My dad has a very eclectic taste in music (Read: everything from The Who to Enya). Because we spent most summers trekking back and forth from Omaha, NE to Denver (one of the most boring rides in the world), we needed something to keep us sane. Since it was pre-portable DVD players and it was my job to keep my dad company, I got to experience his extensive musical taste and it definitely influenced part of my own.
In honor of Father's Day, I give you the Top Five songs that always make me think of my dad:
5. "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)" by Don McLean
"Starry Night" was my favorite painting as a kid. I had a huge poster of it in my room and I was always fascinated by the one-eared Vincent Van Gogh. My dad was the person that introduced me to this song and he remains the only person I know who is familiar with Don McLean songs other than "American Pie".
4. "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meat Loaf, featuring Karla DeVito
Dad thinks this song is hilarious and should be played at every wedding ever. I have distinct memories of him cranking it while we ran errands on the weekend.
3. Any song from Queen's "Night at the Opera" or "The Game"
We wore these tapes out on road trips. Travel tip: Any road trip can be made infinitely better by rolling down the windows, blasting Queen, and singing at the top of your voice.
2. "Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)" by Billy Joel
We danced to this song at my wedding. I picked it because my dad's childhood nickname for me was "Angel" and he's a big Billy Joel fan. (I also enjoy Billy Joel - I spent an entire summer in our basement listening to The Stranger over and over on our ancient record player.)
1. "Nostradamus" by Al Stewart
I associate this song completely with my father. It was another tape we listened to on our road trips and it always got us talking about what the song meant, and by extension, about history. I occasionally catch it on the radio and I always smile because it makes me think of my dad.
This anthology show was produced by Stephen King and George Romero after their success with Creepshow. The show's short opening is one of the most frightening in television history.
4. "Dead Like Me"
The best openings give you a window into what the show is about. I love that the intro for "Dead Like Me" is able to convey the show's black humor in a unique way (and without using recycled clips).
3. "The Twilight Zone"
Rod Serling's narration over surreal imagery makes this opening remain iconic and effective today.
2. "Game of Thrones"
I haven't been able to watch "Game of Thrones" yet since we don't have HBO, but if the intro is any indication, the series is excellent and worth the high praise it's received from critics.
1. "Carnivale"
You very rarely see an opening that is able to encapsulate a show as well as this. "Carnivale's" opening perfectly depicts the blend of religion, magic, and 1930s life that made the show so unique.
Honorable Mentions:
"Unsolved Mysteries" - for scaring the bejeebers out of me on a weekly basis throughout my childhood
"Mystery Science Theater 3000" - for an extremely catchy theme song that I sang ad nauseum growing up and still know all the words to as an adult. (I can sing all the versions, too!)
Linklater is a classically trained actor who has appeared in several Shakespearean plays, but he is probably best known as Christine Campbell's sweetly sarcastic brother, Matthew, on "The New Adventures of Old Christine". He also appeared in one of my favorite episodes of "Pushing Daisies". Although he's gangly and a bit goofy-looking, he's funny and self-effacing, which pretty much makes him adorable. (He also has excellent timing on "Old Christine".) My favorite line: "Are they still making floozies? I thought they discontinued floozies in the '40s."
Alan Tudyk as Wash on "Firefly"
4. Alan Tudyk
Tudyk is recognizable from roles in several films, including Simon in the original British version of Death at a Funeral and Steve the Pirate in Dodgeball, but to geeks, he will always be Wash in Joss Whedon's "Firefly" and the subsequent movie Serenity. I first saw him in A Knight's Tale as Wat, the grouchy and perpetually hungry squire to Heath Ledger's Sir Ulrich. Tudyk is an excellent comedic actor and has a hard-to-name endearing quality that makes him especially appealing.
