Jimmy Fallon: The Right Puzzle Piece for Tonight Show

So I am going to make a statement that will shock people closest to me because of my disapproval of the individual being discussed:




Jimmy Fallon is the right host for Tonight Show.




He honestly is.



Now, he is absolutely nowhere near the best in terms of hosting late-night television, but is the right choice for NBC’s long-running show. He lacks the slight selfish factor that now surrounds Jay Leno, he lacks the mild intimidation that Conan O’Brien possesses, and lacks the biting sarcasm of David Letterman. He is your average joe trying to draw a laugh, and trying to make new friends all the time. He gets his guests very much involved in some of his skits, including the lip-sync battles that have invaded the YouTube pages. He has the likability factor that NBC has not seen from any of their hosts since Johnny Carson.

Johnny Carson was your friend, your absolute best friend. He did his absolute best not to offend, not to shock, he always talked in the same level as his interviewees and his audience. Argue all you will about the behind-the-scenes feuds, on camera he was a huggable bear.

Conan O’Brian does not provide the huggable bear routine. He is by far the best late night host (extra props for being able to successfully manage a cable talk show with lower budget, and also to this day has the best skits on television after Chappelle’s departure), but doesn’t have any of Carson’s late night genes. He ran Tonight Show quite well in the extremely short period of time, but he wasn’t the personality NBC wanted to sit on the main Tonight Show chair. Too edgy. Too random. Sometimes a bit extreme. And lastly, not afraid to stir the pot. And…not afraid of being absolutely cruel when he feels like it.

NBC hates controversy nowadays. Jimmy Fallon is safe. He is harmless. He is the kid in school that everyone generally likes. He isn’t as funny as O’Brien or even Leno, but warms your heart with his smile, his energy, his eager presence. He is the right choice, even if he isn’t the best choice.

This is your new Tonight Show, like it or not. Unlike the uncertainty with Conan, it strongly appears that NBC is happy with their current choice.






Jimmy Fallon isn’t the best, but he fits the mold.

Arcade Sports, I miss you...

I miss the fun sports video games. I really do.





So news has it that there’s a new Tony Hawk game in development for the eighth generation. Maybe the comeback of the fun sports games is imminent.


For you folks that remembered the time period that was ruled by the Playstation 2, Tony Hawk Proskater was one of the greatest franchises in the business. What started out as a decent game emerged into a powerhouse with ProSkater 2. By the time we were treated with ProSkater 3 and 4, the gaming industry was pretty much in love with the skateboarding genre and arcade sports in general.


ProSkater was an example of a great blend of old-school simplicity with new-school depth that we saw plenty of amongst sports games in the PS2 days. The game was easy to pick up, but was still a serious piece of work for the hardcore crowd. NBA Jam was an excellent sports video game not because of its realism, but because it was smooth as silk, fun to play, and never demeans a person who isn’t knowledgeable of the NBA. It keeps the stats of the players simple, and keeps the game simple enough for anyone to follow and become a fan. That’s why skateboarding had its short run of fame in the early 2000s, the slew of kids, tweens, teens, and college peeps that were drowning their life in ProSkater.


Now remember what awesome sports games we had back in the day between 1998—2005 (Before the seventh generation): MVP Baseball, All-Star Baseball 2000, Ken Griffey Jr. Slugfest, WWF No Mercy, Tony Hawk ProSkater 2-4, Underground, Mario Tennis (Don’t laugh), Virtua Tennis, the ENTIRE sports catalog on the Sega Dreamcast, NFL 2K5 (We all remember this one quite, quite well), Madden 2004, 1080 Snowboarding, Excitebike 64, SSX 3, among others.


So what happened you ask? The sports games became far too serious for their own good.



Madden is a disaster, as the NFL’s grubby hands are tainting the franchise to a point in which concussions are knocking out players in the video game---just to avoid those lawsuits. And after EA pretty much eliminated any chance of competition, they became lazy and never took the Madden brand to new directions like in the PS2 days.


The MLB baseball games are becoming far too realistic to a point in which your pitching and hitting mechanics become a chore, as opposed to just depending on button-pressing and good timing. The baseball video games have wound up becoming just as lengthy as the actual thing----and back in the 90s this was never an issue.


