Zeptember: Colin’s Top Ten

From as long as I’ve been rockin’ I’ve always loved Led Zeppelin, but for some reason I’ve never thought of them as one of my all-time favorite musical artists. I guess the thing that always kept me from truly embracing them was that they always had this God-like status, and you never really got a sense that their music was very personal. But then again, when you look at their incredible body of work, thinking of them as gods doesn’t really seem like the most ridiculous thing in the world. Anyways, lets get started.

10. Bring It On Home
If you want to get to the heart of Led Zeppelin’s sound, you’ve got to start with the blues. This song starts as a nice little cover of Willie Dixon’s “Bring It On Home” until Jimmy Page’s subdued strumming gives way to a piercing guitar riff and then it just turns in to all out rock warfare. And that’s pretty much the Zeppelin manifesto in a nut shell: taking the blues and making it huge.

9. Out Of The Tiles
There aren’t too many rockin’ songs on Led Zeppelin III, and that’s kind of what makes it great. But on “Out Of The Tiles” they really just go for broke, sounding like a chugging locomotive of rock that’s just on the brink of careening off the tracks. Sorry, I promise not to make any more bad “rock” analogies.

8. Going To California
I felt like I needed to throw in one of Zeppelin’s folkier numbers, just because it’s kind of hard not to love it when these guys would sit down with their acoustic instruments and lay down some softer jams. It’s just a really nice little song about meditating on the roads less traveled, and it’s a nice break from all the heavy hitters featured on Led Zeppelin IV.

7. What Is And What Should Never Be
Robert Plant has never been a great lyricist, and he definitely shows it on this song with lyrics like “You will be mine by taking our time” and “Baby baby baby baby”. But it doesn’t even matter when you’ve got such a great jazzy groove supported by John Paul Jones’ lingering bass lines. And then when Bonham comes in, laying his delicious toms all over Page’s power chords, it’s welcome to Rock City: Population You. Wait, dammit.

6. You’re Time Is Gonna Come
When you think of Led Zeppelin, they’re not the kind of band that you expect to just burst in to three part harmonies. Then again, I guess the swelling chorus of “You’re Time Is Gonna Come” is more like a sing-a-long as Sean pointed out, and a pretty mean-spirited one at that. Most of all though, the really remarkable thing about this song is it showed that even on their first album, Zeppelin could find ways of sounding huge and anthemic without the aid of an electric guitar.

5. Immigrant Song
The first memory I have of this song was that it was featured in some skate video I bought as a youngster. One time I was watching it and my mom walked by and she was like, “Hey, that’s Led Zeppelin. Good song.” This was a little conflicting, since all I could ask myself was “How could my mom be into something that sounds so ridiculously badass?”. But that’s the reality of Zeppelin, our parents grew up with them just as much as we did, and somehow that makes sense.

4. Ten Years Gone
When I first started thinking of the songs for this list, “Ten Years Gone” was not one that I thought had much hope of making the top ten. But I’ve just been listening to it over and over again the last few days and I can’t seem to get my mind off of it. It’s just got this great world-weary quality, as if it was written on the road at the end of a long tour from which there seemed to be no end. There’s a whole host of different guitar sounds that Page uses on the track, and it’s a great example of the way he could use the instrument to convey a whole range of different colors and emotions.

3. Over The Hills And Far Away
So yeah, I really like this song, as do Sean and John. Maybe we should have vetoed “Over The Hills And Far Away” instead of “Stairway”, since it might very well be the most irresistible song in Zeppelin’s discography. It contains the loud and the quiet, the soft and the heavy, the introspective and the all-encompassing qualities that made up Zeppelin’s sound, and I’m glad I was able to take part in a half-way decent cover of it.

2. Ramble On
As you can probably tell, I really like it when Zeppelin songs start out all quiet and mysterious and then just bowls you over with some mindblowing guitar riff. Well for me, “Ramble On”‘s pretty much the king of those kinds of Zeppelin songs, and they do it all while combining the classic bluesman mentality with Lord Of The Rings references. Go figure.

1. Good Times Bad Times
I hate to reduce Led Zeppelin to one of those bands that peaked on the first song of their first album, but I can’t help it when the band sounded so damn explosive in this early state. Really all of the band’s trademarks are there: Plant’s unmistakeable howls, Page’s monster riffs and blues-inflected licks, Jones’s wandering basslines, and John Bonham giving what is probably my favorite drum part in any song ever. You put all these elements together and you’ve got one hell of a stone cold groove, as well as an impressive start to a ridiculously influential career.

