Greg's Daily Top Ten Lists: 2013

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

October 16, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Childhood Crushes Who I Still Crush On:

10. Heather Graham (gotta love a girl named Mercedes. Right, Cap?)
9. Gina Gershon
8. Christina Ricci (LOL@, Denise)
7. Jenna Von Oy
6. Nancy McKeon
5. Kate Jackson
4. Lacey Chabert
3. Kellie Martin
2. Neve Campbell
1. Shirley Manson

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

October 15, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Hints Regarding My Halloween Outfit:

10. Grow and shave appropriate facial hair
9. Dye facial hair
8. Dye the hair on my head
7. Make illuminating purchase on eBay
6. Dressing up in my best 3-piece suit
5. Walk the line between arrogant and confident
4. Pb minus the J
3. Completely disregard authority
2. Save the world
1. Cue famous heavy metal riff

Monday, October 14, 2013

October 14, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Movie Soundtracks that were Better than the Movie:

10. The Crow: While the Brandon Lee swansong, The Crow, wasn't really a "bad movie" it also isn't particularly good, either. Again, that's just my opinion. The soundtrack, however, is one of the best of the 1990s. Stone Temple Pilots "Big Empty" and The Cure's "Burn" are major highlights but for the money, the Nine Inch Nails cover of Joy Division's "Dead Souls" is incredible and easily my favorite song on the album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWs8kdGUgDg

9. Shaft (original): Yeah, that's right, I've seen Shaft and didn't think much of it. Sue me. The soundtrack, however, is a timeless classic that pretty much everyone has heard in some form or another. Isaac Hayes was the man, even if he was a scientologist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEaRCAcfOEQ

8. The Saint: Ah, there was a time when Val Kilmer was slated to be the next major action star. That didn't exactly work out as planned. In fact, between being the next Batman and being an updated version of Roger Moore's Simon Templar in The Saint it's really quite amazing his career when down the tubes so quickly. The Saint was a disaster of a movie but the soundtrack features the likes of David Bowie, Daft Punk, Duran Duran, Moby & The Chemical Brothers. However, Sneaker Pimps "Six Underground" is the song that propelled the soundtrack to this list. The Nellie Hooper edit is a classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlA_ljYaBhQ

7. Tron: Legacy: This was a no-brainer to make this list. The movie was a joke and a major letdown for those of us 80s children who fondly remember the Disney original. At least we were rewarded with Daft Punk's chart-topping soundtrack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LadRcupWDuI

6. Magical Mystery Tour: Beatles films get pushed into two very distinct categories - awesome (A Hard Day's Night) and terrible. Magical Mystery Tour is definitely the latter. Obviously, copious amounts of drugs were used when the "script" was being written. Something tells me lots of acid and LSD were consumed because the film is an unmitigated mess and almost unwatchable by Beatles standards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MsXVJ6Ba24

5. Singles: Movies like Singles are such a snapshot in time. For me, this movie was my high school's soundtrack - a grunge-laden record that today stands as one of the decade's finest. Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Mother Love Bone. While the film is just "meh" the soundtrack is a who's who of 90's grunge greatness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUeHyaAMOxA

4. Saturday Night Fever: Everyone born before 1970 will probably hate me for the inclusion of the John Travolta classic but, IMO, the film is utter crap. I cannot watch this movie without falling asleep between Bee Gees tracks that are peppered throughout. However, that's the entire reason for watching - the Bee Gees absolutely make the movie worthwhile. Though I can't stand disco, it's undeniable that the soundtrack to Fever is one of the greatest of all-time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpqqjU7u5Yc

3. Batman Forever: Ah, look, another Val Kilmer movie makes the list. If this were a Top Ten Best Soundtracks list, he'd also have made the cut (Top Gun). Kilmer was a terrible choice to play Bruce Wayne. As the Bat, he was decent, but as Wayne he came off as stiff and completely without character - something Michael Keaton had in spades. The soundtrack was the soundtrack of my high school senior year summer. I must have listened to U2's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" over a thousand times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zuy4828wpvg

2. Empire Records: The film was nearly direct-to-video fodder that completely tanked at the box office. Today it's a cult-classic that would make many people's guilty pleasures list. Rex Manning Day, anyone? I mean, it's by no means whatsoever a good movie. It's downright uncomfortable to watch at times but it's still ridiculously entertaining even at its worst. The soundtrack, however, was a huge success and gave us one of the best one-hit-wonders of the 90s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkKxGzm98AU

1. Purple Rain: Soundtrack gets an A+. Movie gets about a D+ and the only reason I wouldn't give it an F is because it's better than Prince's Under the Cherry Moon, which is so bad I think third world countries use it to torture people. Prince tries to "act" by pouting a lot and being overly dramatic with expressions that even Nicolas Cage finds over the top. Did I mention this movie gave us all Appolonia? Yeah, her career really took off, didn't it? Still, the soundtrack stands as perhaps the greatest of the 1980s and that's really saying something when you consider how much great music came out of the MTV generation.

http://www.myvideo.de/watch/6729113/Prince_Purple_Rain

October 12, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Local Hideaways (within 30 mile radius):

10. Cohiba, San Jose
9. Saratoga Public Library, Saratoga
8. Blue Rock Shoot, Saratoga
7. Downtown Mountain View, Mountain View
6. Clarke's Charcoal Broiler, Mountain View
5. Starbucks Silver Creek, San Jose
4. Cafe Borrone's, Menlo Park
3. Starbucks Rancho Shopping Center, Los Altos
2. Shoreline Park, Mountain View
1. Rancho San Antonio, Cupertino

Friday, October 11, 2013

Thursday, October 10, 2013

October 10, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Current NFL Players Not Named Tom Brady Who I Can't Stand:

10. DeAngelo Hall
9. Philip Rivers
8. Mark Sanchez
7. Brian Cushing
6. Aldon Smith
5. Justin Blackmon
4. DeSean Jackson
3. Ndamukong Suh
2. Jay Cutler
1. Cam Newton

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

October 8, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Sigourney Weaver Movies:

10. The Ice Storm
9. Death and the Maiden
8. Ghostbusters II
7. Working Girl
6. The Year of Living Dangerously
5. Galaxy Quest
4. Dave
3. Alien
2. Ghostbusters
1. Aliens

Monday, October 7, 2013

October 7, 2013

Greg's Top Ten People I'd Like to see Shot out of a Cannon:

10. John Boehner
9. Pitbull
8. Miley Cyrus
7. Justin Bieber
6. Tom Brady
5. Joe Francis
4. Justin Bieber - cause I want to see that shit happen twice
3. Chris Brown
2. Kanye West
1. Kris Jenner circa 1978, cause I can get four for the price of one

Friday, October 4, 2013

October 4, 2014

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Live Aid Performances:

1. Queen - Full Performance: Without question, the undisputed king (no put intended) of Live Aid performances. Queen were a band in turmoil at the time - a quartet who saw their record sales suffer since their 1970s heyday. When 1985 rolled around, some people had forgotten how great Freddie Mercury and Queen were. This performance reminded the millions watching that Queen was far from gone. In fact, this particular performance might rank as the single greatest live performance by a rock frontman in the history of music. Think I'm full of it - just watch the second clip and judge for yourself. That's a frontman holding the crowd of 100,000 in the palm of his fucking hand. Amazing frontmen like David Lee Roth and Roger Daltrey couldn't hold a torch to Freddie - the king of all frontmen, IMO. I dare say, if Freddie wanted to run for Prime Minister of England the entire audience at Wembley would have voted him in without thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQsM6u0a038 (full performance)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5PLBZ2xn2Y (the greatest 5 minutes of Live Aid)

