Why I Love The Best Fight Scenes Ever! Part 1

As we head into Thanksgiving, I would like to say how thankful I am for all the amazing fight scenes we have been blessed to witness. This will be multi-part post. Enjoy!

50. Aliens

Ripley uses a souped-up forklift to fight off the gigantic queen.  She is finally able to defeat the Queen after luring her into a cargo lock before shipping her off into space. This iconic fight lives in sci-fi infamy.

49. Sudden Death

Jean Claud Van Dam is the man. Watching him save the Stanley Cup was awesome but his fight scene with a giant Penguin was even better. Eventually, JCVD is able to defeating his foe using nothing other than a deep-fat frier. Classic Van Dam.

48. Warrior King

In this kung fu film, Tony Jaa unleashes fury on the bad guys. This guy just goes around snapping bones and loving it. Check this out.

47. Batman Begins

In his first stint as Batman, Christian Bale brings a raw toughness to the character. This rawness can be seen in every fight scene. Here is just a taste of the awesomeness. 

46. Commando

This lesser known Schwarzenegger film is one of if not my favorite. The awesomely painted Arnold takes on  Bennett with nothing but an awesome army knife and oh ya, an exhaust pipe. “Let Off Some Steam, Bennett.”

45.The Punisher

This underrated film was highlighted by an awesome fight with none other than Kevin Nash. Thomas Jane takes him on in an awesome fight that goes all over the small duplex. Thanks for the punishment.

44. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2

This may have been the most anticipated battle scene ever. With The battle of Hogwarts underway, Harry and his friends fight off the evil Voldemort and his legion of villains. It was everything we wanted.

43. The Lion King

This is probably the first fight scene I have ever seen. When Simba and his pals take on Scar, I was frightened and amazing. This fight opened my eyes to movie fights as Simba sends the evil uncle over the cliff.

42. Sin City

 The Awesome fight between Marv and the scary Kevin was awesome. In this rematch of sickos, Marv has some tricked up his sleeve and a clever in his pocket. Thank Sin City for this gruesome classic.

41. Die Hard 2

John McClane takes on two villains on the wing of a moving plane, sending one hurtling into the engine before making a death-defying leap back to saftey. Having previously breached the plane’s fuel tank, McClane reaches for his lighter and sends the whole thing up in flames. Yippie-kay-ay motherf*cker.

40. The Bourne Ultimatum

Jason Bourne should have his own countdown. He fights hard, with guns and even hand-to-hand combat. In close quarters there is no one better. In one seen we see him fighting the evil agent Desh, the results are just awesome.

39. Sherlock Holmes

The new take on Holmes was a great reboot. In the first film, a more graphic and violent Holmes is brought into the picture. The film’s best scene involved Holmes in a bare-knuckle fight in which Sherlock describes and predicts every move in the fight and then continues to follow through with his plan. WOW!

38. Anchorman

A fight between a quartet of rival news teams is amazing. With every comedic genius of the last 15 years in the scene, brutality and comedy ensue. Oh and did I mention there is a trident!

37. The Empire Strikes Back

The Star Wars empire is no stranger to great fights. While many could have made this list, the fight between Luke and Darth Vader is simply epic. 

36. X-Men First Class

In this absolutely awesome reboot to an awesome movie franchise, we are introduced to many of the major X-Men. But the emergence of Magnito (Fassbender) as the powerful force that he becomes is truly amazing. He literally fought off a nuclear war.

35. Mr. And Mrs. Smith

I am not embarrassed to say that I enjoyed this film and its action sequences. The turning point in the film is a hand to hand fight between Mr. and Mrs. which ends with a roll in the hay. This fight had action and chemistry.

Why I Am Desperately Trying To Catch Up In Homeland As Quickly As I Can.

