Common Sense Movie Reviews: lists

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The Versatile Blogger

Tag... I'm it again. Seems like the recent craze of "blogger awards" continue to pop it's ugly head up every month or so. While the idea is nice the creativity behind these so called Meme's is beginning to become sorely lacking. I've done three of these already in the last year and they've all centered around the person receiving the recognition to list 7 - 10 things about themselves, or some movie related tastes. While that's fun the first two times it's more so annoying the 4th time, and so while the originators of these almost online chain letters seem to only be capable of copying everyone else and slap a different name on it I'm going to be a little different and therefore truely represent the title of "versatile" blogger.

So here are the rules (of which none I will follow)

Thank the person who gave you this award
Share 7 things about yourself
Pass the award along to 15 who you have recently discovered and who you think fantastic for whatever reasons! (in no particular order)
Contact the blogs you picked and let them know about the award.

Univarn tagged me on this one again, after I'm quite certain he agreed he no longer would, so thanks for nothing! ;)

In terms of 7 things about myself here's where I switch it up a bit. I'll share one thing about myself which encompasses 7 items or in this case 7 artists. In recent similar posts I've stated my love of British Pop music, so in this list will feature my favorite 7 British Pop artists or groups in alphabetical order, and therefore shall probably alienate most of you who are not into British Pop music, leaving me and Dezmond of Hollywood Spy to discuss until the cows come home. Enjoy!

1. Lily Allen

Lily Allen got her big break posting her songs on Myspace, eventually signing a record deal and blowing up in Europe, even eventually finding an audience here in the States. The main reason I like Allen and British Pop music in general is she's got a unique flavor, something you'll never find in America. Most Americanized pop music like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears all relies on a catchy beat and one catchy phrase that is repeated twenty times.

2. Girls Aloud

One thing you don't find a lot of over here in America is girl groups (at least not any good ones), British Pop music is filled with girl groups and the most successful and popular is Girls Aloud. A group that was formed as part of a reality television show and took off from there. Not only are these girls smoking hot but they can really sing. I think I first came across them on Pandora, and immediately picked up all their albums. My favorite of the girls is Sarah (the blonde). Girls Aloud is more of your typical catchy Pop songs, but nearly all their songs are incredibly well written and enjoyable which sets them apart from most single hit Pop groups.

3. Jem

Jem is a Welsh singer I also stumbled across via Pandora. She's another Pop singer with her own unique flavor. The best thing I can compare her to in America is KT Tunstall, sort of a folk pop feel.

4. Kylie Minogue

Most people are probably familiar with Kylie, she's essentially the British equivalent of Madonna (although she's actually Australian and the best selling Australian artist). She's been around for a long time in the British Pop world and had a brief success in America back in 2002, but you don't hear much about her anymore here. Still she appears to be going strong in Europe. Personally I've never really gotten into her music much, but the few songs I have heard I've enjoyed.

5. S Club 7

S Club 7 was my first introduction to British Pop music back in 2000. Assembled by Simon Fuller (responsible for The Spice Girls and American Idol) S Club 7 was a pretty popular boy/girl group who even had a television series that aired on the then Fox Family channel for about four years. The show was incredibly campy and I'll even admit most of their music was pure bubble gum Pop, but for some reason I got sucked in. Definitely a guilty pleasure of mine which introduced me to the world of British Pop music.

6. Rachel Stevens

If I had to rank my favorite British Pop artists Rachel Stevens would be at the top of the list. A former member of the Pop group S Club 7 Rachel has released two solo albums which in my opinion epitomize British Pop. Unfortunately her albums didn't appear to receive as much appreciation in Europe, although she still remains the most popular and successful member of the now disbanded group.

7. Amy Winehouse

Finally we come to the artist most known in America as the butt of consistent drug jokes. Yes, Amy Winehouse is a complete mess and could probably have a phenomenal career if she got her life together because man can she sing. Winehouse is really more of a mix of classic R&B and Jazz than Pop, she's got a distinct and unique voice that really sets her apart from anyone else. Hopefully she'll get her act together and start putting out some new music.

