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Rhyme and Reason

~ Poetry Meets Film Reviews

Rhyme and Reason

Tag Archives: Lists

My Top Twelve Star Trek: Voyager Episodes

29 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by sgliput in Reviews, TV, Writing

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Lists, Sci-fi

Image result for star trek voyager

Of all the Star Trek series I’ve seen, my favorite is undoubtedly Voyager, a classic example of a show that started with promise and kept getting better as it went. I wavered on whether or not to make a list of my top episodes, unsure if anyone would even care, but after learning of other fans, namely the lovely ladies of Violet’s Veg*n E-Comics, I couldn’t resist any longer. I’ll likely do a favorites list for all my favorite shows at some point.

For those who don’t know, Voyager is in the same universe as all the other Star Trek series and is the last to occur chronologically. It’s basically a space-faring version of The Odyssey, with the title ship (and a rebel Maquis ship) being blasted into the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light years from Earth, and the two crews must combine to begin the 75-year journey home, with quite a few adventures along the way. The best part of Voyager is its characters, all of whom feel like a family by the end, from Kate Mulgrew’s first female Trek series Captain Kathryn Janeway to Robert Picardo’s egotistical holographic Doctor (“I’m a doctor, not a tricorder.”) to Ethan Phillips’ ever lovable Talaxian cook Neelix. With its far-flung setting, it also explores planets, aliens, and themes unseen in other Trek series and features some of the best time travel episodes of the franchise.

Image result for star trek voyager cast

Of course, no series is immune to some duds, and I don’t want anyone’s first exposure to Voyager to be “Threshold” or “The Fight” or “Barge of the Dead.” Thus, for fans and not-yet-fans alike, here are my top twelve episodes of Star Trek: Voyager. I say “not-yet-fans” because I would hope seeing the show at its best would win over any potential viewer. Because Voyager rules! And so the countdown begins….

 

  1. “11:59” – Season 5

Image result for star trek voyager 11:59

Oddly enough, the first episode here doesn’t even take place on Voyager. When Captain Janeway recounts the story of one of her forebears, we’re treated to an endearing flashback of her ancestor (also played by Mulgrew) falling in love with a nostalgic bookstore owner (Kevin Tighe of Lost) on New Year’s Eve of 2001.

 

  1. “Before and After” – Season 3

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The episodes with Kes (Jennifer Lien) weren’t always the best, despite the uniqueness of a budding telepath with a nine-year lifespan, but “Before and After” was easily her best episode. She begins to live her life backwards, starting as an old woman and trying to figure out what’s happening before she jumps further back in time.

 

  1. “Shattered” – Season 7

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Every series likes to have some kind of recap episode for the more nostalgic fans, and “Shattered” again uses time travel for that very purpose. After a warp core accident, first officer Chakotay finds himself the only one unaffected when the ship is broken up into different sections of its own history. Kudos for all the references to past episodes!

 

  1. “Nemesis” – Season 4

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Another Chakotay episode, this time he crash-lands in the middle of an alien war and becomes a pawn in the struggle. There’s a potent message about how both sides of war encourage hate for the enemy, and I love the unique alien vocabulary used (“glimpses” in place of eyes, “trunks” in place of trees). Seriously, this episode should have won an Emmy for its writing.

 

  1. “Rise” – Season 3

Image result for voyager rise neelix

There was always a great odd-couple dynamic between gregarious Neelix and logical Vulcan Tuvok, and the tension finally bubbled to the surface in “Rise,” where they must work together with some disaster survivors to escape a planet’s atmosphere via a literal ground-to-space elevator. The concept alone is cool!

 

  1. “Equinox, Parts 1 and 2” – Seasons 5/6

Image result for star trek voyager equinox

Yes, I’m counting two-parters together. Guest-starring John Savage and Titus Welliver (aka “the Man in Black” from Lost), this double-header that segued from season 5 to season 6 provided an excellent contrast between the straight-laced Starfleet ideals of Voyager and the more ruthless tactics of another stranded ship, the Equinox. Ghost-like aliens and an evil Doctor made this a memorable season finale/opener.

 

  1. “Year of Hell, Parts 1 and 2” – Season 4

Image result for star trek voyager year of hell

Fleshing out a future time period seen in “Before and After,” “Year of Hell” pit Voyager against Kurtwood Smith’s Annorax, a man with a time-altering ship trying to erase other species to restore his own people’s former glory. This episode shows Janeway and her crew at their most desperate, proving why she’s such a resilient leader.

 

  1. “Blink of an Eye” – Season 6

Image result for star trek voyager blink of an eye

With subtly transcendent themes, “Blink of an Eye” has one of the more unique set-ups for a Trek episode, a planet that revolves so rapidly that years and centuries on its surface pass within hours outside its atmosphere. When Voyager is caught in its gravity, the crew watches an entire civilization develop before their eyes, and the viewers get to see a closer perspective from the ground. Lost alert for Daniel Dae Kim as one of the planet’s inhabitants.

 

  1. “Timeless” – Season 5

Image result for star trek voyager timeless

It’s always a big deal when a series reaches its 100th episode, and Voyager marked the milestone with a fantastic time travel tale. When the ship is destroyed during an attempt to get home sooner, two survivors risk everything to undo the doomed mission.

 

  1. “Future’s End, Parts 1 and 2” – Season 3

Image result for star trek voyager future's end

Wow, there sure were a lot of time travel episodes, and all great ones. In this two-parter, a timeship captain from the future tries to destroy Voyager to prevent an eventual disaster, and a mishap sends both ships back to the 21st century. With shades of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, it also boasts an unlikely villain in Ed Begley, Jr., and introduces an important plot device for the Doctor that would prove invaluable in future episodes. Oh, and early Sarah Silverman is in it too.

 

  1. “Deadlock” – Season 2

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While it doesn’t seem to get much attention compared with, say, the two-parters, “Deadlock” is science fiction at its best. When the ship is attacked (which happens a lot, now that I think about it), a spatial anomaly divides the ship in two in a most unique way.

 

  1. “Scorpion, Parts 1 and 2” – Seasons 3/4

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To compare it to a classic Next Generation episode, “Scorpion” is Voyager’s “Best of Both Worlds.” With a story set in the Delta Quadrant, it was only a matter of time before their journey ran into the home turf of the Borg. A turning point for the series between seasons three and four, it pits Janeway and company against not only the Borg but a new species unlike any seen before, which threatens even the Borg collective. A tense and rather scary tone, a great new background score, and the introduction of Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine make this one of the high points of the series.

 

And here are the runners-up, which were not easy to whittle down, considering how fantastic all of them are. My VC likes most of my picks but also has a few episodes I didn’t choose that she is fond of and wanted to highlight. In the order they aired:

 

Season 1:

“Caretaker” – Series premiere
“Faces” – First major development for B’Elanna Torres

VC Picks: “Time and Again” and “Heroes and Demons”

Image result for heroes and demons star trek voyager

Season 2:

“Resistance” – Sad episode for Janeway with a great guest role for Joel Grey
“Meld” – Tuvok tries to help a psychopath on board (Brad Dourif)
“Tuvix” – Tuvok and Neelix fuse in a transporter accident; silly concept exploring serious sci-fi themes
“Resolutions” – Janeway and Chakotay: what could have been….
“Basics, Parts 1 and 2” – Season 2 finale with the crew forced onto a primitive planet

VC Picks: “The 37s” and “Lifesigns”

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Season 3:

“Flashback” – A cool revisiting of the events of Star Trek VI, complete with George Takei and Grace Lee Whitney
“Real Life” – Possibly the show’s biggest tearjerker with the Doctor
“Displaced” – The crew is slowly replaced by aliens.

VC Picks: “Remember” and “Blood Fever”

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Season 4:

“Scientific Method” – Do you ever feel like a headache is torture? There could be a scary reason why.
“The Killing Game, Parts 1 and 2” – A race of hunters brainwash the crew for holographic sport. It’s the only place you’ll see Nazis and Klingons side by side.
“Living Witness” – An amazing what-if episode questioning the accuracy of history.

