WHY..........????

So I was thinking of a few things this past weekend that continue to bother me.  Some, I'm sure, you may agree with, others you may just shake your head at me, but I need to vent, so here it goes.....

#1 - WHY can't people merge into traffic properly???  Why must they go to the very end of the merge lane before trying to squeeze in front of a car that clearly doesn't want to stop?  Hopefully, everyone knows what the road sign above indicates.  We've all seen this picture of a dude lifting his leg and peeing, right?  Simply put it means you're lane is going to end soon so ya better get over into the lane to your left.  What the sign doesn't mean is continue to drive in the right lane until there is no possible place to go but the lane to your left, so hit the brakes, start edging in and cause grief to everybody behind you!  Why is there so much traffic on our streets?  I won't say it's all because of this, there are far too many cars in our city, but the  inability to merge into traffic causes slow downs all day long...not to mention avoidable fender-benders that everybody needs to slow down to look at.  Drives me crazy!  But not as crazy as....

#2 - WHY won't people allow you to merge into traffic???  This is one of the most insane and annoying occurrences on the road.  Why do you need to feel that you're ahead of me?  We're not racing to get to the same place with a million dollar prize on the line.  If you just let me in and allow me to merge at a decent speed, you wouldn't slow down at all...everything would be fine.  But nnnooooooooooo, you have to remain at least one car ahead of me for some unknown reason.  If everyone on the roads were just a little more courteous, road-rage would drop significantly.  

#3 - WHY won't someone tell me exactly how a crane is erected???  I know, this is a strange request, but let's think of this a little bit.  Cranes are massive structures.  They must weigh a few hundred tons, correct?  I have never, in almost 40 years of living in a city that boasts the second most buildings 12-stories and higher in the world, seen a crane being erected.  NEVER!  Have you?  If so, what is the process?  I have never seen the materials for crane construction being delivered to a site.  How do they get the cranes up?  Don't they need another crane to lift the pieces?  How does THAT crane get built??  This is something that has puzzled me since I was a young lad.  I joked, kind of, that cranes must be lowered by helicopters in the middle of the night...or possibly put there by aliens.  Seriously, have you ever walked down the street, a street you walk down everyday, and all of a sudden there's a 200 foot piece of metal where there wasn't the day before?  Am I really alone in this??  Well, I know I'm pretty much alone in....

#4 - My fear of whales!!  WHY don't other people share this fear with me.  Why do I get laughed at and teased?  I don't think a whale is going to chase me down the streets of Toronto...I'm not CRAZY!!!  But, let's look at this rationally.  Whales can grow to be 100 feet long and weigh over 100 tons.  That doesn't frighten you??  You're out on the ocean, sailing away on a beautiful day and a 10-story building swims up beside you.  The thought of that doesn't freak you out?!?  Oh, but they're such gentle creatures, they would never hurt you..........HOW DO YOU KNOW?!?!?  They could swallow you whole and not even know they've done it.  And by the way, it's ok for people to have a fear of spiders but not whales?!?!?  Oh no, a spider, eek, I guess I'LL STEP ON IT!!  You can't squish a whale with a wad of Kleenex, people!  

That's all...I'll let y'all think about that for a while....

"Dear Adam"

Dear Adam,

What has happened to you? Is it me? No, it has to be you. We used to be such good friends. I would laugh at the things you'd say, snicker at the silly voices you used, even try to emulate you at times. But that was a long time ago, wasn't it? Remember back in the early 1990's when we met? You were getting your feet wet on Saturday Night Live. I never really cared for your old man voice, or Opera Man, or Canteen Boy, but there were flashes of, dare I say, greatness. You parlayed that success into two or three fairly funny movies; Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison and The Wedding Singer. Sure you used that stupid voice again, but the movies followed a simple formula of dolt makes good and learns a lesson to boot. And there were actually laugh-out-loud scenes. Brilliant movie making? Absolutely not! But not a bad way to spend 90 minutes.

Then the beginning of the end...The Waterboy. This was, apparently, the reason that ridiculously annoying voice was created. You are, I'm sure, fully aware that there is no redeeming value in The Waterboy. It's a movie made for idiots, and, even though it made millions of dollars, I lost a little respect for you. But everybody is allowed to miscalculate once, right? Benefit of the doubt, let's see where you go. Little Nicky??? Really?? Were you high when you wrote this? And wasn't this the same challenged character as The Waterboy? Where's the growth, Adam? Why were you satisfied with putting out the same movie all for the sake of money?

