"He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble." - Psalm 10:6

This past decade has been the first decade of my life where I could really watch most everything that I wanted to without parental restriction. I saw so many movies, and as it's that time of year, I thought I would jump on the list band-wagon yet again and name my top fifteen films of the decade. Now, what I love about movies is the way they evolve. Some movies for instance better with age - others lose some of their appeal. And while a four-star movie in my mind will always be a four-star movie, when we're talking the best of the decade, we've got to get it just right. So thinking back on things like rewatchability, creativity, story-telling, writing, acting, and directing, these are the fifteen films that totally blew me away. I want to apologize for sometimes getting too "uppity" in my language - I read too many movie reviews so pretentious words like "poignant" and "craft", among others, sometimes slip in. (And note, I could have written a top 50 or 100, but figured people wouldn't really care!)


15. Inglourious Basterds

Tarantino is a master filmmaker, and this movie is one I anticipate I will only love more with time. Rewriting history for our entertainment, QT tells a story of angry Jews off to kill nazis. It can be boiled down that simply, but the film is truly epic.

14. Traffic

Steven Soderberg crafts one of the best ensemble dramas I've ever seen in the riveting drug tale "Traffic." From Michael Douglas, to Benicio DelToro, to Catherine Zeta-Jones, the acting, directing, and writing are all something to behold.

13. Memento

!cool movies house art made really and ,expected never I places went movie this ,backwards Told .seen ever I've movies creative most the of One

12. 28 Days Later

I don't get scared at movies, but this one was the closest to drumming up a bit of fear. Handling the topic of zombies in the most serious of ways, Danny Boyle crafts one of those films that has you thinking about it for weeks - in my case years - later. As the swine-flu breaks, one cannot help but think about the beginning of the film when an ailing chimp starts the virus underway.

11. Hustle & Flow

I didn't see this movie in theaters. It didn't appeal to me. It looked like an urban knock-off of "That Thing You Do!", and while the films share the plot of a music act looking to hit it big, "Hustle & Flow" takes a totally different approach. This gritty drama is realistic and heartfelt, and if you can put up with flowing profanity, you'll be rewarded with one of the most satisfying endings to any movie in the last decade.


10. Crash

This was the movie for the anti-gay crowd. The film that beat "Brokeback Mountain" for best picture solely because it wasn't about cowboys humping each other. Or at least that's what endless critics and advocacy groups tried to get us to believe. Maybe though that's not true - maybe it's just that "Crash" was a better movie. The strongest ensemble piece of the decade in fact IMHO. Numerous A-list stars turn in small parts that when combined create an unforgettable L.A. story.

9. Slumdog Millionaire

If you know me, you cannot be shocked to see this movie make the list. I loved it - I truly loved this movie. When a movie can take a game show and turn it into one of the most effective storytelling devices of all time, that to me is a winner. And two points now for Danny Boyle (see #12 on this list) who really was deserving of all the praise he earned.

8. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

I saw this movie in theaters three times, and countless more times on DVD. This movie shocked me in ways I didn't expect - and it helped that I knew very little about it going in. There were quite a few movies that tried to capitalize on this style of martial arts movies, but none topped this.

7. Sideways

Could it be more fitting that the movie on this list, to me, that only betters with age is a movie about wine? "Sideways" is one of the truly great movies of the last decade, and it had me, someone who doesn't drink, wanting to visit wine country (which I did! I went to a few of the places in the movie! nerdy! yes! I know!).

6. Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

Bollywood films are a mystery to many, and they were to me until I put in this super-long film about cricket, taxes, government takeover, and did I mention it was super-long. Why I even was interested in this film - which is also a musical - is beyond me, but am I glad I did! This is truly a film that has something for everyone and then some.

5. Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2

I cannot separate these two films. They were intended to be shown together anyways, so I don't feel like it's cheating. The tale of ******* *****, aka "The Bride", is told in epic fashion that takes viewers around the world all for the sake of revenge. I've seen both movies more times that I can remember, and every time I am in shock that these movies didn't garner more awards. It doesn't matter though - Quentin Tarantino has a strong group of fans that I am a loyal member of.

4. You Can Count On Me

Laura Linney, Matthew Broderick, and Mark Ruffalo turn in some of my favorite acting of the decade in this sad but ultimately uplifting story of siblings. Occasionally there is a movie that I see where I leave saying "Man, I wish I had written that." and this is tops on my list.

3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

I am not a fantasy fan. I hate characters with weird names just for the sake of it. Made up dialects? Give me a freaking break. While I saw and was captivated by LOTR from it's onset, I was not looking forward to the first film at all. I hadn't read the books, didn't care about the storyline, but got caught up in the hype machine and was so glad I did. And again, I don't feel I'm cheating by lumping these together as ultimately the films tell one story.

2. Spirited Away

I love Pixar, but the best animated film of the decade and my favorite animated film of all time is "Spirited Away" from Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. If I had a list of my top fifty films of the decade, his films would show up a couple of more times for sure. Telling the story of a girl trying to find her parents in an otherworldly land while working in a bath house, this haunting film is truly unforgettable.

1. Mulholland Drive

One critic says "It bursts like a whore's lip gloss." I have no idea what that means, but I agree completely. MD is a movie that makes almost perfect sense until the last half an hour, where it spins out of control in a way I've never seen in my life. While there are two scenes of graphic nudity which made me fear liking it as much, ultimately there was no film in the last decade that had me scratching my head and exclaiming "What the..." more than this. If you watch it on DVD, there is actually a clue card to help you put the puzzle of a film together. I've seen it over a dozen times and I still don't completely get it. And honestly, I don't think David Lynch, the director, gets it any better than we do. And it's my favorite film of the decade.

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." - Psalm 103.8

the BLOG TRIVIA challenge

episode 1

Greetings! As you know, I love reality shows. I love game shows. I tape "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" every day, and have hosted trivia events and game shows in multiple places. I thought what better place to host a competition than my blog?

Here's how it works - in this episode, you're all playing. The first person to get ONE question correct will make it to episode two. Below you will find five trivia questions. ANSWER ONLY ONE OF THEM. You answer by writing the answer in the comments section with your signature - you don't have to be a blogger member to comment on this blog. Also, look first to make sure nobody else has answered the question you know the answer to. Only one guess per person.