2. U2 - Bad: It’s so hard to remember there was a time when U2 wasn’t the biggest band in the world. This preceded their breakout record, “The Joshua Tree”, by a few years. In fact, at the time of this performance, U2 hadn’t even record an album that charted in the US Billboard Top Ten - something they would do an incredible eight consecutive times following this performance. Though their spot at Live Aid didn’t launch their amazing run of hit records, it gave them unprecedented exposure to markets worldwide. Bono’s emotional rendition of “Bad” from their “Unforgettable Fire” album is a testament to just how powerful U2 are as a live band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zIW8qDPhos

3. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight: If there was a Most Valuable Player of Live Aid, Genesis lead singer Phil Collins would likely garner a ton of votes. Get this - Phil didn’t just play a few songs and leave, the guy played the Wembley Stadium leg of the concert in London, jumped on the Concorde and flew out to Philadelphia to play the US leg of the show. That’s dedication right there. This song is so haunting and beautiful all at once. It easily ranks as my favorite of Collins’ solo works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FvWFpU_uAw

4. David Bowie - Heroes: I never have anything bad to say about David Bowie. Ever. The man is untouchable and has no equal. Bowie was in the midst of a career revival of sorts when Live Aid was broadcast on the fledgling MTV. But, there was no denying that a visual chameleon and fashionista like David Bowie was made for the cable network’s target audience. Despite being well into his 40s, Bowie looked suave and current and totally connected with the crowd. It’s not my favorite Bowie performance, but the song “Heroes” really was the perfect song for the moment. Total decorum for an event that was all about raising money for starving children in Africa. Phil Collins might be the MVP of the show, but “Heroes” was the song of the show and really lends a spotlight to all of the real heroes of the day - those that gave their hard-earned money to help save the lives of countless people in turmoil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGOx0ZpMrrU

5. Elton John and George Michael - Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me: It’s no secret, I’m a big fan of George Michael’s vocal talents. Sure, he’s a complete mess as a person, but he’s still one of the greatest voices I’ve ever heard in my life. Combine the singing of George Michael with the piano playing of the great Elton John and you have a recipe for greatness. They’ve played this song together on many occasions, but this was the first time I ever saw them play Elton’s ballad, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” This was just as Michael’s solo career was about to take flight. I always felt bad for George’s Wham! counterpart Andrew Ridgeley, who Elton introduces at the beginning of the song but ends up missing for the performance. At least Ridgeley had the good sense not to get caught soliciting sex in a public bathroom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljyt9_TFZd4

6. Sting, Phil Collins & Branford Marsalis - Every Breath You Take: Sting and Phil Collins singing together. What more do you need? How about one of the finest jazz musicians on the planet adding his genius to the mix? I mean, the amount of talent on that stage at the same time is incomparable. There are 25 Grammy Awards wins between the 3 men on that stage. My head almost exploded after writing that. 25, people. That’s insane. Kinda like how I spend a ton of time writing these Top Ten lists - it’s that insane.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1x7hc6d2bY

7. Simple Minds - Don’t You Forget About Me - Nostalgia is a funny thing. I still remember the first time I heard this song and how it literally caused the hairs on my arm to stand on end. I was sitting my grandmother’s living room watching The Breakfast Club and the song hit me like a ton of bricks. It’s perhaps the definitive 80s song and one of the most memorable movie soundtrack cuts of all time. To think that Billy Idol was offered the song and turned it down - not that it sidetracked his career, but it certainly didn’t help. It certainly put Simple Minds on the map all over the globe. Their stint at Live Aid coincided with the release of John Hughes’ classic coming-of-age drama. I think they made the moment count.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuAOl2oXXho

8. Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing: Mark Knopfler is the man. That is all. Ok, not really. I just can’t put into words how awesome he sounds on guitar here. He sounds so good live it’s not fair. He plays seamlessly while on the mic and absolutely kills it here. I listen to the live performance more than I listen to the studio track. It’s that good, IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plsMlX-qYP8

9. Spandau Ballet - Only When You Leave: It’s almost blasphemy for a Duran Duran fan to rank Spandau ahead of DD, but it’s too easy in this case. Quick history - Duran Duran’s original quintet of LeBon/Rhodes/Taylor/Taylor/Taylor was all but finished when Live Aid aired. Guitarist Andy Taylor was ready to ditch Duran Duran and pursue a solo career. Drummer Roger Taylor wanted out of the music business for good. Lead singer Simon LeBon was too busy sailing to concentrate on music full time. They were all on different pages and it showed. They sounded pretty bad during Live Aid and their performance would prove to be the last time the 5 members would be together until they reunited in 2001. On the other hand, the 5 member of Spandau sounded great and nailed their performance. Spandau lead singer Tony Hadley is a far superior singer, especially live. He sounds smooth, whereas Simon LeBon might get the award for the biggest gaffe of Live Aid. The second link will show you why…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHiKOBOhigs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mINh8ZOWSLw (fast forward to 2:54 to hear the bum note heard ‘round the world)

10. Madonna - Holiday/Into the Groove - Madonna in her infancy. I had to include it for no other reason than to show just how a snapshot in time of what fashion looked like in 1985. In a word - bad. In two words - really bad. That hair, the overuse of accessories, the suit, the dancing. It’s just awesome in the worst way. Madonna was just beginning to take off as a bonafide superstar. Songs like “Papa Don’t Preach” and “Like a Virgin” were just twinkles in Madonna’s eyes. In fact, she hadn’t even started dating Sean Penn at the time of this video. I still chuckle when I see this video because of how green she seems on stage. It’s just not the polished Madonna we’re used to seeing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JaHIMfi0YQ

October 4, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Bands I Want to See Live:

1. Depeche Mode - I blame Martha Santana for this one. Seriously, you couldn't wait one more month to go to Japan? Seriously.
2. Genesis - Bassi, if they ever do that dream tour with Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins, no price will be too high, my friend.
3. Tears For Fears - Still haven't gotten around to this one yet. Now that they're back together I anticipate I might see them with someone. You hear me, Denise?
4. Iron Maiden - Of all the metal bands out there, they top my list and it's not even close. I'd say Guns N Roses, but I have no interest in seeing an overweight has-been who might show up an hour late to his own show.
5. Daft Punk - Everything these guys do is utter gold.
6. David Bowie - I swear, if he ever comes back around I'm going. No telling how much longer we have to enjoy the pure genius of The Thin White Duke. I made the mistake of putting off Pink Floyd too long. I won't make that mistake with Bowie.
7. New Order - Not sure how often they tour the States, but if they ever come around, count me in. I'm still amazed by the number of great songs they've penned over the years.
8. U2 - If they ever did a tour and just sang everything from before Zooropa I'd be completely on board. Since they usually pepper their shows with more current material, I'm less enthused. Still would be a great show and I know Jackie Marrwould agree.
9. Billy Idol - I dressed like him for an 80s party. The least I could do is see him live, right? BTW, I made a damn good Billy Idol.
10. Paul McCartney - I adore The Beatles. And although I'll never get to see them live, I'll take the next best thing. Heck, I'd even take seeing Ringo Starr just to say I saw a member of The Beatles live.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Saturday, September 21, 2013

September 21, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Movies I Never Tire of Watching

If I had a top ten list of movies I would always watch regardless of the amount of times I've seen it or what I'm doing at the moment it comes on TV, these would be they....