NBA 2K has amazing, amazing attention to detail, but this abrasive amount of attention can really be jarring. Does it really require me to go through a chain of command just to take a shot? And don’t get me started on being forced to behave in order to succeed in the create-a-player campaign.


Remember NHL 94’? Yea, good luck gaining back the smooth flow of that classic on these modern-day NHL games.



Much like how sports are an escape from the real world, sports video games are supposed to be an escape from real sports. Your Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Cavaliers had a chance back in the 90s in a sports video game. But nowadays, good freakin’ luck. There are too many stats, too many factors, too many attributes that slowly drains the dream and converts it to reality. And although this new direction of sports video games is indeed hailed by most, I for one yearn for the days when the sports games had the arcade pick-up-and-play feel. Sports video games should be a 55/45 split in terms of realism/arcade. The best sports games are those that allow you to pick a horrible franchise and still think “…so you are saying that there’s a chance.”


This is why the Mario sports games had their thriving moments last decade; they were our last hope for the arcade feel. Mario Strikers Charged was a few cheap shots away from being the best soccer video game ever made. To this day I am shocked Nintendo didn’t attempt to do a soccer game for the WiiU in time for the 2014 World Cup. There is still not a single tennis video game that can top Mario Tennis for the N64. And lastly, Mario Golf for the Game Boy Color is one of the 25 most underrated games you’ll ever play, and one of the better examples of being a “Why has Nintendo not expanded upon this concept when its guaranteed quality gold!?!?!?” game. Nowadays, well, not sure why Nintendo hasn’t expanded on the Mario Sports brand. How the handheld games contained deeper than the console versions will never make sense to me….


Bottom Line: Current sports video games (normal sports, extreme sports, etc.) play like the equivalent of adding dozens of restrictive rules to a kid’s game of four square---it stops being fun when there are so many eggshells to avoid. Modern sports games don’t allow the product to breathe, to have some creative freedoms.

With Tony Hawk attempting a comeback, I would love to see a return to the arcade-style gameplay that gives novice gamers and non-hardcore players a chance to have just as much fun as the experts and the fanatics. Although I am usually against watering down hardcore products in the gaming industry, they actually help certain genres with sports games being the best example. This is why NBA Jam for the Super Nintendo still gets more play than sports games of this decade---the simplistic fun that defines the sport, but doesn’t squash you with technicalities.



You can keep your brutally realistic sports games; I just want them to be fun again.

A Tale of Two Hungry Baseball Teams

This is a tale about two baseball teams. Two teams that are quietly being the most intent on winding up in the World Series by the end of the season. Two teams that follow two totally different paths in two totally different leagues but contain the same exact drive in 2014 to go all-in and truly be the last team standing. These are their stories:




Tampa Bay Rays


Once upon a time this was the worst franchise in baseball, the least attended franchise in baseball, and the biggest joke in the league. Nowadays, they are just one of these three things, with the stadium situation still in dire straits. Nonetheless, the second the organization changed its colors, attitude, and method of competing it’s been nothing but resounding success especially considering the budget and being in the nastiest division in all of sports (I am sure the SEC will make a case but unlike the SEC the AL East has no terrible-looking team this season).

Since 2008 they have had one of the top 5 records in all of baseball, and remain one of only three franchises right now with a streak of at least six straight winning seasons. But they never get to keep their stars. When the younglings produce well, they sign bigger contracts elsewhere. When the unexpected players emerge as essential pieces, they also move. With the limited payroll, Tampa needs to pull miracles to hang on to their better players.

Before 2013 though, a change started emerging. The Rays were able to nab Evan Longoria for an extra 10 years, making him easily the first long-lasting player in the entire history of the franchise---as long as the Rays don’t trade him early in the contract. While it might seem absolutely insane to trade Longoria, the Rays have started becoming far more fearless in their wheeling and dealing.

Even if you produced, you are not safe. Alex Torres got moved to the Padres, Jose Lobaton got moved to the Nationals, and the Rays dropped fan favorites Sam Fuld, Fernando Rodney, Jeff Niemann, and Luke Scott. And what did they receive in return this off-season? Heath Bell, who once upon a time was among the best closers in the game, Ryan Hanigan, one of the more underrated catching talents in baseball, and Grant Balfour, the angry Aussie closer with lots of heart.

