(Family Features) Once everyone in the family arrives home from work and school, there just might be a mad dash to the kitchen for a satisfying snack.
This Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie provides a sweet way to refuel after long days on the job or in the classroom. Blending family-favorite ingredients like frozen strawberries, yogurt, chocolate syrup and vanilla makes this a simple treat that allows you to avoid spending an entire evening in the kitchen. Plus, it calls for lactose-free milk, allowing those with lactose intolerance to get in on the fun and flavor.
Some bodies are unable to break down the sugar found in milk, known as lactose, which causes an upset stomach and a heavy, bloated feeling. Rather than avoiding dairy and missing out on beneficial nutrients, people with lactose intolerance can enjoy real dairy products that are naturally low in or don’t contain lactose without the stomachache.
Find more lactose intolerance-friendly recipes at MilkMeansMore.org.
Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie
Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie
Recipe courtesy of Marcia Stanley, MS, RDN, on behalf of Milk Means More
Prep time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries
1 container (5.3 ounces) strawberry Greek yogurt
1/2 cup lactose-free milk (skim, 2% or whole)
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
fresh strawberries (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
In blender, blend frozen strawberries, yogurt, lactose-free milk, chocolate syrup and vanilla until nearly smooth.
Pour into 16-18-ounce glass. Garnish with fresh strawberries, if desired.
The Friends of the Northport/East Northport Public Library invite the public to an Author’s Talk and Book signing at Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Ave., Northport on Wednesday, June 22 at 7 p.m. Miller Place author Orel Protopopescu will discuss her book, Dancing Past the Light: TheLife of Tanaquil Le Clercq, wife of Balanchine and Ballerina
Author Orel Protopopescu
Tanaquil “Tanny” Le Clercq, George Balanchine’s muse, ballerina, last wife, and teacher was a unique fusion of comical wit and dramatic allure. She never lost her sense of fun, even after she contracted polio in her 20s, when she could only dance with her hands and voice, while seated in a wheelchair, to demonstrate steps for her students at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Protopopescu will share extracts from films and photos, some never before published, as well as passages from her intimate biography of Le Clercq. This biography also contains fascinating stories about the world of ballet, dancers, musicians and choreographers.
Choreographer George Balanchine once lived in Fort Salonga before he was married to Le Clercq.
Orel Protopopescu, poet, author, educator and translator, has written prize-winning works for children and adults. A Thousand Peaks, Poems from China (with Siyu Liu) was selected for the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age, 2003 list. Orel won the Oberon poetry prize in 2010 and 2020.
The event is free and open to the public. Copies of the book will be available to purchase (cash or check only). For reservations, please contact the Northport Public Library at 631-261-6930 or online at www.nenpl.org,
Grilled Espresso-Marinated Flank Steak METRO photo
By Barbara Beltrami
While the grill and all things barbecued are Dad’s inviolable territory, on Father’s Day it’s necessary to get him to relinquish his squatter’s rights so that we can regale him with something special. I think if we can bribe him with a nice cold beer or maybe a margarita or two, perhaps he can be persuaded to just lounge by the pool or in the back yard, while we (under adult supervision if we are kids) baste and sear our tokens of appreciation for all he is and does, and I don’t mean just on the grill.
It’s got to be something he doesn’t normally cook himself, something yummily unusual. Some great sides like oven fries, grilled corn on the cob, a nice green salad or garlic bread make easy accompaniments to any of the following recipes and there are also specific suggestions with each recipe.
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
YIELD: Makes 3 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup dry sherry
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
One 3 1/2 – 4 pound frying chicken, cut into 8 pieces
DIRECTIONS:
In a small bowl combine the soy sauce, sherry, oil, sugar, garlic and ginger. Place chicken pieces in a gallon-size resealable plastic bag and pour in liquid; seal, then tilt and massage chicken to evenly distribute marinade. Turning bag occasionally, refrigerate for at least two hours or up to 12 hours.
Prepare grill: Oil rack and start fire. Remove chicken from bag and pat dry with paper towels, but reserve liquid for basting. Arrange chicken on rack skin side down and grill, about 30 minutes. During last 10 minutes or so of cooking, brush the chicken with the reserved marinade (if chicken starts to get too dark, turn it so skin side is up.) Serve hot or at room temperature with rice pilaf.
