100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 9 ~ It's A Wonderful Life

Okay, get the groaning over with...

This movie is that good.

It's A Wonderful Life is the little movie that could... considered a failure at the box office when it was released, it received a new life with the advent of syndicated showings on television through the years where it became a family favorite.

Personally, I don't think I had ever truly seen it until the last decade.

And then I was hooked.

The story in case you've never seen it:

George Bailey grows up in the small town of Bedford Falls, but he dreams of something bigger.  Just when he thinks he'll get away, fate steps in and forces his hand to run the family business.  Of course life isn't so bad, he has a beautiful family, and everyone in town likes him well enough.  But then there's Mr. Potter, the owner of the bank who wants to put Bailey out of business.  When fate once again intervenes to throw George a devastating curve... he wonders if everyone would have simply been better off if George Bailey had never been born.

Through the intervention of a guardian angel named Clarence, George Bailey will get the chance to see what the world would have been like if one George Bailey had never been born.  At the end, George will realize that no matter the ups and downs he's experienced, he truly has a very wonderful life.

James Stewart was an amazing actor.  This could be considered his defining role, in a career that enjoyed many such star turns.  He goes from the everyman that everyone knows and cares for, and in an instant, you see it all begin to slip away in despair.

It's a very dark turn for a holiday staple, but it's a turn that is needed.

By George Bailey, and really, to anyone that watches the film.

The message is inherently clear... your life matters.  You touch so many people and every action that you take sets off a chain reaction.

Who knows... you could consider this the first foray into time travel/alternate universe movies on top of everything else.

If you were forced to watch it as a kid and walked away hating it... revisit the film with adult eyes and see what's being shown to you.  If it's been a few years, break it out during the holiday season, or maybe anytime BUT the holidays to avoid the cliche.

It's that good.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 10 ~ The Sting

Things just got real.

: )

So here we go... the 10 Greatest Movies of All Time!!!

Starting things off, a genre of film I've mentioned before for really enjoying.  The Con. The Caper. The Heist.

The Sting.

If you want to run a good slight of hand heist film, you have to have great actors and surround them with a great script where the trickery is believable enough that even though you know the con is on... you can still get sucked right in and maybe not see all the twists coming yourself.

I'm sure that such movies existed before The Sting, but I am also guessing they are fairly inconsequential in the history of cinema.  So to all the films that have come since, they all owe a debt of gratitude to this film for setting the blueprint for how to deliver a great story.

The story is fairly simple for something that turns out so complex.  A young con man (Robert Redford) seeks tutelage from a veteran (Paul Newman) when a mutual friend of theirs is killed by a bad dude (Robert Shaw).  From there, the two embark on an elaborate scheme to take the man for all he's got.

So simple.

The director, George Roy Hill started wisely enough by recapturing the magic he found with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid by bringing Newman and Redford together again.  Their chemistry onscreen is fun to watch.

From there, they simply add layers to the deception and weave a bunch of wonderful character actors in supporting roles.

If you've never seen this one, give it a try. 

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 11 ~ Elf

Okay, this wraps up the Christmas movie trilogy, and caps off the first 90 movies.  Tomorrow begins the Top 10!!

But we're going out with a bang, as this has become an instant classic since it came out in 2003.

Elf.

The story of an orphan who gets inadvertently picked up by Santa and taken back to the North Pole.  There he is raised by an elf and grows up thinking he is one...just a really big one.  Naturally, the truth comes out, and then Buddy finds out that his real father is on...

The Naughty List.

I know, that's terrible!

So he embarks on a trip to New York City to try and get his dad off the list, and maybe, just maybe, provide a Christmas miracle or two.

Directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man!), this movie just hits the ground running and never stops.  It's funny, sweet, sentimental and touching, all rolled up into one perfectly paced movie.

Will Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf to perfection.  His enthusiasm and gusto for all things Christmas is infectious, as he truly looks at the world with the eyes of a child...trapped in a 6' man frame. :)

James Caan is the naughty father, who has been taking shortcuts at work, and just becoming a bit of a grump.  He's not bad, per se, just very beleaguered.  Then to find out he has a 30 year old elf for a son...that sorta pushes him over the edge.

Zooey Deschanel plays Jovie, the object of Buddy's affection.  She even gets to belt out a tune or two along the way.

Bob Newhart also is great in his role as Buddy's adopted father/narrator.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Ed Asner as Santa.  Not the first name you would think of to play St. Nick, but he pulls it off remarkably well.  His is a bit of a jaded Santa, who has watched with weariness as the world has begun to quit believing in him.  This suits Asner's built in gruffness to perfection.

This or Christmas Vacation  is usually the movie that kicks off the holiday movie viewing frenzy that runs from Thanksgiving until Christmas.  Elf usually gets several spins in the DVD player... it just never gets old.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 12 ~ Christmas Vacation

 Sorry Harold Ramis, but this is the best of the Vacation series.

Written by John Hughes, I told you, he wrote a lot of great stuff, it's perhaps the best take on a family Christmas ever put to screen.

Just with the Griswold's, you have to crank everything up to 11...or higher.

The story:  Clark and Ellen Griswold (Chevy Chase & Beverly D'Angelo) are set to have a very Merry Christmas...unfortunately, both sets of parents are coming to stay for the holidays.  If that wasn't bad enough, Cousin Eddie and his brood show up on their doorstep.  Luckily for Clark, he maintains his holiday cheer because he knows, that his annual Christmas bonus will show up on his door at any moment.

Okay, if typing up yesterday's review for Scrooged started to get me into the Christmas Spirit, then Christmas Vacation puts me over the top.  It's time to skip the Halloween decorations and go straight for the tree, and wonder why eggnog is not carried year round in stores?

The de-aging of Russ and Audrey is hilarious, because they simply do it, and accept it, so the audience goes right along with them.  They don't try and do a prequel or explain anything.  They just make the change, and run with it.   

Chase is at his best as Clark Griswold.  He's been criticized for his entire career for not being funny, a good actor, a pain in the butt off-camera...

Well, I don't care.  Chevy Chase plays Clark to the hilt.  He is a master of comic timing and reactions.  His insults to Cousin Eddie, barely audible, are nothing that every single one of us has done at some point in time to some clod that has irritated us.

In short, Clark Griswold is the father every dad tries to be....and not be...at the same time.

: )

Sadly, Clark simply tries so hard, that when the obvious setback occurs, the pendulum has to swing so far in the other direction, and that is the source of much of the comedy.

He epitomizes the phrase "when it rains, it pours" or "Murphy's Law". 

A dinner can't simply be ruined... the Christmas tree has to go up in flames...and then more bad things begin to pile up.

In short, it's real life, but it's funny because it's not YOUR life.

