I have to go a little different route with this list. Due to time constraints and the capriciousness of my reading habits, I didn't really read a ton of books that were actually published in 2011, so instead of listing the Top 5 Books of 2011 I'm going to list the Top 5 Books That I Read In 2011. These are all books that I started and finished in 2011 without regards to when they were published and enjoyed the most. It makes the list even more personal then usual but it's all I got. Here are my Top 5 2011 books...
5) Sleepwalk With Me - Mike Birbiglia (2010)
If you're familiar with his stand-up then you know Mike Birbiglia is a funny guy. This book is no exception, as his humor translated wonderfully to the written word. Those of you who have listened to his stand-up will find some of the stories familiar (that doesn't make them any less funny) but there is plenty of new material to keep even the biggest Birbiglia fan entertained. My favorite selection is his story about getting his first kiss. It was wonderfully awkward and laugh out loud hilarious. A great quick and easy read for anyone looking for a good laugh.
4) A Game Of Thrones - George R.R. Martin (1996)
I'm a bit of a sci-fi/fantasy geek (I was reading Tolkien's The Hobbit in first grade) so why it took me so long to pick this book up I'm not quite sure. I've been meaning to read it for years, but some other shiny book always seemed to catch my eye when I entered the book store. Now, thanks in part to all the buzz behind the HBO show, I finally got around to purchasing a copy and giving it a read. Although it's very dark and morbid, Martin's opus lives up to much of the hype surrounding it. I may still prefer Tolkien and Jordan, but Martin and this book certainly belong in the conversation. Great characters (just don't get to attached), compelling story lines (just don't look for inspiration) and a beautifully drawn world make this book one of the best fantasy novels around.
3) Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins (2008)
I have a small aversion to Young Adult novels, being that I am a full grown adult and all, especially when they have this kind of buzz around them. Against my better judgement, I picked this book up to see what the hype was about and was pleasantly surprised. It starts out a little slow and is obviously written for a younger audience, but once the action starts to pick up so does the depth of the characters. Collins characterizations are very subtle yet powerful and I think that's what I liked most about this book. She doesn't spoon feed her young readers. Let's be honest though, as much as the media tries to paint this as an original story, there is nothing original about it. It's part Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, part Koushun Takami's Battle Royale, and part reality television craze. None the less, it's highly worth reading.
2) Redbreast - Joe Nesbo (2000)
This is a Norwegian crime novel that blew me away. Ever since reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, I've gone out looking for Scandinavian crime novels, a genre I find darker, better written and more appealing then it's American counterpart and this is the best I've come across yet. It read very much like the Steig Larsson novels, yet it was published years prior. Nesbo was Steig Larsson before there was a Steig Larsson. If you liked The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo or if you really enjoy dark crime novels this is a must read.
1) Bottom Of The 33rd: Redemption, and Baseball's Longest Game - Dan Berry (2011)
I've read a lot of baseball books in my time, it being my favorite sport and all, but nothing has ever struck me as hard as this book. Maybe it's because I used to go to McCoy Stadium as a kid, where this game was held. I still have a few souvenir cups that have the scoreboard from this game on them. Maybe it's because I grew up watching some of the players involved in the game. I think it's merely because this is such a well written book about not just the longest baseball game to ever be played, but the idea of dreams and aspirations. Berry does an exceptional job of characterizing all the people involved, from the players on their way to the Hall Of Fame, to the players on their way to obscurity, to the owners of the teams involved, to the fans in the stands. I think even a reader who could care less about baseball would get pulled into the world that Barry depicted. The book is about being human more then it is about winning a baseball game. My must read book of the year.
Honorable Mentions : Read Player One- Ernest Cline (2011), Freedom- Jonathan Franzen (2010), One Day- David Nicholls (2010), Water Music- T.C. Boyle (1981)
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Top 5: TV Shows of 2011
Today, instead of dealing with just the new shows, the Top 5 list is Best Television Shows of 2011. Just like yesterday, this list consists of only the shows I was able to watch, so nothing from HBO or Showtime or Starz was considered. And once again, if anyone wants to get me screeners for the premium cable shows I would gladly incorporate them into my lists. But until then here is the Top 5 non-premium cable Television Shows of 2011...
5) New Girl
I talked about this one yesterday in my Top 5 New Show of 2011 list. I started watching this show because of Zooey Deschanel, but have continued to watch because of the great ensemble cast. After a brief creative lull this show has proved to be a consistently hilarious show with a full cast of actors with solid comedic chops and wonderful writers.
4) Louie
This show has only gotten stronger in it's second season. At times it was more dramatic then it was funny, but what really stands out is the high creative quality of each episode. Louis C.K. is an extremely talented man and this show is proof of that, as he has complete creative control from writing to casting to filming to directing to editing. The humor is certainly off beat and raw and the drama is sometimes uncomfortable, but all that is a staple to C.K.'s style. If you aren't watching this show, it's certainly worth giving a shot.
3) The Walking Dead
I know this show takes a lot of hits from critics. People complain that it's too slow or too over the top or poorly acted, but I just don't share those views. I think it's wonderfully paced, the mix between zombie attacks and personal drama is spot on. The show is trying to break from the typical zombie fare by focusing on the human struggles of how to continue society and that requires things to slow down at times. The writers have found a good balance of keeping the horror and zombie threats high while still giving the characters time to deal with personal issues and dilemmas. It's far from a perfect show and it's had a few missteps but I can't help but think of it as appointment TV and one of the best programs of 2011.
