Best 80s Movie Songs

Remember movie theme songs? If you didn't grow up in the 80s, maybe you don't. There actually was a time when a movie would be released simultaneously with a big song written specifically either to be in the film or just named after it, usually featuring clips from the movie in the video, and sometimes even cameos by the stars themselves.  At some point in the 90s, this just stopped, and movies started to use already existing sounds to punctuate their soundtracks. This is all well and good, but it makes me nostalgic for the old days, when a film's song would be just as important as the trailer or any reviews you'd read.

Maybe this all started in the 80s and died in the mid 90s because that when was music videos on MTV started and died as well. Afterall, there's no point in having Matt Damon appear in a music video for El Debarge's "Who's Jason (Bourne)" if not even MTV plays videos anymore. Anyway -- and just for fun -- here is my personal top eleven list of the best movie songs from the 80s. And if you're wondering why it's a top eleven, it's because I honestly couldn't narrow it down to ten!

#11 Say you say me (White Nights)
Awesome song by Lionelt Richie that has stood the test of time even if the movie it's from hasn't. The film was an attempt at a starring vehicle for Mikhail Baryshnikov. Remember him? Anyway, his ballet dancing was supposed to end the Cold War or something. And maybe it did, I dunno. Anyway, I like this song.

"Come with Blade if you want to have a happy birthday!"

More warm birthday wishes to two of the coolest action stars around, Wesley Snipes and Michael Biehn.

Happy Birthday, Governor!

Blessed are the Geeks wishes a happy birthday and warm wishes to Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Bill Cosby -- Chocolate Cake Bit

When I was a kid, I thought this bit was the funniest thing I'd ever seen. And now that I'm an adult, I still think it's the funniest thing I've ever seen:

Sucker Punch Trailer

Here's the trailer for some upcoming film by Zac Snyder (aka, that guy who directed Watchmen and 300). I think it looks cool. And also dumb. As much as I love pretty girls, I've never been a big fan of the whole "pretty girls dressed like sluts killing lots of people" genre. But this one has a dragon, so I'll see it.

Avengers Cast Assembled

The main cast of the new Avengers film was officially announced and assembled at last weekend's Comic Con. And... it's not bad, I guess. Whether I'll see it or not depends on whether or not I'll see the Captain America and Thor movies that are being released first. Hell, I guess the success or those movies will even decide if the Avengers film will get made at all. Maybe they'll be huge flops. They can't all be Iron Man, right? Or maybe they can. Anyway, here are my thoughts, pointless and premature as they may be:

Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. 

Far be it for me to question this casting choice, since he starred in the two hugely successful Iron Man films. Also, he's a great actor. But I never loved his portrayal of Tony Stark, at least not in the first film since I haven't seen the second yet. He was just too goofy and not enough of a hero in my opinion. But at least he's a great actor who brought a lot of energy to the role. And having gone with Downey Jr  for the solo films, I'm glad he agreed to come on for the main Avengers movie. I'm sure he's getting a boatload of money to do it.

Chris Evans as Captain America

I've already shared my thoughts on this casting choice here, and I still have high hopes. I like Chris Evans and think there's a chance -- a good chance even -- that he could pull it off. He's always good and always a lot of fun, but he has yet to prove that he has the gravitas to pull off a role like Captain America. I just don't know. Then again, I don't know what they plan to do with the character, and maybe the casting of a hot, young, funny pretty boy isn't the most inspiring thing about the film. But I still think he'll pull it off.

Sam Jackson as Nick Fury

As much as I prefer the original version of Nick Fury over the Ultimates version (if you know comics, you'll understand. If you don't, too bad. I'm not going to attempt to explain that one.), this was still a perfectly reasonable, and even fun, way to go. After all, the Ultimates version was based on Sam Jackson, so I love that they just said screw it and cast him in the films. But still... I miss the old Nick Fury something awful. I would've loved to see what somebody like Michael Ironside or even Sam Eilliot could've done with the character. But, again, he was already in the other films, so there you go.

Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow

I don't have an opinion about this either. I haven't seen Iron Man 2, so I can't comment on her character. She's certainly a pretty woman, but I've never really been nuts about her. I don't think she has that much screen presence and I actually find her annoying and off-putting in most things in which I've seen her. But, again, she's pretty. She probably looks good in that jumpsuit. I just hope she isn't the only female Avenger in this film.

Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye

Interesting choice. Renner is an Oscar nominated actor, so I'm not going to question his acting chops, but still... I dunno. I didn't care for the Hurt Locker, partly because it was boring, but also because Jeremy Renner's character was completely unlikable and unengaging in my opinion. I'm glad that they included Hawkeye in the film, since more than any other character except for Captain America, Hawkeye is the Avengers. So I'm a little let down that they didn't cast an actor I love in the role of a character I love. I think they shot themselves in the foot by portraying Iron Man as such huge comic interest in his films (something he most definitely is not in any of the comics I've read, and I've read them all), since that should've been Hawkeye. I would've liked to have seen them go nuts and cast someboy like Dax Sheapard. Think about it.

Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner (The Hulk)

It makes me laugh that they keep recasting the role of Bruce Banner for every Hulk film, considering how ultimately pointless his character is, especially here. Why even have Bruce Banner in the Avengers film? Just have him as the Hulk all the time. I wish they had brought back Eric Bana, since I thought he was great in the admittedly lackluster first film. I even liked Ed Norton in the second film. And I'm sure I'll like Mark Ruffalo in this film. It just seems like a lot of work to cast such a thankless role, but maybe that's exactly why it's so much work. Also, isn't Ruffalo too big for a role like this? I mean, he's a great actor with a lot of cred at this point in his career. He doesn't need to take a role like this in an ensemble action film. Then again, this has the potential to be one of the biggest film franchises of all time, and maybe he finally wants a shot at super stardom. Still, he should've gotten a better role than Bruce Banner.

Chris Hemsworth as Thor


Who? I guess he looks the part in the few pictures that have come out. We'll see. I have no opinion. This film has the potential to be the best thing ever made or a huge piece of shit.

Supergroup Sunday

High Enough by Damn Yankees (Supergroup featuring Tommy Shaw from Styx, Jack Blades from Night Ranger, and Ted Nugent):




Highwayman by the Highwaymen (Supergroup featuring Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash):



Handle With Care by Traveling Wilburys (Supergroup featuring Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Geroge Harrison, Roy Orbison, and, um, Jeff Lyne):





Feel Like Makin' Love by Bad Company (Supergroup featuring some guy from King Crimson, some other guy from Mott the Hoople, and a couple guys from Free):




Some Like it Hot by The Power Station (Supergroup featuing Robert Palmer, John and Andy Taylor from Duran Duran, and some other guys show don't matter):





We Are the World by the ultimate Supergroup USA for Africa (featuring Dan Akroyd and a bunch of backup singers):

Shel Silverstein Saturday

Fleet Foxes Friday

Here's a good one for y'all:

Inception

Well, I thought this film was fantastic.

Let me just say this right now: I hate dream sequences. There are few things more ponderous, pretentious, or down right off-putting to me than a drawn out dream sequence in a film or TV show. They almost always serve no purpose beyond allowing the director to use a fisheye lens and have some weird, trippy effects. One of the reasons I quit watching the Sopranos was how, seemingly every few weeks, the episode would just stop while they shoe-horned in some moronic dream sequence where characters would fly through the screen carrying giant talking fish heads or some other such nonsense.

More than that, I don't even care about dreams. If I even dream, I rarely remember them, maybe one or two a month, if that. I have no interest in talking about dreams. I don't believe in the power of dream theory or dream symbolism. And please, for the love of god, don't tell me about your dreams -- unless you're Martin Luther King Jr., but even then keep it short. I actually used to date a girl who believed in all of that stuff I just said I hate and would call me every morning to tell me every exacting detail about her previous night's dreams. This went on for weeks before I finally had to tell her to stop because I didn't fucking care, though I think I put it in nicer words than those.

