Year in Review: Movies

Year in Review: Movies

Favorite Movies of the Year

In no way am I qualified to talk about the year’s best movies. So here is a list of some of my favorite movies of the year. Please enjoy.

1. Looper

Time travel movies are really hard to make well. The whole concept of time travel is so confusing that if the movies spends too much time trying to explain it or how it affects the past, present or future then it will get bogged down and can end up being really boring (Butterfly Effect). But when a movie stays away from the explanations and just lets go it can be quite entertaining (Terminator). What Looper does that is great is it doesn’t try and explain itself out of every corner; instead you get old Joe telling young Joe “I don’t want to talk about time travel because if we start talking about time travel then we’re going to be here all day talking about it, making diagrams with straws.

Not only is the whole premise of the movie great Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis do a great job of playing the same character separated by 30 years. The ending is a little predictable if you watch how JGL and Bruce Willis’ character arcs start to change but the movie as a whole is well put together and Emily Blunt makes up for all the shortcomings the ending might have.

2. Chronicle

I am a huge Super Hero/Villain fan and this movie fulfills the entire desire super hero fans want in their movies: flying, powers, fighting, fighting with powers while flying. This movie has it all. Not only that the Alien object that game them their powers wasn’t explained or seen of again. What happened to it? Is there possibility of a sequel perhaps? The three guys that made the cast seemed like they were actually friends in real life Dane DeHaan goes all Magneto on everyone you can almost understand exactly why he would do that.

3. Skyfall

Bond, James Bond. Well it’s another installment of the super spy saga and as someone who has literally seen five James Bonds movies, this is easily number two on my favorite JB movie (number one is obviously GoldenEye). Daniel Craig has a resurgence as the spy/killing machine after what wasn’t the best outing in Quantum of Solace (I heard, I didn’t see that one) after starting his franchise off with a boom in Casino Royale (I actually saw that one and I really liked it too). I think if Mr. Craig can make another Bond movie likes this he could be one of the best Bonds ever.

4. Pitch Perfect

This movie isn’t all about the songs. Ok, it’s mostly about the songs. The music in this movie is great and specifically the final numbers by both of the main acapella groups are great. Besides Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson I could not stand a lot of the other actors in this movie. The story was good and the writing made the movie a lot better. I found myself LOL’ing a few times (most of them involved Rebel Wilson). The movie probably wouldn’t be that great if Brittany Snow and Anna Camp weren’t in it but the whole puke fight and node removal storylines were just weird and felt unnecessary.

5. 21 Jump Street

A remake of a TV show from the 70’s with the guy from that dancing movie and the fat one from SuperBad who isn’t fat anymore. That’s all this movie was supposed to be, but instead Channing Tatum came out of his box and showed he had great comedic chops and John Hill came to set looking like he hadn’t eaten for a year and they blew away all expectations. This movie is so funny and the whole thing is capped off by the cameo by Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise the original 21 Jump Streeters from when the program started.

6. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Steve Carell plays the straight man while all sorts of crazy stuff happen around him that are mostly caused by or somehow involve Kiera Knightley’s character. The movie is charming in the idea that when you know the world is coming to an end you should go out and find whatever it is that will make you happy for the rest of the time you have. (December 21 is approaching everyone go find the “one that got away”) When the movie ended I couldn’t help but want to what happened but I was only left with the love story we got and I was ok with that.

7. Avengers

I was supposed to see this movie on the IMAX #D screen but the projectionist screwed up and the 3D didn’t work so we had to watch it in pedestrian IMAX format. Do I think the 3D experience would have made me like it more? Probably not (those glasses hurt my head) but I would have enjoyed to see the alien beings getting smashed toward my face by the Hulk.

I loved Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and the rebooted Mark Ruffalo Hulk but the characters of Black Widow and Hawkeye were weak and could have been substituted by any other marvel comic book character and the movie would have been better off.

