Movies of 2003: My Fave Five

by Jack Garcia

5.  A Mighty Wind

Who knew a mockumentary about folk singers could be so funny?  “There was abuse in my family, but it was mostly musical in nature.”

4.  Big Fish

One of Tim Burton’s better films, surreal and endearing.

3.  Pirates of the Caribbean:  The Curse of the Black Pearl

A movie based on a theme park ride?  Why, yes!  And it actually worked!  Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Jack Sparrow is the stuff of legend.  He truly made the movie memorable.  The sequels however?  Not so memorable… and a fourth one is on the way.

2.  School of Rock

Failed rock musician pretends to be a substitute teacher and winds up with a band of rock and rollers!  “I have been touched by your kids… and I’m pretty sure that I’ve touched them.”

1.  Finding Nemo

“Just keep swimming!” are words to live by.  One of Pixar’s very best.

               

Honorable Mentions:  Love Actually, Mona Lisa Smile, Bruce Almighty

Movies of 2002: My Fave Five

by Jack Garcia

5.  A Walk to Remember

A cheesy choice, right?  I’m aware.  But this movie is so adorable and I just love Mandy Moore.

4.  About a Boy

Every time I hear the song “Killing Me Softly” I think of this movie and that odd little boy singing it.  Always.

3.  Orange County

This movie is so funny!  I just love the guy’s dysfunctional family, including the drug-addicted Jack Black.  Oh my goodness, do you remember when he burns down the college and then runs away in his underwear?  Ha ha ha ha ha.

2.  Catch Me If You Can

The thrill of the chase is so exciting in this film, from beginning to end.  And I just love the idea of stepping into another life, pretending to be a pilot or a doctor or whatever you want to be that day.  Instead I’m just sitting here.  Blogging.

1.  Chicago

A brilliant movie musical.  The concept, the staging, the music, everything.  And what about that superstar cast!?  Phenomenal!  I can watch it again and again.

Honorable Mentions:  Lilo & Stitch, Bang Bang You’re Dead, Minority Report

Movies of 2001: My Fave Five

by Jack Garcia

5.  Legally Blonde

You gotta’ love a movie that teaches you something as important as “Bend and Snap.”  What a lifesaver.

4.  Spirited Away

This is my favorite Miyazaki film.  Beautiful animation and the craziest story ever!   I mean, her parents turn into pigs…how weird is that?

3.  Donnie Darko

I didn’t know what the heck was going on half of the time, but it’s darkly mesmerizing and downright unforgettable.  And now I'm terrified of bunny rabbits.  Even bunny slippers.

2.  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

The first Harry Potter movie is such a classic.  And as a true fanboy, I think I’ve seen it about 78 times.  Ah… how I wish I could receive a letter from Hogwarts…

1.  Moulin Rouge

Baz Luhrmann is a genius.  This movie is a funny, heartbreaking, spectacular spectacular!  My whole family loved it so much, that my sister and I used to sing the “Elephant Love Medley” together at the top of our lungs.  That’s kind of weird now that I think about it.  Siblings shouldn’t sing love songs.

Honorable Mentions:  A Knight's Tale, Shrek, Monster's Inc.

Movies of 2000: My Fave Five

by Jack Garcia

5.  Bring It On

Even to this day, if I’m ever cold and say “brr” I’ll probably follow it up with the cheer, “It’s cold in here, there must be some Toros in the Atmosphere!  I said o-e-o-e-o, ice, ice, ice!”

4.  Pay It Forward

Haley Joel Osment gets shot in the end!  Shot!  I cry every time, especially when everyone gathers ‘round with the candles and “Calling All Angels” plays.  It’s so sad…

3.  Remember the Titans

Even though I’m not a sports fan by any means, I love this movie.  I think it has a lot to do with the message of equality and brotherhood and love… or the awesome 60’s soundtrack.

2.  Billy Elliot

It’s about a little boy who wants to be a ballerina.  Enough said.

1.  O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Who else but the Coen Brothers would think up a bluegrass retelling of The Odyssey?  George Clooney is so funny, but the music really makes the movie happen for me.  “I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow” by the Soggy Bottom Boys is freakin’ awesome.

Honorable Mentions:  Miss Congeniality, Gladiator, Chicken Run

Golden Globes

by Jack Garcia

My dear sweet auntie doesn't have cable, so we were unable to watch the Golden Globes last night.  Brian's mom back in Utah was kind enough to invite us over to her house to watch it, but we didn't really feel up to the drive.  I'm sure the ceremony wasn't worth it.

I just wanted to make a few comments about the results.  First off, being a HUGE GLEEK I was very happy with the show's win!  Congratulations, Glee!  I'm also very happy for Chris Colfer and Jane Lynch who both won for their supporting roles on the series.  They play my two favorite characters, Kurt and Sue, and I'm just absolutely thrilled that they were recognized for their work! 

Secondly, although I love, love, love, love, love The Social Network, I don't think it should have won over Black Swan.  Or that Fincher should have won over Aronofsky.  At least they gave Natalie Portman the award.  She truly was spectacular.  But seriously, Aronofsky's Black Swan is a far superior film.

