30 Favorite Fictional Characters

Reposting my #30DaysofFavorites project here on my blog. Sharing my 30 Favorite Fictional Characters.

 

 

 

30 Favorite Movies

Reposting my #30DaysofFavorites project here on my blog. Sharing my 30 Favorite Movies.

 

 

 

 

 

#30DaysofFavorites: Favorite Actors

All throughout June I have been celebrating the fact that I’m turning 30 on the 30th by talking about some of my favorite things. I’ve posted several vlogs on my YouTube channel, and I’ve shared my 30 favorite movie moments, and my 30 favorite albums here on my blog.

Today, I’m sharing a list of my 30 Favorite Actors.

 

#30 – Emily Blunt
Favorite Role: Rita, Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

 

#29 – Nicole Kidman
Favorite Role: Gillian Owens, Practical Magic (1998)

 

#28 – Amy Adams
Favorite Role: Louise Banks, Arrival (2016)

 

#27 – Paul Rudd
Favorite Role: Danny, Role Models (2008)

 

#26 – Ryan Gosling
Favorite Role: Holland March, The Nice Guys (2016)

 

#25 – Uma Thurman
Favorite Role: The Bride, Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)

 

#24 – Chris Pine
Favorite Role: James Tiberius Kirk, Star Trek (2009)

 

#23 – Timothy Olyphant
Favorite Role: Raylan Givens, Justified (2010-2015)

 

#22 – Sebastian Stan
Favorite Role: James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes / Winter Soldier, Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

 

#21 – Joe Anderson
Favorite Role: Russell, The Crazies (2010)

 

#20 – Sigourney Weaver
Favorite Role: Ellen Ripley, Alien/Aliens (1979/1986)

 

#19 – Gene Kelly
Favorite Role: Don Lockwood, Singin’ In the Rain (1952)

 

#18 – Paul Newman
Favorite Role: Luke, Cool Hand Luke (1967)

 

#17 – Errol Flynn
Favorite Role: Robin Hood, The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

 

#16 – Howard Keel
Favorite Role: Adam, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

 

#15 – Burt Reynolds
Favorite Role: Paul Crewe, The Longest Yard (1974)

 

#14 – Richard Harris
Favorite Role: Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone(2001)

 

#13 – Danny Kaye
Favorite Role: Hubert Hawkins, The Court Jester (1955)

 

#12 – Alan Rickman
Favorite Role: Hans Gruber, Die Hard (1988)

 

#11 – Harrison Ford
Favorite Role: Han Solo, Star Wars (1977)

 

#10 – Joaquin Phoenix
Favorite Role: Johnny Cash, Walk the Line (2005)

 

#9 – Keira Knightley
Favorite Role: Elizabeth Bennet, Pride & Prejudice (2005)

 

#8 – Sean Connery
Favorite Role: James Bond, From Russia With Love (1963)

 

#7 – Roy Scheider
Favorite Role: Chief Brody,  Jaws (1975)

 

#6 – Walton Goggins
Favorite Role: Boyd Crowder, Justified (2010-2015)

 

#5 – Jake Gyllenhaal
Favorite Role: Louis Bloom, Nightcrawler (2014)

 

#4 – Sam Rockwell
Favorite Role: Owen, The Way Way Back (2013)

 

#3 – Kurt Russell
Favorite Role: RJ MacReady, John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982)

 

#2 – Peter O’Toole
Favorite Role: T.E. Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

 

#1 – Robert Shaw
Favorite Role: Quint, Jaws (1975)

 

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#30DaysofFavorites: Favorite Movie Moments (6-1)

If you missed my explanation of this project, I’m turning 30 at the end of June. I thought it would be fun to celebrate by talking about my favorite things. In this case, my favorite Movie Moments. Today I finish counting down my favorite Movie Moments with my number 6 to my number 1.

 

#6 – Full Moon Transformation
Movie: An American Werewolf in London (1981)

This movie is almost 40 years old and still looks great. That’s largely due to the amazing special effects, which won the first ever Academy Award for Makeup. I am a fan of practical effects over computer graphics, and this scene demonstrates why real life effects work so much better than CG.

 

#5 – Pellet with the Poison
Movie: The Court Jester (1955)

Danny Kaye is a master of verbal and physical comedy and showcases both in this wonderful scene.

 

#4 – The trick is not minding.
Movie: Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

All of T.E. Lawrence’s quirkiness summed up in one scene, followed by that sweeping score from Maurice Jarre. Also, the best part of Prometheus.

 

#3 – Underwear Showdown.
Movie: Silverado (1985)

Paden is a sharp shot, and his horse is loyal. And he demonstrates this all in just his underwear.

 

#2 – It’s weird and pissed off.
Movie: The Thing (1982)

Another great example of practical effects and a disturbing sequence that kicks off the terror at this isolated camp.

 

#1 – USS Indianapolis Speech.
Movie: Jaws (1982)

It is a crime that Robert Shaw never won an Academy Award, and every time I watch this scene I feel like boycotting the show in protest.

 

Thanks for stopping by. I’m continuing my #30DaysofFavorites project with the next round on my YouTube channel in which I discuss my favorite movies starting tomorrow. Check it out here.