Lee Pace as Ned on "Pushing Daisies
3. Lee Pace
Pace is best known as Ned the Pie Man from "Pushing Daisies". He usually appears in small supporting roles, but he did star in the gorgeous and cinematic film by Tarsem Singh, The Fall. He has upcoming parts in the eagerly awaited films Breaking Dawn (as Garrett) and (yay!) The Hobbit (as Thranduil, the Elven king)
Paul Bettany
2. Paul Bettany
In addition to being married to one of the most gorgeous women in the world, Jennifer Connelly (I always wanted to look like her after seeing Labyrinth), Bettany is a fabulous actor who can do both drama and comedy. I loved him as Charles Herman in A Beautiful Mind, but I first saw him in A Knight's Tale (with Alan Tudyk!) playing the celebrated author Geoffrey Chaucer. The word that comes to mind when I think about Bettany is "charming" and he makes any movie he's in infinitely better.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
1. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Gordon-Levitt started out as a child actor, best known for playing Tommy in "3rd Rock From the Sun". He took a break from acting to attend Columbia University, but reemerged in several indie films, including the adorable 500 Days of Summer, which all but relaunched his career. He then appeared as Arthur in the Oscar-nominated and critically lauded Inception and was recently cast in Christopher Nolan's newest installment of his Batman series, The Dark Knight Rises.
Of course, my favorite crush will always be Heath Ledger, who I've loved since Ten Things I Hate About You. I was so sad when I heard he died, especially since he had such a promising career ahead of him.
Watching "I Love the 80s" for the millionth time will do something to a person. Mainly, it makes you wonder what you were thinking when you watched long forgotten shows. Here are the Top Five shows I can't believe I watched.
5. "Jem"
This was one of my favorite cartoons as a little girl and it is an absolute time capsule for the 80s. The show was about an orphaned heiress (Jerrica Benton) who transformed into a rock band frontwoman (Jem) and fought crime on the side. Her nemesis was Pizzazz, the leader of a rival punk band that constantly tried to beat The Holograms in the Battle of the Bands. Ignoring the ridiculous premise (it is a cartoon, after all), the biggest problem with the show was that Jerrica's boyfriend, Rio, was also in love with/sort of dating Jem without knowing she was Jerrica's alter-ego. Essentially, he was cheating on her (with herself) and she STILL dated him.
4. "Double Trouble"
Even though this short-lived show aired when I was one years old, I managed to catch reruns when I was a bit older and I remember loving it. Identical twins Jean and Liz Sagal (sisters of Katey Sagal) starred as the Foster twins. Allison, the more serious twin, would have to help wild-child Kate clean up her many messes. Sound familiar? It should, it's basically the premise of the Francine Pascal penned Sweet Valley Twin series, which is probably why I liked it so much. (I was also a big fan of The Parent Trap and old "Patty Duke Show" episodes, so go figure.)
3. "Small Wonder"
It's everyone's favorite show about daughter-bot V.I.C.I.! The Lawson family passes the pint-sized robot off as their10 year old daughter, Vicki, but their nosy neighbors remain unconvinced. The goal was to help Vicki become more life-like by living with a real family - which they attempted to do by dressing her like an overgrown doll and using her robotic functions to make household chores easier. Um . . . yeah. The 80s were weird.
2. "Kids Incorporated"
Before "Glee" there was "Kids Incorporated". This Disney produced show was about a group of kids in a band who were also best friends (despite their differing ages and backgrounds). Musical numbers were an integral part of the show and the episodes themselves were like bad school plays. Several celebrities got their start on "Kids Incorporated", including Mario Lopez, Stacy Ferguson (Fergie to all you Black Eyed Peas fans), and Jennifer Love Hewitt (known then as Love Hewitt). I remember waiting for the Disney Channel free preview weekends especially for this show. (There are many themes for this long-running show, but I picked the one from the cast I remembered best.)
1. "Adventures in Wonderland"
This show was particularly bad, but I still watched it because it was (loosely) based on Alice in Wonderland. Alice, experiencing problems in the real world, would go through her mirror to escape into Wonderland. Once there, she would end up helping her friends deal with their problems, which would give her an idea of how to handle her own. Like most Disney Channel shows, the acting was questionable and the plots were cliche, despite efforts to make the story more modern (a roller blading White Rabbit and the Tweedle twins outfitted in backwards caps and Hammer pants, just to name two.)