Well, that was a lot of fun while it lasted. Anyways, I’m just throwing this out there, but how would everybody feel about Whovember? Just an idea.

Zeptember: Sean’s Top Ten

I’m assuming we’re all sticking to the “Stairway to Heaven” is disqualified rule, even though no one has officially mentioned it. If that is indeed the case, then these are my ten favorite Led Zeppelin songs. It was damn near impossible to narrow it down to these ten, since I had around 50 songs that I thought were competitive. I had to make some deep cuts and these are the ones that survived, so try at least not to worry about the order they’re in.

10. All My Love
The song that inspired my recent foray back into Led Zeppelin, it’s kind of amazing just because it’s a slow, synth-driven song by Led Zeppelin. That seems weird, doesn’t it? But that’s kind of the reality of In Through the Out Door – songs that don’t quite seem like what Led Zeppelin would be doing. Unlike “Carouselambra,” the other great song from that album, “All My Love” is exactly the right length to stick with you and somehow also leave you wanting more.

9. Kashmir
Can a song survive on just one great guitar riff? Probably, but “Kashmir” is not that song. Because, even though the “Kashmir” riff is one of Led Zeppelin’s most well known, its not just the guitar that makes this great. It’s one of a handful of songs the band recorded with strings and horns, adding a suitably epic feel to the number. What I really love about it are the lyrics, an aspect of music I don’t spend much time thinking about. If I had seen “Kashmir” written before hearing it, I would have thought it was some quality poetry. Or a crappy poem. I’m not that great a judge of poetry.

8. Rock and Roll
Legend has it that while frustrated recording the tremendous “Four Sticks,” Led Zeppelin accidentally jammed their way into this diddy. Suitably titled, “Rock and Roll” draws from the history of the genre and amps it up, making the song among the most rocking I’ve ever heard. It also the first Led Zeppelin song I heard, or at least remember hearing. I remember listening to it on Colin’s portable CD player and remarking that I recognized it from a car commercial. That’s kind of a shitty association, but it got me to where I am today.

7. In My Time of Dying
I’ve always liked a good slide guitar, and its hard to get it better than Led Zeppelin’s version of “In My Time of Dying.” I wanted to include long songs on my list, since I really do love most of their long songs, even this one, which I believe is their longest. Early this year I heard the Bob Dylan version of this song, which is a totally different, more traditionally blues experience. Led Zeppelin takes the song and jams all over it until nothing’s left. It’s pretty amazing. And it ends with coughing and joking. They’re people too.

6. When the Levee Breaks
Yeah, that’s right, another blues cover. As John pointed out, the drums and harmonica do this song an amazing favor. The drums are gigantic, it’s no wonder bands like the Beastie Boys were drawn to sampling them. The reverb or whatever that’s applied to the harmonica makes it sound different from any other harmonica ever. Let’s not forget the guitar part, which is no slouch, with plenty of interesting effects piled on top of it as well. And in the middle of it all is Robert Plant, doing his thing as possibly the greatest lead singer in rock. It all comes together on “When the Levee Breaks.”

5. Good Times Bad Times
This is the first song on the first Led Zeppelin album and I like to keep that in mind when I hear it. I think if I had never heard the band before, if this was something entirely new, it would take me about a minute of “Good Times Bad Times” to declare I will buy ever single album these guys put out. Since we’re paying tribute to the 31st anniversary of John Bonham’s death, I would be remiss not to point out that the man played the kick drum and hi hat with just one foot. Listen to the song again. I’m not a drummer, but that’s madness!

4. Over the Hills and Far Away
This is kind of like “Stairway to Heaven” if it was a little less ambitious and popular. Wow, that sounds much more negative than I meant it. “Over the Hills and Far Away” is one of those songs that makes the world a better place. How about that? It’s an emotional, beautiful song from the group that’s considered the inspiration for heavy metal and hard rock. It’s not just one of my favorite Led Zeppelin songs, it’s one of my favorite songs.

3. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
Ah, time for a gentler little tune. Or is it? “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” starts gently enough, with a delicate flurry of guitar and then some soft vocals. But at the halfway point, the song explodes. Drums and bass drive the song, the guitar gets heavier and the vocals become screams. This is another song that covers a shorter, simpler tune. In this case, it’s a Joan Baez song that simply sticks to guitar and vocals. That’s what makes Led Zeppelin so special. They make it a journey.

2. Ramble On
This is probably the Led Zeppelin that first comes to mind for me… And a lot of people. The Lord of the Rings references, stupefying guitar and amazing bass and drums all add up to something that no one else ever did or ever will do. I love how the acoustic guitar gives into the electric in this song, it’s another great example of the kind of journey a quality Led Zeppelin song can take you on.

1. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin does country. I can’t really explain why I like this so much, or why it’s easily my most listened to track from the band. Certainly the guitar of Jimmy Page is partly responsible, from the craziness of the intro to the simpler verse, it’s undeniably great. Certainly John Bonham’s percussion is a partly responsible, featuring drums you can’t help but tap along with, as well as spoons and castanets. Certainly John Paul Jones’ bass is partly responsible, since he so beautifully accompanies, nay, matches, the skill on display from the previous two. Certainly Robert Plant’s vocals are partly responsible, since this is the most sing-a-long Led Zeppelin got this side of “Your Time is Gonna Come.” I guess they’re all responsible. And when you put them together, they can’t be beat.

Zeptember: John’s Top Ten

I love to let the led out and I had a blast revisiting one of my favorite artists to make this list, so I hope you have your share of good times reading this post.

10. Boogie with Stu
Leave it to Led Zeppelin to take a completely typical blues progression and make it their own. John Bonham’s drums are repetitive yet infectious with that big echoey sound he was so well known for and guest pianist Ian Stewart wows with the same kind of honky tonk he often brought to Rolling Stones recordings. I also find it interesting that it’s one of the few recordings to feature Robert Plant on acoustic guitar while Jimmy plucks away on a mandolin, really makes ya wanna boogie!

9. Misty Mountain Hop
I think you’ll find more than a few of my picks contain some of Bonham’s biggest beats and this is no exception. Carried by a chunky rhythm and John Paul Jones’ effortlessly cool electric piano it moves along in it’s own unique and funky Zeppelin style. Naturally Plant impresses with his soaring shrieks and Lord of the Rings lyrics and Page… Well Page is Page, nuff said.

8. The Song Remains the Same
Somehow the first Zeppelin cd I owned was The Best of Zeppelin: Latter Days Vol. 2 and seeing that this marks the opening of that compilation it has a special place down in here (points to chest.) It was songs like this where I couldn’t even begin to wrap my mind around all the different ideas that must’ve been floating around in Page’s head. Here we have a song constantly changing tempo, different parts and instrumental breaks and propelled by an army of guitars all individually doing something unique and compelling. The band couldn’t be any tighter on a song that would be too complex for any non-prog rock band of the time, it’s really something.

7. Since I’ve Been Loving You
One of the most powerful blues recordings I can think of. All four members bring so much technical skill to the song but even more passion. Page delivers in my opinion one of his all-time best performances as he more or less solos through the whole seven minutes. Of course Plant delivers one of his iconic, possibly improvised vocal performances and I can’t get enough of it.

6. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that you cherish the most, at least that’s how I feel about Bonham’s bass drum. One of Bonham’s most basic percussion parts makes this song undeniably catchy. On the other side of the spectrum you have Page playing what sounds like a very intricate acoustic guitar part and Plant delivering a greatly executed melody, I just want to sing with them!

5. Trampled Under Foot
I remember when that horrible Finger Eleven song “Paralyzer” came out and I said “It’s just a ripoff of Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand.” Then I remember being reminded of Take Me Out’s similarity to Trampled Under Foot and then reading that Trampled Under Foot was inspired by a Robert Johnson song. All that aside I like to think it was the Zeppelin rendition that so firmly buried itself in the minds of others who just couldn’t help but rip it off cause well, it’s rock bliss. You can thank John Paul Jones for providing the funk with a clavinet performance that could make Stevie Wonder weep and the rest is pure Zeppelin… Finger Eleven really sucks though.

4. Immigrant Song
If the Norse gods ever come down from Valhalla to rock our world this will be their theme. With Plant’s catchy howls and lyrics about vikings this is an iconic Zeppelin tune built around one of their best riffs. It’s a song that marches along at a perfect rock pace and one of the songs that would best define the sheer power of the hammer of the gods.