VC Picks: “Day of Honor,” “Hunters,” “Prey,” “Unforgettable,” and “Demon”

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Season 5:

“Night” – Season 5 premiere with Janeway at her most self-doubting.
“Nothing Human” – Deep ethical questions, guest-starring David Clennon as a Cardassian
“Counterpoint” – Music, romance, and mistrust abound
“Macrocosm” – Attack of the giant killer germs! The new movie Life might have drawn some inspiration from this.
“Bride of Chaotica!” – Just a fun, silly homage to old-fashioned cheesy sci-fi
“Gravity” – Tuvok and Tom Paris stranded on an invisible desert planet, guest-starring Lori Petty
“Course: Oblivion” – Deeply sad what-if episode
“Think Tank” – Alien geniuses make an offer Voyager can’t refuse, guest-starring Jason Alexander
“Juggernaut” – Awesome horror-thriller episode on a deserted(?) toxic waste vessel
“Someone to Watch Over Me” – Poor Doctor!
“Relativity” – Voyager does it again with an amazing use of time travel.

VC Picks: “In the Flesh,” “Thirty Days,” and “The Disease”

Image result for someone to watch over me star trek voyager

Season 6:

“Riddles” – Tuvok and Neelix bond when Tuvok is mentally impaired.
“One Small Step” – A testament to the importance of “early” space travel
“Fair Haven” – The crew enjoy a holographic Irish village.
“Life Line” – The Doctor gets to meet the scientist who designed him after himself.
“Unimatrix Zero, Parts 1 and 2” – Season finale and a game-changer for the Borg collective.

VC Picks: “Pathfinder,” “Memorial,” “Ashes to Ashes”, “Live Fast and Prosper,” and “Muse”

Image result for riddles star trek voyager

Season 7:

“Flesh and Blood, Parts 1 and 2” – The Doctor must choose between his crew and renegade holograms.
“Lineage” – Big character development for B’Elanna
“Workforce, Parts 1 and 2” – The crew is once again brainwashed as workers on an industrial planet.
“Homestead” – Oh, Neelix. *sniff*
“Endgame, Parts 1 and 2” – Not perfect, but satisfying series finale

VC Picks: “Body and Soul,” “Author, Author,” and “Friendship One”

Image result for endgame star trek voyager

And to wrap it all up, here’s the beautiful opening theme and credits, which I also included in my post of Voyager musical highlights. Now I want to watch this show again!

Oscar Recap and My Top Twelve Films of 2016

21 Tuesday Mar 2017

Posted by sgliput in Movies, Writing

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Lists

Image result for 2016 oscar nominees collage

Now that I’ve reviewed all the Best Picture nominees, with the exception of Moonlight, I thought I’d rank them to give a clearer picture of my regard for each of them. As I said in my La La Land post, 2016 has produced one of the best crops of awards contenders in a while, most of which have earned a spot on my Top 365 list. While I haven’t seen the actual Best Picture winner, I’m still convinced that La La Land should have won, even though most of the others would have been worthy of winning in a weaker year. So here they are again in order:

Moonlight – not seen

8.  Manchester By the Sea

7.  Hell or High Water

6.  Fences

5.  Lion

4.  Arrival

3.  Hidden Figures

2.  Hacksaw Ridge

1.  La La Land

 

And although my third blogiversary post listed my favorite newly watched films last year, here’s also a Top Twelve list of my favorite films of 2016 overall, just to put the previous ranking in perspective. I still haven’t seen nearly as many as a lot of bloggers, including ones of interest like Passengers, Moana, The Red Turtle, Queen of Katwe, and A Monster Calls, but this is the first year that I feel I’ve seen enough to warrant a list like this. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone else with this particular ranking, so at least I know this list is all my own. Thus, here’s my countdown of all the films I enjoyed or would recommend from 2016, from least to best. I hope 2017 will be just as good or better!

First, the Runners-Up:

Midnight Special

Miracles from Heaven

X-Men: Apocalypse

Race

The Young Messiah

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Hell or High Water

The Jungle Book

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

10 Cloverfield Lane

Kung Fu Panda 3

Sing Street

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Fences

Life, Animated

Kubo and the Two Strings

Finding Dory

 

12.  Doctor Strange

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11.  Star Trek Beyond

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10.  Lion

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9.  Eddie the Eagle

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8.  Arrival

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7.  Your Name

Image result for your namefilm taki mitsuha

 

6.  Hidden Figures

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5.  Hacksaw Ridge

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4.  Zootopia

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3.  Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

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2.  Captain America: Civil War

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1.  La La Land

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My Top Twelve 2017 Films I Hope Are Good

19 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by sgliput in Movies, Writing

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Lists

Image result for spider-man homecoming

 

Now that the year’s first two months of typically unimpressive movies are about over, I thought I’d compile a list of the films I’m most looking forward to in 2017, as long as they’re good. I will be quite disappointed if any of these turn out to be stinkers, but I certainly hope that my expectations are justified. These are all films set for release in 2017, but there are even some long-expected 2018 films that have great potential if done right, such as Spielberg’s Ready Player One (I’m planning on reading the book closer to its release), an adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time, and a sequel to Mary Poppins, believe it or not. Here then are the films I sincerely hope will be worth waiting for.

  1. The Dark Tower

While I haven’t read the Stephen King series it’s based on (it’s apparently meant to be a sequel), the concept of an apocalyptic gunslinger (Idris Elba) and interdimensional travel certainly has me intrigued.

Image result for the dark tower 2017

  1. Hirune Hime

Around the time the live-action Ghost in the Shell hits the theater, the director of the original film’s sister series Stand Alone Complex will be releasing this fantastical-looking film in Japan. Featuring what appear to be a robotic flying motorcar, a giant monster, and a magic tablet, it has the potential to be this year’s standout anime.

  1. My Little Pony: The Movie

I’ll admit that I’m a casual fan of the Friendship Is Magic series, so I know that if this movie is done right, it could be really good. It could also be terrible, but with big-name stars like Emily Blunt, Liev Schreiber, and Zoe Saldana, there’s a chance the movie could gain wider appeal.

Image result for my little pony the movie 2017

  1. Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan directing a war movie about one of the largest and most daring rescues in military history? Can’t wait. I do hope Nolan keeps the violence controlled to appeal to as wide an audience as possible.

  1. 2:22

I love a good time loop story, and ever since I heard of this Source Code-sounding thriller in the works, I’ve been eager to see how well it compares with the others of its genre.

Image result for 2:22 movie 2017 michiel huisman

  1. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Not many trailers get me hyped just from the visuals alone, but this time-and-space-traveling sci-fi based on a comic looks like a special effects extravaganza and just plain cool. Luc Besson can direct some weird movies, but I hope this one will be more accessible.

  1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

I still enjoy the second and third Pirates sequels, flawed as the third one is, but the fourth undoubtedly missed the mark. With this fifth tale of Captain Jack Sparrow versus ghost pirates, I’m crossing my fingers that it’s a fun and worthwhile story and not just another cash grab.

  1. The Current War

I was thinking of doing a list of films I wish would get made, and the history of Edison and Tesla would have been near the top. Lo and behold, it’s due out this year! Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Edison, Michael Shannon as George Westinghouse, and Nicholas Hoult as Tesla, this looks like a likely Oscar candidate for the end of the year, and I hope they do the true story justice.

Image result for the current war 2017

  1. Alien: Covenant

I’ll be honest, the trailers for the next Alien installment don’t thrill me. It looks like everything we’ve seen before from the franchise, but I’m hopeful that this sequel to Prometheus has more than meets the eye. They haven’t even shown Noomi Rapace from Prometheus, so the advertising is likely holding something good back.