So that's my contribution to the new edition of the recycle meme craze. For the one or two of you (mainly Dezmond) who share my love of British Pop music feel free to voice your thoughts on my selections. I'm not going to bother tagging anyone else because in the past I've discovered most of the people have already been tagged or didn't bother following through once they were. So if you haven't done one of these and would like to then consider yourself tagged. And next time I get tagged with another one of these I'll think of another top 7 list to do.

You can also check out my other lists if you're so inclined:
Kreativ Bloggers & Deserted Island DVD Picks & Movies and Me (2 separate lists)

Alright, so I've been "tagged" for two of these, and since I haven't posted anything today I figured I'd crank both of these out in one post, and say "tag" to anyone who hasn't already done one, I won't name names do one if you want to.

First tag is from Flixchatter who tagged me for the 10 Movie Facts About Me.

1. I've had my picture taken with one "celebrity" and that was Wil Wheaton at the only Star Trek convention I have ever attended. Unfortunately I no longer know where that picture is :( Also got an autograph from Michael Dorn (Worf) and Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi) which are the only autographs I have.

2. I'd rather watch Return To Oz than The Wizard of Oz. Yes I know that's blasphemous but what I can say, I hate musicals and Return To Oz supposedly sticks to the actual book series with it's creepy vibes. Plus it's a cool looking film in general, a lot more fantasy than The Wizard of Oz. I simply overlook the fact that Dorthy was younger looking in the "sequel", even though Judy Garland was too old to be playing Dorthy in the original.

3. I've rarely seen any "classics". To me classics are limited to the action adventure / science fiction films such as Back to the Future, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, etc. So part of the reason I started the 1001 Movie Club was to rectify that.

4. I'm a big Indiana Jones fan, so much so I own a bunch of "screen accurate gear", including a pair of Alden boots, a Wested Leather Jacket, and an Adventurebilt Fedora (which was hand made by the guy who made the hats for Kingdom of the Crystal Skull). Someday I'll buy a nice whip.

5. My favorite OST soundtrack would be a toss up between Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven.

6. Favorite actor is Russell Crowe (duh), next in line would be Harrison Ford, then Sean Connery. Favorite director would be Ridley Scott, followed by Ron Howard. Favorite actress is a little harder because it usually changes from time to time, currently I'd say Eva Green with Kate Beckinsale, Naomi Watts, Rachel McAdams and Keira Knightley somewhere behind.

7. I became enthused about B-movies and Hammer Horror only recently after watching a film called Nightmare Castle. I was so enamored by the lovely Helga Line that I started looking up more of her films which were Spanish horrors, Euro-spy and Spaghetti Westerns that opened up a can of worms which lead to B-movies in general and my discovery and now near infatuation with the British film company Hammer.

8. I'm not a fan of animated films, CGI or otherwise, probably because I associate them with cartoons and being in elementary school. Ironically enough I still love Duck Tales and Alice In Wonderland (1951) is my favorite animated film, but that's where I draw the line.

9. I can't stand Scarlett Johansson, I think she's incredibly "blah", only film I liked her in was The Island, she hardly had any lines and just had to look good, which by the way I don't really find her to be THAT hot either (though she is in the picture I've chosen).

10. Favorite theme song would have to be from the short lived Television series The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. It's so good that NBC uses it during the Olympics!

Okay now time for the next tag from Univarn. This is 7 specific questions:

1) What was you first movie-going experience?
Honestly I have no idea, the oldest movie I remember seeing in theaters was Doc Hollywood.

2) How many DVDs do you own?
Too many, but I don't keep count because there really is no reason to do so other than for some form of bragging, which I don't care for.

3) What is your guilty pleasure movie?
Eh, I have a lot. Off the top of my head I'd say Van Helsing, and Mr. & Mrs Smith, simply because they are regarded as bad films by most people.

4) You have compiled a list of your top 100 movies. Which movies didn't make the cut?
No clue. I rarely give movies 10's and don't give out a lot of 9's either so the idea of actually making a top 100 list simply gives me a headache.