BY MOSHE KOLB

As many of you know, Homeland is the new hit show that pretty much swept every big Emmy Award this past year including Best Drama. For those who don’t know, the plot is as follows: Volatile CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Emmy® winner Claire Danes) investigates and ultimately becomes obsessed with returned POW marine Nicholas Brody (Emmy® winner Damian Lewis), who she believes to be an al-Qaeda-turned terrorist after 8 years of torture and imprisonment; Brody struggles to resume his domestic life with his wife and two children whom he barely knows; and Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) tries his best to support his bipolar protégé while pursuing leads of his own and trying to hold his crumbling marriage together.
I am currently on Season 1 Episode 9, but to say I am hooked is an understatement. As my wife can attest, I awoke dramatically from my sleep screaming something about Homeland. I’d like to share my favorite elements about the show and why by tonight I will be done with Season 1 and on my way into Season 2.

It’s an Improvement on 24

Homeland is an adaptation of the Israeli show Hatufim (Prisoners of War), and developed by two of the writers and producers of 24. Homeland is like watching “24 – Behind the scenes”. Homeland is the days, weeks, months and years that build up to that shrieking moment – that singular terrorist attack or assassination attempt.  24 was just that one day, that single moment.  Homeland is all the rich complexity that builds up to it; and it’s a frightfully entertaining. There’s certainly that familiar feeling of a ticking clock and a time bomb about to go off - but it’s the countless emotional explosions in the lives of the people involved that make the show.  In many ways 24 was all action, while Homeland is all suspense because you hold out hope that Carrie can prevent this from reaching that point where it becomes a 24-style disaster scenario.  All hell could break loose – but not yet…and that’s the genius of Homeland.

Simply It’s Unpredictable

I’m only 9 episodes in --- heading to I am sure the big final 3 episode finish and I have no idea how this is going to end. I don’t think I have felt this way since Season 1 of Damages. [See my brother’s post on Best All Time TV Seasons.] There’s mystery and suspense and carefully placed revelations about characters and motivations. The show has guts and isn’t afraid to show its cards early – but never all the cards, right?  One of my main problems with shows is the added twists, just for adding twists sake that make no sense in the story.  Homeland has somehow conquered that.  In 9 episodes, they have turned how you view Brody too many times to count ---- but yet it all makes sense. The character is so deep with motivations so intriguing that all the possibilities are so believable.  If the show proves anything…it’s that there’s no so such thing as the whole truth, motivations are a tricky thing, you can be made to feel empathy for anyone and there is always one level deeper.

“The Weekend”

Coming at just over halfway through the season, Homeland’s seventh episode, ‘The Weekend’, is simply one of the strongest single episodes in television history [clearly topic for another post]. This is the episode that made me a complete believer. This episode could easily have been a Season Finale and still been great --- but being in the middle it’s all the more powerful. If there was only this single episode, Claire Danes and Damian Lewis would still deserve to have won Best Actress and Actor, respectively.  After every episode I watch, I then read Grantland’s recap of the episode which is normally written by Andy Greenwald.  Though I enjoy his commentary --- at his loss but our gain he was on vacation the week this episode aired and Bill Simmons took over writing that episodes entry. I really don’t want to give much away --- but if you catch up and watch episode 7 then go and enjoy Simmons’ recap that provided a moment by moment commentary that matched the level and greatness of this episode.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/37493/bill-simmons-recaps-last-nights-homeland

Claire Danes / Carrie Mathison
My first encounter with Claire Danes was as Alice Marano in Brokedown Palace and I was sold.  To be honest though, sadly she hasn’t lived up to my hopes or expectations in anything else I have seen her do.  However, then came Homeland. This is truly a masterpiece --- the only similar transformation I have seen in a female character is Charlize Theron in Monster. The similarities between these two characters are actually quite strong. Most crucially, both these women are not “classic women”.  They are broken, sick, troubled, and crazy.  It isn’t often that women actors are given the ability to play such interesting and deep personalities.

