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Another year gone, we find ourselves on the subway platform of life, waiting for a new train. Although, I don't think I'd like to be at this particular station on New Year's Eve. Happy New Year, everyone! To see more of my photos, Friday or otherwise, click here!
I don't want to get caught up in the usual end of year "list mania." There are a couple of reasons for that. First, I can't remember anymore which year something I saw or read was released. And second, there are so many books and movies worth watching that didn't come out in the past year. Currently, I'm reading True Grit, which came out in the 1960s, even though the newest movie version of it came out last week, and would qualify for inclusion in this list. To add insult to injury, the edition I'm reading was published in 2010, so technically it's a 2010 book. Sort of. Kind of.
When it comes to comics, so much of what I'm reading--and really, really enjoying--is strip reprints from bygone eras: Dick Tracy, Prince Valiant, Mary Perkins On Stage, The Heart of Juliet Jones ('30s, '30s, '60s, '50s, respectively). I just finished reading The Walking Dead Compendium, Vol. 1, which reprints comics from 2003-2007, even though it, too, was published in 2010.
Confused? Me, too...my brain hurts.
So with that in mind, I'm still going to pick my (and I stress that word) Best Movies of 2010, mainly because they're easy to figure out when it comes to release dates. I may also tackle comics in the next few days, but don't hold your breath. I am ostensibly on "holiday break," even though I'm working for a few hours each and every day, just to stay ahead.
1. Easy A. I sooo loved this movie, and if you don't you're a soulless bastard. If you don't fall in love with Emma Stone in the first 10 minutes of this film--especially when she gets the singing birthday card from her grandma and proceeds to hate/love/kill it--turn it off. I love teen comedies and it's nice to see someone can still make a funny, thoughtful, provocative one, unlike the puerile and raunchy crap--Superbad (yes, with Emma Stone), anyone?--that has appeared in the past few years. Okay, they had to turn to Nathaniel Hawthorne and dust off that hoary old book The Scarlet Letter for help, but hey...you can never go wrong with the classics (unless you're Demi Moore). This is so smart, so enjoyable, that I defy you to find a better comedy this past year. And even if you do, I will ignore your choice and chastise you and force you to wear a scarlet letter emblazoned on your bosom to mark your bad, bad taste.
2. The Social Network. Who knew a movie about Facebook could be this enjoyable, thought-provoking, and suspenseful? Not me. But it is all those things, plus filled with great performances.
3. RED. Retired, Extremely Dangerous. This adaptation of the WildStorm graphic novel by Warren Ellis and artist Cully Hamner is the best action flick of the year in my book.
4. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Okay, it bombed at the box office, but this is the most original movie I've seen in years. From the very opening scene of a video game tricked-out Universal logo to the very end, it's fun, fast-moving, and just plain wonderful. And yes, I would have fallen for Ramona Flowers, too.
5. Inception. Okay, it's trippy, to say the least, and I have to watch it again on DVD just to make sure I even remotely understand it, but this film--along with The Social Network--made me hopeful that Hollywood is turning a very small corner and once again interested in making movies that are mature, thought-provoking, and just damn good adventure stories. At this point, Christopher Nolan could probably decide to do a 7-hour big screen version of Little House on the Prairie and I'd go see it.
6. Toy Story 3. Everyone told me I'd cry, and 9/10 of the way through it, I found out why. It's definitely Pixar's all-time best movie (so far), even though The Incredibles will always be my favorite. I especially found it interesting how far Pixar has come in animating people. The kids in the very first Toy Story were horrible looking creatures, and the little girl--Bonnie--at the end of Toy Story 3 is absolutely sublime, and yes, she and Andy will make you cry.
7. Despicable Me. As warm and comfortable as the characters of Toy Story are to us now, they seem almost quaint compared to Gru, Margo, Edith, Agnes, Dr. Nefario and Vector. This is one of the most imaginative, warm, and touching animated films I've seen since, oh...Toy Story 3, but it's also a pleasant surprise all its own in its originality and storytelling. If Toy Story 3 hadn't come out in the same year, this would have been the best animated film of the year.
8. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Oh, those Swedes. When they're not writing books about anti-social computer hackers with a heart of gold and the men who abuse them, they're adapting them to film. While this was released a while ago in Europe and its native country of Switzerland, all three adaptations of the Stieg Larsson books found their way to the US in 2010. While the first one is definitely the best (same deal with the books, pretty much), the other two continue the title character's story in very faithful adaptations. And oh, that Noomi Rapace. Yow. Rooney Mara has some big Doc Martens to fill as America's version of Lisbeth Salander.
I watched the perfect holiday movie the other night. I've seen it a thousand times. I love it more and more each time.