2) Community
Just as I put a cancelled show on my best new show list, here is a show in danger of not making it to 2012 on my best show list. In spite of being put on an undetermined hiatus and having pretty horrible ratings, Community is by far the best comedy on TV right now. The risks the writers make to break sitcom convention and satire pop culture seem to always pay off with huge laughs. The show feels both smart and funny and the cast is by far the greatest ensemble on TV. My fingers are crossed that it's given another chance and that people start tuning in because I haven't gotten my fill of this one yet.
1) Friday Night Lights
I have been in love with this show for years and this, it's final season, was probably it's best. Great writing and great acting made this show one of the best dramas ever on broadcast television. The fact the writers were able to write off all the characters we loved the first few seasons and then get us to fall in love with a whole new team is a great accomplishment in itself. Coach Taylor and his wife were easily the best marriage ever depicted, even if their daughter was a spoiled brat. Even though my eyes weren't quite clear those last few episodes (it was a little dusty in my room), my heart was certainly left full and we all know that means this show couldn't lose.
Honorable Mentions : Breaking Bad, Subergatory, How The States Got Their Shapes, Beavis and Butthead
5) New Girl
I talked about this one yesterday in my Top 5 New Show of 2011 list. I started watching this show because of Zooey Deschanel, but have continued to watch because of the great ensemble cast. After a brief creative lull this show has proved to be a consistently hilarious show with a full cast of actors with solid comedic chops and wonderful writers.
4) Louie
This show has only gotten stronger in it's second season. At times it was more dramatic then it was funny, but what really stands out is the high creative quality of each episode. Louis C.K. is an extremely talented man and this show is proof of that, as he has complete creative control from writing to casting to filming to directing to editing. The humor is certainly off beat and raw and the drama is sometimes uncomfortable, but all that is a staple to C.K.'s style. If you aren't watching this show, it's certainly worth giving a shot.
3) The Walking Dead
I know this show takes a lot of hits from critics. People complain that it's too slow or too over the top or poorly acted, but I just don't share those views. I think it's wonderfully paced, the mix between zombie attacks and personal drama is spot on. The show is trying to break from the typical zombie fare by focusing on the human struggles of how to continue society and that requires things to slow down at times. The writers have found a good balance of keeping the horror and zombie threats high while still giving the characters time to deal with personal issues and dilemmas. It's far from a perfect show and it's had a few missteps but I can't help but think of it as appointment TV and one of the best programs of 2011.
2) Community
Just as I put a cancelled show on my best new show list, here is a show in danger of not making it to 2012 on my best show list. In spite of being put on an undetermined hiatus and having pretty horrible ratings, Community is by far the best comedy on TV right now. The risks the writers make to break sitcom convention and satire pop culture seem to always pay off with huge laughs. The show feels both smart and funny and the cast is by far the greatest ensemble on TV. My fingers are crossed that it's given another chance and that people start tuning in because I haven't gotten my fill of this one yet.
1) Friday Night Lights
I have been in love with this show for years and this, it's final season, was probably it's best. Great writing and great acting made this show one of the best dramas ever on broadcast television. The fact the writers were able to write off all the characters we loved the first few seasons and then get us to fall in love with a whole new team is a great accomplishment in itself. Coach Taylor and his wife were easily the best marriage ever depicted, even if their daughter was a spoiled brat. Even though my eyes weren't quite clear those last few episodes (it was a little dusty in my room), my heart was certainly left full and we all know that means this show couldn't lose.
Honorable Mentions : Breaking Bad, Subergatory, How The States Got Their Shapes, Beavis and Butthead
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Top 5 : New TV Shows of 2011
Today's best of 2011 Top 5 is going to be new television shows. I included any show that debuted in 2011, whether that debut was part of the 2010-2011 winter season or the 2011-2012 fall season. The caveat to this list is I only considered shows that I got to watch. I don't have any premium channels so anything on HBO, Showtime or Stars is automatically off the list, so don't get all mad because I didn't list Game Of Thrones or Homeland. Chances are, from everything I've heard, both of these would have made the cut, but I won't get to watch them until they show up on DVD or Netflix. If anyone would like to pay for me to have these channels or if any of the channels would like to send me screener copies, just let me know, I would happily except either and include the shows next year. But until that happens, here's this year's non-premium channel Top 5 New TV Shows...
5) Chicago Code
In all honesty, this wasn't a great year for new television. So much so that I included a show that only lasted 13 episodes before being cancelled. Chicago Code was a Shawn Ryan creation (The Shield, Terriers) that dealt with corruption in Chicago politics and crime fighting. It was a gritty cop show that went beyond the typical cop procedural, which I am not usually a fan of. The show was fantastically acted by Jennifer Beals, Jason Clarke, Matt Lauria and Delroy Lindo, amongst others. It's too bad it wasn't given a chance to further it's complex storylines. Much like Terriers, another Shawn Ryan show, it was killed before its time.
4) Once Upon A Time
I wasn't expecting much from this show from a couple of Lost writers. For one, I wasn't happy with how Lost ended and had a bitter taste in my mouth for anything Lost related. For another, I really didn't know how interesting someone could make the concept of Fairy Tales set in a modern world. But, as what happens a lot of times when expectations are low, I have really enjoyed the show so far. The shows style, moving back and forth from the Fairy Tale World past and the Real World present, harkens back to Lost flashbacks and works to get the viewer wrapped up in both the present characters and the Fairy Tale World history. My only question is, where is the show going? Everything is working for now, but how many seasons can they delay breaking the curse and returning the people of Storybrook back to the Fairy Tale World? And is there any story to tell once that occurs? We'll have to wait and see, I guess, but for now it's certainly one of the best new shows on TV.
