What Exactly Am I, Generationaly Speaking?

As I sit at my desk, reflecting on The Lion King, listening to the soundtrack from Final Fantasy 7 and being devoured by social networking I begin to wonder who am I? Not in some deep philosophical way, but in terms of my generation, what defines us...

So naturally, like any good 20-something, I googled generations. Wikipedia told me that I was "Generation Y," part of something called the "Echo Boomers." What the holy heck is an Echo Boomer? So naturally I clicked the little blue echo boomer link and stepped into the vortex of Wikipedia. Having been through a generational blender of user submitted facts and doctoral anecdotes, I still have come to no definitive conclusion.

Somethings made a lot of sense to me though. They say my generation is counter-counter culture, which is a confusing way to say we rebelled against the guys rebelling. They say we are more civic minded and less cynical. I couldn't agree more, we live in an Anne Frank idealistic world where people are generally good at their core. We see an act as good until the intentions are made clear, and that really speaks to me. I have always been quick judge something as genuine until proven false, I am the guy who watches Law and Order and when the bad guys says he didn't do it I believe him. He seems to have a good story, don't be so harsh Mr cop guy, what if he really is innocent! I think this comes from a childhood devoid of real evil, but a teenage reminder that real evil exists. I know it made me really examine why some people do such terrible things. It is true, the road to hell is paved with good intentions... and honestly that I see that as an extremely uplifting statement.

The phrase "Peter Pan" generation struck me as interesting. Apparently we take longer to become adults then before. We live at home longer, we hold onto things from our childhood with greater reverence then in the past. Most of the describers seem to miss the point though. One entry commented that this generation is learning for the mistakes of our forerunners, that we see all the failed careers and marriages as something to be avoided. So we take our time. I don't think that is completely true either, I have a much more romantic view on this subject. We are a generation of dreamers, of imagination and great personal self worth. We don't cling to the youth years so much as we celebrate them. I sit here writing this listening to music from Super Mario 64, essentially well organized digital bleeps, but I cherish this music for it's role in shaping who I am today, it allows me to look into the past and imagine the future. If everything is cyclical then we simply looked so far ahead, we saw behind us.

They also say my generation is overly self entitled. It stems from childhoods where everyone got a trophy just for showing up. Saying everyone is special is just another way to say no one is. I think that has stuck in our collective cultural subconscious, we dream big, we have the loftiest of goals, and so much of that goes unfulfilled. Psychiatry will be a very booming business in 20 years. This, I think, might be our greatest identifier as a group. We grew up with so much promise, we witnessed the birth of so much amazing technology, so many leaps forward in such a small amount of time. To us, there is no impossible, and that is a dragon we might be uniquely qualified to slay. This generation is poised to do great things, advance in ways that only our children will comprehend.

So what does that make us? Not Generation Y, that is too easy, too derivative. The Echo Boomers? No we stand apart, we love our parents but that's them, we are us. I know some refer to us as the Millennials, and that makes sense for right now, but honestly I think we should go unnamed for awhile, I don't think we have trully discovered what this generation is. I asked who am I, generationally speaking, and the answer I found is that we are still looking for the answer. Only time, and our even more amazing successors can truly be the judge.

Internet Funnies: 4-3-10

Looks like Sharkboy might have had a little assistance filling out his dreamy abs for some of the New Moon promotionals.

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On the next episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit some one in the Vatican learns the uses and practical applications of the Venn Diagram.

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My justification... that IS where X is. Perhaps in the future the teacher will write a more retard proof test.

PS. The guy why wrote this is either working at a McDonalds or is a high priced Defense Attorney

Scattershot: 4-3-10

The Butler Bulldogs are going to play for the NCAA National Championship Monday. Don't worry if you don't follow college basketball and never heard of them, because there are thousands of fans around the country who live and breath college hoops and have never heard of Butler's Bulldogs. America loves an underdog, and mere 2 months after the Saints captured the hearts of country, Butler looks to do the same Monday night.

The Men Who Stare At Goats is an odd film. Wait, odd is not the right word let me consult my thesaurus for the better adjective..... ah, found it! The Men Who Stare At Goats is an eccentric film. The structure is loose, most of the characters have generally magnanimous motivations and the film's main villain isn't so much a villain as he was a selfish younger man who grew up into successful older man, he dosen't really do anything villainous. It's hard to root for any of the characters, because the ones who are "good" are generally crazy or doing things that make little sense to a sane person. That said, I did enjoy the hour and a half I spent with the film, and recommend it as a rental to anyone who had a passing interest in the concept or stars of the film.

I'm really looking forward to The Losers and Kick-Ass. I don't think anything more needs to be said about Kick-Ass so I want spend a few sentences on the Losers. The cast is awesome, Jeffery Dean Morgan was one of the better parts of last year's brilliant Watchmen, and he gets his own starring role here. Zoe Saldana is 42 kinds of hot and is picking a lot of geek friendly roles that I can really appreciate. I also have developed a strong liking of Chris Evans, the man just owns on screen and deserves all the fame he has coming to him as he is taking on the role of Captain America next.