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  1. Death Note

Forget the live-action version of Ghost in the Shell; I’m much more interested in an American adaptation of Death Note, the acclaimed manga and anime about a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. If done right, the battle of wits between a megalomaniacal student (Nat Wolff) and the eccentric detective (Keith Stanfield) tracking him down could be amazing. I’m a bit concerned that Adam Wingard is directing and might lean it more toward the horror genre, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Image result for death note 2017

  1. Anything Marvel

This encompasses all three Marvel movies for the year ahead, including Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, and especially Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2. There’s a lot to hope for. Can Marvel’s treatment of Spider-Man live up to the original? Will a team-up between Thor and Doctor Strange be as awesome as it sounds? Will Guardians still have the nostalgic sense of fun that the first had? The trailers are promising, and Marvel still appears to be going strong.

  1. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

I liked The Force Awakens, but compared with how everyone else loved it, I was disappointed with its over-reliance on nostalgia and familiar plot points. Rogue One had a different tone, but it felt original. If Episode 8 can combine the feel of Force Awakens with a more original storyline, it could be the best Star Wars movie yet, as long as they stop killing off main characters. Due to Carrie Fisher’s passing, I know what to expect for Leia, but if they kill off Luke too, I will NOT be happy. Please be awesome!

Image result for star wars the last jedi

Here are some other films you may or may not be expecting that I hope will be good, in order of how eager I am. How’s that for subjective? What other upcoming films have captured your interest?

The Mummy – Can’t be as good as the Brendan Fraser version, but I’m keeping an open mind.

Murder on the Orient Express – Strong ensemble and Kenneth Branagh as director have my interest.

Cars 3 – It looks more serious than the silly Cars 2, and I hope it redeems the franchise.

Logan – Why does it have to be R-rated? Will Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart leave their X-Men roles with a bang?

God Particle – This follow-up to 10 Cloverfield Lane will be set in space but takes place in the same universe.

The Zookeeper’s Wife – Based on a true story, a zoo-keeping couple hide Jews in Nazi-occupied Warsaw.

Image result for the zookeeper's wife

Pitch Perfect 3 – I enjoyed the second film more than the first, so hopefully part three won’t disappoint.

Life – A smaller-scale version of Alien set much closer to home.

Kong: Skull Island – Another remake seems unnecessary, but the action looks cool.

Coco – Another animated take on Mexico’s Day of the Dead. Pixar, don’t fail me now.

Wonder Woman – I thought Suicide Squad would do it, but this is DC’s last chance to convince me they can make a good superhero movie.

Jumanji – I love the original, so this remake with the Rock better not ruin it.

Downsizing – The incredible shrinking Matt Damon! Sounds interesting enough.

Godzilla – This anime version has potential since the man behind Madoka Magica is its screenwriter.

The Breadwinner – The animation studio behind Song of the Sea looks like it’s tackling a more realistic subject about a girl in Afghanistan who must pretend to be a boy to support her family.

Image result for the breadwinner

Tulip Fever – This romance with Dane DeHaan and Alicia Vikander has possibilities, since the tulip-mania of the Netherlands is an interesting slice of history.

Brain on Fire – Technically from last year, but Chloe Grace Moretz stars as a real-life journalist with an unexplained brain disorder.

Wonder – Looks like an updated version of 1985’s Mask but with Jacob Tremblay as a boy with a facial deformity.

Tommy’s Honour – When was the last inspiring golf movie? Long enough ago for another, I’d say.

My Top Twelve Pens in Movies

05 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by sgliput in Movies, Writing

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Lists

Image result for wolf of wall street pen

Every now and then, when pondering about potential lists, I think of an unlikely topic and say, “Surely there aren’t ten or twelve examples, enough to make up a list.” Yet, in this case, I thought of another one and then another and another; the examples kept coming, and thus, this list of movie pens was born! The lowly pen is both a handy household item and an essential tool for writers through centuries, one we very often take for granted. I, for one, am extremely glad that the quill pen and ink bottle went the way of the dodo since compact ballpoint pens are so much more convenient and have made for some memorable movie moments over the years. Thus, here are my Top Twelve pens used in movies (with one pencil thrown in as a cheat).

  1. The Conversation (1974)

In the subtle world of surveillance where Gene Hackman’s Harry Caul is a legend, even something as simple as a pen can trip up the master. Planted by a competitor as a gift, Caul soon learns to his embarrassment that it was a recording device all along.

Image result for the conversation film

  1. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)

As mythical weapons go, a pen is certainly the most inconspicuous. When the uninitiated demigod of the title is given a pen for protection, I always get a kick out of his incredulous reaction.

  1. Awakenings (1991)

In an otherwise dramatic film, I do love this little moment of levity where a mental patient reveals to Dr. Sayer (Robin Williams) an irrational fear of pens.

  1. The Naked Gun (1988)

In this hilarious scene, Ricardo Montalban’s villain makes the mistake of showing Detective Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) two priceless items, including a samurai pen impervious to everything but water…and then turns his back. Who’s the stupid one here?

  1. TIE: Never Say Never Again (1983) and Goldeneye (1995)

James Bond movies got a little over-the-top in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and pens are a great hidden gadget for such spy films. I love how these pen scenes were skewered a bit in Skyfall, when Q tells Bond, “Were you expecting an exploding pen? We don’t really go in for that anymore.”

  1. The Bourne Identity (2002)

From the first film of the franchise, we saw how Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) could make any household item lethal. A knife might have been better, but a pen will do.

  1. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

This one’s not higher only because it’s so brief. As Marcus Brody and Henry Jones, Sr., grapple with Nazis in a tank, a pen becomes Marcus’s secret weapon. Don’t you see, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” And all the literature fans groaned….

  1. The Dark Knight (2008)

Cheat time to allow a pencil into the mix! If the opening scenes weren’t enough, Heath Ledger’s Joker shows just how deadly and unpredictable he is with this sudden and violent “magic trick.”

  1. Liar Liar (1997)

After his son’s birthday wish makes him incapable of lying, Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) tests his hilarious handicap on the color of a pen. It’s Jim Carrey doing what Jim Carrey did best. (Language warning for the end of the video.)

  1. Zootopia (aka Zootropolis) (2016)

A carrot pen actually becomes the tool that brings Nick and Judy together to solve their missing persons case, thanks to its handy secondary use as a tape recorder. It even proves invaluable at the end.

  1. Say Anything (1989)

The pen-ultimate place can be summed up with one line: “I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen.” You’ve got to feel sorry for John Cusack after his girlfriend, pressured by her father, gives him a pen as she breaks up with him. As parting gifts go, it’s pretty cold. Interesting note: Cusack must have been traumatized by that pen because he actually kills someone with a pen in Grosse Pointe Blank. Both are in the video, but again a language/violence warning.

  1. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Pens serve as the emotional high point of A Beautiful Mind. After seeing the pens ceremony honoring esteemed faculty members years earlier, John Nash is bestowed with the same distinction. The ceremony itself may be completely made up for the movie, but its poignancy is exceptional, all because of pens.

Here are some runner-up pens and pencils for the road, in alphabetical order. Can you think of any others I missed?

Captain America: Civil War – Tony Stark offers Cap a special pen to sign the Sokovia Accords.

Casino – Don’t give Joe Pesci a pen…ever.

The Empire of Corpses – A pen serves as a sign to John Watson that there’s hope for his zombified friend.

Ernest Goes to Jail – This is why you shouldn’t gnaw the end of your pen.

The Expendables 2 – Even the pens in these movies are tough-looking, in this case a Montegrappa Chaos pen, designed by Sylvester Stallone himself.

Image result for the expendables 2 pen

Girl, Interrupted – Angelina Jolie threatens herself with a pen to the neck.

Grosse Point Blank – Another pen stabbing, as mentioned above.

Groundhog Day – Bill Murray breaks a pencil to test what’s going on and wakes up the next day to find it whole again.

Johnny English – Don’t give Rowan Atkinson a tranquilizer pen…ever.

Lethal Weapon 2 – Riggs discusses how a gold pen helped him through his wife’s death.

The Martian – Donald Glover’s explanation for saving Mark Watney involves a pen in place of the Taiyang Shen supply rocket.

Music and Lyrics – Drew Barrymore has a nervous habit of clicking her pen while writing.

Image result for the peanuts movie pencil

The Peanuts Movie – Charlie Brown saves the pencil of the Little Red-Haired Girl as he tries to work up the courage to talk to her.

