Continuing 2009 listiness. In no particular order...
Far Arden -Kevin Cannon Far Arden is a pure brick of Kevin Cannon's voice. It's unfiltered assemblage in 24-hour-Comic-Day-like spurts reveals an adventure draped in such humor that is hilarious and extremely understated at the same time. Army Shanks is the best total jerk I've liked all year...in print.
Captain Britain and MI-13 - Paul Cornell/Leonard Kirk Alas, cancelled while in it's prime. Yet more proof that the phrase "the cream rises to the top" is scarcely true. It was the best comic you weren't reading. It's ideas were original and strange and it had the perfect mix of plot andkicksplosions . At least the doors were closed after storyline in which Dracula declares war on the UK was wrapped up. Also, the only mainstream company superhero group to feature a Muslim (that I can think of).
This listyness comes via Andy Khouri, ex of CBR. And his listing is some interesting writing, whatever you may think of his choices. And as I'm in the midst of filling the webpage with listy claptrap regarding favorite things of the year, and as my musical taste is narrow, a little maldeveloped, and somewhat random at times, I've decided to expand into the whole of the Aughts (not the Decade, that's a different thing that ends next year.).
However, given the above caveat regarding my tastes and that I generally found the Aughts to be much less interesting than lust the last three years of the Nineties (in terms of non-Reznor generated tuneage), I have lowered the count to a mere 20 songs and imposed an arbitrarily chosen 25% NIN limit.
I'm also feeling a little link-lazy, so just some select tracks for that, eh?
20. Mr. Brightside - The Killers
You know? When they used to be good and channeled a little Duran Duran? Something that Duran Duran themselves can't be bothered to do anymore, what with their Timbaland produced crap.
19 Suicide Note - Johnette Napolitano & Charlie Clouser 18. (tie) Numb/Encore - Linkin Park/Jay-Z and "Encore" DJ Danger Mouse (Beatles vs Jay-Z)
Pretty damn good mash up to make the list with artists I'm generally not that interested in (LP). And I actually like that one just a tad better, but I have to give props to DM for cooking up the Grey Album in the first place.
17. List of Demands - Saul Williams 16. LDN - Lily Allen
I confess, I actually bought the Lily Allen CD. Not the wisest choice, but this darkly silly track deserves its spot.
15. The Perfect Fit - The Dresden Dolls 14. Time is Running Out - Apollo Four Forty 13. Red Right Hand - Pete Yorn
Casts a shadow wherever he stands...
12. Runs in the Family - Amanda Palmer 11. Minerva - Deftones 10. Like A Stone - Audioslave
Cornell + Morello = win. Alas, it was not meant to last. Then Cornell discovered Timbaland and it was all-- Sensing a theme now...
9. Way Down In The Hole - Five Blind Boys of Alabama 8. C'mon C'mon - The Von Bondies 7. Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap
I won't deny that my interest in those songs may have been sparked by television programs. And not The OC in the case of that last one.
6. Missed Me - The Dresden Dolls
Amanda Palmer and the Dresden Dolls are perhaps the only discovery of the last ten years which retained my full interest continuously through many releases and what not.
5. Demon Seed - Nine Inch Nails 4. 35 Ghosts IV - Nine Inch Nails 3. You Know What You Are - Nine Inch Nails 2. 1,000,000 - Nine Inch Nails 1. The Line Begins To Blur - Nine Inch Nails
I've written of Reznor here many times, so I'll spare you this time.
Yeah, I'm planning on getting a bit listy for the rest of the year.
And I'm starting with my favorite films of the year. It's an easy one to start with on account of not having seen a lot films this year.
I find it takes a lot to get me off my ass and into a theater and to gamble on an overpriced ticket. Anyone who knows me knows that I believe the really good shit is on TV.
Many movies, however, made me say out loud "I want to see that." Very few actually got me in the seat. Of those that did, these are the ones that stick with me and why. In no particular order.
THE HURT LOCKER Proof that a movie can be smart and emotional and have things blow up a lot and be awesome.
(500) DAYS OF SUMMER I have never written anything remotely like a normal romance. No boy-meets-girl, they fall in love, lah-de-dah. I usually write about why it's never going to work out - about how it will end in blood, bullets, mind control drugs, or surveillance. So I liked this story of boy-meets-not-quite-the-right-girl. It made a fairly dreary point of view fun.
STAR TREK Wheeeee!!!!!!! I grinned like I was ten years old for two solid hours. My face hurt when it was over. Also the only case I can think of where the reboot is still in original continuity (not including comics).
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY I don't think I have ever enjoyed a horror movie other than Candyman. They are not scary. They're too unreal to be scary. The best a flick can hope for, I think, it to creep me the fuck out. This flick, however, all kinds of realness to it. From the first swaying of the open door to the...thing that happens at the end. Not to one with the cops. That ending sucked. And it was creepy, indeed. So creepy, it made me smile. I still think about those footprints in the flour.
WATCHMEN I will never, ever recommend this as a movie. Nor will I recommend it to someone who hasn't already read the Watchmen. But I thoroughly enjoyed Watchmen in the context in which I regard it: as a supplement to the original comics. It's cool to see it come to life, and in many respects it was well done, but as a movie in and of itself, it doesn't work. It only served to prove that Watchmen is not adaptable in this form. This is jsut an alternate way to gain additional enjoyment from the comic. And the alteration of hte ending doesn't present some thematic problems.
Remaining to be seen this year. Up in the Air...maybe. Sherlock Holmes....mos def.
Nothing this year, however, broke into the lifetime top five, which remains (also in no particular order) Fight Club, The Dark Knight, The Great Escape, A Few Good Men, & Blade Runner.
Rutz stands in front of his desk, Soames nearby, just being an authority figure. Swerve slumps in a chair. Exhibiting his usual contempt for such figures.
SWERVE
You want me to what?
RUTZ
We want you to keep an eye on the kid.
SWERVE
Because why?
Swerve sits up, not entirely easily.
SUPERINTENDANT SOAMES
He is - admittedly - young.
SWERVE
You want to admit to anything else about bumping him up to a shield?
SUPERINTENDANT SOAMES
I have faith in the kid.
Swerve gets to his feet.
SWERVE
Apparently not.
RUTZ
Swerve--
SUPERINTENDANT SOAMES
Thing about faith is it doesn’t exist without the possibility of being wrong.
SWERVE
That’s as close as I’m ever going to get to hearing you say you were, are or will be wrong about something isn’t it?
Write another screenplay, another pilot and two specs. Minimum. Maybe another play.
This listyness comes via 