3) How The States Got Their Shapes
I can't put into worlds how enthralling I find this History Channel show. The little bits of local history, the events that molded state borders and regional traditions, the funny responses people have to Brian Unger's questions. Everybody should be watching this show. There's a lot to learn from it and a ton of entertainment to be had. I'm not sure if there is going to be a season two or not, they may have fit everything they had to teach us in 10 episodes, but I have my fingers crossed because I can't get enough!
2) Suburgatory
Another show that kind of crept up on me. There wasn't a lot of buzz or publicity behind this show about a single parent father who decides to move his teenage daughter out of the corrupting city to the suburbs, so it kind of flew under my radar. But it only took one viewing to know that this was going to be on my Top 5 new show list. The suburbs that the show depicts is far from reality, but the satire still works in bringing out big laughs. Jeremy Sisto, Jane Levy, Cheryl Hines, Allie Grant, Ana Gasteyer are just a few of the names from this great comedic cast. The show is able to be extremely silly yet deeply heartfelt at the same time, the best recipe for a great show.
1) New Girl
There should be no surprise that this is the number one new show on my list. I had very high hopes for this show based solely on the fact that it's star was Zooey Deschanel and boy did it deliver. Little did I know that the rest of the cast would end up being just as funny and appealing. I got a little scared after the third or fourth episode that they show was going to get stuck in a rut of telling the same story over and over, but they've come out of that strong with a bunch of laugh out loud funny episodes. The quirky off beat comedy might not be for everybody, but it's right up my alley.
Honorable Mentions: Lights Out (canceled), Pan Am, 2 Broke Girls
5) Chicago Code
In all honesty, this wasn't a great year for new television. So much so that I included a show that only lasted 13 episodes before being cancelled. Chicago Code was a Shawn Ryan creation (The Shield, Terriers) that dealt with corruption in Chicago politics and crime fighting. It was a gritty cop show that went beyond the typical cop procedural, which I am not usually a fan of. The show was fantastically acted by Jennifer Beals, Jason Clarke, Matt Lauria and Delroy Lindo, amongst others. It's too bad it wasn't given a chance to further it's complex storylines. Much like Terriers, another Shawn Ryan show, it was killed before its time.
4) Once Upon A Time
I wasn't expecting much from this show from a couple of Lost writers. For one, I wasn't happy with how Lost ended and had a bitter taste in my mouth for anything Lost related. For another, I really didn't know how interesting someone could make the concept of Fairy Tales set in a modern world. But, as what happens a lot of times when expectations are low, I have really enjoyed the show so far. The shows style, moving back and forth from the Fairy Tale World past and the Real World present, harkens back to Lost flashbacks and works to get the viewer wrapped up in both the present characters and the Fairy Tale World history. My only question is, where is the show going? Everything is working for now, but how many seasons can they delay breaking the curse and returning the people of Storybrook back to the Fairy Tale World? And is there any story to tell once that occurs? We'll have to wait and see, I guess, but for now it's certainly one of the best new shows on TV.
3) How The States Got Their Shapes
I can't put into worlds how enthralling I find this History Channel show. The little bits of local history, the events that molded state borders and regional traditions, the funny responses people have to Brian Unger's questions. Everybody should be watching this show. There's a lot to learn from it and a ton of entertainment to be had. I'm not sure if there is going to be a season two or not, they may have fit everything they had to teach us in 10 episodes, but I have my fingers crossed because I can't get enough!
2) Suburgatory
Another show that kind of crept up on me. There wasn't a lot of buzz or publicity behind this show about a single parent father who decides to move his teenage daughter out of the corrupting city to the suburbs, so it kind of flew under my radar. But it only took one viewing to know that this was going to be on my Top 5 new show list. The suburbs that the show depicts is far from reality, but the satire still works in bringing out big laughs. Jeremy Sisto, Jane Levy, Cheryl Hines, Allie Grant, Ana Gasteyer are just a few of the names from this great comedic cast. The show is able to be extremely silly yet deeply heartfelt at the same time, the best recipe for a great show.
1) New Girl
There should be no surprise that this is the number one new show on my list. I had very high hopes for this show based solely on the fact that it's star was Zooey Deschanel and boy did it deliver. Little did I know that the rest of the cast would end up being just as funny and appealing. I got a little scared after the third or fourth episode that they show was going to get stuck in a rut of telling the same story over and over, but they've come out of that strong with a bunch of laugh out loud funny episodes. The quirky off beat comedy might not be for everybody, but it's right up my alley.
Honorable Mentions: Lights Out (canceled), Pan Am, 2 Broke Girls
Monday, December 26, 2011
Top 5: 2011 CDs
This week I am going to try putting up a Top 5 List each day naming the Top 5 Best of 2011. Yes, it's that time of year where everybody comes out with their best of the year lists and who am I to not? I'm going to start with the Top 5 Cds of 2011. I'm not sure most people still buy CDs, but I do so the name still works. I think there is an art to recording a full album of songs and it's an art I enjoy much more then the release of a single, so I'm going to reward those who still strive for 10-15 quality songs strung together to form a complete piece of work. The other caveat I have to put in here is that I'm not as up on the music as I once was. I don't work in a used record store anymore, so I don't get to hear every thing that gets released. This list is the stuff that I was able to give a listen to and fall in love with, that being the case, the advantage is going to go to artists I already know the past work of and am more willing to give their new stuff a try. Anyway, here's the Top 5 2011 Cds...