Sicilian Grilled Swordfish withTomatoes and Olives
YIELD: Makes 4 to 6 servings
INGREDIENTS:
2 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
3 tablespoons chopped pitted green olives
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
2 pounds swordfish steaks, cut 1/2” thick
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
DIRECTIONS:
In a small bowl combine the tomatoes, onion, celery, olives, parsley and pepper. Cover and refrigerate if not serving immediately in which case let sit at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Prepare grill, oil racks, and set grill to medium high heat. In a small bowl combineoil, lemon juice and oregano. Brush fish on both sides with mixture, then sprinkle with salt and more pepper. Grill over hottest part of grill, turning once, about 4 to 5 minutes per side (it should flake easily when poked with a fork.) Stir tomato and olive mixture, then spoon it over the fish steaks and serve immediately with couscous.
Grilled Espresso-Marinated Flank Steak
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon finely ground espresso
1 tablespoon lightly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
3 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds flank steak, trimmed of excess fat, at room temperature
DIRECTIONS:
In a small bowl, combine the espresso, brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, thyme, salt and pepper; slowly whisk in the oil. With a spatula or wooden spoon, smear the coffee mixture all over the steak on both sides. Rub grill rack with oil, then preheat to medium-high. Grill steak, turning a couple of times until it is lightly charred and a meat thermometer reads 125 F, about 11 minutes. Remove to cutting board, tent with aluminum foil and let sit about 10 minutes. Slice steak across the grain and serve hot or at room temperature. Serve with a tomato and avocado salad.
A scene from 'Jurassic World: Dominion.' Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel
The Jurassic Park franchise launched in 1993. Based on the 1990 novel by Michael Crichton, Steven Spielberg directed the film from a screenplay by Crichton and David Koepp. Featuring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, B.D. Wong, Samuel L. Jackson, and Richard Attenborough, the special-effects packed film became the highest-grossing film released worldwide until that time, besting Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982). Jurassic Park perfectly combined taut structure, grounded humor, and effective effects.
Spielberg and Koepp returned for The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), along with cast members Goldblum and Attenborough, joined by Julianne Moore and Vince Vaughn. The film received mixed reviews but a positive audience response, breaking multiple box office records. Jurassic Park III (2001) was the first without Spielberg as director. And while it brought back Dern and Neill, the film received a predominantly mixed-to-negative response.
A scene from ‘Jurassic World: Dominion.’ Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
Jurassic World: Dominion, directed byColin Treverrow, reunites cast members from the entire network: Dern, Neill, Goldblum, Wong, Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Omar Sy, Isabella Sermon, Justice Smith, and Daniella Pineda. Rounding out the starry cast are DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, Campbell Scott, Scott Haze, and Dichen Lachman.
The initial premise is fascinating. A news report explains that following the destruction of the Central American island Isla Nublar, dinosaurs now live among us, always hungry and often violent. The new normal raises ethical questions of accountability and coexistence. These de-extinct animals result from man’s manipulation of science and, therefore, society’s responsibility. Quick cuts of dinosaurs attacking juxtapose with compelling images of these wandering creatures living out of time and place. One powerful clip shows a dinosaur eating garbage next to a train track. Beauty, danger, nobility, and abandonment are all on display.
However, after this brief prologue, the film denigrates into a mess of science fiction and thriller clichés that are hopeless retreads of the first three films. The convoluted machinations include the corrupt Biosyn (sin?) Corporation, Sir Benjamin Lockwood’s cloned granddaughter, biogenetically engineered locusts the size of Dachshunds destroying the food chain, altering DNA and splicing of genomes, black market breeders, and a few other threads not so much woven into the narrative fabric as clumsily stapled.
A scene from ‘Jurassic World: Dominion.’ Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
However, with all the plot, there is something ploddingly by the numbers, with one predictable action sequence after another, repetitions of previous Jurassic outings, or pale copies of Indiana Jones. Dominion recalls Godzilla vs. Rodan more than the earlier focused and well-crafted incarnations of the Jurassic universe. Strangely, Dominion nods more to the work of animator Ray Harryhausen and the Sinbad series than to Crichton’s world.
