Aman Resort Listing

Added on by C. Maoxian.

Developed by the super rich for the super rich … no hoi polloi allowed.

Americas & Caribbean

Europe & Africa

Asia

Movies Watched -- The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

113 minute running time so at least 20 minutes too long … I know this is considered classic film noir, but this movie is no good … it’s too long and the story isn’t that tight … the production code is partly to blame since the bad guys can’t get away with anything … and the relationship between Lana Turner (who is hot) and the little Garfield guy, it didn’t really work, there was no natural spark there. I know John Farr liked this one, but he gets it wrong and I wouldn’t recommend it.

You've tried to make me a tramp since you've known me

You've tried to make me a tramp since you've known me

Movies Watched -- Shane (1953)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

118 minute running time so at least 20 minutes too long … Alan Ladd doesn’t work for me as a gunfighter… his blonde hair, pretty features, and waifish body (only 5’6”!) just don’t jibe with being a tough guy in the west … barroom brawl scenes didn’t work for me either .. and Ryker the cattle man does try to reason with the homesteaders, he’s not a true villain. The scenery is great, the grubby clothes work, the sexual vibe between Shane and the married Jean Arthur was sort of interesting, Jack Palance is good as a scary guy, but this is an overrated movie, not one I’d recommend or put on a top list (though John Farr liked it).

… grow up to be strong and straight [not a gay icon like Ladd]

… grow up to be strong and straight [not a gay icon like Ladd]

Movies Watched -- Detour (1945)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

67 minute running time so pretty short … the idea of the story wasn’t terrible (hitchhiker assuming a dead driver’s identity), but the acting was second rate, esp. the woman who played “Vera,” the crazy lady. Not super well done noir, low budget, I don’t know why this is widely recommended (incl. by John Farr), but you can give it a miss.

… saved him from taking a flyer on sacred literature preferred

… saved him from taking a flyer on sacred literature preferred

Movies Watched -- Booksmart (2019)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

102 minute running time so the right length… but I hated this movie. Rich white kids in suburban L.A., no parents in sight except for Lisa Kudrow playing the usual ditz (she was born in 1963 so she’s an X-er) … girls got in to Yale and Columbia (Rick Singer admissions scandal anyone?) … lots of swearing and gangsta rap and homosexual sex and one comical drug scene that I did laugh about … but it’s morally awfully and lefty and written by women and directed by a woman and out of touch with real American youth, I hope. No one is hurt, there are no real consequences to anything, it just sucks through and through. Dick Brody also loathed it, god bless him, the only mainstream critic who told the truth about this P.O.S. Not a good start for the Rotten Tomatoes Top 100 of 2019 list.

Motherf_ckin' homework time

Motherf_ckin' homework time

Movies Watched -- Double Indemnity (1944)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

86 minute running time so the perfect length…. snappy dialogue mainly by Ray Chandler, directed by Billy Wilder (Shmuel Vildr) … Barbara Stanwyck as femme fatale, Fred MacMurray the breezy sap … I guess this is the first film noir … it’s a green-go classic, for sure. It was so financially successful that it spawned hundreds of imitators in following years. The idea behind these crime pictures is that American confidence, optimism, charm and naivete is mixed up with some real scheming and violence — it’s complicated. John Farr also liked it.

Straight down the line, baby

Straight down the line, baby

My Daily Direct Flights to China

Added on by C. Maoxian.

Ithaca to Detroit

Delta … Departs ITH 05:50 … Flight time ~90-120 minutes

Detroit to Beijing

DL 189 … Departs DTW 14:22 … Arrives PEK 17:00 … Flight time 13 hours 38 minutes

Beijing to Detroit

DL 188 … Departs PEK 19:00 … Arrives DTW 18:50 … Flight time 12 hours 50 minutes

Detroit to Shanghai

DL 583 … Departs DTW 15:45 … Arrives PVG 19:35 … Flight time 14 hours 50 minutes

Shanghai to Detroit

DL 582 … Departs PVG 11:40 … Arrives DTW 12:15 … Flight time 13 hours 35 minutes

Ithaca to Washington, DC

United … Departs ITH 05:55 … Flight time ~90 minutes

Washington, DC to Beijing

UA 807 … Departs IAD 12:50 … Arrives PEK 15:40 … Flight time 13 hours 50 minutes

Beijing to Washington, DC

UA 808 .. Departs PEK 18:25 … Arrives IAD 18:45 … Flight time 13 hours 20 minutes

Washington, DC to Beijing

CA 818 … Departs IAD 15:10… Arrives PEK 18:25 … Flight time 13 hours 50 minutes

Beijing to Washington, DC

CA 818 .. Departs PEK 12:45 … Arrives IAD 13:10 … Flight time 13 hours 25 minutes

Movies Watched -- High Noon (1952)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

85 minute running time so the perfect length, though a lot of the the movie is Gary Cooper walking around town looking for help … obviously inspired by the Hollywood Blacklist (Carl Foreman the screenwriter), but still it’s enjoyable, not a heavy-handed parable. Tall Coop, a principled man, bravely standing up to evil while deserted by the cowardly townsfolk (“Look, Amy. This is my town. I've got friends here.”) … Princess Grace is so young, this had to be her first? Hadleyville, er, Hollywood movie. Great use of the clocks which nearly match the real-time events in the movie. The theme song ballad sung by Tex Ritter (John’s dad), repeated throughout, is a winner for sure. Green-go, this is a classic.

This town ain't that low. [Oh yes it is!]

This town ain't that low. [Oh yes it is!]

Movies Watched -- I Wake Up Screaming (1941)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

82 minute running time so the right length, but the story wasn’t that great .. two femmes fatale (femme fatales?) … one big creepy detective with a soft voice … noir but it’s 1941 so not really noir, more like pre-noir noir … funny singing number by Betty Grable, “Daddy,” cut from the movie (incl. in bonus material), which was a shame because it was amusing. Even though John Farr recommended this one, I’d say you can give it a miss.

“I know the things I want, and I know how to get them.“

“I know the things I want, and I know how to get them.“

Movies Watched -- Blow Out (1981)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

108 minute running time so about 10 minutes too long … De Palma … has more of a 70s feel, but 1981 was pretty early 80s…. gorgeous John Travolta, he never had trouble finding girlfriends … John Lithgow plays a creep, as usual … political assassination, cover-ups, conspiracy stuff … it wasn’t terrible, but on the other hand, it wasn’t very good either. You can give it a miss.

God, that scream is terrible.

God, that scream is terrible.