Once all five answers are taken (answered correctly), we'll proceed to episode two with those five players. There is a stupid web prize, but you're really just playing for bragging rights. And if people don't answer, then I will just assume this was a bad idea.

HERE IT GOES....

1. What network is "How I Met Your Mother" on?

2. On the Boys Like Girls CD "Love Drunk", what is the name of the 11th song?

3. Who wrote the book "Under the Dome?"

4. Other than being film directors, what do Neill Blomkamp, Shane Acker, and Rob Marshall have in common?

5. The current season of "The Amazing Race" will end in what United States city?

THIS ROUND ENDS: When all five answers are given/This Sunday

Good luck! This picture means nothing for the competition. Or does it?

"Now listen to me!" - 2 Chronicles 28:11a

I'm back!

Sorry for yet another long delay. I've been very busy lately, and sometimes I just don't feel like blogging. I have seen a number of movies though, and wanted to drop by to put up my mini-reviews of them:

The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry *** of ****- This is a religious film that is both hokey and inspiring. I neither loved nor hated it, however I feel like it is an important film for middle-school aged kids to see. It was nice to see a movie with a religious subject matter not be as pathetic as anything Kirk Cameron is in.

The Invention of Lying * of **** - A sacrilegious piece of crap. Yes, this was one of my most anticipated films to be released this fall, and yes, it sucked.

Where the Wild Things Are ***1/2 of **** - A beautiful and heartbreaking film filled with symbolism and imagery that is some of the year's most memorable. Not a film for young kids though, as it is chock full of non-graphic violence and a story delivered at a slow, art-house pace.

Whip It! ***1/2 of **** - A very friendly film for very friendly people. I really enjoyed the themes and characters found within this untraditional sports film.

Zombieland ***1/2 of **** - The funniest zombie film I've ever seen, yes, even moreso than Shaun of the Dead. I was laughing and squirming at the same time, and really enjoyed it.

Capitalism: A Love Story *** of **** - Not as good as "Sicko" or "Bowling for Columbine", this is still a brilliantly made film - even thought I didn't agree with all of it and a couple of the points were so flawed I didn't even need to look them up afterwards to know Moore was bending the truth.

So that's what I've been up to in my free time. I am also working on a new blog which I will post details to soon. It was inspired by something that happened today....more details on that later.

Peace!

The 2009 Dan Awards

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - I Corinthians 15:57

THE DAN AWARDS - 2009

For those of you that don't know, every year for the past five or six years, the day before my birthday I reveal my picks for the best and worst things in the previous year of my life. There are some odd categories, there are some odd winners and for that matter odd losers. Categories come and go as I see fit, and I make no apologies for any award or diss that is distributed - these are the Dan Awards, and if you don't like them, I really don't care. So if you choose to keep reading, know that these awards might mention you. You might not like what you see, but that is what the comment section is for. If you happen to win an award, feel free to leave an acceptance speech in the message board section. If Kanye West has anything to say, at least he cannot interrupt you, but he can post whatever he wants if he disagrees with my choice in any category. And for what it's worth, I don't like Taylor Swift either.

Welcome to the 2009 Dan Awards. If I was to choose a host for this show, that honor would go to the first recipient of a Dan Award:

Dan Award for Person Who I Would Most Like to Host This Show:

Tina Fey - With impeccable comic delivery, and intelligent humor to boot, she is long overdue for a hosting gig, so I officially want to offer this up to her.

But since you're stuck with me, I alas, am going to host the rest of these awards.

As an avid movie fan, I feel it only appropriate to next reveal my favorite movie that I watched in the past year of my life (note that all the awards are from things that happened from September 27th, 2008 - September 26th, 2009). There were many great contenders, but....

Dan Award for Movie That Totally Rocked This Past Year:

Slumdog Millionaire - Maybe it's because I love game shows. Maybe it's because I love underdog stories. Maybe it's because Danny Boyle could direct a movie about the origin of dental floss and I'd still watch it. Or maybe it's just a little of everything that makes a movie both entertaining and important. I loved this movie, and told more people to see this than any other movie I've seen. I own this and have watched it four times since it's release in theaters, and it hasn't grown less appealing to me in the least. A close runner up for me is "Away We Go" - it comes out on DVD next week and if you haven't seen it - I would highly recommend it!

Dan Award for Movie That I Hated the Most This Past Year:

The Last House on the Left - Horror movies are supposed to be bad. The premise of this film seemed interesting, so my friend Manda and I gave it a try. I cannot speak for her, but I was absolutely disgusted and bored by the remake of a horror classic. Some horror movies are stupid fun, but this was just awful and full of offensive material. Avoid it!

Dan Award for Best SCRIPTED Television Show:

I LOVE "30 Rock" - and that wins. Hands down. There isn't a smarter, more consistent comedy on the air now. For three seasons, it's remained pitch-perfect and provides me week after week of laughter that is often so absent in my life. I am so thankful for this show, and I wish there were more like it.

Dan Award for Best REALITY Television Show:

Okay, so, many of you expect me to pick "I Survived a Japanese Game Show." Well, meaning no disrespect, I am going to give the award to "The Amazing Race." I just love the show, and even though I wasn't ON the thing, I am not going to sit here and pretend "my show" was better. Even though this past season didn't end in a victory for Margie and Luke, my favorites from week one, it was still a great roller coaster ride of a season and I cannot wait for TOMORROW when the new season begins.

Dan Award for Most Promising New Show of This Fall:

""30 Rock" still holds the title for best first episode of a sitcom, but "Modern Family" on ABC comes pretty darn close to taking that title away. The characters were all likable and hilarious, and the first episode has me crossing my fingers that they didn't use up all of their good material right away.

Dan Award for Television Show That Was So Bad I Wouldn't Watch More Than One Episode:

This is a recent award, and it goes to the show "Absolutely On Purpose." Just when the joy of "How I Met Your Mother" is sinking in, this piece of garbage comes on like a bad seed in a funny lineup. Jenna Elfman, who seems cool enough, cannot save some of the worst sitcom writing I've ever heard delivered. And let me just warn you Courtney Cox - your crappy little "Cougar Town" almost got this.