Red Eye – Yet another pen stabbing. Why are those things so sharp?

The Running Man – Schwarzenegger signs a contract on someone’s back only to pin it to said back with the pen.

The Theory of Everything – At the end, Stephen Hawking dreams of standing up to hand someone a fallen pen.

The Wolf of Wall Street – Psych! Despite the picture at the top, I’ve actually never seen Wolf of Wall Street (and don’t plan to) so it couldn’t be on the list. I do like the “Sell me this pen” scenes, though.

Your Name – A pen falls when Taki and Mitsuha’s meeting is cut short.

My 2017 Blindspot Picks

15 Sunday Jan 2017

Posted by sgliput in Movies, Reviews, Writing

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Lists

Image result for cinema paradiso

One feature that I’ve never tried but have seen lots of bloggers announcing recently is the Blindspot series, where you get to choose twelve films that you’ve been meaning to see and commit to reviewing one a month over the next year. There are so many movies on my to-watch list that it was tough whittling it down to twelve, but these are all films that have peaked my curiosity over the years but have somehow fallen through the cracks. Some are recommendations from fellow bloggers, while others are classics that have eluded me…until now. I think I have a good mix of years and genres too, so hopefully I’ll have some new favorites to add by the end of the year. In alphabetical order then, here are my Blindspot picks for 2017!

 

An American in Paris (1951)

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Blade Runner (1982)

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Cinema Paradiso (1988)

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Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959)

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Donnie Darko (2001)

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Giovanni’s Island (2014)

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Hear Me (2009)

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The Help (2011)

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Imitation of Life (1934)

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In Your Eyes (2014)

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Saving Private Ryan (1998)

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Shuffle (2011)

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My Top Twelve Songs of 2016

08 Sunday Jan 2017

Posted by sgliput in Movies, Music, Writing

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Lists

Image result for sing street song

 

Okay, just one more list to close out 2016; then it’s on to the new year. I don’t frequent the cinema nearly as much as many bloggers out there, so I rarely feel confident enough to make an end-of-year best-of list when there’s so much I have yet to see. But while a movie could run up to two hours or longer, songs are much faster and easier to digest, and we hear them on the radio or online throughout the year often without even trying.

So here are the musical highlights of the year for me. When I first thought to compile this list, I expected it to look quite different until I found out that many of the best songs I heard this year were actually released in 2015. So I didn’t’ feel I should include favorites like Adele’s “Hello,” DNCE’s “Cake by the Ocean,” Lukas Graham’s “7 Years,” or Mark Posner’s “I Took a Pill in Ibiza,” even though some of them were nominated for Grammies this year. I don’t know all the nomination rules there, but I drew solely from songs released as singles in 2016. My musical tastes may not be everyone’s, since they so clearly diverge from most of the recently announced Grammy nominees. I’m not a fan of rap, hip hop, or much mainstream pop so you won’t find any Twenty One Pilots, Beyoncé, or Drake here.

Several of these were also included in films of the past year so at least there’s the movie connection I always try to work into these lists. I’m sure I’ll hear more winners from last year in the months ahead, but right now, here are my favorite songs of 2016.

 

  1. “How Far I’ll Go” – Moana

I still have yet to see Disney’s Moana, but as with Frozen’s “Let It Go,” I got to hear its music even before I watch the film itself. This Golden Globe-nominated tune sung by Auli’i Cravalho as Moana and by Alessia Cara during the end credits is a beautiful ballad of longing for the unknown.
 

 

  1. “Handclap” – Fitz and the Tantrums

I first heard this song when Fitz and the Tantrums appeared on a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and while it gets off to a so-so start, it’s pretty darn catchy by the end, even if it’s not quite as good as “The Walker” from their previous album.
 

 

  1. “Make You Mine” – High Valley

While I used to be a more devoted listener, I only listen to country music occasionally these days, and luckily I had the radio on a country channel at the right time to hear the feel-good romance of “Make You Mine.” This may be a cheat since High Valley first released the song in Canada in 2014, but it had its first American release this year.
 

 

  1. “Gunned Down” – Nicco & Solid&Sound

I discovered this obscure electronic tune more or less by accident, as part of a compilation music video, and it stuck in my mind as worthy of much more attention. The more I hear it, the more I like it.
 

 

  1. “Birds” – Coldplay

Again, “Birds” may be from Coldplay’s 2015 album A Head Full of Dreams, but it just barely made the cut by being released on January 2, 2016. It’s less widely played than the singles on the album, but its subdued high-speed energy is infectious, despite the sudden ending.
 

 

  1. “Happy Birthday” – Kygo, featuring John Legend

This might be considered a cooler alternative to the more traditional birthday song. I love the prominent piano riff, and with John Legend’s vocals, it’s an underrated gem of a song.
 

 

  1. “Good Grief” – Bastille

Bastille improved on their earlier hit “Pompeii” with this outstanding single with a much more serious undertone than its catchy tune and risqué video would suggest. And for movie buffs, see if you can identify the movie line embedded in the bridge.
 

 

  1. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake (from Trolls)

For pop music stations and sales, this was the #1 song of the year. Also nominated for a Grammy and Golden Globe, this upbeat dance hit from DreamWorks’s Trolls sounds a lot like a Michael Jackson song and may be Timberlake’s best work.
 

 

  1. “Something Wild” – Lindsey Stirling, featuring Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness (from Pete’s Dragon)

The musical high point for me last year was attending a Lindsey Stirling concert in the summer. Not only did she play all my favorite songs of hers, but included a few from her new album Brave Enough, particularly this Celtic-sounding addition to the soundtrack of Pete’s Dragon.
 

 

  1. “Drive It Like You Stole It” – Sing Street

This also made #3 for my list of 2016 movie scenes. Sing Street was made special by its nostalgic soundtrack of original tunes that actually sounded like they could have been unreleased hits from the 1980s, and “Drive It Like You Stole It” is the best and most toe-tapping of the bunch.
 

 

  1. “Too Much Is Never Enough” – Florence and the Machine

If this song had been in a movie, it would have the Best Song Oscar written all over it. Instead, it was written for the game Final Fantasy XV, as was the song “I Will Be,” and while I’m not a gamer, this song is exceptional. 2016 was the year that introduced me to Florence and the Machine, now one of my favorite bands by their sound alone, and after the fantastic album released in 2015, even the smaller singles from 2016 carry on the uniquely majestic style.
 

 

  1. “Wherever I Go” – OneRepublic

While it hasn’t gotten nearly the airplay of their other hits, “Wherever I Go” is OneRepublic at their catchiest. I may have been a little obsessed with this song after first hearing it on the radio, but I’d say its frenetic, funky rhythm warrants it. I doubt it will win any awards, but I love it nonetheless. This is one song during which I just can’t stay still.
 
 

 

And here are other great songs of 2016, loosely ranked from best to least, ending with four radio hits that aren’t really my cup of tea but there’s something I like about them anyway.

 

“Riddle of the Model” – Sing Street

“It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” – Billy Currington

“Work This Body” – Walk the Moon

“The Arena” and the rest of the Brave Enough album – Lindsey Stirling

“She Sets the City on Fire” – Gavin DeGraw

“Up&Up” and “Hymn for the Weekend” – Coldplay

“Scars” – Tove Lo (from The Divergent Series: Allegiant)

“It’s Nothing” and “Sparkle” – Radwimps (from Your Name.)

“Water under the Bridge” – Adele

“Try Everything” – Sia and Stargate, sung by Shakira (from Zootopia)

“Quicksand” – Feenixpawl with APEK

“In the Blink of an Eye” – Paul McCartney (from Ethel and Ernest)

“My Wonder” – Dan Winter and Ryan T., featuring Damae

“Scars to Your Beautiful” – Alessia Cara

“In the Name of Love” (Syzz remix) – Martin Garrix and Bebe Rexha

“Cold Water” – Major Lazer

“Rockabye” – Clean Bandit, featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie

“What About the Love” – Sam Feldt

“Send My Love” – Adele

“Closer” – The Chainsmokers, featuring Halsey

“Treat You Better” – Shawn Mendes

“My House” – Flo Rida

“Starving” – Hailee Steinfeld and Grey, featuring Zedd

 

What songs did I miss this year? I’m sure there are quite a few so feel free to tell me your favorites!