Anyone willing to admit their own childhood guilty pleasure television picks?
These were the shows I absolutely loved and had a part in defining my personality today. Behold:
5. ReBoot
One of the first completely CGI television series, "ReBoot" centered on the inner workings of the computer. A city, known as Mainframe, was the home of the people, robots, and creatures that lived inside the computer. The main story of each episode occurred when the "user" loaded a game and the people of Mainframe tried to prevent him or her from winning. If the user won, the computer-generated participants were turned into "nulls". The series' protagonist Bob and his friends, Dot and Enzo, also had to fight against the evil siblings Megabyte and Hexadecimal within the Mainframe universe.
4. Bill Nye: the Science Guy
Kids fascinated with science in the 90s were divided in two camps: "Beakman's World" or "Bill Nye: the Science Guy". I was a "Bill Nye" girl (sadly, Kris is a "Beakman" devotee), and I still think of the show whenever someone says, "Did you know that . . ." ("Now you know!")
3. Eeire, Indiana
This was a show ahead of its time. "Eeire, Indiana" centered on a newly transplanted teen, Marshall Teller, and his quest to uncover and expose the weirdness in his seemingly normal town. Created before "The X-Files", Marshall was the original truth-seeker.
2. Are you Afraid of the Dark?
All the cool kids watched SNICK on Saturday nights in the '90s, and the best part of SNICK was "Are you Afraid of the Dark?". It was the teenage version of "Tales From the Crypt" and some of the episodes were genuinely scary. This show, combined with Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books, cemented my love of ghosts and the supernatural.
1. Unsolved Mysteries
"Unsolved Mysteries" was my all-time favorite show when I was younger. Back in the day, we didn't have "Forensic Files" or any other true crime shows. It was "Unsolved Mysteries" and "America's Most Wanted" or nothing. The great thing about "Unsolved Mysteries" (besides the awesome host, Robert Stack) was that it covered all sorts of stuff in addition to crime cases - aliens, ghosts, and Kris's favorite - spontaneous combustion. Even though the theme song gave me nightmares, I never missed an episode.
We hear a lot about certain actresses, especially when they are in popular movies (ex: Kristen Stewart, Amanda Seyfried, Ellen Page, and Zooey Deschanel), but there are a lot of talented young actresses that don't get as much recognition. Here is my Top Five list of underrated young actresses.
5. Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Although she has experienced an increase in popularity due to her role as Ramona Flowers in the recent film adaptation of Scott Pilgrim, Winstead has a relatively short filmography. She started out playing guest starring roles on popular TV shows including "Touched by an Angel" and "Tru Calling", as well as a short stint on cult favorite soap "Passions". Winstead then moved to parts in several horror flicks (The Ring 2, Final Destination 3, and Black Christmas) before being cast as the presumably ill-fated Lee in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof. Winstead's star does seem to be on the rise after Scott Pilgrim, however. She is currently working on the prequel/remake of John Carpenter's The Thing (a film that I'm not exactly happy about) and the film adaption of horror/history satire Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
Favorite Mary Elizabeth Winstead role: Lee in Death Proof
4. Eva Amurri
Amurri has some serious film lineage as the daughter of actress Susan Sarandon and director Franco Amurri. She got her start in small roles in many of her mother's films (Dead Man Walking, Anywhere But Here, and The Banger Sisters), but has some definite acting chops of her own. Lately, Amurri has appeared in small television roles ("How I Met Your Mother", "House", "Mercy", and a recurring role on HBO series "Californication"), but she has three films set to be released in 2011.
Imogen Poots is a young British actress whom I first noticed in V for Vedetta (she played the young Valerie). She is probably most known for her role as Tammy in 28 Weeks Later, however. Poots has a very unique look and a maturity beyond her years. She tends to be relegated to smaller roles, but after the critically acclaimed Cracks, she may be seeing some larger parts. She was most recently in the film adaptation of Jane Eyre and has three movies in production, including a remake of the horror comedy classic Fright Night.