1. Die Hard - The single greatest American action movie of all time. It's the benchmark for which all other action movies are graded against. I can quote it almost scene for scene and would watch it any time, anywhere.

2. Heat - Three hours long and I couldn't care less. In fact, if it were six hours, I'd watch it. It's my all-time favorite movie in the suspense/thriller genre, it's star-studded, it's intense and it's incredibly well-acted. DeNiro and Pacino at the peak of their game and Val Kilmer in one of his last truly great screen performances before his career went down the tubes. Honestly, if you haven't seen it, get off your ass. You're gonna want to see it.

3. The Breakfast Club - I still remember the first time I saw it, many years after its initial release. What stands out for me the most is how I got goosebumps on my arms at the end of the film when Bender walks off the football field and raises his fist to the sky. I've seen probably over a hundred high school movies and I have yet to find one that impacts me quite like John Hughes' 80's classic.

4. Aliens - The first movie in the Alien series is a solid movie, but often bores me about a third of the way through. Aliens, on the other hand, grips me from front to finish with each viewing. It's a great example of a movie where the sequel might very well have surpassed the original.

5. The Hunt For Red October - This one should probably be higher given how often I pop it into my DVD player. Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn and Sam Neill were so damn good in this. I really can't believe it took me 10 years to view it for the first time. Once I did, I was hooked and can't stop watching it. While Das Boot might have set the bar for submarine movies, I think Red October is far more watchable on a repeated basis.

6. Sneakers - I'm always surprised, and pleased, to learn how many people have watched this one. It's such a damn good and ridiculously fun caper movie with a freaking awesome cast to boot! Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, River Phoenix and so many more. It's pure fun and was filmed locally here in the SF Bay Area, which adds another level of interest for me since it's my backyard.

7. & 8. Beverly Hills Cop 1 & 2 - I've seen each at least 100 times. Heck, I've probably seen them both about 200 times! :p It's such a shame Eddie Murphy's career took a massive dump after the 80s ended because when he was at his best, he was untouchable. Nobody, and I mean nobody, was as funny, charming, entertaining and interesting.

9. Predator - I could easily throw about five or six Schwarzenegger films into this thread (e.g. Total Recall, The Running Man, True Lies, The Terminator, T2, etc...) but there's no movie Arnold starred in that I love more than the jungle horror of Predator. And who doesn't love Jesse "The Body" Ventura stealing every scene he's in? My only complaint is that they (SPOILER ALERT) killed him off so quickly in the movie. Other than that, it's a flawless masterpiece from John McTiernan, the same director that brought us Die Hard and The Hunt For Red October.

10. Real Genius - Here's one 80s movie that I am baffled isn't more popular and more well known. However, for those of us that have seen it, it's absolutely beloved and cherished. Never was Val Kilmer more hilarious and more memorable, IMO. I know, Top Secret was extremely funny and so was Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, but I find his portrayal of genius college slacker, Chris Knight, to be his greatest character performance. It's filled with so many great lines and unforgettable sequences (house filled with popcorn, anyone?) that it's really shocking how few people out there have actually seen it. Rent it now and thank me later!

Friday, May 31, 2013

Monday, May 27, 2013

May 27, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite U.S. War Films:

1. Full Metal Jacket
2. Platoon
3. Good Morning Vietnam
4. Glory
5. Heartbreak Ridge (OK, I'm pushing it here, but I freaking love this movie)
6. Saving Private Ryan
7. Apocalypse Now
8. The Dirty Dozen
9. The Deer Hunter
10. M.A.S.H.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

May 26, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Billy Idol Songs:

1. Cradle of Love
2. Eyes Without a Face
3. Sweet Sixteen
4. Daytime Drama
5. Flesh For Fantasy
6. Rebel Yell
7. White Wedding
8. Catch My Fall
9. Dancing With Myself
10. L.A. Woman

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

May 22, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Smiths/Morrissey Songs:

1. Everything sung by the great and powerful Morrissey
2-10. Everything else is utter rubbish

May 21, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Vocalists (6-10 today, 1-5 yesterday):

6. Sting
7. Michael Bublé
8. Robert Plant
9. Ronnie James Dio
10. Chris Cornell

Monday, May 20, 2013

May 20, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Vocalists (1-5 today, 6-10 tomorrow):

1. George Michael - Yeah, I know, but I'll tell you, than man has some serious pipes. I couldn't care less about his personal life, although it does provide some incredible comedy. I mean, only George Michael would get caught soliciting sex in a public bathroom, right? Anyways, the man can sing and I grew up listening to a ton of Wham! and George Michael solo. In fact, his 1988 release "Faith" was one of the first records I ever owned. Scott, you know all to well of my fondness for that record. How many times did I sing the hell out of "One More Try" when we used to go to karaoke together? Ah, those were the days. Anyways, here's a favorite track of his that I usually end up singing on my way to work...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izGwDsrQ1eQ

2. Freddie Mercury - Well, if George Michael is #1 then that means Freddie Mercury can't be all that far behind, right? If this were a top ten performers list, Mercury would be #1 with a bullet. The man is the single greatest front man ever and nobody can dispute his place in music history. He's the artist I most wish were still alive today who's time came too quickly. This is, IMO, the single greatest live performance I've ever seen. I know I've posted it on my page countless times before, but it's un-fucking-believable how Mercury has every single person in the crowd of over 100,000 clapping and singing in unison. It's insane. Watch to the end, when he starts playing with the crowd. It's like nothing I've ever seen before or since.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0omja1ivpx0

3. Ann Wilson - I'm the kind of person who really doesn't give a crap what people think of me. I've listed two openly gay singers and now a woman. Deal with it. If I were a girl this is, without question, the person who's voice I would want. Not Aretha Franklin. Not Mariah Carey. Not Norah Jones. I would want to sing like Ann Wilson from Heart. That girl can cut glass with her voice and has some of the most incredible range I've ever heard. Her sister, Nancy, has a pretty damn good voice, too. It's almost unfair how two sisters could sound so amazing and be so talented. I hate how the music industry in the 1980s turned its back on Heart because of Ann's weight problems. You can even see it in this video as evidenced by the number of facial close-ups Ann gets as opposed to full body shots. Meanwhile, the very svelte Nancy gets a bunch of full body shots. Fat, thin, old, young...Ann Wilson has the best voice in rock, IMO...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWzy5q_M5Ho

4. David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust had to make this list. It's unreal how Bowie has been able to re-invent himself countless times over the past five decades. Some would say he's a master at adapting to the current sound. I say he's a master at blazing trails. I think he has one of the most recognizable voices in music and there must be two or three dozen songs of his that I sing on a regular basis. I guess that's to be expected when an artist's body of work spans over 40 years. "Heroes" came out the year I was born, 1977, and might be my favorite of his "Berlin Years" tracks when he worked with producer Brian Eno. It's timeless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgcc5V9Hu3g

5. Daryl Hall - About fifteen years back a friend of mine pointed out to me that Hall & Oates are the most successful duo in music history. They have charted more Top 40 hits than any duo ever and that record still stands to this day. It's not a surprise, really. The two had 34 singles chart hits on the US Billboard Hot 100, seven RIAA platinum albums, and six RIAA gold albums. Only the Everly Brothers come close to the success that Hall & Oates have enjoyed. The phrase that most commonly gets associated with Daryl Hall is "Blue Eyed Soul" which seems fitting. He was blessed with an incredibly smooth sound. He's one of those singers who can sing with or without a band backing him up and sound outrageously good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccenFp_3kq8

