At GayTravel, we continue to make lemonade out of lemons (actually, we’re making yummy and healthy popcorn – see recipe below). Our series "Recommendations, Ratings, and Recipes" is in its fourth week and GayTravel is pairing movies along with a popcorn recipe for you and yours to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
For those who missed the first 3 rounds of this series, you can always refer back here:
1. Three Gay Travel Movies to Watch This Weekend
2. Three More Gay Travel Movies to Watch This Weekend
3. Another Three Gay Travel Movies to Watch This Weekend
4. Three Magical Musical Movies to Watch This Weekend
The collection of 9 movies showcased within this series, thus far, has been themed "the riveting to the ridiculous,” and the cinematically-inclined GayTravel audience has rated the films with an overall average 4+ stars out of 5 (5 being the best). GayTravel.com is reading, reviewing and modifying what you're ordering up, so please keep your excellent requests and recommendations coming!
With ears wide open, we’re switching it up this week and going with a "musical theme." Music, like travel, brings cultures together, and at GayTravel.com, we’re very much down with this remarkable phenomenon.
So, without further ado...let's roll the film....
IT'S SHOWTIME!
The Wizard of Oz
⭐⭐⭐⭐4+ out of 5 stars as rated by Gay Travel's Audience
Released in 1939 by MGM. Directed by Victor Fleming. Musical/Fantasy. Starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, and Bert Lahr.
The Wizard of Oz holds a special place in our hearts, and its message of hope during dark times, is even more poignant today. People all over the world know its Academy Award Winning song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” which was sung (and immortalized) by the legendary Judy Garland who plays the lead character, Dorothy. At the beginning of the film, Kansas is struck by a tornado, and Dorothy and her dog Toto are whisked away to the "Merry Old Land of Oz." Guided along by Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, and sent on their way with much pomp and circumstance, Dorothy and Toto take the yellow-brick road and are "off to meet the wizard.” Along the way, they meet friends who are burdened with self-doubt, but when they come together (#weareallinthistogether), they manage to overcome their fears and realize that -- what they wanted (courage, brains, a heart) -- they already had inside themselves. This is ceremoniously decreed by "The Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz" in The Emerald City. Of course, GayTravel.com already knew that "Friends of Dorothy" have everything inside them (cue: click your ruby slippers three times).
The epic story was re-written for Broadway in Tony-Award-Winning musicals as “The Wiz” in 1974 and “Wicked” in 2003. It has been re-written and retold in movie remakes including Disney’s Oz: The Great and Powerful in 2013; and most recently, in 2020 with Judy starring Renée Zellweger who won an Oscar for Best Actor for her authentic portrayal of Judy Garland. When Zellweger accepted her Oscar, she dedicated her win to Judy Garland stating: “…her legacy of unique exceptionalism and inclusivity and generosity of spirit transcends any one of our artistic achievements. Miss Garland, you were certainly among the heroes who unite and define us and this is certainly for you.” So, as you can see, this week, GayTravel has numerous “recommendations within this one recommendation” which is a testament to the enormous success of the original film.
For GayTravel’s younger audience, take a journey down the yellow brick road and watch the trailer below to catch a glimpse of what awaits over the rainbow. For GayTravelers who have been with us for decades and who say “age is just a number”…you’ve seen this film… how many times?
Watch official trailer:
Bohemian Rhapsody
⭐⭐⭐⭐4+ out of 5 stars as rated by Gay Travel's Audience
Released in 2018 by 20th Century Fox and Directed by Bryan Singer. Music/Drama. Starring Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Josephs Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander, Allen Leech, and Mike Myers.
At GayTravel.com, we’re obsessed with British rock and two out of three of this week's movie recommendations focus on the lives of Great Britain's great bands.