Colin Firth's win makes me happy and so does Toy Story 3's win (although it's hardly a surprise).  And most of the other awards I don't really care about so that's that.

One last thing.  What on earth were some of the celebrities wearing?  Yuck.

Movies of 2010: My Fave Fifteen

by Jack Garcia

I wish I could say that I've seen every movie that has come out this year, but I haven't.  With up to ten movies coming out each weekend in both limited and wide release it is simply impossible to see them all.  However, being blessed with free admission I've been able to see 52 movies during the year of 2010!

And yet there are a ton of movies I was absolutely dying to see that I was unable to see, such as Youth in Revolt, The Runaways, The Karate Kid, 8: The Mormon Proposition, Eat Pray Love, The American, Buried, Let Me In (although I have seen the original Swedish film Let the Right One In), Conviction, Paranormal Activity 2, For Colored Girls, 127 Hours (Brian saw it without me), I Love You Philip Morris, and Rabbit Hole among others.

So, knowing that there are many movies I didn't even see, I now present to you my fifteen favorite movies of 2010:

15.  Tangled
Come on, it's Disney.  You gotta' love Disney.  And she has magical, glowing hair!
14.  Devil
A great horror flick that felt like a throwback to the early days.  Simple and fun.
13.  Hereafter
Matt Damon can do no wrong in my opinion.
12.  Easy A
Smart, charming, and hilarious!  This year's Mean Girls.
11.  How to Train Your Dragon
In my opinion, this is Dreamworks' best animated flick ever.  What boy doesn't want a pet dragon?
10.  Kick-Ass
The name says it all... this movie kicked a**.  Especially that little girl.
9.  Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Visually awesome.  One of the most stylistically creative movies of the year and so entertaining!
8.  The Social Network
A wonderful commentary on our times and it even had Justin Timberlake.
7.  Shutter Island
Leonardo DiCaprio.  Spooky, thrilling, and not what you expect.  Oh, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
6.  The Ghost Writer
A brilliant mystery that has you intrigued from start to finish. Loved, loved, loved the ending!
5.  The King's Speech
Oh my goodness this movie was so funny!  Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush are amazing.
4.  Inception
Leonardo DiCaprio and Christopher Nolan.  Mind-boggling and captivating.
3.  Black Swan
Oscar!  Natalie Portman needs an Oscar!  This movie is bizarre, and surreal, and fantastic.
2.  Toy Story 3
It was like being a kid all over again.  Funny and clever as always, with such heart.
1.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part1
I'm a nerd, I know, but seeing as I saw this one four times, it had to be number one on my list!

The Gleek Critique: "A Very Glee Christmas" Episode

Santana and Finn decorating the tree.   Image property of Fox.

by Jack Garcia

It's Christmas at McKinley High!  The teachers are doing a Secret Santa amongst the staff, and Will draw's Sue's name out of the jar.  Oh boy.  What to get his enemy?  A robot dog?  A soul?  He decides on a fur-lined track suit, only to discover he isn't the only teacher to have drawn Sue's name.  Turns out Sue rigged the whole thing.  She hates Christmas, but loves presents.  When everyone tries to take their gifts back, she becomes a very literal Grinch and steals Christmas.

Meanwhile, to raise money for a charity, the glee kids go classroom to classroom singing Christmas carols.  They get a shoe thrown at them, so they give up pretty quickly.  Besides, they have more important issues to deal with.  Like the fact that Brittany still believes in Santa.  Artie doesn't want to tell her otherwise, and encourages the other club members to play along.  But when Brittany asks the mall Santa to make Artie walk, everyone realizes that "playing along" might be harder than they all expected.

However, all ends well.  Sue's heart grows three sizes, Will doesn't spend Christmas alone, and Artie walks... sorta.  It's a Christmas miracle!

The Pros:

• Black Santa.  Awesome.
• "Baby, It's Cold Outside" sung by Blaine and Kurt.  Adorable.  Can't these two fall in love already?  And I love how Kurt explains their relationship:  "We're just friends.  I'm in love with him but at least he's gay.  I call that progress."
• Sue Sylvester dressed up as the Grinch, while stealing all the presents and destroying the decorations at school was just spot-on hilarious.  Having Brittany enter dressed like Cindy Lou Who and catch "Sue the Grinch" in the act was also very funny.  Thank you, Dr. Seuss.
• Beiste's scene with Brittany was tender and sweet.  Dressed as Santa, Beiste let Brittany know that sometimes we can't get exactly what we ask for.  Sometimes we get patience instead.

The Cons:

• With Jewish students like Rachel and Puck I feel that they could have incorporated some Hanukkah into the episode.  Just saying.
• Everyone still hates the glee kids.  What's annoying, is that I don't exactly buy it.  I think high school kids would love having class interrupted for any reason at all, even if it's a choir singing Christmas songs.  It's not like the kids sound bad.  Geeks or not, their voices are impressive.  When will the other students recognize that?
• No more Glee until February...  :(