Andrew has been kind enough to give me the ability to blog here about movies and other things that interest me. I’ve been blogging on and off now for about 5 years or so. I have my own little movie site that my friends use to see what I’m thinking of seeing in theater each week but it doesn’t really cover much more than that. I’m a computer technician with the Canadian Federal Government. I’m in my mid Thirties with one son who is already addicted to kid’s movies at the age of 4. My wife has very different tastes than I do in movies. She likes happy romance comedies, while I like good movies. 
I figure the best way to see what I’m like is for me to post a top 10 list of movies. These top 10 lists always amuse me because no sooner than I post one of them I change my mind. There are really too many good movies to definitively say what are my favorite. Given that, here are my current top 10:
10. A Funny Thing Happened On The Way Too The Forum
I generally don’t like slapstick but there is just something about this movie that makes me laugh. I think it also has something to do with the fact that one of my old Classics (Greek and Roman studies) professors used to show this to all his 1st year courses. It has a who’s who of old comedians. One of the best parts is Zero Mostel contorting his face to actually appear as a classical theater mask.
9. Léon
This is my favorite Luc Besson film. There is just something wonderful in a dark way about the relationship between Mathilda and Léon. What really puts it in the top 10 for me is the ending scene between Léon and Stansfield. I can’t think of a more beautifully filmed death.
8. Miller’s Crossing
I’m Irish Canadian and I have a thing for gangster crime flicks. The Coen Brothers out do all other gangster flicks for style. I may think that the Godfather Trilogy is a more important and better filmed piece of cinema but I enjoy Miller’s Crossing much more and have seen it more times than I can count.
7. Unforgiven
This is such a powerful poignant western. Clint Eastwood shows everyone that he has the chops to be a top director for the first time in my opinion. I love movies that have a sadness about them yet tell a good story. I can’t think of a better movie when it comes to that.
6. Drunken Master II
I was introduced to Jackie Chan back before he was recognized in North America with this movie at my University Theater. That theater is now closed but I still have fond memories of being amazed at what Jackie does in Drunken Master II. I don’t think he’s come close in any of his other movies to the comedic and action brilliance he showed here.
5. Indiana Jones Trilogy*
Indiana Jones is what turned me onto Archeology originally. All three of these are great pulp with wonderful action. My order of preference would be Raiders, Last Crusade and then finally Temple of Doom.
4. Original Star Wars Trilogy*
I know it is mostly due to the nostalgia effect but I love all three of these movies. I pretty much hate the new trilogy and wish that Lucas had never created them. At least once a year I have a movie day where I watch all three of these in a row. My order of preference would be Last Hope, Empire Strikes Back and then Return of the Jedi. I know that Empire is a better film but I just prefer watching Last Hope more. Perhaps its because I remember seeing it at the drive in so many years ago.
3. Little Children
Something just clicked with me when I watched Little Children. Perhaps its because I could connect on some level with Brad. What really set this movie apart for me was the sense of dread I had going into the finale. I couldn’t believe how tied up I had become with all the characters. Normally I complain about happy ending type movies but in the end I was surprised and pleased with the feeling of hope that came from the ending of Little Children.
2. Infernal Affairs Trilogy*
I was hosting a party at my place one evening and it ended up wrapping up a bit early. I didn’t feel like heading to bed just yet so I threw in Infernal Affairs. Five or so hours later I had watched all of them in a row. The first movie is so subtle in its story compared to the remake. While the second and third movies are each a bit weaker than the first they still tell a wonderful story when combined as one large movie.
1. Oldboy
I can’t think of a movie that made me go “wow” afterwards more than this movie. Old Boy is filmed so well and tells such a great revenge story. While I don’t think think the North American remake will come anywhere near the brilliance of the original I am hoping that it will mean the DVD of the original is released wide to North America. I can’t really say too much about how good this movie is in a very short space other than to simply suggest to track it down however possible.
* I generally count trilogies as one big movie.
James Doohan, better known as Scotty on the popular TV and film versions of “Star Trek,” had his remains shot into space by a rocket on Saturday morning. But not really. According to the AP, a few grams of his ashes, along with those of about 200 more people were launched on a 20 foot rocket and blasted off into the atmosphere. But, since it was a “suborbital” flight, the rocket soon parachuted back to Earth safely a short time later.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about how 
Zach just posted a bulletin on myspace that explains that his ONE attempt at directing an episode of Scrubs airs this Thursday at 9pm eastern time on NBC. I’ve only watched the show a couple of times, but since I’m a fan of Garden State and Braff in general, maybe I’ll check this out…if I remember.