Power Rankings: Top 5 Movie Ghosts

The definition of ghost is: "An apparition of a dead person that is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image."  So long as there have been films, there have always been ghosts and ghouls.  Ghosts can be a lot of fun, but can also very scary to see on screen. 

With the release of what's likely the most controversial movie of the year, Ghostbusters, this week's Top 5 will be about movie ghosts.  The original Ghostbusters film has to be considered one of the best comedies of all time, and I love it.  I'll admit, I wasn't too thrilled that they were going to reboot this classic film.  I will be seeing the new film on Friday, so my fingers are crossed that I'll find enjoyment in it.  So, without further ado - time for some honorable mentions!         

Honorable Mentions: Zero - The Nightmare before Christmas, Johnny Blaze - Ghost Rider, Moaning Myrtle - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,  Casper - Casper, Gusteau - Ratatouille, Ghost of Christmas Past - Scrooged, Kayako Saeki - The Grudge, Freddy Krueger - A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Twins - The Shining,  The Librarian- Ghostbusters

5.

 Slimer - Ghostbusters (1984)

I had a hard time figuring out which ghost should represent Ghostbusters.  The Librarian was the introduction of the original Ghostbusters team.  But, who am I kidding?  It has to go to Slimer.  Slimer was not only the first ghost they busted, but he also was in the second film, as well as the TV show.  Slimer was a very fun and basically harmless ghost who loves food.  Sounds like my kind of ghost.

4.

 Baseball Players - Field of Dreams

"If you build it, they will come."  Field of Dreams is one of the best baseball films around.  The fact that some of the best players from history come back to play the game they love is awesome.  Seeing them walk in and out of the corn field was pretty cool.  But, the most moving thing in this film was the game of catch.  If you watch it, you will love it!  

3.

 Sam Wheat - Ghost

Sam Wheat is your average, hard working office employee - who is one day murdered.  He comes back to our world to help protect his long time girlfriend, Molly Jenson.  The reason I enjoy Sam is simply because even after death, he can only think about the one he loved.  It is pretty sad to think about what we leave behind when we die, but I enjoy his dedication and the thought of the redemption you can earn even after death.

2.

 Betelgeuse - Beetlejuice

What a crazy character.  Michael Keaton breathes this character to life, and no other actor could have pulled it off.  He isBetelgeuse.  He's a mischievous, rude, crude, and perverted trickster of a ghost.  He seems like he would be a hoot to be around, but I guarantee you that he would be very unpleasant.  With that said, I really enjoy seeing him on the screen and laugh every time.  Arguably Michael Keaton's best role (I have it behind Birdman and maybe Spotlight).  

1.

 Dr. Malcolm Crowe - The Sixth Sense

I guess it's to late to say, "Spoiler Alert!".  Dr. Malcolm Crowe is portrayed by Bruce Willis.  He's child psychologist that might not know what else he is.  It's a great performance in a story of discovery and love that has to be near the top of Willis's acting feats. 

Well that's my list!  What ghosts made your list and what should have been on mine?  

Adam 

Power Rankings: Top 5 Talking Animals in Movies

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With the release of the new animated film, The Secret Life of Pets, this week's Top Five will be about talking animals.  There have been many awesome talking animals in films, so this list will have some notable characters missing.  For me, animal characters need to have a few things to be considered great: good voice talent, good animation, and are they in a good story!  They also need to be in feature films, so sorry Mickey Mouse.  So let's get this list started like I usually do - with the honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions: Po - Kung Fu Panda, Marlin and Dory - Finding Nemo, Rango - Rango, Z - Ants, Dug - Up, Donkey -Shrek, Flick - A Bug's Life, Mufasa - The Lion King, Rocket - Guardians of the Galaxy 

 5.

 Remy - Ratatouille

Ratatouille is one of those Pixar films that I feel gets overlooked at times.  It's a great film that I have appreciated even more the last few times I have watched it.  Remy is such a great character - he is trying to follow his dreams and not be what the world wants him to be.  He is a great example of perseverance and patience.  The very funny Patton Oswalt breathes his humor and humanity into Remy.  He makes the character believable as well as relatable. 

 4.

 Timon and Pumbaa - The Lion King

Hakuna Matata!  I couldn't just put one of them on this list and not the other.  I think that it's safe to say The Lion King is one of the best Disney films of all time.  Timon and Pumbaa are a pair and best buddies that bring the humor and laughs to this already great and otherwise rather dark story.  Imagine if they weren't in the film - how different it would have been.  Crazy to think about.  Let's go eat some bugs now - I heard they taste like chicken. 

