[Reviews] Top Five Things
Dec. 31st, 2007 05:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
crankyoldmanSince my brain is not functioning anymore today in the work capacity, and it is New Year's Eve, I figured some fun listy-like reviews would be just the thing to do while waiting for to go home. Top five because I'm from the High Fidelity school of lists.
In no particular order.
Top Five Movies I Saw In 2007:
1. Brick
1930s type slang, high school kids, a murder, an adorable femme fatale, and a very huggable main character kid with a will of iron. Probably the best find ever for me, and I owe it to my job and wikipedia. The cinematography is also fantastic, and the music is that haunting kind done with crazy strange instruments that gets stuck with you for days and days.
2. Little Miss Sunshine
I've a soft spot for dysfunctional but loving families, and this is probably one of the better examples of that. Features Steve Carrell in a serious role (and he ended up being my favorite character, go figure), a teenager that doesn't speak most of the movie, the most precocious little girl since Dakota Fanning, a mom that doesn't look like a super model, a crotchety old man, and of course, the Cheesiest Dad Ever. Dark humored, cute, and sharp. And I'm not automatically an indie flick fan (actually, I'm usually the opposite, because I worked at a theater that showed them and damn is the indie crowd messy) but this is so much more than just an indie flick.
3. SE7EN
I still cannot believe I'd gone this long in my life without having seen this. Detectives, a serial killer with a flair for the dramatic, Morgan Freeman, discussions on apathy, dirty city motifs, and Brad Pitt getting punched in the face. It has everything I like in a movie, really. The ending gave me chills, too.
4. Lucky Number Slevin
Alright, that's creepy that I have two movies involving the number seven AND Morgan Freeman, but hey. I can't get enough symbolism OR Morgan Freeman. It quirky and funny in the beginning and takes a REALLY dark turn about 3/4 of the way through, which is both disorienting and awesome. Also, it has Bruce Willis is probably my favorite type of role for him.
5. The Bourne Ultimatum
Alright, it was a toss-up in this spot between this and Casino Royale, because I think it's also masterful spy movie. But there are few times I can say I really loved the ending of a trilogy so much. It was perfect for the movie setup, introduced questions, and proved that Pamela Landy clearly needs to do a collab with the current M so that I can continue to be amazed at their pwnage. I think more than the scenes with Bourne jumping around through windows and shit (because it was awesome, I'm not going to lie, I love crazy stunts) was the whole discussion of choice hidden in all that psychosis. I won't spoil where that pops up, because really, freaking awesome trilogy kids, go see them. And I think I might be a little fond of Matt Damon now, he keeps playing characters that I sort of want to adopt. XD
Top Five Shows/Series I saw in 2007:
1. Mad Men
Suits. Oh god, men wearing SUITS. And the women looking classy, and and JOAN. Chock full of moral ambiguity, ambition, all sorts of terrible things that people get sucked in, yet... yet you can't help but feel for them sometimes. You want to hate them, but you love them. It's a very sophisticated show, at a lazy pace that can almost seem to drag, except you're hanging on their every word and cigarette flick. Or maybe I'm just strange and more than a little obsessed with the whole 40s to early 60s period.
2. Battlestar Galactica: The Reimagined Series
YES I AM BEHIND I AM AWARE. Alright, so I had to pirate most of this, except for Battlestar Galactica: Razor which is a movie, but still. Oh. My. God. I have missed you clever science fiction. I have missed you a lot. I'm quite attached to a lot of the characters, and I have huge crushes on Starbuck and Helena Cain, but guh. AND ADAMA IS AWESOME. I just cannot get over how much is packed into this series, even season 3, which so far has been kind of meh. Also, Number Six freaks me the hell out. I don't know why, but that blonde lady just.... it's like she's trying to eat my soul. You can guess what I will be watching when it comes back on TV (also the reason I even will HAVE a TV at school).
3. Witch Hunter Robin
I didn't want to like this series, for silly reasons (someone I disliked greatly is a huge fanboy of it), but I really ended up becoming quite attached. I ended up liking most everyone for strange reasons, and I kind of want to adopt Robin. Magic, science, and conspiracies--yeah, totally my type.
4. Project Runway
...I know, I know. A reality show. But I like that they're making things, and I've always had an interest in fashion. I'll admit it. Probably not even close to the typical sense of the word (because really, what the HELL are girls wearing these days?! BOYS TOO) but still. Also, it has the man I want to be when I grow up, except, well, female. Oh Tim Gunn, why are you so full of win and awesome? Can I be mentorly and dapper like you someday?
5. Firefly
AGAIN I AM BEHIND. Dear Fox: YOU SUCK. Omg, we neeeeeed sci-fi series like this! Also WESTERNS. AT THE SAME TIME. Like, two of my favorite cliched TV genres EVER. EVER. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? Shepherd Book's my favorite, but that would be obvious, considering me.