But then, Punch-Drunk Love came out and all was good between me and you again. You had a chance to actually act, and you did quite well. It was a side of you I wasn't sure existed, but I was happy to see it. Did this mean you would finally take some responsibility in choosing your roles? Would you start making movies that people other than stoned teenage boys would like to see? Nope...you follow this with Mr. Deeds, Eight Crazy Nights and Anger Management. Oh, Adam....

Now, even though Spanglish, Click and Reign Over Me showed a glimmer of what I saw in Punch-Drunk Love, it was all for naught. You decided to write and star in four of the worst movies EVER made. You Don't Mess With The Zohan could have been your Borat, but it failed so miserably. Grown Ups was a chance for all your buddies to get together and do silly things that only seemed funny to you. And even though I haven't see, nor will ever see, your last two creations, Bucky Larson and Jack And Jill, you have made it quite obvious that you just don't care anymore. You insult your audience by taking there money in hopes that they'll get a little more than fart jokes, getting high jokes and kick-in-the-crotch gags. Why do you hate the people that made you rich and famous? Why do you waste our time, Adam, why?? You are a 45-year old man that still, seemingly, writes a script while getting stoned with your buddies. Stop using your Hollywood cache to get horrible movies made. If I wrote Jack And Jill, do you think it would ever make it to the big screen? Of course not. And do you know why? Because it sucks, Adam...it sucks real, real bad. I am not going to watch anymore of your shit, Adam. I know this may not upset you, but it should. I represent someone who once believed in you, but has been disappointed far too many times. I know you will continue to be a huge box office success, because, God knows, there are a lot of morons out there that still think you're funny. I just won't be any part of it.

Sincerely,

Rob Steinberg

What A Game!!!

So I didn't get to see what is already being called the greatest World Series game ever played. I am, being a huge baseball fan, very disappointed by this. Thanks to the sports news shows and the Internet, I have been able to piece together what, truly, may have been the greatest World Series game ever played! But beyond the phenomenal theatrics of the game itself is the story of The St. Louis Cardinals in this 2011 baseball season. If they were to lose tonight's Game 7, it would be a giant downer for any baseball fan. After being down 10 games to Atlanta in August and coming back to get a WildCard spot in the playoffs; after beating the heavily favoured Philadelphia Phillies to move on to the National League Pennant; after beating the heavily favoured Milwaukee Brewers to move on to the World Series; after last night's miracle - this team deserves to win it all! A few highlights of last night's game:

- Down by 2 runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, with only one strike left, David Freese hits a 2 run triple to right field, tying the game 7-7. This was already the third time the Cardinals came back to tie the game. No doubt, the shoddy defence of the Texas Rangers outfield helped with this outcome.

- After losing the lead to a 2-run home run by Josh Hamilton in the top of the tenth inning, Lance Berkman, a man that just about every team passed over during his free-agency for thought of being too old, hits a game-tying single in the bottom of tenth. The Cardinals, again, were down to their last strike! Berkman, by the way, is hitting .435 for the Series and very well may end up winning the World Series MVP Award.

- In the bottom of the eleventh inning, David Freese, who prolonged the game once already in the bottom of the ninth, hits a solo walk-off home run to win the game, forcing a Game 7 that will hopefully be even half as exciting as Game 6...and I'll be watching tonight!

Hearing about this game and watching the highlights has me thinking about other great moments in World Series history. Each of these moments make my heart swell when I think of them. These are just a few of the reasons why I think baseball is the greatest game in the world!

October 21, 1975 - Game 6

Everyone who claims to know baseball has the image burned in their brain - Carlton Fisk frantically waiving his arms in an effort to will the ball he just smacked to stay fair as he hops down the first base line. One of the most dramatic home runs ever hit gave the Boston Red Sox a 12th inning win to go to Game 7 against the might Cincinnati Reds. Alas, at the time, The Curse was still alive and after taking an early lead in the deciding game, The Reds would come out on top.

October 18, 1977 - Game 6

Why was Reggie Jackson nicknamed "Mr. October"? It all stems from this game, when Reggie became only the second player in World Series history to hit 3 home runs in one game. (Babe Ruth did it before him, twice, and Albert Pujols equalled the feat this year). The really amazing thing about this feat was how Reggie did it. He hit three home runs off of three different pitchers...ALL ON THE FIRST PITCH! Most players will take a few pitches to get a feel for what the movement and velocity of the ball is. Not Reggie! This is a feat that may never be equalled at any time, regular season or post-season. Quite a display.