And it leads to one of the greatest outbursts/meltdowns of any character, in any movie, Christmas or otherwise.

Nope, it's just not Christmas without seeing this one a few times before the big day.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 13 ~ Scrooged

Back on the list, a few old favorites:

Bill Murray.
Richard Donner.

Christmas Movies.

In fact, this begins the Holy Trifecta of Christmas movies, so if you're not a fan of the Yuletide Season, then you may want to take a few days off.

Lumps of coal will be delivered accordingly...

: )

So anyway...

For those that haven't seen this film:

It's a spin on A Christmas Carol, for starters.

Bill Murray plays Frank Cross, the youngest executive in network television history.  To celebrate the season, he plans an extensive, live production of A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve.

Bah, humbug!

However, Frank begins to be visited by the Christmas Ghosts....and then all bets are off.

Will Frank get the message, or will it be too late for Mr. Cross?

If you only watch one film version of A Christmas Carol...

It should probably be A Muppet Christmas Carol.

: )

But if you want an adaptation of A Christmas Carol, here you go!

The framework of Dickens' tale remains intact, and yet they built all of their new story on top of it.

Bill Murray is a genius in his role as Cross.  It's fun to see him through flashbacks when he was less of an ogre towards people and is genuinely caring.  He makes you care that Frank Cross does not go down the path of Christmas-Yet-To-Come.  His redemption, unlike Scrooge, happens live via satellite to millions of people (and pets) who are watching.

Pretty powerful stuff.

The rest of the all-star cast is tremendous as well.

It's a holiday mainstay at the house.  Our only complaint, we really want to see Lee Majors' film, The Night the Reindeer Died!!  : )  (Though I maintain the Day the Reindeer Died would be the better title)

So get ready this holiday season to watch Scrooged.  And if you haven't seen it in a few years, give it a whirl...

Yule Love It!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 14 ~ The Emperor's New Groove

Yes, you read it correctly. 

Disney's greatest cartoon is none other than The Emperor's New Groove.

I would say it's their most underrated cartoon ever, but in nearly ever circle I've traveled in, everyone LOVES this movie.

For those of you that haven't, here's what you've missed so far:

Emperor Kuzco wants to build himself a birthday present: another home for himself.  Unfortunately, the location is on the property of local peasant, Pacha and his family.  Meanwhile, his trusted advisor, Yzma, is plotting his death so she can take over the kingdom.

The plan backfires and turns Kuzco into a llama...

Oh sure, it sounds silly... and if it were a live-action film, it  just might be.  But as an animated feature, it works in spades!

Speaking of spades, let's get on with the characters...

Emperor Kuzco is voiced by David Spade.  He is at his hilarious best as the spoiled, cynical emperor who is suddenly transformed into a llama.  His only hope lies with the peasant Pacha, who he just tried to take his home away from moments earlier.  John Goodman returns to the countdown in a voice-over role, playing Pacha, the man with the heart of gold who helps the emperor, despite his misgivings that it will probably be in his best interest to let the llama fend for himself against those who might see him harm.

Which leads us to Yzma, voiced by the wickedly delightful Eartha Kitt.  I would stack her right at the top of Disney villains, as she is certainly over-the-top in pure evil-ness.  As with most Disney villains, she requires a comedic sidekick to make the audience snicker instead of cower when they are on screen together.  We receive Kronk this time, and he is absolutely hilarious.  Voiced by the distinctly obvious Patrick Warburton, it's a joy to watch and hear Kronk throughout the movie.

Disney attempted to recreate the magic a few years later with Kronk's New Groove, but it just didn't have the same ooph that this one has.

I would guess the movie has played at least 100 times in our house over the years.  Sure, it seems like a lot of viewings, but that is spread out over 6 kids and 12 years.

That it's also my wife's favorite Disney, if not outright movie, movie...

Yeah, this was going pretty high up the list.

: )

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 15 ~ Rear Window

Today is my favorite Hitchcock film, Rear Window.

The story of a photographer (James Stewart) who is laid up with a bum leg in his apartment.  His apartment looks across the backyard of an apartment complex.  Bored, he takes to watching his neighbors.

And then one day, he thinks he discovers that one of his neighbors may have killed his wife...

Okay, there a couple of reasons why this movie is so great.  If you ever read the short story upon which it is based, you'll find that Hitchcock lifted the basic premise, and then ratcheted the suspense up to about 11.  I did a comparison paper in college between the book and the movie, and this one, the movie wins, hands down.

The set is ingenious.

There is so much action that takes place outside of the window, and yet the entire movie is shot from the interior of Stewart's apartment.  Like the hero, you too are sucked into his voyeuristic world, and the edge of your seat suspense comes from knowing only what you think you've seen along with Stewart.

Then there is Jimmy Stewart's performance.  He anchors the picture even when he is not onscreen.  Literally, if you're not seeing him in the shot, you're seeing what he would be seeing.  He is a great actor, and in many cases in this film, a re-actor to what is happening.

Along for the ride is Grace Kelly, as the woman who loves him so terribly much, and yet she can't get him to stop looking out the window and pay her any attention.

Again, like many dramas, this one doesn't get watched too terribly often, but it's always fun to watch once in a blue moon.  The kids also really enjoyed seeing the inspiration for the film, Disturbia and how good the overall premise of this story really is.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 16 ~ The Wedding Singer

Movie-makers take note...

If you want to make a chick flick that guys will go to, make it funny.

Today's movie is Adam Sandler's finest film.  That is a sentence you won't hear many movie reviewers make!

For those that haven't seen it:

Robbie Hart (Sandler) is a local wedding singer.  He's talented and fun, and can keep the party going no matter what happens.  But when he's left at the altar, his entire universe explodes.  Luckily, the new waitress, Julia (Drew Barrymore) is there along with his friends to try and cheer him up.  Julia is planning her wedding, and getting Robbie's help brings him back from the brink.  But what does he do when he begins having feelings for Julia?

I told you I'm a sucker for romantic comedies.  And I'll watch every Adam Sandler movie, at least once.

This one, I've watched way more than once! : )

Sandler and Barrymore have a sweet chemistry together in the movie.  As the movie unfolds, you see them falling in love, and naturally you know how the movie ends, but it's fun to watch them get to that point.

It helps that Glenn Guglia is a complete jerk who you can't believe is going to marry sweet little Julia.

Julia Guglia?  Ick!!!

Of course, there is the Jon Lovitz factor to help push this movie to the top.  His brief cameo is hilarious.

However, you have to give credit for the finale to Billy Idol.

If you're casting a movie, set in the 80s, and you need someone to play Billy Idol... you cast Billy Idol!!  Sandler did, and the ending is all the more hilarious because of it. : )

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 17 ~ Red

Back to back old folks movies?

If I didn't know better, that would mean Sunday would be Cocoon, by Ron Howard.