Top Five Musicians/Groups I Found in 2007
1. Regina Spektor
She's just so cute and irreverent. And I've always had a thing for female vocalists with mad piano skills and a penchant for crazy lyrics. That's one trend I'll probably never get tired of. Got hooked in by her song "Fidelity" because it's ridiculously catchy, but I have to say my favorite of hers is "Bartender". It also helps that she's ex-Soviet. MOTHERLAND.
2. Liquid Laughter Lounge Quartet
Their album "May You Always Live In Laughter" is the soundtrack of my brain, I think. I've missed music like this amidst Yet Another Emo Artist, because it's cheeky, multilingual, and full of creepy, catchy, and wickedly fun melodies. The bastard child of my favorite blues riffs, jazz instruments, and rock guitars. Oh, I am so glad I found you.
3. Visioneers
HIP-HOP THAT IS GOOD. Oh, I was beginning to get so tired of the genre, then I decided to go searching. I may even like rap again (as long as it doesn't have to do with bitches and hos... dear god I am tired of that). Truer to the jazz roots of hip-hop than most, with samples that just make me smile. My favorite song is probably "Run For Cover" because the intro wins and it gets trapped in my head for long periods of time.
4. The Hush Sound
"Like Vines" is a really lovely story of an album. A good way to describe the band is "Ben Folds gets a girlfriend". Piano rock! Clever lyrics! Sad sad songs! Happy cute songs! It has everything I like about pop (because I do sometimes) and very little of what I hate. My favorite of theirs has to be "Lighthouse" because it reminds me of the kinds of ghost stories I like, and it's just so pretty. I love how the female vocalist's voice is so clear.
5. I Was A Teenage Satan Worshipper
Other than the name, which makes me giggle like crazy when I type it, I just love how funny they are. Also, they have a song that references the movie Heathers ("Bomb The School"), and public school paranoia, which makes them awesome. They are synth music at it's most fun and dirty. I want these kids to hang out in my hometown. Though I'm likely to chase them off my lawn. Also, the PandaTron song. I mean. PANDATRON!!! GO HOME YOU ROBOT MONSTER! Adorable.
I'm not putting books because I only read like, seven, since I suck at life. And that's unfair. I may add more later tonight, STAY TUNED. Also, I am trying this posting to multiple journals thing. DOES IT WORK? WE SHALL SEE.
~Cendri
In no particular order.
Top Five Movies I Saw In 2007:
1. Brick
1930s type slang, high school kids, a murder, an adorable femme fatale, and a very huggable main character kid with a will of iron. Probably the best find ever for me, and I owe it to my job and wikipedia. The cinematography is also fantastic, and the music is that haunting kind done with crazy strange instruments that gets stuck with you for days and days.
2. Little Miss Sunshine
I've a soft spot for dysfunctional but loving families, and this is probably one of the better examples of that. Features Steve Carrell in a serious role (and he ended up being my favorite character, go figure), a teenager that doesn't speak most of the movie, the most precocious little girl since Dakota Fanning, a mom that doesn't look like a super model, a crotchety old man, and of course, the Cheesiest Dad Ever. Dark humored, cute, and sharp. And I'm not automatically an indie flick fan (actually, I'm usually the opposite, because I worked at a theater that showed them and damn is the indie crowd messy) but this is so much more than just an indie flick.
3. SE7EN
I still cannot believe I'd gone this long in my life without having seen this. Detectives, a serial killer with a flair for the dramatic, Morgan Freeman, discussions on apathy, dirty city motifs, and Brad Pitt getting punched in the face. It has everything I like in a movie, really. The ending gave me chills, too.
4. Lucky Number Slevin
Alright, that's creepy that I have two movies involving the number seven AND Morgan Freeman, but hey. I can't get enough symbolism OR Morgan Freeman. It quirky and funny in the beginning and takes a REALLY dark turn about 3/4 of the way through, which is both disorienting and awesome. Also, it has Bruce Willis is probably my favorite type of role for him.