But its more than just the trading, it’s the fact that they kept nearly the entire team intact. David Price was not traded, James Loney got a nice deal, David Dejesus got to stay, they hung on to Jose Molina, and the entire coaching staff has been kept intact. The 2013 Rays team despite the injuries and inconsistency survived four straight elimination games and gave the Red Sox a very good fight in the ALDS. So keeping the same team, getting rid of the weaker pieces, and upgrading the lineup and the catcher position? This could be interesting.

The Rays in 2013 finally got rid of their personal demon (The Texas Rangers) and have proven time and time again that they can hang with the more popular Red Sox. Could this be the year that they finally get over the hump and return back to the World Series? Honestly, why not? They always survive the nastiest division, have knocked out the Sox several times before, and this time have an approach so aggressive that baseball expert circles are saying that the Rays are going “All in.” The GM, owner, and legendary manager Joe Maddon routinely deny this.

However: increased payroll, mostly-intact team, new stadium renovations, far more aggressive dealing, harsher releasing of players not producing, and a new wave of optimism coming from the rookie/sophomore class within the organization. Deny all you want, but the Rays are doing the Moneyball version of “All in,” as they have taken the low-budget approach and added some more budget to it.

This might be it. Arguably the best lineup in the history of the Rays is upon us and if all the pieces fit and all the wheels turn, who could possibly stop them?






Los Angeles Dodgers




Once upon a time, the Dodgers were a forgettable franchise that was a mere shadow of the past. The attendance was certainly still there, but the fanfare wasn’t as heavy, the anticipation wasn’t as rampant, and the name didn’t strike fear into the opponent like it did back in the 80s. And there was a horrible, horrible divorce happening in the upper office confides that was threatening to damage the team. In came Magic Johnson and a slew of his comrades and together they took the team and were taking in a new direction.


The New York Yankees direction. Spend heavy money, make heavy money, repeat process.


Say what you will about the Yankees, every once in a while you wish the ownership of your team has the passion of a Steinbrenner or a Magic Johnson. The Dodgers payroll essentially exploded, picking up huge contracts left and right. They practically bailed out the Boston Red Sox, the Miami Marlins, amongst other teams. Their spending has increased in the past couple years by over $400 million. This is a franchise under a mission to conquer the entire year.

With the free spending, they have assembled the best-looking team on paper. Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez, Zack Grienkie, Clayton Kershaw, and many other known figures scatter the lineup. Then there was the heavy bidding for Yasiel Puig from Cuba, which has paid off magnificently, and Hyun-Jin Ryu from South Korea---both of them ultimately increasing exposure of baseball in their native countries. The Dodgers are emerging once again as one of the most popular teams in baseball.

But this season, the spending continues with smaller pieces. They took in several veterans to one-year deals to add even more depth to a team that has 4 quality outfielders. The Yankees can barely hold one decent outfielder. Their starting rotation is not just among the richest in baseball, it’s one of the deepest in the entire league. If baseball was a world war, then Dodger Nation would be the one with the deadliest arsenal by far…and the one other nations would fear when the dust settles.

The Dodgers bring more to the table than anybody else. More spending than the Phillies and Nationals, more depth than the Pirates and Cardinals, and an edge of competitive determination that separates those that win from those that just compete. 2014 Los Angeles Dodgers look legit.






And this is why this season will be giving us a Tampa Bay Rays/Los Angeles Dodgers World Series.




Only time will tell how these two tales will conclude.

About Last Night: 7/10

About Last Night could have gone in two directions: Play it safe and make easy money like 2012's Think like a Man; or gamble the R rating, become more realistic, and resemble the likes of Best Man Holiday.

The gamble was taken, and the payoff is far better than expected. About Last Night finally allows Kevin Hart off the leash and the results are amazing. He also has a comedic rival in the female category with Regina Hall, who stands toe-to-toe with his insanity and doesn't back down. The end result is a romantic dramedy that despite lacking in laughs in favor of drama delivers an entertaining movie that will go down as one that took risks, just not enough of them.

