Interesting (Icky?) Career Choice

Just watched Moneyball, and I didn't recognize the director's name, so I did a quick IMDb check on him. I had seen his other non-documentary film, Capote, and was underwhelmed. But I liked this one a lot more, so I was curious about the film he had in pre-production, Foxcatcher, which is described as:

The story of John du Pont, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and killed Olympic wrestler David Schultz.

Doesn't that sound like fun? Already crossing it off my "to watch" list, I scrolled down to see what poor suckers have been cast in this thing. Channing Tatum gets to play the victim, and Steve Carell gets to play the paranoid schizophrenic. Carell, really? I get where someone like him wants to stretch, to take on new kinds of rolls, but a whackadoodle murderer? Why, Steve, why?

Just don't get that at all.


While I'm at it, a few thoughts on Moneyball:

• It was just odd seeing Jonah Hill play someone competent (actually, more than competent...smart)
  
• Speaking of odd, lean Chris Pratt, really?
  
• Would've been fun to see Hill, Pratt, Pitt and the rest working with more Sorkin-esque dialogue (of course, that's true for 90% of what's in the theaters/TV screens).
  
• Especially considering the source material, that was one entertaining flick.

2 posts out of the 11 days...sigh, this is why I don't do resolutions.

DVD: I Am Number Four

So the family and I sat down and watched the DVD for I Am Number Four this weekend--the oldest three of us enjoyed the novel to varying degrees, and probably at least one other kid would have, too, if it weren't for having to take it back to the library before he got to it. It's been awhile since I had such a visceral reaction to a movie, so I figured I'd write about it a bit. But I'm not in the mood to do more than provide two lists about the flick--a pro and a con, if you would.

Reasons to Watch It (largely for novelty):

• Timothy Olyphant gets more dialogue per second of screen time in this role than in any other I've seen him in (haven't seen him on The Office, so...I dunno about that). So as weird as it was to see him without a hat (thank you, Sheriff Bullock and Marshall Givens), it was weirder yet to see him as such a chatterbox. He was funny, too, I should add. Then he got to pick up a gun and blast a few bad guys, and everything was right with the world.
• Speaking of jarring, Dianna Agron spent a whole lotta time walking around a high school and no one, not one person, broke into song, even for a moment.
Reasons Why Not to Watch It:

• Everything else about the movie. The acting. The script. The characters. The plot. How do you take a novel that's basically a very thorough movie treatment to start with and ruin it? I dunno, but somehow the normally reliable Alfred Gough & Miles Millar and typically wonderful Marti Noxon did just that.

Hope you find this helpful.

This Past Weekend

So, this weekend I:

laughed a lot, but not as much as I hoped I would at

laughed more than I expected to and totally DID NOT cry at but there was a lot of pollen and dust in the room while I watched

celebrated her 9th birthday

got this for TLoML

tried this yummy yummy beer (Kona & Maui Brewing Companies make the best argument for relocating to the Aloha State)

spent far too much time with this guy (have just started the 5th week of P90X Doubles)

finished this good stuff

started this remember this being good in 10th Grade

watched the latest episodes of and NPH got it done on all fronts this week (tho' Segal absolutely killed, as per usual)

tried out this very, very tasty cake recipe mine didn't look quite that good. BTW, if you make it, double the KoolAid like I did (accidentally yesterday, on purpose from now on)

all in all, a good weekend. How was yours?

So I'm Done with Elevators for a While Now - Updated

Update: TLomL pointed out that in the initial posting, I neglected to mention the name of the movie I was talking about. Which is a pretty dumb thing to overlook. Thanks for the catch, dear.

One guy on screen for 95 minutes, in one set, only interacting with other actors over brief cell phone calls doesn't sound like the most interesting, never mind exciting, movie. This fails to take into account a few things:

1. The actor is Ryan Reynolds, a man who can be comfortable in any genre
2. The action takes place in Iraq
3. The set is a buried coffin

All that together results in Buried--one of the most taut, suspenseful, and pulse-pounding movies I've ever seen, and one of the best I've seen in months.

In case you aren't familiar with the movie or trailer or anything, the premise is pretty simple. Reynolds plays Paul Conroy, a contractor in Iraq, a truck driver transporting materials for rebuilding efforts. A convoy he's in is attacked and he wakes up in a coffin underground, with a Zippo and a cell phone left by the attackers (with a less than full battery, it should be noted). Paul starts making calls, trying to get someone to believe what's happening to him, desperate for someone to come looking for him.