Anyway, this movie isn't really about dreams, it just takes place in dreams. Its story deals with the power of the unconscious mind and how some of those things are manifested in dreams, but it uses those things as a macguffin to tell its story and doesn't dwell upon them. That is to say, this is a visually stimulating, brilliantly written, powerfully acted heist film... that takes place in people's dreams. More than that, I don't really care to say, because it would ruin the fun of seeing the film, and because it doesn't really matter. I'm sure there are people who are going to write graduate thesis papers on the ideas put forward by this movie, but I don't care, so long as nobody makes me read them. I just thought it was a really good movie, with an original, exciting story, great set pieces, and an amazing cast.

If it seems like Leo has become the go-to actor to play tortured souls who have lost loved ones and are forced to deal with psychological torture (like in Shutter Island), that's only because Leo has become the go-to guy to play everything. He's just that freaking good. Since Titanic, I'm not sure if this guy has been in a bad film, and he's certainly never been bad in a film. That's a streak that may be unparalleled in film history. This guy knows how to pick films and he is always amazing to watch. I know there are a lot of Leo haters out there, but when you actually talk to them, they will almost all finally admit they haven't seen him in anything since Titanic. 

And the rest of the cast is just as good. This is, seriously, one of the coolest casts I've ever seen, since maybe Usual Suspects or JFK. Shinzon from Star Trek Nemesis, that guy from 28 Days Later, the kid from Third Rock, that Japanese guy who always plays the Japanese guy in everything, Juno, and Michael Caine. And they were all great. Who knew that kid from Third Rock grew up to be such a dapper heartthrob? He was probably my favorite character, though Tom Hardy (Shinzon from Nemesis), pretty much stole every scene he was in. And while Ken Watanabe is an astoundingly good actor, I think I prefer him in roles where he speaks Japanese and I get to read subtitles. I just couldn't make out a lot of what he was saying, I'm sorry to say.

And as much as I hated Juno, I didn't mind Ellen Page, even though I don't understand what purpose her character really served. From a storytelling point of view, I guess they needed an audience proxy that could travel with Leo and learn his secrets, but it felt a bit clunky and unnecessary all things considered. But at least she's likable and very, very pretty, all though she does look a bit too polished and perfect, like a porcelain doll or a mannequin.

Oh, and if the trailer had simply said: Tom Berenger is in this movie, that would've been enough for me.

Actionwise, this film was off the hook, in my opinion, although don't go in thinking this is going to be a nonstop thrill ride. It's actually light on action, it's just that the set pieces are so incredible they almost steal the show. Gordon-Levitt's fight scene in the zero-gravity hallway has rightly been described as a show-stopper by most reviewers, and you won't get any argument from me. This is one of those films that looked so cool in the trailer, I looked forward to seeing it through the whole movie and kept getting scared that it wouldn't live up... and it did. That fight scene was amazing, with flawless special effects and a determined performance by the actors. I loved it. And I also loved the chase sequences, skiing sequences, and everything else. If I have any criticism at all of Christopher Nolan's ability to direct amazing action set pieces, it's just to question why he didn't do that in either of his Batman movies? The man can direct action, so why was every Batman fight scene just intercut closeups of Christian Bale's face and hands? But don't get me started on those movies again...

Anyway, Inception. I loved it. Honestly, this was probably the best move I've seen all year, and it has been a pretty good year so far. Chris Nolan has always been an intelligent, thoughtful filmmaker who has yet to really impress me with one of his films. Prestige came close, but it ultimately fell apart because every character was a moral cockroach and because the entire film made no sense and had no purpose. Memento was clever, but boring. Insomnia put me to sleep. And the Batman films were brilliantly written, meticulously directed films that completely shoe-horned in Nolan's idea of what Batman should be, instead of what he actually was in the comics. But Inception is the real deal. No, it isn't going to change cinema as we know it, but it is going to entertain, enthrall, and capture your imagination.