The main risk was the well-earned yet respectably mature R rating. Your best movies about relationships usually tend to be those that do not shy away from the more mature subjects and aren't afraid of baring it all physically and emotionally. The Before Sunrise trilogy and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind are the better modern examples. About Last Night never exaggerates to earn the rating, instead exposes one-night stands, relationships, sex, emotional growth, and all the complications amongst these subjects with no red tape to stop it—ultimately establishing itself as a more mature film in its usual cinematic genre.

It wasn't just the honesty that gives About Last Night its edge above its usual contemporaries. It boasts a great (besides Bruno Mars' latest album) soundtrack that incorporates a healthy dosage of jazz and blues, employs a script with good dialogue, and is directed and edited nice and tight for that it never really overstays its welcome. Most importantly, the chemistry amongst the leads is off the charts. Regina Hall and Kevin Hart are nearly flawless together, as their banter and angry love provide the most laughs and some of the best moments in the movie. Not to be undone, the more dramatic relationship between Joy Bryant and Michael Ealy was very much believable and carried the emotional weight of the entire film.

What ultimately bogs down About Last Night is that it doesn't quite dig deep enough into the psyche of modern-day relationships. The 1980 version of About Last Night and the play that it's based on were both brutally realistic as well as critical of the time period and the views of relationships amongst the culture. With this version, we see the who, the what, and the where, but don't enough of the why. It lacks the subtle commentary like what we saw in Her, it lacks the explanation as to why it's become more difficult nowadays for marriages and long-lasting relationships to survive.

One of the quietly scary trends nowadays is the deterioration of the American marriage, especially amongst minorities like Hispanics and Blacks. This movie could have broken even more ground if this had been explored and expanded upon the concept of Sexual Perversion in Chicago, the original stage play. The play is 40 years old, maybe its time for an update?

Mediocre movies remain in shallow waters. Riskier movies swim deeper. And the best of the best fully dive in and risk all the consequences. About Last Night lands somewhere in the middle, but nonetheless is an entertaining movie with good performances and good chemistry. This movie will not embed itself in romantic drama history, but will leave a nice impression throughout the year—especially from rising star Kevin Hart and the underrated talent of Regina Hall, Joy Bryant, and Michael Ealy.

The Lego Movie: 10/10

Now, read the upcoming phrase carefully, because it might come as a bit of a shock.

The Lego Movie is the best animated film, and the best overall family film since 2010's Toy Story 3.

Pick up your jaw, and hear me out. The Lego Movie screams, embellishes, breathes creativity, heart, and soul that has been lacking severely in most animated movies in recent years. It is a skillfully directed movie that has so much detail you might need multiple viewings to catch all the fun. This movie hits on every single aspect of filmmaking, and took everything that worked on the Disney Renaissance and the Pre-Cars 2 Pixar era and gave it a nice whimsical spin thanks to the concept of the building block toys that stand out in American culture.

Where do I start? The Lego Movie is the perfect blend of kids, adult, and nostalgic entertainment that will keep everyone's eyes glued to the screen regardless of age. Whether it's the fun, joyful sounds and colors and visual jokes that will make the kids happy, or all the fun subtle pop culture and nostalgic jabs that will entertain adults, there is something for anyone involved. The animation was astounding and easily has some of the best meticulous visuals since Ratatouille.

The best kinds of stories for animated movies are those that start out simple for the tykes, but secretly contain layers of content for the more established minds. This is what made your earlier Pixar movies so appealing for a vast audience; it never talks down to the viewer but doesn't overwhelm the kiddies. In The Lego Movie, what starts out as a simple tale about a prophesy defeating a tyrannical villain from taking over the environment morphs into a beautiful story about finding your voice and being original.

Like previously stated, all aspects of this movie work. The voice acting was phenomenal, especially Elizabeth Banks as the lead female, Liam Neeson as Good Cop/Bad Cop, and Will Arnett as Batman (he does a better Batman than Christian Bale—seriously). The musical score was on-point, the humor and action run plentiful, and there's plenty of heart and soul that will tug the heartstrings. Just wait until you arrive at the final act. Unlike practically every movie nowadays, you won't see it coming.