8. Project X

I guess this is what a 2012 teen movie looks like. I have to say, I am glad that I am not a teenage in these times because I would never have made it through a party like that. The movie itself though is really well put together and pretty hilarious.

9. Moonrise Kingdom

This is an odd movie and for some reason I really enjoyed watching it. Edward Norton was awesome as the camp leader at Camp Ivanhoe. Besides Norton you have Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Jason Schwarztman all eating scenery. The real amzing thing is that the movie is about a love between two teenagers: a loner who is excluded by his brother and then fellow campers and a troubled teenage girl who loves reading fantasy novels and is prone to violent outburst. Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward are the real stars of this movie stealing every scene they are in together and making the audience feel that they are actually meant to be together.

10. Safety Not Guaranteed

Another movie about time travel but this isn’t really about time travel. It’s about a journalist and two interns who travel to a small town to find a man who put an ad in a newspaper asking for a partner to travel back in time with. The cast is great headlined by Mark Duplass, Jack Johnson, and Aubrey Plaza. I mean you can’t get hotter and more current comedy stars then that.

Honorable Mention

The Dark Knight

I liked the Chris Nolan Batman franchise as a whole but this movie seems kind of rushed. It seems like he just wanted to finish it. I didn’t like that Batman wasn’t in it that much and the whole Bane Voice things was absurd. If you have an actor like Tom Hardy you should use him better than that. With that said it brings a nice conclusion to the trilogy and leaves a strange Joseph Gordon-Levitt size opening in the Batman world.

Movies I haven’t seen. Yet…

Whether it’s because I haven’t been to a theater in a while or because I couldn’t find a good version on the internet, these are the movies that have come out this year that I haven’t seen but plan on at some point in the near future.

1. Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino is a genius. I feel like if you’ve seen Inglorious Basterds and liked it then you will probably enjoy Djamie Foxx Unchained.

2. Flight

Denzel is my favorite actor of all time and I can’t wait to find a copy of this movie and watch it 4 times in a row.

3. The Hobbit

I loved LOTRs and I can’t imagine not loving Dr. Watson (Martin Freeman plays Dr. Watson on BBCs Sherlock) and a bunch of dwarves on an incredible journey through Middle Earth.

4. Man with the Iron Fists

RZA’s first major motion picture looks interesting. I don’t know how good it will be but I am excited to see it when I get the chance. I only hope he punches some bodies eye out. (HE DOES!)

5. Les Miserables

Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway all singer their own songs live on the set, the first musical to do that. I mean this movie looks like an epic that if you miss then you are just plain missing out.

6. Lincoln

The cast includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, Hal Holbrook, John Hawkes, Bruce McGill, Jared Harris, Walton Goggins, and Adam Driver. If some of those names are familiar google them and you’ll recognize them from something. I mean this movie even has Kevin Kline as a wounded soldier.

7. Life of Pi

Based off a book where a boy and a tiger share a boat after the ship that was carrying them capsized. I never read it but the concept of the boy/tiger relationship has always kept me intrigued.

8. Seven Psychopaths

Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken and Colin Farrell playing characters that suit them very well. This movie looks like it will be funny more or less the whole way through.

9. The Master

Not a movie about the birth of scientology, also not starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams.

10. Argo

A movie toted as coming extremely close to portraying what actually happened in the real life version. The only thing that some people are having difficulty with is the only character that was not casted to look like the actual human counterpart was the main character and the role Ben Affleck (the director) decided to give himself.

Movies I haven’t seen. And won’t…

Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2

No Thank You!

Hunger Games

I heard it was good and Jennifer Lawrence did a great job but this is a Disney action movie? Where the kids have to murder each other to survive? How are you supposed to make that into a Disney movie?

Here Comes the Boom

I have nothing against Kevin James or Kevin James movies but I am just not interested in seeing Kevin James get beat up or try to make me believe that he is in the same weight class as Jason Miller.

Total Recall

You can’t remake and change it as much as they did without showing the proper respect to the original, especially a cult classic.