3, Houses of the Holy
Maybe it says something about one’s affection for a song when they can say they’re hooked in the first three seconds. At least that’s how I’ve always felt about the riff that dominates the song “Houses of the Holy.” It’s so simple and yet so Zeppelin with the distinct sound of the guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. There’s not much to say, because there really isn’t much to it, it’s rock and roll pure and simple.

2. When the Levee Breaks
: I think it’s apparent at this point that a great Bonham beat is a sure fire way to hook me. In the way of “Bonham beats” this has to be one of his best and biggest. I think it’s Bonham’s strive for simple, raw, power over complexity that has made him my all-time favorite rock and roll drummer and this is one of my favorite Zeppelin tracks. In addition to this, “When the Levee Breaks” also contains some of the most badass harmonica that’s ever been captured, I mean it sounds like a god damn freight train! Page and Jones drone on with a western style guitar and bass and Plant brings the swagger, an excellent finale to possibly Zeppelin’s best album.

1. Over the Hills and Far Away
What can I say? It holds such a dear place in my heart after playing and recording it in The Defenestrators. It has that whimsical acoustic first half that eventually launches into a rocking great riff. I heard John Paul Jones interviewed on the radio once where he stated that this was his favorite Zeppelin song to play live and I can completely understand, it’s such a great example of the group’s ability to play off of each other. This maybe a Page driven song but it also highlights Zeppelin’s ability to work together as we all should as passengers of starship Earth.

It’s tough to dissect one of your favorite bands but I’m satisfied with my choices. The only song I felt bad about cutting is “Friends” one of my favorite examples of “Experimental Zeppelin”. If I had to name my favorite Zeppelin album I’d probably go for the surprising yet honest choice of Led Zeppelin III. It was the first Zeppelin cd I bought after their greatest hits and shows so many sides to the band. It has their acoustic side, their bluesy side, their rock side and everything in between, that’s the way I like my music.

T3: Fictional Presidents

Just a little thing I was thinking about after learning that Jack Ryan becomes the president eventually in those Tom Clancy books. Who is your favorite fictional president? I bet you can guess mine.

10. Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho – Idiocracy
Here is a president who we can all admire. President Camacho cares about the people. He wants everyone to have a good time. He also thinks plants should be watered with Gatorade. Maybe he’s not a super genius, but he lives in a world where no one is smart. He gets by on charisma and his idea that everything should be fun. That’s pretty cool. Hell, if we lived in the Idiocracy universe, I’d vote for the guy.

9. Gaius Baltar – Battlestar Galactica
Gaius Baltar was partly responsible for most of humanity dying in a horrific attack by evil robots. While it wasn’t directly his fault, he did a great job of self-preservation that continued to put good people in danger. Plus he takes orders from a woman who only exists in his head. But that didn’t stop him from saying whatever the people wanted to hear and getting elected. What did he do with his presidency? It looks like he mainly slept with beautiful women, then surrendered to the Cylons. That’s pretty pathetic, but kind of awesome too, don’t you think?

8. James Dale – Mars Attacks!
President Dale had no real effect on the events of Mars Attacks! – he mainly just delivered jokes. Which was fine with me, since most of them were pretty funny. Jack Nicholson makes for a pretty good president, especially in a world as crazy as the one in this movie. I love his portrayal of a man who is mostly just a politician, not the idealistic leader we get with most fictional presidents. Plus, he delivers on a promise the Simpsons made of showing us the president impaled by a flag.

7. Tom Beck – Deep Impact
So there’s this asteroid headed for the earth. It’s going to kill everybody, except for the select few who get to stay in a special shelter. Everyone else gets to die in a terrible firestorm. It takes quite the president to make that seem noble, and fortunately President Beck was that guy. His speech at the end of Deep Impact was sombre and yet rousing, reflective and optimistic. Plus he paved the way for future great African American presidents.

6. Dave Kovic – Dave
When President Bill Mitchell has a stroke, it falls to Dave Kovic, who runs an employment agency and works on the side as a Mitchell-lookalike, to run the country. Dave flounders at first, but then single-handedly balances the national budget, vastly improves his popularity with voters and even reinvigorates his romance with the First Lady. It’s these kind of down-to-earth values and fiscal responsibility that most Americans look for in a president, and proof why we’d never actually get one like him.