October 15, 1988 - Game 1

Was the fate of the Los Angeles Dodgers written off the mighty swing of a near crippled man in the first game of the Series? Kirk Gibson, hobbled by two bad knees, gets the call from manager Tommy Lasorda to pinch hit with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Oakland A's ahead 4-3. Mike Davis was walked a batter before so that A's ace closer, Dennis Eckersley, would face weak hitting Mike Anderson, who was standing on the on-deck circle. All of a sudden Kirk Gibson pops up out of the dugout and approaches the plate. His first two swings looked so bad it was almost hard to watch. He fell to his knees on his second strike, barely able to get back up and take his spot for the rest of the at-bat. Two strikes against him, knees almost unable to hold his frame, he swings at the next pitch and puts it over the right field fence for a walk-off 2-run home run. Everybody, except for the A's, went nuts! Gibson, finding enough strength to round the bases, pumps his arm as he rounds first base to create an image that will never leave my brain. Gibson would not play at all for the rest of the Series, but the Dodgers went on to win 4 games to 1, no doubt off the momentum of this historic moment.

October 13, 1960 - Game 7

It was the most unlikely World Series outcome, with the most unlikely hero. This would mark the first time a World Series was won with a walk-off home run. The Pittsburgh Pirates were taking on the powerhouse New York Yankees. Bill Mazeroski, who ended up a career .260 hitter and who's highest season home run total was 19, became that unlikely hero when he hit a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall to win the game 10-9 and the World Series for the Pirates. The Pirates were outscored in the series 55-27, but found a way to win, on the shoulders of a thin, light-hitting, second baseman.

October 23, 1993 - Game 6

The second time in World Series history, and last so far, where a walk-off home run wins the series...and it takes place in my hometown! After winning the Series the previous year, there was little doubt that the Toronto Blue Jays would repeat. The team was stacked with future Hall Of Famers. What nobody could have predicted was the way it was won. Joe Carter, looked upon by Toronto fans as a man that could do no wrong, hits a line drive off a 2-2 pitch that clears the left field wall. The city of Toronto, nay, the whole country went crazy. Immortalized by Tom Cheek's "Touch 'em all, Joe", this is definitely a baseball moment I will never forget.

There are many more grand moments that I haven't listed, but these were the ones that hopped into my head after last night's game. Go Cards!!!

Film Facts #1

So after my first post this month, the first after a lengthy vacation from this blog, I received a couple of comments about the extra "interesting notes" that I wrote for each film. I have always enjoyed reading about "behind-the-scenes" stories that took place during the pre-production and actual production of films. I started to tell my wife about some of the things I read about and, to my surprise, she was quite interested. I say I was surprised because my wife is not a huge fan of the movies...she likes some stuff, but finds it hard to sit for two hours, especially if something doesn't interest her. Myself, if it's not interesting, I still manage to power through. I began to think if she's interested in these stories, perhaps people who really like films would be very interested. I might be wrong, but let's try it out, shall we? Below are some facts about the top grossing films of the 1970's, my absolute favourite decade of cinema. Almost all of the info is taken from the Internet Movie Data Base (imbd.com)...I just like all the info in one place. I'll start with a few and if I get a positive response, I'll keep going. Hope y'all like!

Oh...almost forgot...the gross in US Domestic in millions.

Top Five Grossing Films Of 1970

Love Story
Gross - $106.4-million
Budget - $2.2-million
Tagline: Love means never having to say you're sorry
Academy Awards: 7 nominations, 1 win (Best Original Score)

- JonVoight, Michael Douglas, Beau Bridges, Michael York, Jeff Bridges, Keith Carradine and Peter Fonda each turned down the role of Oliver
- Christopher Walken and Ken Howard both screen-tested for the role of Oliver
- Ali MacGraw played a college student although she was 31 at the time of filming
- When "Love Story" premiered on TV in 1972 it was the shortest time span from Theatre to TV upto that time.


Airport
Gross - $100.5
Budget - $10.0
Tagline: The #1 novel of the year - now a motion picture!
Academy Awards: 10 nominations, 1 win (Best Supporting Actress-Helen Hayes)

- Burt Lancaster made a deal to get 10% of the film's profit after it reached $50 million. Despite making a lot of money, Lancaster thought the movie was "the worst piece of junk ever made"
- The Boeing 707 used for the exterior shots eventually was destroyed after an approach to land accident in Brazil on March 21, 1989
- The film was expanded from a Canadian TV production written by Arthur Hailey called "Flight Into Danger"
- Patty Poulsen, who played the role of Judy, was an actual stewardess for American Airlines. She won a stewardess beauty contest where first prize was a role in the movie.