Favorite Imogen Poots role: Tammy in 28 Weeks Later (although I am anxious to see her in Cracks as well)
2. Saoirse Ronan
Ronan is much younger than the other women on this list, but she is an extremely talented actress who is often overlooked for more well-known, but similarly aged names like Dakota Fanning and Emma Watson. She is best known for her roles in Atonement (as the young Briony Tallis) and The Lovely Bones (as Susie Salmon), but I predict we haven't even seen her best yet. Ronan's film Hanna will be released later this year and she is currently rumored to be working on the eagerly anticipated adaptation of The Hobbit.
Favorite Saoirse Ronan role: Susie Salmon in The Lovely Bones
1. Romola Garai
Another British actress, Garai has a history of being overshadowed by her more well-known costars, despite her brilliant performances (especially in Atonement with Keira Knightly and Vanity Fair with Reese Witherspoon). She is especially good in the BBC mini-series she appears in (ex: Emma and Daniel Deronda). Garai has another mini-series in the works, The Crimson Petal and the White (based on the novel and also starring Chris O'Dowd!), as well as a few independent films.
Favorite Romola Garai role: Briony Tallis (at 18) in Atonement
One of the less fun parts about being neurotic is the phobias. I have several, so I'll share my Top Five with you:
5. Ornithophobia (fear of birds)
Ever since being dive-bombed by blue jays while playing in my backyard as a toddler, birds have always made me nervous. This fear was reinforced by several bird-related events including (but not limited to) being chased by a goose at the Base lake, being swarmed by seagulls while trying to eat outside at Disney World, and watching Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds in 3D.
4.Glossophobia (fear of public speaking)
As a relatively shy person, speaking in front of large groups terrifies me. If I never have to take another speech class it will be too soon.
3. Emetophobia (fear of vomit)
Throwing up is high on my list of least favorite things (as it is, I assume, with most people). I try to avoid it at all costs and often joke that I have a 10 foot "barf radius". I can't watch people throw up on TV or in movies, even when I know it's fake. Ironically, I happen to be married to a guy with digestive problems that lead to frequent vomiting.
2. Nyctophobia (fear of the dark)
Yep, I'm 27 and I'm afraid of the dark. I combat this by turning on every light in the house and sleeping with the TV on.
1. Fear of Driving
What can I say? Something about being in control of a two ton motorized vehicle capable of squashing small animals and causing bodily injury and death sends me into quivering panic attacks.
I've already mentioned that I was a weird little kid, and that extends to my various childhood crushes as well. I was a big movie buff even then and I often developed puppy love for offbeat characters in my favorite films. I was lucky enough to have a young, very cool mom and to grow up in the '80s and early '90s, so my crushes come from that era (and a lot of them from John Hughes movies). Here are my Top Five childhood crushes:
Max Casella as Vinnie Delpino
5. Vinnie Delpino (Max Casella in "Doogie Howser")
Vinnie was the titular character's best friend on "Doogie Howser, M.D." He was a New York accented, wise-cracking budding filmmaker and often the instigator of the mischief the two friends got into.
In the fact-based Disney movie Newsies, Jack Kelly was the leader of the "newsies" - New York-based newsboys who went on strike after Joseph Pulitzer raised newspaper costs. Back when Bale was a relatively unknown actor, he did this heavily panned flick. But critics be damned, I freakin' love this movie and I still watch it when nostalgia strikes.
3. Lane Meyer (John Cusack in Better Off Dead)
John Cusack as Lane Meyer
I love Cusack in almost all his flicks, but Better Off Dead is one of my favorites. It has several quotable lines and Cusack is at his sarcastic best playing Lane Meyer, the jilted, semi-suicidal boyfriend of a popular girl who left him for his school's star skier.