Dan Award for Best CD That I Purchased Legally:

First of all, I never download or rip music I haven't paid for. So that being said, my most satisfying CD purchase of the last year would go to Day and Age by the Killers. I love this CD. From Joy Ride to Human, Dustland Fairytale to Neon Tiger, the CD is packed of songs that I know I'll listen to for years to come.

Dan Award for Song of the Year:

From the above winner, "Joy Ride" by the Killers is a great song that seems designed to speed on the highway with. If I wasn't a grandma driver, I might do just that. Listening closely to the lyrics, the song might be about hiring a cheap hooker in Vegas, so I chose to just not listen to the lyrics closely.

Dan Award for Best Concert That I Attended:

Yes, it's a Killers sweep. I saw them twice this year, and they pretty much solidified themselves as my favorite group.

Now shifting gears to the more unconventional awards.

Dan Award for Celebrity Who Annoyed Me the Most (aka Dr. Phil Award):

Part of me doesn't want to even acknowledge this person AS a celebrity as basically he's just an overpaid blogger who is about as classy as the Vegas hooker I mentioned above, but Perez Hilton is seriously one of the biggest d-bags I've ever had the misfortune of hearing blab about anything. While I am not a Carrie Prejean fan, the former Miss California incident was just the tip of the iceberg. He's rude, more notable than he should be, and believes in free speech only when it applies to gays - it ticks me off.

Dan Award for Best Accomplishment of My 25th Year:

This is a big one, and I think you all know what it's going to be. Getting to be a part of a major network reality show has been a dream of mine since I saw the very first episode of the very first season of "Survivor." I knew that I wanted to be the part of something like that. I had thought about applying to a lot of different shows, but due to time constraints and equipment issues, I just never got to sending in an audition tape for quite some time. Then this past January I read on a message board that "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" was casting, and while I was far from a fan of the show, I applied via a very simple paragraph e-mail. Within a day, I had a callback...and then an interview...and then another interview...and then another interview in LA...and then well, and then the rest is history. While I may not have won the money, I had the time of my life. It was stressful, intense, and I still have a scar, but looking back on the adventure I have only positive thoughts. Watching the show on television was the highlight of my summer, and I'm sort of sad it's all over. But more than that, I am just so thankful to God for the opportunity to fulfill a dream.

Now for the Friends Section:

Dan Award for Best New Friend:

This is a tough call. I award this to someone that I've met for the first time in the past year, or someone who I've reconnected with that is now a good friend. This year, I am going to call this a tie between Linda, Megan, Cathy, and Bobaloo - my co-contestants on "I Survived a Japanese Game Show." Meaning no disrespect to the others (well, a little to a couple), these four were the people I clicked with the best both in Japan, and then post show taping. These are four really awesome people whose friendship means so much to me. I would also like to send a special thank to the 265 facebook fans that I have - you're awesome and I appreciate all of you!!

Dan Award for Kindest Unexpected Gesture From a Friend:

I've had some awesome friends do some awesome things for me, so if you're one of those friends reading this and you didn't win this award, please don't be offended. The winner is Megan Bentley. Having made it further than I did on "ISAJGS", Megan was able to 'rescue' my bib from the show - the one with my name in English and Japanese that I wore in many of the challenges. Well, not only did she bring the bib back to America, but she had it framed!!!! I mean seriously, who does that??!!!! She is amazing, and if I could afford to buy her long blonde extensions, I would.

Dan Award for Friend Who, Out of Nowhere, Was a Jerk:

This is a tie between Phil and Karina. These are two people that I play poker with. Here's why - (**RANT ALERT**) so the other night, I get home from work and spend two hours cleaning my freaking apartment for poker night. SO THEN these two d-bags cancel twenty minutes before the game begins - causing the game not to happen for lack of players. What was worse, I had turned down alternate evening plans BECAUSE of poker, and when they cancelled at the last minute, I was left, well, fuming and alone for the night. And I found this out in a text...from one of their closer friends who knows me. So not only did they bail, they didn't have the courtesy to even let me know first hand. IF they ever play again at my place, I hope they get beaten like like a small piñata at a party of fat kids.

Dan Award for Friendship That Was Further Cultivated Due to Facebook:

This year this one goes to Tammy Thompson. Not only was she a huge support system through the whole game show adventure, she is one of the few people that has stayed in touch after the whole thing ended. She rocks!

Dan Award for Most Uplifting Friend:

Everybody in the world needs a Lora King in their life. I met her in college, and she is one of the only people I still talk to almost every week. She is an incredible person, and even when she's going through crap in her life, she is always more concerned what's going on in the lives of others. She is truly a blessing.

Dan Award for Friend Who Seemingly Spends the Most Time on Social Networking Sites Playing Useless Games:

This goes to Bill Sellers. If I get one more "I'm looking for the Ace of Hearts" in Mafia Wars, or "Beat My Score - Rack or Crack?" request, I swear I'm going to go through the roof....haha, just kidding.

and the biggest award.....

Dan Award for Friend of the Year:

She's won this award many times, and again, she defends her title. Lora King, as mentioned above, is one of the kindest and most caring people one will ever meet. She is an inspiration to keeping your head held high when the going gets tough, and my life would suck without her. I just wrote then and then totally thought of that Kelly Clarkson song and want to clarify to that there was no intention. Lora, thank you for being such a great friend!!

In Memoriam:

This past year has also had some sad losses. My dog Taffy for one, which was really sad. And while I am not one to get all worked up over a celebrity death, when Natasha Richardson died in the skiing accident, I couldn't help but feel for the family.

Closing 25th Year Remarks:

My 25th year might go down as one of my best. It was full of amazing things happening. I got to see Senator Barack Obama become President Barack Obama. I have wanted Obama to become president since his senate run, so that was a real thrill. Getting to attend the inauguration was like being there as history was being written. I got to play in a small stakes Vegas poker tournament in which I came in third out of 59 - might not be much to some, but it was awesome to me. I moved into a new and far better apartment than the danger zone of my last place. And of course, I was on "I Survived a Japanese Game Show." So all in all, this year has been pretty darn awesome.