Which brings me to my last point, the Marvel shared universe of films (Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and eventually the Avengers) has had a few developments recently. 1st, obviously Chris Evans was signed on to be Captain America, which sort of completes the "big 3" of the Avengers (Charlie Chaplin as Iron Man, Kirk's Dad from Star Trek as Thor and The Human Torch as Captain America) Not a horrible set of guys to anchor, more or less, 6 films in the next 5 years. 2nd the geek man god Joss Whedon and animation man god Brad Bird have been mentioned as possible Avengers directors, and with Favreau out of the question and Letterier being hobbled by poor reviews of Clash of the Titans, the two new names could be near the top of the short list. I will reserve judgment until they make an announcement, but rest assured these names have a HIGH potential to cause geekgasms so powerful the world over, that the earth's very axis could be shifted... this might be what the Mayans predicted people, Avengers has a tentative 2012! release date!

Mercenary Madness

It seems like every time Hollywood gets a good idea, 4 or 5 other similar ideas crop up right behind it. Usually all but one get weeded before you go see them in the theater, occasionally you will see 2 break through around the same time. Examples of this phenomena are Dantes Peak/Volcano, Armageddon/Deep Impact and Finding Nemo/Shark Tale. This will happen about once a year with varying degrees of visibility, but this year we get the rare trifecta. Three movies all with very similar core concepts all battling for out hearts and wallets this summer. Three films will weave us a tale about a close group of highly trained mercs who used to work for, or were betrayed by the government and only trust each other. They take jobs for money, but the movie likely sees our heroes get revenge for their betrayal. So lets break them down and see who is the Favorite, Dark Horse and Lame Duck of the trio! It's time for some Mercenary Madness!

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The Expendables



Sylvester Stallone knows his fans. Say what you will about the man and his movies, but he knows exactly what people want when they walk into a Stallone film. Ever since he took control over his image and characters with the better then expected Rocky Balboa, Stallone has been on a roll, making films as if he were a Stallone fan boy himself. This summer he might just unveil his masterpiece. The Expendables was cast like the internet's dream list of action stars of the 80's, 90's and today, you will see Stallone, Willis and Ah-Nold together in a scene... you will see Jason Statham, Jet Li and Stallone simultaneously kicking ass... you will see Dolph Lundgern and Mickey Rourke doing stuff... and for those who are interested Stone Cold Steve Austin and Randy Couture are around too. Seriously if you were every excited by some form of cinema violence in the last 30 years, this film will appeal to you. This only flaw in this film's armor is the simple fact that it is hard to sell an 80's style action flick in 2010, especially with other, more flashy, films are coming out before it.

Verdict: With the best cast of the bunch, and Stallone behind the camera this film might be the best, but it is a harder sell and will likely not be the big winner. DARK HORSE.

The A-Team:



The classic TV show is reborn in 2010 with a good cast and a big budget. This is has the most name recognition of the bunch and a Director who can really set up an action scene, so there is hope. The problem here is that this is an adaption of a TV show, and there is a very sticky history of these being balls awful. Added to that is the Mr. T factor which presents the problem of an actor who is larger then the character he played, which will lead to either a painful characiture or a lifeless shell of a character that will bring the whole movie down. This film boasts a good cast that I would generally root for, but I can't shake the feeling that this film will suffer from bad timing. Had this come out last year, or next, it wouldn't have the added burden of having to be better then not just previous TV adaptations (a VERY low bar), but also a pair of similar films out in the same few months that frankly look much better.

Verdict: Might make the most money of the group, just because, but out of the three stands the greatest chance of being a flaming turd. LAME DUCK.


The Losers:



Of the three trailers released for these films, the Losers looks like the most fun. Based on an obscure comic book somewhere in the DC library, The Losers boasts a great cast, a great look and a very interesting director (whose previous work includes Stomp the Yard and I Always Know What You Did Last Summer). Playing like a more colorful mix of both the Expendables and The A-Team, The Losers seems to have something for quite literately everyone. Sexy Ladies? Check. Sexy Guys? Check. (I figure that in theory only) Big Explosions? Check. Lots of Guns? Check. Sexy Scenes and Slow Motion? Check and Check, and both in one scene no less! The Losers looks to be a blast that appeals to the masses in flash, the nerds in substance and the inbetweeners in sex appeal, if only it didn't have to contend with Kick-Ass in theaters this would be a slam dunk.

Verdict: The film doesn't have the big names of the other two and a less then favorable release date to compete with a couple summer flicks, yet despite the underdog status I am willing to bet this will be the more loved of the Mercenary Movies of 2010. FAVORITE.