And while strong actors populate the cast, they cannot elevate the stiff dialogue of Emily Carmichael and Colin Trevorrow’s witless screenplay. It is nearly impossible to play multiple notes in a one-dimensional character. Stock outlines substitute for human beings, with everyone talking in breathy, important voices. Fortunately for them, they are mostly directed to look up when they hear dinosaur footsteps. There is lots of running (the people) and chomping (the dinosaurs) and disinterest (the audience).
Dern and Neill give vague performances and are uncomfortable in the cringe-worthy romance awkwardly forced onto their characters. Goldblum’s quirky mannerisms make his Apartments.com commercials appear subtle. Scott plays the corporate villain like Tom Hanks channeling a neurotically twitchy Steve Jobs. Platt and Howard show up. Wise and Athie almost—but not quite—manage to rise above the swamp. As the clone, Maisie, Sermon finds a few more shades than the rest of the company, bringing honesty to the struggle with personal revelations. But these glimpses hardly save the film.
The special effects seem tired, with a ragtag combination of CGI (the locust swarm is particularly unimpressive) and animatronics (basic Disney World). As a result, Dominion feels less blockbuster and more thrill ride without the thrill. Michael Giacchino’s generic score does most of the heavy lifting, with dark chords and lush strings substituting for emotion, style, and actually earned tension.
The final moments of the film return to the movie’s initial potential. But at the end of a bloated two and a half hours, it is far too late. Let’s hope, as with the real dinosaurs, Jurassic World: Dominion marks the extinction of the franchise.
Rated PG-13, the film is now playing in local theaters.
When I think of summer desserts, the word “chiffon” immediately comes to mind and conjures up visions of airy cakes and pies light as summer frocks or curtains riffled by summer breezes. Fruit lends them their pastel colors … raspberry and strawberry pinks, lime greens, lemon yellows and blackberry lavenders, while egg whites and/or gelatin give them their voluminous substance.
Lemon Chiffon Cake
YIELD: Makes 10 to 12 servings
INGREDIENTS:
2 1/4 cups cake four
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
5 egg yolks
3/4 cup cold water
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
7 – 8 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 325 F. Into a large bowl sift the cake flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Make a well in the center, then pour in oil, egg yolks, cold water and zest. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed, until very smooth.In a separate large bowl beat egg whites with cream of tartar until stiff peaks form. With a rubber spatula, fold first mixture, a little at a time, into egg whites until completely blended. Do not beat or stir. Pour into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan.
Bake 50 minutes, then raise heat to 350 F and about bake another 15 minutes, until top springs back when you dent it with your finger. Remove from oven, turn pan upside down on a wire cake rack and let cool completely. Gently loosen cake from sides of pan with a spatula or knife and remove from pan; turn right side up and serve with lemon sorbet.
Lime Chiffon Pie
YIELD: Makes 6 to 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
One9” baked pie shell
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
1 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold water
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
4 eggs, separated
1 tablespoon finely grated lime zest
Fresh mint sprigs for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl combine the gelatin, half a cup of the sugar, salt, water and lime juice; add egg yolks and beat on medium speed until well blended; transfer to large saucepan and, stirring constantly, cook over low heat until gelatin dissolves, about 5 minutes. Stir in lime zest, cover and chill until mixture starts to thicken, about 30 minutes. In a large bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until foamy, add remaining half cup of sugar gradually until egg whites form stiff peaks. With a spatula, gently fold in gelatin mixture, a little at a time, until completely blended; transfer to pie shell and chill. Garnish with mint sprigs and serve with mango sorbet.
Strawberry Chiffon Pie
YIELD: Makes 6 to 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1 graham cracker pie crust
One 1/4-ounce envelope unflavored gelatin
2 cups fresh strawberries, washed and hulled (local, if available)
3 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar
Generous pinch salt
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
DIRECTIONS:
Prepare pie crust according to package directions. Soften gelatin in one cup cold water. In a food processor or blender puree one cup of the strawberries until smooth.Beat egg yolks lightly, then combine with half a cup of the sugar, salt and lemon juice in top of a double boiler. Stirring frequently, cook over simmering water until mixture thickens enough to coat a metal spoon, about 5 minutes; remove from heat. Add softened gelatin to yolk mixture, stir until dissolved, stir in pureed strawberries, then set aside to cool.
Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; gradually add remaining quarter cup of sugar, then continue beating until stiff peaks form; with a rubber spatula carefully fold into cooled berry mixture, then pour into crust and smooth with spatula. Halve the remaining cup strawberries and arrange, cut side down, in pattern over mixture. Chill until firm and serve with iced coffee or iced tea.
According to the most recent USDA survey data, Americans are woefully deficient in fiber, consuming between 10 and 15 grams per day. Breaking it down further into fiber subgroups, consumption levels for legumes and dark green vegetables are the lowest in comparison to suggested levels (1). This has pretty significant implications for our overall health and weight.
Still, many people worry about getting enough protein. Most of us — except perhaps professional athletes or long-distance runners — get enough protein in our diets. Protein has not prevented or helped treat diseases to the degree that studies illustrate with fiber.
So, how much fiber is enough? USDA guidelines stratify their recommendations based on gender and age. For adult women, they recommend between 22 and 28 grams per day, and for adult men, the targets are between 28 and 35 grams (1). Some argue that even these recommendations are on the low end of the scale for optimal health.
In order to increase our daily intake, several myths need to be dispelled. First, fiber does more than improve bowel movements. Also, fiber doesn’t have to be unpleasant.
The attitude has long been that to get enough fiber, one needs to eat a cardboard box. With certain sugary cereals, you may be better off eating the box, but on the whole, this is not true. Though fiber comes in supplement form, most of your daily intake should be from diet. It is actually relatively painless to get enough fiber; you just have to become aware of which foods are fiber-rich.
All fiber is not equal
Does the type of fiber make a difference? One of the complexities is that there are a number of different classifications of fiber, from soluble to viscous to fermentable. Within each of the types, there are subtypes of fiber. Not all fiber sources are equal. Some are more effective in preventing or treating certain diseases.
Take, for instance, one irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) study (2). It was a meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials with results showing that soluble psyllium improved symptoms in patients significantly more than insoluble bran.
Reducing disease risk and mortality
Fiber has very powerful effects on our overall health. A very large prospective cohort study showed that fiber may increase longevity by decreasing mortality from cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases and other infectious diseases (3). Over a nine-year period, those who ate the most fiber, in the highest quintile group, were 22 percent less likely to die than those in lowest group.
Patients who consumed the most fiber also saw a significant decrease in mortality from cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases and infectious diseases. The authors of the study believe that it may be the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of whole grains that are responsible for the positive results.
A study published in 2019 that performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses on data from 185 prospective studies and 58 clinical trials found that higher intakes of dietary fiber and whole grains provided the greatest benefits in protecting participants from cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal and breast cancers, along with a 15-30 percent decrease in all-cause mortality for those with the highest fiber intakes, compared to those with the lowest (4).
We also see benefit with prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with fiber in a relatively large epidemiologic analysis of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (5). The specific source of fiber was important. Fruit had the most significant effect on preventing COPD, with a 28 percent reduction in risk. Cereal fiber also had a substantial effect but not as great.
Fiber also has powerful effects on breast cancer treatment. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, soluble fiber had a significant impact on breast cancer risk reduction in estrogen negative women (6). Most beneficial studies for breast cancer have shown results in estrogen receptor positive women. This is one of the few studies that has illustrated significant results in estrogen receptor negative women.
The list of chronic diseases and disorders that fiber prevents and/or treats is continually expanding.
Where is the fiber?
Foods that are high in fiber are part of a plant-rich diet. They are whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. Overall, beans, as a group, have the highest amount of fiber. Animal products don’t have fiber. These days, it’s easy to increase your fiber by choosing bean-based pastas. Personally, I prefer those based on lentils. Read the labels, though; you want those that are solely made from lentils without rice added.
If you have a chronic disease, the best fiber sources are most likely disease-dependent. However, if you are trying to prevent chronic diseases in general, I recommend getting fiber from a wide array of sources. Make sure to eat meals that contain substantial amounts of fiber, which has several advantages: it helps you avoid processed foods, reduces your risk of chronic disease, and increases your satiety and energy levels.