5. Andrew Shepherd – The American President
President Shepherd is kind of the prototype for Jed Bartlet, in that he is a popular, liberal president who must deal with a conservative congress. In the beginning of the film, Shepherd is a widower and clearly has lost the drive that got him elected in the first place. Thanks to falling in love, however, by the end of the movie he is delivering terrific speeches and leading the country in the direction everyone wants it to go. I think the “least presidential thing I’ve ever done” speech is what clenches it for me.

4. Thomas J. Whitmore – Independence Day
When you think about it, Whitmore was kind of a shitty president. He didn’t seem to really know what was going on, nor did he take the right advice when he should have. He didn’t even know Area 51 existed, the fool! Then, when the country needed his leadership most, he stepped up and gave a rousing speech about how Independence Day was now an international holiday. Then he hopped in a plane and lead the charge himself. How about that?

3. James Marshall – Air Force One
Now here is a president whose administration we know nothing about. We don’t need to know anything about it, either. All we need to know is that in a world full of pathetic, sniveling bureaucrats, President Marshall is a guy who takes things into his own hands. Instead of escaping Air Force One when it is taken over by terrorists, this guy jettisons the pod and starts taking out terrorists one at a time. “Get off my plane,” he says. That’s right up there with “Ask not what you can do for country…”

2. David Palmer – 24
We don’t really know that much about the Palmer presidency. We know he was very popular and the first African American elected to that office. But what his domestic policies were like is anyone’s guess. What we do know is that the man was an amazing decision maker and extremely capable under pressure. He became the go-to guy for dealing with terrorism in the United States. With Palmer calling the shots and Jack Bauer on the front lines, America was never safer. In fact, Palmer was such a beloved TV president, some people attribute part of President Obama’s success to the character.

1. Josiah Bartlet – The West Wing
The West Wing gave us two full terms of Bartlet, and man, I wish we could have given that guy a third one. Bartlet is liberal, but he is also deeply religious and resolute. He didn’t serve in the military, but he capably uses force when necessary. He is among the most intelligent and eloquent characters I’ve ever seen. In eight seasons, he reinvigorated the Supreme Court, made peace in the Middle East, helped make college more affordable and raised the level of political discourse. Jed Bartlet is the real deal, I mean, he can even speak Latin! Four more years!

T3: The Sounds Of Summer

Well I’m sitting here waiting for my final class of the semester as one final summer vacation hangs in the balance, all while Sean and Nancy prepare for real fucking life. So just for the hell of it, I figured I’d take a look at my all-time favorite “summer songs”. Now I’m not saying this is any kind of “definitive” list of the songs that epitomize summer the best, these are just the ones that I’m fondest of. So if anyone feels like posting a similar list of their own, feel free.

10. Pavement – “Summer Babe”

It’s always kind of hard to tell what the hell Stephen Malkmus is talking about, even on one of Pavement’s more heartfelt songs like “Summer Babe”. But beneath all that guitar fuzz and surreal imagery, you’ve got a nice little ode to youthful summer love, ’90s slacker style.

9. The Ramones – “Rockaway Beach”

The Ramones always we’re a bubble gum pop group at their heart, and “Rockaway Beach” is definitely one of the better examples of that cheery optimism that was just bubbling beneath their aggressive exterior. When you think of summer songs, you tend to think of Southern California sunshine, but The Ramones vie instead for the “hot concrete” and “disco on the radio” of 70’s New York.

8. The Hold Steady – “Constructive Summer”

Considering how much of The Hold Steady’s music seem to encapsulate those joyous booze-fueled summer nights, there are a lot of Hold Steady songs I could of put on this list, but I opted just to go with their most obvious “summer song”. Plus it’s not hard to relate with the idea of a constructive summer. We all have those certain things we’d like to accomplish before the summer months are through, but alas we usually just end up hanging out in Sean’s basement. Oh well.

7. Wilco – “Heavy Metal Drummer”

I’m guessing as you get older, summer comes to represent a kind of nostalgia for summer’s past rather another few months of freedom, and that’s what Jeff Tweedy and co. seem to be tapping in to on “Heavy Metal Drummer”. It’s just got that great whistful quality that somehow leaves you yearning for the days of “playing Kiss covers, beautiful and stoned”.