But if you want to read another opinion, check out my friend Justin's Blog. He didn't like it so much.

Three Dog Thursday Night

Yeah, I'm not really happy with this one either.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World

I hate to post something just so I can say something negative. In fact, I'm not even sure if that's what I'm going to do. I'm simply going to post something to say that I don't get it. Maybe it's because I'm officially getting old and no longer understand what those kids are into anymore. But after hearing so much hype and enthusiasm for this upcoming film Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World (based upon a comic book I've never heard of), I finally saw the trailer yesterday before Predators. And boy does it look awful. It certainly looks like a well done intention to make whatever that movie is suppose to be, but to me, well, I don't get it. But here is the trailer so you can tell me what I'm missing:



At least it looks original and different, so I hope it makes a lot of money and attracts a lot of people, but I sure won't be one of them, because I think it looks terrible.

Was (Not Was) Wednesday

Predators

It's hard to watch a movie called Predators and walk away disappointed. I suppose if I went to see Predators and it had turned out to be a romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Mark Ruffalo, I'd be disappointed. But Predators was just a movie about Predators, so I came out satisfied.

It's strange to thing that such a thread-bare premise (Predators kill some people) has been stretched out over two decades, five films, and countless comicbooks and videogames, but it somehow happened. And why not? People like to watch movies about people getting killed off one by one, and nobody does that quite like a Predator.

Anyway: Predators. This movie had a fun story (Predators kill people), good actors, (Adrien Brody, Lawrence Fishburne, Topher Grace, etc), and lots of action, so I liked it. It was a good Predators movie. I really don't have much more to say about this movie than that. If you like Predator movies, you'll like this one. Adrien Brody's character was awesome, and even if he is a lightweight compared to anybody from any other Predator film, his character was still a bad ass. His big fight at the end with the main Predator was probably the best fight from any Predator film, the first film included.

Anyway, check it out. It's a good Predator movie.

George the Animal Interview

Cinemassacre (one of my favorite websites, by the way) has a fantastic interview up with George the Animal Steele. Check it out. It's informative and hilarious.

Happy Birthday, Sawyer

Blessed Are the Geeks (and my girlfriend in particular) want to wish a warm birthday greeting to Josh Holloway.

Tag Team Tuesday

Michael McDonald Monday!

And why the hell not?

Appaloosa

Appaloosa is a good Western.

Appaloosa slipped under my radar during its time in the cinema. I remember seeing the trailer and thinking that it looked good, being a buddy type Western about Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris. Also, I think it was the second film directed by Ed Harris, after Pollack which I also enjoyed. But then I either forgot about it, it disappeared, or it was only in the theater for a week, so I missed it. This is what happens with most Westerns, since for whatever reason they are box office poison, even if they are brilliant. I need to make a mental note next time to see any decent looking Western in the theater on opening day, just on principle.

And, as I said, Appaloosa is a good Western. Maybe it's even a great Western, though it probably isn't a timeless classic. But it was a lot of fun, the story was interesting, if a little less than epic, and the acting was great. The chemistry between Mortensen and Harris as deputy and marshal is amazing. These two were in perfect sync and played off of one another perfectly. The villain was played by Jeremy Irons, who was mostly good, even though he did very little and had nothing much to do. He was more a of talked about threat than anything all that engaging when on screen. But at least it was Jeremy Irons. And then there was Renee Zelweger, who somehow keeps getting put in movies even though I've never met anybody anywhere who doesn't hate her. If, like most people, you do hate her, this movie isn't going to do anything to change that. She is at her absolute baby-voiced, squirrel-faced, obnoxious worst.

The story is the simple tale of two law men attempting to bring a murderer to justice, but the way in which its told feels fresh and interesting. The film gives a really interesting, in depth look at the way the judicial and law system of the old west worked, though I can't speak for its accuracy since I don't know. There was no rounding up of the posse here, since they had to wait until the had evidence of the villain's murders, and then they had to wait until the trial and sentencing. That's basically the entire plot right there, though there was enough subtext thrown in and some subplots here and there to keep things interesting.

