Taxi Driver, Robert De Niro, 40 years on!!

After securing an Academy Award for best secondary actor in perhaps the best movie in history, Godfather part 2, with an outstanding performance taking into account he had to act as the young character that Marlon Brando made renowned when it was an old man and taking into account he had to talk in Italian too, Robert De Niro did travel to Italy in order to star another masterpiece Novecento, the performance he was going to do next could be even better, the main part of Taxi Driver directed by Martin Scorsese who gave him his first major role in movies, I am talking of Mean Streets, his debut scene can be seen here Robert De Niro Harvey Keitel also appeared both on Mean Streets and Taxi Driver.

Robert De Niro Taxi Driver

One of the most memorable movie scenes ever is when Robert de Niro utters a monologue in front of a mirror that is the inception of his new personality, it has been remembered and copied plenty of times, yet it is funny to point out that the scene was not on the screenplay, Robert De Niro believed it was appropriate to say so hence a little bit of improvisation was setted.

Robert De Niro Taxi Driver

Truth is the atmosphere of the movie and the performance of Robert de Niro are remarkable, the story too albeit in my opinion Taxi Driver it is not a perfect flick some elements of it are notable. Taxi Driver won Palme d'Or at Cannes. Similarly, Taxi Driver was nominated for 4 Academy Awards and two Golden Globes.

Robert De Niro Taxi Driver

Personage and the performance are formidable, Travis Bickle comes back from Vietnam War and he is not able to sleep at night thereby he accepts a job as a taxi driver working throughout the streets of New York City, this story cropped up when Paul Schrader (screenwriter of Taxi Driver) lived inside his car because he got divorced and lost everything, all of a sudden, he saw himself living on a car, he envisaged the story of Taxi Driver as a result. Even tough Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro have worked together in many movies (there is even a next collaboration, ("The Irishman") a movie that is to be opened in the near future with Harvey Keitel on it as well) Robert De Niro was not the first option, it is said it was Dustin Hoffman something that can sound strange now. Still, after Taxi Driver there were new glorious movies to star for Robert De Niro, The Deer Hunter or Raging Bull that gave him the Oscar for best actor. In my opinion Robert De Niro deserves another Academy Award, history of modern cinema can not be understood without him. Overall, analyze the movies he did in a row that have been mentioned on this post

Robert De Niro Taxi Driver

There are more things on Taxi Driver notwithstanding, we ought to point out the presence of a very young Jodie Foster (she was less than 13 years of age when she worked in Taxi Driver) or Cybill Sheperd a celebrity thereafter because of "Moonlighting" television series. When some people plotted to kill former US president Ronald Reagan it was discovered they had Travis Bickle as a source of inspiration, Robert De Niro is somewhat a perturbed cum good-hearted person who is not abide by playing ball with what society offers, one is impressed when watching his performance with a superb direction (as always) by Martin Scorsese who also appeared on a brief Taxi Driver cameo. Many times has been mentioned a project making the second part of Taxi Driver, Lars Von Tried planned to do so, yet no one has dared to do it thus far. Not even Martin Scorsese himself. Do you like Taxi Driver? What do you think of Robert De Niro performance? Comment and share.

Robert De Niro Taxi Driver

Trasmoz, witchcraft and a malediction

Trasmoz, with barely 80 inhabitants is the only one Spanish municipality officially declared wicked by Catholic Church, a title it owns since centuries ago (1519) something that only the Pope could revoke. Similarly, it was also excommunicated from the Catholic Church in the 13th century. Trasmoz is situatated in the locality of Tarazona and El Moncayo, on the province of Zaragoza region of Aragon northern Spain but it is likewise very close to other regions such as Navarra, La Rioja and El Moncayo is the highest point of Iberian Peninsula, something that adds magic to this place. In the year 2002 a book containing fables and tales therein related to El Moncayo called "Memorias del Moncayo" ("Memories from El Moncayo") was published with a stunning cover picture, one of this stories was written by myself, little did know back then that the best view of El Moncayo is taken from Trasmoz as it is the favourite place among photographers to shot pictures of El Moncayo also known as The little Fujiyama Mountain. Take a look!!

Trasmoz, Moncayo

Few weeks ago I met a German born writer for the BBC who was in charge of writing a story about Trasmoz for the British corporation as I am from this area she did invite me to live with her the adventure of discovering the curse of Trasmoz. Close to Trasmoz we can find the Monastery of Veruela an emblematic place that was the home of two special siblings, Becquer brothers. Gustavo Adolfo Becquer was a writer and a poet who found himself living in this building in 1863 in order to see his health improved contingent upon the fact Becquer suffered from tuberculosis and the winds of El Moncayo mountain were deemed suitable to recover from such sickness. Becquer wrote many tales dedicated to this place that made this rural part of Zaragoza famous in consequence. The book "Cartas desde mi celda" ("From my cell, literary letters") is the name of the play in which some of these pieces of writings about Trasmoz and El Moncayo are included. Becquer and his brother Valeriano who was a painter, were living  on the monastery of Veruela for almost a year, a period that is considered to be a key part of their respective artistic careers. Indeed, Gustavo Adolfo Becquer is a compulsory subject in Hispanic literature and his figure is a renowned one, he was a precursor in the field of Spanish literature. Inka, writer for BBC promised us to be included on her article. However, it could be even more exciting to discover her opinion regarding my book Ser un Tusitala Ser un Tusitala 

Inka, German writer and a staunch fanatic reader of book Ser un Tusitala 

Jaime was our efficient driver as we were able to see different parts of El Moncayo and Lola, an expert and also Patroness for the Foundation of the Castle of Trasmoz showed us this Castle (Lola is a witch as the people of Trasmoz choose the witches now in an official manner) we were taught under the lessons of Lola thus we learned a lot, Inka had a precious information for her article and we learned plenty of things, it was an unforgettable day for us as we now know everything perfectly, we knew some facts already because we are from that area, yet we can now talk of it appropriately. Lola herself is not from Trasmoz she is from Zaragoza, yet she is now the best ambassador of Trasmoz, she explains the history of Trasmoz and its environs adroitly.