Robert Sean Leonard as Neil Perry
2. Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard in Dead Poet's Society)
Before appearing as Dr. Wilson on "House", Leonard was best known for his performance as Neil Perry, the intelligent prep school student who attempts to follow his acting dreams, much to the dismay of his father. Dead Poet's Society is an excellent film and Leonard is amazing in it.
Jon Cryer as Duckie Dale
1. Duckie Dale (Jon Cryer in Pretty in Pink)
All of this brings me to my #1 childhood crush, and the only Teen Beat-esque poster I had on my wall. In his pre-"Two and a Half Men" days, Cryer was best known as the unrequited love afflicted Duckie Dale. Loyal to his best friend/crush and devoted to New Wave, Duckie was the coolest geek out there and every true Pretty in Pink fan knows that Andi should have picked him over Blaine.
Honorable mentions: Duncan (Elias Koteas in Some Kind of Wonderful), Ferris Bueller and Cameron Fry (Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck in Ferris Bueller's Day Off), and Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin in The Princess Bride)
Not to damage my geek "cred", but I'm not really a gamer. I usually play PC games, and a quick look at my Top Five games would tell you I'd be classified as a "casual gamer" - at best. (Top Five PC Games: Encarta's Mindmaze, Battle Chess, Myst, Plants vs. Zombies, and American McGee's Alice) Since I've been a life-long Alice in Wonderland fan and enjoy puzzle/quest games, American McGee's Alice is naturally my favorite and I've been eagerly awaiting the sequel . . . for almost eleven years. McGee's studio Spicy Horse has finally announced Alice: Madness Returns with an expected fourth quarter release date and it will be available for PC, XBox 360, and PS3. Alice fans, rejoice with these amazing trailers . . .
Actors hate being typecast, but they are often tapped for the same type of role repeatedly because of how they can become that character. (Examples: Jesse Eisenberg and socially awkward nerds, Samuel L. Jackson and badasses, Hugh Grant and flustered male leads in romantic comedies) Actors who make good villains are notoriously typecast, something they probably don't enjoy, but that works to the audience's benefit (as we get amazing performances). Submitted for your approval are my Top Five picks for actors who make awesome villains:
5. Gary Oldman
Oldman is probably the least pigeonholed actor on my list, as he has had a long and varied career. Some of his best known performances include Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy, Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series, and Commissioner Gordon in Christopher Nolan's recent Batman reboots. It is his intensity and commitment to his characters that makes him an excellent actor . . . and an excellent villain. Catch his bad guy turns in flicks like The Fifth Element, True Romance, and Bram Stoker's Dracula
My pick for best villain role:
Corrupt DEA agent Norman Stansfield in Leon (aka The Professional)
4. Malcom McDowell
It is easy to see why McDowell tends to be typecast in villainous roles. He has a very intense-looking face and a sinister-sounding voice, both of which enhance his excellent performances. In addition to his many on-camera roles, McDowell has done a lot of voice-over work for documentaries and video games. Some of his most famous villains can be found in Caligula, Star Trek Generations, Tank Girl, and the first season of acclaimed series "Heroes".
My pick for best villain role:
Cliche, but true - Psychopath and classical music lover Alexander DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange
3. Christopher Walken
Even when Walken plays a seemingly innocuous role, he creeps the bejeebers out of me, so he had to have a place on this list. Although in more recent years he is more known for his comedic turns (especially his repeated SNL appearances) and his surprisingly good dance moves in Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" music video, he's played plenty of villains throughout his career. The unusual cadence in his speaking voice and his deep-set eyes make for a unnerving villain, especially in films like King of New York, Last Man Standing, and The Prophecy.
My pick for best villain role:
Walken fans would probably select renegade archangel Gabriel in The Prophecy (and rightly so)*, but I have to go with the Headless Horseman from Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow. Never have a set of teeth so haunted my dreams.
2. Clancy Brown
Brown is a dark horse contender in a list of heavy hitters, but he's also an amazing character actor. This makes him my go-to guy for the number two spot. The combination of his acting skill, his imposing frame, and his mega deep baritone voice make him tailor-made for villain roles. His incredible voice has scored him a large amount of voice-over work, especially in animated comic book features. He can be seen on-screen in The Shawshank Redemption, Pet Semetary II, and Highlander.