The Practically Perfect Pixar Personality Prognosticator

(No, this blog post is not a thinly veiled way for me to get a huge 5-pointer next time I play Scatigories, although I am keenly aware of its potential so beware next time you lose to me.)

It dawned on me the other day, as I listened to the cool, breezy sounds the Finding Nemo soundtrack, that Pixar has 10 feature films all of which are classics in their own way. All of which also have fans who count each as their favorite Pixar film. So using this fairly obvious bit of knowledge I have delved into the deep psychological meanings of each film and I can tell you what kind of person you are based only on what your favorite Pixar film is. So take a read at what I have and decide for yourself how close my Practically Perfect Pixar Personality Prognosticator is to the truth! (oh and as a fun little game, see if you can tell which is MY favorite Pixar film)

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Toy Story:

You are old school, a classic. You find that today's films have to much whiz and bang, not enough deep soulful moments of character development. You also have a bit of a sentimentalist in you, you have a soft spot in your soul for the "original," for a film that makes you nostalgic for an easier time. You might not hate current films, but you defiantly prefer the films of yesteryear.


A Bugs Life:

You are unique, or at least you want everyone to know you are. You like things that most people aren't talking about, and that is exactly how you like it. If it's popular, then it simply is to mainstream for your more "advanced" tastes, if it is little known, or considered "lost" you are a fan. You probably don't like 3D, or CGI and are just now coming around to surround sound, air conditioning and "talkies."


Toy Story 2:

You are a movie studio's dream, you love a great sequel or remake. You don't mind treading the same ground so long as the adventure is still fun and exciting. You love the familiarity of characters you've met before, and want to see them in new and exciting tales. In life you likely have a routine you live by, a pattern that varies little throughout your life. Every now and then you might do something crazy like meet a new friend, or go to a new place, but you always find your way back to your comfort zone.


Monsters Inc:

You are a friend at heart. Deeply loyal and true you do anything for your friends. You are also slow to change, especially if you don't see the need to. You really only ever embrace change when it is for the betterment of all around you. In fact you might even be selfless to a fault, helping others even when it might burden yourself. In the end however, you have created deep bonds of friendship that can carry you for the rest of your days.

Finding Nemo:

You are smart, beyond smart really. More god-like genius. You are never wrong, you simply have varying degrees of rightness. People either adore you or they are jealous. You might be kind enough to grace other mere mortals with your presence from time to time, but that is not required for a man (or woman) of your infinite perfectness. You are also really cool, you make Fonzie look like Oprah wrapped in a Britney Spear Snuggie... aka not cool. You might have pets, but they feed and walk themselves because they know better then to interrupt your day.


The Incredibles:

You crave excitement and adventure, you can't be bothered stuck in a cubicle all day. You need to be outside, doing great things. You also have an appreciation for the retro, if it is a call back to a design or fashion from the past it piques your interest. You are a strong believer in being true to yourself, and not compromising to fall into the pack. Being special is a gift that you treasure and think the whole world should share. When you are called to action you are always among the first to respond. You live your life like every day is your last, enjoying all the fruits of existence.


Cars:

You are a fan of the mainstream, popular things are popular because of people like you. You don't mind if everyone likes it too, because that makes sense to you. You never are alone in your actions because it is easy for you to find like minded people to be friends with. Your life's journey travels along a large path and is often shared by many others, and you would have it no other way. You probably don't take many risks, because risks can be risky, and you are likely very content with the things you have in life. Things that are shiny might also appeal to you, but you might not have ever really understood why.


Ratatouille:

You are a multi-textured individual. You feel that anyone can do anything they want to do, and it is wrong for anyone to put limitations on others. You find beauty in anything, and recognize that it is not the appearance of something, but it's soul that is important. You also like to please others finding great pleasure in the happiness of your friends. You also appreciate deeply the magical qualities of food, knowing the inner most emotions a good plate of dinner can bring out in even the harshest of individuals. You live a pleasant life, made all the more so for your love of the simple things.


Wall-E:

You appreciate the history of things. Be it nature, or classic buildings and stores, you find a nobility in something that has been around for a long time. You also feel a personal sorrow for new things that pave over the old. In your prefect world modern advances live in concert with original and classic things. You also might have a strong sense of civic duty which steams from your own personal need to keep things clean. Some might call you obsessive in your need to keep a tidy environment, but to you it makes no sense to live a life surrounded by filth. You also have a romantic in you, both in ideals and in love.


Up:

You are an old soul. Knowing that life is one long adventure, you want to grasp at yours every day you live. You are also very wise, knowing that even the seemingly mundane portions of your life are just as much a part of your grand adventure as anything else. You might also be a tough nut to crack, with a hard and craggy exterior protecting your soft and warm internal core. You are loyal to the ones you love, and would to go extreme lengths to maintain your promises to them. You maintain a youthful soul, even as you age gracefully into the twilight of your days.