We start with Bohemian Rhapsody which chronicles the meteoric journey of Freddie Mercury, lead singer for Queen. Rami Malek, who plays Freddie, took home the Oscar for Best Actor, and during his humble speech, we paraphrase: "that kid (Freddie Mercury) was struggling with his identity, trying to figure himself out. I think to anyone struggling with theirs and trying to discover their voice: listen, we made a film about a gay man, an immigrant who lived his life just unapologetically himself. And the fact that I’m celebrating him and this story with you tonight is proof that we’re longing for stories like this.”
Just like all great music, the music of Queen has been covered by others such as the cast of “Glee” and highly-acclaimed artists like The Muppets (see bonus clip at the end of this article).
Watch official trailer:
Rocketman
⭐⭐⭐⭐4+ out of 5 stars as rated by Gay Travel's Audience
Released in 2019 by Paramount Pictures and Directed by Dexter Fletcher. Music/Drama. Starring Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard.
The release of Rocketman was very close to the release of Bohemian Rhapsody so it's hard not to compare the two. But did you know that Rocketman Director, Dexter Fletcher was tasked with completing Bohemian Rhapsody half-way through filming? To his credit, the films are treated very differently with Rocketman following a Broadway musical direction and more along the lines of The Wizard of Oz's “musical fantasy” format. In the words of Bernie Taupin: “this one’s for you….”
Watch official trailer:
For all you Elton John fans, in case you missed our recent article: “#We’re All In This Together”, you might be interested to know that, Elton John, along with other musical stars will be airing a worldwide televised special on April 18th, called "One World, Together at Home."
BONUS: "Live from the Nestropolitan: Bohemian Rhapsody, performed by The Muppets:
We are truly fortunate to live in a world where talented people and puppets make films that transport us somewhere else.
Healthy Turmeric Popcorn Recipe
You didn’t think we would serve up movie recommendations without an immunity-boosting popcorn, did you? The week's perfect popcorn pairing is good for you!
Turmeric Popcorn, served up hot and yummy from the GayTravel Kitchen
Cook time: 10 minutes. Yield: 2 quarts, serves 2
Ingredients
1/3 cup Multi-color (calico or rainbow), non-GMO popcorn
3 tablespoons coconut oil or other high-heat such as avocado oil
¼+ tsp turmeric powder
1/8 tsp Ground pepper (to taste)
2 tablespoons of butter (or more to taste)
¾ tsp salt (or to taste)
Special Equipment
3-quart, thick-bottomed pot with cover
GayTravel Kitchen Tip: Ensure the inside of the pot is completely dry before heating the oil in it or else the oil will sputter.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1) Heat the oil: Heat the oil with the turmeric and black pepper in a 3-quart thick-bottomed saucepan on medium high heat. If you are using coconut oil, allow all of the solid oil to melt.
2) Place 3 or 4 popcorn kernels into the oil. Wait for the popcorn kernels to pop.
GayTravel Kitchen Tip: This step is important as it will help the kernels to heat up evenly, preventing burnt and un-popped kernels.
3) When the kernels pop, add the rest of the 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels in an even layer.
4) Cover the pot, remove from heat and count 30 seconds.
GayTravel Kitchen Tip: if you are multi-lingual or aspiring to be, please count in the language of your choice. Uno, due, tre, quattro!
5) Return pan to the heat. The popcorn should begin popping soon, and all at once. Once the popping starts in earnest, gently shake the pan (and your booty) by moving it back and forth over the burner.
GayTravel Kitchen Tip: For those who prefer a drier and crisper popcorn, keep the lid slightly ajar to allow steam to release.
6) Popping will start to slowdown to several seconds between pops. This indicates that it’s time to remove the pan from the heat, remove the lid, and immediately pour the popcorn into your favorite serving bowl.
7) Use the same hot and empty pan to melt butter.
GayTravel Kitchen Tip: More intense flavor will be infused into your popcorn if you allow the butter to get a tinge brown.
8) Drizzle the melted butter over the popcorn, then add salt to taste.
9) Toss well and serve hot!
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P.S.
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