My pick for best villain role:
Nefarious preacher Brother Justin Crowe in the short-lived, but amazing HBO series "Carnivale"
1. Christopher Lee
In my book, Lee is the end all and be all of actors in villainous roles. Knighted in 2009, Lee holds the Guinness World Record for most film acting roles. Throughout his illustrious career, he has played everything from Count Dracula several times over (in the iconic Hammer horror films) to the Jabberwocky in Tim Burton's version of Alice in Wonderland.
My pick for best villain role:
It's a tie: King Haggard in The Last Unicorn (purely for nostalgic reasons) and the evil wizard Saruman in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
*Seriously, if you haven't seen this film, you definitely should - if only for the excellent cast. In addition to Walken it includes Eric Stolz, Elias Koteas, and arguably Viggo Mortensen's best (and most underrated) performance.
So, let's hear it. Who are some of your favorite villains?
Netflix Instant Play has given me access to some pretty amazing documentaries, including several that focus on the horror genre. Here are my Top 5 horror film documentaries available on Netflix:
5. Bloodsucking Cinema
This documentary is a Starz feature centered on vampire films (no Twilight - only the real thing). Everything from Nosferatu to Interview with a Vampire is featured (unfortunately even a few duds like Bloodrayne and Van Helsing) and there is some discussion about the different ways vampires are presented (ie. scary versus alluring).
4. Zombiemania
Another hour long Starz documentary, this one is about zombie flicks and how they've influenced and changed our culture. The documentary includes interviews with several big names in the genre, including Tom Savini (SFX veteran), Maitland McDonagh (film critic and horror fan), and the father of zombie films as we know them today: George Romero. The doc is concise and explains a lot of the nuances of zombie films. An added bonus: zombification of the experts by zombie portrait artist Rob Sacchetto.
3. 100 Years of Horror
Hosted by the amazing Christopher Lee, this doc goes to the very beginning of the genre and works its way through the late 90s when the film was made. This is a perfect documentary for those that prefer the golden age of horror (including the iconic Universal movie monsters). There are some amazing rarities, including home movies, outtakes, and previously unseen screen tests from some of horror's heavy hitters.
2. Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film
This doc premiered on Starz, but is based on the book of the same name by Adam Rockoff. It's an in-depth look at the slasher sub-genre, complete with gory clips and interviews with major people involved in the flicks. Because it's a two hour special, Going to Pieces can focus on more minutiae than some of the other docs on my list. Those being interviewed talk about the high and low points of the genre, acknowledging the strengths and definite weaknesses that slasher flicks present, thereby giving a fairly objective look at one of the more controversial genres of film.
1. Fantastic Flesh
This is my favorite of the Starz docs, and other than a brief discussion of the makeup for Chronicles of Narnia, it focuses on some of the amazing practical effects shown in horror films. Legendary SFX veterans are featured, including Dick Smith (The Exorcist), Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London), Tom Savini (the Romero films and Friday the 13th), and the incomprable Greg Nicotero. For anyone interested in horror films and how they are made, Fantastic Flesh is facinating.
Seeing Devil got me thinking. In the horror genre, there's a whole sub-genre about demonic possession and/or fighting with the devil. Here's my Top Five Movies About the Devil:
5. The Prophecy
I spoke briefly about this flick, but Viggo Mortensen's role as Lucifer in this movie is bone chilling. He is the epitome of the almost-charming, handsome, but completely evil version of the Devil.
4. Constantine
Constantine is based on the graphic novel series, Hellblazer. John Constantine (Keanu Reeves), along with his side-kick Chas (a pre-assclown, post-"Even Stevens" Shia LeBeouf), sends demons back to Hell. Constantine is trying to atone for a teenage suicide attempt before he dies of advanced lung cancer. Because his exorcisms are done for his own benefit, he is told, he still has a place in Hell. While helping a detective investigate her sister's apparent suicide, Constantine becomes involved in a war between angels and demons, the result of which will be the Devil's son coming to Earth.
