The One Hundred

1. The Shawshank Redemption: The funny thing about this movie is that I never saw it in the theater and I saw it long after it had debuted on DVD. I heard it was good but I just never saw it. Then I did and I fell in love. Then, as luck would have it, TNT shows this movie for a whole weekend about once every other month and while I wouldn’t say I plan my afternoons around it, I think subconsciously, I know when I need to be home.

Favorite Scene: When Andy locks himself in the warden’s office and plays the opera piece over the P.A. system. I love the music there and Red’s voice over describing what he thought they were singing about… just magic.

2. Die Hard with a Vengeance: Another TNT favorite. I do have to say that I think this is my favorite DH behind #1 (#2 was largely forgettable). This is due largely to the fact that the Bad M-F’er himself, Samuel L. Jackson is in it. Plus it has the tie to the first movie with Hans Gruber’s brother behind all the madness. Good times.

Favorite Scene: “You get his hands, I’ll get his feet”

3. The Warriors: Sadly this film is not on as much as it used to be but boy, growing up, many, many, many Saturday and Sunday afternoons were past watching this movie. Who wouldn’t love the heartwarming tale of a rascally group of youngsters from Coney Island fighting their way through a nightmarish version of New York just to get back home? Oh yeah, and all of the gangs in NYC are out to get them too! Sweeeet.

Favorite Scene: While there are so many scenes to choose from (“Warriors… come out to pla-a-ay”, “See what you get? See what you get when you mess with the Orphans?”) I have to say that any scene with the totally awesome Baseball Furies in it is my favorite. I wanted to be one of them for Halloween when I was a kid… sometimes I still do.

4. The Last Dragon: Another film from my youth and possibly the most bizarre. It’s about… well, let’s see what Wikipedia has to say:

“Set in New York City, the plot follows a black teenage martial arts student named Leroy Green (often referred to as “Bruce Leroy”, although he never actually calls himself that). With dreams of becoming a great martial artist like his idol Bruce Lee, Leroy goes on a quest to achieve the highest level of martial arts accomplishment, known as “The Glow”. As its name suggests it is a mystical energy that can be tapped into by a martial arts master. When a fighter’s hands glow, he is one of the best in the world and when his entire body glows, he is the greatest fighter alive. On his journey to find “The Glow” Leroy must confront villains such as a crooked arcade mogul Eddie Arcadian and the evil Sho’nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, from which he must also protect his younger brother Richie and his girlfriend, VJ Laura Charles.”

See? How could you not want to see that? Plus, keep an eye out for William H. Macy (yes, that one) in a very small supporting role. Bet you won’t find this one on his resume!

Favorite Scene: Oh, this movie is filled with magic moments but when Eddie Arcadian is hiring Sho’nuff — the Shogun of Harlem — to go after Bruce Leroy, he calls him “Mr. Nuff” and it kills me every time. Oh and “Am I meanest? Am I the prettiest? Am I the baddest mofo low down around this town? Well who am I?” Answer to all the above: Sho’nuff. Oh, and of course, the final fight when Leroy gets “The Glow”.

5. Rush Hour: I am a sucker for Chris Tucker. Have you seen “Friday”? ‘Nuff said. The second and the third Rush Hour’s don’t really seem to interest me that much but the first one, there’s some really funny moments in it. And yes, Jackie Chan’s stunts are pretty amazing but it’s Chris Tucker that keeps drawing me in.

Favorite scene: And after all that Chris Tucker praise, my favorite scene doesn’t even have him in it. It’s the scene that leads up the Counselor Han’s daughter being kidnapped. She’s on her way to school and the driver is not only forced to hear Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy” at a very loud volume, he is also forced to listen to the daughter’s attempt to imitate Ms.Carey as well. He rolls his eyes and America rolls its eyes with him. Good stuff. Also, I love the gag reel during the end credits “Show me your ass!” Classic.

Ok, so that’s my five**. What’s yours?

We haven’t had a QotD in awhile so here goes:

Better Christmas Special: Charlie Brown Christmas or Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer?

Discuss!

Dude.

Do you even have to ask?

I love LOVE the Rankin/Bass Rudolph (Yukon Cornelius FTW!). We’re talking family tradition here.

BUT

The Charlie Brown Christmas special is TIMELESS. It’s sweet and true and just makes you hope for the goodness in people which doesn’t require flying reindeer or elves that look like Jake* that want to go into dentistry.

It just takes a little boy looking for what Christmas means and finding it in the last place he would think to look. The part where Linus recites the Gospel of Luke makes me tear up.

That being said, I still love the Rudolph as it reminds of me of Christmases past and the happy times that come with those memories – Back when the idea of a bearded, burly man wearing fur entering your house in the dead of night with nothing but a sack intended for children was ok and didn’t freak you out.

…

Wow. Ok, so new answer.

The kid in me likes Rudolph more.

The adult (or older kid if you prefer) appreciates Charlie Brown on a whole other level.

Here’s one for you:

Better Christmas movie: A Christmas Story or Christmas Vacation?

You may fire when ready.

I am not sure if I should even dignify this with a response…

C’mon. I know what the answer is but, have you seen Christmas Vacation since that time in the theaters? It’s actually not that bad and kind of funny. I guess it got better with time.

…

Ok, I know there’s pretty much nothing that can hold a candle to ACS. But is there anything that comes close?

For some reason I can’t bring myself to watch Christmas Vacation when it comes on TV – I will even watch Vegas Vacation before I will watch it…not sure why, it just does not strike me as funny

I like Charlie Brown and Rudolph for the same reasons you mentioned and for two more that you didn’t:

&

On a side note, have you ever seen Rudolph’s Shiny New Year? The TV was just on in the background the other day and this show was on – I don’t think I had ever seen it before. It basically revolved around Rudolph, a caveman, a knight with a long beard, and someone who looks like Ben Franklin trying to rescue Baby New Year from a giant buzzard. It was totally surreal…at one point Mia turned to me pointed to the TV, and made a little gesture like someone smoking a big fat doobie. I said “True dat, Mia.”

Y’know, I remembered the baby new year thing and the thing with his ears and everything but yeah after reading this I’m fairly certain there were some mind altering substances that helped in its creation.

“Ok, dig it – Ben Franklin, A Caveman, and A Knight that sounds just like the Riddler.”

“Ohhhh mannnn! We soooo have to make that!”

Thus a T.V. special was born.

I’m thinking it’s the rednosed stepchild in the Rankin/Bass family.

Did you ever hear the Smodcast where they discuss Rankin/Bass, Year without a Christmas, in particular? Funny stuff…

I remember something about that… I might need to find it again.

So is there a movie that comes close to A Christmas Story? And don’t say “It’s a Wonderful Life”. (cop out)

Although, a submission of “Die Hard” might be accepted ~ depending on my mood.

Elf, perhaps?
Nightmare Before Christmas?

There really aren’t a lot of good Christmas movies…

Yeah, Elf has become a favorite around here. But I see what you mean about Christmas movies. I want to like Fred Claus but something inside of me just makes me nervous about that movie. Been burned so many time, y’know? But I’m going to get you on the Christmas Vacation train.

Trust me, I wasn’t a believer either but Jake talked about it and pretty much demanded that I watch it again (as he owned it on DVD, he also owns Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (yes, THAT one) on DVD as well, so take from that what you will) and I did and it wasn’t bad and actually enjoyable and funny. Give it a shot, lest I sic Jake on you.