5) Alpocalypse - Weird Al Yankovic
It was great to see Weird Al back with a strong cd. The weird thing was usually when I listen to one of his cds I pick out all the parody songs. This time, because I'm so out of touch with the pop crap out there, I would turn on the radio and go, hey, that's a Weird Al song. My favorites are "CNR", "Party In The CIA", "Skipper Dan", and of course, his traditional polka mix, "Polka Face".
4) Wasting Light - Foo Fighters
Wasting Light is your typical Foo Fighters release. It's a bunch of mediocre songs with a few amazing tracks thrown in between. I know this doesn't totally fit my criteria of a complete album that works as a single piece of art, but the mediocre songs aren't bad and the amazing songs are so mind blowing I just can't ignore the album. "Bridge Burning", "Rope" and "Walk" are great songs and "Arlandria" is an example of the perfect pop rock song. The lesson is when Dave Grohl and the boys are on nobody is better.
3) El Camino - Black Keys
These guys have been around for a while, El Camino is there 7th studio release, but it looks like they have figured out how to perfect the creation of great album. This follow up to last years amazing Brothers is just as strong, if not stronger. Clocking in 38 minutes from beginning to end, El Camino starts out with the intense soulful "Lonely Boy" and doesn't let up until the cd is over. The front of the cd tells you to play it loud and they aren't kidding. "Lonely Boy" also has the privilege of being the best video I've seen in awhile not made by OK Go. Simple as possible, one guy standing in front of a building dancing and singing along to the song, yet as funny and entertaining as anything I've seen on TV.
2) 21 - Adele
There isn't much I can say about this album or this singer that hasn't been said in every publication or on every best of list for the year. She's an amazing throw back with an incredible voice and a knack for writing songs that capture all the pain and heartache from love lost. Fingers crossed her vocal cord injury doesn't end her career because two albums of her stuff just isn't enough. I'm looking forward to listening to tons of Adele material for years to come.
1) Easy Wonderful - Guster
OK, I'm cheating a little on this one, but oh well. It was released in October of 2010, but I spent most of this year listening to it over and over again, so I'm considering it a 2011 album. I've been listening to Guster for 14 years, they've released a lot of great music, but this album, so far, is the peak of their career. Easy Wonderful is a masterpiece. There isn't a bad or even mediocre song on the album, every song makes me giddy when it pops up on my IPod. In an era where listening to mixes and singles is the only way to listen to music, this cd is the rare cd that you can pop in and listen from beginning to end.
5) Alpocalypse - Weird Al Yankovic
It was great to see Weird Al back with a strong cd. The weird thing was usually when I listen to one of his cds I pick out all the parody songs. This time, because I'm so out of touch with the pop crap out there, I would turn on the radio and go, hey, that's a Weird Al song. My favorites are "CNR", "Party In The CIA", "Skipper Dan", and of course, his traditional polka mix, "Polka Face".
4) Wasting Light - Foo Fighters
Wasting Light is your typical Foo Fighters release. It's a bunch of mediocre songs with a few amazing tracks thrown in between. I know this doesn't totally fit my criteria of a complete album that works as a single piece of art, but the mediocre songs aren't bad and the amazing songs are so mind blowing I just can't ignore the album. "Bridge Burning", "Rope" and "Walk" are great songs and "Arlandria" is an example of the perfect pop rock song. The lesson is when Dave Grohl and the boys are on nobody is better.
3) El Camino - Black Keys
These guys have been around for a while, El Camino is there 7th studio release, but it looks like they have figured out how to perfect the creation of great album. This follow up to last years amazing Brothers is just as strong, if not stronger. Clocking in 38 minutes from beginning to end, El Camino starts out with the intense soulful "Lonely Boy" and doesn't let up until the cd is over. The front of the cd tells you to play it loud and they aren't kidding. "Lonely Boy" also has the privilege of being the best video I've seen in awhile not made by OK Go. Simple as possible, one guy standing in front of a building dancing and singing along to the song, yet as funny and entertaining as anything I've seen on TV.
2) 21 - Adele
There isn't much I can say about this album or this singer that hasn't been said in every publication or on every best of list for the year. She's an amazing throw back with an incredible voice and a knack for writing songs that capture all the pain and heartache from love lost. Fingers crossed her vocal cord injury doesn't end her career because two albums of her stuff just isn't enough. I'm looking forward to listening to tons of Adele material for years to come.
1) Easy Wonderful - Guster
OK, I'm cheating a little on this one, but oh well. It was released in October of 2010, but I spent most of this year listening to it over and over again, so I'm considering it a 2011 album. I've been listening to Guster for 14 years, they've released a lot of great music, but this album, so far, is the peak of their career. Easy Wonderful is a masterpiece. There isn't a bad or even mediocre song on the album, every song makes me giddy when it pops up on my IPod. In an era where listening to mixes and singles is the only way to listen to music, this cd is the rare cd that you can pop in and listen from beginning to end.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Top 5: Christmas Movies
Today we will continue with the Christmas themed Top 5 lists with Top 5 Christmas movies. I am defining a Christmas movie as any movie that's plot and character development is directly effected by the Christmas holiday. I make that distinction because...