But alas, no such luck.

Today, we shave off a few years from our Driving Miss Daisy leads and look at Red.

Retired.
Extremely.
Dangerous.

Genius acronym, by the way.

Would you believe it's another comic-book movie?  Okay, graphic novel movie...

Yeah, me neither, but apparently it is.  Maybe that's what makes it so good?

Naturally, I was in it for Bruce Willis.  Because there are few finer things in life than watching Bruce Willis kicking butt on the big screen.

The story:

Frank Moses (Willis) is a retired covert ops kinda guy.  His only real happiness lately is chatting with the government pension worker, Sarah(Mary-Louise Parker).  But when the bad guys come to take Frank out, he finds that black ops is like riding a bicycle... you never really forget.  He knows that Sarah will be in danger, so he's off to rescue the damsel in distress.  Finally, Frank assembles some similar pals who have been out of the game for a while (Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich) to help him save the day.

Considering there looks to be  a sequel in the works... you can probably guess that for the most part, Frank succeeds!

The movie is filled with great action sequences and fun dialogue.  Helen Mirren is probably the coolest revelation of the movie.  She's a great actress, who knew she'd make a great action star!?!

Enough has been said about Morgan Freeman over the several movies he's been on the list with.

The other returning actor is John Malkovich.  3 movies... 3 insane characters.  This time, however, he's an insane GOOD guy.  The man is showing his range.

: )

It was also great to see Ernest Borgnine on the big screen one last time.  It's a shame he won't be there for the sequel. : (

Fun movie, if you're ever looking for a great action flick to enjoy and can't decide on one, this is a can't miss choice!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 18 ~ Driving Miss Daisy

What better way to come down from the frenetic road trip of Tommy Boy, than to take another road trip... which is much slower and more peaceful.

Today's film is Driving Miss Daisy.

This is one of the few times the Academy Awards has presented the Best Picture to a choice I agreed with, and one of the very few films on my list to come home with that (or any) prestigious award.  Amazingly, it's also one of those films that was nominated for Best Film, yet did not merit a nomination for the Director.

Therefore I will not name him in this review, as obviously he had nothing to do with how well it turned out.


: /

The story is that of a beautiful friendship that develops between an old Jewish Southern Belle (Jessica Tandy) and her black chauffeur (Morgan Freeman) in the 1950s.  At first, she resents her driver, but who can resist Morgan Freeman for long?  It's got to be the voice...

And really, that's all you need to know about the film if you've never seen it.

It's very much a character driven movie, adapted from the play.  All other characters are secondary, at  best. 

The relationship is the story, and if your heart hasn't melted like butter by the end of the film when Miss Daisy and Hoke are together...

Well, I got nothing for you.

It's a beautifully told, wonderfully acted story.  I highly recommend it, especially if you've never seen it.  Dramas tend to not get watched as much around the house as action, comedy or chick flicks, as you can probably tell by the movies already mentioned on the list.

Nothing against the genre, just often the heavier subject matter makes for a less desirable "I wanna watch a movie!" experience.  You need the adrenaline pumper or the laugh riot to make up for a rough day.  You have to be in the mood for a drama.  And this is one of the best ones out there!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 19 ~ Tommy Boy

Holy Schneikes!

I still remember the first time I saw this movie on DVD.  When Tommy, as a kid, went face first into the glass?!

I lost it.

Yeah, silly gag, but it set the tone, and I was hooked.

Picking a quote for the Facebook intro would have proved harder than anything, but I went with one of my favorite lines from the movie.

And I know everyone has at least one favorite line from this movie.

Chris Farley, much like John Candy, left us way too soon.  He's hysterically funny and a gifted physical comic.  This represents his only appearance, and the best movie that he ever worked on.

His timing with David Spade was lightning in a bottle with this movie.  For those that saw Black Sheep, you know it wasn't able to be duplicated as well.

Speaking of David Spade, he almost hit the countdown with Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.

Yeah, I know.  But that movie is awesome.  I opted to keep it off the list.  Figure that it's definitely on a list of 100 Movies that You Love That Everyone Else Probably Hates, or something like that.

However, this won't be David Spade's only appearance on the countdown.  His finest hour is STILL to come!

Now, just in case you've never seen it.....

Tommy Callahan comes home to Ohio to join the family automotive parts business.  Tommy's not the brightest bulb in the lamp, and when his father dies, he has to attempt to save the company or lose it, and basically decimate this small town beset by economic woes.

Help us Tommy Boy, you're our only hope.

This sets up a road trip that has to be seen to be believed.

The scene, as pictured above, has actually happened to me (and the wifey) before we were married. 

We handled our dilemma in a much calmer manner.

But that scene, it cracks me up every time.

Who am I kidding, aside from the funeral, EVERY scene cracks me up, every time!

So if you haven't enjoyed a nice rendition of "Fat Guy in a Little Coat" in awhile, perhaps it's time to refresh your memory.

If you don't already own it, if you've got Netflix, it is available to stream as of this writing.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 20 ~ Iron Man

And so the Top 20 begins, and I find it fitting that it begins with the re-invigorating of the superhero franchise.

Iron Man.

The first film from the newly created Marvel Studios.  All of the franchises that were not already farmed out to other studios (Ghost Rider, Daredevil, X-Men, Spider-Man, Blade) would now fall under the Marvel Studios umbrella.  Like the comics, the project was ambitious:

Create a cinematic Marvel Universe.  Character A could pop up in Character B's film, etc. etc. etc.

Yeah, just like the comics.

Coming out of the gate it was announced that Iron Man would be the movie to start things off.

Talk about a 2nd Tier hero... this was no Batman or Spider-Man that everyone has heard of, this is a character that is known by comic fans but to John Q. MovieGoer... this might prove to be a harder sell.

Then Robert Downey Jr. was cast in the lead.  Not some unknown actor, ala Christopher Reeve as Superman.  This was an established actor, who is really quite good at his craft.

Directed by Jon Favreau (who will hit the list once more...), he assembled a stellar cast and then worked with Marvel to establish what they wanted to set up as the movie Tony Stark versus the comic book Tony Stark.

And in 2008, Iron Man was unleashed upon the public.

So remember, until 2004, my answer for the best Superhero movie ever made was Superman: The Movie.
Then for 4 years, The Incredibles held the top spot.
Then in 2008, the game was changed forever, when Iron Man was released, and for me, the Marvel Studios revolution began, and super-hero movies were forever changed (for the better...at least I hoped).

It was a critical and box office success. 



And for the last four years, Iron Man has held the spot on the chart and in my heart for best superhero movie ever released.




