Top 20 guy movies (my picks)

Okay....after much deliberation about what I should blog about, I decided on something that has been debated...the top 10 movies every guy should watch with a nice steak. This is not all-inclusive, but it's a good start. Neither is it in order, but rather just a list as I think of them. Remember, this is a matter of taste and opinion, so here it goes....

#20) "Walking Tall"

Joe Don Baker's version, not Dwayne Johnson's. Joe Don Baker taking Teddy Roosevelt's advise about carrying a big stick.

#19) "Every Which Way But Loose"

"Right turn, Clyde". A tough guy named Philo Beddoe, an Orangutan, and Momma. Need I say more?

#18) "Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail".

One of the most quoted movies ever, and for good reason.Drunk or sober, funny as hell.

#17) "Rocky"

Classic story about the underdog. Sly Stallone's second best movie. (Best is at #4)

#16) "El Dorado"

John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and James Caan. Or is it "Rio Bravo"? Oh, well...basically the same film. Whichever one has John Wayne throwing dynamite to get the bad guys out of the house.

#15) "Death Wish"

Charles Bronson out for revenge on the scum who killed his wife and raped his daughter.

#14) "Dirty Harry".

Eastwood. .44 mag. 'Nuff said.

#13) "Pale Rider"

Often overlooked, a preacher helps some prospectors in the early california gold rush. But, the preacher isn't as peaceful as he seems.

#12) "Lone Wolf McQuade"

Have to get Chuck Norris in here somehow, and this is better than his other films...the fight with Bruce Lee is a close second.

#11) "The Dirty Dozen"

12 misfits released from military prison to do a job no one else wants to do.

#10) "Under Seige"

Before we all knew he was a vegetarian green spewing self proclaimed Lama reincarnation, Steven Seagal could kick some major ass. He couldn't act then, or now, but his Aikido was awesome. That is why I chose his last best movie, "Under Seige". At the time heralded as "Die Hard" on a battleship, it had everything any guy could want...firepower, explosives, high body counts, and Erika Eleniak. He played a ex-seal turned cook on a warship who had to save the world from a crazy Tommy Lee Jones and even crazier Gary Busey.

#9) "Patton"

Need I say more? A movie about one of the best generals this country ever produced, and showing why Hitler feared him and the Japanese hated him. George C. Scott was phenomenal and it makes you proud to be an American.

#8)"Goldeneye"

One of (IMHO) the best James Bond films ever, right next to Goldfinger, Pierce Brosnan's first foray into the Bond role. Again, firepower, explosives, and the ubiquitous Bond girls (Famke Janssen and Izabella Scorupco), with the bad guys getting their come-uppance in true secret agent fashion.

#7) "The Magnificent Seven"

Akira Kurosawa's "The Seven Samurai" in an "Americanized" format, as seven hard cases help a poor Mexican town from banditos. Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, and James Coburn all in one film. Truly a Hollywood classic.

#6)"The Quiet Man"

You can talk about Bogey and Bacall (or Bergman), or Tracy and Hepburn, or even Pitt and Jolie, but my favorite is Wayne and O'Hara. Yes, this seems like an odd choice, but this is a "chick flick" guys can like. Not only does it have John Wayne in it, playing a boxer who returns to his Irish ancestral home, it has one of the most scandalous scenes for the 1950's. The fight is classic, and the supporting characters make things interesting. A slow pace, but you're not bored.

#5) "Bullitt"

Any cop this badass is one cop I don't want to cross. Also, it has a 1968 Ford Mustang 390 CID Fastback. Although the Mopar freak in me was rooting for the 1968 Dodge Charger R/T 440 Magnum, (I cried when the Challenger blew up in "Hellraiser", but that's another story.), you have to give the 'Stang it's props. Arguably the best automobile chase scene ever......ever.

#4) "First Blood"

Don't mess with a special forces trained Vietnam Vet with PTSD.

#3) "Ben Hur"

Have to give Charlton Heston his props with this entry. Great story, and the chariot race scene makes it worthwhile.

#2) "Predator"

By far, Arnold Schwarzenegger's best (again, in my opinion). Man vs. alien in a no-holds barred shootout for the stake of the planet. Just wished the ending would have stopped any sequels, or even AVP.

#1) "Apocolypse Now"

My favorite "AntiWar" War movie. And, I think the role that really drove Marlon Brando nuts (otherwise, why would he have taken the role of Kal-El in "Superman?").

Graphic, gritty, and disturbing. I find myself playing the strafing scenes over and over for their sheer beauty and for "Ride of the Valkyries".

Feel free to add any you think i omitted, or just post your views on the ones I chose. Feedback is always welcome.

Once a week.

Okay, I've promised myself for months now that I would keep coming back. But, my ADHD has been acting up, and other things (usually Snood) keeps me from posting things I need to. I have a lot to say, and my wife is really the only one who hears my ramblings. I'm sure she wishes I had another outlet. Oh, wait, but I DO!!!

So, here, on my blog, I promise to post something--even if it's a period or one word that describes my mood--once a week. I have a great idea to start things off with. But, you have to wait until Saturday night (it's Thursday now) to find out what it is.

Until then, I will leave you with this--sometimes I feel like Mr. Krabs, sometimes like Plankton, and sometimes like Patrick. But I have NEVER felt at all like Spongebob.

Free speech

We better blog what we think pretty quick...censorship is coming. FCC chairman believes the 1st amendment is "overstated".

