Initial Deane

After some thought, I decided that this feature needs to go over on the brand spanking new Tumblr (the old one had issues and was terminated) since it won’t be a strictly cinema-centric post. This post is for a new feature that I hope to run at least weekly, maybe bi-weekly (haven’t fully fleshed it out) called Top Threes. The concept is pretty simple. Much like the title suggests, this will be a list of the Top Three items in each category ranging from movies, music and other assorted nonsense.

So heeeeere….we……go.

Let’s start with the obvious:

Top Three Movies I’m Diggin’ Right Now

Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Just watched this movie today. Went in to it completely void of any knowledge about the Apes franchise aside from Heston’s classic “Damn dirty ape,” line. Honestly, I probably would have skipped this movie as well if not for eleven letters scrambled together on the cast list. I speak not of James Franco, but of the ridiculously gorgeous Freida Pinto. The first shot of her in this movie is like being hit by Tom Felton’s cattle prod. Since this movie literally just opened, I don’t want to spoil it with any specifics, although I will say that overall, I liked it and may check it out again during a discount matinee screening.

Wild Target - Another movie I literally just finished watching about two hours ago. Currently on DVD, this movie stars Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt and Rupert Grint as an unlikely trio thrown together on the run from assassins. The acting is crisp, the dialogue and script is well-written (aside from the love story angle which felt a bit forced) and the movie in general is thoroughly entertaining. This is another movie where that I had stashed deep down in my Netflix queue and unknowingly shuffled up toward the top spot to break up the monotony of the Gantz anime that I’m working through. I highly recommend this movie.

Midnight in Paris - Mind you I go back to mid-May for this third entry only because this movie has stuck with me and I cannot wait to scoop it up on DVD when it hits shelves. That and the only other movie that could possibly fit this slot is the final Harry Potter movie, but Paris trumps Potter. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, I believe it’s still showing in limited theaters for a few more weeks. Another movie I might re-watch during bargain hours.

Top Three Actors I’m Diggin’ Right Now

1. Freida Pinto

Visions of Rise of the Apes are still in my head as well as all the parts I missed while gazing upon this beauty. Hence part of the reason I need to go back and re-watch this movie. The other part should be pretty self-explanatory.

2. Rachel McAdams

It took an imaginary world of literary and artistic legends to draw Owen Wilson’s character away from Rachel in Midnight in Paris. Granted, it would probably take a little more than that to draw me away from Rach, I’m glad to see her in a good movie for a change. She was on a bit of a crappy movie streak for a while there.

3.  Rupert Grint

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you’re going, whaaaaat? It’s probably because I just watched him kill (not literally) in Wild Target. And come on, he does next to nothing and gets to kiss Emma Watson’s Hermione. Bloody hell, what a lucky bastard!

The Next Three Movies I’ll Be Watching

1. Norwegian Woods (ノルウェイの森) - Probably the only name Western audiences will recognize from this Japanese romance-drama is Rinko Kikuchi (Babel, The Brothers Bloom). I’ve heard so much buzz from different Japanese personalities about this movies that it’s piqued my curiosity. Since the indie film screening in L.A. essentially sucks, I waited until it came out on DVD, which I scooped up on sale with the movie below.

2. Gantz - I missed the double screening while at Comic Con a couple weeks ago and as I work my way thru the crazy addiciting manga and anime, I’m set to finally lay all four of my eyes on this Japanese live-action adapation.

3. Captain America - Another victim of the Comic Con weekend, I haven’t had a chance to check this movie out. I have seen the Avengers teaser trailer which screens at the very end, of course. But curious to see how Evans and Atwell do in this movie.

Here’s where we’re going to stray from movies. Feel free to continue along or jump back over to the Cinemaniax blog.

Top Three Songs I’m Stuck On

OK, so I think I’ll cap this first edition of Top Threes here. By the way, I need to credit the BoA song above (along with the Perfume Game CD) for making that time spent sitting in traffic in San Diego a little less annoying.