Lisa Riley 140-lb weight loss halves her: 'Loose Women' host's diet tips might startle you

Lisa Riley of Britain's ITV "Loose Women" is a woman of surprises. She's nearly halved herself with a 10 stone (140 pound) weight loss. She's almost unrecognizable from her iconic role as the obese Mandy Dingle on England's popular soap opera "Emmerdale." But even at her heaviest, Riley was light on her feet, surprising "Strictly Come Dancing" audiences and judges with her flawless cha-cha dance. Riley's got other tricks up her sleeve and shared startling diets tips on how she got thin.  Lisa Riley 140-lb weight loss halves her: 'Loose Women' host's diet tips might startle you

'Sully' lands top weekend film, jets Chesley Sullenberger, Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood fame

"Sully" (from director Clint Eastwood) made a surprise landing as top-grossing weekend film for the second week in September. Opening Sept. 9, the "Miracle on the Hudson" movie explores the Jan. 15, 2009 plane crash (or landing) on the Hudson River by Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. The plane jetted to stratospheric altitudes in popularity. It lifted superheroes Chesley Sullenberger, Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood to even greater levels. Many people clapped as they left the theater on this auspicious first weekend. That's no small task for an adult courtroom drama with no special effects and few big names, but stranger things have happened.    'Sully' lands top weekend film, jets Chesley Sullenberger, Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood fame

Chris Pratt weight loss wows, from chubby 'Parks and Recreation' Andy to heart-stopping 'Guardians' Star-Lord

Do you think of Chris Pratt as only the plump, doofy Andy Dwyer in "Parks and Recreation?" Well, if you're sitting down, look again. Because he's heart-stoppingly hot after an amazing weight loss. Pratt is turning heads as the sexy, buff Star-Lord (alter ego of Peter Quill) in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" coming out in 2017. In 2018, the mega-hot Pratt is rumored to be joining the "Avengers: Infinity War" cast of superheroes and super villains.  Chris Pratt weight loss wows, chubby 'Parks and Rec' Andy stuns as 'Guardians' Star-Lord

Netflix 'Stranger Things' will have a season 2, woohoo!



Yes, Virginia, there will be a "Stranger Things"  Season 2! Breathe now fans. If you just finished season 1 of the Netfix Original sci-fi chiller and are left with more questions than answers, they are coming. We hope. We could get strung along for another season what the heck the sheriff's back story is. And what happened to Eleven. The freakishly popular "Stranger Things" series is making addicts of everyone! 

Disney 'Finding Dory' makes epic $400 M splash and that's no fish story!

Box Office: Pixar's 'Finding Dory' Swims Past $400M In Record Time - ForbesDisney Pixar "Finding Dory" made a record splash on opening weekend and that's no fish story! How big a splash? $135.1 million big, reported the Motley Fool on June 23. This qualified "Finding Dory" as the greatest catch for any cartoon movie opening, ever. "Finding Dory" out-swam its nearest competitor "Shrek the Third" and its prequel "Finding Nemo." In its second week playing, Finding Dory is still hauling in nets of viewers, even at smaller theaters like Michigan's Grand Haven 9. Finding Dory could give Disney's heaviest hitter "Frozen" some stiff competition.
What bait did Disney Pixar use in this box office smash? They had audiences at lost and found. Viewers are always hooked by small frail things alone and afraid. Tales of runaway, stray, abandoned, abducted and lost beings play on audience heartstrings. Be they homesick kids, animals, aliens, cars, monsters, even species-less critters (just what was Stitch of "Lilo and Stitch, anyway?)--audiences cheer for them all.
But there's more than just happy reunions at the end of Disney Pixar lines. It's not just a little-fish-lost tale. Disney Pixar "Finding Dory" and "Finding Nemo" hit on the classic David and Goliath theme. The little guy isn't just lost and alone. In fact, he or she is very much not alone. He's surrounded by big, scary, dangerous bad guys. Since Dory and Nemo don't have brawn, they have to use brains to outsmart the bullies. The Disney "Home Alone" series is the quintessential bully-busting stories. Little Dory and Nemo have to be courageous in some horrifying situations. And that's real bravery--not doing reckless stunts or showing off superior strength--but taking leaps of faith when you're tiny and scared scale-less.
Viewers like to feel protective of weaker creatures, but they love better seeing weak creatures learn to care for themselves. Take Disney "The Lion King" and "Bambie" and for example. It was cute when they were cuddly and vulnerable, but it was more reassuring when they grew up to be self-sufficient. That's the bittersweet joy of losing and Finding Dory and Finding Nemo. They learned, with a little help from friends, to live safely in their world. It's kind of like parenting, letting your Disney grow up. And therein lies the box office lure of Disney Pixar Finding Dory and Finding Nemo--watching the underdogs swim to the top and still stay cute!

Educational movies on American history: Native Americans, Pilgrims, Thanksgiving

The Revenant is getting a lot of unearned accolades for its portrayal of early American history. That time period was violent to be sure, but Revenant is obligatorily so. Like Dances with Wolves, it sensationalizes rather than educates. That's the fault with a lot of American history films. Many movies about colonial America, the pilgrims (Puritans), native Americans and the first Thanksgiving holiday are romanticized. Some are downright fables.   Educational movies on American history: Native Americans, Pilgrims, Thanksgiving | Examiner.com

Mental Health Awareness: Educational movies on mental illness, mentally ill

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Here are educational movies on mental health to understand mental illness. These films show how Hollywood has shaped perception of mental illness and mentally ill people. Movies, whether independent films, documentaries or Hollywood blockbusters, have a powerful impact on how people understand concepts. Whether information is accurate, exaggerated or false, if it's portrayed in movie form people tend to accept and believe it more readily. Some of the most pervasive areas of movie influence over information is in the area of mental illness, psychiatric hospitals and institutional behavior. Watch these educational movies for Mental Health Awareness Month to boost sensitivity to the mentally ill.  Mental Health Awareness: Educational movies on mental illness, mentally ill | Examiner.com

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