Sorry so long

Wow….so much going on in the world. We’re about to lose our freedom as a country via national health care, the economy is still in the crapper, and the boys and I have the H1N1 virus. Sucks all around. On a positive note, got promoted from PCP to monitor tech at work. So, liking that. More secure position for me. More later.

Oh, yeah...

Connor was eating his frozen waffles today, and lost his first tooth. I guess I should have cooked the waffles first...

Almost done!!

Second to last shift working nights...after tomorrow...well, tonight (it's 3 am), I'll be done bathing old peopleb and wiping poop from people other than my kids. Starting Sunday, I'll be watching people's heart rhythms for 12 hours a day. Boring, you say? I say, "NAY!!" I have my blackberry and I have Pandora on my blackberry. Now if I can just stream Glenn Beck, I'll be VERY happy.

happy Independence Day

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness." -Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776.

This was a death warrant for the signers. Many gave their lives in the war, or were tortured and killed by the British because of this.

Remember the foundations that made us free. God Bless you, your families, and the United States of America.

Out of the mouths...

(While sitting at the dinner table, watching "Happy Feet", a movie about penguins...)

Connor: Do Daddy penguins lay eggs?

Mommy: No, but they sit with the eggs until they hatch.

Connor: Daddy, did you sit on us until we were hatched?

Mommy: No...you were born, not hatched.

Me: Besides, I would have squished you.

Connor (looking at my chair): No, Daddy, you butt's not that big. It still fits on the chair!!

Mommy: [spit take]

Me: Uh...thanks?!?!?

Valley boys

We were watching a DVD of Disney World, when the roller coaster which goes through the "Himalayas" comes on, and a Yeti appears. Logan calls out, "The Chupacabra!!!"

Gotta be proud...

Connor has a wiggling tooth. He's excited. So are we. Means he's growing up. I say this as he and his brother are rolling around on the floor in the living room, talking like babies.

Since the post "losing myself", I have lost 16.9 pounds...and counting. Down from 254.6 to 237.7. The wife and I are doing good.

Baseball!!!!

YAY!!! I love baseball. Good news about this is that Opening Day was today. Well, not so good news for my wife. That means she'll be a "sports widow" as long as the Rangers are on.

Also, our local team (the Harlingen WhiteWings) will be playing this summer. Might have to get my boys to a game or two.

I'm giddy now.

Losing myself....

.....or at least part of me. 42 pounds of me, at least. Lord, give me strength, Big Guy....

Ahhh....

Spring Break. Supposed to be a good time for us, with something special going on, but it's just a week of hanging out with the family.

Went to the children's museum today. The boys had a great time. Later on this week, it's the livestock show. Maybe a dollar movie (I'm thrifty).

WE surround them

This is very straight forward, and no nonsense. No party lines, no partisanship. Just common sense. I guess this is why it won't fly.

WE surround them

The Day The Music Died

February 3rd, 1959. Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J P Richardson, pioneers of Rock n Roll music, all died in a plane crash outside of Clear Lake Iowa. My mother remembered that, for her, it was a sad day.

I was just a toddler when guitar virtuoso Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident.

I (vaguely) remember October 20, 1977 when Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd lost their lives in a plane crash outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi.

I do remember, however, the day the music died for me. August 27, 1990. Four days before my 20th birthday. I was watching TV in San Antonio and learned that Stevie Ray Vaughan had died in a helicopter crash. He was buried on my 20h birthday, August 31, 1990. I dug out this song, and I played it.

Now, I post it or the memory of Buddy, Richie, J.P., Stevie Ray, Elvis, Duane Allman, Janis Joplin, Jim Morison, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Moon, John Bonham, the members of Skynyrd I mentioned below, and the others who have died, and made that music I love. God bless and thank you for the music.

The first time I heard the keyboard in rock n roll was in 1974. I had just turned four, but I remember that keyboard part from "Sweet Home Alabama" like it was yesterday.

Then, I heard the solos from "Free Bird" and (my personal favorite) "Tuesday's Gone." It was classic.

Piano and keyboard should be in the background, but still be noticeable. Keyboard players should, likewise, be consummate professionals and have presonalities.

I never saw them live, but I wish I could have. One of the classic bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd, can add another name to heaven's roll call of:

Ronnie Van Zant
Steve Gaines
Cassie Gaines
Allan Collins
Leon Wilkeson

And now....
Billy Powell. (1952-2009)

Fly like the Free Bird.

Rest in Peace.

Here we go...

Today is a monumental day in American history. We are inaugurating the first black president of the U.S. This shows how much we have grown as a nation. God bless Barack Obama and his family, and hope he steers our country in the correct direction.

Now, the downside. We see if the socialist comes out, or if it's kept in check. The "spreading the wealth around" has started with these bailouts, and is going to continue. Let's see what happens with the (un)fairness doctrine, and the second amendment.

I have trepidation about things. We just have to see, and hope for the best.

Stuff

I got my grandfather's golf clubs for Christmas re-gripped and cleaned up. They're beautiful...and, of course, either the weather's been too bad to play, or I've been so busy I can't breathe. So, I have to wait.

Glenn Beck's coming "home" to Fox News. Can't wait to see it. I'm going to have my DVR ready.

The boys are doing good. Growing like weeds. Tried to keep them to stay 5, but they were insistent on turning six.

My wife was happy about me not watching football now. But, I reminded her, basketball and hockey are on now. She's not happy about my not watching football any more.

I might be changing job duties at work. I'm not holding my breath about it, but I am praying hard about it.

I also have a thing or two in the works that I'm thinking about. I need to flesh them out thoroughly before I proceed. I'll keep people informed.

2009

Gonna be a good year. Happy New Year to everyone.