5) Die Hard
Die Hard is one of the greatest movies ever made and pretty much spawned it's own film genre, and even though that genre had nothing to do with Christmas, it's easily one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time. I can hear everyone either groaning or yelling at me, but seriously, this is a Christmas movie. The whole plot revolves around the fact that it is Christmas. That's why all the employees are at the Nakatomi Plaza building. That's why John McClane is visiting his wife. No, there is no Santa or reindeer but that doesn't make it any less of a Christmas movie.
4) Miracle On 34th Street
The only old classic on my list. For some reason this one has stayed fresh, while most classic Christmas movies have grown stale. I hate A Christmas Carol and any of it's reincarnations, they bore the crap out of me. It's A Wonderful Life never did anything for me either. But this cute little story about the real Santa getting a job at Macy's and returning faith in the fantastical to a young girl and her mother hasn't aged a bit. Natalie Wood plays the perfect to serious for her age little girl and Edmund Green plays what is easily one of the most iconic turns as Santa.
3) Elf
As hilarious as Will Ferrell is in this movie, what really puts this movie over the edge for me is Zooey Deschanel. Yes, I am part of the Zooey Deschanel cult that has swept the nation with the arrival of Fox's New Girl. I could probably be considered a founding member, since I fell in love with her the first time I saw this movie 8 years ago. Of course there is also the Peter Dinklage cult that I also jumped on after this movie. His scene with Will Ferrell calling him an elf is probably my favorite in the movie. This movie is as funny as it gets and does a great job of talking about Christmas spirit without being too sappy.
2) Christmas Story
A great Christmas movie is as much about nostalgia as anything else and no movie makes me think about my Christmases as a child more then this movie, other then maybe Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas (which is not on this list because I consider it a Christmas special, not a movie). Not that I grew up in the 50's, when the movie is set, but Ralphie and his Red Rider bee-bee gun helps stir up many memories for me. There are so many classic scenes and line in this movie it's hard to pick a favorite. And no matter how many times TNT decides to show it, it just doesn't get old to me.
1) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
I make sure to pull out this DVD every year around Thanksgiving because it wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't sit down and give it a view. As funny as Elf is, this movie makes me laugh ten times harder and I've seen it dozens of times. It reminds me so much of Christmas with my family and is totally ridiculous at the same time. I fall off the couch in fits of laughter every time that squirrel jumps out of the tree and chases everyone around the house. And anything with the old aunt has me in stitches. This is Chevy Chase at his best and a must see Christmas movie every year.
Honorable Mentions: Lethal Weapon, Ernest Saves Christmas, Santa Clause (1985)
5) Die Hard
Die Hard is one of the greatest movies ever made and pretty much spawned it's own film genre, and even though that genre had nothing to do with Christmas, it's easily one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time. I can hear everyone either groaning or yelling at me, but seriously, this is a Christmas movie. The whole plot revolves around the fact that it is Christmas. That's why all the employees are at the Nakatomi Plaza building. That's why John McClane is visiting his wife. No, there is no Santa or reindeer but that doesn't make it any less of a Christmas movie.
4) Miracle On 34th Street
The only old classic on my list. For some reason this one has stayed fresh, while most classic Christmas movies have grown stale. I hate A Christmas Carol and any of it's reincarnations, they bore the crap out of me. It's A Wonderful Life never did anything for me either. But this cute little story about the real Santa getting a job at Macy's and returning faith in the fantastical to a young girl and her mother hasn't aged a bit. Natalie Wood plays the perfect to serious for her age little girl and Edmund Green plays what is easily one of the most iconic turns as Santa.
3) Elf
As hilarious as Will Ferrell is in this movie, what really puts this movie over the edge for me is Zooey Deschanel. Yes, I am part of the Zooey Deschanel cult that has swept the nation with the arrival of Fox's New Girl. I could probably be considered a founding member, since I fell in love with her the first time I saw this movie 8 years ago. Of course there is also the Peter Dinklage cult that I also jumped on after this movie. His scene with Will Ferrell calling him an elf is probably my favorite in the movie. This movie is as funny as it gets and does a great job of talking about Christmas spirit without being too sappy.
2) Christmas Story
A great Christmas movie is as much about nostalgia as anything else and no movie makes me think about my Christmases as a child more then this movie, other then maybe Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas (which is not on this list because I consider it a Christmas special, not a movie). Not that I grew up in the 50's, when the movie is set, but Ralphie and his Red Rider bee-bee gun helps stir up many memories for me. There are so many classic scenes and line in this movie it's hard to pick a favorite. And no matter how many times TNT decides to show it, it just doesn't get old to me.
1) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
I make sure to pull out this DVD every year around Thanksgiving because it wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't sit down and give it a view. As funny as Elf is, this movie makes me laugh ten times harder and I've seen it dozens of times. It reminds me so much of Christmas with my family and is totally ridiculous at the same time. I fall off the couch in fits of laughter every time that squirrel jumps out of the tree and chases everyone around the house. And anything with the old aunt has me in stitches. This is Chevy Chase at his best and a must see Christmas movie every year.
Honorable Mentions: Lethal Weapon, Ernest Saves Christmas, Santa Clause (1985)
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Top 5: Christmas Songs
Over the next week I'm going to go Top 5 list crazy. It's that time of the year when everybody is doing their top whatever of the year and I'm no exception. It's also the holiday season and I realized that I've never done any Christmas Top 5's, so I'll end this week with a couple of Christmas lists and then Top 5 of the Years all next week.
I'll start with my list of Top 5 Christmas songs. The thing with any list of Christmas songs is that the person singing is almost as important as the song itself. Everybody wants to do their own version of the classics, some come out great, some come out horrible. Here is my list of Top 5 Christmas Songs...