5. The Bourne Ultimatum
Alright, it was a toss-up in this spot between this and Casino Royale, because I think it's also masterful spy movie. But there are few times I can say I really loved the ending of a trilogy so much. It was perfect for the movie setup, introduced questions, and proved that Pamela Landy clearly needs to do a collab with the current M so that I can continue to be amazed at their pwnage. I think more than the scenes with Bourne jumping around through windows and shit (because it was awesome, I'm not going to lie, I love crazy stunts) was the whole discussion of choice hidden in all that psychosis. I won't spoil where that pops up, because really, freaking awesome trilogy kids, go see them. And I think I might be a little fond of Matt Damon now, he keeps playing characters that I sort of want to adopt. XD
Top Five Shows/Series I saw in 2007:
1. Mad Men
Suits. Oh god, men wearing SUITS. And the women looking classy, and and JOAN. Chock full of moral ambiguity, ambition, all sorts of terrible things that people get sucked in, yet... yet you can't help but feel for them sometimes. You want to hate them, but you love them. It's a very sophisticated show, at a lazy pace that can almost seem to drag, except you're hanging on their every word and cigarette flick. Or maybe I'm just strange and more than a little obsessed with the whole 40s to early 60s period.
2. Battlestar Galactica: The Reimagined Series
YES I AM BEHIND I AM AWARE. Alright, so I had to pirate most of this, except for Battlestar Galactica: Razor which is a movie, but still. Oh. My. God. I have missed you clever science fiction. I have missed you a lot. I'm quite attached to a lot of the characters, and I have huge crushes on Starbuck and Helena Cain, but guh. AND ADAMA IS AWESOME. I just cannot get over how much is packed into this series, even season 3, which so far has been kind of meh. Also, Number Six freaks me the hell out. I don't know why, but that blonde lady just.... it's like she's trying to eat my soul. You can guess what I will be watching when it comes back on TV (also the reason I even will HAVE a TV at school).
3. Witch Hunter Robin
I didn't want to like this series, for silly reasons (someone I disliked greatly is a huge fanboy of it), but I really ended up becoming quite attached. I ended up liking most everyone for strange reasons, and I kind of want to adopt Robin. Magic, science, and conspiracies--yeah, totally my type.
4. Project Runway
...I know, I know. A reality show. But I like that they're making things, and I've always had an interest in fashion. I'll admit it. Probably not even close to the typical sense of the word (because really, what the HELL are girls wearing these days?! BOYS TOO) but still. Also, it has the man I want to be when I grow up, except, well, female. Oh Tim Gunn, why are you so full of win and awesome? Can I be mentorly and dapper like you someday?
5. Firefly
AGAIN I AM BEHIND. Dear Fox: YOU SUCK. Omg, we neeeeeed sci-fi series like this! Also WESTERNS. AT THE SAME TIME. Like, two of my favorite cliched TV genres EVER. EVER. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? Shepherd Book's my favorite, but that would be obvious, considering me.
Top Five Musicians/Groups I Found in 2007
1. Regina Spektor
She's just so cute and irreverent. And I've always had a thing for female vocalists with mad piano skills and a penchant for crazy lyrics. That's one trend I'll probably never get tired of. Got hooked in by her song "Fidelity" because it's ridiculously catchy, but I have to say my favorite of hers is "Bartender". It also helps that she's ex-Soviet. MOTHERLAND.
2. Liquid Laughter Lounge Quartet
Their album "May You Always Live In Laughter" is the soundtrack of my brain, I think. I've missed music like this amidst Yet Another Emo Artist, because it's cheeky, multilingual, and full of creepy, catchy, and wickedly fun melodies. The bastard child of my favorite blues riffs, jazz instruments, and rock guitars. Oh, I am so glad I found you.
3. Visioneers
HIP-HOP THAT IS GOOD. Oh, I was beginning to get so tired of the genre, then I decided to go searching. I may even like rap again (as long as it doesn't have to do with bitches and hos... dear god I am tired of that). Truer to the jazz roots of hip-hop than most, with samples that just make me smile. My favorite song is probably "Run For Cover" because the intro wins and it gets trapped in my head for long periods of time.
4. The Hush Sound
"Like Vines" is a really lovely story of an album. A good way to describe the band is "Ben Folds gets a girlfriend". Piano rock! Clever lyrics! Sad sad songs! Happy cute songs! It has everything I like about pop (because I do sometimes) and very little of what I hate. My favorite of theirs has to be "Lighthouse" because it reminds me of the kinds of ghost stories I like, and it's just so pretty. I love how the female vocalist's voice is so clear.
5. I Was A Teenage Satan Worshipper
Other than the name, which makes me giggle like crazy when I type it, I just love how funny they are. Also, they have a song that references the movie Heathers ("Bomb The School"), and public school paranoia, which makes them awesome. They are synth music at it's most fun and dirty. I want these kids to hang out in my hometown. Though I'm likely to chase them off my lawn. Also, the PandaTron song. I mean. PANDATRON!!! GO HOME YOU ROBOT MONSTER! Adorable.
I'm not putting books because I only read like, seven, since I suck at life. And that's unfair. I may add more later tonight, STAY TUNED. Also, I am trying this posting to multiple journals thing. DOES IT WORK? WE SHALL SEE.
~Cendri