Top 2 Tuesday: on Wednesday… AGAIN!!

Photo Courtesy of: Guilherme Roseler de Carvalho (Flickr)

Well let’s talk about some tv, shall we? I mean, I’ve hardly brought up the subject in months. “Really? Months?” you say. And I retort, “yes, yes, it’s true”

So, the genre of television will be my broad focus for this weeks “Top 2 Tuesday (on Wednesday- again).

Now let’s be honest. There are very few ‘great’ sitcoms since they were very first made/created/born (though there is a plenty big enough pool to choose from when it comes to narrowing the field to just two). Sure, there are many that can be classified as funny, and overall just a plain ol’ joy to watch, but that doesn’t mean they’ve achieved ‘greatness’ status. No. And if we (you and I) were to sit down and jot on paper the ones that have hit the pinnacle of all time greatness, I’m sure we’d even come up with some different answers.

So, my #1 pic for all time greatest sitcoms was an easy pick. I didn’t even have to let my mind go back, and search for it. The answer just came to me. Without a doubt, it deserves to be on the list. I don’t see how it could be debatable, really. So with that said, here’s my #1. And ENJOY this scene…. CLASSIC!

My #2 pic was a bit more tricky. I mean, I had a tie for second place. Though guess which won out? …Well my #2 pick, I feel, does have that ‘debatable quality,’ though I’m determined to stick with it. It is not a terribly old sitcom. In fact, in the entire history of television, it can be considered brand new. (That is why I feel that part of me should be picking a show from the beginning ages of television, when conceptually the sitcom first came into being. Though alas, my 2nd pick doesn’t come from this earlier time period). My 2nd pick was chosen for the combination of great acting and writing from an ensemble cast. Actually, it was the chemistry of the actors that made this show really great. They worked unbelievably well together. The comedic timing, a real gem to watch. With all this lead up, I might as well go ahead and give it to you now. …So here, it is. My #2 pick for all time best sitcom. Click here to find out what it is

Well, my friends, I’d love to know your thoughts and hear what your “Top 2″ tv sitcoms of all time are. Til next week…

Movie Review: Catfish

don’t let anyone tell you what it is, a photo by KetuGajjar on Flickr.

A cinematic experience worth visiting? Hmm, well let’s first start off with the nuts and bolts and move straight into whether this machine works and is highly functioning. Did it make the grade, or not?

Brief Synopsis:

This isn’t your typical movie. By this, I mean, it doesn’t include “actors” or professional cameramen, nor even a script for that matter. This is raw footage of one man’s adventure and quest for truth.

The story begins with Yaniv (Nev) Schulman, and his crew (brother- Ariel Schulman; and friend- Henry Joost). As the movie starts, We see Nev enter into a friendship with a family whom the young daughter of which (Abby) is a supposed 7-year-old protege painter and creator of a particular painting based on one of Nev’s published photographs. Abby’s mother, Angela, sends the painting to Nev, and wah-lah… a correspondence is born. Nev adds the whole fam to his Facebook account. And soon finds himself in a virtual romantic connection with Abby’s 19-year-old sister Megan.

After sometime, though, the movie takes a subtle distinct shift where things begin to unravel, and the pieces that made some sort of sense, no longer do. Nev questions this new-found friendship with the family and relationship with Megan. To understand it more clearly, and bring light to the confusion, Nev and his crew decide to take a trip and go visit Megan and the family. In search of answers- of truth.

Overall Thoughts:

Ok. So, the first ten minutes, I’m sure everyone who watches will have a preconceived idea of where this ship is sailing, but I’m fairly convinced that most people would be wrong, to their own surprise.

Since this isn’t a ‘typical’ film, I cannot comment on the acting, writing, and so forth. What I can say is that it is raw, honest, and emotional. You feel something when you watch it. The emotions are fully exposed on-screen, and you see laughter and smiles; tears and frustration; heartache; and above all, this movie is truly great because it teaches us as people to just be a ‘listener’ and to reserve judgment for a moment’s time. To see someone else’s perspective beyond your own scope of reality.

Since everything I’m saying is probably awfully confusing, it is best that I just tell you “hey, if what I’ve said has in the smallest way interested you, then I’ve succeeded in casting the bait into the pond of intrigue enough for you to bite at the hook and go check out this flick.

Grade: (+)

(+) recommend the watch

(^) worth a visit, though wait for rental (if movie) or paperback (if book)

(-) not so much

Top 2 Tuesday picks… On WEDNESDAY :)

Photo Courtesy of: Kellypuffs

Sorry to everyone for not getting this out yesterday (tuesday), as I realize it kind of negates the whole purpose of Top 2 Tuesday on any other day but Tuesday. With that said, I debated on just letting my post (or lack thereof) slide and picking back up where I left off starting again next week. Though a small part of me said, no, no, no. …It’s no matter that Tuesday has came and went. It is gone for another week, yes, but hey, my picks are ever present at the tip of my tongue, ready to be said at a moments notice.

So without further adieu, let’s dive in, shall we?