And well, things go on from there. Not much else to say without giving the whole thing away. I was sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time, I squirmed a couple of times, chuckled once or twice, had to remind myself to breathe occasionally and hoped I'd taken my blood pressure meds more than once.

Can't say I recommend it, because I really wouldn't wish any of my readers the distress they may feel watching it, but sheee--oot. What a movie.

Oh, and before I forget...honey, if I die in the next month or so, please cremate me. Please. Or a nice pyre. Anything but a coffin.

Blechy Movies of '10

Like last year, I should probably talk about those movies that weren't that good...scratch that. Those that were horrid. This year, that as 12 of my 147, 8%, a smidge worse than 2009.

There were more than a handful of movies that were just dull, or wastes of time--mostly indie comedies, oddly. But there were a few that I actively disliked--if not downright hated/got angry with. Those were (in order that I saw them, not in order of horribleness):

• Jennifer's Body - Karyn Kusama


• Big Fan - Robert D. Siegel


• I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell - Bob Gosse (truly vile flick)


• Where the Wild Things Are - Spike Jonze


• The Blue Tooth Virgin - Russell Brown


• A Serious Man - Ethan Coen, Joel Coen


• Remember Me - Allen Coulter


• The Runaways - Floria Sigismondi


• Greenberg - Noah Baumbach


• Babies - Thomas Balmes


• The Secret of Kells - Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey


• Agora - Alejandro Amenábar

Two of those, I want to call out for special attention. Remember Me, I thought I'd written a blog post ranting about, but I can't find it...whoops. It was a perfectly uninspired/uninspiring indie drama with competent-to-really good performances, that they totally screwed up by pulling a surprise ending out of nothing, an a horrible attempt to add weight and heft to the movie. So instead of a nice-enough movie I'd have forgotten about within a month or two, I'm going to be carrying around the hate for years.

The other bad movie was The Secret of Kells. Awesome animation, great artwork, love the idea of using this medium to talk about the actual Book of Kells. But, in order to avoid talking about the content of the book (an illuminated Bible, for those who don't know), they go for some silly mystical, pseudospiritual idea where the artwork is what gives hope to people. Just horrid. Horrid thing to do regarding the actual truths contained in the book. Skip the flick, listen to Iona's album instead.

2010 Movies

So in 2010, I watched 19 fewer movies than in '09 (and man, I wish I tracked '08's, those'd be some numbers). I actually wanted to watch more, but when you're looking for things to help you kill a graveyard shift, a DVD full of TV episodes is worth more than a movie. Anywho...here's the list of the 147 I did watch, for those who are interested.

Keeping with the tradition that goes back all the way to last year, I tried to narrow down the list to a top 10, but I couldn't bring myself to cut a couple of these from the top of the pile. So let's just say there was a three-way tie for first (Scott Pilgrim, Toy Story 3 and The Hurt Locker)...'tho most of the rest would tie for second, come to think of it.... Oh well. In the order I saw them, not a qualitative statement at all:

• Trucker - James Mottern


• The Hurt Locker - Kathryn Bigelow


• Whip It - Drew Barrymore


• Up in the Air - Jason Reitman


• Red Cliff: International Version - John Woo
(do not, under any circumstances, watch the edited for US theater length version...travesty)

• Crazy Heart - Scott Cooper


• Pirate Radio - Richard Curtis


• Toy Story 3 - Lee Unkrich


• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - Edgar Wright


• Ondine - Neil Jordan


• Easy A - Will Gluck


• How Do You Know - James L. Brooks


There were a few that I couldn't justify in my top 1012, cuz they weren't as good, but they had a lotta heart and generally made ya feel all warm and fuzzy watching them, and made the day/week better:

• Young @ Heart - Stephen Walker


• Eagle vs. Shark - Taika Cohen


• City Island - Raymond De Felitta


• Flipped - Rob Reiner

Anyone see these? What didn't make my list that should've?

So Have You Seen this Fan-Made Hunger Games Clip?

I don't know if you've seen this yet, but if you've read The Hunger Games you really, really should--it almost perfectly captures one of the best scenes in the book. If you haven't read it, and are considering it (and you really should), stay away from the clip 'cuz it'll ruin one of the best scenes in the book.

Other than the fact they got Rue's ethnicity wrong...can't think of a problem with this. I'd gladly fork over $10 to buy a ticket to this group's version of the whole book.

Watching this made me realize one major problem with making a movie of book: How does Hollywood expect to do this flick and get a PG-13?