Battleship

Call me when they make a jenga movie…

Actor of the Year

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

The man has really worked his butt off this year. Not only was he in my favorite movie of the year he also was a bike messenger on the run from everyone, Abraham Lincoln’s son, and the heir apparent to the Dark Knight costume. JGL didn’t just have a four movie run he also hosted Saturday Night Live and did so very well. He always seems to be working but with Looper, Lincoln and The Dark Knight Rises he swung for the fences and hit three straight homeruns. Next year he has one movie coming out about a man who is addicted to porn and somewhat of a womanizer and his struggles to become less selfish. He also has been rumored to be in the running for the role of Batman in the Justice League movie that will be coming out in 2015. All I know is after a year like this he is bound to have a nice next couple of years.

Year in Review: Music

Year in Review: Music

Favorite Albums of the Year

Here is a list of my favorite albums of 2012 accompanied by two(maybe three) videos of songs featured on them.

1. Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid M.A.A.D. City

Lamar has easily the best rapped album of the year and has made a few appearances on other artist’s album only to bring those tracks up a level or two. Dude has flow like a jet engine, powerful, constant and if you get to close it will suck you in and tear you to pieces.

Swimming Pools (Drank)

Black Boy Fly

2. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

This album is different. Not in a bad way at all but if this album was put out in the fifty’s everything would have gone from black and white to color. Just like the movie Pleasentville.

Bad Religion

Pink Matter ft. Andre 3000

3. Japandroids - Celebration Rock

Have you ever heard the saying “get to the point”? Well that’s exactly what this album does. With just eight songs on this album I hoped it wouldn’t be like a bad restaurant dinner. Comes quicker than you expected but everything is cold and you are left with a very bad taste in your mouth. I’m glad to say that this album is absolutely not a bad dinner. The pace is quick but each song leaves you wanting just enough that you will go back and before you know it you have the album on repeat. 

The House that Heaven Built

Continuous Thunder

4. Big Boi - Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors’

This album reminded me of Jay Z’s The Black Album. Not in any particular way but when I was listening to it, The Black Album popped into my head on more than one occasion. Big Boi, one half of one the greatest raps groups ever, brings Atlanta to you. He has help from well known artists like B.o.B., Kid Cudi, T.I.P., Luda, Kelly Rowland and A$AP Rocky on some of the tracks and even enlists some help from the indie world with the likes of Wavves and Phantogram.

In The A ft. T.I. & Luda

Tremendous Damage ft. Bosko

5. John Mayer - Born and Raised

I have always been a fan of John Mayer, especially when he referred to Jessica Simpson’s sexual prowess as “Sexual Napalm.” Not only does he out do himself on this album he does so after having thought surgery that kept him from singing for a long time. This guy has still got it.

The Age of Worry

Love is a Verb

Honorable Mention

Jack White – Blunderbuss

I really enjoyed this album, there's just something to listening to Jack Black sing about a love that would “murder my own mother/and take her off to somewhere/ like hell or up above” that is weirdly relaxing.

Love Interruption

SchoolBoy Q – Habits and Contradictions

Who is SchoolBoy Q? Besides being an amazing rapper that I have never heard before I still have no idea who he is. But that doesn’t matter because he puts out great music.

Hands On the Wheel

Favorite Songs of the Year

This list is put together of songs that came out in 2012. Another thing all these tracks have in common is that they have all been overplayed by yours truly. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if these where the least favorite songs of the year by my neighbors.

Mercy – G.O.O.D. Music

I am not a huge Two Chains fan. I know that he was all over 2012 like booties on bitches but I just never got into him. There is one thing that can make me like any rapper in any scenario, that is to get on a Kanye track and demolish it. That’s exactly what Two Chains does in this situation. Then add a Pusha T verse that rivals any Pusha T verse and Kanye doing Kanye things, this is easily my favorite song of the year.

Kendrick Lamar – Sing About Me, I’m Dying Of Thirst

This song is easily my favorite off my favorite album of the year. The chorus is haunting and it always gets me singing along.