So, have you ever thought back in the recesses of your memory, back to a time 10, 20, or 30 some years ago, and remembered that which was inspiring or had the ability to move you. Something that which spoke to you, and to this day still has the ability to impact you by merely focusing on the memory itself?

I have wondered to myself, what two movies I haven’t seen in years would I re-watch at this moment, if given the chance to spontaneously sit down and revisit them? My top two picks were chosen based on a couple of aspects. First off, the story and scripts for both films are widely accessible though contain a level of depth that I truly appreciate in a good piece of cinematic art. Secondly, in both movies, the acting greatly compliments the writing/script, as the minor nuances of the characters are paid close attention to.

With that said, here are my Top 2 choices for movies that I have not seen for quite some time, though would love to revisit… Drum roll please…

My number one pick: is the film Life as a House, starring Kevin Kline, Kristen Scott Thomas, and Hayden Christensen. Really such a beautiful movie. If you have not yet seen this gem, I highly recommend it.

My number two pick it the film titled About a Boy. You may (or may not) already have preconceived notions/thoughts/opinions of Hugh Grant as a person or an actor, but in all honesty, he delivers such a great performance in this wonderfully exquisit film.

Please share with me your top 2 movies that you haven’t seen in years, though would love to rewatch them given the chance. Even if you’ve seen them only once 10 years ago, but they left their mark on you. Would love to know and hear from you.

Movie Review: 127 Hours

The one who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. Those who walk alone are likely to find themselves in places no one has ever been before.

-Albert Einstein

Photo Courtesy of: The Sage of Shadowdale

MOVIE REVIEW: 127 Hours

So, I know I know, this isn’t exactly a new movie. About this time last year it was up for a few nominations from Mr. ol’ Oscar himself.

Let’s start off by saying, it’s not that the movie didn’t intrigue me… well, ok, I’ll be honest. It didn’t. I had watched on one of the prime time shows on one of the network stations way back when, about Mr. Aron Ralston’s story that inspired the Hollywood adaptation of his journey up, down, over and around Utah’s Blue John canyon… *If you have not heard of or know of this story, click here for more info* I felt by watching this network special that I extracted all what was necessary in understanding the events of this real life tale, and while watching it from the individual who experienced the actual happenings himself. No actor. The real mccoy.

So, when Hollywood decided to put together a film based on this man’s experience, I had no desire to see what I considered a ‘Hollywood’ version of what I already heard and knew took place. No way could they covey it any better or make it any more real than what I had heard from the real Aron Ralston himself.

Well fast forward to…Now… or to be more accurate, yesterday, when I decided, ‘hey, it’s on tv… not much else on… why not? With that, I decided to go ahead and give this movie a go. And go ahead I did…right along on the journey with Aron Ralston (played by James Franco) into an adventure of thrill seeking adrenaline where we ultimately find him struggling in all human capacities -physically, mentally, pyschologically, spiritually- desperate to free and save himself from a most certain death, and to his own demise- after taking what he considered an innocent hike, something that was, for him, nothing out of the ordinary. But on this day, as he put it, the boulder that fell and crushed, trapping his arm, was waiting for him. It had been waiting for him his whole life. Since the boulder had been first created in the cosmos of space.

Photo Courtesy of: LOVEFiLM.com

Now I’m hearing the term ‘heroic’ thrown around a lot in regards to this film. Let’s first be clear that I don’t see this man as a hero. The true definition of a hero is someone who sacrifices him or herself for that of someone else. In this case, Ralston (Franco) jetting off to a canyon hike, telling no one where he was going or what he was doing, does not constitute as heroism. In all actuality, there many people who have no sympathy for his story. None. He brought this life changing, and almost life ending experience onto himself. In the movie, Ralston (Franco) even recognizes this.

With all that said, isn’t that actually something to be celebrated in this man’s story?- the fact that he is faulted and in turn his experience has the ability to show us our own humanity? And aside from that, given the circumstances he put himself in, what an amazing look at survival at its finest. I am certain, if you put 100 individuals in the same situation, very few (if any) would have been able to do what he did-cut off his own arm or even fathom to do so. Suffering from loss of blood, dehydration, sleep deprivation, and possible infections would realistically be a deal breaker for most. It’s just the truth of the matter. Some can withstand more than others. Some have a louder voice inside their head, and a survival instinct that is more prominent. It’s just how we’re built. I’m sure of it.

Now, migrating beyond the story and to the movie itself. James Franco DID do a great job in this role. I have always liked him as an actor. Watching his characters transform on-screen into identifiable beings that I am able to connect with on a core level, is something I always find fascinating to watch. With this movie, it is no different. Sure sure, at first the movie itself didn’t appeal to me, hence why it has taken me a year to see this film, but after deciding to go ahead and give it a go, I am really glad that I did.

This movie transformed my afore thinking of, ‘well, this guy put himself in this situation, fully knowing he wasn’t telling anyone where he was going or what he was doing. He made his bed and now has to sleep in it’ type deal, to my now present way of thinking which is, ‘yeah, this guy was stupid. not telling anyone anything about what his plans were. Though despite that, don’t we all make mistakes?’ To speak elitist and say “no,” is to completely disconnect with our humanity.