M.A.S.H.
Gross - $81.6
Budget - $3.5
Tagline: M.A.S.H. Hysteria
Academy Awards: 5 nominations, 1 win (Best Adapted Screenplay)

- Burt Reynolds turned down the role of Trapper
- James Garner was considered for the role of Hawkeye
- Tom Skerritt has claimed that about 80% of the dialogue in the film was improvised
- Director Robert Altman felt he could "get away" with certain scenes because the Fox officials were busy watching over two other films at the time, "Patton" and "Tora! Tora! Tora!"
- Writer Ring Lardner Jr. practically disowned the film after seeing most of his script wasn't used. He ended up winning the movie's only Academy Award.
- Robert Altman's 14 year old son Mike Altman wrote the lyrics to the theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless). Because of the film, and later TV show's, success, Mike Altman made nearly $2 million in royalties. His dad was paid just $75,000 for directing.


Patton
Gross - $61.7
Budget - $12.0
Academy Awards: 10 nominations, 7 wins (Best Picture, Best Actor-George C. Scott, Best Director - Franklin J. Schaffner, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Original Screenplay)

- Rod Steiger, Lee Marvin, Robert Mitchum and Burt Lancaster all turned down the lead role
- John Wayne wanted to play the lead role but was turned down
- John Huston, Henry Hathaway and Fred Zinnemann all turned down the chance to direct
- William Wyler was set to direct, but disagreed with George C. Scott over the script
- The opening speech was originally filmed to open the second half of the film, after intermission
- George C. Scott famously turned down his Best Actor Oscar, stating the competition between actors was unfair


Woodstock
Gross - $50.0
Budget - $0.6
Tagline: 3 days of peace, music…and love
Academy Awards: 3 nominations, 1 win (Best Documentary)

- Some bands that performed at Woodstock but didn't make the final cut of the original release include Credence Clearwater Revival, The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Band, Mountain and Canned Heat. (Many of these bands have been included in subsequent re-issues).
- Some bands invited to play Woodstock but didn't for one reason or another include Led Zeppelin, The Byrds, The Jeff Beck Group, Iron Butterfly, The Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, Procol Harum and Joni Mitchell.
- Richie Havens' song "Freedom" was improvised on stage. The crowd would not let him leave after his set and he had run out of songs to sing…so he made one up.
- The original price for a three-day ticket was $18.
- Martin Scorsese was an editor for the film and was largely responsible with the multi-panel presentation of the film. This look was born out of necessity as there was over 120 hours of film shot and the producers wanted as much of the festival shown as possible.

Well, that's the first five. If you'd like to see more, leave a comment...I got tons of this useless trivia in my head, and available on the Internet.

Movie Reviews

Movie Reviews

Moneyball

Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Pratt, Robin Wright

Directed by Bennett Miller

I went into Moneyball knowing that I would like it. How could I not? It's a story on one of my favourite topics, baseball. Not only baseball, but baseball statistics. I'm in a little bit of heaven! The story revolves around the Oakland A's team from 2002. After narrowly missing the World Series the previous year, General Manager Billy Beane needs to find a way to get there, with the smallest payroll in the majors. Traditional scouting methods simply aren't working anymore. A chance encounter with a bright Harvard graduate changes things for Beane, the A's and possibly the future of baseball. The Harvard kid, played incredibly well by Jonah Hill, has adopted a new way to judge a player's worth, based on the statistical re-arrangements of Bill James. By analyzing these new stats, nicknamed Sabermetrics, Beane is able to put together a team of underdogs that amaze everyone by winning 20 straight games and almost making the World Series again. Now the story is about Billy Beane, played by Brad Pitt in all his Robert Redford

beauty. There is no doubt the man is pretty, but I still maintain he doesn't act. His emotions are always on the surface, there is hardly ever interior monologue with his characters, meaning we get what we think we'll get. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's easy. I did enjoy the movie, although I desperately wanted them to go into much more detail with regards to Bill James' theories and stats. I'm a geek that way. But I realize this movie is made for the masses, those who don't necessarily know from On Base Percentage or Batter Runs and the like. It delivers on that respect, easily going along with high and lows that will keep you engaged. But Oscar talk for Pitt? I don't see it. Maybe for Jonah Hill...