Frank Ocean – Thinkin Bout You

Everytime Frank Ocean sings in falsetto an angel gets its wings.

Bruno Mars – Locked Out of Heaven

This song is one that always gets me dancing. Actually I’m dancing like Bruno’s backup band in this video right now.

Macklemore feat. Ryan Lewis – Thrift Shop

“They had a broken Keyboard/so I bought a broken keyboard” should sum this song up pretty well.

Big Boi feat. B.o.B. & Wavves – Shoes for Running

B.o.B. has been one of my favorite rappers in the last couple of years. He has a flow that is so his own that he doesn’t even rhyme sometimes and you just have to go “yeah that works.”

Y.N.RichKids – Hot Cheetos and Takis

These kids are more talented then you and they are in elementary school. Go cry in the corner with your hot cheetos.

Carly Rae Jespen – Call Me Maybe

I am not afraid to say that this is one of the songs that I liked the most this year. I have been on too many youtube journeys looking at spoofs and lipsyncs of this song. And most of those journeys ended with me watching the Bieber/Gomez lipsync video while my inner child beat the crap out of me for it to come to this.

SchoolBoy Q feat. Kendrick Lamar – Blessed

This is one of the examples I was referring to when I said Kendrick Lamar elevates the songs that he is featured on, and even before Kendrick makes his presence felt I loved this song.

Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

When you find yourself singing this song hours after you saw the video you have to admit that it has it place in the list of best songs of the year. It’s like an audible STI, you will never get rid of it.

One Hit Wonder of the Year

Psy - Gangnam Style

I don't think anything needs to be said about this entry. EH SEXY LADY!

Big Brother Update (Sept. 2 – 4) (Spoilers)

Frank Against the World

The game is pretty much in control by the four person alliance of Dan, Danielle, Shane and Ian (The Quack Pack). They have the HoH and have nominated Jenn and Frank for eviction, and if Ian gets his way then Frank will be walking out the door this week. Here’s what has been happening in between episodes.

Sept. 2

·         Frank and Jenn plan to get Dan to use the Veto on Jenn so Frank will have at least one vote,

·         Dan is worried his actions in the Big Brother will affect his Wife in the real world.

·         Shane and Dan plan ahead just in case there is a double eviction week this week (there is).

·         Ian tells Danielle and Shane that Frank need to go home this week and Jenn next week. They also plan to tell Frank that he is safe so there is no drama.

Sept. 3

·         Frank tells Dan that he should use the Veto on him and not Jenn. Dan just plays the whole thing off.

·         Dan uses the Veto on Jenn and Ian nominates Joe in her place.

·         Danielle finally tells Shane that she is a nurse and not a teacher (because it’s such a huge disadvantage on Big Brother being a nurse and all).

·         Jenn tells Frank that it might be a unanimous vote for Frank to stay. (Her futility is affecting her alliances now.)

·         Ian and Frank agree that Jenn would be the only player Dan could beat in the final two because she has had such a crap season.

·         The houseguest take beer shots (is that a thing?). Then Danielle starts acting super drunk because it always has to be about Danielle.

Sept. 4

·         Frank tells Danielle that Dan had to be told by Frank to go apologize to Danielle after his “funeral” and is trying to get her on his side.

·         Danielle tells Dan everything Frank just said and they plan on keeping the ruse that he’s safe going.

·         Dan breaks the picture wall and Wil’s picture goes out.

Big Brother Mini Recap: Episode 23

The Pack is Back

(Programming Note: Since I will be heading back to work on Tuesday, the Big Brother Recaps for the Sunday and Wednesday episodes will become mini recaps. The regular Recaps will continue for the live eviction episodes and the season finale.)

The live eviction show, on Thursday, ended while the HoH competition was in progress. Joe and Jenn had fallen and Dan, Danielle, Shane and Ian where the remaining four playing for Veto. Frank, as outgoing HoH, couldn’t play for the power this week and was left hoping one of his allies would win and keep him safe.