It might be hard to believe that a movie with serious marketing and product placement implications becomes the best around since this past summer with Before Midnight. It might be even harder to believe that Warner Brothers has managed to surpass the usual suspects of Pixar (notice all the movies I've referenced in the review) and Dreamworks at their very own game. Nonetheless, this shocker of a gem is the perfect family cinematic package. From top to bottom The Lego Movie delivers. If this isn't one of the best films of 2014, then we are in for a spectacular year of cinema because this movie is seriously a work of kinetic brilliance.

Recommend to the highest degree, no matter who you are or how old you are.

The Scottie Pippen Syndrome and why the Knicks need to trade Carmelo Anthony

May 13th, 1994.





Knicks, Bulls Game 3.








The Knicks had the lead in the final seconds of the game, and had only one last opportunity to win the game. Phil Jackson had a play planned out to give Toni Kukoc the ball as a sort of surprise since he is a mere rookie and Scottie Pippen had been the go-to guy all season since Michael Jordan left. Pippen however absolutely lost it and refused to even go out to the court to participate in the final shot.




This was the playoffs.


He put his frustrations in front of the game, in front of the entire team. He thought of only himself, and nearly cost the Bulls a game in the playoffs against their dreaded 90s rival. If it weren’t for Kukoc overcoming the disastrous meltdown on the bench they would have been down 0-3 to a deadly New York team. It was rather ironic the person that hit the game-winner would be an excellent team player that got traded AFTER Scottie Pippen even though Pippen was clearly the better player when all is said and done.


So when you are an amazing player that lacks the ability to actually lead your team to a championship, this is the Scottie Pippen Syndrome. When you lack the leadership, the drive, the desire, and the selflessness to push a team to a championship, this is Scottie Pippen Syndrome. Pippen’s move on that fateful night could have led the Bulls to a horribly embarrassing sweep in 1994 if it had not been for Kukoc.




Carmelo Anthony has Scottie Pippen Syndrome, so therefore he must be traded.




New York Knicks, you need to trade him. He is not good enough to lead you far in the playoffs---getting past the first round only twice, and the previous time was practically a gift because of the lack of Rajon Rondo from the Boston side. And he has worked with great players, great coaches, and a great organization and still couldn’t get the job done. The Knicks are in a ridiculously weak Eastern Conference and they have absolutely no excuse for having weaker records than the Atlanta Hawks, the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Bobcats, and the Toronto Raptors. Even the Derrick Rose-less Chicago Bulls holds a better record!


Carmelo only thinks of himself. He only thinks of the mighty dollar, of the fame, of the fortune, nothing more. He takes 35-45 shots a game and couldn’t give up that ball if the ball was an explosive. He held the Nuggets hostage and forced them to trade him to the Knicks. He is holding the Knicks hostage in a similar manner by not discussing his future, not agreeing to any sort of long-term agreement, and really not making any strides to improve his game to try to be more inclusive to his teammates.


That game when he scored 62? Zero assists.


The New York Knicks have no draft picks, no future, and little to no chance of convincing Carmelo to take in less money to try to acquire more talent for the upcoming future in the manner LeBron/Wade accomplished when they formed their Big Three. The Knicks have nothing to lose because although the market value of Carmelo is high, his value to the team is getting smaller every passing day, every passing game, every passing frustratingly dismal loss.


Carmelo would be absolutely perfect for the middle-of-the-hill West teams looking for their big boost to get past the Spurs, the Thunder, and the rising Blazers. I can see the Clippers, Warriors, and even the Suns being interested. I can see the Bulls being interested especially now that they can’t depend on Derrick Rose anymore. Even the Hawks, that are a terrible 3-seed in the East, could make a nice push for Carmelo. Either way, Knicks need more pieces from the Draft, and Carmelo can net them at least two.


