Watch List #3

The first half of June was quite busy. I managed to watch 16 movies, and absolutely loved several of them.

21. Contact
06/03/2014

I hadn't seen this movie since I was a kid, and it was so much better than I remembered (probably because everything went over my 8 year old head). Matthew McConaughey's performance is top notch and perfectly balances the tone of the movie, which gives a sense of scientific pursuit vs spirituality. I'd recommend it.




22. 300: Rise Of An Empire

06/04/2014

As a fan of the first, I was extremely disappointed in this movie. It lacks the great story, momentum, and sense of excitement that the original had. This sequel simply comes across as derivative. The only thing I enjoyed was Eva Green's character, which was still less interesting than anything the first had to offer. Skip.



23. I, Frankenstein

06/06/2014

I'm actually a big fan of this genre, which includes movies like Van Helsing, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. Unfortunately, this movie isn't executed very well. I just wasn't feeling the gargoyles vs demons vs Frankenstein's monster mash-up. I'd say to skip this one as well.






24. Unhung Hero

06/06/2014

Lots of movies focus on the little guy...and this one is no different. While it's not the best documentary I've ever seen, the premise is pretty amusing. If you enjoy a good documentary, I'd say this is worth a watch. And the comment about the Asian sauna is hilarious.





25. After Porn Ends

06/06/2014

IMDb suggested this documentary on Unhung Hero's page. I gave it a shot, but wouldn't really recommend it. While it does bring up some good points, you really don't learn anything and it doesn't leave you with much. I'd say pass.







26. Edge Of Tomorrow

06/08/2014

Tom Cruise in another sci-fi actioner. But this one has a cool twist ala Groundhog Day. I was expecting average genre fare, but was blown away by the story. It's actually a very cool movie that Lindsey and I both loved! There's plenty of action, humor, and fresh ideas to keep your interest. I can't wait to watch it again.




27. Six Days, Seven Nights

06/08/2014

This is a classic. It's always a great choice for a date night or when you're missing the beach.

"I am the best goddamned pilot you're ever gonna meet."

"I've flown with ya twice, you've crashed half the time!"





28. Dear Mr. Watterson

06/09/2014

I love Calvin and Hobbes, and had wanted to watch this for quite a while. If you're a fan of comic, even just slightly, then you'll probably enjoy this documentary. It reminded me how much I enjoy the comic, and taught me quite a bit about the politics of the comic book world.





29. Winter's Tale

06/09/2014

From the trailer, I thought this would have more focus on the present. So I was surprised when most the movie was set in the past. Those that enjoy love stories, fairy tale elements, and all encompassing spirituality will probably love this movie. It definitely wasn't bad, just not my style.





30. 47 Ronin

06/10/2014

I love samurai culture and movies, so this was a must see. I admit I was worried by all the behind-the-scenes drama, but that proved to be unfounded. This movie was great! I loved the mythological aspect to it. I'd love to see an extended cut, because my only complaint is that the scope was a little too big for the runtime.



31. She's Out Of My League

06/11/2014

Awesome movie! Jay Baruchel is so great, and this movie is perfect for him. It's a very sincere, coming-of-age story that could be watched multiple times. All the characters are hilarious. If you liked American Pie or The Girl Next Door, you'll enjoy this as well.






32. Loser

06/12/2014

This isn't the funniest movie around, but it's still pretty good. Jason Biggs plays the part well, and it's something to watch if you want to kill some time.










33. 21 Jump Street

06/13/2014

We had to re-watch this before the sequel. I hadn't seen it since it was in theaters, and it was just as funny as I remembered. And the cameos at the end were pretty awesome, but the best part has to be the bathroom vomit scene.







34. 22 Jump Street

06/14/2014

Oh man, this was extremely funny! Even though it's basically the same movie as the original, it's still totally worth a watch. And the second movie of the summer to include a Creed joke...crazy!

"I need absolute silence."






35. I Love You Phillip Morris

06/15/2014

I absolutely love me some Jim Carrey, and this is one of his funniest roles ever. Seriously, it's that good. Just look at the cover for crying out loud! It's crude, dirty, and absolutely perfect. HIGHLY recommended.








36. Secret Window

06/15/2014

This is a really cool thriller based on a Stephen King story, and it keeps you guessing until the very end. It can be kind of creepy, but it's not all that scary. Just a good all-around thriller, which we could definitely use more of.









And here's a sweet welcome mat. Somehow, I don't think Lindsey would approve though.

Most Anticipated Movies Of 2014

So, here goes. I finalized this list at the end of 2013, and haven't changed it since then. If I remember to do so, at the end of the year I will post a list that ranks all these movies. That way I can compare the anticipation to actual enjoyment of the movie.

And if you don't recognize some of these titles, head over to IMDb and read about them or watch a trailer. there's something for everyone among these.