Brief plot description:

Tony Stark, brilliant billionaire who designs weapons for the government is kidnapped by bad guys who want him to design a weapon for them.  Injured, he crafts a suit of armor as a weapon, but also to save his life.  Suddenly, his life takes on a whole new meaning when he decides that maybe his calling is to stop making weapons, and become the weapon.


Awesomeness ensues.

Iron Man 2... less so.  But I'll give that one a pass, as the bar was set so high with the first installment, there was really nowhere to go but down.  Sequels tend to not live up to the shadow of the first, but often can bring about a nice trilogy finish with the third installment.


Until then, sit back and enjoy the ride.  For any detractors to this, or any other Marvel movie franchise...

Suck it up.  There is no way that Marvel should be able to pull off the success they are having now with their franchises, with the quality of actors that they are assembling to give us the best product that they can.

Don't believe me?

Look at Spider-Man, a franchise that was cast wrong from the beginning, and has been rebooted after 3 films.

Look at Batman, who will likely be rebooted again now that Nolan and Bale are done with the cape and cowl.  Hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.

Look at Superman Returns...

On second thought...save yourself.

: )

But just like comics, enjoy the lightning in a bottle that you have.  Writers and artists come and go all the time.

These actors/directors can't play the same part forever, so enjoy what they give us, while they can give it to us.

Because someday, these franchises will have all new leading men/women in the starring roles for a new generation of moviegoers to enjoy.

I hope I'm around to enjoy them, and that they are enjoyable.

For now, pass the popcorn, and let me enjoy some superheroics with my kids!

And for the record, if someone asks me now what the best superhero movie is?

It changed in 2012.

More on that...later!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 21 ~ Parenthood

Today's entry is a movie that we have watched so often, we actually wore out the VHS copy that we had.

It marks director Ron Howard's only movie on the countdown.  He's done lots of great films over the years, but for me, this was his finest moment.  He takes an ensemble cast and presents... a family.  All of their ups, downs, sideways, quirks, flaws and love...

And the whole thing works.  This isn't an ensemble comedy that feels dated like some of the madcap 60s or 70s comedies.  There is strong actor after strong actor anchoring this film so that while it may be a product of the 80s, it truly feels timeless.

For those that have never watched this film... shame on you... it is the story of the Buckman family.  Patriarch Frank (Jason Robards) and his 4 children: Gil (Steve Martin), Susan (Harley Jane Kozak), Helen (Dianne Wiest) and Larry (Tom Hulce).  All 4 of those children are grown and having families of their own.

Their spouses, kids and significant others include Mary Steenburgen, Rick Moranis, Martha Plimpton, Keanu Reeves (Whoa!) and Joaquin Phoenix.

Steve Martin would be considered the main character in the cast of thousands.  His only foray on the charts, though Roxanne was a tough one to leave off, is my favorite role that he's done.  He proves that he can reign in the zany, and just be a fun, lovable dad.  Truly, every actor in the film hits the mark and is pitch perfect in making you care for them and their issues.


It's a must-see for anyone that has kids, wants to have kids, was a kid, knows a kid, or was ever born.  Yes, it's a comedy. Yes, it's a drama.

You'll laugh. You'll cry.  You'll enjoy what you saw.

Always living 3000 miles from home, we have to rely on ourselves as family.  There are no get-togethers, so we miss out on a lot of the craziness that ensues when generations get together.  Of course, you take the good and bad that comes with that. : )





Watching the events unfold in the Buckman clan, you should be able to see similar relationships within your own family, whether it's parent/child, sibling/sibling or married spouse.

The movie itself is infinitely quotable, and yes, much like many other movies on the list, many a Parenthood gets broken out as applicable.

Lucky for us, our 4th one wasn't Larry... but we've simply changed the number each time we've had another child.

So far, so good. : )


Tomorrow: Is it time for the Top 20 already??!!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 22 ~ Uncle Buck

Welcome to the list, John Hughes.

The man wrote a mountain of movies, one of which is still to come on the countdown.

However, he only directed 8 movies in his career.

That said, he was probably "THE" Director for 80s movies that helped define our generation growing up:

Sixteen Candles
The Breakfast Club
Ferris Bueller's Day Off

That's the Holy Trinity of 80s High School Films if you think about it.  Add Weird Science in there, and half of his resume consists of life in school.

The remaining movies are all pretty good, but Uncle Buck is my favorite of his directorial work.

For those that haven't seen it, here goes:

The Russell family is dysfunctional at best.  When the wife's father has a heart attack, the parents need to leave for an undisclosed amount of time, but who will watch over their 3 children?

For an inconvenience like that, you have to call family.  Cue: Uncle Buck!

Buck makes underachieving an art form.  But perhaps some time together with the kids can change both the children and Buck into better people.

It is, after all, a film written by John Hughes.  You know a happy ending is on the way, but it won't be easy getting there.

We saw this one in 1989 when it was released in theaters.  In fact, my honey and I were the only ones in the theater when it came out.

You know the movie has to be pretty good when a teenage boy is alone in a theater with a girl, and actually watches the movie.

: )

Nearly 25 years later, we're still watching it, and now sharing it with our kids.

Scripted by Hughes, you know it's oft-quoted in our house when a situation arises that's worthy of Uncle Buck.

Heck, anytime we see a "smoking car" driving down the road, someone will shout out "there goes Uncle Buck".

More fun than "Slug Bug!" I tell you!

John Hughes writing alone though cannot sell a movie unless he's got a great actor in the lead role.  In John Candy, he found Uncle Buck and gave him the role of a lifetime.  Sure, he's a bit of an underachiever, but he really means well.  He's nice as can be, but don't cross him (or his family) or watch out!

It was the first acting roles for the kids in the house as Gaby Hoffman (Maisy) who has already been on the Countdown (Field of Dreams) and Jean Louisa Kelly (Tia)  as Buck's arch-nemesis who was also in Mr. Holland's Opus.

Plus, while not the first role for him, I would say that this is the movie that was a breakout for Macaulay Culkin.  He of course would move on to huge success with the Home Alone franchise, but here he was cute as a button playing opposite John Candy.

If you haven't seen it (or it's been a few years) move it up your queue and enjoy!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 23 ~ City Slickers

I told you Billy Crystal would be back.

The man has been in a bunch of great movies over the years, but I have to give the nod to City Slickers for Crystal's finest starring role.

For those that have never viewed the film, here's a quick run-down:

Mitch (Crystal) and his two best friends (Bruno Kirby, Daniel Stern) go on a cattle drive to celebrate Mitch's birthday.  Along with some other "City Slickers", the boys meet up with trail boss, Curly (Jack Palance) who might just impart some cowboy wisdom to the boys before the end of the cattle drive.

Sounds boring, but it's not.

: )

It's actually quite hilarious from start to finish, and in his long, illustrious career as an actor, it is quite probably Jack Palance's greatest role.  It earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and considering the Academy tries to overlook mainstream comedies as often as possible, that's saying something.