Beautiful view of Moncayo from Trasmoz with Inka and Lola

Every year many acts are celebrated in Trasmoz in connection with witches and the world of the fallen but everything is because of a fame received more than reality, it is notwithstanding true that something happened in Trasmoz, a real chapter included in the book of Becquer for instance known as "La leyenda de la tía Casca" (the legend of aunt Casca), an old lady from Trasmoz who was accused of being a wicked witch hence she was killed, the exact spot where she perished is still remembered. It is also believed that many meetings between people keen on natural medicine have been taken place in Trasmoz throughout history. The first official documents that prove the existence of The Castle of Trasmoz are from 1185 although at that period of time Trasmoz appertained to the region of Navarra, its geographical location hence has made Trasmoz to belong to different Crowns. Aragon is the Spanish region with the highest number of castles, this particular one was important due to its location as everything happening could have been devised from it. When the Crowns of Castilla and Aragon were united the Castle of Trasmoz was no longer so important. With regards to the excommunication from the Catholic Church (13th century) we ought to convey the following, Catholic Church owned everything Trasmoz aside that also had the control of its own water, a conflict with Monastery of Veruela started thereby a bad reputation was imposed on Trasmoz and it was accused as well of holding hiding acts of witchcraft and having wicked withes living on it something so that intimidate and to create an awful reputation. By contrast, what was actually happening on Trasmoz was the issue of its own currency because Trasmoz had their own laws, the rest of surrounding places did not. The Catholic Church was losing money and they wished to have Trasmoz paying its customs. In 1511 a malediction was uttered officially with the reading of the psalm number 108 of the Book of Psalms that declared the ruler of Trasmoz, its descendants and its people wicked, a curse that it is maintained to date.

Wicked witches in the Castle of Trasmoz with Jaime and Inka

After years of relevance castles fell in a period of disuse, when democracy was restored in Spain The Castle of Trasmoz was opened to public domain, it had as a result an illustrious owner Manuel Jalón Corominas who helped to keep it in good state. In fact, he also published a book named "La leyenda negra de Trasmoz" ("The black legend of Trasmoz"), his ashes remain on the Castle of Trasmoz. Trasmoz is nowadays a compulsory journey if one is near El Moncayo. What is more, Trasmoz is becoming a touristic attraction thanks to its history, legend, festivals, witches and people like Lola with whom we spend the day. A malediction never felt so great before!!! (There is even a current cinematographic project placed on Trasmoz) Did you know this malediction? Have you ever been to Trasmoz or El Moncayo? Do share and comment the malediction of Trasmoz. Trasmoz

Beowulf, key elements

After the failure of Julius Caesar, Roman Emperor Claudius did conquer Britain in the year 43 AD. In the year 410 AD notwithstanding, Roman Empire disappeared and the period that was opened henceforth in England until the Wars of the Roses (York family had a white rose as symbol and Lancaster family had a red one (this historical event inspired writer George R.R. Martin to write the now famous Game of Thrones) that ended with the Battle of Bosworth and  Henry VII as first member of Tudor dynasty crowned king of England (1457-1509)) these epoch has Beowulf as its capital play as far as literature is concerned. Roman historian Tacitus explained how Britain was all about back then, yet nothing as Beowulf to understand it fully

 Beowulf

It is said Beowulf was written by two scribes although the author is strange to us as yet. Beowulf manuscript it is kept in British Library in Central London but it was owned by Sir Bruce Cotton from 1571 to 1631. Enthralling book Beowulf is divided in different 3 parts

1. Combat against Grendel
2. Mother of Grendel tries to get revenge
3. Fight against a dragon

 BEOWULF

1 Beowulf is a warrior that offers his services to Hrothgar, king of Danish people in order to vanquish Grendel who is frightening Heorot. By attaining such a feat Beowulf does pay a debt his dad Ecgetheow owned

2. Mother of Grendel wants to revenge the death of his son from the hands of Beowulf, yet Beowulf proves his valour again making himself even more famous.

3. 50 years after the second adventure, Beowulf is crowned king succeeding his uncle Hygelac, Beowulf and 12 warriors fight against a dangerous dragon, eleven of them did abandon Beowulf, all of them Wiglaf aside who helps Beowulf to kill the dragon. However, Beowulf is deadly hurted, Beowulf dies subsequently but asks Wiglaf to build a barrow in front of the sea so that people can remember him forever. As the warriors have betrayed Beowulf bad times are approaching, the wyrd (destiny) is to make justice and nothing good will take place after the decease of Beowulf  (Beowulf in Spanish Beowulf)

Beowulf

Reading Ser un Tusitala

People are so excited about book Ser un Tusitala that they pose with the book on their hands to show their amazement at this new book available worldwide. In fact, some fanatics of Halcombe were waiting on for buying book Ser un Tusitala, they were sleeping at the street in order to purchase a copy in a local bookstore.

Crazy fans of Halcombe awaiting on so that be able to purchase book Ser un Tusitala Ser un Tusitala

Likewise, many worldwide fans have sent pictures of them posing with book Ser un Tusitala showing how much they enjoy themselves reading Ser un Tusitala

READING SER UN TUSITALA

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You can buy book ser un Tusitala following these links

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