Despite being a mildly arrogant and a very selfish player, he still has the talent to make other teams better. He just needs to really work on that game, and have the right coach to whip him into shape. Carmelo is still a Top-25 player, just not a Prime or Franchise player. He would make a great Scottie Pippen, a sidekick that can still deliver the necessary points while cooperating with an actual leader and player of equal talent that can indeed drive the team towards the finals. The Knicks know that for a long time they cannot provide that barring a miracle or a very small contract to a great, great player. Doing this trade not only gives Carmelo another shot at a ring, but gives the Knicks a far better shot at a ring down the road. Besides, do you honestly see Carmelo signing again with New York and being the lone wolf of the franchise?


Scottie Pippen needed Michael Jordan to get those rings. Carmelo needs a second special player to get that elusive ring. And he knows this. He’s not stupid.



But he needs to be traded, for the good of Madison Square Garden basketball. Scottie Pippen Syndrome is an incurable disease.






Just ask Dwight Howard.

The Top 10 Movies Celebrating It's 10th Anniversary This Year

Welcome to the I-am-about-to-make-you-feel-old article of the week. There are tons of memorable and fantastic films enjoying their tenth anniversary this year. Million Dollar Baby is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, winning Best Picture back in 2005 for being considered the top film of 2004----which I don’t really agree with.

Jamie Foxx as Ray is celebrating ten years, creating one of the more surprising Best Actor wins I’ve ever seen---should have gone to DiCaprio---who is celebrating 10 years with The Aviator.

Alright, I will stop. Instead of discussing what I disagree with, I shall discuss what are the top movies celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. In a year when Blockbuster didn’t do the No Late Fees disaster, Facebook just started taking off, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was the best-selling game in the planet, here are the 10 best films released in 2004.



Honorable Mentions:

Napoleon Dynamite: Still one of the 3 worst movies ever made

Anchorman: Probably the most quotable movie of all-time

The Notebook: This one sent shockwaves in the movie community because of the now-infamous kiss and the ability to make pretty much everyone cry upon seeing it the first time…and the second…and probably the third…..This movie also introduced me to Billie Holiday so it earned extra points.



#10: Mean Girls


Aside from The Notebook and Fahrenheit 9/11, Mean Girls was arguably the biggest box office surprise of the year. This movie launched the careers of many promising young actresses, brought Tina Fey into the limelight, and launched a new wave of high school movies that drops the clichés and tries to become more daring. Mean Girls is bitterly accurate and funny, it is vindictively cruel, and does a great job displaying the tough, troublesome world that is high school. The script was the strongest part of the movie, but the entire cast from a pre-crazy Lindsey Lohan to the forever-underrated Amanda Seyfried complimented it with great comedic performances. Does help they are all easy to look at.




#9: Spider-Man 2


What I still consider to be one of the top if not the top comic book movie of all-time, Spider-Man 2 improved upon the predecessor in every single possible way (besides the villain) by showcasing the complications of being a superhero, the risks of being a superhero, and the demons that may emerge from having special powers. Elements from this movie crept its way to other grand comic book films like The Dark Knight and Iron Man 3. What also makes this movie work is that it can blend drama with summer blockbuster action, plenty of comedy, and even a few hints of horror. It is a very complete comic book movie and although the character of Spider-Man is suppressed by the likes of Batman, Iron Man, and Wolverine, Spider-Man’s first two movies are great examples on how to make a good translation of a comic book creation.




#8: The Motorcycle Diaries


Some of the best cinematography you will ever see in your life, The Motorcycle Diaries showcases the early life of the controversial Che as he takes what started out as a fun, long-lasting journey through South America into an ugly realization that Latin America was quietly suffering under modern times and in his eyes needed some sort of major change. South America doesn’t quite get the cinematic attention outside of Brazil that most regions around the world receive, so this film unleashed amazing images of places you never knew existed. The Motorcycle Diaries succeeded in showing just how big the world is, just how small we as people are when compared to the vastness of the planet, and that deep down, we collectively as people yearn for the same lifelong happiness. Beautifully shot, nicely performed, and well-directed, Motorcycle Diaries is a pure delight.




#7: Kung Fu Hustle


Outrageous. Ridiculous. Insane. Out of control. If you ever wonder what happens when you mix Chinese martial arts with Looney Tunes, this is your answer. Kung Fu Hustle is an amazingly directed and edited powerhouse action/comedy that throws the martial arts genre in a totally different direction. It is fun to watch, boasts a great soundtrack, and is ultimately one of the most creative movies released in quite some time.