The movie is packed with dialogue that gets quoted around the house, especially whenever someone is having difficulty picking up a task, we will often use "even the cows can do it by now!" in honor of the "how to use a VCR" scene.

Geez, how dated is using a VCR now??!!

Naturally, a sequel followed a few years later, and it is very much as fun as the original.

I call it the Jon Lovitz effect, as mentioned on previous reviews! : )

Lovitz takes Kirby's place as Mitch's brother.  More hilarity ensues as they chase after some buried gold.

So give this one a whirl, and maybe if you're old enough, like Mitch was, by the time the movie is over, you too will have figured out what your "One Thing" in life is.

Happy Trails!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 24 ~ Music and Lyrics

Enter the Romantic Comedy.  Otherwise dubbed: "The Chick Flick".

I will make no bones about them:  I am a big fan of the genre.

Normally, these are the movies that my honey enjoys watching, and since I enjoy watching any movie with her, these get put on heavy rotation to make up for anything I normally get that explodes or splatters blood across the screen.

: )

Bonus points though:  When they are good, they can be really great movies that I have no problem watching over, and over (and over!) again.

Music and Lyrics falls into that category.

The story: 80s hitmaker Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) who was the maker of his band's melodies enjoys a carefree life living off residuals of their greatest hits.  Of course, he now plays fairs and reunions, so it's not quite the grand life he had dreamed of.  Then he receives an offer to write a song for the current reigning teen pop sensation, and he jumps a the chance... or more likely hops to the chance... his weakness?  He's not a very good lyricist.  If only he could collaborate with someone like back in the 80s.

Cue Sophie (Drew Barrymore) who comes in as a cleaning lady to tend to his apartment, and the two strike up a quick relationship because of her ease with words and their poetic arrangement.

Since I mentioned this is a Romantic Comedy, naturally, there will be a little bit of falling in, out, and back into love before the credits roll.

Drew Barrymore finally makes the countdown.  Ever After just missed hitting the Top 100 (told you, Chick Flicks rule!), and Drew will actually be back again, so that's not too bad to hit 2 times, and both be in the Top 25. : )

Then there is Hugh Grant.  The man was born and bred to star in these movies, and normally, if he is in a movie, I will get around to watching it.  Aside from his usual stellar acting, he even provides his own vocals to all of his 80s hits.  Well done Hugh!

He also just missed the countdown with Mickey Blue Eyes.  It was hard to leave out, but this was a tough list to make!

Again, I should've bumped Star Wars!

: )

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 25 ~ 10 Things I Hate About You

Today's movie is a modern-day twist on Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew".  10  Things I Hate About You did the right thing though, and kept the intent of Shakespeare's play, and dialogue as needed, but otherwise updated the language so that it played like "normal teenagers" talking.

More or less.

I've seen other Shakespearean adaptations that try to bring the Bard to "now", but insist on keeping his speeches intact.  While I appreciate what they are trying to do, it normally fails in execution and really can pull you out of the moment.

For those that are not familiar with the play, or the movie... sheesh... how do you summarize this plot without giving away all of the fun?

The new guy in school, Cameron, wants to date the prettiest girl he's ever seen, Bianca.  Except that she cannot date, unless her older sister, Kat, is also dating.  Needless to say, Kat is not interested in dating whatsoever.  So Cameron and his best friend enlist the aid of the rich ne'er-do-well to pay someone else, Patrick Verona, to take Kat out on dates.  He does this, thinking that he will have a shot at dating Bianca, but Cameron is hoping to secretly win her heart.

Eh, close enough, right?

So, let's see, starring as Cameron was Joseph Gordon Levitt, the "It" Guy of the moment.  I remember him from Angels in the Outfield, but this would really be his big silver screen moment.

And no, I didn't watch Third Rock from the Sun, so there's that for the rest of you.

Next up, Julia Stiles as the Shrew, Kat.  For me, this is her finest role, because otherwise, I'm just not that big a fan of hers.

Quite possibly, the biggest star at the time, was David Krumholtz as Michael, the best friend.  He was Bernard the Elf from The Santa Clause, so his was a face I was already familiar with.

My favorite character would have to be the dad, as envisioned by Larry Miller, I laugh at every scene he's in.

Finally, what can I begin to say about Heath Ledger?  File him under the same category as Chris Evans or Ryan Reynolds.  This was the first movie I saw Ledger in, and I was an instant fan.  As Patrick, he is funny, sensitive, angry and a very complex character.  Everyone thinks they know him, but no one is even close.

A Knight's Tale came very close to making this list as well, really on the strong performance that he gave in that role as well.

Sadly, a talent taken too soon from movie fans around the globe.  It would have been a tremendous body of work he could have created over the next 30-50 years...

But, don't dwell on the negative.  Enjoy the fun body of work that Ledger and company created here.  Their big breaks, in a lot of cases.  And one that is a blast to watch and holds up just as well today.

You have to give some credit to Shakespeare I would imagine.

: )

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 26 ~ Goldfinger

As we get ready to reveal the Top 25 movies, we say farewell to the first 75 with one of the Silver Screen's most enduring characters.

Bond.

James Bond.

The series has had many highs and lows over its cinematic history, and Casino Royale did a great job in rejuvenating the franchise.  However, I'm going with the best Bond, ever.

Sean Connery.

And to me, Goldfinger gets all the pieces of what makes for a great Bond film and puts them together in the finest offering of the franchise.

It's Bond vs. Goldfinger for the fate of all the gold in Fort Knox.  It appears as though Goldfinger has come into possession of a dirty bomb, and intends to detonate it, tainting the American gold reserve for the next 58 years.

This of course would plummet the American economy into chaos during the height of the Cold War.

It would also increase the value of Goldfinger's stash of gold bullion as it would multiply tenfold overnight.

Ingenious.

And it's up to Bond to save the day.

Thank heavens for the British!

Yes, this movie has it all, the gadgets, the guns, the girls.

It's everything that is right (and wrong!) with the franchise done in magnificent style.  From the exotic locations to the use of great henchmen...

Who can forget Oddjob and his bowler hat?

Plus, you have the single greatest "Bond Girl" of all time, Pussy Galore.  She's got the most over-the-top name, is tough as nails, and has no interest in Bond...

But even she is unable to resist him by the end of the film.

Is there nothing James Bond can do?

Apparently not.

And for that, I thank him (and every film in the franchise for that matter...yes even the worst Bond movies have some merit, even if it's only the theme song!)  : )

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 27 ~ Lethal Weapon

 

 

 

The buddy picture.

Or more specifically, the buddy cop picture.

It's been represented by Jackie Chan (twice) thus far.