#30DaysofFavorites: Favorite Movie Moments (12-7)

If you missed my explanation of this project, I’m turning 30 at the end of June. I thought it would be fun to celebrate by talking about my favorite things. In this case, my favorite Movie Moments. Today I am continuing to count down my favorite movie moments with number 12 to 7.

 

#12 – Prologue
Movie: Beauty and the Beast (1991)

This is a beautiful opening sequence with the sweeping score and the stained glass animation. I always tear up at the last line, “For who could ever learn to love a Beast?”

 

#11 – Basement Scene
Movie: Zodiac (2007)

The entire time Graysmith is following this guy down into the basement you can’t help but scream at him to turn around and run out of there as fast as he can. Such a tense, creepy scene.

 

#10 – “Skin that smoke wagon.”
Movie: Tombstone (1993)

Wyatt Earp demonstrates just how bad ass he is by taking down the man holding a gun to him by lecturing him, and then slapping him of all things.

 

#9 – Strudel
Movie: Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Quentin Tarantino is so good at writing dialogue, and building tension within a scene without any outright action needed. All we need to know is Hans Landa is a master sadist as well as an excellent investigator, and sitting across from him is Shosanna, our hero in hiding. Add in some strudel and milk and you get this classic scene that makes me both incredibly uncomfortable and hungry for some pastry.

 

#8 – Hearing the song for the first time
Movie: That Thing You Do! (1996)

All the hope and excitement of the film is showcased perfectly in this scene. There are so many possibilities that lay ahead of them and they’re just enjoying the ride at this point. They’re kids hearing the fruits of their labor played over local radio, and it makes them feel like kings.

 

#7 – “They’re just gonna cut him all up.”
Movie: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

So I couldn’t actually find a clip for the part I was thinking of but here’s the moment right after.

Elliot demonstrates that he is wise beyond his years by telling Keys he knows exactly what will happen once the scientists take E.T. away. It breaks my heart every time I watch the movie, and I’m always impressed by Henry Thomas’s acting in this scene.

 

Make sure to come back tomorrow to see the end of my list.

Horror Movie Round Up Week One: October 1st-7th

Vacancy (2007)

Synopsis:
A couple gets stranded in the middle of nowhere and have to spend the evening in a cheap hotel where they are the only guests. Things take a turn for the weird pretty soon thereafter.

Review:
This was pretty good but not great. I thought the suspense was there, and the idea is really creepy but I didn’t quite buy into the two leads (Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale). I also thought the opening was too long. However, once the action starts things pick up, and the scares are pretty good.

Rating: 3 out 5 stars.

 

The Amityville Horror (2005)

Synopsis:
A remake of the 1979 film of the same name in which a family moves into a new home and begin experiencing strange occurrences.

Review:
First things first, this is obviously not as good as the original. I was only really creeped out in one scene, and while I liked Ryan Reynolds, his character’s descent into madness felt too extreme and too quick. In the original the madness comes on slowly and manifests itself in everyday irritants. Overall it was fine but unnecessary and didn’t do anything to change or improve upon the original.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.

 

Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)

Synopsis:
The spirit of a cursed mummy terrorizes an old folks home. Oh, and our two heroes believe that they are actually Elvis and JFK.

Review:
I love Bruce Campbell in cheap B horror films. This is a hilarious setup and a good, fun film. It does get a little creepy but mostly you watch it for Bruce Campbell, and boy does he deliver.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

 

Cujo (1983)

Synopsis:
A rabid dog wreaks havoc on a small town neighborhood.

Review:
I have never read any Stephen King novels but I have seen several of his films and I always end up liking them. This one was just okay for me. There was a lot of build up to the final showdown with the dog, and while I know some of it was necessary, it felt a bit drawn out. That said, I did enjoy the tension of the scenes with the mom and child in the car. That was well done, and very tense.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

 

Creepshow (1982)

Synopsis:
An anthology of five short stories of horror and terror.

Review:
Another Stephen King film, and this time a bit more enjoyable for myself. As with most anthologies not everything was a hit but I at least had fun with each story. I thought they all set up their eventual punchlines nicely, and was satisfied with each end result. “They’re Creeping Up on You!” was the one that creeped me out the most, and I especially liked “Something to Tide You Over” and “The Crate.”

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

 

Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Synopsis:
A western in which a small band of men goes on a rescue mission to save three hostages from cannibals.

Review:
Calling this a horror film is a bit of a stretch. It has some horrific elements, and it does build tension throughout but I don’t know if it is conventionally a “horror.” However, it was still pretty good. I’m a sucker for Kurt Russell, even more so when he is in a western. I’m also a big fan of Patrick Wilson, and Richard Jenkins, who was outstanding in this film. Matthew Fox was also excellent as the douchebag cowboy. Outside of some slight pacing issues, this was a very good film watching experience.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

 

The Wolf Man (1941)

Synopsis:
A man returns home after a long absence, and is bitten by a werewolf, consequently becoming infected with the same condition.

Review:
I liked this. It’s one of the classic Universal monster films, and it rightly deserves that title. It isn’t really scary but it is a well told story. It introduces the idea, quickly brings on the action, and explores an interesting thought process about mental stability. And at only an hour and ten minutes it does all of this quite succinctly.

Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Next week’s preview:
Nosferatu (1922), A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014), Deliverance (1972), and more.