Certainly, while protein is important, each time you sit down at a meal, rather than asking how much protein is in it, you now know to ask how much fiber is in it.
Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com.
When is enough, enough? How many more innocent children have to be martyred before we take the blinders off and heed the call to action?!
Twenty-one additional families have to live with the profound sense of loss of life of those they have loved. Nineteen innocent school-age children and two teachers were massacred by a depraved 18-year-old, who was legally allowed to purchase two automatic rifles that are used for war, not hunting or innocent self-defense. How can the people that we have elected to lead us remain silent? By their silence, they demonstrate complicity!
Does a senator or congressperson have to have his or her son or daughter murdered before they have the guts to stand up for justice and speak out for common sense gun safety? This is not about denying any American citizen his or her second amendment rights — it is about ensuring the safety of all American citizens, no matter what their age.
When will those who lead us have the guts to lead and not be bought off by the gun lobby, the insurance lobby or any other special interest groups that do not care about the life and safety of ordinary Americans?
Many in power are not doing their jobs on both sides of the aisle. They need to be voted out of office this election cycle. The silent majority needs to stand up, be counted and act on behalf of the innocent.
Schools were always a safe place for children to grow, learn and have fun. Another student body of more than 600 students has been traumatized. How long will it take for them to move beyond their fears? Some will carry this trauma for the rest of their lives; it will impact their journey forever. Other students will have a chance to recover, but it will be a hard road especially since this poor Texan community does not have the trained mental health professionals to assist these students and their families.
Will government step in? Who knows? It seems rather clear by all the school shootings in the past 10 years that the government and our leadership does not care!
Every religious leader who reads this column, I pray you have the courage to challenge your congregation to give voice to this very important human life issue. Every child in America deserves to feel safe and be safe in every environment. We need to demand universal background checks and common-sense gun safety laws that will protect all Americans everywhere.
We also need to develop national protocols when a high school student is identified as a threat to the safety of his or her classmates. Mental illness in this country is out of control and untreated. Suspension and/or expulsion does not ensure safety.Remember the Parkland massacre!
Our children are our greatest gift. May they never experience the trauma of Sandy Hook or Robb Elementary School. May we have the courage to move beyond our deafness. Our children are counting on us!
Father Francis Pizzarelli, SMM, LCSW-R, ACSW, DCSW, is the director of Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson.
Tom Cruise as test pilot Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in a scene from the film. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel
In 1986, 24-year-old, pre-couch-jumping Tom Cruise was featured in a string of high-profile films: The Outsiders (1983), Risky Business (1983), All the Right Moves (1983), and Legend (1985). Poised for a breakthrough, his performance as rebellious Naval Aviator Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun secured his stardom. The highest-grossing film of the year, it made over 350 million dollars worldwide.
Many critics found little to love outside of the aerial dynamics, but it became a pop culture hit, winning the Academy Award for Best Song, “Take My Breath Away” (music by Giorgio Moroder; lyrics by Tom Whitlock). Inspired by Ehud Yonay’s article “Top Guns,” the film’s screenplay (by Jim Cash and Jack Epps, Jr.) combined endless flight jargon with dialogue lifted from the lesser After School specials.
Peppered with clichés like “he’s a wild card” and “it’s not your flying, it’s your attitude,” the film lacked depth, subtlety, and even basic tension. The insufferably smarmy Maverick is not so much a character but the smirk of one. Outside of one “steamy” scene between Cruise and co-star Kelly McGillis, the homoerotic movie is populated by men in towels talking about the need to shower. Both misogynistic and juvenile, Top Gun made Risky Business seem emotionally sophisticated.
As early as 2010, a Top Sequel was in development. Finally, after years of delays, Top Gun: Maverick arrives 36 years after the original’s release. Instead of a clumsy sequel, the creators have forged a smart, entertaining, well-made film that is visually stunning. If the screenplay (by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie) is not exactly Citizen Kane, the storytelling is defined. The characters are simply drawn but true to the situation. There is an honesty and a general earnestness that harkens back to the better war movies of the 1940s. Joseph Kosinski has directed his actors to play the characters straight down the middle. There are not a lot of surprises, but the can-do spirit works.
