of-blood_akira-kurosawa_top10filmsThe first of three films adapted from or inspired by the works by William Shakespeare by Kurosawa (which all made it onto this list and are usually ranked amongst the best adaptations of the famed playwright ever), Throne of Blood is one of the director’s most visually impressive films. Shot in stark black and white, employing harsh editing and containing various strong visual motifs based around atmospheric conditions, the film is a visual delight. Most scenes in the forest are steeped in fog and both wind and rain are prevalent throughout the movie. It’s also the only film by Kurosawa to contain a strong supernatural element and the film has an underlying creepy atmosphere, unlike any other of the director’s samurai period pieces. As usual, Toshiro Mifune gives a towering and compelling performance as the warlord whose quest for power spirals out of control and ultimately leads to his downfall. Mifune’s death scene in which his own archers turn on him is simply magnificent. Part of the reason being that the entire scene was filmed with actual arrows being fired at Mifune, who would wave his arms in the direction he was planning to move and whose expressions of fear are the real deal. One of cinema’s iconic death scenes and a grand finale to a brilliant film.

7. The Bad Sleep Well (1960)

TheBadSleepWell_akira-kurosawa_top10filmsThe second film to have its roots in Shakespeare, The Bad Sleep Well, is not so much an adaptation as a film inspired by Hamlet. Set in postwar corporate Japan, the film tells the story of Koichi Nishi (Toshiro Mifune), who has worked his way into a corporation and is marrying the disabled daughter of a high executive in order to avenge his father’s death, who committed suicide years earlier to halt an investigation into corruption within the company. A harsh critique of the lack of morals in corporate culture and the outdated feudalistic power structure still present in its structure, The Bad Sleep Well is another starkly shot black and white film and a harsh indictment of the power hungry. Whilst Kurosawa’s films which are not set in feudal times and dealing with samurai aren’t as well known to the general public, they are equally remarkable pieces of work with equally humanistic themes, in which Kurosawa clearly displays his concern and affection for the poor and oppressed in society. A brilliant accusation of corporate greed and social injustice, the film is as relevant today as it was over fifty years ago.

6. High and Low (1963)

high-and-low_akira-kurosawa_top10filmsBased on the American crime novel King’s Ransom: An 87th Precinct Mystery by Ed McBain, High and Low is another crime drama set in modern times with some film noir influences. The film tells the story of wealthy industrialist and shoe manufacturer Gondo (Toshiro Mifune) whose son has been kidnapped for a large ransom, which will send him into bankruptcy if he agrees to pay it. The twist however is that soon after he decides to gather the money it becomes apparent that the kidnappers have made a mistake and have taken the son of his chauffeur instead, leaving Gondo with the moral dilemma on whether he is still willing to pay the large sum. The film can roughly be divided in two parts, with the first hour taking place solely in Gondo’s apartment but once the second part starts, in which the movie moves out into the streets of Tokyo, the film really takes off. Pay close attention to the magnificent and mildly surreal scenes in the alleys of the underbelly of Tokyo where junkies roam the streets like a bunch of zombies from the original Night of the Living Dead. A suspenseful and gritty police procedural with another intense and compelling performance by Mifune.

5. Yojimbo (1961)

yojimbo_akira-kurosawa_top10filmsOne of Kurosawa’s most influential and imitated works, Yojimbo is probably the first undisputed masterpiece on this list (in fact, the whole top five is really sort of a tie). The film is also one of the lightest entries on this list, or even in Kurosawa’s entire filmography, and was so popular that the director made a sequel called Sanjuro the following year (which also deserved a spot on this list but was omitted as I had to stick to a top ten). The film is an action packed adventure with a healthy dose of black humour and succeeds on all levels. From its impeccable direction, masterful cinematography, fantastic lead performance by Toshiro Mifune and the iconic slightly surreal opening sequence in which Mifune encounters a dog carrying a severed hand as he rides into town, the entire film is pure cinematic bliss. Yojimbo was remade twice in the West, most famously (and unauthorised) as the first of Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns, A Fistful of Dollars, and much later as Last Man Standing by Walter Hill, set in prohibition-era Texas. Needless to say, the remakes don’t come close to Kurosawa’s original, which towers over them.