My VC also suggested I end this music post with a mournful mention of the musical greats lost in 2016 as well. Rest in peace, David Bowie, Maurice White, Keith Emerson, Merle Haggard, Prince, Christina Grimmie, Leonard Cohen, George Michael, and Debbie Reynolds, alongside many others. Let’s remember them at their best, like George Michael in one of my VC’s favorite songs of his.
 
 

My Top Twelve Scenes Seen in 2016

06 Friday Jan 2017

Posted by sgliput in Movies, Writing

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Image result for dead poets society ending

In the spirit of all the 2016 best-of lists out there right now, I couldn’t resist putting together a list of my favorite scenes of the last year. My blogiversary post covered my top films seen in 2016, but what about the individual scenes that served as highlights for the year? You know, the scenes that make good movies great and bad movies worth watching anyway. And these don’t necessarily have to be from my favorite films of the year either; even films that didn’t make my official List are eligible for this one.

Remember, these don’t have to be from 2016 films either (since I’m sure there are plenty of good ones I have yet to see) but are scenes that I personally saw for the first time in 2016. And keep in mind also that these videos could contain spoilers, especially #8 and #1. Let’s see what cinematic remembrances await….

  1. Final Performance – Pitch Perfect 2

I enjoyed the second Pitch Perfect far more than the first, but one thing they both feature are some fun a cappella mash-ups of pop songs, and IMO, the finale at the A Cappella World Championships is the best number.

  1. “Starman” montage – The Martian

The Martian had a great soundtrack of 1970s tunes, and a stand-out was David Bowie’s “Starman” played over a brilliant montage of NASA working to resupply the Hermes shuttle for its return trip to Mars. The only video of the scene I could find has Spanish dialogue so I guess you could call this El Marciano.

  1. Final chase – Mad Max: Fury Road

The most recent Mad Max reboot had no shortage of explosions, but the high point of the pyrotechnics comes during the big chase at the end as Max, Furiosa, and the women they’re protecting make one last dash for freedom.

  1. Backwards time – Doctor Strange

No video for this scene yet, but Doctor Strange excelled at its mind-bending visuals. My VC loved Strange’s gravity-defying chase in the Mirror Dimension, but my money’s on the scene toward the end where Strange makes time rewind while battling the villains in forward time. It sounds confusing, but it sure looked cool.

Image result for doctor strange time manipulation gif

  1. Beastie Boys – Star Trek Beyond

Speaking of looking cool, the most recent Star Trek may have gone a little overboard with its use of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” but boy, did they do it in style! I love it when a movie makes me say “whoa” in the theater.

  1. Sniper fight – Skyfall

Sam Mendes’ artistic eye shone forth in this exceptional scene from Skyfall, my new favorite James Bond movie. As Bond and a sniper wrestle for a gun in a high rise, their scuffle in silhouette is mesmerizing.

  1. Mami vs. Homura gun battle – Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion

I may have been deeply disappointed in the third film in the Madoka Magica franchise, but Rebellion does feature one of the series’ best action sequences, pitting two fan-favorite characters against each other with dazzling use of Homura’s powers of time manipulation. (No subtitles in this video, but it’s mostly action anyway.) Now the question remains: are they exceptionally quick to dodge bullets or are they both just bad shots?

  1. Quicksilver again – X-Men: Apocalypse

Evan Peters stole the show as Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past, and he did the same in Apocalypse, singlehandedly saving Professor X’s student body in slow-mo, backed by the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams.” The movie itself may have been disappointing, but I thought this one scene was worth the price of admission.

  1. “Death, Be Not Proud” explained – Wit

Perhaps a lecture on poetry isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but this flashback’s profound exploration of John Donne’s “Death, Be Not Proud” has changed how I view the poem, which I memorized long ago in elementary school. It’s also a testament to the importance of punctuation!

  1. “Drive It Like You Stole It” – Sing Street

The feel-good high point of the year, this dream sequence from Sing Street reveals just how talented a ragtag band of Irish schoolboys can be. It sounds like a perfect hit from the 1980s, and I sincerely hope it’s not snubbed by the Oscars just because it rocks!

  1. Scarif battle – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Again, it’s too soon for a genuine video of the latest Star Wars spinoff’s epic finale, but Rogue One did not disappoint in the action department. Recalling the space-and-planet offensive of Return of the Jedi, the shoot-out on the tropical planet of Scarif is a pure blend of bittersweet and awesome, especially the part with the two Star Destroyers.

  1. Airport fight – Captain America: Civil War

Considering Civil War was my favorite film of the year, it’s not surprising the best scene is #1 here too (brief language warning for the video). The epic clash of six heroes against six heroes at the Leipzig airport may be the coolest fight of the MCU so far, pairing off the combatants in clever mini-confrontations that provide plenty of geeky thrills.

As you can see, I’m more drawn to scenes of spectacle, but other great scenes I saw this year include:

The dangers outside the bunker – 10 Cloverfield Lane

Dog scrapbook – The Age of Adaline

Battle scene – Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Image result for anchorman battle

Space station escape – Armageddon

Ending – The Babadook

Three-way confrontation with Batman, Joker, and Red Hood – Batman: Under the Red Hood

Gaelic Christmas song – Brooklyn

Piano scene – Coming Home (2014)

Desk set conversation and the final scene – Dead Poets Society

Hugh Jackman’s 90m jump – Eddie the Eagle

Otter distraction – Finding Dory

Oscar Isaac’s one against fourteen gun battle – For Greater Glory

Ferris wheel roll – Goosebumps

King Louie’s temple collapse – The Jungle Book (2016)

Waking up to a bloodbath – King of Thorn

Pie baking – Labor Day

Image result for labor day pie

South African embassy – Lethal Weapon 2

Apology song – Music and Lyrics

Any scene with a flying pirate ship – Pan

Final performance – Pitch Perfect

Singing the Pokémon theme – Paper Towns

Escape – Room

Dam burst – San Andreas

Anti-Nazi conversation (about an hour in) – Sophie Scholl – The Final Days

Opening continuous shot – Spectre

Romantic dance behind curtain – Strictly Ballroom

Image result for strictly ballroom dance

Tightrope between the Towers – The Walk

Tanker explosion – Waterworld

Twilight meeting – Your Name

THE LIST (2017 Update)

03 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by sgliput in Movies, Writing

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Behold, the third iteration of my much-obsessed-over list of 365 favorite films. I already mentioned in my previous blogiversary post which films have been added and which have been dropped since last time, but the new additions are listed in bold below, fit in among their more established brethren.

As you can see from the list, not a lot has changed since last year in the top 200 or so, with only six new films making it into the top 100, the placement of Finding Dory owing to its sequel status. However, the bottom half of the list has had quite the makeover, with multiple titles being shuffled, lowered, or dropped altogether. Know also that I’ve combined sequels with their franchises, with some exceptions. Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, for instance, are linked together as stories and are thus grouped separately from other James Bond movies, while I enjoyed Skyfall so much more than its siblings that it has a higher place to itself. I also felt Captain America: Civil War was more on par with The Avengers than Age of Ultron was, so the former replaced the latter. Other combinations of films may seem like cheating on my part (I admit it), but their similarities seemed to warrant it in my mind, such as pairing the mental-disordered brotherhood of Dominick and Eugene with Rain Man (both from 1988), putting Paper Towns with the other John Green adaptation The Fault in Our Stars, and placing Mad Max: Fury Road alongside Waterworld since they really are pretty similar actioners. A special mention also for the wonderful documentary Life, Animated, which probably would have made The List if I wasn’t excluding documentaries altogether.

Without further ado then, here is the latest update of THE LIST, all films I count among my very favorites. Let me know what you think, and here’s hoping I’ll have even more great movies to add next year, even though it will mean painfully removing something else. That’ll be rough. A very happy 2017 to all!