5) My Grown Up Christmas List - Kelly Clarkson
This is a song nobody but the biggest Kelly Clarkson fans are probably familiar with (yes, I'm huge Kelly Clarkson fan. Yes, I'm slightly embarrassed about that. No, I make no apologies!). As far as I know, the only way to get it is on a bonus cd that was packaged with the American Idol Christmas album. I'm not sure what it is I love about the song, but it strikes a cord with me.
4) All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
OK, in all fairness, my love of this song probably has more to do with the video then the song itself. I had a huge crush on Mariah as a young man and there was just something about here frolicking in the snow in a tight red Santa outfit that I found extremely appealing. I do stand behind the song as well. It's probably the most popular of the "new" Christmas classics you here on the radio today. It fits in wonderfully with the old standards and stuff like "Jingle Bell Rock", which a lot of the newer Christmas songs can't say.
3) Santa Baby - Rev. Run and The Christmas All Stars
This is the first example of a certain version of a song being more important then the song itself. There are a lot of horrible versions of this song. And, to tell you the truth, I think the song itself is not very good on its own. But, this version, found on A Very Special Christmas 3, takes the shell of the original and adds so much extra it becomes a wonderful song. They essentially turned it into a rap song. There aren't that many Christmas themed rap songs, "Christmas In Hollis" comes to mind but that's it, so I think the rarity of the genre adds to my love of the song. It's a rare example of taking an original, turning it on its head and making it better then before.
2) Silver Bells - Dean Martin
The only real standard I put on the list. That's not to say I don't like the standards, the next five in my top 10 would probably be all standards. My favorite Christmas album is probably the Rat Pack Christmas. This is also another example of my love of the version being bigger then my love of the song. Deano kills it and I really have no idea why this isn't the version of "Silver Bells" that gets played all the time. On the other end of the spectrum, the worst version of "Silver Bells" has to be by Barry Manilow. It's about as God awful as a song gets.
1) Mr. Heatmiser - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
This cover from the Christmas special, The Year Without Santa Clause, is so awesome that I play it all year round. I absolutely love this song. I'm sure the horns have something to do with it since I love almost any song with horns, but the Dixieland style of the tune appeals to me as well. In this version they combine both Heat Miser and Snow Miser's themes into one upbeat toe tapping tune. I can't imagine a Christmas without hearing this song dozens of times!
Honorable Mentions - almost anything by Dean Martin (Marshmallow World, Baby It's Cold Outside, Winter Wonderland, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer), The First Noel - Frank Sinatra, Silent Night - Frank Sinatra, Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Johnny Mathis, Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys
I'll start with my list of Top 5 Christmas songs. The thing with any list of Christmas songs is that the person singing is almost as important as the song itself. Everybody wants to do their own version of the classics, some come out great, some come out horrible. Here is my list of Top 5 Christmas Songs...
5) My Grown Up Christmas List - Kelly Clarkson
This is a song nobody but the biggest Kelly Clarkson fans are probably familiar with (yes, I'm huge Kelly Clarkson fan. Yes, I'm slightly embarrassed about that. No, I make no apologies!). As far as I know, the only way to get it is on a bonus cd that was packaged with the American Idol Christmas album. I'm not sure what it is I love about the song, but it strikes a cord with me.
4) All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
OK, in all fairness, my love of this song probably has more to do with the video then the song itself. I had a huge crush on Mariah as a young man and there was just something about here frolicking in the snow in a tight red Santa outfit that I found extremely appealing. I do stand behind the song as well. It's probably the most popular of the "new" Christmas classics you here on the radio today. It fits in wonderfully with the old standards and stuff like "Jingle Bell Rock", which a lot of the newer Christmas songs can't say.
3) Santa Baby - Rev. Run and The Christmas All Stars
This is the first example of a certain version of a song being more important then the song itself. There are a lot of horrible versions of this song. And, to tell you the truth, I think the song itself is not very good on its own. But, this version, found on A Very Special Christmas 3, takes the shell of the original and adds so much extra it becomes a wonderful song. They essentially turned it into a rap song. There aren't that many Christmas themed rap songs, "Christmas In Hollis" comes to mind but that's it, so I think the rarity of the genre adds to my love of the song. It's a rare example of taking an original, turning it on its head and making it better then before.
2) Silver Bells - Dean Martin
The only real standard I put on the list. That's not to say I don't like the standards, the next five in my top 10 would probably be all standards. My favorite Christmas album is probably the Rat Pack Christmas. This is also another example of my love of the version being bigger then my love of the song. Deano kills it and I really have no idea why this isn't the version of "Silver Bells" that gets played all the time. On the other end of the spectrum, the worst version of "Silver Bells" has to be by Barry Manilow. It's about as God awful as a song gets.
1) Mr. Heatmiser - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
This cover from the Christmas special, The Year Without Santa Clause, is so awesome that I play it all year round. I absolutely love this song. I'm sure the horns have something to do with it since I love almost any song with horns, but the Dixieland style of the tune appeals to me as well. In this version they combine both Heat Miser and Snow Miser's themes into one upbeat toe tapping tune. I can't imagine a Christmas without hearing this song dozens of times!
Honorable Mentions - almost anything by Dean Martin (Marshmallow World, Baby It's Cold Outside, Winter Wonderland, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer), The First Noel - Frank Sinatra, Silent Night - Frank Sinatra, Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Johnny Mathis, Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Book Review: Ready Player One
What’s the old saying, “There’s nothing new under the
sun,”? That was the feeling I was given
while reading Ready Player One.