1. Inherent Vice
2. Dumb & Dumber To
3. Rudderless
4. Fury
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel
6. Interstellar
7. Her
8. Lone Survivor
9. Transformers 4
10. untitled Cameron Crowe film
11. Foxcatcher
12. Gone Girl
13. 22 Jump Street
14. The Hobbit: There And Back Again
15. Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes
16. Godzilla
17. Horrible Bosses 2
18. Nightcrawler
19. Edge Of Tomorrow
20. The Equalizer
21. When The Game Stands Tall
22. A Long Way Down
23. Non-Stop
24. The Judge
25. Unbroken
26. Imagine
27. A Walk Among The Tombstones
28. Jane Got A Gun
29. Neighbors
30. The Monuments Men
31. A Birder's Guide To Everything
32. Locke
33. Need For Speed
34. Bad Words
35. Blended
36. Think Like A Man Too
37. Sex Tape
38. The Interview
39. 300: Rise Of An Empire
40. Hercules
41. I, Frankenstein
42. Transcendence
43. Sin City: A Dame To Kill For
44. God's Pocket
45. A Most Wanted Man
46. Chef
47. Business Or Pleasure
48. Hellion
49. Ride Along
50. Draft Day
51. Into the Storm
52. American Heist
53. The Art Of The Steal
54. Ghosts Of The Pacific
55. The Purge 2
56. Camp Takota
57. The Best Of Me
58. Just Before I Go
59. Wild
60. Blackbird
61. Little Boy
62. Staten Island Summer
63. Cold In July
64. How to Catch A Monster
65. Paradise Lost
66. Robocop

So that's the list. I'm working hard to watch them all and I'm also already working on my 2015 list. So far the only thing locked in for that list is Jurassic World at the top. June 12th can't come fast enough!

Watch List #2

Here's my watch list for May. Pretty much a solid lineup, with 2 semi-duds.

7. The Counselor

05/02/2014

I heard a lot of bad things about this one, but went into it with an open mind. I actually found it to be awesome, and just as gripping and inescapable as a bolito. But I had already been warned that it was very "talky" and didn't have a whole lot of action. In a way, I'd compare it to No Country For Old Men.





8. Frequency

05/03/2014

This is another favorite of ours. The nostalgic feel works well for this type of thriller. And who doesn't love Jim Caviezel and Dennis Quaid? The story gets a little loose with the time travel element, but it's easy enough to overlook. Great movie for father's day.






9. The Cabin In The Woods

05/03/2014

I knew to expect something fresh for the horror genre, but I had no idea what. So I was definitely surprised. I'm not even a big horror fan, but this hit all the right chords for me. Also, the lead actress is totally Erin from the Office's sister. Thought I'd save you some time, so you don't spend hours trying to figure out who she reminds you of.




10. Dan In Real Life

05/03/2014

I hadn't seen this movie in years, so I had forgotten pretty much everything about it. I'm a big Steve Carell fan, and he does a pretty good job in this one. It's funny, but also a little dark. I'd describe it as an adult coming-of-age, if that makes sense.







11. The Monuments Men

05/03/2014

Our first dud of the month. I had pretty high expectations for this one, even though my family said it wasn't that great. I love WWII as a setting, so this had a lot going for it based on that alone. But the story was kinda weak, and it just didn't really flow. It wasn't horrible, but I'm not sure I'd care to see it again.

12. The Terminator

05/03/2014

A classic. And Lindsey's first viewing.

13. Jobs

05/05/2014

I'm not really sure why this wasn't better received. I loved it! But I'm a sucker for a good biopic. I'm not necessarily looking for the 100% true story, so I'm not going to complain when a couple liberties are taken to make the movie better. And I appreciate the filmmakers showing Jobs' darker side.

14. The Firm

05/06/2014

Another Tom Cruise film, but I'd consider this a miss. Our second and last dud of the month. The film took forever to get going, and it only really hit its stride at the very end. Not what I was expecting from a John Grisham "thriller."

15. Terminator 2: Judgment Day

05/09/2014

A sequel that uses the villain from the first as the hero? This movie has everything working for it, and might be better than the original. Another classic for sure.

16. Neighbors

05/10/2014

Not the funniest movie of the summer, but still a decent one. Zac Efron and Dave Franco flesh out their characters a lot more than is typical for the frat boy role. Props for that. And the Creed joke made the movie for me. So awesome!

17. Inside Llewyn Davis

05/11/2014

Very dark and moody, this gem is definitely worth a watch. The original soundtrack is excellent, especially The Death Of Queen Jane. The scene it's featured in is the best of the movie. And Oscar Isaac's such a great actor. I can't wait to see him in Star Wars: Episode VII. You should also check out 10 Years. He really steals the show in that one.

18. Monsters University

05/15/2014

I'm picky with my Pixar movies. I just haven't cared for their last few efforts, and have read about the turmoil behind the scenes. But this sequel was quite good. Making Mike the lead instead of Sully was a great move.

19. Rock Star

05/17/2014

This is one of those movies that I could watch again and again. It's the little guy rising up, only to fall victim to the seedy nature of the industry. A rock and roll version of Boogie Nights. I love the music setting almost as much as I do WWII and high school, and it's very fleshed out here. After this, watch Almost Famous. Oh, Timothy Olyphant is great as always, and a young Miles Kennedy plays a small role.