May 19, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Reasons Why Total Recall 2012 Sucked

1. Because after 15 minutes I realized it was a better sleep aid than Ambien
2. Because I should have realized the movie was going to suck when I learned that the production company that funded the movie is called "Original Film". It's a fucking re-make you idiots. You are the LAST production company that should be funding this piece of crap.
3. Because the writers decided to re-hash a line or sequence from the original movie every five minutes.
4. Because virtually every cityscape scene was a complete rip-off of Blade Runner. Everything from the cement buildings, the Asian influence, the damn blimp advertising the "Offworld", the crowded streets, EVERYTHING ripped off of Blade Runner.
5. Because it made the original Total Recall feel like a well acted classic which is really hard to do when the lead actors are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone.
6. A serious lack of humor. One of the aspects of the original that made it such a success was how it parodied itself and never took itself seriously.
7. Because the best thing about the film was Colin Farrell's stubble.
8. Lens Flares...seriously, they are extremely annoying and unnecessary. See: Star Trek (2009)
9. PG-13. Seriously, you cannot re-make an ultra-violent classic piece of sci-fi like Total Recall and bring it down to PG-13.
10. The movie successfully found a way to waste the extraordinary talent of Bryan Cranston and that's almost impossible to do.

Friday, May 17, 2013

May 17, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Bill Paxton Movies:

1. Aliens
2. Tombstone
3. Apollo 13
4. True Lies
5. Weird Science (effing hilarious!!!)
6. Frailty
7. Twister
8. Near Dark
9. Vertical Limit
10. Navy Seals

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

May 15, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Clark Moments

1. Getting Clark to laugh on command by tickling under his armpits. Pure awesome.
2. Seeing Clark's face every time I come home from work. Nothing says joy quite like having a long rough day at work and seeing your son smiling at you because he's excited to see you.
3. Clark peeing all over both Myriah and I while we were changing his diaper. We should have known that was going to happen!
4. Watching the little bugger blow raspberries all over the place because he's figuring out how to use his lips.
5. Seeing his thunder thighs grow to epic proportions. Seriously, the man is going to either be a powerlifter or an offensive lineman.
6. Having him constantly mistake my nose for a nipple. That kid has a good latch!
7. Seeing him splash and play while taking a bath. Good to see he's over that whole "I hate the water" stage.
8. Feeding him "real food" for the first time. The man loves his avocado, just like his daddy.
9. Bringing him home from the hospital for the first time.
10. Everything else, because every moment is precious. =)

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

May 12, 2013

Today, I present to you Top Ten List #200, written by my mother for my birthday:

Mom's Top Ten Memories of Me List:

1. "You and Me Against the World" was the first song I sang to you when I found out I was pregnant.
2. The look in your eyes when you wanted to stay up with me at night when I had the candles lit and the music on..."Mommy I just want to stay up and keep you company."
3. All the trips to Toys R Us at midnight for Star Wars Figures.
4. Us taking the bus all over town and you telling the bus driver what streets were coming up next.
5. The first box of Baseball Cards I got you in hopes it would improve your printing and memory...And It DID!!
6. All the card shows we went to and all the calls we would get at the house from grown men wanting your advice.
7. When you were picked to be the Drummer Boy in the Christmas play at school and I made your outfit. Everyone loved you so much that they started to clap and you thought you had done something wrong and almost started crying.
8. The first time you were an Alter Attendant I was so busy making sure you didn't need help that I forgot to sit down during mass and Father said, "I think he has it, Maria."
9. When you got your first haircut and came home with a flat top with wings slicked back on the sides...You looked like you had aged 5 years and I cried..
10. The first time I saw you hold your own son and thought what A Wonderful Man you have grown up to be. Greg, I am so very Proud of you. You are and always will be my life...You have married a beautiful lady and you both have given me a Wonderful Grandson.

So to you my Son I wish you A Very Happy Birthday and may your life be filled with warm loving memories like I have...God Bless my son...this is the best Top Ten I could give you and I like this Birthday Card better then Hallmark.

Your Mom

Friday, May 10, 2013

May 10, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Shows That Ended Too Soon:

1. Firefly (2002)
2. Veronica Mars (2004-2007)
3. My So-Called Life (1994)
4. Freaks & Geeks (2000)
5. Pushing Daisies (2007)
6. Jericho (2006-2007)
7. The Misfits of Science (1985-1986)
8. Playmakers (2003)
9. The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. (1993-1994)
10. Police Squad! (1982)

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

May 9, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Shows That Lasted Way Too Long (part 2 today, part 1 yesterday):

6. The A-Team: I know, it's total 80s blasphemy to say that The A-Team lasted way too long. However, those of you that recall the show's premise and ultimate demise might understand why this is on the list. The A-Team were a group of four men who were wrongfully accused by the U.S. government of crimes they did not commit. They were sentenced to prison even though the government was aware they were innocent. They escaped from prison and became soldiers of fortune. Simply put, they were pretty pissed at the United States government for turning on them and leaving them to rot in a prison. Then, all the sudden, in Season 5 they go working for the very government that screwed them over and are sent on secret CIA missions. Awesome. Just awesome. While we're at it, why don't we introduce a new annoying character, Frankie Santana, and make him a member of the A-Team even though he's not a soldier? Oh, wait, they did and chances are you don't remember him, right? That's because the A-Team was only awesome when it was a four-man team and became instantly forgettable the moment it grew to five. If you really want to get precise, you can pretty much say that the official episode the show went downhill was Season 4 Episode 16, when Boy George guest starred. Yep, Boy Fucking George guest starred on the A-Team playing the character of "Cowboy George" and my was Mr. T. excited to see him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cMfYDQ7RKg

Yeah, clean living Mr. T of the A-Team, who did a number of anti-drug spots in the 1980s, was thrilled to see Boy George, the coked out of his mind lead singer of The Culture Club. And so went the A-Team's credibility and Boy George's career aspirations. The A-Team lasted just one more season and The Culture Club never had another Top 40 hit after that little cameo.

7. Heroes: I think it's safe to say the first season was pretty awesome. The characters were interesting, the storylines were intriguing and the pace of the show was swiftly moving along in an exciting fashion. Most everyone who watched Season 1 couldn't wait to see what was going happen in Season 2. Then, after a long wait, Season 2 arrived and never got going. There were far too many characters being introduced, character development suffered because there were too many story arcs to follow and it seemed as though every single episode would use the same predictable and boring formula that got old very fast. Finish an episode with a seemingly huge cliffhanger, start the next episode by not answering a single thing from the previous episode, drag out a boring episode for 55 minutes, finish the episode with a seemingly huge cliffhanger. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. The first two or three times a show does that in succession it's interesting. When it happens for the duration of an entire season it becomes boring and fruitless. The fans lost interest. The show started trying to recoup the magic of the first season by continuously jumping the shark like when Sylar, the arch-nemesis of all things benevolent and kind, decided to turn good or Mohinder turning into a giant bug a la Jeff Goldblum in The Fly. It just got worse and worse. Maybe this show doesn't really belong on this list since it only had one awesome season. But if it ended like Firefly, waaaaaaaaaaay before its time, we'd all be still talking about how awesome Heroes was and geeks everywhere would treat Heroes creator Tim Kring with the same reverence Firefly creator Joss Wheedon receives.