6. The Beach Boys – “All Summer Long”

Of course this list wouldn’t be complete without a showing from The Beach Boys, though I’d say a lot of their songs aren’t so much about summer as they are just about living in Southern California. Still, when you think of Summer, you think of The Beach Boys, and this is one of those songs that simply encapsulates the timeless teenage ritual of hanging out in the sun and havin’ fun. Plus it’s association with American Graffiti doesn’t hurt either.

5. Sly & The Family Stone – “Hot Fun In The Summertime”

Certainly one of the more obligotory summer songs, but come on, how can you resist a song like this? It’s got that easygoing laid back feel that just seems about perfect for representing those summer days, all delivered with Sly’s signature sound that seems to pull all sorts of bits and pieces from every corner of the pop world. However, “Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey” is not the first song I’d think of as a good medley candidate for it, but I guess that’s just the diverse nature of Sly and The Family Stone for you.

4. Bruce Springsteen – “Thunder Road”

The Boss is another one of those artists where it seems like half his discography is well suited for the summer months, but I don’t think any other of his songs quite encompass a hot summer night like “Thunder Road”, as well as most of the Born To Run album for that matter. And Springsteen’s vision of summer isn’t just about laid-back fun in the sun, it’s an epic journey in which the possibilities of youth seem endless as long as you’ve got a full tank of gas and plenty of blind ambition.

3. Frank Sinatra – “Summer Wind”

Quite possibly my favorite song from Old Blue Eyes, and for me the ultimate laid back summer jam. And Sinatra being the old battered soul that was, gives you the impression that he’s had his share of summer flings, but nonetheless life goes on just like the seasons, even if you can’t escape that god damn summer wind.

2. Husker Du – “Celebrated Summer”

Beneath all that guitar fuzz, you’ve got a song about summer that’s just about as universal anything in any of the songs on this lists, as Bob Mould rabbles about “hanging out on the beach or playing in a band”. However, there’s still a bittersweet quality to the song, as Mould eventually asks “do you remember when the first snowfall fell?”, inferring the impending reality that for midwesterners, the line between summer and winter is quite thin.

1. R.E.M. – “Nightswimming”

For me, R.E.M. have always been a band that’s easy to like, but hard to love. So inherently they’ve always been relegated on my top tens to either honorable mentions or barely sneaking in to the ten spot. But when it comes to evoking Summer’s youthful nostalgia, R.E.M.’s number 1 in my book. This is just an undeniably beautiful song, and it’s really about as simple as it gets. Mike Mills’ circling piano chords are complemented perfectly by Michael Stipe’s lyrics that evoke R.E.M.’s teenage nights in Athens, GA, while John Paul Jones (yeah, that John Paul Jones), provides some stirring string arrangements. It’s a song that’s easy to get lost in, for sure.

Sean’s Top Ten Movies of 2010

2010 felt like a disappointing year for movies, yet here I am with like 10 movies that I feel should be on this list but couldn’t make the cut. Yeah, I’m looking at you, The Kids are All Right. So quickly: Micmacs is neat, The Fighter is good, The Town is a lot of fun, True Grit is pretty impressive, Greenberg is interesting, Kick-Ass is funny (I’ve seen it three times!), Scott Pilgrim is cool, I guess, How to Train Your Dragon was surprisingly charming, The A-Team is a masterpiece. There. Glad I got that out. Also, I missed out on some movies that are probably really good. Specifically: Animal Kingdom, Mother, Shutter Island, I am Love and Please Give. Just didn’t have the time. Now that I’ve gotten through those massive lists, I’m sure you’re dying to see what my real list is; so let’s dig in.

10. Restrepo

What makes Restrepo a triumph is that it doesn’t politicize anything. And that would have been so easy to do: this is a documentary about the troops in the most dangerous part of Afghanistan, after all. But these soldiers don’t politicize it, they’re not out there saying they’re fighting because the liberals are too weak or anything like that. These are guys as old as me, and they remind me of the people I know. Except a lot braver. They are fighting because they swore to defend us. They are fighting because they want they’re buddies to live. After the recent passing of Band of Brothers hero Dick Winters, it’s comforting to know that while the times have changed, the caliber of the young men asked to defend us has not.