To be clear --- Carrie Mathison is the most interesting character on TV, she’s amazing at her job while at the same time is absolutely crazy. She gets mood stabilizers from her sympathetic nurse sister for her personality disorder that is a secret from the CIA. She disproves the idea that female characters have to be either an icy controlled domineering woman or an emotionally unstable disaster.  Carrie Mathis is both --- she wouldn’t be as driven to stop the next horrific terrorist attack on American soil if she wasn’t both of these things.  They are what make her smart enough to follow her gut-instincts but also reckless enough to do things no sane person in her position would do to get the truth.  Here are some of Simmons’ comments on her: “She’s so crazy. I love Claire Danes on this show — one of my favorite TV characters ever. All bets are off with Claire in every scene. She’s a man-stealing, crazy-eyed, flirty, boozy, pill-popping, inappropriate drunk who also happens to be excellent at her job and our best chance to prevent the next major terrorist incident.” And on hearing that Claire forgot her psych meds, “Ohhhhhhhhhh boy. Drunk Claire is spending the weekend with Brody and she’s off her meds? I’m prepared for anything right now. They might have a threesome with a bear.”

Her quizzical stares, her girlish laugh, her tantalizing smile, her blonde hair, and that look of determination mixed with “I might have missed my meds today.”  She’s a thing of beauty. She’s scary as hell. And Claire Danes plays her to perfection.

Why I Am Craving A New Awesome Sci-Fi TV Series.

A good sci-fi show is perhaps better than a normal TV show for the following reason. When it comes to Sci-Fi, a good series will be able to fully create a new world or an alternate universe which we wish we could be a part of. That is why I love Sci-Fi so much. I love being taken into a new world an engulfed in what this new world has to offer. Here are my personal favorite Sci-Fi TV Series of all-time.

10.   Fringe

 Fringe started off as an X-Files lookalike with weekly stories and weekly sci-fi story lines. However, they thankfully realized this was a wrong plan. Instead the show just jumped into a singular storyline involving a mostly one-sided war between two parallel universes. The show has become quite good and with an excellent cast of Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson and John Noble, anyone can enjoy this sci-fi great. With these great characters and their equally great ‘alternates’ this show has quickly become a fan favorite, surviving 5 seasons.

9. Stargate SG-1

Stargate was a spinoff off a not-so-successful 1994 movie. The TV Show however became one of the preeminent sci-fi franchises on TV. SG-1 brought back the characters Jack O'Neill and Daniel Jackson from the film, now played by Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver!!!) and Michael Shanks. The crew of soldiers are charged with defending Earth from the Goa'uld, the Replicators, and any other threats. The show is quite entertaining and lasted a solid 10 years. Check it out, if for nothing else, for MacGyver!

8a. Heroes: 2006-2010, 5 Seasons, NBC

When Heroes came onto the scene, it exploded. Heroes became an international sensation as characters became household names, actors became stars, and the entire world wanted “to save the cheerleader.” Heroes was very strong and very popular for most of its 5 seasons on the air but a weak and non-compelling storyline dragged this series down towards the end. Still the first few seasons make for an unbelievable watch.

8b. Lost: 2004-2010, 6 Seasons, ABC

Lost was a great sci-fi show. I just want to clarify that before I bash it. In my humble opinion, Lost was great at two things: 1) a great premise 2) daring to do whatever the hell the writers wanted. Now I would like to fault it for doing whatever the hell the writers wanted. The show seemingly decides to use time travel, alternate realities, monsters and the “others” in whatever way they liked. If a character was annoying, they killed him off, but if fans wanted him back they would just bring him back to life. The show makes absolutely no sense what so ever. Which may just have made it Sci-Fi genius.

7. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

People had their doubts about this Terminator TV Series but this show was awesome in its short lived life.  Josh Friedman and his writing team created an intense series that expertly built upon the Terminator mythology. From the awesomeness of Derek Reese (Brian Austin Green) to the complicated portrayal of Cameron (Summer Glau), to the kick-ass "What comes next?!" finale, we find ourselves still mourning this show's too-brief run. With a coming-of-age John Connor and a super hot Terminator, what else could you have asked for other than more episodes?