8. Lost: I'll admit, I never really watched Lost. In fact, the only times I ever watched Lost was when my wife had it on. Each and every time I watched I was utterly confused which would make a lot of sense when one considers I didn't see the show from the beginning. However, when I ask the most ardent Lost fans how they would describe the show, most of them use the word "confusing" or some derivative. Would it be safe to say that the writers of the show never actually knew how to end the show and dragged things out to the point of madness because they didn't know what the hell they were doing? Maybe I'm not being fair here. After all, I didn't watch the show from the beginning and I certainly didn't watch the show with any regularity. But most fans I've spoken to found the ending to be a total cop-out that left fans wondering why they hell they watched for six seasons only to discover that (SPOILER ALERT) everyone was dead. It's almost like the writers had carefully crafted this massive puzzle and when they were about to finish it they had this one big piece that wouldn't quite fit so they crammed it in and fucked the whole thing up.

9. The X-Files: I think I stopped watching when David Duchovny decided to call it quits. Though I have to admit, when I did tune in for an episode in the post-Mulder era, I wasn't turned off by Robert Patrick's character John Doggett. But it just wasn't the same. When I think X-Files I think Mulder and Scully. I don't think Doggett and Reyes (Annabeth Gish). I think we all can agree that when the two most integral characters on a show decide to leave it before it ends, it cannot be a good omen. As a result, I never really watched many episodes past Season 7, right around the time Duchovny called it a day and decided to focus on infidelity instead of his acting prowess. Most fans tell me not to bother since very little really got resolved. I mean, let's be honest, the only way to end that show was for Mulder and Scully to have a glorious sex scene on an alien spacecraft orbiting Jupiter. Now that would have been a ratings bonanza!

10. Anything Kardashian: I make the rules here because it's my list and my blog. I could write a top 200 list of shows that shouldn't have lasted one episode. Every show featuring a Kardashian sister is so infantile and moronic that it makes me want to punch myself in the groin just knowing there are millions of people out there who tune in every week and contribute to the Kardashian family bankroll. I would rather drink a gallon of turpentine and piss on a forest fire than watch a full episode of The Kardashians. It's the most useless excuse for a television show and makes it perfectly clear to me why other countries of the world want to bomb ours into oblivion. I could lose less IQ points listening to Nickelback albums backwards than I could by watching a single episode of Khloe and Lamar. I mean, who the hell comes up with this crap? Remember when Bravo used to actually air smart television progams? Today it's littered with the TV equivalent of raw sewage: The Kardashians, Millionaire Matchmaker, Real Housewives of Who Gives a Flying Fuck. It's the single most worthless network on television today and makes me wonder how long it will take for our country to realize just how stupid "reality" programming really is and move on to something more thought-provoking, like watching Giada de Laurentiis' boobs while she cooks an omelette.

May 8, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Shows That Lasted Way Too Long (part 1 today, part 2 tomorrow):

1. How I Met Your Mother: There was a time I used to look so forward to watching this program. It was the highlight of my television schedule for several years and most of that was due to the incredibly hilarious portrayal of the womanizing Barney portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris. Once Barney cut off his own manhood and started "falling in love" with the Robin, played by Cobie Smulders, I started losing interest. It's not that I have any problem with falling in love. In fact, I think that Jason Segal and Alyson Hannigan fill that role quite nicely on the program as lovebirds Marshall and Lily. But the reason the show was awesome was because Barney balanced out the other characters who were constantly chasing love by being the one guy who was chasing tail. Once he stopped being a chauvinistic pig, the show stopped being Legen...wait for it...dary. These days I struggle to watch and just want Ted to finally reveal to us who the mother of his kids are and did we really need nine seasons for that to happen?

2. Miami Vice: Yeah, that's right. Miami Vice. For those of you who don't recall or are too young to remember, Miami Vice was one of the most watched and revered shows of the 1980s. It was the perfect 80s crime drama centered around colorful MTV music, hip fashion and the excessively suave Miami backdrop. The first three seasons were awesome and kept me completely interested, mostly because there was a perfect blend of style and substance. The writing was top notch and the stories were gripping. Then, sometime between seasons 3 and 4, the show took a massive nosedive into stupidity. I mean, seriously, anyone who has ever watched Miami Vice with any regularity can point to Season 4 Episode 7 (Missing Hours) as being the moment the show jumped the shark and ceased to be awesome. The original writers of the show left by the time Season 4 debuted and if you get the chance to watch "Missing Hours" you'll wonder if the writers were replaced by 12 year-old children. Nothing says "Miami Vice" quite like Sonny & Crockett encountering a UFO and James Brown portraying an alien. It's beyond stupid and the show never recovered. Mercifully, the show only lasted two more seasons but they were both terrible.

3. Roseanne: There was a time when Roseanne used to be about a down on their luck family with real issues. Then Roseanne won the lottery, Dan (John Goodman) died and the whole show went to crap. When the entire show is based on the premise that the family at the center of the show is going through real life issues and struggles it seems impossible to me that someone thought winning the lottery was a good turn for the show to take. It's beyond ridiculous. The comedy of Roseanne was the tragedy. The tragedy about the Connor family winning the lottery is that the writers stole the integrity of one of the best programs on television.

4. Cosby Show: I think it's fairly safe to say that when a show introduces a new kid character, it's trying too hard to stay fresh. I can think of no better example than when, in Season 6, The Cosby Show introduced us to Olivia (Raven Symone). I guess having all those cool kids in the house wasn't enough so they needed to bring on board arguably one of the most annoying human beings on the planet to play Denise's (Lisa Bonet) bratty stepdaughter. From the moment Symone joined the cast it seemed every episode was inundated with her character. Raven Symone still annoys the crap out of me to this day and I have wonder if she's "acting" at all when she plays the extremely precocious Olivia on The Cosby Show. Stop watching The Cosby Show after Season 5 ends and save your sanity.

5. Seinfeld: Let's just say I've still never really forgiven the writers for the final episode, which has to be one of the biggest letdowns in the history of television finales. It's utterly embarrassing to say the least and even the most zealous Seinfeld apologists will tell you it's a terrible way to end the show. I enjoyed the writers bringing back old characters. After all, I do love nostalgia, but the way it ended with everyone getting "revenge" on the main characters and ultimately sending them to prison was lame. I can't really say I know any single better way to end it because there are probably a million better ways to have done it.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

May 4, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Random Star Wars Factoids:

1. The carbon freezing scene in The Empire Strikes Back was written in as a way of killing off Han Solo in case Harrison Ford did not re-sign for the sequel Return of the Jedi.

2. Most of the Stormtroopers are left-handed. That is because of how the weapons are constructed. Their weapons are based on a real weapon, where the magazine is on left side of the weapons. This construction caused it to hit the troopers in the chest. Therefore they have to switch grip of the weapon, which made them look left-handed.

3. Terri Nunn of the 80s new wave band Berlin was in the running for the role of Princess Leia and had readings with Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXy59jMqOsc

4. The word Ewok is never mentioned at any point during Return of the Jedi.

5. At 30, The Empire Strikes Back has the lowest body count of the entire Star Wars saga.

6. Darth Vader has only 12 minutes of screen time in Star Wars Episode IV

7. Originally to be titled "Revenge of the Jedi" but producers thought Jedis wouldn't seek revenge. Some posters and theater stand-ups were made early, but pulled very soon as the title changed names. Also Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was originally to be called "Star Trek: The Revenge of Khan", but the title for that movie was changed to avoid confusion with this movie back when "Revenge of the Jedi" was being considered. Neither film ended up using the word "revenge" in their titles.