This film is very stylishly done and Keanu Reeve's usual wooden acting serves him well in his role as the cynical, deadpan Constantine. The secondary characters are excellent (Tilda Swinton, Gavin Rossdale, and Dijmon Honsou) and LeBeouf's endearing performance provides some much needed comic relief. Peter Stormare (a Cohen brothers' regular) is excellent as a wry, taunting Lucifer. He makes a very dramatic appearance in a pure white suit with his feet dripping black, smoking tar.
Besides the stellar cast, the special effects are amazing and I highly reccommend this flick.
3. The Omen
There's something about creepy kids that makes good movies. I think it all started with The Bad Seed, but The Omen is probably the most well-known. The Omen is the basic Satan's spawn come to Earth story, but it has several things going for it. 1: A chilling soundtrack. 2: An amazing cast - Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, and the incomparable Billie Whitelaw. 3: The creepiest kid ever: Harvey Stephens.
(Note: The Omen was recently remade as The Omen 666, and while the remake is not a bad film by any means, it doesn't quite live up to the original.)
2. The Exorcist
Of course, The Exorcist has a place on this list. It's the ultimate movie about possession and it is a very well-made film. (I especially like seeing it in the theater because the experience is definitely enhanced on the big screen.) It's also a very faithful adaptation of the book of the same name, by William Peter Blatty. The reason why it is number two, however, (besides being my opinion) is that it tends to be over-hyped, which leaves little room for other emerging films. That being said, I think every one should experience it for themselves, since it is so iconic.
1. Fallen
This film was surprisingly good. It had the potential to be a second-rate horror flick, but it is definitely one of my favorites. Much of the praise goes to Denzel Washington, who carries the film almost by himself. Unlike most possession films, there is very little violence and almost no special effects, beyond a yellow lens filter. It is the perfect possession film for the squeamish and a beautiful representation of Washington's acting prowess. (An added bonus is Elias Koteas's small role as serial killer Edgar Reese.)
Honorable Mention:
The Exorcism of Emily Rose for this terrifying scene:
Disclaimer: As you've probably guessed, I enjoy a good Top Five list. The Top Fives I describe here are not the definitive lists. They're just my humble opinions - you can feel free to disagree with me and debate it out in the comments section.
Today's Top Five is "Underrated Films". (Underrated can mean lack of critical praise or small viewership, or both.)
5. Mirrormask
As a big fan of both Jim Henson films and the majority of Neil Gaiman's work, I loved this film. It takes a lot of inspiration from the Alice books, but with Gaiman's dark spin. The visuals are beautiful and the acting is superb (especially by Jason Barry, who plays Valentine). Mirrormask is the logical next step from Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, and for those who grew up with these Jim Henson classics, this film is the perfect grown up version of their childhood favorites.
4. Mulholland Drive
David Lynch is the king of bizarre cinema (he's the brain behind the uber-surreal "Twin Peaks") and Mulholland Drive is no slouch in that department. The film is very weird, but it is also very beautiful. It's not a movie for everyone, but if you like weird movies, film noir, gorgeous cinematography, or all of the above, you should check out this flick.
3. The Thing
John Carpenter's remake of the 1951 film The Thing From Another World was not well-received by critics or moviegoers when it was released in 1982. Despite being an excellent horror film with amazing special effects, it was considered to be overproduced and excessively gory. Of course, compared to the recent gorefests released by Hollywood, it's relatively tame. It has some great actors (Kurt Russell and the always awesome Wilford Brimley), disgusting monsters, and a plot that induces all-encompassing paranoia . . . in short, a horror fan's dream.