6. Star Trek: The Next Generation

After a rough first-two season start, The Next Generation proved that Trek can exist independent from The Original Crew. The adventures of Picard and his became THEEEE Star Trek crew for my generation. Though everyone could agree Picard was no Kirck, the show was still great and reminded us of why we love space so damn much.

5. Quantum Leap: 1989-1993, 5 Seasons, NBC

I grew up watching this show. Quantum Leap operated on a great premise. You had one scientist "leaping" into body after body across time, and his only companion was the holographic representation of a computer back home that only he could see. Way ahead of its time in terms of technology, Quantum Leap crossed genres like it was in style. Obviously the show was made by the awesome Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell who were heroes of mine growing up. The show had drama and comedy, making it a Sci-Fi classic.

4. Star Trek Original Series: 1966-1969, 3 Seasons, NBC

"Star Trek" is "Star Trek," a cultural phenomenon that bridges generations, survives and thrives in reinterpretation, and invites reinvention. Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner starred in this ground breaking show which has simply defined sci-fi for all of history. People even swap the term Sci-Fi for Star-Trekie. With numerous movies spawned from this original series, Star Trek didn’t redefine the genre it defined it.

3. Firefly: 2002, 1 Season, Fox (and a movie)

Joss Whedon had already become famous with Buffy The Vampire Slayer before this masterpiece. Though it only survived one season and a movie (for reasons unknown to mankind), Firefly could arguably be considered the greatest sci-fi show ever. . Firefly" posited a future universe that echoed today's political landscape but felt like a classic western. The crew of space pirates led by captain Malcom "Mal" Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his first mate Zoe Washburne (Gina Torres) are veteran "Browncoats" of the Unification War, a failed attempt by the outlying worlds to resist the Alliance's assertion of control.  Summer Glau and Sean Maher also star as the crew of misfits scavenge their way across the universe. This is arguably the greatest writing you will ever see.

2. The X-Files: 1993-2002, 9 Seasons, Fox

One of the longest-running shows of its kind (certainly on American network television), "The X-Files" was groundbreaking because it married the familiar TV formula of the police procedural (our heroes are FBI!) with the sci-fi (and they chase aliens!). The show was built on the awesome chemistry between David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. The show gave new meaning to alien abduction and government conspiracies. The show overflowed into two movies but the series was the real star. Many argue that this show truly defined the sci-fi genre over the last 20 years. You will love the drama and pray for Moulder and Skully to get together.

1. Battlestar Galactica: 2003 intro mini-series, 2004-2009 series, 4 Seasons, SyFy

Based on the 1978 light hearted series, this show is the greatest sci-fi series ever. BSG with its numerous seasons, numerous movies and even a prequel and pre-prequel, is a work of art. The show has awesome graphics and brings an almost unbearably awesome drama to it. The story telling is intelligent and craftily pulled off on screen.

Though some of the acting isn’t great, there are some unreal performances and all the casting was done better than anyone could have imagined. The show has a huge following and has even created its own Fracking language. The show won me over in many ways. Of course using my favorite song of all-time (All Along The Watchtower) didn’t hurt. Drop whatever you are doing and please go on Netflix and watch this entire series. Thank you!

Why It Ain't So Easy Playing The President.

Throughout history there have been numerous actors who have taken their shot at serving as the President of the United States. It is not easy to dominate the oval office in TV and films. Many have failed to make us believe in that ‘presidential confidence’ while others have nailed the role. Here are the 5 best and 5 worst TV/Film US Presidents of all time.

The Worst

5. Robin Williams- Man of the Year

President Tom Dobbs was just so unbelievably annoying and the John Stewart story-line left us wanting more.  Robin was a poor casting choice here in a film that never decides on an identity, I definitely wouldn’t have voted for this President.

4. Geena Davis- Commander-in-Chief

Geena Davis is good in very specific roles, this was not one of them. Segourny Weaver was much more believable as a Female President. It almost felt like no one else said yes to this one or someone owed Davis a favor.