GRADE: B

50/50

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Anjelica Huston, Bryce Dallas Howard, Philip Baker Hall, Matt Frewer

Directed by Jonathan Levine

Adam is an easy going guy. He takes care of himself - he jogs, doesn't smoke or drink, he recycles. But he has a pain in his back that he decides to get checked out. Turns out he has a very rare kind of cancer on his spine. His chances of surviving are about 50/50, which, as his best friend Kyle states, would be the best odds at a Vegas casino, so it's not so bad. We watch as Adam goes through chemotherapy, and we meet other cancer patients along the way (including Matt "Max Headroom" Frewer who is great). The story is based on real events that happened to the movie's writer, Will Reiser, who's friend, Seth Rogen, helped him along his journey. I wish I could say I liked everything about this film, but I didn't. I found it took too long to get to the meat of the film, not that he has cancer (which takes place very early), but the real struggle and dealing with the emotions. With about half an hour left in the movie, things finally started to come from the heart. Real emotions, real struggles, real questions. Gordon-Levitt was great as always, one of my absolute favourite actors around. (If you haven't seen Brick or 500 Days Of Summer, go...now!). Seth Rogen was annoying...a couple of good scenes, but mostly annoying. Why does it sound like he's trying to take in every bit of available air every time he laughs or breathes? Bryce Dallas Howard was very good as well, and absolutely beautiful...when did that happen?? But the real star of the show was Anjelica Huston. She brought unbelievable reality, strength and emotion to her role. She was phenomenal! She cannot, and will not, be looked over when the Academy comes to nominate Supporting Actresses next year. All in all, the movie was good. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and I felt privileged to watch Anjelica Huston break my heart!

GRADE: A-

....that's all for now, I got more in my head for another time. I'll start reviewing older movies that you may not have heard of or possibly never got around to seeing because they weren't in the theatre very long. With there being no more Blockbusters around, I'll even let you know if they are available on Netflix (which is definitely worth the $8 a month!!).

I'm Baaaaaaack!!!

So I haven't posted anything on this blog in some time, I figured it was time to return. The reason...my friend and former co-worker Bradley Hayward is currently composing a list of his favourite Halloween movies over at www.whippedscream.blogspot.com which has inspired me to make a list of the scariest movies I can remember seeing. Thank you, Bradley, for pulling me out of my funk. Your blog has reminded me of all those Octobers I spent at Blockbuster with young customers asking me for our scariest movie, and then going home with "Hostel"!!! The unfortunate thing is of all the stores I worked at only a couple had my all-time fave horror movie. So, in the best order I can manage, here are my top ten. Oh, and there WILL be spoilers!

10. The Others (2001) (7.7 on IMDB)
It had been a long time since I had seen a movie in the theatre that had such a chilling effect on me. I can remember seeing the preview on TV and thinking I would like this movie. I had no idea how much I would! Nicole Kidman is living in an old house with her two young kids. Strange things start to happen. Doors opening and closing, odd sounds, ghost-like images. Spooky already. But what gave me the biggest chill was the twist in the plot that I never saw coming. I saw this movie with my wife and as soon as the twist was revealed we both looked at each other with our mouths agape. I said there would be spoilers, but if you haven't seen The Others I won't ruin it for you...just watch it!
Interesting Note: The script was written in Spanish by writer/director Alejandro Amenábar and then translated into English. It was the first film to win Best Picture at the Goyas (Spain's Academy Awards) without a single word of Spanish being uttered.

9. When A Stranger Calls (1979) (6.4 on IMDB)
I can't remember the first time I saw this movie, but I know I was young and watching it on TV. I must say, the film is quite boring after the first 30 minutes, but the reason this movie is on my list is because of the first 30 minutes. Carol Kane is the young babysitter, alone in a big house except for the sleeping children upstairs. The phone rings. She answers it. Playfully, she converses with the man on the other end of the phone. Soon, the man starts to describe certain things in the house. Horrifically, he asks "Have you checked the children??". If you've seen this scene you know why I have chills running down my back right now. This is the scene that "Scream" played upon at the beginning of that movie. Fantastically spooky!
Interesting Note: The character of Curt Duncan, the killer, was based on someone the director, Fred Walton, knew in college. Whenever this person entered a room, he seemed to make everybody uncomfortable.

8. Saw (2004) (7.7 on IMDB)
It has spawned multiple sequels, each being worse than the last, but the original is really something to behold. A man wakes up in a dirty room, chained to the floor, not knowing why he's there or how he got there. What follows is a sadistic game dreamed up by Jigsaw, a killer we will become quite familiar with. The beauty of this movie is it continually asks the question "What would you do??". Would you cut your own foot off? Would you risk your life in order to save your life? Another movie where I never saw the end coming...and I absolutely LOVED it! The gore was handled appropriately as well, not too graphic or gratuitous, considering there were some really screwed up "games" being played.
Interesting Note: The entire film was shot in only 18 days. All of the bathroom scenes were completed in only 6 days.