 

  1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003)
  2. Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)
  3. Forrest Gump (1994)
  4. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
  5. The Sound of Music (1965)
  6. Star Wars Trilogy (1977, 1980, 1983)
  7. Finding Nemo (2003) and Finding Dory (2016)
  8. Titanic (1997)
  9. Toy Story Trilogy (1995, 1999, 2010)
  10. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
  11. The Princess Bride (1987)
  12. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
  13. Groundhog Day (1993)
  14. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
  15. The Prince of Egypt (1998)
  16. You’ve Got Mail (1998)
  17. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  18. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
  19. War Horse (2011)
  20. The Incredibles (2004)
  21. Cast Away (2000)
  22. Heart and Souls (1993)
  23. Pirates of the Caribbean (2003, 2006, 2007)
  24. Tarzan (1999)
  25. Les Miserables (2012)
  26. The Avengers (2012) and Captain America: Civil War (2016)
  27. Ben-Hur (1959)
  28. Star Trek (2009)
  29. The Chronicles of Narnia (2005, 2008, 2010)
  30. The Family Man (2000)
  31. The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001)
  32. Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
  33. Oliver! (1968)
  34. Whisper of the Heart (1995)
  35. Spider-Man Trilogy (2002, 2004, 2007)
  36. The Five People You Meet in Heaven (2004)
  37. Elizabethtown (2005)
  38. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
  39. Chariots of Fire (1981)
  40. The Blind Side (2009)
  41. Babe (1995)
  42. The Blues Brothers (1980)
  43. Jurassic Park (1993)
  44. 84 Charing Cross Road (1987)
  45. National Treasure (2004)
  46. Ratatouille (2007)
  47. The Fugitive (1993)
  48. True Grit (1969, 2010)
  49. Evita (1996)
  50. The Lion King (1994)
  51. Inception (2010)
  52. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
  53. Lilies of the Field (1963)
  54. Life of Pi (2012)
  55. Mary Poppins (1964)
  56. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
  57. Glory (1989)
  58. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
  59. The Sixth Sense (1999)
  60. Back to the Future Trilogy (1985, 1989, 1990)
  61. Aliens (1986)
  62. Life Is Beautiful (1997)
  63. Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
  64. The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
  65. Awakenings (1990)
  66. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
  67. Paulie (1998)
  68. Home Alone (1990)
  69. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
  70. Big (1988)
  71. Jumanji (1995)
  72. Somewhere in Time (1980)
  73. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
  74. A Christmas Story (1983)
  75. Speed (1994)
  76. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
  77. 1776 (1972)
  78. High School Musical Trilogy (2006, 2007, 2008)
  79. Wit (2001)
  80. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
  81. Gone with the Wind (1939)
  82. Aladdin (1992)
  83. Saints and Soldiers (2003)
  84. Fantasia (1940)
  85. Shadowlands (1993)
  86. Hook (1991)
  87. Young Frankenstein (1974)
  88. The Truman Show (1998)
  89. The Ten Commandments (1956)
  90. Star Wars Prequel Trilogy (1999, 2002, 2005)
  91. Serenity (2005)
  92. October Sky (1999)
  93. Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
  94. Holes (2003)
  95. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
  96. The Martian (2015)
  97. Taking Chance (2009)
  98. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
  99. Star Trek into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek Beyond (2016)
  100. Signs (2002)
  101. Star Trek: Generations (1994)
  102. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
  103. The Santa Clause (1994)
  104. Starman (1984)
  105. My Fair Lady (1964)
  106. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
  107. On Golden Pond (1981)
  108. Brother Bear (2003)
  109. WALL-E (2008)
  110. The Green Mile (1999)
  111. Air Force One (1997)
  112. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2013)
  113. Shrek 2 (2004)
  114. Big Hero 6 (2014)
  115. Iron Man Trilogy (2008, 2010, 2013)
  116. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
  117. The Matrix (1999)
  118. Ghostbusters II (1989)
  119. The Right Stuff (1983)
  120. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
  121. The Mask of Zorro (1998)
  122. The Color Purple (1985)
  123. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
  124. Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
  125. Shrek (2001)
  126. Inside Out (2015)
  127. The King’s Speech (2010)
  128. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
  129. The Hunger Games series (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
  130. Yentl (1983)
  131. Men in Black Trilogy (1997, 2002, 2012)
  132. Skyfall (2012)
  133. The Music Man (1962)
  134. Ghostbusters (1984)
  135. Regarding Henry (1991)
  136. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
  137. Alien (1979)
  138. National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)
  139. The Polar Express (2004)
  140. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
  141. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
  142. Julie and Julia (2009)
  143. Airplane! (1980)
  144. Extraordinary Measures (2010)
  145. Secondhand Lions (2003)
  146. A Christmas Carol
  147. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
  148. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
  149. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
  150. United 93 (2006)
  151. The Little Mermaid (1989)
  152. Die Hard trilogy (1988, 1990, 1995)
  153. Castle in the Sky (1986)
  154. Out of Africa (1985)
  155. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
  156. Source Code (2011)
  157. Overboard (1987)
  158. Coal Miner’s DaughterCoal Miner’s Daughter (1980)
  159. The Nativity Story (2006)
  160. Cinderella (1950)
  161. A League of Their Own (1992)
  162. The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971)
  163. Tangled (2010)
  164. Zootopia (2016)
  165. The Untouchables (1987)
  166. As Good As It Gets (1997)
  167. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
  168. Ella Enchanted (2004)
  169. Splash (1984)
  170. Monsters, Inc. (2001) and Monsters University (2013)
  171. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
  172. The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974)
  173. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
  174. Enchanted (2007)
  175. Up (2009)
  176. Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011)
  177. What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
  178. The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005, 2008, 2012)
  179. Ant-Man (2015)
  180. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)
  181. Cars (2006)
  182. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
  183. Doc Hollywood (1991)
  184. Foul Play (1978)
  185. Pocahontas (1995)
  186. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
  187. Rudy (1993)
  188. Mulan (1998)
  189. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
  190. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
  191. Labyrinth of Lies (2014)
  192. Treasure Planet (2002)
  193. Wolf Children (2012)
  194. Les Miserables (1998)
  195. The Hobbit Trilogy (2012, 2013, 2014)
  196. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
  197. Spaceballs (1987)
  198. King of Thorn (2010)
  199. The Way (2010)
  200. The Prestige (2006)
  201. Frozen (2013)
  202. Woman in Gold (2015)
  203. Twister (1996)
  204. Funny Girl (1968)
  205. Rocky (1976) and Rocky III (1982)
  206. Hello, Dolly! (1969)
  207. Joyeux Noël (2005)
  208. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
  209. To Sir, with Love (1967)
  210. Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
  211. Hoosiers (1986)
  212. Gravity (2013)
  213. The Great Escape (1963)
  214. The Naked Gun (1988)
  215. Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1986)
  216. Soul Man (1986)
  217. Philadelphia (1993)
  218. Raising Arizona (1987)
  219. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
  220. Ghost (1990)
  221. Misery (1990)
  222. Captain Phillips (2013)
  223. School of Rock (2003)
  224. Something the Lord Made (2004)
  225. Vantage Point (2008)
  226. Peter Pan (1953)
  227. The Terminal (2004)
  228. Superman (1978)
  229. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
  230. Jane Eyre (1970)
  231. Casablanca (1942)
  232. Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension (2011)
  233. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
  234. The Girl Who Leapt through Time (2006)
  235. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and Waterworld (1995)
  236. Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008)
  237. Annie (1999)
  238. The Elephant Man (1980)
  239. Anastasia (1997)
  240. X-Men (2000) and X2: X-Men United (2003)
  241. Surrogates (2009)
  242. Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
  243. Your Name (2016)
  244. My Girl (1991)
  245. The Ultimate Gift (2006)
  246. The Way Back (2010)
  247. Memphis Belle (1990)
  248. Dances with Wolves (1990)
  249. The Judge (2014)
  250. The Terminator (1984)
  251. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
  252. Rain Man (1988) and Dominick and Eugene (1988)
  253. Have a Little Faith (2011)
  254. Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
  255. Pinocchio (1940)
  256. City Slickers (1991)
  257. Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
  258. Steel Magnolias (1989)
  259. Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
  260. Remember the Titans (2000)
  261. Scrooged (1988)
  262. Forget Paris (1995)
  263. Eddie the Eagle (2016)
  264. The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)
  265. Cloud Atlas (2012)
  266. The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
  267. Doctor Strange (2016)
  268. Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
  269. The Legend of Zorro (2005)
  270. Superman II (1980)
  271. The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
  272. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
  273. Murphy’s Romance (1985)
  274. Shenandoah (1965)
  275. The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
  276. Bridge of Spies (2015)
  277. Hidden (2015)
  278. A View to a Kill (1985) along with most other Bond films I’ve seen, including Spectre (2015)
  279. The River Wild (1994)
  280. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
  281. Finding Forrester (2000)
  282. Wuthering Heights (1970)
  283. Unbreakable (2000)
  284. The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
  285. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
  286. Sister Act (1992)
  287. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
  288. Music and Lyrics (2007)
  289. The Iron Lady (2011)
  290. The Abyss (1989)
  291. The Breakfast Club (1985)
  292. Sheffey (1977)
  293. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
  294. Everest (2015)
  295. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
  296. X-Men: First Class (2011) and X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
  297. Places in the Heart (1984)
  298. Citizen Kane (1941)
  299. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2003)
  300. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)
  301. Spy Kids (2001) and Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
  302. Minority Report (2002)
  303. Coma (1978)
  304. The Peanuts Movie (2015)
  305. Almost Famous (2000) and Sing Street (2016)
  306. Trading Places (1983)
  307. The Age of Adaline (2015)
  308. Quiz Show (1994)
  309. Seven Samurai (1954)
  310. The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
  311. Galaxy Quest (1999)
  312. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
  313. Sophie Scholl – The Final Days (2005)
  314. The Fault in Our Stars (2014) and Paper Towns (2015)
  315. The Others (2001)
  316. Joseph: King of Dreams (2000)
  317. Baby Boom (1987)
  318. Amazing Grace (2006)
  319. The Wind Rises (2013)
  320. Cloak and Dagger (1984)
  321. Chicken Run (2000)
  322. Sneakers (1992)
  323. Cannery Row (1982)
  324. Ordinary People (1980)
  325. Hercules (1997)
  326. Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)
  327. Room (2015)
  328. Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Beginnings and Eternal (2012)
  329. Time after Time (1979)
  330. Footloose (1984)
  331. Being There (1979)
  332. Silverado (1985)
  333. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
  334. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
  335. Tomorrowland (2015)
  336. The Maze Runner (2014) and The Scorch Trials (2015)
  337. The Rocketeer (1991)
  338. Bambi (1942)
  339. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
  340. Dave (1993)
  341. Patema Inverted (2013)
  342. Innerspace (1987)
  343. War of the Worlds (2005)
  344. The Walk (2015)
  345. A Bug’s Life (1998)
  346. Harrison Bergeron (1995)
  347. Time of Eve (2010)
  348. Counterpoint (1967)
  349. The Conjuring (2013)
  350. Roman Holiday (1953)
  351. Song of the Sea (2014)
  352. The Social Network (2010)
  353. Kung Fu Panda Trilogy (2008, 2011, 2016)
  354. The Quick and the Dead (1987)
  355. The Impossible (2012)
  356. The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)
  357. Meet the Robinsons (2007)
  358. The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009)
  359. WarGames (1983)
  360. The Iron Giant (1999)
  361. Of Mice and Men (1992)
  362. 12 Angry Men (1957)
  363. Gettysburg (1993)
  364. I Am Legend (2007) and World War Z (2013)
  365. Psycho (1960)