3. Chris Rock- Head of State

Rock starred as Mays Gilliam, a lowly councilman who becomes a pawn for one of the parties who surprisingly wins the election. While I thought this film was entertaining as Rock is always over the top funny, there was zero believability in this funny yet ridiculous film.

2. Patricia Wettig- Prison Break

I loved this show but I never understood this casting. As the source behind all the controversy, this VP who poisoned her way to the oval office was annoying and weak. I could never see her even being elected for town councilman position. Very poor choice to be our supreme leader.

1.    Michael Keaton- First Daughter

Keaton plays President MacKenzie who can’t control his daughter (Katie Holmes). Keaton is Batman and not very presidential. I love him in many roles, but this was not one of them.

The Best

10. John Travolta- Primary Colors

In this classic film, Travolta stars as a presidential hopeful who has that sly smile like that of Clinton. He is someone that makes us feel comfortable yet there is something about him you cant trust; essentially embodying every President ever.

9. Michael Douglas- The American President

President Andrew Sheapard was more interest in his press secretary than in foreign policy. That being said, I enjoyed Douglas as President and could easily imagine him in the role.

8. Bill Paxton- Independence Day

President Thomas J. Whitmore may have not been popular in the polls but he was popular in our hearts. Paxton was mediocre most of the film as our President in the alien takeover. However, his amazing ‘Independence Day’ speech was awesome and one of the highlights in this blockbuster.

7. Jon Voight- Pearl Harbor

His small yet powerful stint as FDR is one of the most moving and awesome Presidential roles in cinematic history. (there will eventually be a Blog Post about actors playing real life Presidents).

6. Harrison Ford- Air Force One

“Get off my plane” is one of those lines you will never forget. When his Air Force One gets hijacked, President James Marshall shows why not all Presidents are pansies. He kicks butt and takes names.

5. Jack Nicholson- Mars Attacks

President James Dale has that sleaziness a president needs and the smile to make us forget about it. I loved Nicholson’s job here. In a stupid yet entertaining film, I was left wanting to see Nicholson take the Presidency for real.

4. Jack Lemon, James Garner, and Dan Akroyd, My Fellow Americans

This is an all-time classic and a film I can watch over and over again. These three were so believe as President that when I first saw this film growing up I actually believe they were Presidents at one point in time.

3. Marry McDonnel- Battlestar Gallactica

This is my favorite Woman President ever. President Laura Roslin was someone I would follow into battle and also believe her domestic policy. She was amazingly calm and level headed as President and was one in opposition to War, which is always a nice relief.

 2. Morgan Freeman- Deep Impact

Freeman was awesome as President Tom Beck in this disaster film. If the world was coming to an end, I would want no one else to tell me it will all be ok. Freeman probably has the most calming and reassuring voice ever.

1. Martin Sheen- The West Wing

All of American fell in love with President Jed Bartlet. He was awesome and more importantly believable as the President in this long running Aaron Sorkin drama.

Why I Love Me A Good Wedding!

Yes, I have not been good about blogging lately. I have been distracted lately, mostly by wedding plans and Fantasy Football. But I will try to be better now. I am married and will find time for this. Being that only a week ago  I celebrated my wedding, I would like to share my favorite Wedding Movies.

10.  Father of the Bride

The 1991 remake of the 1950s classic "Father of the Bride" starring Steve Martin is a comedy about a father having a hard time letting go of his little girl, played by Kimberly Williams. Half the fun is watching George (Martin) handle the stress that comes along with planning a modern, elaborate wedding. Penny-pinching, neurotic George is perfectly balanced by his level-headed wife, Nina (Diane Keaton), and Martin Short steals several scenes as the outrageous, flamboyant wedding planner Frank. I promise you that even if you don’t love this movie, your parents will.

9. My Best Friend's Wedding

One wedding comedy that can't be left off our list is the 1997 hit "My Best Friend's Wedding," starring Julia Roberts. Julianne Potter (Roberts) makes a pact during college with then-boyfriend Michael O'Neil (Dermot Mulroney) that if they're still single by their 28th birthdays, they'll marry each other.