The Other Guys (Film Composers)

One of my great passions in life is film music. I do not consider my self an expert, more of an avid fan. In an attempt to break my mind from the sports strangle hold the Super Bowl and now the Olympics have on me I am doing a bit of an exercise.

I am going to shine a spotlight on 5 composers that are not typically known to the average joe film fan. This is not a list, not a best of, not a condemnation of any name not here. Just an opportunity for me to talk about, and hopefully share some beautiful music with all 2 of you who read this (Hi Mom!)

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Joe Hisaishi:

This master Japanese film composer is the go to man for all of Hayo Miazaki's animated masterpieces. At first glance most people would look at Miazaki's work as simply anime, but that would be an unfair generalization to one of the true geniuses of the animation industry. Miazaki is more like the Pixar of the east, all of his films both soar to incredible technical heights, and touch deep into the soul with incredible emotion. A main reason for the deep, resonating, emotional impact of these films is the note perfect scores of Joe Hisaishi. Hisaishi's music is a perfect complement to the stunning images it accompanies and never fails to low you away when you listen to the music alone.

Here is one of my personal favorites, from Princess Mononoke




Clint Mansell:

Probably one of the most loved and well known pieces of modern film music was written by Clint Mansell, yet he still is on a list like this because so few could recall him by name. Mansell wrote the chilling, haunting and cinematicly perfect "Lux Aeterna" for Requiem for a Dream. A bit of music that has become a staple in move trailers and used countless times for many different goals. There is a simplicity to his music that builds into such grand musical moments that it is difficult to get the full majesty of his works in small doses. I have a feeling Mansell is primed to step into the world of well known film composers in the very near future, because his work is already there.

Since every one has heard Lux Aeterna, here is a fabulous piece from the Fountain:




Ilan Eshkeri:

I can really only speak to one score by Ilan Eshkeri, Stardust. However, for what he lacks in quantity he more then makes up for with amazingness! The score for the film Stardust is very much like the film itself, whimsical, light, beautiful and more or less very happy. Now this can sound like a major turn off to some of you sourpusses out there, but the lasting optimism that this music instills every time I listen is a true pleasure. I am a big fan of "loud" scores as I have been told, lots of sounds that build to one giant gorgeous moment musical bliss. Well this film falls directly in that category. Stardust is indeed loud, bombastic and epic but it is also sweet and emotional. A combination that secures this in my heart for a long time.

Here is a nice cut together of most of the main musical cues from Stardust




Bruno Coulais:

Now here is a guy that I know nothing about. This French composer is on my radar for one very admirable fact. He composed my favorite score of 2009, beating out 2 great Micheal Giacchino scores for the honor. His music for Coraline has such a unique quality, it is all together haunting and scary while still maintaining a sweet and childlike innocence in the music that always leaves you caught between 2 worlds. That sort of musical parallel to the story really caught my attention when I was able to listen to the music independent of the film. I hope that brilliant music in Coraline can bring Mr. Caoulais to the states for more readily available projects in the future!

Here is the end credits music from Coraline




James Dooley:

A TV and video game composer who wrote the just point perfect music for the criminally canceled Pushing Daises TV show. Most of his more famous work comes from the video game side of things so hopefully the meteoric success of Micheal Giacchino will open the flood gates for guys who have cut their teeth in game scores. I find Dooley's work on Daises to be a perfect blend of comedy and romance with just a touch of whimsy to glue it all together. The large sounds he brought to the show is rarely heard on TV and is very cinematic. I hope to hear a lot more from this guy in the future.

Here is a piece from Pushing Daisies

The Super Bowl Hiatus...

I took a little break from the blog to follow in depth the New Orleans Saints miraculous Super Bowl run... THEY ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!! sorry, that happens every now and then.

So the Blog is back on track, a lot less lists (I'll finish the all decade lists in the future, I swears) and a whole lot more stream of consciousness.

Top 10 Films of the Decade Pt. 4: Action and Horror

Today brings an interesting list. There were so many "action" films that qualify for other categories that I was hard pressed to find 10 for this list, so I decided to mix it in with Horror movies, a genre I like but think was lacking this decade, and I made an amalgam list. This is a pretty fair representation of the thrilling, exciting and scary films of the 2000s:


10) Night Watch (2004)



Timur Bekmambetov's adaptation of the brilliant Night Watch series of books is a huge, bombastic peice of film art that came out of Russia like a bat out of hell. Watching this movie, with it's interactive subtitles and crazy visuals, is a new way to experience films on the big screen. Timur has shown his visual abilities earlier in the lists, but this was his first film that most Americans had seen and thankfully enough people saw it to justify bringing him to Hollywood and make films in my native language... yeah I am selfish like that.