7. The Thing (1982) (8.2 on IMDB)

As with most of the films on this list, I was quite young when I first saw this movie, perhaps 11 or 12, meaning I was impressionable. "The Thing" has always stuck with me. Kurt Russell leads a scientific research team in the Antarctic where strange things start to happen. Turns out they have unleashed this alien that takes the shape of the things it kills. Now this could have been a gory mess of a film. But John Carpenter keeps the tension going as he slows down the pace and makes the viewer always wonder whats around the next corner. The scene where they test everyone's blood to see if it's infected still makes me jump, and I've seen it a dozen times! Great tension-filled cinema.

Interesting Note: Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges both turned down the role that eventually went to Kurt Russell. Also, out of all the movies John Carpenter has directed, he claims this is his favourite.

6. The Haunting (1963) (7.7 on IMDB)

This is one of those classic ghost story horror films that just keeps getting under your skin. Robert Wise, the man who directed "West Side Story" and "The Sound Of Music", perfectly uses his camera and set to create a wonderfully scary thrill ride. The story is simple: several people who have various interests in the unexplained spend a few nights in a mansion that has been widely rumoured to be haunted. What the viewer gets to see, in glorious black and white, is the strange things first hand. Julie Harris is great as we experience the terror with her. This one MUST be watched in a totally dark, quite room, and we'll see how you sleep that night! Do not bother with the 1999 remake.

Interesting Note: Director Martin Scorsese has named "The Haunting" as his favourite horror movie.

5. Halloween (1978) (7.9 on IMDB)

Before there was Jason, before there was Freddy, there was Michael Myers. This is the story of a very troubled youngster who, on Halloween night, brutally killed his sister. Fifteen years later, the same boy escapes from the institution he'd been in to wreak havoc on his hometown. He finds a girl that reminds him of his sister, a girl played by Jamie Lee Curtis in one of her first film roles. All the while, Michael's doctor, Loomis, is trying to track him down and warn the residents of his small town. With most great horror films, the tension builds and builds, as we see the maniac stalking his victims, silent behind that white mask. I had many sleepless nights after watching this movie for the first time, and it still holds up thanks to John Carpenter's great direction. Many more Halloween films followed, but none hold a candle to the original.

Interesting Note: Most fans of the movie know this already, but the mask Michael Myers wears is actually that of the likeness of William Shatner - hair teased out and painted white. Shatner has said he is honoured to be the symbol of evil.

4. The Blair Witch Project (1999) (6.3 on IMDB)
Probably one of the best ad campaigns of any horror film and certainly any independent feature. I HAD to see this movie on opening night. Problem was, so did half the world. I arrived late and had to sit in the third row of the theatre. As you may know, the film is almost all done with hand-held camera, making the viewer feel a little nauseous. Try watching it in the third row of a theatre!!! Anyway, I digress. What I loved about this movie was the sheer simplicity of it. It's a good ghost story played out for the viewer to make up his/her own mind about the legend of the witch in question. Yes, some of the scenes were too long and annoying. Yes, I wanted the witch to get the girl half way through the film. But I can't see anybody denying the sheer terror of that final scene when the guy is facing the corner. I'm freaking myself out just thinking of it! I don't know why, and I'm sure some people will disagree with me, but, 12 years later, I believe that is the most scared I have ever been watching a movie.

Interesting Fact: The movie cost $22,000 to make and earned $240.5-million at the box office.

3. Psycho (1960) (8.7 on IMDB)
There are many reasons to love this movie, and most have been dissected over and over again. The reason this is number 3 on my list is simple. I would not take a shower for a long time after watching it! I was young, probably 12 or so, when I caught this on TV. If a movie can keep me from cleanliness because of one scene, it has to rank high on the list. Anthony Perkins was pure crazy, nice on the outside, but with a whole slew of problems on the inside. Janet Leigh was a perfect victim. A scene that doesn't get mentioned as much is when Martin Balsam buys it on the stairs...totally freaky! Alfred Hitchcock was the master of thrills and suspense and I love just about everything I've seen of his, but for sheer terror, I can't think of any of his scenes that can top "mama" pulling back that shower curtain.