Much like Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games, Ready Player One is a
book with a lot of buzz (ok, to be fair, no where near as much buzz as Hunger
Games, but still a lot in book selling circles) that is supposed to be
fresh and original. Although some
aspects of the story were new and inventive, such as a rich compute designer
creating a game to win his inheritance, the idea of a bunch of kids running
through a virtual world laced with pop cultural references just isn’t. The whole time I was reading I couldn’t help
but compare Ready Player One to Tad Williams’ Otherworld
series. Otherworld was also about
a bunch of kids running through a virtual world laced with pop cultural
references, but it was better written and more compelling. This comparison took a lot of the stuffing
out of my enjoyment of the new book.
That’s not
to say I didn’t enjoy the book at all.
I’m a pop culture geek, so anything that is able to reference and center
a plot on stuff from my childhood is going to hold some level of enjoyment for
me. Ready Player One is a fun and
easy read. And maybe that’s why I found Otherworld
more compelling; the stakes in Otherworld are much higher. Otherworld is a darker more serious
story while Ready Player One has the feel of a romp through my favorite
80’s and 90’s pop culture. While both
books require their main characters to have some understanding of pop culture, Otherworld’s
understanding means life and death while Ready Player One’s just means
you win a game. If lighter fare is more
your style, then maybe you would enjoy Ready Player One more then me,
but if you’re big into science fiction and like a little more weight to your
reading, skip Ready Player One and try out Otherworld instead.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Book Review: Redbreast
Knowing what I know about domestic literature, I can’t help
but find reading foreign stuff a dicey prospect. When reading a novel from a country or
culture I am unfamiliar with, I feel that I am being informed as well as
entertained, but how trustworthy is that feeling? How can one know when a novel is a true
reflection of real life in a foreign setting or just a fun house mirror,
distorting and exaggerating for the sake of plot and excitement? As I got wrapped up in the world Norwegian
author Joe Nesbo created in his novel Redbreast, thinking I now know
more about life in Norway, some of the political issues they deal with, how
their justice system works, what the scars and blemishes of their culture are
and how they got there, it suddenly dawned on me, “What if this guy is the Norwegian
John Grisham?”
Think what
you want about Grisham’s talents as an author, but it can’t be argued that his
novels are purely for enjoyment; he plays fast and loose with facts and reality
to keep his stories fast paced and thrilling.
Would you want someone from Norway
forming opinions about American life based on The Firm? It’s easy for us to determine his works are a
form of escapism because we live here, we know what’s real and what’s
exaggerated (at least most of us do).
But what if you had never stepped on US soil? What if you never spent time immersed in our
culture? Would if be so obvious?
Redbreast
is a well written, well constructed crime novel that spans two generations
and 60 years. The story and how it plays
out reminded me very much of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but
lighter in tone and more mainstream. So
much so that I wondered if in some circles it would be considered a Steig
Larsson rip off trying to cash in on the other book’s success, but Redbreast
was written five years earlier then the other book. It’s this construction and the novel’s
subject matter, the effects of WWII and Nazism in Scandinavian countries, that
gives it the air of authority. By making
history and personal politics major plot points, one is lulled into believing
that they are being more then just entertained.
But the fact remains that I still have very little idea what role Nazism
plays in modern Norway
or how prevalent it is. I also have no
clue how WWII effected how Norwegians look at their fellow countrymen, no
matter what insight I may feel I’ve been given.
In all
fairness to John Grisham, he has written novels that show people slices of
American culture, warts and all. As over
the top as the conclusion to A Time To Kill may have been, it did a good
job showcasing racism in the South and the power it holds. While not totally true to life, it was a very
solid depiction. So maybe if Joe Nesbo
is Norway’s
John Grisham then Redbreast is his A Time To Kill and I’m
worrying about nothing. Maybe if I just
let myself enjoy Redbreast for what it is, a wonderful character driven crime
novel centered on an interesting love story, and not go looking for anything
more or deeper, I would avoid any and all pitfalls. Either way, the real answer seems to be
somewhere in the middle. When reading
foreign literature, be a little leery, don’t take everything as concrete fact,
enjoy the ride you are being taken on and maybe you walk away a little more
informed and a lot more entertained.
**Side Note: My other
fascination with foreign literature is the translator. With this novel, I found it a little
interesting that I knew the translator was British without looking at his
bio. Nationality does have an effect on
how a novel is translated from language to language.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
How I Met Your Mother: Symphony of Illumination
I am so furious after watching this episode that this should be a pretty short post. The fact that subterfuge is becoming the only trick in the writer's bag has made this show extremely frustrating to watch. It's like the writer's decided to take everything I hated about Lost and apply it to a sitcom. I don't want to be lied to or misled, just tell me a funny story about friends hanging out and growing up. Unlike Charlie Brown, I will only have the football pulled away from me so many times before I go home and I am dangerously close to going home. I groaned when they announced Robin wasn't pregnant even though I knew it was another false positive, then I got confused about why they would announce that Barney was Robin's husband even though I figured that's the way things are going, then I wondered why they would show Robin's kids if they were telling us she couldn't be pregnant because why do we need yet another mystery, and then I threw my remote across the room when she told us the whole thing was a lie. Robin has become a totally loathsome character and I'm not sure why I should be emotionally involved with Ted wanting to cheer her up because Ted shouldn't be wasting his energy on such a horrible person.