Odds 'n Ends Reviews

Here's a handful of things I've been meaning to blog about, but the posts would be very small, or I can't just find the time. So, in no particular order:

TV

• Rubicon. This show is like the anti-Damages, yet it's so similar. Like Damages, you have no idea what's really going on most of the time (and you're okay with that), you're pretty sure you're not really going to know if it's worth it until the last episode (but it probably is), it's absolutely riveting, and it'll make you paranoid, seeing conspiracies everywhere. On the other hand, it's not like Damages--it's told sequentially (not that it's any help figuring out what's happening), it's slow. Glacially slow. People stare out the window and think. People stare at paper and think. People do crosswords. And you can't take your eyes off it. Seriously good stuff. I hear AMC is running all the episodes this weekend for those who've missed out on the first half of the season. It's worth the try.
  
• Mad Men, I didn't get the appeal of Season 1. I still didn't get it for most of Season 2 (but kept on just to see what the fuss was about, and 'sides, I needed something to watch at work). But then something--don't ask me what--clicked with me, and I can't get enough of this world. Well, most of it. If Betty Draper vanished into thin air, I'd be absolutely okay. Great, great show.
  
• Monk it feels weird not spending time with Natalie, Leland, Randy and Monk any more during the summer.
  
• Sons of Anarchy comes roaring back next week and I cannot wait!!!
  

Books

• Scott Pilgrim 6: Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour. Not the way I'd have ended the epic, but I can't complain. This series was a real treat to read. If you've watched the movie, or have seen the commercials and thought you might want to watch the movie, you need to check out the source.
  
• Richard Yancey -- I've spent a lot of time with Mr. Yancey over the last month or so. Frodo and I have worked through his YA series about the last descendant of Lancelot, the unlikeliest of heroes--Alfred Kropp, and I've read the first three installments in his Highly Effective Detective series. Both feature "heroes" that don't fit the mold for their genres (similarly at times), who nevertheless get the job done. Both are fun, both are well-told/plotted/paced, and both are far more satisfying than you'd think from reading the cover blurbs. Can't wait for the more from this guy.
  

Movies

• Greenberg/The Runaways. I just don't get it. Some of the acting in these is great. I'm glad to see Ben Stiller can act as well as he did in Greenberg, and it's always great to see Merritt Weaver. Kristin Stewart rocked (sorry, couldn't resist) in The Runaways, and it hardly needs to be said that Dakota Fanning was great. And most everyone else in both films was just about as good. But--UGH. Both were such monumental wastes of time. Is there a word for the opposite of Gestalt? If so, it's what describes these. If not, there should be.
  
• Cop Out--not Kevin Smith's greatest movie, but so funny once Tracey Morgan was reigned in. Bruce Willis should do more comedy.
  
• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World because of time/money, I've been to the theater 5 times this year--2.5 times mostly as a chaperone/chauffeur. I'd be 100% willing to go another 5 times just to watch this movie. Sure, it's not absolutely faithful to the source material--but it captures the essence and got the story to fit in a decent runtime, so I can't complain. So much fun. So much heart. Why isn't this a hit?
  

Music

• The Reason Why by Little Big Town. I've only had this album for three days, and have listened to it maybe 4 times, but it already feels like an old favorite I can turn to and relax/think with. These guys are too good to be so small.
  

The Village Barbershop

I started this year off on a streak of seeing really bad movies, thankfully I seem to have turned a corner and am watching a nice mix of decent and good flicks(even a couple of excellent ones). Chris J. Ford's The Village Barbershop is a good movie, not a great one, but it's full of enough charm, heart, and warmth that you really don't care.

John Ratzenberger plays Art, a cantankerous barber reeling from his wife's death years before, receives another shock--his partner dies suddenly as well. Leaving an increasingly isolated, bitter man without anything but his struggling shop. Naturally, his landlord is looking for an excuse to boot him out and replace him with someone he can make more money from--and Art's giving him plenty of excuses, but is trying to cling to the one thing he has.

Enter Gloria, a thirty-something mess of a woman, who happens to know a thing or two about accounting, cutting hair, straight-razor use, and how to connect with the all-male clientele of the shop. She needs something stable, Art needs help with the money and the customers, even if it's from a woman (ending the all-male enclave that is his shop).

Wow, a match made in heaven--it's like someone scripted it. Er, wait, someone did. Okay, so the movie is 98.5% predictable, I'll grant that. But what makes this one a winner in my book is the execution--Ratenberger's Art has a humanity (even if it is broken) that is so far beyond the iconic Cliff Clavin that it's hard to imagine that it's the same actor, and Gloria's charm is so effortless that she wins the viewer over as she does the customers and her grumpy boss.