8. Return of the Jedi is the first film to mention the TIE Fighter by name, when Lando issues the order to split up to "get some of those TIE Fighters to follow".

9. Star Wars Episode IV is the first film to make over $300,000,000 domestically.

10. 20th Century Fox was so sure Star Wars was going to be a disaster that they came within a matter of days of selling off their stake in the film as a tax shelter. Positive feedback from an advanced screening made them change their minds, and the profits from the film ended up saving the studio from bankruptcy.

May 3, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Random Music Factoids:

1. The Robert Palmer song "Addicted to Love" actually was recorded with Chaka Khan as a duet. However, due to a contractual issue, her voice had to be removed and the version you hear now is the duet version with Khan's voice deleted out of it.

2. For years a tale has been told about Van Halen's inclusion of "No Brown M&Ms" in their tour rider. Many have thought that the band's mention of "No Brown M&Ms" was an arrogant request made by rock stars who felt they were entitled to silly requests. Truth is, the inclusion of the clause was due to the band's desire to have a road crew that was so attentive to detail they wouldn't miss something as seemingly trivial as "No Brown M&Ms." Due to the large number of on stage accidents due to road crews that were inattentive to safety protocols, Van Halen began including little details like this one into their rider to ensure the safety of the band. After all, if the crew won't pay attention to that clause, who knows what other more "important" measures they cut corners on.

3. Leo Fender, the inventor of the Stratocaster and Telecaster couldn't play the guitar.

4. Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" record stayed on the Billboard Top 200 charts for 741 weeks.

5. You could listen to the entire Beatles library of songs in 10 hours and 33 minutes.

6. The first single to ever be released online was Duran Duran's "Electric Barbarella" in 1997. Because the band released the single online instead of in stores, most retail outlets wouldn't sell the record in stores as a backlash for going behind their backs and selling the single online. The "Medazzaland" record the single comes from ended up being one of their worst selling albums ever.

7. Pat Benetar's "You Better Run" was the second video ever played on MTV. The first, well, if you don't know it by now...

8. The 1,000,000th video played on MTV was also it's first, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles.

9. The first music video ever shot was was Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."

10. Eddie Van Halen plays the guitar solo in Michael Jackson's hit song "Beat It" but was not allowed to participate in the music video due to Warner Bros. not allowing one of its artists to be shown in a video for a rival studio's artist. Jackson was signed to Epic Records.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

May 2, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Childhood Cartoons:

1. The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle
2. The Pink Panther
3. The Road Runner
4. Pinky & The Brain (Anamaniacs)
5. Duck Tales
6. Transformers
7. G.I. Joe
8. Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers
9. Inspector Gadget
10. TMNT

Monday, April 29, 2013

April 29, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Michelle Pfeiffer Movies:

1. The Witches of Eastwick
2. Batman Returns
3. What Lies Beneath
4. Married to the Mob
5. Dangerous Minds
6. Tequila Sunrise
7. Ladyhawke
8. Dangerous Liasons
9. Frankie & Johnny
10. Scarface (HIGHLY overrated, IMHO)

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

April 24, 2013

Greg's Top Ten White Wide Receivers All-Time:

1. Don Hutson: 1935-1945 Green Bay Packers
2. Steve Largent: 1976-1989 Seattle Seahawks
3. Lance Alworth: 1962-1970 San Diego Chargers, 1971-72 Dallas Cowboys
4. Raymond Berry: 1955-1967 Baltimore Colts
5. Don Maynard: 1958 NY Giants, 1960-1972 NY Jets/Titans, 1973 St. Louis Cardinals
6. Fred Biletnikoff: 1965-1978 Oakland Raiders
7. Wes Welker: 2004 SD Chargers, 2004-06 Miami Dolphins, 2007-12 NE Patriots
8. Tommy McDonald: Philadelphia Eagles 1957-1963, 1964-68 4 Different Teams
9. Dante Lavelli: Cleveland Browns 1946-1956
10. Wayne Chrebet: NY Jets 1995-2005

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

April 23, 2013

Greg's Top Ten NFL #1 Overall QB Selections:

1. John Elway, 1983 Baltimore Colts
2. Peyton Manning, 1998 Indianapolis Colts
3. Terry Bradshaw, 1970 Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Troy Aikman, 1989 Dallas Cowboys
5. Eli Manning, 2004 San Diego Chargers
6. Jim Plunkett, 1971 New England Patriots
7. Drew Bledsoe, 1993 New England Patriots
8. Vinny Testaverde, 1987 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. Steve Bartkowski, 1975 Atlanta Falcons
10. Bill Wade, 1952 Los Angeles Rams

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Sunday, April 14, 2013

April 9, 2013

Top Ten WWF Hall of Fame Snubs (80's Golden Age Version)

1. Randy "Macho Man" Savage - Yes, that Macho Man. The one who "Snapped into a Slim Jim" and was one of the most transcendent personalities in pro wrestling. He's not in the WWF Hall of Fame and, as I mentioned on Scott's page, it's entirely political - just as most things are in the world of pro wrestling. The rumor that has circulated for years now is that Savage had a sexual relationship with Vince McMahon's daughter, Stephanie, when she was under the age of consent. Though nothing ever came about that proves this rumor to be truth, it would very likely explain Savage's snub. After all, how the hell does a jobber like Koko B. Ware get inducted and Savage, one of the most decorated and celebrated wrestlers of all time, not get in? It's likely because McMahon hates the late great wrestler and will do anything to not allow him posthumous entry into his little club of legends known as the WWF/WWE Hall of Fame.

2. Jake "The Snake" Roberts - Perhaps Vince McMahon just doesn't want to risk Roberts getting plastered before giving his acceptance speech and embarrassing himself in front of his peers. Roberts has long battled serious addictions to pain medications and alcohol. And though he's been sober for over 70 days according to a recent interview on ESPN, it would be terrible if he couldn't hold it together while accepting the award. He's certainly deserving of being inducted. In fact, I dare say, he's as deserving as Savage even though Roberts never held a major title during his lengthy stay in the WWF/WWE.

3. The British Bulldogs - Even if you despise all things wrestling, after watching early footage of Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid, you'd be stunned by their athleticism and chemistry in the ring. Sure, wrestling is scripted. However, these two were so in sync and made everything seem effortless during a time when most tag teams were very stiff and boring to watch. They were trailblazers for many of the high-flying tag teams wrestling fans have grown to love in the past twenty years. Sadly, Smith has since passed away due to a heart attack (shocking, I know) and Dynamite is confined to a wheelchair (shocking, I know).

4. Owen Hart - For God's sakes, put this guy in the Hall. He literally died for his profession. He's one of the most revered and beloved wrestlers in family filled with incredible wrestling talents (brother Bret "Hitman" and father Stu are already in the HOF). It's senseless that he's not in yet but I have a sense that his day is coming. I mean, can you imagine the ovation his name would get when announced in front of the crowd? Bret or his wife or both could give the acceptance speech. It would be a great moment in pro wrestling history.

5. Miss Elizabeth - Aside from Owen's tragic death in 1999 when he fell to his death during a stunt in Kansas City, I can think of no death that was more stunning than Miss Elizabeth's passing in 2003. Nobody exemplified beauty and class quite like Elizabeth and to learn that she died from a combination of alcohol and painkillers blew my mind. What she should be remembered for was being the graceful manager of the "Macho Man" Randy Savage. Though she never wrestled in the WWF, she should join the likes of Bobby Heenan and Jimmy Hart in the manager's wing of the Hall of Fame but likely never will due to her association with Savage and the politics behind his lack of induction. Imagine the backlash if she got in and Savage didn't? It's just bad press that Vince McMahon doesn't need, not that anyone outside of the wrestling community gives two shits about his Hall of Fame, but those involved in the scene would never stop complaining about it.