9) National Treasure (2004)



I am a Nicholas Cage fan, I don't understand the people that hate on the man. He is such a watchable character and this was one of his biggest main stream hits of the decade. National Treasure had all the elements that were lacking in the recent Indiana Jones sequel and the brilliant conceit that the American landmarks ad historical places hold secrets to grand treasure was executed to perfection. The supporting cast also help make this a fun film going experience as any chance to watch Harvey Kitel and Sean Bean is worthwhile.


8) Shaun of the Dead (2004)



Edgar Wright made the first ever Zom-Rom-Com (Zombie Romantic Comedy) and as odd as that sounds it was brilliant. It has a British cast that boasted Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Bill Nighy before they were every day names in America and writing that is just as much of a skewering of Zombie movies as it was of Romantic Comedies. This was a film so plain awesome that it has joined the list of films that if I were to pass it on TV, I am personally obligated to watch finish it, and I would love it every time.


7) Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)



The first Pirates of the Caribbean movie hit out of left field. I worked at a movie theater/restaurant when this film came out and every night for it's first 7 days I was either working the movie or watching the movie. It was just infectious. Great action, great writing, great locals and a career defining performance by one of the greatest actors of our generation. This film had all of the swashbuckling fun that had been missing in film for a long time. Plus it was the first time cinema goers got a look at Zoe Saldana, whom I predicted big things for at the time.


6) Pan's Labyrinth (2006)



Sometimes film goes beyond simple storytelling and moves into a world of high art. Pan's Labyrinth is the highest artistic achievement of the decade. Simple, complex, lyrical, sad, sweet, scary, inspirational and profound, these are all words that define this film and you could probably keep going on. This film was a big upset winner at the Oscars in 2007 and reaffirmed my respect for the Academy after a few years of poor choices. If you haven't seen this movie, please do, you will thank me shortly after it ends.


5) The Departed (2006)



The biggest stretch in my Action/Horror films list. Martin Scorsese's most recent gangster film represents the triumphant return of the greatest gangster film director returning to top form. It is no surprise that Marty finally won his Oscar for this layered tale of double crossing and rats. Boston allows for an interesting new backdrop for a director that usually sticks to New York, and the all star cast, that doesn't include De Niro, Pesci or Sorvino, are all great in their roles. The stand outs in this film are Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg, both f whole disappear in roles they clearly loved to play.


4) Grindhouse (2007)



Probably the best film (films?) destroyed by the worst release/marketing in the history of cinema. Why on earth do you release a dark and gritty double feature with so much horror and death on Easter weekend! It was a supermely stupid move, as was marketing the film as a double feature but not mandating putting both films on the marquee. If people had the choice to see both films for one price, or just one or the other for one price then I think you would have seen many more people interested in checking out at least a portion of this work. As it stands both films are going to live on separately, but in my mind, Grindhouse was one of the better film going experiences of the decade.


3) American Psycho (2000)



Christian Bale's star making role as a Huey Lewis loving serial killer is the kind special connection of character and actor that comes so rarely. He was born to play this part and thank dickens he was ready and available when they were making the film. The 80s back drop was perfect for the tone of the story and, beyond Bale, the cast is really great in this film. This film has some of the best kills I have ever seen on screen, and Bale really shows the other slashers in cinema how to kill a prostitute with a chainsaw. 10 out of 10 for style!


2) Drag Me To Hell (2009)



Sam Raimi spent most of the decade with the web-slinger, and one of those films already made my top 10 comic book films list, but the best thing he made in the last 10 years is Drag Me To Hell. An all together scary, funny, thrilling and exhilarating piece of work that doesn't want to be anything more then a great Sam Raimi flick and succeeds with panache. My favorite film of 2009, my favorite score of 2009 and one of the better cinema going experiences in the decade, putting it this high is a no brainer.


1) Kill Bill Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (2003/2004)



Kill Bill might very well be Quinton Tarintino's masterpiece. It is huge and sprawling, the narrative is so massive that it needs to be split into chapters and even into 2 films, but Tarintino juggles it all with such care and grace. There are revenge films and then there is Kill Bill, it transcends the sub-genre and becomes work that is more like a comfy quilt then a movie. It is sown together out of pieces of other films, other genres, even animation,but the end result is a warm experience that makes you want to keep watching it forever. Tarintno might have made more popular films, but this is his best.

Top 10 Films of the Decade Pt. 3: Comic Book Films

This is a list I decided to add because of all other genres, the Comic Book film defines the decade. I also made the decision early on to focus on the films that are instantly recognizable as comic films, so there will be no Ghost World, American Splendor or Road to Perdition, films that have comic book roots and are very good, but unless you knew better, you would never know they came from the comic page. So lets begin true believers, excelsior!:

10) Hellboy 2 (2008)



I begin with a very interesting example of a Superhero sequel that is further away from the source material then the original, but it is a better film because of it. Guillermo del Toro and, Hellboy creator, Mike Mignola worked together to come up with a Hellboy film that plays to the strengths of both Del Toro and Hellboy himself. Not adapting anything specific Del Toro was able to play in the world of Fairy Tales as a back drop for Hellboy and as a result he made a film as poetic and lyrical as it was exciting and action packed.