Some real laughs, a lotta charm, and some great acting make this small little film shine like the neon of the casinos the action takes place under.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Just got back from taking my niece (hereby dubbed for the purposes of this blog as....um, The Niece) and Frodo from Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (gotta be the longest title of a movie since that one where Casey Affleck took 13 hours to work up the nerve to shoot Brad Pitt). Not Chris Columbus' finest, nor was it a fantastic adaptation, but all in all a good flick.

If I gave him the platform (btw, son, consider this an invite), Frodo could rattle off all the discrepancies from the novel and complain about them. There were many, I should say, but most of them served the film and prevented it from being a 4-hour epic. But they stayed true to the spirit of the book, and got the big things right--which is all one should really ask (a lot of what they did was far less grievous than the things most forgave Peter Jackson of).

The Niece noted that they got the look perfectly, Camp Half Blood, Olympus, Hades..."it was like looking at my mind when I read it, freaked me out."

I was surprised at some of the casting choices, and who actually agreed to be in the movie--but have no complaints about any of them. I guess it's sort of like the number of people whose résumés are too impressive to be in a Harry Potter movie, yet take the gig anyway. Some of the performances were a little hammy, but most of them settled into the roles as the movie went on. Logan Lerman did a fine job, but I'm not crazy about the rumors of him as Peter Parker. Brandon T. Jackson was a hoot--proving that Tropic Thunder wasn't a fluke. Catherine Keener and Joe Pantoliano were great (but when isn't Joey Pants?). Pierce Bronson was as good as he can be outside of a jacket and tie. Alexandra Daddario made me understand why White Collar's Neil Caffrey would break out of prison for her.^*

I'm not chomping at the bit for it, but I'm ready to buy my tickets for Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Sea of Monsters Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire or whatever it is.


^* not a good sign that the White Collar folks have failed to deliver on that

Young @ Heart

Stephen Walker' and Sally George's Young @ Heart is not the best documentary I've seen lately, but it's one of the most enjoyable.

From Ben Folds to Glee, choral groups are turning up all over the place, very frequently in unexpected places--and for some reason, singing pop songs. Young @ Heart is one of the more unusual choral group -- their average age is 80, and they sing songs by The Talking Heads, James Brown, the Stones, Coldplay, etc. And they do so pretty well, I should add (for example, the cover of "Nothing Compares 2 U" has a greater emotional impact than Sinead or the Symbol could've ever hoped for--partly given the performance, partly given the timing in the film).

They've toured in the US and Europe repeatedly. And this film follows the group as they prepare for their new show, and eventual tour--with a couple of music videos and a concert at a prison thrown in along the way.

Given the demographics of the group, the impact--and increased possibility--of serious health issues and death is greater than it would be in similar groups. But it's through these issues and struggles that we see the real spirit, the real joy that music and their camaraderie brings the group.

It's not a perfect movie--the filmmakers intrude a bit more than I'd like, and I do question the sense of filming these singers while they are driving so much (that would go for singers in their 20's as well as in their 70's for the record), and a few other minor issues. But they were all very easily forgivable given the film as a whole.

It's more than trite to call a movie about senior citizens "life affirming." But sometimes things are just that trite. Young @ Heart--is horribly life affirming, and fun, and inspiring--a lot like the performers it profiles.

That Phantom Menace Guy Strikes Again

This time he takes on Avatar, in a briefer, but just as insightful and funny, two-part review

The Hurt Locker

The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug.

A lot of movies will open with an epigraph (from a poem by Chris Hedges) to set the tone, mood, explain the title, etc. with The Hurt Locker the epigraph (quoted above) is more of a thesis, particularly as the text begins to fade out, emphasizing the words "war is a drug." Having stated that, it spends the next 127 minutes demonstrating how it can be a drug. And it does so brilliantly.

The film follows an United States Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit in the last month or so of their tour in Iraq, both in the line of duty and between harrowing assignments.

While there are some killer lines, this isn't one of those movies you rave about dialogue in. Nor is this a movie that dazzles you with camera work -- although there are some shots that I want to replay over and over. I really appreciated the time most shots get--none of the short, choppy shots to heighten tension/excitement. The effects aren't over the top, opting for realism (such an oddity).