Looking to 26:

How could 26 get better than 25? 27 is my favorite number, but 26 is just, eh, eh, eh. I am worried about my job security in this tough economic climate. I'm still single. I'm having the hardest time finding a church. And I contractually cannot be on another reality show!!! :-) But I'm going to take it one day at a time. My outlook for 25 surely didn't include being on a reality show, so who knows. I'm sure God has some things planned for me - some good, some bad. I'll just take these things as they come. Did any of you get to this point in this mile long blog post?? Good for you - you win the Dan Award for Putting Up With Dan's Blogging.

And with that, we now rejoin your local news.

"They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death." - Psalm 94:21

MOVIE REVIEWS:

So my car has been in the shop for the last week, so I decided to walk to nine or so miles today to see a double feature. Both films that I saw were grim, dark, and sort of pointless, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

"Sorority Row" is the latest in the "put college kids into a setting where they get killed one by one" genre, and it starts more creatively than most films of it's kind. When a prank goes terribly wrong, a group of sorority sisters make a pact to keep the accidental death of one of their own a secret. But of course, pretty girls will talk, and there begins the tale. When the girls and their friends begin turning up dead, there are a million suspects - including the dead girl. The plot serves only to weave in one death after another, but I must say, for my money I laughed out loud more than once and was mildly entertained. It's gory, it's disgusting, and it's really not worth seeing unless you like horror movies, but overall I would give it * * out of * * * *.

"9", being a film on my "Five Films to See This Fall" list, is a brilliantly animated, yet curiously boring film from, among others, Tim Burton. If even half of the time they spent bringing these characters to life was spent on developing a story for said characters, we would have had something truly special. The film is beautiful to look at, but there is really else (kind of like some people I know.). The weak story involves puppet creatures trying to destroy a machine - there's the story in a nutshell. I would give "9" * * 1/2 out of * * * *.

Peace and happy movie-watching!

"Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." - Matthew 7:17

Sorry folks for the two week gap between this normally loyal blogger. There has been so much going on in my life lately - some good, some bad - that I just needed a break. Things are good now, so I thought I would give you .....

MOVIE REVIEWS:

Tyler Perry has created for himself a niche film empire that is both maddeningly successful and ridiculously cheesy. That being said, if you go to see one of his movies, and watch the film from the heart instead of from the brain, a TP movie can be a rewarding, enjoyable experience. "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" is the latest the collection of Perry's films that made me wish for a slightly more polished script, but still left me feeling happy. The story centers around a woman who has turned to alcohol and an abusive boyfriend to fill the voids in her life, and when her three nephews literally show up on her doorstep, how she deals with this drastic shift.

Unlike most other TP films, this one has multiple musical numbers which are really entertaining, with Mary J. Blige's singing of the title song leading the way as most impressive. I was not a fan of the ending - the film took it's time to tell the story but then quickly wrapped things together in an almost "roll your eyes" manner. That being said, I am not sorry to have seen this - I would give "ICDBABM" * * * of * * * *.

Ten years ago, the film "Office Space" hit theaters, and totally failed to find an audience. On DVD however, the film took on a life of it's own, and is now a comedy classic. I am one of the millions of fans who own the DVD, and quote the film often. From "Someone has a case of the Mondays" to "Pieces of Flair" to "TPS Reports" to "Um, yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaahhhh", the film is probably the most quotable comedy of all time. Mike Judge waited ten years and then released his new movie upon us all. I was so excited about the release of this movie, thinking"if they've waited so long to create something new, they must be waiting to get everything just right." So I went to see "Extract" on it's opening weekend, excited, ready to laugh, and well, it sucked. It just really wasn't funny. There were a few good moments, but I mean, when you have such a great cast and such a great writer, you just expect to laugh more than just the scenes you've already laughed at while watching the trailer. I'm not going to get into it, but bottom line is wait for DVD to catch the couple amusing moments, but don't get your hopes up. I would give "Extract" * * out of * * * *.

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." - 1 Corinthians 13:6

MOVIE REVIEW:

I'll admit it now. I have a crush on Katherine Heigl. I love her on television, I loved "Knocked Up", and I didn't mind "27 Dresses." Her latest movie, "The Ugly Truth", proved that a crush can only go so far when putting up with a bad movie. One of my favorite settings for a movie is the broadcasting/news industry, but even that setting and Heigl couldn't save this film. With a script full of hokey dialogue, and about as much character development as a three panelled weekday comic strip, this movie is just plain ugly.

Wanting to be a cross between "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Anchorman", this film fails to deliver anything but an occasional smile, and a whole lot of watch checking. Heigl plays a producer whose show is in trouble due to lack of viewership. To stir things up, her superiors bring in Gerard Butler's character - a shock television personality who is about as politically correct as Jerry Springer. He basically just uses questionable language and talks about sex to boost ratings, and I didn't buy it for a second.

There are no characters we really can cheer for as the script puts them in such one-dimensional situations that we've all seen before. I wouldn't recommend seeing this movie until it's out on DVD. When you rent it, you just need to fast forward until you see a baseball game scene, and look for the jumbotron camera operator...you'll recognize this person as Bobaloo from "I Survived a Japanese Game Show!" That was seriously the best part of the movie for me. So *1/2 out of **** for the movie, and Bobaloo accounts for that half star. Peace!

"Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred." - Proverbs 15:17

In 2004, Walt Disney Studios announced that "Home on the Range" was going to be their final traditionally animated film - the days of "Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin", and "Bambi", to name a few, were coming to an end. With Pixar and Disney successfully signing on to continue the success of the more dimensional characters, storytelling was second to animated quality. Fortunately, Pixar has a stellar reputation, and they have yet to produce a film that didn't become a smash hit and critical darling. Something must have changed though, because if you've been to the movies lately, you may have seen a trailer for the new film "The Princess and the Frog." The Disney film proudly announces itself as the return to traditionally animated films - and also takes pride in the fact that after years of princess films, there will finally be an African American princess.