My Top Twelve Disney Animated Films

27 Sunday Nov 2016

Posted by sgliput in Movies, Reviews, Writing

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Animation, Disney, Lists

Image result for pinocchio disney blue fairy

 

With the release of Moana, which I still have yet to see, I thought it would be a good idea to revisit my favorite animated features from the House of Mouse. Disney has had its ups and downs over the years, from the dark ages of the ‘70s (which still put out some pretty good films, like Robin Hood) to the 21st-century slump during Pixar’s heyday. Then again, few can rival Disney when their filmmakers are on their games, whether it be the Golden Era classics that Walt Disney himself directed or the Renaissance of the ‘90s that catered to my childhood. Lately, Disney is back on their game with CGI classics rivaling Pixar, and I can only hope they’ll keep up the consistent quality entertainment of recent years.

One thing I notice about my personal favorites is that some of them are among the less regarded films in Disney’s canon, but Disney films are so varied and appeal to us all so early in our lives that everyone probably has preferences all their own, depending on what they grew up watching. Thus, here are my top beloved Disney cartoons thus far. Do you agree? What are your favorites? Feel free to let me know in the comments and geek out about your favorites too.

 

  1. Zootopia (2016)

Image result for zootopia film

It may seem premature to rank such a recent film this highly, but I’ve seen Zootopia twice and loved it both times, a couple quibbles notwithstanding. Strong likable characters, a well-realized and Pixar-esque world, stunningly detailed animation, and some thought-provoking themes about being who you want to be rather than how others see you make this the most likely candidate for Best Animated Feature this year, in my book anyway.

 

  1. Tangled (2010)

Image result for tangled film

I wasn’t too impressed with The Princess and the Frog a year before, but Tangled proved that Disney could still pull off the princess format that made them so successful. After Bolt, it also confirmed that they could be just as at home with CGI animation as the hand-drawn style of the past, and the radiant animation and Alan Menken songs (his last for a Disney cartoon, as of this writing) are pure delight.

 

  1. Cinderella (1950)

Image result for cinderella 1950 film

My favorite of Walt’s original fairy tale adaptations, Cinderella is as charming today as it was in 1950. Not quite as saccharine as Snow White, it is the definitive version of the Cinderella story in my house and was a particular favorite of my mom’s when she was a kid. Heredity?

 

  1. The Little Mermaid (1989)

Image result for the little mermaid film

As the beginning of the Disney Renaissance, The Little Mermaid revolutionized the House of Mouse with Broadway quality tunes and a new high point in animation quality. The colorful marine setting and catchy Menken/Ashman tunes breathed new life into the animation studio and made princess fairy tales all the rage again.

 

  1. Big Hero 6 (2014)

Image result for big hero 6 film

While we all know Disney is pulling the strings of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was nice to see them incorporate some superhero magic into their animation department. As with The Incredibles and Batman: Under the Red Hood, it’s always a thrill to see a great superhero cartoon. Poignant, action-packed, and all-around awesome, the origin story of Big Hero 6 is my favorite of Disney’s current CGI era.

 

  1. Brother Bear (2003)

Image result for brother bear film

I really don’t understand all the hate for Brother Bear. Released during the waning years of the Disney Renaissance, it’s still a funny and heartbreaking journey with a beautifully drawn Arctic setting and some great background songs. I remember crying as a 10-year-old in the theater, and any film that brings me to tears holds a special place in my heart.

 

  1. Fantasia (1940)

Image result for fantasia 1940 film

As entertaining as the vast majority of Disney films are, Fantasia is something different, a true work of art, blending classical music with animation at its most imaginative. It’s a shame that its poor commercial showing made Walt Disney initially regret making it because it has since become one of his most highly regarded classics. Yes, it’s a perfect film to fall asleep to, but that has more to do with the sometimes soothing music than what’s on the screen.

 

  1. Aladdin (1992)

Image result for aladdin film

Buoyed by the brilliantly frenetic voice performance of Robin Williams as the Genie, Aladdin may be the funniest member of the Disney canon. This adaptation of the 1001 Nights continued the winning animation and music that made the Renaissance so special.