What the film excels is in a very honest, and fairly apolitical feel (one of the reviews I read about it complained that the politics were too muddy, and therefore the movie was subpar. Talk about missing the point). It's not so much a commentary on this particular war, but on those who fight in wars, and what happens to them. As the subjects are the soldiers, it comes down to the actors to make or break this film.

There are brief (sometimes too brief) appearances by marquee (or marquee-ish) names: Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse, Evangeline Lilly, they make their appearance and then disappear. The film is carried by the not-yet household names: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, and Brian Geraghty.

As one of the 156 viewers nationwide of ABC's The Unusuals last year, I came into the movie liking Jeremy Renner. It took maybe 15 minutes for me to realize I didn't have a clue what a good actor he is. Renner plays Staff Sergeant William James, the explosives expert the film focuses on. He will risk his life to diffuse, deactivate, whatever the bomb no matter the cost to himself.

Anthony Mackie plays the sergeant who handles the situation around James, making sure it's safe for him to take care of the explosive, with the assistance of Geraghty and others. He doesn't like James' style and attitude. Sgt. Sanborn is strictly by the book, get the job done the right way.

The only hiccup for me was spotting Better Off Ted's Malcolm Barrett beneath the helmet and cammo, which almost took me out of the moment, almost. But that's such a minor point I've taken 5x as long to describe it as it's worth.

The film has one of the best ending sequences I can think of--it makes the point strongly and clearly, but doesn't condescend to the audience and over-explain (as the tendency is so often today), a great way to conclude a great film.

Frequently when it comes to awards season, I'll have a favorite or two that I pull for, and am disappointed when they're beaten. But when I hear about The Hurt Locker losing some award (especially to a cliché-ridden disappointment like Avatar), I've found myself having a flash of anger. It's such a good movie, and had such a powerful impact on me, that failure for others to recognize is just wrong. (an irrational reaction, I realize, but frankly don't care).

And So it Begins...Netflix to Delay Releases

Back in November, I posted that Netflix was negotiating with movie studios to delay renting DVDs.

It was announced this week that they've reached a deal with Warner Bros. Netflix will delay new WB releases for 28 days, in exchange, WB will provide more from their catalog for Netlix to stream.

It's a win-win for everyone--'tho personally, I'd have preferred savings over streaming (maybe I don't stream as much as I should). Interesting to know that 75% of DVD sales happen in the first four weeks of release. I wonder if this will affect that somewhat, personally I rarely buy a movie until I see it in the theater/rent it, and I can't be the only one.

Yo Joe!

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra: I really shouldn't have delayed watching this as long as I did -- thankfully, I got a free redbox rental today, and didn't know what else to do with it, usually, I end up renting something I regret, not this time.

I had I don't know how many G. I. Joe action figures as a kid--I loved the Marvel comics, and probably watched every episode of the animated series 5+ times (at least). In other words, I was the target demo for this movie: had the nostalgia thing going for me and I have three sons who are of the toy buying age.

However, this was not a movie for the G. I. Joe I knew and loved--last year's animated G. I. Joe: Resolute was that flick (and it's a cryin' shame it didn't get the promotional push this one did).

That said, this was one fun flick. In many ways, this was a sequel to the '07 Transformers movie -- you take the basic premise of an 80's cartoon/toy franchise, surround that kernel with an outrageous story and F/X that defy belief, and infuse the whole thing with a sense of fun. This was obviously not intended to be anything other than a movie to enjoy -- there's not a lot of deep thinking to be done on this one (there probably is some).

None of the performances really stood out, every actor did their thing well (not that a lot was required of any of them). I do feel bad for poor Ray Park, guy must feel like he's stuck in the pre-Jazz Singer era (not the Neil Diamond one). Can I just say how nice it was to see Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in a role where he could crack a joke and smile a little?

Only one quibble, if it's an international team, why does it have a moniker denoting American troops?

Since You Asked...

In response to my last post, a friend asked, "Out of the 166, how many were totally lame?" Not sure about totally lame, but here are my bottom 13--am sure some of them had some redeeming value but were "almost completely" lame, as hard it it might be for me to think of what the redeeming value is.

7.8% of my 166 weren't worth the time and trouble. That's not bad.