This leads us to the point of this post. If you haven't seen the trailer, watch it now by clicking HERE (sorry, YouTube disabled the embedding option), and then continue reading.

Okay, tell me if I'm wrong - but does it not look like this new princess will be a FROG for most of the movie?! This could be one of the most offensive messages sent by Disney in the history of their films. The first movie that I ever saw in theaters, "The Song of the South", still isn't out on DVD because of a few racial remarks, but I think that's nothing compared to a company boasting it's first African American princess character and then having her turn into a frog of all things?! I'm white, and I'm turned off by this - I cannot imagine what the African American community is going to do - or maybe have even started doing - to react to this. Maybe the film will be a nice, touching, family film, but that's not the point. The point is simply you don't advertise a film priding itself in having the first African American princess, and then turn said princess into a slimy reptile for an hour and a half!! I really don't think that I'm overreacting, but feel free to share your thoughts about this. All right, I'm stated my case. What do you think?

"Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy." - Romans 13:13

MOVIE REVIEW:

In short: Well, at least the poster's cool.

Ang Lee, the brilliant director of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "The Ice Storm", and "Brokeback Mountain" heads to upstate New York to tackle a story about one of the world's biggest musical events in history. Or so I thought. "Taking Woodstock" is instead a movie that wastes almost every opportunity to be interesting, and instead tells a dull story about dull people living on the outskirts of the Woodstock concert event of 1969. I will tell you this up front: there is not a single concert scene on the Woodstock stage. If you know that Woodstock was a concert where thousands upon thousands of hippies flocked to hear a great line-up of music, than this film will teach you nothing new about the event. One of my favorite comedians, Demetri Martin, proved that he could act in addition to his night job, but the script squanders his talent, along with the talent of everyone else involved. There is a great story to be told about these people, but Ang Lee must have fittingly been on something when he agreed to make this garbage hit the silver screen. When the movie ends, if you stay through the whole thing (four people walked out at my screening), you'll be left scratching your head. There are three storylines or plot elements that are unresolved...I won't explain them in detail as not to spoil it if you still decide to brave it, but doing so would be sadistic. I would highly suggest NOT seeing this movie, as it will bore and frustrate you.

* 1/2 out of * * * *.

"As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!" - 2 Kings 6:5

MOVIE REVIEWS:

Normally I just post reviews for movies that I see in theaters, but as the age of Netflix and Redbox is upon us, I thought I would give you all a little bit of information about some new DVD releases. Please note that later I will post my review for the movie "Taking Woodstock" which I am going to see in a couple of hours. But now onto the DVD reviews...

"Adventureland" was out in theaters roundabout the time I was in Japan. When I returned, it was barely playing anywhere and I decided to catch it at the cheap theaters instead. To my sadness however, the cheap theater near me chose not to screen it at all. So this past Wednesday, I decided to watch it on DVD. Was it worth the wait? No. But it wasn't terrible either.

Centering around one guy whose plans for the best post-college summer ever come crashing down when his parents don't deliver on their promise to fund a trip to Europe, the film follows his journey to find a job and stay employed at a zany area amusement park full of unoriginal, miserable characters. My favorite moments came when SNL cast members Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, playing the owners of the park, were on screen. If I had paid to see this in theaters, I would have felt like I wasted my money. It plays better on DVD, and I would suggest watching it but not getting your expectations too high. It's passable. I would give it * * out of * * * *.

Last night I watched "Duplicity", starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Another movie that was out while I was in Japan and I never got to it upon my return, I was excited to see this hit the DVD shelf. Written and directed by the Oscar-nominated Tony Gilroy - the guy who brought us the brilliantly acted but kind of boring "Michael Clayton" - this film trudged along until it hit it's second hour and then became almost as fun as "Ocean's Eleven." Owen and Roberts were very good together as a couple who, as the viewing audience, we don't know who to trust. The supporting cast is strong, and the ending was very original. Aside from the slow first hour, my only other complaint is that the film jumps around from location to time period so often it may be hard for some to follow. This isn't one of those movies you can have on in the background and still be able to follow. Still though, on DVD it's totally worth the rental fee (or it's FREE if you go to your local library like I did!) and I would give it * * * out of * * * *.

Another movie that was released on DVD this week was "Sunshine Cleaning." I did see this in theaters, but if you missed it, I thought I would post my "warning" here. Starring Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada), Amy Adams (Julie & Julia, Doubt), and Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), the film deals with a down on her luck single mom and sister who begin working as crime scene clean-up attendants. While the previews made it look like a happy, bubbly, carefree time at the movies, I was seriously depressed after my screening. This film deals with the issue of "What do I with my life if I'm unhappy?" but doesn't provide any insight other than 'just try to change but things most likely won't work out.' The acting is great, the story is a little disjointed but still well-written, but again, watch with caution and have a good comedy on the back-burner if you get too depressed. I would give the movie * * 1/2 out of * * * *.

A suggestion for the comedy to watch post-"SC" would be "I Love You, Man." While earning it's R-rating, it is far more tame than other R-rated comedy fare of late. Relying on even parts of laughter and storyline, the movie starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segal is a refreshing buddy flick that will please just about everyone old enough to watch it. While it didn't break any comedy ground, I really liked the relationship of all the characters - it was like a long episode of some really well-written sitcom, and while some might consider that a bad thing, it is just the film to leave you smiling. I would give it * * * of * * * *.

Okay all, happy renting!

"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." - 2 Timothy 4:8

Greetings!

So many of you are new to my blog - you haven't known me pre-"I Survived a Japanese Game Show". Those of you that have been my friends for a while though know that for the past four years, on September 26th, I post what I call "The Dan Awards." It's silly really, but it's become sort of a tradition. This year is the fifth awards blog-emony - basically I give out recognition to my favorite things in the past year of my life. About a month before (which would be now), I post my nominees. Unlike other award shows though, my nominees might change right up until the night before as things that happen right up until when I make that post could change an outcome. From best film to best cd to more offbeat awards, I cover a whole spectrum of things all for the purpose of having fun. So don't be offended or take this post too seriously - it's just for fun. That being said, here are the nominees for the fifth annual DAN AWARDS!