You can keep your It's A Wonderful Life and Love Actually, even though I love them both. You can hold off showing National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation or Miracle on 34th Street. "Bah, humbug," I say to A Christmas Carol, whichever version you prefer. And if you even mention Deck the Halls or Christmas With the Kranks (nudge-nudge, wink-wink) to me, I'll hit you with a fruitcake, you fruitcake.
No, the perfect holiday movie is Die Hard. Yes. I'm serious.
It has warm family feelings. It has a happy ending. It has a Christmas party. It has festive wrapping, even if it's just to tape a gun to John McClain's bloody upper back. Plus it has action, adventure, and mayhem, something sorely missing from most holiday movies, except possibly Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, and only then because of Pia Zadora starring in it at the tender age of 10 (she puts the "m" in mayhem).
It's hard to believe Die Hard is 22 years old. I remember seeing it in the theaters when it first came out in 1988, and being totally blown away by it. It was different than any other action movie I had ever seen. It was dirty, bloody, brutal, profane--and all in a GOOD way. Bruce Willis was different than any other action hero, better than Schwarzenegger, Norris, and Stallone. Grittier and more real. And I loved the fact that they just had him talk to himself for exposition. It was such a WTF moment. We had to know what he was thinking and hearing someone's thoughts in a movie is such a b-s thing...so hey, let's just have him talk to himself out loud. And Alan Rickman as the bad guy, Hans Gruber...don't get me started! BEST. BAD. GUY. EVER.
With the exception of the absence of Twitter and cellphones, Die Hard still holds up today. The only cellphone in it is a giant "carphone" that could be used to bludgeon a bad guy to death. Let's face it, in this day and age, the takeover of Nakatomi Tower by "terrorists" would be one cellphone call away from being over. And I can just see the Tweets:
Held hostage at company Xmas party :(
Boss just shot dead by terrorist at Xmas party...guess this means no bonus this year.
I was totally nailing Amber from accounting until that Eurotrash bunch burst in.
Yeah. Kinda not the same. Still if you're in the mood this season for a little holiday movie fun, I thoroughly recommend the gift that keeps on giving: the original, one-and-only (okay, there were FOUR, but the other three suck) Die Hard.
Yippee-kay-yay-Santa-f*cker.
This photo takes me back to a simpler time, when Christmas was family, presents, and excitement. I hope all of you experience those feelings in equal measure today.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Merry Christmas, everyone! From the Christmas tree at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. To see more of my photos, Friday or otherwise, click here!
It has finally stopped raining here in San Diego, a classic case of be careful what you wish for...or complain about. I was just lamenting the other day that the local weathercasters (and in this TV market, casting is what they do...throwing out a line and seeing what they can hook, forecast-wise) were predicting Noah and the Ark rain for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It finally arrived on Sunday about 5:00pm and stayed and stayed and stayed until around 3:00pm on Wednesday. Today was cloudy and cool, the San Diego equivalent of "winter." We had over 4.3" of precipitation downtown, which is unheard of. Areas were flooded all around the county, including the roads around a major mall, all but shutting it down. The Holiday Bowl is on right now, after a Herculean effort by workers overnight to drain the flooded Qualcomm stadium of over 3' of standing water. They were successful.
I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday and am in the middle of a 2-week break from work, one which has had me working every day so far, at least for a few hours. I have a ton of stuff to do for January, and working a bit each day at least gives me the feeling that I'm not starting the New Year swamped. It's okay, because I'm home on the couch. Today I bought some last-minute gifts for the VIP in my life--ME--including the Christmas classic movies National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Die Hard. Yes. They're the "New Classics" as TNT used to say. Plus they were on sale on Blu-Ray.
So, I'm done. I'm winding down for the holidays, like the rest of the world, and I hope that means you, too. Go ahead, you deserve it. Take off your shoes, put your feet up and have a hot toddy (it's a drink!). President Obama is on a beach in Hawaii. We should all be with him.
I have a problem with pants. Jeans, specifically. When I was a kid, I refused to wear them. Then in high school, I succumbed to peer pressure and started wearing what my mom rustically referred to as "dungarees." (It could have been worse, I guess...she could have meant overalls.) She would go out and buy me the most outrageous pairs of jeans ever, with huge, flared bottoms and white stitching and...well, ugh. I'm hardly a fashion-plate, never have been, never will be, but...jeez, mom, c'mon.
These days I have problems finding jeans that fit, and worse--jeans that are age-appropriate. I don't like anything that looks like it's been pre-washed in oil or "distressed" or that will ride so low that going to the bathroom is made a much quicker process than it should be. My other problem is fit. I always buy the same size in regular cut jeans, but they seem to differ widely. Even worse, they fit fine in the dressing room (yes, MOM...I always try them on in the store), and then suddenly grow a size when I wash them. I have four pair of jeans in my closet, all the same size. Two fit very snugly, two fit like I'm the "after" photo in a lapband commercial. Go figure.