5) Which movie(s) do you compulsively watch over and over again?
I don't compulsively watch any film over and over, but the films I've probably watched the most would be Back to the Future, A Christmas Story, School of Rock and Nacho Libre. And that's probably only once a year.

6) Classic(s) you're embarrassed to admit you haven't seen yet?
All of them, but I'm not embarrassed to admit it, in fact I'm actually quite proud. And more than likely when I finally do get around to seeing them I doubt I'll find them to be that classic.

7) What movie posters do you have hanging on your wall?

None. Although I still have a Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson poster on my wall.

Recently I noticed a lot of fellow bloggers were publishing posts on what 8 Dvds they would take on a deserted island that happens to be setup with an entertainment center. Finally I discovered the originator of this over at Fandango Groovers and have decided to add my 2 cents. Now I thought a little while about this, and decided variety is the key. If I simply took 8 of my all-time Top 10 films I'd be overwhelmed with one particular genre, so variety was my goal. The order of this list is simply alphabetical, I'm not ranking them.

Back to the Future (1985)

There's not a film I've watched more often than Back to the Future, and it never gets old. It's the quintessential time travel film that will always hold up to consistent viewings. Check out my review of Back to the Future

Chuck - Season 2 (2008)

This selection is not technically a single Dvd, but personally I considered a set or a season equal to a single film, it's simply an extended film. Chuck is by far my favorite current running television show and it's flawless combination of comedy, action, romance, 80's homage and the lovely Yvonne Strahovski makes taking Chuck a no-brainer. I chose Season 2 simply because it has more episodes and the characters are a little bit more flushed out. Check out my review of Chuck - Season 1

Cinderella Man (2005)

My current all-time favorite film. Cinderella Man is a gripping, influential and a moving story about a down on his luck boxer in the midst of the Great Depression who rises from the dust of despair and becomes a national icon. Great acting by Russell Crowe, and another great overlooked film by Ron Howard. Cinderella Man is sad and emotional at times but ends on a high and inspirational note. Check out my review of Cinderella Man

A Good Year (2006)

Another sorely overlooked Russell Crowe film. A Good Year is a unquie well made romantic comedy that manages to bring something fresh to the genre. With great acting, music, story and scenery, it ranks as one of my top favorite romantic comedies. Check out my review of A Good Year

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

While the Last Crusade is my favorite Indiana Jones film, Temple of Doom is the most unique out of the original trilogy, plus it's the only one in the series I never seem to get tired watching. It features the best soundtrack of the series, a wide variety of unique action and fight scenes and some very comical characters.

The Kingdom of Heaven - Directors Cut (2005)

It was a toss up between this and Gladiator, but in terms of an overall epic story Kingdom of Heaven wins. Again another overlooked film that was highly criticized during it's theatrical release. I'm one of the few who probably loved the theatrical cut, but chose to take the Director's Cut because the few additional scenes do add to the story and flush out the characters a little more. I thought Orlando Bloom did a great job, as did my favorite actress, the lovely Eva Green.

Thunderball (1965)

What's a deserted island without a little James Bond? Boring that's what it is. Instead of going with the more popular choice of Casino Royale, I'm going with my personal favorite, Thunderball. Simply a great film with a near perfect cast of Bond girls and villains. Check out my review of Thunderball

The Vampire Lovers (1970)

I have to throw one rather low budget gem into the mix to help appreciate that good, entertaining films can come in small low budget packages, and it doesn't hurt that it's a Hammer horror. Currently my favorite Hammer horror, The Vampire Lovers is wonderfully set and a very realistic Victorian setting, great story, good acting and never dull. It's the only Hammer horror I've seen thus far that is consistent in terms of it's entertainment, and it doesn't hurt that it's full of beautiful ladies such a Ingrid Pitt, Kate O'Mara and the ever popular Madeline Smith. Check out my review of The Vampire Lovers