And while there have been similar films before, and since, I will hold this one up as the blueprint for how to do it correctly.

The adventures of a pair of polar opposite detectives: Suicidal crazy-man Riggs, and straight-laced family man Murtaugh are on the case, and the bad guys had better watch out.  Because if these two don't kill each other first, the bad guys won't stand a chance!

And yeah, that's like the plot, in a nutshell.

It might seem formulaic, and on the surface it is, but as any great chemistry experiment will tell you, when you get a good formula, it works.

So you start with my favorite director, Richard Donner triumphantly returns to the countdown.  He takes a tight script and turns it loose with these two stars.

First, Mel Gibson.  Again, I'm not here to judge Mel on anything but what he does on screen.  I would have to say this was his first big break, in a real bona-fide action vehicle, if you want to discount the 3rd Mad Max sequel, and I'm fairly certain that most filmgoers do.

So yes, I would say Mad Max (# 2) brought Gibson to attention, and his next films proved he could act, but it was Lethal Weapon that turned him into a star.  You believe the desperation and manic ability that he brings to the screen.

Likewise, Danny Glover is the polar opposite to Gibson.  For me, I knew Glover from Silverado (just missed the countdown) but it seems like that's a pretty nice gig to really get your first starring, or at least co-starring role with this franchise.

Much like Superman, Donner is going to get you with some no-names or familiar faces, and let the story bring you along.

He succeeds.

And in the process, made an unconventional Christmas movie that still holds up today.

As for the rest of the franchise, aside from Chris Rock in the 4th film, I'm still a big fan.  Chris Rock is annoying.  Can he be funny? Yes.  A broken clock can be right twice a day also, but I would prefer one that works.

I would have preferred another actor in that role.

That's all I'm saying.

And Joe Pesci?  Leo Getz is awesome.

: )

I believe I've already mentioned that I love Rene Russo, so yeah, I'm a big fan of the entire franchise from start to finish, which I don't always say about every movie series I've seen (especially ones where George Lucas is involved...).

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 28 ~ Monster's Inc.

Today is a bittersweet day on the countdown.

It's the final appearance by Pixar, and it also marks my personal favorite film that they've done:  Monster's Inc.

Sad to see Pixar go, happy to see this one come up, because it is my favorite of their catalog.

Nearly every movie they've worked on could easily fit on a Greatest Movies ever listing.

The Toy Story franchise... so great, it was hard to decide which installment to pick.
A Bug's Life got mentioned with the Magnificent Seven.
Finding Nemo...meh...another one where if the kid would just listen to their parents, a whole lot of trouble would be avoided.  Lumped in with Little Mermaid...looks great...sucky message. : )
Cars and Cars 2... didn't think it would be good, impressed with how good they really were.
Ratatouille... again, there is no way that a movie about a cooking rat should be this good...just missed the list.
Wall*E...great movie...just missed the cut.
Up... the greatest love story in cinematic history plays out in the first few minutes of the film.  Bring tissues.  Missed the cut.
Brave...I have yet to see, but looks great.

So why do I choose a story about a group of Monsters who scare children for a living?

One word: Boo.

Monster's Inc. arrived in 2001, and my youngest daughter at the time...

Looked. Just. Like. Boo.

Still does. : )

She was my Boo. I was her "Kitty".

Yes, I get emotional every time I watch the film, and weep like a little girl at the end. : * )

Don't judge me!!

So yes, the emotional connection is strong with me on this film.

Besides that...

It's freakin' hilarious!

I make no secrets that I think Billy Crystal is one of the funniest comedians/actors ever to grace the Silver Screen.

This is his first spot on the countdown, and he will be back again inside the Top 25, at least once.  There were another 3 to 4 movies I easily considered for this list... but I don't know if they technically could be called Greatest Movies of All Time.  Goodest of All Time maybe, if Goodest was a word. 

But with my Greatest, I try and stack them in the order of if had 100 chances to prove what makes movies great, these are the selections I'm beaming to Mars, or putting in a time capsule... they just don't quite make the cut.  An example: Forget Paris.  Cute movie. Great actors, funny dialogue... but probably not the Greatest romantic comedy ever made.

And so it goes...

But no.

Monster's Inc. is funny. Check.  Sweet, check. Has a great foil to the good guys, check.  Steve Buscemi owns the role as Randall, the evil monster.  And James Coburn's voice is in fine form as the Monster at the head of all the chaos.

Excited about the "prequel" coming from Pixar.  Disappointed that Boo won't be there, but it looks like the charm and fun of the first movie are all going to be intact.

And I'll watch it with my Boo and be happy about that.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 29 ~ Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Ah... 1939... what a wonderful year at the movies.  Or so the critics say.  The only film from that year to hit the countdown is my favorite of the bunch, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

James Stewart stars as Mr. Smith in this collaboration with Frank Capra to show an honest young man heading to D.C. and encountering the corrupt establishment that has crept into that city since the beginning of our government.

Amazing how spot-on this film was in 1939, and sadly, seems even more appropriate in 2012.  : /

Sad that this movie hasn't become more ingrained in the public conscience, and we the people demand a change by the politicians that we put in office.

We'll never stand a chance when special interest groups are involved.

Yep, corrupt politicians and kickbacks are aplenty in D.C. and Mr. Smith becomes the fall guy as they pin lies and falsehoods on the newly elected senator.

Their attempts to smear the naive senator in the court of public opinion both at home and in the Senate work like a charm.  He's soon looking at leaving office, almost as quickly as he took the job.

Luckily for Mr. Smith, he is able to gain a filibuster advantage and attempt to reveal the entire plot and truth to the world.

It's a rousing performance by Jimmy Stewart, and should have you rooting for him, regardless of political affiliation.

All of the performances are spot-on, from the Senators that have no stake in the matter, to those that are knee-deep in corruption.

Then you have the lovely Jean Arthur who goes from assistant to love interest in the movie as she too falls for the ideals that Mr. Smith proves to her aren't just some hick from the sticks, but the ideals that all Americans should aspire to achieve.

The movie itself is brilliant, and likely for me,  the greatest political movie ever made.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 30 ~ The Incredibles

If you had asked me, at any point before 2004, "What is the greatest superhero film ever made?", I probably would have said "Superman: The Movie".

As Amazing as Spider-Man was when it first came out, the thrill of seeing Spidey on the big screen wore off quickly with the changes that were made to the franchise.  I never liked Tobey as Spidey, and don't get me started on their choice for Mary Jane...or the organic web-shooters.

The subsequent sequels failed to even live up to that initial rush of seeing Spider-Man on the big screen.

But alas, Spider-Man has failed to crack the countdown, and at the risk of upsetting the whole thing by revealing what movies did NOT make the countdown...

Neither did Superman.

Which is saying something, because I told you all early on, that Richard Donner is likely my favorite director...ever.