Yesterday I had my "home" jeans on. They are an old pair I've had for years, which I try not to wear outside my apartment, except maybe for a walk to the laundry room, the trash room, or the mailbox downstairs. They were originally "acid-washed" (hey, the '80s are making a comeback...someday), but over the years they've faded so much that they're almost white. At the very least, a very baby blue. Yes. They're my gay jeans. Or my hobo jeans. Or my gay hobo jeans. Take your pick.
I did go outside in them yesterday to mail some Christmas packages at the local post office. Walking down my mood-lighted hallway, I realized that the blinding light from beneath me was coming from my way too light-colored pants. But f*ck it, I said (yes, I talk to myself and sometimes swear) and went ahead with my business, unashamed in my hobo pants (I'm sticking with that one, if you don't mind). And I realized suddenly that I got to get me some new jeans.
I hate shopping for clothes. I'll pretty much shop for anything else. DVDs, comic books, regular books, appliances, lingerie (not for me, thank you very much, but I love to look). I even offered to go to a beauty supply store this past weekend with a friend who needed to pick up some work-related items, but alas, they were closed. I love shopping. Except for clothes for me.
I guess I have to bite the bullet here (or don the rivet, to offer a more jean-friendly metaphor) and go do me some shopping, and finally put the acid-washed jeans out to pasture. And by pasture, I mean throw them the hell out, since not even the thrift stores would have them. You know they're old jeans when they laugh at you when you bring them in. So much for good will.
I keep meaning to go to the movies. After all, I have a free ticket, due to my frequent viewing at a local theater which keeps track of your attendance and occasionally rewards you with free drinks, popcorn, or a ticket every now and again. But the movie-going experience is often times so annoying (translated bluntly: I HATE PEOPLE), and the movies themselves so bad, that actually leaving the house is ill-advised. You're better waiting until the films themselves are available on DVD or end up on In Demand.
Case in point: The A-Team, the big screen adaptation of the seminal 1980s action series starring George Peppard, Dirk Benedict, Mr. T, and some other guy. It made the move to movie status last year, after a long bout in what Hollywood refers to "development hell," and it shows. Every painful step of the way shows on the screen in a big, messy movie that careens from one action set-up to another with barely a stop in between to even mention things like plot or story. It's ugly and it's sleep-inducing. Seriously. While I'm grateful I didn't pay $9.50 to see this, even as a matinee, the $4.99 I plunked down to watch it at home on my TV, didn't stop me from falling asleep in the very middle of it. Yes, I did. I suppose that give me twice the amount of viewing for my 5 bucks, but hey...falling asleep in an action flick does not bode well.
So my choices right now, in the 29 screens that surround me, within walking distance of my little urban aerie, are all suspect at the very least. Why I would go see any of them is kind of beyond me. Let's look at some of them, shall we, but keep in mind all my "critical" judgments here are based on movies sight unseen.
There's Burlesque. I've already seen Cher's exquisitely-preserved face on my TV, in snippets on shows like Entertainment Tonight. And since nobody actually strips in this PG-13 rated movie, why bother, not that we all haven't been horrified at the sight of Cher's almost-naked body for years now.
I've seen all the previous Harry Potter movies and none of them have really impressed me. The whole fantasy genre leaves me deathly hollow (get it?), so I'm not about to jump into Part 1 of the 7th book which has been divided into 2 for way-too-numerous greedy reasons of Warner Bros. Besides, all the kids are in their 40s now. Same deal with the third--and hopefully, mercifully LAST--Chronicles of Narnia flick. Seriously, have the lion eat the kids or something.
Megamind looks cute, but that's a rental. I usually don't like any of the non-Pixar computer-animated films, but Tangled also looks cute, so I'll wait on that one, too. And Yogi Bear? I won't see that at all. My days of enjoying Yogi Bear ended when I was 6 or so.
I don't want to see any movie that has Angelina Jolie not constantly shooting at people, so I think the much hyped The Tourist is out. Besides, I think Johnny Depp is cool, but totally over-rated. And speaking of over-hyped...I didn't like the first Tron (it, too, put me to sleep), so why in God's name would I go see a sequel almost 20 years later that is nothing but a giant videogame? And Unstoppable is the second train movie featuring Denzel Washington in about a year. Is he trying to start a new genre? If so, I'm not interested.
I'll stop there. Just let me say Hollywood's utter timidity towards trying something new--rather than a tried-and-true TV or comic book hit--just means we're stuck in a cycle of crappy movies, none of which are worth the over-inflated price of admission. I think I'll just stay home and watch Mad Men DVDs from episode one, season 1, on.
From my recent trip to San Francisco: you know they're cooler to look at than ride, don't you? To see more of my photos, Friday or otherwise, click here!