"Breakfast, morning, noon, night. Gotta have it, man."

20. Stuck In Love

05/17/2014

I thought this was going to be a poor man's Crazy, Stupid, Love. Boy, was I wrong. Yeah, they have a similar theme, but this might have been better. This is my kind of love story, and I can't say enough good things about it. Greg Kinnear and Logan Lerman are great, but the story is what really brings this thing home. Watch this on your next date night.

Overall this was a good month, even if the movie count was a little low. Next up will probably be my Most Anticipated Movies Of 2014 list.

Watch List #1

Wow! Over a year has gone by since my last post. I'd like to get back at it, so maybe this new idea of mine will work out better. I recently had the idea to keep a running list of movies that I watch, so that I can someday look back on it and realize how much time I've wasted.

I think Hobbes said it best.

Seriously though, this should give me a nice platform to publish the list. I'll also try to make occasional suggestions and notes, but I won't be providing loglines or plot summaries. That's what IMDb is for. But I'll do the hard work for you and provide a link in each movie title.

I started the list on April 22, so these first couple posts will just be used to catch up. Then I'll try to add a post every couple weeks. Here goes...


1. Rushmore

04/22/2014

This is one of my favorite Wes Anderson movies, and is definitely worth your time. This was Lindsey's first viewing, and she was laughing quite a bit. Something tells me it won't be the last.

"I like your nurse's uniform, Guy."

"These are OR scrubs."

"Oh, are they?"


2. That Awkward Moment

04/26/2014

I was looking forward to this one, but didn't expect a whole lot, so I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be good. I'd say give it a shot. And Michael B. Jordan is someone to keep an eye on, especially with the new Fantastic Four coming out soon. He's also great in Chronicle.





3. Thank You For Smoking

04/26/2014

Hilarious! Satire at it's best! Aaron Eckhart has never been better, and William H. Macy is spot on. This is a must watch, and I can't say enough good things about it. It's one of my all-time favorite comedies.

"You never said anything about off the record."

"I presumed anything said while I was inside you was privileged."


4. A Perfect Getaway

04/27/2014

Lindsey & I love this movie. I'm a big Timothy Olyphant fan, and he really shines in this one. It's quite the tropical thriller, and should be watched a few times to take everything in (but that doesn't mean it's confusing). If/when we make it out to Hawaii, we're totally hiking the trail featured in the film.






5. Oblivion

04/27/2014

Another actor I love, Tom Cruise carries a pretty much solo effort in this apocolyptic sci-fi action thriller. Is that a genre? Anyway, this movie was way better than I expected, and that's even including the negative points for featuring Morgan Freeman (I'm apparently the only non-fan of his). Now if only Tom Cruise would make a nice drama again...



6. Robocop

04/30/2014

The original Robocop was quite the movie. It had a perfect balance of satire, gore, and heroic 80s action to elevate it's status to classic. The remake, not so much. Even though it's got some big stars and a big budget, it doesn't feel very polished. Maybe I was expecting too much, but...er, no I wasn't. This was a boring mess. But it still had some fun moments. I'd say skip, sadly.



Keep checking back, because I've got some other great ideas for content. Coming soon will be my Most Anticipated Movies Of 2014 list, as well as May's Watch List.

Photoplasty At Cracked.com

Over at Cracked.com they have an ongoing series where the readers submit photoshopped pictures that relate to unique prompts. The best and funniest pictures are chosen, then displayed on the site. The reader that submits the best picture also receives a cash prize, which is a nice incentive for sitting around and making jokes on your computer. Anyway, one of the themes for last week was "The Surprising Unseen Side Of Video Game Levels." I made two entries, but unfortunately did not win. I have decided to share them here. So, without further ado, here they are:

I also entered a photoplasty contest last October,which had a theme of "Horrible Ideas For Sexy Halloween Costumes." I am proud to say that I won the $50 grand prize with the following submission:

Jurassic Park IV Update

It has come to my attention that JP IV will start filming in July of 2013. The filming locations are set to include Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Kauai, Hawaii. This is great news, seeing that the officially announced release date is June 13, 2014. That doesn't give a lot of time for this movie to cook, so hopefully Colin Trevorrow and company know what they are doing.

I wish there was more to say, but there hasn't been much info released on JP IV. Hopefully we'll start hearing some casting info soon.

What a great idea!

iOS 7 Concept

I recently upgraded from iOS 4.2.1 on my old 3G to 6.1.3 on a recently received 3GS. The improvements and additional features have been wonderful. Playing around with all this new stuff, I started wondering about iOS 7. Well, here is a concept of iOS 7 created by a guy named Federico Bianco.

This video is obviously not official, and we most likely will not see many of these features, but I'm loving the ideas that this guy has put into the video. Hopefully Apple will watch this and take note, because I was more impressed with this video than the last few iPhone announcements.