Friday, May 14, 2004

Superhero Summation

Watched a episode of the Newlywed Game a long time ago. One of the questions they asked the brides was "If your husband could be a superhero, who would he be?"

My answer would be
1. Superman.
2. Spiderman.

While I admire the X-men, Batman and others, Superman beats them all for one simple reason: He can fly. As a kid, that was my one dream after seeing Christopher Reeve in his blue tights whipping around Metropolis. I'd fall asleep at night, dreaming that I one day would wake up the next morning floating above my bed and able to soar above the clouds. His strength, speed and super abilities were secondary to me. He could fly!!!!

Spidey runs a close second. I guess I identified with his geek status, his outside looking in. I also thought he never got the respect that he deserved in the early comics. I liked that he could walk on walls and that he was a "little" guy. I mean, he routinely beat bigger and tougher opponents. Plus he had the best taunts and wisecracks.

But swinging on webs can't beat flying. Ever. So webheads can get over it. Live with the fact that flying always will trump swinging. heh.

Movies and My Top 5

Inevitably, almost on a regular basis, I'll get asked what my favorite movie is. And, as a normal 30 year-old, I get strange looks when I reveal my favorite movie list.
A bit of background: I used to review movies for three different newspapers. I didn't always get to review the movies I wanted to see, but I got to see a lot of movies. Some were great, enriching entertainment. Others weren't worth sucking on the sticky theater floor for nourishment.
An example? I saw "The Patriot" with Mel Gibson. Liked it. A while later I saw "Loser" directed by Amy Heckerling. It sucked -- the aforementioned theater floor.
I also have seen a large amount of movies that were made before I was born, thanks to cable and satellite. So my favorite movie list isn't full of movies made after, say 1987, like most of my peers seem to concentrate on.
So, without any further mayhem, here is my favorite top five films. I'll post the other favorites later.

#5 "Sound of Music" with Julie Andrews. I don't like every musical that has been released, but I do like this one. Besides being a part of Americana and will continue to be in the social conscious for another 100 years or so, I think it has some pretty straightforward messages and a number of brilliant performances. Andrews is at the top of her mountain (no snickering) and her voice is at its sultry best. And her costars are equally brilliant. And the scene in the gazebo shot in silhouette - oooo!

#4 "Field of Dreams" with Kevin Costner. Probably the ultimate baseball film, it paces well and, I think, is a better screenplay than a novel. Costner actually tries to act -- but it isn't his performance that captures my eye. It's James Earl Jones that steals this film.

#3 "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart. No, I don't think this is a sentimental film. It has it's Hollywood cheesey moments, but Stewars honest acting shines through here. And you can't beat a Frank Capra directed film. I think this movie beats out Casablanca and Citizen Kane.

#2 "Star Wars: A New Hope". For those non-Star Wars fans, this was the first one, the one released back in 1977, the one with Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher. This movie probably influenced me most in my entire life. I mean, the Force, Jedi, The Empire, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan! This mythos was my mythology growing up, not the ancient Greeks or Romans. And despite the detractors and idiots that say that the new crop of movies are worse or don't hold up to the "standard" of the first trilogy, I say, poo on you. If it is a Star Wars film, it's all gravy to me. Stay tuned for more blogs about Star Wars.

And Number 1...

#1 "Chariots of Fire" I can see you scratching your head. What? When was that? Didn't it have some guys running and the Vangelis soundtrack? Didn't it sweep into the Oscars in 1982? Yes. And this movie, as subtle and overbearing it can be at times, swings for the fences and connects, takes aim and hits the mark, or *insert your own sports cliche here*. This movie changed sports films forever (underdog wins, slo-motion, dramatic music). I have seen this movie almost as many times as A New Hope, but the difference being that I can quote the lines in Star Wars, but when I watch Chariots, I just sit back and bask in its glory.

There. That's my list. I have revised the order of these movies only once in the last 10 years (trading Sound of Music for Raiders of the Lost Ark) but only time will tell if I can find another film that will top Chariots.

Say what you like, but this is me.