Here is the conclusion to the HoH competition and a couple other things you should know from last night’s Big Brother episode.

1. HoH and Nominations

The HoH competition ended much like it began, pathetically. The first person to be eliminated from the competition was Joe, who fell off after 2 minutes, and was punished with 24 hours of hula hoop boot camp (he has to get up and hula hoop whenever a song comes on for the next 24 hours). Jenn fell off three minutes after Joe and continued her season of futility. Danielle, about to vomit, jumped off next but had at least lasted 30 minutes longer than Jenn. Dan fell off next leaving Ian and Shane to hang on another hour until Shane asked all the other house guests to go inside so he could have some private time with Ian. Everyone and their Grandmas new it was deal making time, and since Ian seemed to be fine (he was educating everyone about space and even disco dancing) Shane knew he needed to secure Danielle and his safety this week and that’s exactly what he did. Shane jumped off and Ian became the new head of household.

At the nomination ceremony Ian gave easily the best nomination speech of the season. He was frank (pun intended) and honest, and he spoke with the most confidence I have seen from him all season. He even looked both Frank and Jenn in the eyes when he was taking to them, which hasn’t been done a lot at the nomination ceremonies this year. Here’s what he told Frank and Jenn when their keys were not pulled from the box, “Frank, you are a phenomenal competitor in this game. And I downright respect you for it, but you’re a huge threat and that is definitely an issue I have to look at going down the line. Jenn, you have played a remarkable social game so far and you’re also a threat. And I just have to keep these types of considerations in mind when moving forward and nothing personal, just strategy.”

2. Reuniting the Quack Pack

Last we saw of Dan he was making a final two deal with Frank, and then all of a sudden we are shown a clip of five hours before the eviction on Thursday. The clip is of Ian telling Dan that no matter what happened last week Ian was still down for the pack and that he wanted to reunite the remaining members and get Frank out. Dan agreed (obviously) and now he is covered on both sides of the house. They bring Shane and Danielle into the fold and everyone agrees that reuniting the Quack Pack is the best plan and now their sole purpose is to get Frank out.

3. HoH Room

Ian’s HoH room is the exact same as everyone else’s (I miss how they used to change it to kind of match the personality of the HoH) but he made up for that with his nerd “swagger.” He gets excited to see his pictures and his stuffed snake (Snakey) but he absolutely goes nuts when he sees his bismuth. He even repeatedly says “Yes!” and “Swagger!” He tries to explain what it is to the others and they all just politely nod and stare.

4. Pandora’s Box is Back

As HoH Ian finds that Pandora’s Box is back for a second time this season and he is the lucky recipient. He gets shown his possible bounty (a pile full of Christmas gifts) and decides to open Pandora’s box. After reading the instructions Ian starts opening the gifts. He gets Sodium Silicate Magic Rocks, a telescope, a science kit, and even a volcano making kit. The present he seems most excited about though is an inflatable alligator.

While Ian is in all his glory opening his gifts, Jesse Clause has been released on the house. Jesse from Big Brother 10, dressed as Santa (kind of), barges in, calls everyone fat, gives them all sorts of “healthy food” and takes all the junk food in the house. I have to say though out of all the times Jesse has punished the house guests this was by far his funniest appearance.

5. Crazy Danielle

Not that much exciting happened this episode, which means instead of praising say, a bold game move or brilliant strategy I am going to highlight some of Danielle’s crazier moments from this episode. (Yes, only this episode, it if was anymore this recap would not be mini anymore.)

First of all I know there isn’t a lot to do in the Big Brother house. I know that when you are down to 7 or 8 houseguests you probably have only one or two friends left in the house, but sitting in the bathroom while someone showers I just don’t get. Danielle (who complained about creepy Ian trying to get a peak every time she showered earlier in the season) sat in the bathroom when Shane showered and tried to whisper-talk to him. Not only did he not hear what she was saying (or ignored her) but it was also super creepy. (But it’s not Ian so it’s not a problem right Danielle?)