3-7-2. This show better pick things up or it may go the way of Glee and disappear from my TIVO.
3-7-2. This show better pick things up or it may go the way of Glee and disappear from my TIVO.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Top 5: Muppets
In honor of the new Muppet movie (which I hope to have a review of up soon) I thought it would be fitting to do a Muppet themed Top 5. I've been a huge Muppet fan for as long as I can remember. I would get beyond excited every time I saw the spinning ITC Entertainment logo pop up on the television screen. Much like the CBS "Special Presentation" logo, I knew what was about to follow was going to be pure awesome. The genius of the Muppets is that they have kept me entertained over the years. As I have grown, so has my appreciation for the Muppet humor; The Muppets are able to entertain people of any age. So, without any further ado, here is my Top 5 Favorite Muppets...
5) Pepe The King Prawn
I am probably more forgiving then most when it comes to the Muppets. I can't think of a project of theirs that I didn't enjoy. Most people panned their last movie, Muppets In Space, which even though flawed, I loved for one major reason, Pepe. The movie's main character may have been Gonzo, but for me it was all about the hilarious king prawn. Every scene he was in had me in stitches. I was more then a little disappointed he didn't have bigger role in The Muppets, but there's always the next movie.
4) Rizzo The Rat
Rizzo was another bright spot in Muppets In Space. The way he and Pepe played off each other was comedic brilliance. Although around since the days of The Muppet Show, Rizzo first came to prominence during The Muppets Take Manhattan. I love his bitter sarcasm and ability to seem above his fellow Muppets shenanigans. One of his best roles was as fellow narrator with Gonzo in The Muppet Christmas Carol.
3) The Swedish Chief
This character is pure silly and draws from the most base humor possible, but he make me laugh. There is nothing high brow or subtle about his gibberish he speaks or the kitchen disasters he causes, but I love it none the less. One f my favorite moments of his was in The Muppets Take Manhattan when he was working in the movie theater. He was wearing 3D glasses and singing, "Popcorn popping in your face. 3D!" as he threw popcorn at himself. For whatever reason it's always stuck with me.
2) Animal
One of the best cameo's in The Muppets was Dave Grohl dressed up like Animal in a Muppet cover band called The Moppets. I know a lot of drummers and almost all of them site Animal as a reason they started to play. I can't imagine it was much different for Grohl, so it must have been a joy to play that role in the movie. Animal is easily one of the most iconic Muppets after Kermit. Henson obviously patterned him after drummers he knew, because his frantic energy and crazed persona fits the psyche of every drummer I've known. It's this energy that makes Animal a favorite and one of the funniest Muppets around.
1) Statler and Waldorf
If Animal is the Muppet most like my drummer friends, then these two jokers are probably the closest to me. I couldn't even quantify the amount of time I've spent in my life sitting with a friend on the fringes of things commenting and heckling everyone and everything that passes by. I'm sure most of my friends would add crotchety to the list of adjectives that would describe both me and this pair. The original Beavis and Butt-head, these two's ruthless attacks on their fellow Muppets have always left me in stitches.
Honorable Mentions: Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Crazy Harry, Lew Zealand
5) Pepe The King Prawn
I am probably more forgiving then most when it comes to the Muppets. I can't think of a project of theirs that I didn't enjoy. Most people panned their last movie, Muppets In Space, which even though flawed, I loved for one major reason, Pepe. The movie's main character may have been Gonzo, but for me it was all about the hilarious king prawn. Every scene he was in had me in stitches. I was more then a little disappointed he didn't have bigger role in The Muppets, but there's always the next movie.
4) Rizzo The Rat
Rizzo was another bright spot in Muppets In Space. The way he and Pepe played off each other was comedic brilliance. Although around since the days of The Muppet Show, Rizzo first came to prominence during The Muppets Take Manhattan. I love his bitter sarcasm and ability to seem above his fellow Muppets shenanigans. One of his best roles was as fellow narrator with Gonzo in The Muppet Christmas Carol.
3) The Swedish Chief
This character is pure silly and draws from the most base humor possible, but he make me laugh. There is nothing high brow or subtle about his gibberish he speaks or the kitchen disasters he causes, but I love it none the less. One f my favorite moments of his was in The Muppets Take Manhattan when he was working in the movie theater. He was wearing 3D glasses and singing, "Popcorn popping in your face. 3D!" as he threw popcorn at himself. For whatever reason it's always stuck with me.
2) Animal
One of the best cameo's in The Muppets was Dave Grohl dressed up like Animal in a Muppet cover band called The Moppets. I know a lot of drummers and almost all of them site Animal as a reason they started to play. I can't imagine it was much different for Grohl, so it must have been a joy to play that role in the movie. Animal is easily one of the most iconic Muppets after Kermit. Henson obviously patterned him after drummers he knew, because his frantic energy and crazed persona fits the psyche of every drummer I've known. It's this energy that makes Animal a favorite and one of the funniest Muppets around.
1) Statler and Waldorf
If Animal is the Muppet most like my drummer friends, then these two jokers are probably the closest to me. I couldn't even quantify the amount of time I've spent in my life sitting with a friend on the fringes of things commenting and heckling everyone and everything that passes by. I'm sure most of my friends would add crotchety to the list of adjectives that would describe both me and this pair. The original Beavis and Butt-head, these two's ruthless attacks on their fellow Muppets have always left me in stitches.
Honorable Mentions: Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Crazy Harry, Lew Zealand
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