But the real star of the show, and the heart of the story, is the friendship and chemistry between the two leads. These are likable men -- the characters and the actors -- and their story is worth watching. Anyway, it's a good western. That's all you might need to know.

Resident Evil: Afterlife

For some reason they keep making these Resident Evil movies, and for some reason I keep going to see them. Seriously, I've seen every Resident Evil movie in the theater. Can anybody explain why, especially considering how I didn't really like any of them? Anyway, I'm sure I'll see this one too, since it actually looks kinda cool.

But one thing I'll say right now, and I haven't even seen it yet, is that this isn't a Resident Evil movie. The first film was arguably the most faithful to the games, and even that was a Resident Evil film in only the most literal of terms. It was called Resident Evil and had a character fighting zombies. That was about it.

Anyway, check out this trailer, and then go see the movie. They have nothing to do with Resident Evil, but they are pretty cool, and they keep Milla Jovavich busy making movies like this instead of something that requires more of her than just looking hot.

Batman Odyssey #1

The first issue of Batman Odyssey came out this week, a new mini series written and drawn by Neal Adams. If you aren't a comic book fan, you simply can't understand how amazing this news is. Neal Adams is the artist probably most associated with Batman since Bob Kane first created the character in 1939. He was one of the most influential, well respected, and beloved comic book artists of all time, and having him return to any major Marvel or DC book is big news, but having him do Batman again is incredible.

This is perhaps the comic book equivalent of Sean Connery coming back for one more film as James Bond in Never Say Never Again, after he had long since retired from the character and let a few other actors take up the role. Or, more recently, when Harrison Ford returned to the Indiana Jones series after twenty or so years. And, much like Never Say Never Again and Crystal Skull, the first issue of Batman Odyssey is something of a train wreck.

Now, don't get me wrong, I loved Crystal Skull and I'll watch Never Say Never every time it comes on TV, but the stars definitely show their age, and as fun as they are, they don't really work all that well when taken as films on their own terms, removed from their series history. This first issue is just... weird. There's no other, better way to describe it. The characterization of Batman seems off, the dialogue is wacky, and the story structure makes very little sense. It's a flashback story that takes place within another flashback, so placing this series in continuity is somewhat difficult. Also, Dick Grayson is Robin, but he's wearing the costume Tim Drake wore. And why is Man Bat hanging out in the Batcave? And, come on, do we really need another Year One type story for Batman? This guy is already on about his tenth year one by now.

But at least the artwork is wonderful. Neal Adams is a classic comic book artist, and if his work seems less than spectacular now, that's because he created the style that ushered in modern comic book art. I've read some reviews that criticized his art here for being too styled or "scratchy," but I thought it was beautiful. I think this is some of the best work he's ever done, even if it is a little more cartoony than the far more gritty work he did on Batman all those years ago. The line work is impeccable, as you would expect from a Neal Adams comic, but there is so much energy to the characters and the panels that everything seems in motion. The sequence where Batman rides on top of the train is particularly exhilarating, which is a word I would rarely use to describe modern comics. Best of all are the four pages or so from Neal Adams's sketch book. Beautiful stuff.

So I didn't love it, but I'll keep at it because it was fun and the artwork was outstanding. This was just the first of twelve issues, so who can predict where it will go and how it will all turn out in the end. All I know is that Neal Adams is back on Batman, and that's important. Considering the lackluster script, however, I wish he had made his return with writer Denny O'Neill, but oh well. I'm almost willing to buy this book just on principle, and while I don't necessarily recommend it based on that, I do think any comic book fans should at least take a look.

The Wolfman

Now this is a perfectly forgettable movie. And I mean that literally.

This remake of the classic Universal horror film had been in production for years, but I had forgotten about it by the time I finally saw the first trailer. When it arrived in theaters, I had forgotten I had seen the trailer. When it came out on DVD, I had forgotten that it was ever in the theaters. And when the DVD arrived in my mailbox, I had forgotten that I had put it on my Netflix queue.