4. Rashomon (1950)

rashomon_akira-kurosawa_top10filmsRashomon is the film that caused both Akira Kurosawa as well as Japanese cinema as a whole to breakthrough in the West when it won the Golden Lion at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. Whilst the film’s fragmented flashback structure, in which the same story is told multiple times from different perspectives, might seem like old news now, it was revolutionary at the time of the film’s release. Apart from its now infamous plot device, the film is also a typical Kurosawa-like exploration of the human condition, in which all characters present self-serving versions of the same story but where faith in humanity ultimately still prevails. Whilst the film was a huge success in the West, it failed to get much critical acclaim in Japan itself, a situation which would be repeated many times throughout Kurosawa’s lengthy career. It should also be noted that Rashomon was another one of Kurosawa’s films which has been remade twice in the West, once for television by Sydney Lumet and once as The Outrage by Martin Ritt.

3. Ran (1985)

ran_akira-kurosawa_top10filmsRan is without a doubt Kurosawa’s late career masterpiece and his magnum opus when it comes to sheer grandeur and magnitude. Another of Kurosawa’s samurai films based on one of the works of Shakespeare, Ran is a reinterpretation of King Lear mixed legends of the legendary Japanese warlord Mōri Motonari. With a budget of 12 million dollars, Ran was the most expensive Japanese production up until that time but from the look of the film it’s a miracle it didn’t cost a whole lot more. Every dollar is on screen in this two hours and forty minute epic, as large armies do battle and castles get burned to the ground. The film is filled with striking imagery and is especially noteworthy for its amazing use of colour. Rarely have battle scenes been brought to life with such beauty as well as pure horror. Ran is definitely Kurasawa’s last true masterpiece and a film which is unparalleled in scope within its genre. Special mention should also go out to veteran Japanese actor Tatsuya Nakadai, who gives a career best performance as the warlord who sees his kingdom come apart at the seams.

2. Ikiru (1952)

ikiru_akira-kurosawa_top10filmsThe only Kurosawa film between 1948 and 1965 not to feature Toshiro Mifune, Ikiru is a stunningly meditative and quietly humanistic drama starring that other Kurosawa regular and Japanese great, Takashi Shimura. The story of a bureaucrat in Tokyo, who has spent thirty years of his life in a small office and is told he has no more than a year to live when he’s diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer, is possibly the purest example of Kurosawa’s reoccurring existentialist and humanistic themes. As the man searches for meaning in his last year on earth, the viewer is taken on an beautiful journey, which ultimately leads one to ponder one’s own purpose in life. Centred around a staggering performance by Shimura, Ikiru is one of Kurosawa’s most intimate yet grandest films.

1. Seven Samurai (1954)

seven-samurai_akira-kurosawa_top10films
What can one possibly write about a movie like Seven Samurai? Considered one of the greatest films in the history of cinema, the film is possibly the most famous Japanese film of all time in the West and the third consecutive masterpiece Kurosawa directed between 1950 and 1954. The story of a bunch of poor villagers hiring seven samurai to protect them from a superior force of marauding bandits has been imitated endlessly and has virtually turned into its own genre of films. The film was remade most famously as the western The Magnificent Seven but Pixar’s A Bug’s Life and Roger Corman’s Battle Beyond The Stars are other noteworthy examples.
The movie was Kurosawa’s first real samurai film, a genre he would become synonymous with, and one of the most expensive and greatest productions undertaken in Japan at the time. The film went severely over budget and the studio closed down production at least twice, but once the final product was eventually released it turned out to be Japan’s biggest box-office success ever.
Featuring visceral battle scenes, a magnificent screenplay, great sets and costumes rich in period detail, a talented ensemble cast and perhaps one of Mifune’s greatest acting achievements, The Seven Samurai is a towering achievement in world cinema and the crowning masterpiece amongst the many of Kurosawa’s incredible directing career.

