Today's Project: Red Apple Cigarettes

"Give me a pack of Red Apple's"

Any true Tarantino fan know's it's the little attention to details that make his movies so much fun. One set piece he has used numerous times is the brand of cigarettes his characters smoke. It's always "Red Apple," a brand invented by Tarantino for use in his movies.

About a year after Pulp Fiction was a smash hit a theaters a script book of the film was released. Inside were different stills from the movies, as well as a nice shot of a prop pack of Red Apple smokes. This picture was the first real good look fans had at something that was always shown in passing and very quickly. 

Some ingenious fans have tried their hands at making replica packs with varying results. I have found one that hit's the mark the best, it's here.

The only complaint I had was it's size. It's actually the size of European half packs. I just opened it in Photoshop and used EyeCandy BlowUp to re-size it without loosing quality.

Big thanks go out to Cinges at deviantart for putting this card stock model up.   

Random Pin-ups

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Maggie Cheung: HK Goddess

Maggie Cheung
Height: 5 ft. 6 1/4 in. (1.68 m)
Born: Hong Kong
Birthday: 20 Sept 1964


Maggie Cheung was born on September 20, 1964, in Hong Kong, and moved at the age of eight with her family to England. After finishing secondary school, she returned to Hong Kong, where she began modeling and appearing in commercials. In 1983 she participated in the Ms. Hong Kong pageant, winning first runner-up, which proved not to be a detriment since she went on to become a star of both Hong Kong television and film.






Trivia

Member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival 1997.

First runner-up Miss Hong Kong. [1983]

Spokesmodel of Hermes.

Spokesmodel of LUX shampoo.

The Movie " Clean (2004/I) " was turning point in her career. Before this film was made, she was only offered the roles of beautiful Asian women in Western films.

Olivier Assayas wrote the characters of Maggie Cheung (in Irma Vep (1996)) and Emily Wang (in Clean (2004/I)) specifically with her in mind.

The first Chinese actress ever to win the Best Actress award at the Berlin International Film Festival (1992 - for Yuen Ling-yuk) and Cannes Film Festival (2004 - for Clean)

Her parents are Shanghainese. While she cannot speak the dialect, she understands it.

In Hong Kong, she has been handed every role she has played since she was 18 without an audition.

Wanted to be a hairdresser as a child.

Declined lead role in "Memoirs of a Geisha" because of racial sensitivity between the Japanese and the Chinese, due to WWII.

Although an icon of Asian cinema, she is actually a European with extended residence in Hong Kong.

Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1999.

Selected Filmography

Police Story [1985]
Police Story 2 [1988]
Project A 2 [1987]
Twin Dragons [1992]
Dragon Inn  [1992]
Supercop [1992]
Heroic Trio [1993]
Executioners a.k.a. Heroic Trio 2 [1993]
Flying Dagger [1993]
In the Mood for Love [2000]
Hero [2002]

Smokin' Hot

Bedford Vans

Plymouth Vans, people go crazy over them. They sale for big bucks at auction, in reality they’re just rebadged Dodge vans. I admit I share the same kind of enthusiasm for Bedford Vans, basically rebadged GM vans made in the UK and sold through all of Europe.

Bedford Vans differ from their American brethren with the different grille as well as a unique sliding passenger and driver’s door. It’s really pretty cool little feature and I am surprised I’ve never seen an American custom van fitted in this way.

Bedford Vans also differ from the US counterpart in the way that paneled SUV’s and Wagons were considered part of the van line as well.

Bedford vans came in many different flavors starting with a slant 4 cylinder engine. Think a V6 van is underpowered; try driving a standard size van with a four banger!

Very few have made it to the U.S., the ones that are hear are basically rusted out. With the van scene of the 70’s not really taking off in the U.K. like it did in the U.S. custom rides are few and far between, but a little digging on the web can turn up some spectacular examples.

So What Happen?

The post right below this one talked about what I had planned in the coming week. Well that week came and went and nothing was posted. In fact I'm starting to post more of these "excuse" post than actual content. Well what can I say, but sometimes life's crazy.

I'm, looking into learning a foreign language. It's a big undertaking but I like a challenge and would love to call myself a polyglot. I'm getting ready to run a contest on this blog, I'm still in the planning stages in trying to find the best way to get the word out about it.

As far as the post that were promised, they're coming. Just stay tuned

Post to Come: Bedford Vans, Classic JDM Book Update, and Maggie Cheung!

So a month goes by, and I don't post anything. Then last week happens and I write 7 new post. I'm trying to keep the pace up, so here's a list of what to expect. 

Not a lot is commonly known about Bedford Vans in the US, even among enthusiast.

Will take a close look at these British GM people movers in a detailed Profile. 

My post about Classic JDM Books has had a lot of hits but since posting it I have

found many more resources including the English language "BIBLE"  on the subject.

Look for a picture heavy post coming soon.

So Japanese women get a lot of love on this site, but I don't discrihate I love all

Asian women! To prove just that point, we will have a nice profile and selected

Filmography on Hong Kong beauty Maggie Cheung! 

If you notice I didn't put any dates on when these will go up, I'm going to try in fit them all in this week, but there's my other two blogs I have to  post on as well so just check back and see.

Night Drive in Tokyo

Found this bit of awesomeness through a friend, can't imagine driving there is looks like controlled chaos