 

  1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Image result for the hunchback of notre dame disney film

I’m a much bigger fan of Hunchback than most, viewing its darker storyline and lack of a typical happy ending as a risk for Disney that paid off in magnificent fashion. Without a doubt, this is Alan Menken’s masterpiece score, not just catchy and hummable but truly, goosebumpily glorious.

 

  1. The Lion King (1994)

Image result for the lion king film

Speaking of goosebumps, the beginning of The Lion King is Fantasia-level art, while the rest is an entertaining piece of Shakespeare lite, complete with one of the saddest Disney deaths and one of the best Disney villains. From the thrilling wildebeest stampede to the carefree song “Hakuna Matata,” The Lion King has something for everyone.

 

  1. Tarzan (1999)

Image result for tarzan disney film

Another favorite I find hugely underrated is Tarzan, with its lushly gorgeous jungle setting and outstanding Phil Collins soundtrack. Not only is it my VC’s favorite Disney cartoon, it’s one of the first films I actually remember watching in the theater (and yes, I cried at the end), and I recall playing “Trashing the Camp” with my cousin over and over and over on video. Good times….

 

  1. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Image result for beauty and the beast disney ballroom

I personally consider Beauty and the Beast the most perfect fairy tale adaptation in all of Disney’s canon. It’s funny, tragic, enchanting, melodious, elegant, and all-around entertaining. It’s everything that Disney does best and thus feels timeless. I have my doubts about the live-action version next year, but at least we’ll always have the immortal original.

________________

With the exception of Chicken Little and Home on the Range (the only one I haven’t actually seen), I enjoy all Disney movies to some extent, so I thought I’d continue my ranking below with the rest of the animated features on my Top 365 list (not including mixed animations like Enchanted or those only released by Disney, like the Studio Ghibli films). What would your ranking look like?

 

  1. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
  2. Pocahontas (1995)
  3. Mulan (1998)
  4. Treasure Planet (2002)
  5. Frozen (2013)
  6. Peter Pan (1953)
  7. Pinocchio (1940)
  8. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
  9. The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
  10. Hercules (1997)
  11. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
  12. Bambi (1942)
  13. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
  14. Meet the Robinsons (2007)
  15. The Jungle Book (1967)
  16. Dinosaur (2000)
  17. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
  18. The Sword in the Stone (1963)

Image result for treasure planet

My Top Twelve Fast-Sung Songs

06 Sunday Nov 2016

Posted by sgliput in Movies, Music, Writing

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Lists

Image result for supercalifragilisticexpialidocious mary poppins

 

Who else loves fast songs? I don’t mean fast music necessarily since there are quite a few guitar solos that are anything but slow; I’m talking about lyrics that roll off a singer’s tongue faster than the Flash after an espresso. I always marvel at the practice it must have taken to learn such lyrics by heart, and I often take it as a challenge to see how well I can memorize those musical tongue twisters.

So here are my picks for the top twelve songs sung fast, based on both the relative speed at which they exit the singer’s mouth and how well I enjoy the song. (Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” for example, may be fun to learn and one of my favorites, but it’s not really that fast. “Sam” by the Meat Puppets, on the other hand, might be the fastest song I’ve heard, but its catchiness suffers.) Let’s see how fast I can list these speed demons off.

 

  1. “Got the Time” – Joe Jackson

 

Fans may prefer the Anthrax cover version, which is even more sped up, but Joe Jackson’s original is fast enough for me.
 
 

  1. “Sold” – John Michael Montgomery

 

Drawing inspiration from the auctioneer’s chatter that goes “a mile a minute,” this country single is just pure fun to sing along to and isn’t too hard to keep up with.
 
 

  1. “I Really Don’t Hate Christmas” – Phineas and Ferb

 

Disney Channel’s Phineas and Ferb had a song in every episode, and quite a few had a breakneck pace. These were the ones I most enjoyed memorizing, like “I’m Me,” “Mom, Look,” and “The History of the Tri-State Area.” The swiftest tongue-twister, though, came from the Christmas special where the evil scientist Dr. Doofenshmirtz complains about not despising Christmas. I know this song is hard to sing, and I’m impressed the voice actor kept up even with that annoying accent.
 
 

  1. “One Week” – Barenaked Ladies

 

Any number of rap songs could be faster than the ones on my list, but as a non-rap fan, this awesome, rambling song is as close as I get, thanks to the catchy tune surrounding the verbal gymnastics. By the way, I always try to incorporate a movie tie into these lists, and “One Week” has lyrics mentioning Harrison Ford in Frantic and Kurosawa’s samurai films.
 
 

  1. “Cloudburst” – Barry Manilow’s version

 

This speedy jazz favorite was also performed by Miles Davis and the Pointer Sisters, but I prefer Barry Manilow’s version, especially for how he ends the breathless tune with “I don’t believe I really sang this song!”
 
 

  1. “Nations of the World” – Animaniacs / “The New Periodic Table Song” – AsapSCIENCE

 

Remember what I said about fast songs being almost like a dare to learn them? Well, some took that idea and wrote educational songs that were made fun for kids with their zippy lyrics and familiar tunes. Animaniacs was a favorite show of mine as a kid and helped me learn the state capitals, U.S. Presidents, and nations of the world, while AsapSCIENCE is a science-focused YouTube Channel with an especially fast-paced way to learn the Periodic Table of Elements.
 
 
 

  1. “Getting Married Today” from Company – Stephen Sondheim

 

I cannot imagine the stress on the poor actresses who have had to perform this rapid-fire song from the musical Company live on stage over and over. I’ve barely been able to learn the lyrics myself, but it’s a true challenge that’s strangely satisfying when it all blurts out correctly. Sondheim, you rascal!
 
 

  1. “Goin’ Down” – The Monkees

 

This upbeat, mumbly rocker showing off Micky Dolenz’s talented tongue is probably the hastiest single from the Monkees, a dreamboat group for my mom back in the day.
 
 

  1. “Life Is a Rock” – Reunion

 

Just as “We Didn’t Start the Fire” was like a musical overview of the ‘50s through the ‘80s, Reunion’s “Life Is a Rock” is a blistering recap of pop music history, even incorporating other famous songs like Three Dog Night’s “Celebrate” and Sly and the Family Stone’s “I Want to Take You Higher.” For the record, this is my VC’s favorite fast song.
 
 

  1. “Get Out of Denver” – Bob Seger

 

One of my favorite classic rock songs, this pell-mell earworm is among Bob Seger’s very best.
 
 

  1. “The End of the World As We Know It” – R.E.M.

 

I couldn’t possibly leave this song out. R.E.M.’s oddly feel-good anthem is a go-to soundtrack for alien invasions, Mayan apocalypses, and presidential elections.
 
 

  1. “Hardware Store” – “Weird Al” Yankovic

 

You want a fast song? Well, this is it. In addition to his hilarious parodies, “Weird Al” writes some of his own songs too, including this ridiculously fast-paced paean to the local hardware store. I’m proud to say I know it by heart, except for the absurdly long list of hardware items that seems impossible to sing in one go. Supposedly this is the only song “Weird Al” refuses to sing live, and I see why.
 
 

 

Here are some runners-up as well. What other fast songs do you like?

“Subterranean Homesick Blues” – Bob Dylan
“Johnny B. Goode” – Chuck Berry
“Johnny McEldoo” – The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem
“A Story Told” – The Count of Monte Cristo musical
“Turn to Stone” – ELO (one fast part toward the end)
“Ain’t Going Down” – Garth Brooks
“I’ve Been Everywhere” – Hank Snow
“Just Leave Everything to Me” – Hello, Dolly! (another movie reference)
“Thank God I’m a Country Boy” – John Denver
“The Auctioneer Song” – Leroy Van Dyke
“Once Was a Time I Thought” – The Mamas and the Papas
“Airegin” – Manhattan Transfer
“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” – Mary Poppins (and another)
 “Sam” – Meat Puppets
“Again” – Yui

 

Here’s a final shout-out to the original super-fast patter song from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, the hard-to-sing “Major-General’s Song.” (It’s performed by the late, great George Rose, and yes, that’s also Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt in the 1983 film adaptation.)

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