 3.

 Roger Rabbit - Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 

Who Framed Roger Rabbit was such an innovative film that showed that live action and animation can work together.  Yes, Roger Rabbit might be annoying at times, but he shows the innocence and humor that people might have.  I find him enjoyable and I really love this film a lot.  Bob Hopkins did an amazing job interacting with Roger Rabbit.

 2.

 Baloo - The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book, like The Lion King, is arguably one of the best Disney films of all time.  Baloo, for me, makes The Jungle Book even better than it was already.  He is a fun-loving, laid back type of bear, but as you see later on in the film, he has a protective side too.  I loved the original version as well as the version of him this year.  

 1.

 Kermit the Frog - The Muppets films

Kermit the Frog is my favorite talking animal in films.  I grew up with the Muppets and will have my daughter watch them too!  The Muppets have so many great and timeless characters.  Kermit, the leader of the Muppets, has moments of craziness but still has a relatable charm to him.  Every time I think of him, I always picture him sitting on a log, singing "Rainbow Connection".  He will always be my favorite talking animal, and will be in the conversation for best movie character too.  Team Kermit!

That's my list!  What's on your list!

See you next week, when I give you my list for Top Five movie ghost.

Adam

Power Rankings: Top Five Steven Spielberg Films

With the recent release of the BFG, today's Top Five list goes to , Mr. Steven Spielberg!  One of the greatest directors of our generation.  I feel like that is a pretty accurate statement.  He has made some classic films, that are adored by fans and critics alike.  Made movie moments, that will be in the fore front of our mind for years to come.  He personally made me scared to go into the ocean, with Jaws.

 Now whether you love him or hate him, you can't deny what he has done as a film maker.  This will be a really hard list to make.  Don't worry '1941' will not be on it! LOL  I hope to however to capture some of this mans best work and make a great Top Five.

Movies I Need to See: The BFG, Amistad, Schindler's List, 
The Color Purple, Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Honorable Mentions: Lincoln, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Hook, E.T.,  War of the Worlds, , The Adventures of Tin Tin, and Jurassic Park

5.

Catch Me if You Can

One of the many collaborations Spielberg had with Tom Hanks.  A movie with great Dicaprio and Hanks performances, that I feel is a very underrated film.  A movie with such star power in front and behind the camera, it only managed two Oscar nominations (Christopher Walken and John Williams) A cat and mouse film executed to perfection.  

4.

Saving Private Ryan

The most heart pounding opening sequence you could of ever wished for.  Saving Private Ryan is another well acted and well directed film.  This movie should of walked out with the Best Picture Oscar!  At least Spielberg walked out with Best Director.  Tom Hanks, leads an all star cast (Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Jeremy Davies, Matt Damon) just to name a few.  Arguably, one of the best war films of all time!

3.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Spielberg directs one of the greatest adventure movies of all time!  Get use to hearing greatest of all time when it comes to Spielberg.  Casting Harrison Ford was a risking move that payed off for Spielberg and Ford himself.  The question here was if Ford was only going to be remembered as Han Solo. Well guess what,  this character is even better.  Indiana Jones, is one of my favorite movie characters of all time and this movie is one of my favorites.  Raiders of the Lost Ark is a work of art, from the action, to the script, even to the amazing score.  Film making rarely gets better then this!

2.

Jaws

When I was younger, this film scared the crap out of me.  I hated swimming in the ocean and still till this day am very weary of it.  To me that makes a great film experience, how it sticks with you.  I recently watched it again and enjoyed it just as much.  Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw are crazy film characters that have become larger than life.  Dreyfuss is a truly entertaining actor and his character is the same.  The music is so iconic as well.

1.

Minority Report

Minority Report is not only my favorite Spielberg film, it's arguably one of my favorite films of all time, too. This gritty, crime film has one of the best Tom Cruise performances of all time too.  I love the concept that Spielberg creates, it's very unique and innovative. When you first watch it, you are taking on an amazing ride that keeps you guessing from beginning till end.  Another one of Spielberg films that got mostly over looked at the Oscars (Best Sound Editing), but will forever live on in my film library and the amazing filmography of Mr. Steve Spielberg!  