Best Movie (Viewed by Dan from 9/27/08 to 9/26/09)

Away We Go

Inglorious Basterds

Slumdog Millionaire

Up

Wanted

Best CD (Purchased by Dan from 9/27/08 to 9/26/09)

Free by Gavin DeGraw

When the World Comes Down by The All-American Rejects

Day and Age by The Killers

Best Song (Downloaded or Uploaded Legally by Dan from 9/27/08 to 9/26/09)

"Show Me What I'm Looking For" by Carolina Liar

"All My Days" by Alexi Murdoch

"Mona Lisa" by The All-American Rejects

"Never Say Never" by The Fray

"Joy Ride" by The Killers

Best Concert/Performance (Attended by Dan from 9/27/08 to 9/26/09)

The All-American Rejects - Boston, MA.

The Killers - Boston, MA.

Paul McCartney - Boston, MA.

Ray Romano & Brad Garrett - Boston, MA.

Vampire Weekend - Boston, MA.

Best or Most Memorable Accomplishment or Moment (from 9/27/08 to 9/26/09)

Standing in the Freezing Cold at the Inauguration of President Barack Obama - Washington, DC.

Coming in Third in a Small Stakes Poker Tournament in Vegas - Las Vegas, NV.

Getting Selected and Participating in the show "I Survived a Japanese Game Show"

Seeing a "Milk Shake" at the Wiener Circle

Moving Into a New Apartment That is Full of Awesomeness

Best TV Show (Scripted -watched by Dan from 9/27/08 to 9/26/09)

30 Rock

The Big Bang Theory

Grey's Anatomy

How I Met Your Mother

Parks and Recreation

Best TV Show (Reality - watched by Dan from 9/27/08 to 9/26/09)

The Amazing Race

Big Brother

I Survived a Japanese Game Show

Survivor

Top Chef

There are other categories too, along with the worst of the year awards. I will post more nominees and categories as the time grows closer. Peace!

"There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed." - Hosea 4:2

When I awoke this morning, and flipped on the news, I was met with the coverage of the death of Senator Ted Kennedy. If you are expecting some touching eulogy from me, you're going to be let down. Yes, I am a fairly liberal person. I voted for Obama, among other Democrats, and on a cool Facebook app, it has me pretty far to the left. I respect my government leaders - even former President Bush - even when I disagree with them. We live in a great country, and we need to at least be civil in our criticisms.

Sen. Kennedy, who hailed from my home state of Massachusetts, was a polarizing figure and one of the hardest working senators this country has ever seen. Whether you're a Democrat, Republican, or somewhere in the middle (or somewhere else), you have to at least tip your hat to all of his accomplishments.

The Kennedy name stands for so much - but Ted Kennedy began his career as the zit on the face of a politically charged family of greatness. If the Chappaquiddick incident had not occurred, there would have been a strong chance Sen. Kennedy would have become President Kennedy at some point. I am a forgiving person, but when it comes to my elected officials, I want someone with a little bit higher list of moral standards. Murderer? Adulterer? Not today thank you.

I actually have seen Sen. Kennedy speak twice - both on campaign stops - one for President Obama, and one for Governor Deval Patrick. Both times his speech was slurred and he appeared quite "under-the-influence." I remember being frustrated as I wanted someone more composed expressing the same concerns. I'm sure he was gifted, he just wasn't making it easy to respect him.

So while my sympathy does go out to the Kennedy family, I am not going to be one of those people who act all gaga over someone who got away with so much. I didn't shed a tear for Michael Jackson, and I will not shed one for Sen. Kennedy. We must move on from this, and not forget the political battles Sen. Kennedy stood for - bringing those battles fresh life with new people who can carry the torch in a post-Kennedy world. I'm sure someone will step up to that challenge.

"As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight." - Psalm 16:3

FILM REVIEWS:

Let me just get this out of the way right now: 'Inglorious Basterds" is one of the most entertaining 2 1/2 hours at the movies I've had all year. Quentin Tarantino again constructs a complex, unique, and multi-layered story that unfolds chapter style. This time, the tale is about a group of rag-tag Jews who are sent into Nazi-occupied France to wreak havoc on German soldiers. Led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), the "basterds" are a take-no-prisoners bunch who don't just do their job well, but enjoy scalping, dismembering, and bashing in the heads of Nazi soldiers. The film jumps between this storyline and that of a young Jewish girl whose family is slaughtered and her plan for revenge. There are twists, turns, and more shocks that I can or would want to list. While brutally violent at times, anyone of age could see the film as a majority of the violent moments one can see coming in time to squint. Every element of this movie is top-notch - so I would highly recommend it. It's one of the years best films. * * * * of * * * *.

Now on to a movie that is less of a joy to watch. "District 9" is a alien tale told in a very new way. Playing out it's narrative in documentary style, the story is intriguing until it wears out it's welcome. Some of the movie is riveting, while other portions feel like you're stuck watching someone else playing a video game. The movie was almost two-hours long, but could have been almost half that and remained just as effective. While every alien movie involves suspending reality, this one pushes it as it takes itself too seriously. I don't want to sound too harsh as I did appreciate much of what the makers were doing here. I just would have liked to see a little more character development and less violence. Brutal violence doesn't bother me if it aides to the story (like "Inglorious Basterds) but they go a little too far in this film. About six people walked out of the showing I was at, and I was left feeling a little sick to my stomach. That aside, if your stomach is made of iron, I would suggest seeing this. * * * of * * * *.

Happy movie watching everyone! Peace.

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal..." - Proverbs 12:10a

Sorry it's been a few days for an update. It's been a rough week. I'm not going to get into it much, but in short, this past weekend my dad ended up in the hospital....thankfully he is fine now (hopefully) and home safe. That's just a stressful and scary thing - but I am so thankful he's doing well now!

Monday, someone who volunteered at the library (and used to work there for years) who I was not super close to, but I did know, passed away. It was really sad as she was such a sweet person, and did so much good for the library. Just a couple of months ago she was passing by my desk, asking about what was new in my life, and working hard as a volunteer. Now she is gone. It's so sad, and she will be missed.