9) Sky High (2005)



Yep, I am fully aware of the fact that Sky High is not based on any specific comic per say, but in spirit and in execution this is the closest we will ever get to a New Mutants style X-Men film. Set in a world where heroes exist and don't develop their powers until around puberty and when they do get their abilities they are sent to a super hero training school. What makes Sky High truly great is that it fuses all the comic elements with cinematic elements from all the best high school movies of the 80's. This odd mix makes a potent mix of excitement and fun. Plus Kurt Russell as a superhero, what more can you want!


8) Wanted (2008)



This film couldn't be any further away from the source material. The original story sees Wesley in a world in which super villains have won, all heroes are dead and he is the son of the greatest villain ever. None of that is in the movie, and I am pretty sure no one really cares. Wanted is a visual splendor, Timur Bekmambetov, Russian director of Night Watch and Day Watch, has a knack for visual flourish. Beyond the look of the film, it is an action marvel. The gun play is outlandish, but it looks so cool. The acting is pretty solid too, this is just all around a fun flick.


7) Spider-Man 2 (2004)



The Sam Raimi Spider-Man franchise just died a very public death, but that doesn't take away from the pinnacle it reached with Spider-Man 2. One of the most well balanced, visually clean looking action films every made. With out the hassle of an origin story Sam Raimi gets to have an entire 2 hour film dedicated to all of the fun elements of the first film. The casting of Alfred Molina as Dr. Octopus is a great example of using an actor against the look of the comic book and his ability overshadowing any superficial differences. I do still hate Kirstin Dunst as Mary Jane which is probably why this is not higher on the list.


6) The Dark Knight (2008)



This movie was a phenomenon, it was a monster at the box office and deservedly so. Christopher Nolan made a dark, and very real drama out of a man in a Bat Suit and was able to get amazing performances out of Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart. I don't personally believe this is the ultimate version of the Batman character, but any minimal flaw that can be found in the film is vastly overshadowed by a film that simply works in nearly every way. This is another example of a movie that is a better film then it is an adaptation, and that is alright when the end result is this good.


5) Iron Man (2008)



From, probably, the best comic film of 2008 to the most important. Iron Man open the door to the most important next step in comic book film-making, the concept of a shared universe. The proverbial pebble that started an avalanche, a small end credits cameo of Sam Jackson is going to usher in a new age of comic book films. Aside from the importance of the film, it is damn fun too. Who ever green lit the concept of bringing Downey Jr. back as an action film headliner is a certifiable genius, and the rest of the cast is excellent as well. This film delivered everything it promised and more, can't wait for the sequel!


4) The Incredibles (2004)



Another of the "not exactly a comic book film but it's here anyways" picks, The Incredibles is the perfect Fantastic Four film even if it isn't the Fantastic Four. The family dynamic is at the core of this very good film and it is clear that the first family of Marvel Comics is the inspiration. Brad Bird and the team at Pixar crafted a film that payed homage to more then just comic books, but to James Bond and his earlier days. This was one of the more impressive Pixar films of the decade because it was the first to use human beings are the principle stars of the movie, which was the last hurdle they needed to clear before claiming their crown as the very best animation studio in the world... needless to say they cleared it with flying colors.


3) Sin City (2005)



The style of Frank Miller is probably the most cinematic on paper I have ever seen, so it comes as no surprise that Robert Rodriquez's panel for panel adaptation plays so well. The grim and gritty super-noir stories that intertwine form a piece of cinema that has to be seen on the biggest screen possible. It is kinetic, it is vibrant, it is everything from the comic and it is simply great. It was a smart move by Rodriquez to bring on Frank Miller to co-direct, just as much for keeping it close to the source material as it was for actually getting Miller on board with the project. Miller has a bad history with Hollywood, and it took massive convincing on Rodriquez's part to get Miller to even allow the film to be made. Thankfully it did get made.


2) Watchmen (2009)



There is a lot that can be said about Zack Snyder's opus, more then this little paragraph can hold, so I will simply break down one of the elements that works so well, the casting. Every one is beyond perfect, even the oft maligned Malin Ackerman is perfect for her role as Silk Spectre 2. The stand out of the perfect cast is Jackie Earl Haley as Rorschach, what perfect timing and fateful that he had a come back right around the time this movie was getting off the ground because the world is a better place for him being in this movie. Lofty words but I will stand by them.