The second time Danielle got super stalker-y was when she was talking to Jenn about Shane. Danielle told Shane the exact day when Shane last kissed her and complained that he hasn’t done it since and that he is going to miss out. (Shane is clearly not interested and has to taken to sleeping in the same bed as Dan instead of sleeping with Danielle.) It only gets worst when Jenn totally changes something Shane had said into him calling Danielle his girlfriend. That’s when you see Danielle’s eyes light up but lets it be known that if Shane wants to move on with this relationship there needs to be more kisses.

Tune in Wednesday to find out who wins the Veto, whether they use it or not and to see if Danielle finally finishes her Shane hair-doll.

Big Brother Update (Aug. 30 – Sept. 1) (Spoilers)

After the Aftermath

After Ian and the Quack pack took out both Boogie and Ashley in the same night, leaving Frank pretty much all by alone in the house, things changed. Frank rallied, won HoH and targeted Dan for eviction (which has been his goal for most of the season).  After a little theatrics and a little bit of truth Dan turned the house upside down, hosting his own funeral and then getting Frank (the guy who has been targeting him all season) to change his mind and go after Britney. It all works in Dan’s favor with Britney going home and him being able to save himself for another week. The Live Eviction episode ended right after Joe and Ashley had been eliminated from the HoH competition, here’s what happened after that.

Aug. 30

·         Danielle is the third person to fall of her rope and is out of the HoH competition.

·         Dan drops fourth.

·         Shane and Ian are left in the HoH competition.

·         Shane asks the other houseguests for some privacy so he can talk to Ian.

·         Ian tells Shane that he and Danielle are safe this week, if Shane let’s Ian win.

·         Shane drops and Ian wins HoH.

Aug. 31

·         Joe asks Shane about his safety this week. Shane doesn’t tell him anything about his deal with Ian (which by default gives Joe a one in four chance of going up).

·         Pandora’s Box is back again. While Ian gets gifts in the HoH room, the rest of the house gets to suffer through Jessie and, not only that but he takes all their junk food.

·         They also get a new hammock that doesn’t squeak.

·         Dan and Shane know that this week is the time to get Frank out. (NO!!!)

·         Frank tells Jenn he had hoped Dan would be evicted this week. (Why didn’t you just evict him last week like you planned?)

·         Ian nominates Frank and Jenn.

·         Everyone except Joe is playing for the Veto.

·         Jenn and Frank know that if the other wins the Veto then they will be going home. They talk about how they hope Dan or Danielle would use the Veto to save them.

·         Dan is preparing his final 2 speech. (What a cocky, bugger.)

Sept. 1

·         Ian tells Dan that if Joe wins the Veto and uses it that Dan will be the only one that he puts up in the place of the saved house guest.

·         Frank and Jenn believe that if Dan wins the Veto he will use it on one of them and the other will be able to get more votes to stay then Joe.

·         Dan wins the Veto.

·         Dan tells the cameras that his plan is to use his Veto on Jenn so that Ian will replace her with Joe. The move will let Frank believe that Dan is on his side will leaving him on the block so they can evict him on Thursday.

·         Shane offers himself as a pawn to Ian and Dan if they need him to be. (What?)

·         Shane tells Frank that he didn’t want to lose in the HoH competition. (Then why did you drop?)

·         Joe tells Danielle that Dan is telling Ian to put her on the block if someone is taken off. Danielle doesn’t believe Joe and confirms that he is lying with Ian.

·         Jenn and Danielle laugh that Frank thinks he can he enough votes to stay against Joe. (Jenn’s against Frank now too?)

·         Danielle is upset that Shane isn’t excited to share a bed with her. She then complains to Dan that he hasn’t kissed her since Day 27. (She’s crazy!)

·         Dan and Danielle discuss who they should take to the final three with them. Danielle thinks they should take Shane (obviously), and Dan thinks Jenn would be the best bet. (Danielle should leave the strategy to Dan and just stick to being bat shit crazy.)