Interesting Note: Oh, so many of them - how audiences were forbidden to enter the theatre after the movie began; the shower scene has over 70 shots for only 45 seconds of screen time; but my favourite is the amazing control of Janet Leigh after she falls to the floor. The blood is seen twirling down the drain, the shot switches to a close up of Janet Leigh's eye as the camera spins and slowly moves out, and we see a drop of water laying near her open eye. Leigh had to make sure not to blink as this was a "live" shot and not the easy static shot that many people think. Remarkable!

2. The Exorcist (1973) (8.1 on IMDB)

Many of our youth today don't find this to be a scary movie, and that's probably because us old folk have consistently claimed it to be one of the scariest ever made. Them kids don't know nothin'! Linda Blair, at the tender age of 13, made me believe in the devil. Her performance is one of the best in any horror movie ever filmed. The story is told in a way that makes everything seem like these event could actually take place. The conflict of Father Karras was gripping. Max Von Sydow was a hulking figure that had to challenge and beat Satan himself. Who can forget that image on the poster, the priest under a single lamppost in the dead of the night. Just the imagery is spooky. If all the great scenes inside the bedroom weren't enough, in the year 2000 a re-release of the film came out with the now famous "spider walk" scene that still freaks me out! For any true fan of horror, those who don't need blood and guts to scare, this is one of the greats.

Interesting Note: Those that were considered for the role that Ellen Burstyn eventually played included Jane Fonda, Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft. Also, if adjusted for inflation, "The Exorcist" would be the highest grossing R-rated film of all time.

1. The Changeling (1980) (7.3 on IMDB)

I don't always remember the first time I watch a movie. I remember E.T., Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Star Wars. I also recall the first time I saw "The Changeling". I don't know exactly how old I was, but it was a VHS copy borrowed from a friend, watched in a dark room late at night. Three quarters of the way through the film all the lights were on!! There were so many scenes that freaked me out watching this movie, but let me just say this - bouncing rubber ball and rocking wheelchair. That's it. If you have seen this film, you are now trying to shake the shivers away from your spine. "The Changeling" proved that a great, scary movie did not need blood and gore, things jumping out in front of the camera, crazy special effects. You needed a good ghost story, a seance, some believable acting and a FREAKIN' RUBBER BALL!! Crap, I've scared myself again. This is the movie that I always recommended to those who asked for a scary movie. And it's a Canadian feature, too!

Interesting Note: The movie is based on supposed actual events that took place in Denver in the 1960's.

I feel I have to make note of some films I left off my list for one reason or another but still had a profound effect on me:

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) - Leatherface...come on.

A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) - Freddy scarping his nails on the wall with extended arms.

Jaws (1975) - actually made me afraid of swimming pools!!!!

Carrie (1976) - final scene still gets me.

Rosemary's Baby (1968) - LOVED Ruth Gordon!

Session 9 (2001) - if it didn't star David Caruso it might have made my list.

The Exorcism Of Emily Rose (2005) - two really great, scary scenes.

Paranormal Activity (2007) - chilling, but hated the main characters.

Poltergeist (1982) - the clown in the boy's room - still having nightmares!

Well, that's that. Agree or disagree, that's what lists are for.

More to come....and more often....

Past movies....and breaking news!!

Toy Story 3
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger
Directed by Lee Unkrich

What happens to toys when the kids that played with them out-grow them? That is the idea behind Toy Story 3, the much anticipated edition to this multi-million dollar franchise. We all know Andy, the kid who fell in love with Buzz Lightyear and Woody, not to mention Rex, The Potato Heads, Jessie and Hamm. Andy is now in his late teens, on his way to college, and it's been a long time since he's thought about his plastic friends. He must decide which toys he'll keep stuffed in the attic or, God forbid, throw away. Through circumstances only Disney Pixar could come up with, the toys are accidentally donated to a pre-school. There, the toys we all love encounter some very perilous situations. Is there a happy ending, or does Bambi's mother get shot, so to speak? You'll have to watch to find out, but I gotta tell ya, I can't remember being so emotionally involved in a story in a very long time. I laughed (out loud!), I cried (like a pregnant woman!), and I enjoyed every second of this film. There is little doubt that this will be the end of the Toy Story movies, and I'm sooooo very pleased with it's conclusion. If you have kids, there is no reason you shouldn't get this movie....NOW!!!