Then yesterday, our family had to make the tough decision to put our 16 year-old Shetland Sheepdog named Taffy down. She was very ill, and her quality of life was very small, however it doesn't make losing her any easier. She was a great dog, I loved her a ton, and am really sad. There is no easy way to cope, but I do know that Taffy had a great long life, and she was loved (and spoiled!) by her family.

I'll update the blog on a more regular basis next week, I just need a few days right now. Thanks!

"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." - Psalm 55:2

I saw "Ponyo" last Saturday - my review will come later today. Upon seeing the film, it completed my "Five Films to See This Summer" list, so I thought it only fitting to now post my "Five Films to See This Fall" list. Now, according to Entertainment Weekly, they consider December a fall month. I do not. So the following five films I will mention, in reverse order of my excitement level (but I am dying to see them all!), are all scheduled to be released in either September, October, or November. I just want to say narrowing this list down to five was really tough - there are over twenty movies that I am looking forward to seeing in the three months. And my favorite film of the year so far, "Away We Go", wasn't in my last list of five films to see for the summer, so you never know. That being said, here are the ones that really stand out at this point:

5. The Invention of Lying - 9/25

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:

If I had to order up a movie, it would pretty much be "The Invention of Lying." Some of my favorite people working in the entertainment industry today - Tina Fey, Jennifer Garner, and Ricky Gervais - are a part of this comedy about a perfectly honest world that is shaken by one man's discovery of how to lie. Producers are comparing it a comedy film meets a Twilight Zone episode, and from the trailer, it looks hilarious.

POTENTIAL PROBLEM:

September is often considered dumping ground for movies that aren't Oscar-worthy or strong enough to make money during the summer or holiday months.

4. Fantastic Mr. Fox - 11/13

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:

Anyone who knows me knows that I love stop-motion animation, with Wallace and Gromit being two of my all-time favorite characters. This new film boasts the vocal talent of Meryl Streep, George Clooney, and Bill Murray, to name a few. Based on the Roald Dahl book, this movie has classic written all over it.

POTENTIAL PROBLEM:

It has classic written all over it unless the animation is too clunky and the humor too slapstick. I think I'll like it, but the masses might think it's not that 'fantastic.'

3. Broken Embraces - 11/20

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:

Pedro Almodovar is one of the greatest working directors of our lifetime. When he releases a film, critics go crazy. His last effort, "Volver", was one of the best movies in the year it was released and earned an Oscar nomination for Penelope Cruz. This new movie, also starring Cruz, tells the tale of one actresses relationship with a director. As Almodovar and Cruz are close friends, I wonder how semiautobiographical this film will be...and I can't wait!

POTENTIAL PROBLEM:

Sometimes Almodovar's films are too crazy for their own good - but I think this will be great.

2. 9 - 9/9

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:

Produced by Tim Burton and the director of Wanted, this post-apocolyptic tale has a trailer that cannot help but excite. It's so good that I am just going to post it below instead of trying to explain.

POTENTIAL PROBLEM:

As mentioned above, September is a dumping ground. In this case though, they could just be going for the gimmick of releasing 9 on 9/9/09, so we'll see! Also, this movie might get confused with Nine, a musical that is opening just a few weeks later.

1. The Road - 10/16

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:

My favorite novel in a long time gets adapted into a feature film starring Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron. I am nervous, but excited. Cormac McCarthy, the book's author, was so mad when his All the Pretty Horses was released and was terrible, that he now holds control over certain production elements when his books are adapted for the screen. His last work to hit theaters, No Country for Old Men, ended up winning the Best Picture Oscar. So fingers crossed!

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS:

Where do I begin? Well, first, the movie should have been released last year. Delays are never a good sign. Secondly, Charlize Theron gets a big billing - as the wife character? The wife is dead in the book, and only referred to briefly. I am worried that this tale of a father's love for his son will get butchered - which is sad. And the book is almost always better than the movie.

So that's that. The movies that came really close to making the list: Where the Wild Things Are, The Box, Extract, The Informant!, and Shutter Island. Happy movie watching everyone!

"But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true." - Jeremiah 28:9

Sorry this second journal entry is coming later than I had said - I fell asleep earlier than expected last night. Here is the second journal entry - if you didn't read the first one yet, do that - they go in order - that post is below this one. Peace!

3/25/09

From My Hotel -- Tokyo -- Japan

Last night was incredible. We took a bus to two busy sections of Shinjuku to shoot theme song/promo ad spots. I felt like such a celebrity, I won't deny it's awesomeness!! It's so silly really, but still totally cool. I had to come up with a pose, which made me feel stupid - until I decided to do the sterotypical library "shhhhh" finger. I hope that doesn't come across as snooty 'cause that's what I am her to try and CHANGE about librarians. Yesterday we also met with a couple producers of the show. I am actually shocked at how nice they all are. It's incredible really. I always pictured these top honchos to be execs who just hog most of the credit after writing a check from a poolside seat in L.A. The people on this though are all working their butts off.

I am so ready to start playing the game. I am so excited. As nice as many of the contestants probably are, I just want to start sending people home. As there can only be one winner, there's no point in acting all sad when people leave. My early prediction of the first out will be the tall black girl. She has diva written all over her. Last night, as we were heading into the city, looking at this awesome place, she was doing word puzzles. My word, how could someone not enjoy this place and choose an activity book as an alternative. If she wants to turn her back on Japan, I am more than willing to help her pack her bags. It's early though, so we'll see.

I am so happy right now. So thrilled to be here and in this game. Now let it begin.

Hours later, it did. Peace!