As her 28th birthday approaches, Julianne gets a disappointing phone call from Michael, who announces that he's engaged to young, beautiful Kimberly Wallace (Cameron Diaz). Comedy ensues when Julianne, still in love with Michael, flies to Chicago for the wedding only to be tapped as Kimberly's maid of honor. Julianne accepts, all the while scheming up crazy ways to keep the nuptials from happening.

8. My Big, Fat Greek Wedding

Dowdy, plain Toula (Nia Vardalos) feels like a failure in the eyes of her traditional Greek parents. At 30, she's single and thinks she'll never find a Greek man to settle down with. "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding," released in 2002, is a charming and comedic look into Greek-American culture -- over-the-top stereotypes and all.

When Toula meets shy American Ian Miller (John Corbett), her parents have a hard time accepting the couple. After Ian pops the question, Toula's large Greek family begins interfering with every last wedding detail, making the affair all about their ethnic heritage. In the end, the wedding may be big, but we can promise you that the laughs are even bigger.

7: The Wedding Singer

Everybody appreciates a good '80s flashback. Who doesn't like to reminisce about trends like acid wash jeans, big hair and Day-Glo sweatshirts? The 1998 comedy "The Wedding Singer" is one of the best nostalgia films dedicated to the 1980s, but it's also a classic wedding flick as well.

The year is 1985, and Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler), a wedding singer, meets sweet waitress Julia (Drew Barrymore) at one of his gigs. Both are engaged to the wrong people, and after several humorous events, including a kiss using only "church tongue," the pair discovers they're in love. The ending is one of our favorites; not only does it include a cameo by rock star Billy Idol, but who can resist singing along to Robbie's good-humored ballad "Grow Old with You"?

6: Bride Wars

The 2009 comedy "Bride Wars" is a laugh-out-loud movie perfect for a girls' night with your bridesmaids.

Emma Allen (Anne Hathaway) and Liv Lerner (Kate Hudson) have been best friends since childhood, and both dream of one day walking down the aisle at the glamorous New York City Plaza Hotel. Each girl gets engaged at the same time, but trouble brews as they realize in horror that the Plaza has double-booked their weddings on the same day. Both refuse to change their wedding date, resulting in a battle of the brides so ugly that they resort to everything from hair dye to orange tanning spray as ammunition.

5: Vegas Vacation

Though only partially about wedding, the Griswald family gives us tons of laughs on their Vegas Vacation. As Clark (Chevy Chase) and Ellen (Beverly DeAngelo) go to Vegas to renew their vows, the family hits some bumps and some highs in the road. A simply funny classic film.

4: Bridesmaids

This ‘Hangover for women’ is quite funny. With an incredible cast from top to bottom, this story about a group of bridesmaids lays the setting for some of the funniest scenes in the past decade. Some of our favorites includes puppies, an air marshal and of course a some bridesmaids dresses. I promise you, everyone will enjoy this great flick.

3: Wedding Crashers

"Wedding Crashers" makes the top five because it is just so darn funny. The 2005 comedy stars Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn as womanizers dedicated to their craft; they make sneaking into weddings a pastime. A great supporting cast and some cameos make this just that much better.

2: The Princess Bride

An '80s classic, "The Princess Bride" has sweet Westley uttering, "As you wish" to his beloved Buttercup with great regularity. It is, in fact, all he ever says to the object of his affection. Lest you begin to think this is just a "kissing movie," there is plenty of action, too. Fencing, torture, giants, chases, revenge and a monster or two keep the story moving in a Homer's "Odyssey" kind of way -- which is why it's great for date night with your beau.

1: The Hangover

If your impending nuptials have left you in need of a good laugh, press play for "The Hangover." We know you've probably already seen the 2009 comedy, but it's worth a second sit-through for the belly laughs alone. There's just something so right about losing your soon-to-wed friend during a night of partying in Vegas. Plus, everything turns out OK in the end, which is really the moral of any good wedding movie.