1) X-Men 2 (2003)



The fourth sequel on my list of Comic Book movies, and this will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me. I am an X-Fan, to the core, and this is probably a biased opinion but X-Men 2 is the perfect comic book film. It has action, it has heart, it has smart writing that perfectly captures the allegorical nature of the X-Men. It has the best quality of actors and a Director who hadn't yet sullied his name by leaving the franchise in the dust to ruin another. In fact the only flaw that I can muster for this movie is the horrible subtitle X2: X-Men United that thankfully no one uses anymore. This was the peak of comic films of the decade, and my favorite comic film ever.

Top 10 Films of the Decade Pt. 2: Comedies

My best of the decade lists continue with the best 10 Comedies of the decade. This might have been one of the tougher lists to put together as there were so many terrific comedies in the last 10 years. I tried my best to not include like kinds, so you wont see 5 Judd Apatow related movies and 3 Kevin Smith's, and I didn't manage to find room for any of the Will Farrell comedies, even if Anchorman was pretty fantastic. That said, I think the next 10 films is a great representation of what made me laugh over the last 10 years:

10) King of Kong (2007)



Interestingly enough this is not the only documentary on this list. King of Kong tells the remarkably engaging tale of one mans fight against all odds to secure the Donkey Kong record. This epic tale of butt numbing video gamery also has a villain in the scheming, vengeful and painfully awkward Billy Mitchell. This well made doc about an absurd topic just had to squeak onto my list for best comedies of the decade.


9) Black Dynamite (2009)



"CreamCorn you jive mutha!" This film came out of left field and left an instant impact on my mind. Micheal Jai White clearly gets it and thankfully he lets every one else in on the joke. From the absurdity of the beginning to the down right insanity of the end, after 3 recent viewings I still find new things to bust a gut at in this fabulously funny flick.


8) Hamlet 2 (2008)



If 1999 ushered in the new gold standard of comedy musical numbers (South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut) this brilliant 2008 film made a serious case of it's own. The biggest laughs come in the musical numbers"Rock Me Sexy Jesus" and "Raped In The Face," but the film offers a consistent laugh factor, mostly because of Steve Coogan, one in a long line of British funny men who made a big impact in the 2000's.


7) Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)



Judd Apatow's influence on this decade in comedy is as clear as it is huge. He has been the face of a whole new revolution in cinematic comedy, and I will get to his directing work shortly, but of all the films that bear his stamp, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is the best. A film that came out of nowhere it made a star out of Jason Segel, who up to this point was just another face in the Apatow crowd. Add in the lush and beautiful Hawaiian locals and the stupidly gorgeous Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis you have a great comedy that is nice to look at too.


6) O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)



It would be a poor comedy list if it didn't include a Cohen Bros. film, and of all their lighter works this decade O Brother is their best. With the basic structure of Homer's The Odyssey and one of the better assembled casts the Cohen's have worked with, this film's journey from Chain Gang to damn bursting is a romp that is every bit as smooth as Clooney's Dapper Daned Hair.


5) Bad Santa (2003)



Billy Bob Thorton made himself a comedy heavyweight with this dirty, raunchy and just plain hilarious Santa heist film. Taking no prisoners, this movie takes every turn for the dark and dirty and just when you think they couldn't go any further, they step it up a notch. Great characters and a smart plot help make this more then just a funny film, it elevates to near classic stand point.


4) The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)



As I said earlier Judd Apatow was all over the place this decade in comedies and this is the defacto starting point. This film introduced the mainstream movie audience to a world of comedy that nearly all film comedies have emulated or been a part of ever since. Immediately quotable, terrifyingly relatable, simultaneously sweet and clever, this film, and many subsequent Apatow related films, juggled the whole gamut of emotions and presented them to us in the very best of packages.


3) Clerks 2 (2006)



The clear pinnacle of the View Askew-niverse, Kevin Smith finally made a truly great film. I have always loved his movies, and I even gave serious thought to putting both Zack and Miri and Jay and Silent Bob Strike on this list. Then I thought back on what this film represented and if I was only going to place one Kevin Smith film on the list it had to be this one. Both Smith and his characters are growing and the natural way these people interacted and lived their lives fully fleshed out the set of characters we meet more then a decade earlier. Despite all the sentiment and character work, the film is funny as hell. And as far as swan songs go, Kevin Smith sent his universe out on top.


2) Best In Show (2000)



Christopher Guest was a big part of what made Spinal Tap so hilarious, and then he proved he had comedy chops with Waiting For Guffman, and of all the mockumentaries he has worked on since, none has been as note perfect as Best In Show. Building a stable of actors who keep playing roles in all of his films, Best In Show represented the prefect balance of the wacky and the witty.


1) The Aristocrats (2005)



It surprised me as I built this list, but my top comedies of the decade list begins and ends with documentaries. The very essence of comedy is explored by Penn Jillete and company in this deconstruction of one of the oldest and mailable jokes in the book. Boasting a ridiculous amount talented funny men telling their version of the joke it just builds and builds to the point where I literately was in pain walking out of the movie theater. The reason I put this at number 1 was more then just the side splitting hilarity, but the deep dissecting of what makes a joke funny really makes this film the most interesting gut buster of the 2000s.