"You say, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly." - Psalm 75:2

I'm on my lunch break now. I should be cleaning for poker tonight, but as I was doing that very task, I came upon something I had lost and am now so happy to have found. It's my journal from my time in Japan. Now, I only had it for two days - because I didn't think we were allowed to have it in the house, so it's really just my "first impression" entry and my "second thoughts" entry. I wanted to share these with you all a while ago, but since it went missing, I could not. Well now, without further delay, here is my first post. I'll post the second entry tomorrow. This one was written before I even knew the names of the contestants - see if you can tell who's who:

3/24/09

From My Hotel -- Tokyo -- Japan

I'm in Japan. I'm actually in Japan. My word. I cannot process everything yet, but I am excited. This reality show adventure is a dream, as sad as that may sound, and I am pumped. Yesterday was the first time the contestants all came into contact with each other. We aren't allowed to talk or signal to each other, but in the whole airport process I couldn't help but start to size up the competition. I don't know much about the people themselves obviously, but observing things like book/magazine choices and food selections for on the plane gave me some things to work with. Here's what I've got so far:

* This one girl, who looks about 13, bears a striking resemblance to the Swiss Miss girl.

* Another girl, who is quite attractive, happens to be a smoker. I really hope I don't get her on my team. I know from past experiences that smokers don't perform well at athletic challenges.

* One guys is like this large, friendly, helpful dude who might have problems in the challenges due to his weight. We'll see.

* An African American girl stands over six feet tall in her shoes.

* There are these two girls who I cannot at this early stage of not looking/not talking get any sort of read on. One has red hair and the other brown - that's all I've got now.

* There is the dread-locked guy who insisted on salad for lunch yesterday, which tells me he is health conscious. He looks fit, which means he could be trouble in challenges - or an asset if he's on my team.

* Another African American girl would probably top my list of "Potentially Most Annoying." She already has been talked to about talking too much, and seems to comment on everything. I am not exactly looking forward to when her "flood gates" are legally opened.

*This one guy seemed to miss the memo about not wearing clothing with crazy patterns and designs. I know almost nothing when it comes to fashion and stuff, but it doesn't take a designer or art critic to tell this guy looks like a walking Pollock rejected painting.

*There is this one girl who I have crossed paths with awkwardly twice in the process already. She looks like she could be partly Asian. We were called to two different places near each other during finals, and shared an elevator while remaining completely silent. Then we ended up on the same airport shuttle to our LA hotel. I have no read on her yet though.

*There is this one guy who looks like an athlete, and hopefully ends up on my team at the beginning, but could be a physical challenge later.

So those are my early thoughts. The one thing that strikes me as odd is there are no "old" people in the cast. As there is one less guy, maybe they are going to bring back the older guy from PA who got sick last year and had to leave the competition. The whole cast is young and for the most part in relatively good shape.

Yesterday's flight was so long but I couldn't sleep due largely in part to being excited. There was good in-flight entertainment - a bunch of movies and shows to view for free - which I did. I finally saw "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and wondered why it got all the good reviews. It was sort of stupid. I decided to watch "Slumdog Millionaire" for the third time and still think it's one of the best movies in a long time. I watched "Kung Fu Panda" as well, which was pretty good - about what I had expected. When I started writing, the sun was down, but now it's up. My hotel room has a decent view of some part of Japan. I can see a small park amidst tons of tall buildings. In the park there is a group of people all in a clump. One person wearing a white hat is circling them. I have no idea what's going on, but it's fun to observe - I think if I had to guess it is some type of exercise class. Now they are all in a big circle. Okay, I'm going to stop for now. They ("they" being the casting parents Mindy and Billy) said they would be taking our journals from us, along with our iPods, at some point, so I don't know when and if I'll get to update this again.

So that's the end of the first post. Number two will be posted tomorrow. I had to edit it slightly for some private show details I don't want to get in trouble for sharing, but I added nothing now - that's what was going through my head as soon as I arrived! Peace!

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:10

First off, I posted a new poll - my first non-"ISAJGS" one - and please people, for the love of Rome Kanda, just vote once. I love you to death but voting hundreds of times only skews the the actual opinion. In the first poll I posted, Yari won by over eight hundred votes. No offense to her, but 95% of the vote? Someone obviously figured out how to vote more than once with cache clearing mechanisms and what not. Don't you think you could feel safe, ohhhhh, after voting one hundred or two hundred times. And my polls have no sway on the show, and I doubt ABC execs reads this blog (if you do, hi there, how's it going - soooooo, I am totally open to either "The Bachelor: Christian Edition" or a cameo as a patient on "Grey's Anatomy" - just throwing that out there). Where was I...oh, SO frequent voter, don't you know on the lightning strike of a chance that there is ever a Majide all-stars, I don't think they (the execs) are going to see "Yari support" in my blog poll as the reason to bring her back. What point is your life at where you can just vote eight hundred times and justify that time spent? Woah. Harsh. I know. I should just be thankful you make my blog statistics look freaking awesome - but please for the love of voting integrity, just vote one time. If you want to spread the word about the poll to friends and family to have your opinion heard, so be it. But seriously. I guess I shouldn't judge "time well spent" though - being overly bored the other night, I resorted to opening up Paint - which is one of the most lame things ever. So I created the lousy piece of crap below- I call it:

"Ugly Octopus Meets Big Weird Fish And Decides Not to Say Hi Despite Knowing She Needs Friends But No, Even She Won't Sink to His Pathetic Level As She Doesn't Need Friends That Badly And She Is Sure to Make New Better Pals When She Starts Her New Job Next Week as a Temp Worker Holding 'Going Out Of Business' Signs For A Local Underwater Furniture Retailer That Is Going Under (Pun Intended) Due to the Economic Downturn Brought On By the Bush Administration or Maybe the Clinton Administration, She Doesn't Know As She Only Voted Once Because Someone Paid Her to Do So Which May Have Been Ethically Wrong But She Needed Cigarette Money."

- can you not tell it's been a long crazy week at work so far and I have chosen today to let off my insane steam in blog form. At least I'm not kicking kittens or something. Or hamsters. That would be terrible. But if you steal this picture for your blogs or anywhere else, you better believe I will sue the living daylights out of you. Just kidding. You love the picture. You know you do. If you steal it, then at least have the courtesy of keeping the title with it. The title is the most important part. OMW, my week has been crazy and this is the most disjointed post I have ever done. I forgot what I was even going to write about, but I think the picture above actually has you lunging for one of your other favorite sites instead, and I don't blame you. Go do that instead. Or heck, vote for the 458th time in the poll. Until tomorrow...