Cruise’s Maverick is a much-decorated pilot but still a captain. For every commendation he has received, overstepping has prevented him from receiving a promotion. While his skills are never in doubt, his problematic behavior towards authority has not so much stalled his career but buried it. At the end of the first film, Maverick requested a position as a Top Gun trainer. He reveals that he only lasted two months.
The older Maverick is low-key but still rebellious, rankling his superiors. Rear Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain (Ed Harris) tells him, “The future is coming. And you’re not in it.”
Maverick’s formal rival, “Iceman” (Val Kilmer), now commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, has called Maverick back to Top Gun. (Except for Cruise, Kilmer is the only holdover from the first film. He has a single scene where he mostly communicates by typing as the admiral has throat cancer.) The mission is to take out a rogue state’s uranium enrichment plant before it opens. Surface-to-air missiles and skilled fighter pilots protect the canyon. The only way to bomb the plant is to literally fly under the radar in a demanding, dangerous mission.
Vice Admiral Beau “Cyclone” Simpson (John Hamm) and Rear Admiral Solomon “Warlock” Bates (Charles Parnell) have gathered an elite group of fighter pilots for Maverick to train.
The plot is simple, with the sole complication that one of the pilots, Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, is the son of Maverick’s former radar intercept officer and best friend, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards in Top Gun). While cleared of the responsibility for his pal’s death, Maverick still carries guilt, and he reveals that at the request of Goose’s widow (now dead—Meg Ryan in the earlier film), he has done everything to prevent Rooster from flying. Eventually, Maverick and Rooster come to terms with their joined histories.
A minor romantic subplot involves Maverick and a bar owner, Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly), but it generates little heat or interest.
The film’s two driving forces are Cruise and the mission. Both Cruise and Maverick have aged well, and the general lack of arrogance makes for a watchable experience. As the writing is focused, the technical details are clear. The actors lean into the physical demands and challenges of the flying and the mantra that “It’s not the plane. It’s the pilot.” The cavalier comment in Top Gun—“A need for speed”—here actually makes sense. Everything builds up to a spectacular final act, with the operation beautifully orchestrated with the right amount of suspense and a couple of twists that help keep it interesting. The faceless, but ominous enemy, is smartly handled.
Top Gun: Maverick’s major song, Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand,” plays over the credits. It is an appropriate metaphor for the film. A bit schmaltzy but also effective, honest, and wholly satisfying.
Rated PG-13, the film is now playing in local theaters.
Fathom Events presents a special screening of six of the most memorable episodes of ‘The Golden Girls’
Fathom Events has announced the return of the Emmy Award-winning television sitcom, “The Golden Girls,” to select theaters nationwide for the second consecutive year. “Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls” hits movie theaters for two nights: Tuesdays June 7 and 14.
The series stars Bea Arthur (Dorothy Zbornak), Betty White (Rose Nylund), Rue McClanahan (Blanche Devereaux), and Estelle Getty (Sophia Petrillo) as four women in their golden years who share both a home and a friendship in Miami, Florida. This special event will feature some of the most memorable episodes from the series.
“We’re excited to bring this beloved show back to the big screen this summer,’” said Ray Nutt, Fathom Events CEO. “The storyline and the friendships between these very different women have stood the test of time. Fans love it just as much now as they did when it first aired on television back in the 80’s.”
This must-see, two-night event will feature episodes including:
The Competition, Season 1, Episode 7: In a bowling competition, it’s Dorothy and Blanche verses Rose and Sophia. If Sophia and Rose win, Dorothy will allow Sophia to go back to Sicily for a visit with an old beau and if Dorothy and Blanche win Sophia will give her a pair of antique earrings.
It’s a Miserable Life, Season Two, Episode 4: The girls circulate a petition to save a 200-year-old oak tree which is located on the property of the most hated woman in the neighborhood, Frieda Claxton, who wants the tree cut down.
The Sisters, Season 2, Episode 12: For Sophia’s birthday, Dorothy flies in her sister, Angela from Sicily as a surprise. However, Dorothy’s the one who’s surprised when Sophia’s reaction is that of disgust.