9. Black Swan

The more I’ve come to think of the Black Swan’s screenplay, the more I’ve come to doubt the writing. So I hope it means something when I say that doesn’t matter. Future Wolverine sequel director Darren Aronofsky is such an expert with his camera and the performances are so strong that the film still triumphs as one of most intense, uncomfortable, trashy movies I’ve seen in recent memory. Oh man, that last ballet sequence at the end gives me chills.

8. Winter’s Bone

The world of Winter’s Bone is so alien to me this might as well have been a sci fi movie. Kinda like The Road but better. This is a world where everyone seems to be related in some way, where gossip has enormous power, and no one is safe. It’s a complex and dark movie that I could see a lot of people really being turned off by, but I found it enthralling. I just really wanted that girl to get a better life.

7. The King’s Speech

I had to really think about this one. Something about it just seemed cliche to me. Oh, the British monarchy period piece movie. Look at its all-star British cast! I didn’t want to succumb to those temptations, but here I am. At least I can say that my favorite part wasn’t British, but in fact Geoffrey Rush, who was great in the role and a real treat to see out of Pirates of the Carribbean makeup. You know what? This is a really good movie about a pretty crazy part of history I only knew a little bit about before.

6. 127 Hours

So, yeah, this is a movie about one dude stuck in a canyon for a long time. It is a movie which graphically shows said dude amputating his arm. None of that sounds appealing. But what makes it great is DB’s direction and JF’s performance. It becomes clear pretty quick that this is a story about more than survival, it is a story about perseverance and finding out why you want to survive. That’s pretty cool. Also, Sigur Rós.

5. Exit Through the Gift Shop

Is this really an entry on my list, or a trick? In a year with a lot of disappointing comedies, it was even more surprising when one of the most amusing movies I saw was a “documentary.” Whether there’s any truth to this document doesn’t matter, because its story of a rebellious art form selling out and this unstable guy who was there to see it all is just so good. I really recommend you check this out, it’s on Netflix Instant streaming.

4. A Prophet

A Prophet is kinda like the French version of The Wire, but it’s a movie. Yeah, I can get behind that. It takes its time to get you into this world and these characters. The argument can probably be made that this makes the movie way too long and unfocused, but to me I felt like I knocked out a whole TV series over the course of one movie. There are some seriously crazy moments packed in here, making it among the best prison films I’ve ever seen. Plus, France is weird. The give you a day off of jail? What’s up with that? Also, Sigur Rós.

3. The Social Network

Hollywood started paying attention to the creepy qualities of Facebook in 2010. It was well documented in the creepy, surreal Catfish. The Social Network touches on what makes Facebook scary, from a privacy point of view, but is more content telling a great story with some tremendously memorable characters. So am I. I think in my review of this movie I compared it to Citizen Kane, in that it is a story of a youth’s rise to power and fortune at the cost of everything he once held dear. However, Mark is never that likable, he’s too distant and possibly mentally troubled for anyone to really get that close. The Social Network is an extraordinary film that I believe will still survive even after we’ve all moved on to whatever comes after Facebook.

2. Inception

I sure do like me some Chris Nolan, I tell you what. Is there anyone better than him when it comes to big action movies? He manages to make movies that are more thrilling than the Michael Bays of the world, and he still is able to fit in interesting plots and quality characters. Inception is a crazy movie for a lot of reasons, including just the fact that it was made with the big budget it had. It’s a real trip the first time through and you pick up more each time you revisit it, or at least I have.

1. Toy Story 3

I think we waited long enough for this one. The first two Toy Story movies are certainly among my favorite animated films, and Woody and Buzz are one of the best couples in cinema. There was some concern that the threequel for this series couldn’t live up to that legacy, especially so many years later. We’ve all grown up, and, fortunately, Andy did too. Toy Story 3 is a more mature film, dealing with some very adult themes and featuring some pretty harrowing sequences. Pixar did a great job with both the familiar and new, and provided us with a damn satisfying conclusion to a wonderful franchise.

Kevin’s Nine Movies of 2010

Overall, 2010 was a great year for Kevin. Regarding movies, however, 2010 was one of pity. I only racked up seeing nine movies in theaters this last year, not counting seeing Inception twice. All the movies I screened in the public setting I enjoyed and feel they can be ranked. They are as follows. (I have approval from King of Damorgue to do this post as a top ten)

Movies I wanted to see (Honorable Mention):
True Grit
Red
The Town
Airplane!

