Weekly Wednesday Top 10

I don't watch movies a whole lot anymore, not even at home. Having said that, I do love good movies. Here is my top 10 movies of all-time.

10. The Usual Suspects- It was one of the great surprise endings of all-time, but the story line is great even if you know it's coming.

Best line: (looking through his rifle scope counting targets) "1,2,3,4,5,6....7..8,9. Oswald was a fag."

9. Father of The Bride- A great "romantic comedy." I always knew I would have daughters, so even at a fairly young age this movie was a favorite of mine.

Best line: Martin Short's character in his thick accent. "Haaaonk! Haonk is a ginus, ond wee nid his mond."

8. Last of The Mohicans- The great American frontier on the big screen. It has great acting and a incredible soundtrack.

Best line: British Officer:, "and you call yourself an Englishman and loyal subject to the crown?"
Hawkeye: "I do not call myself subject to much at all."

7. Top Gun- Did any guy who watched this movie as a kid not want to be a Navy pilot?

Best line: "I feel the need...the need...for speed."

6. Van Wilder- I just love this movie. I think the Tuesday & Co. crew watched it at least 5 or 6 dozen times.

Best line: "If he's here, who's running hell?"

5. Caddyshack- It's an all-star cast, a bunch of quotable lines, and it just doesn't get old for me.

Best line: "So I jumped ship in Hong Kong..." and all that follows.

4. The Godfather- I think most guys have an intrigue with the masculine power trip of the mafia. It's pure drama and entertainment for like six hours.

Best line: "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." (Can it really be anything else?)

3. Animal House- Simply the one of the greatest any way you slice it. It's funny, nuanced, and clever...yet outright hilarious.

Best line: "Boone, I anticipate a deeply religious experience."

2. Last Samurai- It's on of the most epic movies I've ever seen. It glorifies honor, discipline, and brotherhood. The acting and cinematography is incredible. If you haven't seen it yet, you need to.

Best line: "My thanks, on behalf of those who died in the name of better mechanical amusements and commercial opportunities."

1. Tombstone- It's a man's movie. Gunfighting, sex, and humor rolled into one neat package.

Best line: "Oh. I'm sorry, Johnny I forgot you were there. You may go now."


Honorable Mention: Ghostbusters, Big Fish, Secondhand Lions, Emperor's New Groove, The Harry Potter Series, Tommy Boy, Batman Begins, The Bourne Series, First Knight, and almost any "Happy Madison" production.

Quasi-Honorable Mention: Field of Dreams...are we cool now, Tiff?

What are yours?

Have a great Wednesday!

Factious Fridays

Well, we've got a couple of different things to mull over here this Friday. There's not much else on tap for this weekend except a call for Liz, and one last weekend of college football before the bowl season. Let's get right down to it.

1. The Sean Taylor tragedy is something that should be mourned by his loved ones, respected by everyone, and put in it's proper perspective by willing parties. A white boy from The South can't say anything that will relieve the perception that he is using the tragedy to lay out a racially bigoted agenda. Nothing could be further from the truth, as my intent in tackling the subject would be to bring a significant problem to the forefront, and use Sean Taylor's death for some small greater good.

However, I can't say it better than Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star. This black man calls the undercurrent of the black subculture the Black KKK, who creates and thrives on pain, fear, and destruction.

"Well, when shots are fired and a black man hits the pavement, there's every statistical reason to believe another black man pulled the trigger. That's not some negative, unfair stereotype. It's a reality we've been living with, tolerating and rationalizing for far too long."

Whitlock and Bill Cosby are only two of a growing mass of good men and women who wish to address and defeat the problems facing Black America today. I would like to be part of the solution, and feel as if the call to arms by Whitlock and Cosby are meant for everyone, although their pleads are specifically aimed at the Black populous.

I cannot stop at mere words and endorsement on a website, but must get involved in the struggle at the base level. Inner city schools and churches are something which I have been involved in the past, and must do so again. I would encourage you to do the same: Reading programs, mentoring, volunteering at schools and churches are readily available options. There's no reason not to start in the next couple of days.

2. This story about the teacher in Sudan who was prosecuted under the law for naming a teddy bear "Muhammad" needs to be one that is taken to heart by some of you neo-con Christians who wish to use American law to solidify Christian values.

There is no difference in the mindset of the Muslims that wish her to be executed and Christians who want to jail and disqualify homosexuals from American liberties. One is more physically hostile, but using the law to punish religious standards is every bit as evil, and void of love and liberty as the other.

3. Disney movies have become far too politically correct. What ever happened to the Disney flicks of Old? Robin Hood, Sword in The Stone, Peter Pan, Brear Rabbit, etc. They were good, well-written, clean, yet funny movies.

If you go back and watch any of the old Disney classics, you'll see all kinds of humor based upon stereotypes, and knowledge of history and governmental structures. This youngest generation have movies tailored to their ignorance, A.D.D., and need to glorify mediocrity (except The Incredibles).

One of my favorite exchanges in all of the Disney movies is this one from Robin Hood:

Sir Hiss: It was us who plotted together, but I remember it was your idea to have me hypnotize him (King Richard) and....

Prince John: I know....send him on that crazy crusade (raucous laughter ensues)

See, even the 1973 Disney cartoon acknowledged the ridiculousness of forcing people into religions. Just thought I'd bring the conversation full circle.

Have a good weekend.