6. Ultimate Warrior - Sure, he was a roided up freak of nature but he took the entire world of wrestling by storm and was one of the only wrestlers to actually get a "clean" victory over Hulk Hogan when he defeated Hogan at Wrestlemania VI and became the WWF Heavyweight Champion. Since then, he's made quite a name for himself for being oddly unpredictable outside of the ring. However, despite his unusual nature, he's an icon in the sport and should be given his place in the Hall alongside other iconic wrestlers who once held the Heavyweight Title.

7. The Honkytonk Man - The single greatest title reign in WWF history could very well go to the Honkytonk Man, who held the Intercontinental Title for a ridiculous one year, two months and 27 days in a row. It's unreal the heat he generated during that reign - the fans absolutely hated the guy and it was all due to his incredibly irritating persona. He was the ultimate self-promoter and one of the most memorable characters from the 1980s Golden Age of pro wrestling.

8. Lex Luger - I hate Lex Luger. Let me be perfectly clear about that. He's largely responsible for the death of Miss Elizabeth and he was probably one of the most over-inflated superstars of the 1980s. However, he's as recognizable as any icon from the era and was a superstar in both the NWA and the WWF.

9. Scott Hall & 10. Kevin Nash - I realize I'm straying somewhat from the 1980s WWF here but both Hall and Nash made their pro wrestling debuts in the 1980s in different organizations and thus should get mentioned. They carried the WWF during a very dark period in the post-steroid trial 1990s and made a major impact on the entertainment industry after their departure to WCW.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

March 6, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Living Actors/Actresses Who Flamed Out Too Quickly:

1. Haley Joel Osment - I was determined he was going to be a superstar after watching him nail his breakout role in the Sixth Sense. Good luck trying to name two decent movies he's been in since then. And, no, A.I. and Pay it Forward don't qualify as decent movies.

2. Christian Slater - Nevermind that his mother, Mary Jo Slater, is one of Hollywood's most successful casting directors and producers. It seems her son Christian can't buy a role unless it goes directly to DVD or gets cancelled before it gets going (see Breaking In, The Forgotten and My Own Worst Enemy). Perhaps I'm just nostalgic for the Chrisitan of old who starred in classics like "Pump Up the Volume" and "Heathers."

3. Val Kilmer - Seriously, did Val Kilmer eat Slider and Wolfman? Have you seen him lately? The man looks like an aircraft carrier. My hope was that the weight gain was for a role he was preparing for. Alas, he's just let himself go the route of Marlon Brando, who ballooned up nicely after being a heartthrob for decades. The last good movie Kilmer starred in was the brilliant Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang from 2005.

4. Natasha Lyonne - I loved her in Slums of Beverly Hills and thought she was a "can't miss" star waiting to happen. Today, she might actually be living in a slum. After multiple arrests for substance abuse, she's not exactly on anyone's A-list these days.

5. Eddie Furlong - He inspired this list with his recent six month prison sentencing for violating probation. After starring as John Connor in Terminator 2 and making a brief comeback in the disturbing American History X, he's likley finished in Hollywood.

6. Macaulay Culkin - Yeah, that whole "cute kid from Home Alone" thing didn't last too long. He followed up his adorable turns in "Uncle Buck" and "Home Alone" by ruining his squeaky-clean image with an arrest for drugs and a short marriage to actress Rachel Miner. At least he rebounded by dating Mila Kunis.

7. Corey Feldman - Bash me all you want for putting him on the list. He's a 80s icon and has been in some of the best movies of the decade including "The Lost Boys", "The Goonies" and "Stand By Me" before his career flamed out.

8. Cuba Gooding Jr. - How do you follow up an Academy Award win? By starring in "Snow Dogs" of course! Seriously, is Scooby Doo your agent?

9. Adam Sandler - I bash poor Adam Sandler quite a bit on here but with good reason. His movies suck harder than a two-dollar hooker and leave you just as satisfied. What bites about his career path is that he used to actually be REALLY funny. Today he just mails it in at every turn with crap like "Jack & Jill" and "That's My Boy" both of which earned Sandler Razzie Awards.

10. Kathleen Turner - Remember her? Sadly, few people under the age of 30 do and it's a damn shame.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

March 5, 2013

Top Ten Least Favorite Things About Star Wars Prequels:

1. Overusage of Special Effects
2. Underusage of Character Development
3. Completely Losing Sight of how Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader was a tragic hero and turning him into a bratty, snot-nosed kid who nobody felt sorry for.
4. Jar Jar Binks
5. Killing of the Most Interesting Character in the series (Darth Maul) and giving him one of the dumbest death scenes in the history of the Star Wars saga.
6. Turning an actress as brilliant as Natalie Portman into a talentless hack who delivered lines about as convincingly as Lindsay Lohan.
7. Making the prequels look sleeker and more modern than the sequels which take place before the prequels. I know it sounds confusing but think REAL HARD about it.
8. Jar Jar Binks
9. The refusal of certain Star Wars junkies to admit that the prequels are a steaming pile of donkey crap. No, really, they are. In fact, I'd rather watch two donkeys create a steaming pile of donkey crap than watch those pitiful excuses for movies.
10. The fact that I actually tried to convince myself that I enjoyed the first two movies in the prequel trilogy after first viewing them and now having to admit I was completely in denial of how ridiculously stupid they were.

Friday, March 1, 2013

March 1, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Ron Howard Movies:

1. Apollo 13
2. A Beautiful Mind
3. Night Shift
4. Parenthood
5. Backdraft
6. Splash
7. Ransom
8. Gung Ho
9. Willow
10. The Paper

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

February 25, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Worst Oscar Snubs of All Time:

1. Val Kilmer, Best Supporting Actor, Tombstone (1993) - Ask anyone of my generation what Val Kilmer's best performance was and I guarantee you the majority will say his extremely memorable and scene-stealing portrayal of gunfighter Doc Holliday takes the cake. I do think that Tommy Lee Jones' win in this category of the 1993 Oscars was accurate. He was incredible in The Fugitive, but how Kilmer failed to even get mentioned for Best Supporting Actor is beyond me, even though the other four nominees in the category were strong that year (Leonardo DiCaprio for What's Eating Gilbert Grape was among them).

2. The Shining, Best Picture (1980) - Seriously, how do you snub The Shining? When the Stanley Kubrick classic was released in 1980, it wasn't well received by critics. In fact, Kubrick was nominated for a Razzie Award for worst director. Yeah, those Razzie Awards. Shocking, right? Best Picture ended up going to Ordinary People, which is really fine by me. The Robert Redford directed movie was a tour de force with an all-star cast led by Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore, but to not see The Shining among the nominees is a crime.

3. Anthony Perkins, Best Actor, Psycho (1960) - Yeah, I guess the Academy doesn't have the luxury of hindsight. Perkins' performance as the deranged Norman Bates is considered one of the greatest and most revered performances of the decade. Yet, at the time, he wasn't given a tremendous amount of praise for his role in the Alfred Hitchcock classic. Though Hitchcock films were notoriously given little recognition by the Academy, it's hard to believe Perkins wasn't given his due.