Scared Straight, Season 4, Episode 9: Blanche’s brother, Clayton comes to Miami for a visit and Blanche goes all out fixing him up on blind dates. However, Rose learns the truth, Clayton is gay and is afraid to tell Blanche the truth about himself.
Sisters of the Bride, Season 6, Episode 14: Blanche’s gay brother Clayton, makes a visit to Miami with a surprise, he has found the right person to make a commitment to, but Blanche still can’t get over Clayton’s sexual orientation. Meanwhile, Rose expects to win a Volunteer of the Year award.
The Case of the Libertine Belle, Season 7, Episode 2: The girls participate in a murder mystery weekend and Dorothy has a ball when she solves a mystery. However, when Blanche is accused committing a real murder, Dorothy will have to use all her keen detective skills to find the real murderer.
“The Golden Girls” premiered in September 1985 and delighted fans over 7 seasons and 180 half-hour episodes. The series follows Miami homeowner Blanche Devereaux, joined by Rose Nylund and Dorothy Zbornak, brought together by a fateful ad for roommates posted by Blanche in a grocery store. The three are joined by Dorothy’s mother, Sophia Petrillo, a feisty Sicilian woman who rounds out the fabulous foursome. Together, the women form the perfect circle of friends.
“Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls” will play in movie theaters on Tuesday, June 7 and Tuesday, June 14 at 7 p.m. (all times local). Locally the film will be screened at Regal Deer Park 16, 455 Commack Road, Deer Park; Island 16 Cinema de Lux, 185 Morris Ave., Holtsville; and Farmingdale Multiplex, 1001 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale. A complete list of theater locations is available on the Fathom Events website can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices.
A scene from 'The Wizard of Oz." Photo courtesy of Fathom Events
One of the most influential films of all time is returning to movie theaters for two days only.
Fathom Events and Warner Bros. will present “The Wizard of Oz” in over 800 select theaters nationwide on Sunday, June 5, and Monday, June 6.
“In celebration of what would have been Judy Garland’s 100th birthday, join fans across the county for a special showing of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ featuring a rarely seen extended musical number,” said a release from Fathom Events. In the scene, Ray Bolger (Scarecrow) performs a dance routine that was cut from the original movie.
Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s children’s tale about a Kansas girl’s journey over the rainbow, the film was directed by Victor Fleming (who that same year directed ‘Gone With the Wind’), produced by Mervyn LeRoy, and scored by Herbert Stothart, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. Starring Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke and Margaret Hamilton, the film opened at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on Aug. 15, 1939. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning awards for Best Original Song for “Over the Rainbow” and Best Original Score.
In this classic musical fantasy, Judy Garland stars as Dorothy Gale, a young Kansas farm girl who dreams of a land “somewhere over the rainbow.” Dorothy’s dream comes true when she, her dog Toto, and her family’s house are transported by a tornado to a bright and magical world unlike anything she has seen before. Unfortunately, she makes a mortal enemy of a wicked witch when the house falls on the hag’s sister. Now, befriended by a scarecrow without a brain, a tin man with no heart and a cowardly lion — and protected by a pair of enchanted ruby slippers — Dorothy sets off along a yellow brick road for the Emerald City to beseech the all-powerful Wizard of Oz for his help to return home.
In 1989, it was selected by the Library of Congress as one of the first 25 films for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” MGM reissued the film in 1949 and 1955.
In our neck of the woods the film will be screened at Island 16 Cinema De Lux in Holtsville and Farmingdale Multiplex Cinemas in Farmingdale on June 5 at 3 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. and on June 6 at 3 p.m.
Tickets to “Wizard of Oz: Judy Garland 100 Years Over The Rainbow” can be reserved at FathomEvents.com.
Tanaquil “Tanny” Le Clercq, George Balanchine’s muse, ballerina, last wife, and teacher was a unique fusion of comical wit and dramatic allure. She never lost her sense of fun, even after she contracted polio in her 20s, when she could only dance with her hands and voice, while seated in a wheelchair, to demonstrate steps for her students at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Protopopescu will share extracts from films and photos, some never before published, as well as passages from her intimate biography of Le Clercq. This biography also contains fascinating stories about the world of ballet, dancers, musicians and choreographers.
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