9. Get Him to the Greek
This movie points out the hey that’s cool but so what test. It amusing, and I mostly remember that one scene in the Vegas hotel room where the one guy is battling his father while the other guy has smoked something that requires him to rub against carpet on the wall. The movie made me laugh, but when it was over, I forgot about it and don’t really care for it at all. The Superbad guy (pictured) is co-starring in the film. He is Kevin’s actor enemy #1.

8. Kick Ass
This film, in my mind, was a major success. Nicholas Cage has been going downhill in his movie performances ever since the first National Treasure. It was a pleasure to finally enjoy a movie where he doesn’t completely destroy it. Apparently, the key to success is to simply limit his amount of air time. Favorite scene has to be when the green monster runs into the gang right after he declares himself a superhero. It’s nice to see a superhero get the shit beaten out em’ every now and then, just as long as its not batman, he is too cool.

7. Tron: Legacy
The full review of this film will be coming right after we finish up the top ten movies of 2010. Overall though, it was a visually entertaining film but, at movies end left me in a huge labyrinth that not even Wikipedia can help me get out of. For those that haven’t seen it, I would rate it as “go see it in theaters” but finish reading this post first.

6. The Social Network
As some of the more loyal readers of my parent blog may know, I am a huge fan of Aaron Sorkin’s work. When news came that he was working on a movie for the big screen, I didn’t care what it was about, I knew I would see it (even if it were about myspace). The facebook orientated film exceeded any expectations I had and even spurred a desire to ‘acquire’ the movie and watch it again. The press power of this movie I have to accredit as it’s biggest success. After the world came to know that Mark Zuckerburg wasn’t the most generous or nice guy on the street, he has actively become involved in what is hopefully the start to a long future in philanthropy.

5. The American
As with a few others on the list, The American, is another film I saw where I had few others I could talk to about. Like the Sorkin film, I cannot say no to seeing George Clooney on the big screen, after Up in the Air, he, behind Harrison Ford, claims title of Kevin’s favorite thespian. Back to the film, odd would be a good way to describe it. This movie probably has the most dramatic ending of all the others on the list, I don’t think anyone saw it coming. Even though it is Clooney, I would wait to see this movie when it’s $4.99 at Target.

4. Iron Man 2
Beside the new batman films, Iron Man tops my list of the recent comic book superhero movies that have been hitting the screens over the last decade. Ever since Air America, Robert Downey Jr. I have viewed as a respectable actor. The sequel wasn’t nearly as good as the first, but still enjoyable. The scene I refer to the most in the film is when Stark has been summoned in front of the congressional board to give up his suit, and he hijacks the television to show that other countries are ten years away from Iron Man technology, then shows a video of the Hammer Industries suit blowing up and he’s like “Hammer Industries, twenty years.” If you haven’t seen the film, go buy it, when convenient.

3. Toy Story 3
It was announced and advertised in theaters nearly a year before it finally came out so to say I was awaiting this movie is an understatement. However, I didn’t quite know how it could be done. Andy has grown up, the last one was already sad, so how could this movie possibly be any better. Somehow though, Pixar figured out how to do it. The movie brought plenty of laughs and good memories for not only has Andy grown up, but so have I since this film’s predecessor first came out. Yes, at movie’s end I did cry, the only time I can ever remember in a movie. If it were to go see Toy Story 3 right now, I would authorize abandoning reading this post.

2. The A-team
Easily the best original film of the year for me. Liam Neison is awesome, very entertaining, and made me want to watch the television series. I can’t say anything bad about the film. It was exceptional! My favorite scene is pictured, it’s when the drone shoots down the teams escape from Germany and they try to “fly the tank.”

1. Inception
Easily number one film on my list. This movie still blows me away. It seems to be the climax of a year of movies that like to mess with the mind. With lack of a better term, this movie is one big cluster fuck. Mr. Nolan went above and beyond with this film, I don’t know what else you could ask for it has: action, love, romance, comedy (go British guy!), and even some cartoons. Ever house should own this film and watch it over the holidays multiple times. The snow level was my favorite, it turns out the fortress (pictured) is a real place, actually a ski resort in Canada, that will be the location of my next trip and future empire.