#6: Fahrenheit 9/11


Even though the credentials of Michael Moore and his reputation isn’t exactly up to speed, there is no denying his rock star status when this documentary became the first major force to truly challenge President Bush, the presidency, and the war against Iraq. In a time when most of America wouldn’t dare to challenge the White House, Moore took on Washington with full force with farce, harsh images, and an overall dark sense of humor showcasing the ridiculousness of it all. Yes, all documentaries of this kind need to be taken with a grain of salt, but thanks to this movie in 2004, America was slowly seeing the other side of the coin in terms of the Iraqi War.

#5: The Incredibles


Back when Pixar had cojones and took on riskier projects, The Incredibles remains arguably the darkest Disney animated movie of all-time underneath the layers of excellent action, great animation, flawless voice acting, and a production value that rivals that of James Bond. Being the first Pixar movie to quietly gear its themes a little more towards adults, this film tackles the subject of mid-life crises, recovering from the notion that you aren’t who you used to be, settling to the sometimes-monotonous lifestyle of supporting a family, and lastly the Gods vs. Humans complex that mentally ruined the lead villain. It was the first animated screenplay I honestly thought deserved a Best Picture Oscar, and is still one of the better Pixar movies in its entire history.



#4: Shaun of the Dead


The greatest horror movie of all-time, hands-down. This movie has the horror elements, but is quickly blended with excellent British humor and wit, great references left and right, plenty of heart, and finally some of the best directorial work of the 2000s. The amount of detail in this movie is staggering, from the conversations to the running jokes to even select shots chosen by the director Edgar Wright. Everything about this movie from start to finish was fun, edgy, smart, quick, and just whimsically clever. It was just a normal day of the main character trying to win back his girlfriend, and zombies get in the way.





#3: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind


We are reaching cinematic perfection territory here. On this corner, we have the best screenplay of 2004, some of the best performances of 2004, and hands-down one of the best romantic dramas you’ll ever see. With a sci-fi twist, Eternal Sunshine discusses life after losing the significant other and attempting to recover and move on and forget the past. This movie explores what would happen if you had the opportunity to erase someone off of your memory, and if it would actually affect your personality in the end of it all. The movie is visually impressive, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking and never lets go until the final frame. It is a beautiful work of cinematic art that is the complete package of quality filmmaking.






#2: Before Sunset


I will admit this one is a tougher movie to watch because it consists of nearly 90 minutes of dialogue and nothing more. The movie is done in real-time, it follows mainly two characters as they interact and make their way across town. This is not everyone’s cup of tea. But this indie darling is a flawless mix of camerawork, scriptwriting, directing, pacing, editing, acting, and realism that transcends filmmaking and enters the realm of film history as being associated with one of the most fascinating film franchises in history. The love story of Jesse and Celine is an unorthodox one, but still contains all the emotions, fears, desires, and complications of two people that feel like they were meant for each other. These two people feel very real and every once in a while you forget that they are just characters in a movie. In spite of the heavy-heavy dialogue, this is truly a beautiful film about life, about love, about second chances, about destiny, and about seeking happiness through that special someone in your life.






#1: Kill Bill Vol. 2


Kill Bill is clearly, clearly made by someone who loves watching movies, making movies, and talking about movies. Tarantino’s love for filmmaking is in full force here as we get marital arts mixed in with spaghetti western, thriller, drama, and so many other subgenres wrapped in this tour-de-force. Everything about this movie was incredible, from the soundtrack to the editing to the acting right up to the ability to keep you guessing as to how the movie ends. There has been no film like Kill Bill before 2003 and there has never been a movie like Kill Bill ever since. It is a medley of genres, a medley of emotions, and a medley of different ways to present a story.

What other film has incredible fight scenes, poetic deaths, entire monologues about fictional characters, claustrophobic cinematography, and a pregnancy discovery scene that occurs in the middle of a Mexican stand-off? That’s the beauty of watching a Tarantino movie, you’ll get all sorts of scenarios that you just don’t see in other movies. And this is why it was my favorite film of 2004, and in my opinion the best film of 2004 as well.