2. This one's a tie . . .
Four Rooms:
This film is far from perfect, but it has a really interesting concept: an anthology film about a bellhop (Tim Roth) on his first night on the job. He visits four different rooms, and each room is a segment directed by a different director. The first two segments are decidedly under par, but the last two are what makes this film great. "Room 309-The Misbehavers" is directed by Robert Rodriguez and stars his frequent collaborator, Antonio Banderas. "Penthouse-The Man From Hollywood" is directed by and stars Quentin Tarantino and is an adaptation of an "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" episode . . . done Tarantino style, of course. Feel free to skip the first two rooms, but definitely check out this movie if you are a Rodriguez/Tarantino fan.
The Legend of 1900:
I saw this movie at my dad's and it is amazing. A beautiful film by Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore and scored by the great composer Ennio Morricone (Fistful of Dollars, A Few Dollars More, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly . . . just to name a few), this flick is heart-wrenching and flawlessly acted. Tim Roth stars as 1900, a piano prodigy who spent his entire life on a large cruise liner. It is a must-see for music fans.
and drum roll please . . .
1. Dark City
This flick actually garnered a ton of critical praise, but is a relatively unknown film to mainstream moviegoers. With influences as wide as "The Twilight Zone", Metropolis, The Maltese Falcon, and Akira, this film spans several genres. It is a sci-fi film noir that has a decidedly steampunk feel. There are some wicked special effects and the set design is beyond gorgeous. The cinematography is pitch-perfect and the cast is stellar . . . Rufus Sewell, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, and a decidedly creepy Richard O'Brien (Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show) as Mr. Hand. It is Kiefer Sutherland who steals the show as Dr. Schreber, however, in a role far flung from his usual typecast as the condescending asshole. Put this one on your Netflix queue immediately.
Let's hear it . . . What are your favorite underrated films?
Obviously, with a title like that there WILL be spoilers. You have been warned.
Nothing is more dissapointing than watching a good movie with a soul-crushingly lame ending. Here are my top five decent movies with bad endings:
5. 1408
In a previous post, I talked about this flick. It's really good, but the original theatrical ending was a let down. The basis for the film is that the room never lets anyone leave, so for John Cusack's character to get out with a few singe marks just doesn't ring true. The director's cut ending seems much more plausible, with Cusack torching the room and becoming one of its resident ghosts. The alternate ending redeems it enough to score the number five spot.
4. Donnie Darko
I know I'm supposed to love and understand the ending of this film, since I consider myself a fan, but I just can't get behind it. If you haven't seen Donnie Darko, you should (and you should skip to the next film to avoid spoilers), but be warned - it's a polarizing film (which means you'll like it or you'll really hate it). I won't bother going into the synopsis because it's a really complicated film, but I will say I was dissapointed in the ending. Donnie starts out as kind of a jerk-off kid with some severe behavioral problems and as the film progresses, the viewer begins to empathize and even like him. To take that away by basically saying "Everyone would be better off if he died" seems like a cop out to me. I get why the flick ends the way it does, but I don't like it.
3. "Memento"
Actually, everyone should see this movie (seriously, add it to your Netflix queue), so I'm not going to give anything away, other than I don't think I've ever been more pissed off at a movie's finale. It's not necessarily bad - it's just really messed up.
Really, M. Night Shymalan? Really?!? We watched this entire movie to find out that they're a cult living in the present?
1. The Happening
I wanted to like this movie, I really did. I like twist endings (for the most part) and I loved Shymalan's The Sixth Sense and Signs. I even liked The Village until the ridiculous ending. The Lady In the Water wasn't really my thing, but it wasn't horrible. The Happening had everything going for it - people killing themselves en masse without warning signs, a small band of people trying to escape the unexplained force, and some pretty cool scares. As soon as they started bringing up the plants, however, I started to get anxious. I sat there thinking, "Please, don't let it be the plants. Please, please, don't let it be the plants." And you know what? It was the f-ing plants! What started out as an awesome R-rated feature length "Twilight Zone" episode (probably more like "Outer Limits", but I like "TZ" better, so indulge me) was reduced to a pithy, didactic "protect the environment" PSA . . . maybe it is more like "Twilight Zone" after all!
Want to rant about a movie ending? The comment section is all yours . . .