Written and compiled by Emilio Santoni Thanks http://www.top10films.co.uk/

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Top ten Anti Aging Foods


Here are other 10 of the best anti-aging foods to nourish your body for a glow that comes from within.
  1. Watercress. The health benefits of watercress don't disappoint
  2. Red bell pepper. Red bell peppers are loaded with antioxidants which reign supreme when it comes to anti-aging
  3. Papaya.
  4. Blueberries. 
  5. Broccoli. 
  6. Spinach.
  7. Nuts. 
  8. Avocado.
  9. Sweet potatoes
  10. Pomegranate seeds

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Top 10 Most Expensive iPhone Apps




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iPhone apps generate a lot of buzz in this Apple world of ours, whether they’re useful, entertaining, offensive or just plain expensive. Below is a list of the ten most expensive iPhone apps. Are they useful? In some cases, that’s debatable. After all, the most expensive iPhone app in the App Store’s brief history was little more than a screen saver—that is, before Apple pulled it following user complaints.
Nursing Constellation Plus (Skyscape) – $179.99
Another medical app, Nursing Constellation Plus is intended for use by, er, nurses. Big surprise, that. The app has a variety of reference tools, including a drug dosing calculation tool, medical dictionary and a book of diagnostic tests.
ROSIE Home Automation (Savant Systems LLC) – $199.99
Finally, something really freakin’ cool—ROSIE Home Automation turns your iPhone or iPod Touch into a remote control for ROSIE-enabled lighting, security, audio/video and other systems.
iDcrm (Numenes) – $199.99
This app is intended to sync with Microsoft Dynamics CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and provide all of the same functionality. It also has the ability to work offline.
Lexi-Dental Complete (Lexi-Comp) – $299.99
Much like Nursing Constellation Plus, Lexi-Dental Complete is a library of reference material—except for dentists. As such, their promotional image is GROSS. A slightly less expensive version, Lexi-Dental Select, is also available.
Mobile Cam Viewer (mobiDEOS, Inc.) – $349.99
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Mobile Cam Viewer allows monitoring and control of NVR, DVR or Video Server surveillance systems. Of course, seeing as this is an app for the security conscious, access to the systems is encrypted.
PDR Quote (Labra PTY LTD.) – $349.99
Used to generate quotes for PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) and other automobile repairs, PDR Quote contains a database of over 900 automobile makes and models and allows prices to be customized and adjusted for tax codes.
MATG (MyAccountsToGo) – $449.99
Two varieties of this app are available—SAP BusinessOne and Dynamics GP. Both allow access to their respective financial management systems and may be synced via secure FTP, HTTP or HTTPS.
iRa Pro (Lextech Labs) – $899.99
Intended for security professionals who need to maintain unlimited mobility, iRa Pro allows users to monitor IP-based surveillance equipment. Much like Mobile Cam Viewer, above, this expensive iPhone app interfaces with a video management server to provide that extra sense of security that comes from knowing that you can always check in on whatever it is you’re protecting.
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iVIP Black (iVIP Ltd.) – $999.99
The first thing you need to know about using iVIP Black is that you need to be a millionaire; once you’ve purchased the app, you’ll be asked to certify that you’re a “High Net Worth Individual” before you can make use of its services. Also keep in mind that the service is UK-centric, so not only do your millions need to be in British pounds (worth about 1.6 times the US dollar) but you’ll also need to visit the UK in order to take full advantage of the services offered by iVIP. If you’re still interested, you’ll find that iVIP offers access to a number of exclusive goods and services, such as a limited edition iVIP Black iPhone, penthouses in London and New York, private islands, racehorse ownership, helicopters and VIP lounges. Best of all, iVIP Black can be customized to suit your individual needs. iVIP Ltd. offers two alternatives to the most expensive iPhone app in the world—iVIP Blue ($449.99) and iVIP Red (Free).



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BarMax: California Edition – $999.99
BarMax LLC. had a very specific subset of people in mind when creating one of the world’s most expensive iPhone apps—law students studying for California’s bar exam. Intended as an alternative to expensive bar preparation courses such as those offered by BarBri, the app offers for $1,000 what traditionally costs three or four times as much. BarMax boasts 1,371 previously used multistate bar exam questions and 100 previously used essay questions. BarMax also has a multistate version, New York version and five other state-specific version in the works and hopes to roll them out before the end of 2010.


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Best Regards,
Nabarun.