GRADE: A+

The Girl Who Played With Fire
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre
Directed by Daniel Alfredson

Here is movie number two of the "Girl" series, the first one being "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo". This film deals with our leading lady, Lisbeth Salander, trying to track down her father and correct the wrongs that he did to her as a young girl. If you've read the books, and I strongly suggest you do before watching the movies, you'll realize that this is probably the weakest of the three. After saying that, the movie still remains very faithful to the original story. I appreciate that and I rather enjoyed watching the film, more than reading the book. There is a lot more action in this one, and a lot more characters are introduced, sometimes making it difficult to keep track of everything that's happening. Even so, Noomi Rapace is just as strong in her portrayal of the troubled Lisbeth and commands your attention. People watching, and especially those who haven't read the books, may find this chapter a little, well, all over the place. You must know that this is simply a bridge to the finale, one that I look very forward to seeing.

GRADE: B+

I Am Love
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Flavio Parenti, Edoardo Gabbriellini and other Italians...
Directed by Luca Guadagnino

An Italian movie made about the very rich, and the very horny apparently. I'm kidding, there's much more going on here. Tilda Swinton (who knew she spoke Italian??) plays the matriarch of a very prosperous family in Italy. She has everything she wants, but craves more. When she is introduced to a friend of her son's, a talented chef, feelings start to stir. Can she hide her feelings? Will she? What's a woman to do? The story plays out like one of those New Age films from the 50's and 60's, kinda in the Francois Truffaut style, lots of ambient sound and colours that seemingly have nothing to do with the story but create feelings and stir emotions. Yes, there is much melodrama, but I was always interested in Swinton's next move. She is, as always, fantastic! The men smoulder, the women weep and it all comes down to a very intriguing climax.

GRADE: B+

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Alison Pill, Ellen Wong, Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman
Directed by Edgar Wright

Filmed in Toronto, taking place in Toronto, this has to be one of the most inventive movies I've seen since "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind". Scott Pilgrim is a bassist in a band. He's in his early 20's, has a 17 year old girlfriend, and everything seems to be peachy keen...until he dreams about and then meets Ramona Flowers. She is a mysteriously cool chick that he wants to be with. Thing is, she comes with a bit of baggage. Scott needs to defeat her seven evil exes in order to claim her as his own. Then the fun begins! Filmed like a live action video game, Scott needs to fight each of these exes ala Street Fighter, racking up points and coins as he goes along. Sounds lame, but I tell you this movie is far from it. The camera work, the special effects, the comedy and action sequences, everything is beautifully done. The characters are well crafted enough but the story of good versus evil and how they battle each other is the real treat. Edgar Wright is quickly becoming one of my favourite directors (Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz). He has a keen sense of comedy and his camerawork is so refreshing. I absolutely loved this film, on the same plain as Kick-Ass, for it's no-holds-barred craziness and balls out good time.

GRADE: A+

Grown Ups
Starring: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, Kevin James, Rob Schneider, Salma Hayak, Maria Bello, Maya Rudolph, Colin Quinn, Steve Buscemi
Directed by Dennis Dugan

What is it about Adam Sandler that people love? I think he's a great dramatic actor (Punch Drunk Love, Reign Over Me), but I don't get the attraction of his comedies. I think he's immature, annoying and terribly un-funny. This movie has confirmed my thoughts of him. The movie is about 5 friends that meet up for a cottage weekend with their families after their school basketball coach has died. Hilarity ensues, or at least that's the idea. I can't say I didn't laugh once watching this film, 'cause I did, exactly once. Otherwise, if you think poopoo, peepee, boobs and bumbs are funny, then go ahead and watch this film. What the hell was Steve Bucemi and Maria Bello thinking??? Here are two great actors trying to ham it up, to what end?? I've lost all respect for both of them. And I don't think I've ever understood a word Salma Hayak has said!! Total waste of time, but the sad thing is, it'll make hundreds of millions of dollars because the general public loves this shit.

GRADE: F


....And now, the news.....

After 8 years of being a Store Manager with Blockbuster Video I have decided to leave. I will be starting my new job at the end of November with Purdy's Chocolates. They are a Canadian owned, family owned, 109 year old company that has begun expanding in the East. They are hugely popular in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and hope to be as popular in Toronto and the surrounding area. I will be managing the Fairview Mall location (one of my first retail jobs, when I was 16, was at Grand & Toy in Fairview...weird, eh?). I have been in the "movie" business for 15+ years and it was a hard decision, but one that I felt was right for me. I will miss my free movies and games, the people I worked with and for, and even most of the customers who loved to talk movies. I'm a little scared, but I'm very exited as well. I will still occassionally post my thoughts about movies on this blog, just not as often. Who knows, maybe I'll start reviewing chocolate! It's been a good run, but I must move on......