Spielberg's Films Oscar Nominations and Win:

• Bridge Of Spies
• Lincoln
• War Horse
• Munich
• Minority Report
• Saving Private Ryan
• Schindler's List
• The Color Purple
• E.T.
• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Catch Me If You Can
• The Adventures of Tin Tin
• War of the Worlds
• Jaws
• Amistad
• Jurassic Park
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park
• Hook
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
• Empire of the Sun
• A.I.
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind
• 1941

Thank You for reading!  For all your Top Five check back with almostsideways.com

Adam

January 2015 Movie Preview!!

January 2015

New Year, New Films, and New Journeys to take!

Happy New Year folks!  Hope everyone had a safe and festive New Year celebration.  With the start of 2015, it brings a whole new year of films.  Films that will win Oscars, make us laugh, cry, and also disappoint us.  The anticipation is brewing to finally go back to a galaxy far, far away.  But that's for another time.  Lets do a quick look back at the best movies of each month from last year.

January

Big Bad Wolves and Jack Ryan:Shadow Recruit

February:

The Lego Movie and Robocop

March:

Enemy and The Grand Budapest Hotel

April:

Captain America: The Winter Solider and Locke

May:

X-Men Days of Futures Past and Chef

June:

Snowpiercer and The Fault in Our Stars

July:

Boyhood and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

August:

Guardians of the Galaxy and Calvary

September:

The Equalizer and The Skeleton Twins   

October:

Birdman and Whiplash

November:

Big Hero 6 and The Theory of Everything

December:

Top Five and The Hobbit:Battle of the Five Armies

The best month of last year has to go to October.  Four of my favorite films came out that month.  It was a lot of fun.

Alright, lets get this started!

(W.R.)-mean Wide Release

January 2nd:

The Woman in Black 2: Angels of Death, and [REC] 4: Apocalypse

January 9th:

Taken 3, Selma (W.R.), Inherent Vise (W.R.), Preservation, and Predestination

Excitement: 1.5

Reason:  I never seen the second one of these movies.  This one looks like it should be called The Fugitive 2

Excitement: 2.5

Reason:  Well from the first trailer, I didn't like the look of this film.  Slowly overtime it has grown on me.  I'm looking forward to seeing Tim Roth, that guys is always so good in everything.

Excitement: 3

Reason:  So, I'm still on media black out for this movie.  I will be going in blind to see this.  

January 16th:

The Wedding Ringer, Paddington, Blackhat, American Sniper (W.R.), Still Alice (W.R.), Son of a Gun, and Spare Parts

Excitement: 2

Reason:  Mr. January, Kevin Hart, is back with a new comedy.  Josh Gad plays a guy who is getting married and has no friends.  So he hires Kevin Hart to be his best man.

Excitement: 2

Reason:  This movie was pushed back from Christmas to now.  I remember reading these books as a kid.  So who knows how this will turn out.

Excitement: 2.5

Reason: Bradley Cooper has totally transformed into this role.  Looks like it could be intense.  

January 23rd:

Strange Magic, The Boy Next Door, Mortdecai, Black Sea, Black or White, Red Army, and Against the Sun

Excitement: 3

Reason:  I really enjoy movies that play with the things in the news.  This movie is about a teacher who decides to sleep with the next door neighbor.  After she comes to her senses he stalks her and looks like it could be a good suspense movie as well.

January 30th:

The Loft, Project Almanac, Alien: Outpost, Coming Home

Excitement: 3

Reason: Karl Urban and James Marsden start in a suspense thriller.  A group of guys share a loft and when they return to it they find a dead women inside.  But who did it and why???

Top Five Movies Im looking forward to:

1. Inherent Vice

2. Selma

3. The Boy Next Door

4. The Loft

5. American Sniper

Top Five Performances I'm looking forward to:

1. Joaquin Phoenix- Inherent Vice

2. Tim Roth- Selma

3. Bradley Cooper- American Sniper

4. Jennifer Lopez- The Boy Next Door

5. Karl Urban- The Loft

Summary of the Previous Month:

  I was really busy last month so I couldn't see a whole lot of films.  

1. Top Five

2. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

3. Into the Woods

4. Exodus: Gods and Kings

And my favorite performances...

1. Rosario Dawson- Top Five

2. Martin Freeman- The Hobbit: TBOTFA

3. Emily Blunt- Into the Woods

4. Issac Andrews- Exodus:Gods and Kings

5. Chris Rock- Top Five

   Well I'm looking forward to this year!!!  Hopefully its as good as last year was.

Thank you for reading 

-Adam