That isn't to say The Wolfman is a bad film. It's just not a very good one. It's just kind of boring. And ponderous. And long. And, well, forgettable. It's the kind of movie where, when the Wolfman is on screen and killing people, it's good fun, but the other 90% of the film is just people talking and looking at one another longingly. In a way, it's a spectacularly faithful interpretation of a Victorian novel, but it's just not a very engaging film, nor is it very horrific.

In conclusion, this film was just... wait... what film was I reviewing again? 

Louie

Louis CK is one of the funniest men on the planet. He's my favorite comedian who's currently still performing, which makes him pretty high up on my list of favorites of all time. He's just a funny, funny guy. He's an excellent performer, a great writer, and already a veteran of more than a few TV shows, some successful, some not so much. And now he has another show... and it's ok.

All of his staring vehicles so far have pretty much been named Louis, Louie, or some other variation on his name, and been based heavily upon his stand up act. And this is all well and good, because Louis CK is a likable guy and his stand up material is brilliant. But as a sitcom, not so much. This just isn't the right vehicle for him. It isn't that he's a bad actor or that the scripts are bad, just that... well... I dunno. It's just not that funny. It's funny enough to watch if it's on, but I can't recommend anybody seek it out, not even for Louis CK fans.

The format is kind of like early Seinfeld, in that stand up bits are inter-cut with more sitcomy scenes. The problem is, the stand up scenes are so strong and so funny, it's always a let down to skip back to the more mediocre sitcom scenes. The show is almost slap stick, with long stretches that feel like a silent movie almost. I think slap stick is great, and I'd certainly love to see more of that kind of thing on TV, but that's hardly Louis's strong suit. Still, we're only two episodes in so it can only get better. I'll stick with it because I like Louis.

Emmy Nominations

Like most people, I have very little interest in the Emmy Awards. I don't watch a whole lot of TV, and what I do watch is more often than not either online or when an entire season finally comes out on DVD. Also, the Emmy ceremonies are just boring. Sure, the Oscars are boring too, and just as forced and pointless and pretentious, but at least there are new movies every time, while the same shows keep getting Emmy nominations year after year. If you watch only one or two Emmy ceremonies per decade, you won't miss a whole lot.

So I don't care about the Emmys and I almost never watch, instead opting to look for any notable speeches on youtube if somebody I like won something. But the latest Emmy nominations were just announced, and since I have a blog, I may as well share my interior monologue and (brief) thoughts with you:




BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Matthew Morrison, Glee
Tony Shaloub, Monk
Steve Carell, The Office
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

What's interesting about this is that Monk and Curb Your Enthusiasm are still on the air. Who knew? And while I haven't watched Curb in years, even the biggest fans of that show would have to admit that Larry David isn't exactly a great actor. Personally, I find him and his show to be insufferable, but that's just me. Also, I would be remiss in my duties as a Geek blogger in not mentioning The Big Bang theory guy's nomination, considering how popular that show is among nerds and sci-fi fans... for some reason, because it's even more annoying and unfunny than Curb Your Enthusiasm. I don't get the appeal of that show at all.


BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Lea Michele, Glee
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Toni Collette, United States of Tara


Now, I like Tina Fey, and I like 30 Rock, but does anybody think she's really acting? That role doesn't call for a lot of range. It's basically just Tina Fey. And that's fine, since she's a good Tina Fey, but does she really deliver a performance worthy of an award? Do most people really think that show wouldn't be a whole lot funnier with a whole lot funnier, more charismatic actress in that role? Or is it just me? Anyway, this entire award is pointless anyway, because everybody knows women aren't funny anyway.


BEST DRAMA SERIES
True Blood
Dexter
Mad Men
The Good Wife
Breaking Bad
Lost

Lost has never won an Emmy for best drama series, and this would be its last chance. I find it hard to believe it can lose after this long.


BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Hugh Laurie, House
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Matthew Fox, Lost

Would you believe this is Matthew Fox's first Emmy nomination for Lost? About time. My boy deserves to win! And enough with the nominations for Hugh Laurie, a fabulously talented man, just not on House, in my opinion. If Fox loses, I'd like to see Cranston win. I've never seen his show, but I think he's a cool actor.


SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
John Slattery, Mad Men
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Martin Short, Damages
Terry O’Quinn, Lost
Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age
Michael Emerson, Lost

In case you haven't noticed, all I really care about is Lost. That's pretty much the only real show I watched on TV this past year. Anyway, I think this award should go to Terry O'Quinn, who has already won for playing John Locke on Lost, but this season he was as outstanding as ever. And while I love Michael Emerson (who has also already won for Lost), this season wasn't all that great for him. I'm not commenting on his acting, which was as flawless as ever, but that his screen time was pretty limited this season and his character had very little to do. Emerson, a great actor, was mostly wasted. I think Nestor Carbonell should've been nominated, or maybe even Josh Holloway, considering how great they were over the course of the entire season and this is the last chance to honor that.


REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
American Idol
Dancing with the Stars
The Amazing Race
Project Runway
Top Chef


This was the worst season yet of American Idol, which has been getting nearly unwatchable over the past few seasons. I don't even remember the name of the guy who won. I just remember that he sucked. 


REALITY SERIES
Antiques Roadshow
MythBusters
Undercover Boss
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
Dirty Jobs
Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution

Here's the last thing I'll say: I hate Kathy Griffin.  She flatters herself by claiming to be on the D List.

Happy Birthday, Sly!

Today is Sylvester Stallone's birthday. In case you've never met me or have never read this blog before, I'm a big Stallone fan. In fact, Stallone is one of my top five or so favorite movie stars of all time. Today he turned 64, and he could still kick your ass.

Celebrate the day in style by watching Tango and Cash on Netflix's Instant Viewing page. That's what I'm doing. What's funny is that I started watching this movie before I saw that it was even Stallone's birthday. That's how in sync Stallone and I am. No shit.

Happy Fourth of July!

All of us here at Blessed Are the Geeks want to wish you a fun and safe Fourth of July! And remember to always ask yourself: WWCAD?

(What would Captain America do?)

Year One

I watched this movie because it was free and because it was my day off and because I had nothing better to do. That isn't to say I had nothing better to do than Year One, but that I had nothing better to do than watch a free movie from the Netflix instant viewing catalog, and this was the one I chose. And I watched the entire thing, which isn't a rave review that will make the cover of the DVD, but there you.

"I actually watched the entire movie!"

 -- Donald W. Pfeffer, 

 Blessed Are the Geeks Blog

Boy, the critics sure took a huge shit all over this movie, and it totally bombed at the box office, but I liked it. It was cute and clever and pretty funny. It was also gross, offensive, and stupid, but that's fine with me. It wasn't somebody's doctoral thesis, it was a stupid comedy starring Jack Black. And, anyway, fart and poop jokes are funny.

No, it won't go on my list of the all time funniest movies ever made, but it was certainly funny and it made me laugh enough that I watched the entire thing and have no regrets. Honestly, if you can sit though this movie and no smile or laugh, you have no sense of humor at all. I mean, just look at this cast: Jack Black, Michael Cera, Harold Ramis, Oliver Platt, Paul Rudd, David Cross, Hank Azaria, Vinnie Jones, etc. I've never been a huge fan of Jack Black and Michael Cera, but they had great chemistry and managed to carry this movie with their charm and wit. But best of all were Paul Rudd and David Cross as Cain and Abel. Just watch this scene where Cain kills Abel and try not to laugh:



That's funny stuff. Anyway, I'm not recommending you watch this movie or anything, just that you shouldn't avoid it if you have nothing else to do and the opportunity to view it presents itself. It was funny.

Really? Part 2

I didn't even watch the other Sinbad movie Netflix recommended the other day, and they are already trying to get me to watch more? Was Netflix just purchased by Sinbad or something?