Now, from 2004 to about 2008... had you asked the same question about the greatest superhero film ever made, then that answer would be today's pick: The Incredibles.

Brad Bird hits the countdown again with his second feature as writer & director.  His follow-up to The Iron Giant was his first Pixar film, and one that raised the bar for superheroes everywhere.

The plot is simple enough... the federal government has all superheroes go into retirement in a witness relocation program, where they attempt to live everyday lives.

But when you have superpowers... how can you go from extraordinary lives to living dull and meaningless ones?

Centering on the Incredible family, all who have superpowers, and a dad that has the itch to suit up on occasion... it only takes one supervillain to push them over the edge and bring them out of hiding.

Because the only thing more important than saving the world?

Saving your family.

It's a movie with class, heart, and humor to spare.

And if not for the creation of Marvel Studios and what they have been able to crank out since 2008...

It would still likely be the greatest superhero movie ever made.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time... That I Own. # 31 ~ Groundhog Day

Oh, that Harold Ramis does it again!

Does it seem like I've written something like that before?

Well perfect, because that makes even more sense when you consider today's movie, Groundhog Day.

Harold Ramis  co-wrote it, and he directed it.

This will be Ramis' last visit on the countdown, but I would like to give a shout-out to Analyze This, a movie that could have, and possibly should have made the countdown.  Also, National Lampoon's Vacation, which originally made the countdown, and then was a last minute scratch when I decided that no franchise could hit the countdown more than once.  Silly rules...

Trust me, every day that I post a new review, I find at least 4 or 5 movies that should have knocked Star Wars off this list.

I am not proud of that fact...

:  /

As usual for many of the movies that Ramis wrote or directed, Bill Murray stars in it.

This also happens to be one of Bill Murray's best movies.

If you've never seen it, here's a quick synopsis:

Phil is a callous weatherman sent to cover the Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney PA.  They get snowed in, and have to spend the night there.

When Phil wakes up the next morning... it's Groundhog Day.

Again.

Everything happens exactly as it did the day before...and Phil is the only one that notices.

Can Phil break the Deja Vu that he constantly relives every day?  Or is he doomed to spend his entire existence celebrating a quirky non-holiday?

Along for the ride is his producer, Andie MacDowell.  Eventually Phil will pull out all the stops to try and win her love, at least for the night, because no matter what he does, at the end of the day, the giant reset button starts him all over again.

If you haven't seen it, it is available for streaming from Netflix as of this writing.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 32 ~ Toy Story 2

Here we are, all the way up to # 32, and we have a pair of firsts today.

The first, Pixar's first film on the countdown.  It won't be the last Pixar film on the list.  The others will be along shortly.

The second first (??!!) is this is the first sequel to be named on the countdown.  Often I have mentioned the franchises that have spun out of a movie, but it's almost always the first one that makes the lasting impression.

The Toy Story franchise is an odd exception to that cinematic rule.

The first movie is genius, don't get me wrong.

For that matter, even the worst Pixar movie is better than many other studios' "best efforts".

The third movie, also genius.  A very emotional end to a journey with these toys that we had enjoyed for seemingly ever.

Ah, but that second film.

I guess it's the Godfather 2 of animated films.  That rare feature that did everything great about the first one, and then dialed it up another notch or two.

The introduction of the new characters worked great to give Woody a reason to leave Andy behind and feel the need to venture off to a museum.

The all-out efforts of his friends to save him from that very fate is hysterical.  Add in the fact that Buzz gets switched (a gag so great, they used a similar trick in 3) and you have all new comedy by starting over at square one.

Putting this one over the top for me though, was the heartbreaking Jessie's Song, "When Somebody Loved Me".  I told you, I wear my emotions on my sleeve, and Pixar knows how to play the heartstrings as good, or better, than anyone in Hollywood. 

Through my eyes, I can not only see my childhood pass before me again, but I can then see each of my children growing up on screen, and it is both sad and wonderful at the same time.

Well done Pixar, you get me every time with that one.

Thankfully, there is enough madcap humor throughout the film that I'm laughing soon enough, all the way to the very happy ending.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 33 ~ The Hunt for Red October

A movie I not only own, I saw it for the first time in the theater.  Though until I saw it at home, I was under the impression that the entire movie was just some crazy dream, because I had missed the opening scene where Alec Baldwin explains that he can never sleep on an airplane.

So yeah, I walked out a little disappointed the first time I saw it!

The Jack Ryan franchise began here.  Not sure what is truth and what is fiction after all these years...

Harrison Ford was originally offered the part, but didn't like that Connery would receive top billing... which seems strange since they had just worked together on The Last Crusade.  Either way, Ford would get the part later, but those movies just don't hold a candle to this one.

Maybe it's the screen presence of Sean Connery... maybe a tighter script...  maybe a little less focus on Jack Ryan...

Either way, this is a heckuva thrill ride from start to finish.

For those that have never seen it:

A Russian submarine captain decides to defect to America, taking his state of the art submarine and officers with him in the process.

The Americans think he's attacking, so they set out to sink him.  The Russians are also out to sink him.

But one man thinks he knows the truth...and they have to try and save him.

Directed by John McTiernan...the man has only directed a total of 11 films in his career, but nearly all of them are exceptional films to watch, and there is one still to come on the countdown.

The film is an all-star cast, with no stunt casting or people wasted in their roles.  They all take a back seat to the story, and you'll sit glued to your seat enjoying it...regardless of how many times you've watched it.

It is available to stream from Netflix as of this review.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 34 ~ The Iron Giant

How does a non-Disney cartoon rank so high up the list?

Pretty simple...

It's amazing.

The Iron Giant is a tale of a boy and his Giant Robot.

Set in the turbulent Cold War 1950s, what happens when a giant robot from space crash lands on Earth and befriends a little boy?

Cool things happen, that's what!

Luckily for the boy, Hogarth, the Giant has bit of a dent on his head that scrambles his prime directive of being the ultimate weapon.  The two become best buddies, and with the help of a bit of a beatnik, attempt to hide the big guy from the Federal Government.

Unfortunately, the Feds think that this giant is a Communist weapon, and apparently the only hope of taking it out to save America...

Is to nuke it!

Oh my!!

Let me begin by saying that the voice casting in this film is exceptional.  Vin Diesel is unrecognizable as the Giant, in a part many will claim is the actor's finest role.

Ouch!

: )

Jennifer Aniston plays the mother, and Harry Connick Jr. plays Dean, the beatnik.  Whether he could become a potential love interest for the mother is an idea that is there, but the film only loosely touches on, after all, this is the story of a boy and his Giant Robot, remember?

