George Carlin 1937-2008

June 23rd, 2008 by david lay

George Carlin 1937-2008

You made a lot of people laugh, and we thank you for that. Rest in peace you foul, filthy, sonofab**ch!



Posted in Tribute, Television, Yada Yada, Movies | 1 Comment

AFI’s 10 Top 10

June 18th, 2008 by david lay

Every June since 1997, the American Film Institute releases a new list of films in its 100 Years… series - celebrating 100 years of American films. I set a goal a few years ago to watch all of the movies in the series, but I didn’t complete that mission. When the “updated” list came out in 2007, I rededicated myself to watching them all, and I’m proud to say that I accomplished that goal within the last six months.

I have found so many great movies through AFI and their efforts to preserve and promote American films, though in all honesty, I have found a handful of stinkers as well. The good has FAR exceeded the bad, however and I am so grateful that I undertook the challenge - there’s a reason that these movies are so well respected!

Today, AFI announced a new list - the 12th in the series, AFI’s 10 Top 10. I have actually said before that I think they should do this - breaking down a “top 100″ into smaller genres and ranking them against similar films.

So, here is the list - AFI’s 10 Top 10 (with a few comments):

Animation

  1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - First Feature-length animated film - still great!
  2. Pinocchio
  3. Bambi
  4. The Lion King
  5. Fantasia
  6. Toy Story - Groundbreaking - I remember the first time I heard “computer animated”
  7. Beauty and the Beast
  8. Shrek
  9. Cinderella
  10. Finding Nemo

Romantic Comedies

  1. City Lights - One of my new favorite films - I LOVED it!!!
  2. Annie Hall - I used to think Woody Allen was overrated - then I watched Annie Hall.
  3. It Happened One Night
  4. Roman Holiday
  5. Philadelphia Story
  6. When Harry Met Sally
  7. Adam’s Rib
  8. Moonstruck
  9. Harold and Maude - This is one of those movies I’ve always said I wanted to see… Haven’t yet.
  10. Sleepless in Seattle

Western

  1. The Searchers - Awesomeness
  2. High Noon - One of THE best movies ever made! Most requested film by US Presidents.
  3. Shane
  4. Unforgiven
  5. Red River
  6. The Wild Bunch
  7. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
  8. McCabe and Mrs. Miller
  9. Stagecoach
  10. Cat Ballou

Sports

  1. Raging Bull - Scorsese’s best film.
  2. Rocky - Classic.
  3. Pride of the Yankees
  4. Hoosiers
  5. Bull Durham - Starring Danny Gans!
  6. The Hustler
  7. Caddyshack
  8. Breaking Away
  9. National Velvet
  10. Jerry Maguire

Mystery

  1. Vertigo - One of four Great Hitchcock films on this list - but where’s Psycho?
  2. Chinatown
  3. Rear Window
  4. Laura
  5. The Third Man
  6. Maltese Falcon - FANTASTIC! Fell in love with this film noir while watching the top 100.
  7. North by Northwest
  8. Blue Velvet
  9. Dial “M” for Murder
  10. The Usual Suspects

Fantasy

  1. Wizard of Oz
  2. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - This film represents the entire trilogy…
  3. It’s a Wonderful Life - They begin to stretch the “Fantasy” moniker at this point, but I get it…
  4. King Kong
  5. Miracle on 34th Street
  6. Field of Dreams
  7. Harvey
  8. Groundhog Day
  9. The Thief of Bagdad
  10. Big

Science Fiction

  1. 2001: A Space Odyssey
  2. Star Wars: A New Hope
  3. ET: The Extra Terrestrial
  4. Clockwork Orange
  5. The Day the Earth Stood Still
  6. Blade Runner - I think this film is good, but very overrated.
  7. Alien
  8. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
  9. Invasion of the Body Snatchers
  10. Back to the Future - Awesome!!! So glad this is on the list!

Gangster

  1. The Godfather - Love it! Definitely don’t think it insists upon itself.
  2. Goodfellas
  3. The Godfather Part II
  4. White Heat
  5. Bonnie and Clyde
  6. Scarface: The Shame of a Nation (Not the one with Al Pacino)
  7. Pulp Fiction - Great Flick!
  8. Public Enemy
  9. Little Caesar
  10. Scarface (The one with Al Pacino)

Courtroom Drama

  1. To Kill a Mockingbird - Extremely powerful and emotional
  2. 12 Angry Men - Learned who Henry Fonda was the first time I saw this. Excellent.
  3. Kramer Vs. Kramer
  4. The Verdict
  5. A Few Good Men
  6. Witness for the Prosecution
  7. Anatomy of a Murder
  8. In Cold Blood
  9. Cry in the Dark
  10. Judgment at Nuremburg

Epics

  1. Lawrence of Arabia - Beautiful landscapes and cinematography
  2. Ben-Hur
  3. Schindler’s List
  4. Gone With the Wind - As good as they come.
  5. Spartacus
  6. Titanic
  7. All Quiet on the Western Front
  8. Saving Private Ryan
  9. Reds
  10. The Ten Commandments

My initial thoughts are that this a good list only a couple of obvious omissions (Psycho and Double Indemnity from the Mystery category, namely). I’m sure I’ll find some more down the road…

But overall, not bad?


Posted in Tribute, Yada Yada, Movies | No Comments

It Insists Upon Itself…

June 16th, 2008 by david lay

This is one of the cleverest, funniest pieces of Television writing. Just hilarious.


Posted in Tribute, Television, Yada Yada | 2 Comments

Random Trivia

June 11th, 2008 by david lay



I had a conversation with Stu today at work in which the following items came up…



1. 007 373 5963
2. JUSTIN BAILEY



Without giving away the answers who knows what either one (or both of them) are - specifically? I’m really curious how many people are as weird as me.




Posted in Yada Yada | 3 Comments

Retro Commercial of the Day - Hardee’s

June 5th, 2008 by david lay

I was randomly watching some old tv ads today when I came across this one. I did a double take when I realized who it was.

If you don’t watch Lost, you wont get it.



Posted in Television, Yada Yada | No Comments