Top 10 Films of the Decade Pt. 1: Dramas

The 2000s are now over and I wanted to take a leisurely stroll down memory lane, and that of course means lists! And boy howdy do I have a lot of them planned, 8 to be exact. I will begin with the one genre that I had to cheat the most on. While all of these films are drama's in the loosest of senses, there are a few that might be considered comedies by some, but bear in mind that my Comedy list was too full and the Drama cateory was one of the weaker for the decade. So without further ado:


10) Almost Famous (2000)



Cameron Crowe started out the decade with this semi-autobiographical film so I think it is fitting that I start the list with it. With great music, great writing, great acting and just an altogether watchable experience Almost Famous was one of the first films I owned on DVD and one of the most watched since. Kate Hudson is great as the leader of the Band Aids, but this was one of the first films to direct my attention to Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk and Zooey Deschanel so for that alone I am eternally grateful.


9) The Aviator (2004)



This was a movie that I liked at the time, but it wasn't until repeated viewings on DVD that I discovered just how much. One of the longer films on this list, but the world that Scorsese has recreated is simply remarkable. The life of Howard Hughes is a very interesting tale and the life that Leonardo DiCaprio breathes into the role is some of his best work to date. The real show stealer, however, is Cate Blanchette as Katherine Hepburn. Wow does she nail that role and cement herself as an acting icon of her generation.


8) Remember the Titans (2000)



One of the few sports movies to make my list and one of the very best ones. This movie came out right at the time when I was in school playing football so their are obvious reasons why I like this film, but it made my list because it is also a really griping civil rights tale. This isn't among the very best of film making achievements, but it is a film that plays so very well and has stood the test of time nearly 10 years later.


7) Gone Baby Gone (2007)



Ben Affleck's feature directing debut is among the hardest films I have ever watched. I generally shy away from debbie downer films, to me they are often gloomy for gloomy's sake and otherwise just not fun. Gone Baby Gone isn't much different, but Casey Affleck's character has so much depth that when he has to make the difficult choice at the end you sympathize with his lose - lose scenario and can't help but be moved in one of the most downer endings I have ever seen.

6) Garden State (2004)



One of my favorite movies of the decade, this film hit me like a ton of bricks in 2004. Just a perfect film that stuck very close to home for me. Zach Braff constructed a film that is quirky, unique (at the time it was) and just plain fun all the while dealing with serious personal emotional issues that young people tend to go through in a directionless life. A great cast and a brilliant soundtrack also help make this film one of the more memorable cinematic experiences of my life.

5) The Dreamers (2003)



Probably my favorite Bernardo Bertolucci film, and one of the biggest surprises of the year for me when it came out. The incestuous nature of the film was shocking to me at the time (I was 17 when I first saw it) but deeper reflection on the film in my "what do I want to do with my life" phase really opened my eyes to the cineophile radical 60s message the movie was telling and I was enthralled. This is a film with many messages and truly needs to be dissected in multiple viewings for full affect.


4) The Beach (2000)



Yep Danny Boyle's The Beach, kinda surprising to see it here huh? Well when I was looking through the films of the decade I kept coming back to how many times I have seen this film. When it came out I loved it, then never thought about it. One day I picked the VHS and found myslef watching it ALL the time, it was my favorite "homework" watching film for a couple years, and even to this day I find myself putting on this film once every 6 months or so. Danny Boyle is the master of tone, putting on this movie is almost like a chemical experience, I just instantly get relaxed and enthralled.


3) Slumdog Millionaire (2008)



Back to back Danny Boyle films, I tried to be more even but I cannot ignore the film that was my favorite of last year and represented one of my favorite movie theater experiences EVER. This tale of love and loss has so much tragedy that its odd to say but this film is one of the most uplifting and inspirational films ever made. There is something just so genuine about Jamal's quest to regain his lost love through the game Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and like the very best fairy tales fate is the deciding factor and they get their happily ever after.


2) The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)



Im kind of surprised that I let a Wes Anderson film so high on one of my lists, but there is just no denying that his style over substance approach becomes near masterpiece when he has some amazing substance to go with it. Probably belongs on the Comedy List, but I think it fits well with the films on the list, and easily one of the most re watchable films of the decade, a factor I am discovering is very important to my over all opinion of a film over the course of a decade.


1) Requiem for a Dream (2000)



And now to contradict everything I just said about re watch-ability. This is a film I might never want to watch again, and one that took me a long time to revisit it after the first time I saw it. A dark, harrowing tale that has stuck with me even to this day. When you talk about a milestone movie moment, watching this movie for the first time is something I will never ever forget and something that I might not ever wish on another human being... and I mean that in the best possible way.