5. Rightous Kill - Jon Avnet
11. Repo! The Genetic Opera - Darren Lynn Bousman
19. Dead Like Me: Life After Death - Stephen Herek
25. What Just Happened - Barry Levinson
36. Punisher: War Zone - Lexi Alexander
66. Life of the Party - Barra Grant
85. Two Lovers - James Gray
114. Let the Right One In - Tomas Alfredson
118. Good Dick - Marianna Palka
135. X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Gavin Hood
139. Chéri - Stephen Frears
145. The Marc Pease Experience - Todd Louiso
157. Mr. Art Critic - Richard Brauer

2009 Movies

Last year, for the first time, I decided to log the movies I watched. The end total (166) is somewhat depressing (2008 would've had a higher result, I think). If you want to see what things grabbed my attention in 2009, take a peak.

While I was getting the list ready, I compiled a list of my personal top 10 films I saw last year (for the first time, anyway, so Star Wars, etc. doesn't make the list). These aren't ranked in order of preference, cuz I don't think I could make that call. Instead, they're in order I saw them.

• Tropic Thunder - Ben Stiller
  
• Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father - Kurt Kuenne
  
• Rachel Getting Married - Jonathan Demme
  
• The Visitor - Thomas McCarthy
  
• Slumdog Millionaire - Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan
  
• Sunshine Cleaning - Christine Jeffs
  
• Phoebe in Wonderland - Daniel Barnz
  
• Whip It - Drew Barrymore
  
• Up - Pete Docter & Bob Peterson
  
• (500) Days of Summer - Marc Webb

Runners-Up (many of which would be tied for 11th, the rest are somewhere in the top 20 or so), again, in order I saw them:

• The Wackness - Jonathan Levine
  
• Pride and Glory - Gavin O'Connor
  
• Il y a longtemps que je t'aime - Philippe Claudel
  
• Marley & Me - David Frankel
  
• Frozen River - Courtney Hunt
  
• The Wrestler - Robert Harmon
  
• Wendy and Lucy - Kelly Reichardt
  
• The Go-Getter - Martin Hynes
  
• Gran Torino - Clint Eastwood
  
• Fanboys - Kyle Newman
  
• The Soloist - Joe Wright
  
• SherryBaby - Laurie Collyer
  
• Away We Go - Sam Mendes
  
• Funny People - Judd Apatow
  
• Paper Heart - Nicholas Jasenovec
  
• Julie & Julia - Norah Ephron

Everything Wrong with The Phantom Menace

probably 95% of you have seen this 70 min. review of The Phantom Menace (or part of it anyway) floating around the 'Net the last week or so. Still, I feel compelled to post this...spot-on stuff, really. As Mo Ryan described it, it's a work of "cogent, impassioned criticism, snarky humor and creative weirdness." Who could ask for more?

Naturally, after "amen"ing and laughing my way through the first 20 minutes of this last week, what are the clients watching when I arrive at work Friday? Yup. It was all I could do to stop myself from stopping the DVD and insisting everyone huddle around my laptop to watch this.

Part 1 is here, the rest is here.

Trailers, Trailers, Trailers

Quite the harvest of new trailers hit teh IntraWeb this week. Entries from all over the spectrum. There's:

• the ugh, really? (Shrek Forever After)
• the hmmm, has potential (Alice in Wonderland)
• the wow, they've improved on the last trailer a lot! (Hot Tub Time Machine)
• the still not sure I want to see this, but I'm more interested now (The Clash of the Titans)
• the ohmanohmanohmanohmanohmanohmanohman (Iron Man 2)

and then this one, quite possibly the cutest trailer in history:

Top 5 Holiday Movies

Something got me thinking the other day about my favorite Christmas/Holiday movies and I figured just for fun, I'd list my Top 5 and ask you, my faithful readers, to speak up and name your own/debate mine. Hit a little roadblock, but still, worth a shot...

1. A Christmas Story, it's just the best, hands down, by far, the best. Funny, heartwarming, there's no way you can't relate to Ralphie/his brother/his parents/friends -- no matter how far we are from the time it's set in.

2. White Christmas, this is my mom's fault, she insists on watching this every year, it's just not Christmastime without this little gem. And hey, at the end of the day, Danny Kaye's funny.

3. Die Hard, "Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho." 'Nuff said.

oh, yeah, and Al's a better movie fat guy than anyone who's donned the Claus uniform

1. Elf, one of three Ferrell movies I can stand/enjoy. Honestly only watched this to kill time one Christmas Eve with TLomL. But Ferrell, Caan, Newhart sold me and had me rolling on the floor. Now that I know who Zooey Deschanel is, I should probably rewatch it just.

5. Uhhhh, this is pathetic, I can't come up with a fifth. The Scrooge flicks are okay at best, It's a Wonderful Life isn't that wonderful...can't think of any others, honestly.