4. Do the Right Thing, Best Picture (1989) - For this reason alone, I hate the Oscar winning film Driving Miss Daisy. It's so fitting. A movie that highlights racial violence loses out to a film that features racial segregation and a little old lady with an African American servant. Other nominees that year were Born on the Fourth of July, Field of Dreams, Dead Poets Society and My Left Foot. Personally, I think the winner of the bunch (Miss Daisy) shouldn't have even garnered a nomination. Fight the Power!!!

5. Best Director, Steven Spielberg, Jaws (1975) - Horror films are rarely given their due recognition, especially when the director is a wet behind the ears rookie. Although Spielberg had directed many films before this shark tale, it was the first that gained him worldwide recognition. Today, he's considered one of the finest filmmakers of all time and I still find it a bit shocking he didn't get a nomination for Jaws. At least he was able to win a pair of Oscars for Best Director when he took home top prize in 1994 (Schindler's List) and 1999 (Saving Private Ryan).

6. Best Supporting Actor, Dennis Hopper, Blue Velvet (1986) - Hopper was always known for being different but there's little doubt in my mind he's at his craziest and most bizarre in David Lynch's masterpiece, Blue Velvet. At least Hopper was given a nomination the same year for his performance in the Indiana basketball classic Hoosiers. Still, I think his performance in Blue Velvet was more deserving.

7. Best Picture, The Dark Knight (2008) - 2008 was the year of The Dark Knight. It seemed everywhere you turned the Batman sequel was the talk of Tinseltown and it wasn't all because of the late Heath Ledger's incredible performance as The Joker. The entire movie was a massive achievement in storytelling and suspense. Slumdog Millionaire ended up taking home the award for Best Picture and I completely understand why, but how The Dark Knight did not get nominated is a head-scratcher, IMO.

8. Best Actor, Malcolm McDowell, A Clockwork Orange (1971) - Maybe it's just me, but I think McDowell might be one of the most underrated actors of our time. I guess the Academy really doesn't like to honor Stanley Kubrick movies or the actors featured in them. McDowell might be the most memorable of Kubrick's leading men and that's saying a lot considering some of the main men he's used over the years (Jack Nicholson in The Shining for example).

9. Best Actor, Gary Oldman, Sid and Nancy (1986) - I only recently saw this movie for the first time and I have to admit it's one of those movies I cannot believe I never saw earlier in my life. Oldman is the total personification of Sex Pistols guitarist Sid Vicious in one of Oldman's greatest performances to date.

10. Best Supporting Actor, Alec Baldwin, Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) - He's only in the movie for seven minutes, but he makes every second count. IMO, Baldwin's speech about real estate sales is the single greatest speech in the history of film. And, before you say, "He wasn't on screen long enough for a nomination" let me point out that Dame Judi Dench won an Oscar in 1998 for her eight minutes of screen time in Shakespeare in Love. I say bump David Paymer's nominated performance in the forgettable Billy Crystal movie Mr. Saturday Night and give Baldwin his due.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

February 23, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Duran Duran Non-80s Tracks:

1. Ordinary World from "The Wedding Album"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDLiVwpv89s

2. Girl Panic! from "All You Need Is Now"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZd8-aI9c7M

3. Perfect Day from "Thank You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf3C6rLwK0Y

4. Serious from "Liberty"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ihtEg_hWIM

5. Nice from "Astronaut"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auinfQWZenc

6. All You Need Is Now from "All You Need Is Now"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvqnJ8AGhFg

7. Come Undone from "The Wedding Album"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICnlyNUt_0o

8. Electric Barbarella from "Medazzaland"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK1g5dMYR3s

9. White Lines from "Thank You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmIN9ulmy-E

Now, I love the actual video for White Lines, but this Craig Ferguson intro might be my all time favorite...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq-QaTO7a-4

10. My Antarctica from "Liberty"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTNMvA1l5fw

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

February 19, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Ozzy Osbourne Solo Tracks

1. Over The Mountain
2. Mama I'm Coming Home
3. No More Tears
4. Shot in the Dark
5. Bark at the Moon
6. Mr. Crowley
7. I Don't Know
8. Flying High Again
9. Suicide Solution
10. Crazy Train

February 18, 2013

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Brat Pack Movies:

1. The Breakfast Club (Ringwald, Estevez, Hall, Sheedy, Nelson)
2. Pretty In Pink (Ringwald, Spader, McCarthy)
3. Weird Science (Hall, Downey Jr.)
4. One Crazy Summer (Cusack, Moore)
5. Sixteen Candles (Ringwald, Hall, Cusack, Gertz)
6. St. Elmo's Fire (Lowe, McCarthy, Moore, Estevez, Sheedy, Nelson)
7. Less Than Zero (Spader, McCarthy, Downey Jr., Gertz)
8. The Outsiders (Estevez, Lowe)
9. Mannequin (McCarthy, Spader)
10. Class (Lowe, McCarthy, Cusack)

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

February 12, 2013

Top Ten Random Facts About Top Gun:

10. The famous shadowy love scene between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis was filmed after initial test screenings were shown to select audiences. Moviegoers complained that there was no love scene in the movie. Several weeks after production had wrapped on the movie, Paramount decided a love scene was needed. McGillis, however, had already dyed her hair darker for her next film. The scene was therefore tinted blue to hide the fact that McGillis was no longer blonde.

9. Just like the love scene, the elevator sequence that takes place after Maverick returns from a workout, was filmed in post-production. Kelly McGillis's hair had already been colored for another movie role, that is why she is wearing a hat. Tom Cruise's hair is also longer because he was working on the Paul Newman movie "The Color of Money."

8. Most of the actors who played the F-14 fighter pilots did get to ride backseat in F-14s and several sequences in the film were actually shot with the actors in flight. The only actor who did not vomit during any of those flights was Anthony "Goose" Edwards.

7. After the car chase when Charlie tells Maverick that she didn't want anyone to find out she was falling for him, Maverick originally had a line to say. Tom Cruise forgot the line and "ad libbed" by kissing Kelly McGillis instead. Director Tony Scott liked the improvisation so much, he left the scene like that.

6. Kenny Loggins was not the first choice to sing the track "Danger Zone" which was written by Giogio Moroder. REO Speedwagon and Toto were two of the groups in consideration ahead of Loggins.

5. The scene where Maverick and Goose are telling the story of their encounter with a Mig where they flipped off the pilot is one of the more humorous moments in the film. When Val Kilmer's character Iceman coughs into his hand "bullshit" the laughter you hear in the background from all the actors in the scene in genuine because Kilmer ad-libbed the line.

4. The song "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin was the biggest hit of Berlin's career, reaching #1 on the Billboard charts. It was also one of the biggest reasons the band broke up. Lead singer Terri Nunn thought it would be a great opportunity for the band to change their sound but other members of the band hated the song because it was not written by the band.

3. Rick "Slider" Rossovich was kicked off of an aircraft carrier during pre-production because he mouthed off to an officer about his sleeping quarters. Rossovich's bunk was just a few feet away from a nuclear reactor so he decided to sleep in another bunk. When the officer who's bunk Rossovich was sleeping in had returned, the actor told him to find another bunk.

2. Riding on the back of the film's success, the US Navy set up recruiting booths in the major cinemas to try and catch some of the adrenaline charged guys leaving the screenings. They had the highest applications rate for years as a result.

1. Before Tom Cruise was selected to play Maverick there were several other actors that Paramount was interested in selecting to play the lead role. Among those actors were Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Matthew Broderick, Sean Penn, Tom Hanks and Charlie Sheen. Sheen would later go on to spoof Top Gun in the comedy Hot Shots.