Finally, there is Agent Mansley. Christopher MacDonald returns as the villain...the man is so good at being bad...see Happy Gilmore for further proof!  He is deliriously over-the-top as always, and dooms the entire world because of his short-sightedness.

Yep, typical Fed.

: )

As for the ending... you know how you are when you watch films.  They either get to you, or they don't.

I can't not watch this one without bursting forth the waterworks.

It still gets me.

Every. Time.


"Superman"


Great movie!


Available for streaming for Amazon Prime members for free as of today's writing.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 35 ~ Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein

One thing that this list is short on, are horror/monster movies.  Again, going with the criteria of "do I get to enjoy it with the whole family?", the majority of scary movies don't make the cut. 

Today, we have an exception.

Of course, it had to be made in 1948, and feature the classic Universal Monsters, but it still qualifies.

: )

Bud Abbott & Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein is a classic romp featuring the trademark rapid-fire humor audiences had come to expect from Abbott & Costello by then.  Now, while the title refers to the boys meeting Frankenstein, that wasn't the only Universal Monster they wound up meeting.

In fact, while Karloff did not play the monster, they were lucky enough to snag Bela Lugosi as Dracula and Lon Chaney Jr. as the Wolfman.  Add a last second cameo by the Invisible Man (Vincent Price) and I would say you more than get your money's worth from this film.

Unlike nearly every other Abbott & Costello movie, in this film, Costello actually gets the upper hand on Abbott in much of the word-play, and going after the leading ladies.  The fact that they are all nearly falling over Lou does seem unlikely, but the real reason behind it is revealed before too long:

His brain!

The movie works as equal part loving homage to the Monsters, and classic Abbott & Costello romp.  The Monsters are played straight and not made fun of, which is why the movie works so well.  They could be easily mocked, or they could have played the movie as one giant "well, only Costello actually sees them..." but by bringing Abbott in on the shenanigans, the film works even better.

This one normally gets a spin in the household at least once a year, normally as we get closer to Halloween.

If you don't own it or haven't seen it in ages, it is available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 36 ~ Captain America: The First Avenger

Yep, you read the title correctly.

Captain America!

This was the movie that I requested (after the Avengers, natch!) when I was asked at Heroes Con after Iron Man as to what Marvel movie should follow the unprecedented success of Iron Man.

A Captain America movie, set during World War II would be the ideal way to introduce Cap to the Marvel Movie Universe.

Directed by Joe Johnston, who has had a long, varied, and not commercially a huge success at the box office... this and Thor showed that Marvel was moving forward... but at what cost?

Naturally, when the box office receipts were tallied... both were considered successes...until cast in the shadows of Iron Man, Spider-Man, or the Batman franchise.

However, the groundwork to achieve the Avengers was cast in stone, and the world is now a better place.

: )

Of course, when Marvel announced that they had cast Chris Evans as Captain America, I was skeptical.  For starters...that's the wrong hair color.  Plus, he had already made an excellent Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four franchise.

Say what you want, his Torch was great in those films.

That said, I am a huge fan of Chris Evans.  Have been ever since Not Another Teen Movie (which sadly just missed the countdown!).  Most of the time, if he is in the movie, I will definitely give it a whirl.  Heck, he was the best part of the movie The Losers as well, sticking with a comic book theme.

So anyway, Chris totally won me over in his portrayal of Steve Rogers.  From 98 pound weakling to Super Soldier, he handled both parts adeptly.  The two scenes that had me sold on this movie were both during his training:  Capturing the flag, and jumping on the grenade.

That IS Steve Rogers.

At that point, any doubts I had were gone.

Evans was surrounded by a wonderful supporting cast, including Tommy Lee Jones, quoted in the Facebook intro.  Who am I kidding?  I was sold on the film when I heard that commercial.

: )

I'm looking forward to the sequel, and very interested to see what they come up with next.


Tomorrow: A movie that Steve Rogers would have missed seeing in theaters while he was frozen on ice!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 37 ~ Miracle on 34th Street

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Forget school being back in season, it's time to gear up for Christmas.

This is one of my favorites to watch every year sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Forget the remake, if you're scared of black and white movies, you should be more scared of the lispy girl in the remake.  Ptooey!

This is the classic tale of a man who claims to be Santa Claus, and by the end of the movie, he very well may be the man he claimed to be.

To see the cynicism melt away from the little girl (Natalie Wood) as the movie progresses is a great reminder to let kids enjoy being kids for as long as they can.  They become cynical adults like her mom (Maureen O'Hara) soon enough.  But when someone like Santa (Edmund Gwynn) come along and can break through the layers...

Miracles can happen.

John Payne also does a great job (as does the entire cast) as the attorney who sets out to prove that his client is indeed St. Nick...and maybe prove to the lady next door that he could be her leading man.  He is a great everyman actor, in the same mold as Jimmy Stewart.

The tale resonates today as much as it did back then, maybe more so.  If the world was disillusioned by commercialism back in the 1940s, imagine what has taken place in the intervening half century?

Yes, it's a sweet story... and tell me you don't get a little lump in your throat when he breaks out the the song for the little Dutch girl.

If you don't believe in Santa Claus, or the spirit of Christmas by the time the movie finishes...

You're a mean one... Mr. Grinch!

Case dismissed!

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 38 ~ Caddyshack

We've had football.

We've had more than our share of baseball.

But golf?

Is that even a sport?

And should there be movies about it???

Amazingly, the two best golf movies I've ever seen almost both made the countdown.

Tin Cup would easily land in the Top 150.

But I could not deny the humor and zaniness of Caddyshack.

I told you Harold Ramis would be back.

In this, his directorial debut, he could have hung it up, because it doesn't get much better than this.  Thankfully he didn't, but he could have.

For those that have never seen the film...

As the catchphrase goes: It's the slobs versus the snobs.

You have a wonderful uppity country club and all of their members plus their caddies.   Then one day, a member with the requirements, but not the class... shows up and turns the country club upside down.

The film stars a who's-who of comedic actors of the late 70s/early 80s.  Most will agree that Bill Murray steals the film as the groundskeeper, and he does.

However the main thrust of Rodney Dangerfield as the outsider trying to fit in, against Ted Knight's uptight judge carries the main momentum of the film.

As I've said before, the better you want your hero to be, you better have an equally entertaining villain.

Ted Knight brings bluster and fire to his performance, literally playing the straight man to the zanies, and it works perfectly.  Look at the picture for this film.  He is literally losing his cool on camera, and it's hilarious.  He is the perfect foil for Dangerfield (and Chase) in the film, and was a casting stroke of genius.

Strangely, the slowest drag in the film comes when they put Murray and Chase in the same scene together.  What should have been comic gold kind of grinds to a halt, and is only mildly amusing.  Otherwise, the movie is hilarious, and will likely be quoted for all time on golf courses around the world...

"It's in the hole!"