Kreativ Bloggers

My good friend Univarn and Julian Stark has named me as one of his 7 Kreativ Bloggers, kind of an award but more so a way of letting your fellow bloggers know you appreciate their work as well as recommending that others check them out as well. It's a community thing. So thus I'm encouraged by this honor to do the same as well by following the below criteria:

Receiving such a kind honor comes with some criteria as well (7 in fact):

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

1. I've already thanked him for his kind words and they were quite kind, here's what he said about me:

The(re) are few bloggers I follow that I disagree with more than TheAnswerMVP, and his blog Common Sense Movie Reviews. There are also few bloggers that I respect the opinion of more than him as well. AnswerMVP is perhaps the most honest blogger I've come across. He knows what he likes, and is sure to tell you what he looks for in film. He doesn't pander his score to the movies others like just because they're classics any more than he does to those of the present. As well his secret file series for the James Bond films are as fun, in depth, and as passionate a take as you're likely to find on the series.

3. Much thanks to A Life In Equinox - more about him later, and Movies and Other Things

4. Possibly unknown tastes I have.

TheAnswerMVP2001 - my screen name. TheAnswer is the nickname for Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson, my favorite athlete. MVP2001 stands for the year he was named Most Valuable Player.
I love anything and everything that has to do with Austrailia, someday I'd like to move there, or at least vacation there.
I have a thing for British and Austrailian actresses, there actually aren't very many American actresses a really like, even Rachel McAdams is Canadian!
I'm a fan of the now dispersed British pop group S Club 7 (especially Rachel Stevens), I loved the TV show they used to have in the late 90's on what was then FOX Family and would definitely by the show on DVD if it was ever released.
I'm a Trekker, not a Trekkie, I've never dressed up and only gone to one convention (where I did meet Wil Wheaton). I do own all the Star Trek series on DVD and thoroughly enjoy the show, but am not obsessive enough about it to actually quote from particular episodes or recite useless trivia.
I enjoy classic Television shows especially The Twilight Zone, Lost In Space, and The Wild Wild West.
I've probably got the most varied tastes in everything you'll ever find.

5-7. Now here is where I nominate or name my top 7 favorite bloggers. Others have been straying away from people already mentioned, but I don't see the harm in mentioning someone more than once. Chances are there are some readers on my blog that aren't readers of others blogs that have been named so I see no problem in it.

A Life In Equinox - okay, so it's kinda corny to return the favor but I genuinely like Univarn and read his blog on a daily basis. He's a Rotten Tomatoes rebel like myself although I don't think we actually knew each other over at RT, if we did I apologize for not remembering! But now I consider him one of my best blogger friends. While we have quite different tastes in films it's still fun to discuss things with him and occasionally jab him about his love of anime.

Hollywood Spy - another blogger that's already received acknowledgment on another blog but I would be remiss of I didn't mention him as well. Dezmond is another good blogger friend of mine, and a guy I wouldn't mind meeting face to face (although he'd have to pay to fly me out to Serbia ;P). I thoroughly enjoy his movie news and rumors and also appreciate his witty comments on my own blog. Plus we both agree Requiem For A Dream and Magnolia are horrible films, and for that alone I have respect for him.

Filmsquish - a fellow James Bond fan, I owe the idea of the 1001 Movies You Must See club to him. I stumbled upon his blog and enjoy his Bond reviews and while digging through his site first discovered the 1001 Movies book and his goal of watching all the films.

Carfax Abbey - stumbled upon this blog last month during my Hammer craze, he doesn't post very often but I find his Hammer posts quite enjoyable. He also reviews many other classic horror films.

Precious Bodily Fluids - kind of a strange name for a movie review blog but the site is full of in-depth reviews of a wide variety of films with a lot of pictures, and as you can see from my on blog I like pictures!

The Predictability of Stupidity - another fellow Rotten Tomatoer who I do remember from the days of RT. I like the unique layout of his blog and thoroughness of his reviews.

Dan's Media Digest - enjoy television? Dan does episode reviews of a lot of popular American and British TV shows, including my personal favorite, Chuck!