Friday's Top Five - Comic Book Superheroes

It's been awhile since I've done a comic book themed Top Five, so I figured I'd take the opportunity today to do one based on my favorite comic book superheroes. I've long been fascinated by comic books and the fun stories of costumed heroes and vigilantes contained within, so it's only logical that said fascination should spill out onto my blog from time to time.

5. The Incredible Hulk (art by Bryan Hitch)
"Mister Hyde meets Frankenstein". That was the idea that spawned the Incredible Hulk. Mild-mannered scientist Bruce Banner gets caught in the wake of his own gamma bomb and is transformed into the living, breathing engine of destruction known as the Hulk! Now, I'm all about inner turmoil and no one does that better than the Hulk. Banner literally has a monster living inside of him. The epic battle with this character is not against any random foe, but against himself. That's good stuff!

4. Swamp Thing (art by Steve Bissette and John Totleben)
Created by Berni Wrightson and Len Wein and perfected by Alan Moore, this creature of the swamp evolved into one of the most compelling characters of the 1980s. Moore turned Swamp Thing into a true monster by abandoning his humanity in favor of making him an earth elemental, using him not only to tell truly horrific monster stories but to raise awareness for environmental dangers. Despite his slow speech and relative unknown status, Swamp Thing is awesome!

3. Batman (art by Tony Daniel)
The masked avenger of Gotham City, Batman stands as the pinnacle of human potential. A master detective, trained martial artist, inventor, scientist, and all-around jack-of-all-trades, Bruce Wayne is literally everything a man can be all rolled into one. The best Batman stories, in my mind, center on his insanity (which, in my mind, is the only way Batman makes sense). Still, it's his pure humanity (no superpowers here) coupled with his amazing rogues gallery (filled with villains like the Joker, the Scarecrow, the Penguin, the Riddler, the Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman) that make Batman one of my all-time faves!

2. Captain America (art by John Cassaday)
The ultimate soldier, Captain America is a holdover from the WW2 mentality given form and substance in the 21st century! With enhanced speed, strength, stamina, and agility, Captain America isn't just a superhero - he's a symbol of everything that makes America great and good. Recently killed in his own series and replaced by once-sidekick Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers - the original Cap - is slated to return next month in Captain America: Reborn, which promises to be one of the big comic events of the year!

1. Plastic Man (art by Kyle Baker)
Created in 1941 by Jack Cole, Plastic Man is one of the first comic book superheroes. Not only that, but he is also one of the first to incorporate humor into the superhero genre, making comics literally comic. While he's been hit or miss over the last several decades, he has proven a trooper in the DCU, having been a member of the JLA fighting alongside Superman and Batman and earning at least three ongoing series in the course of his almost 70 years in print. Having been fascinated with this character since childhood, Plastic Man remains my favorite comic book character to this day!

Honorable Mentions: Rorshach (Moore's Watchmen), Morpheus (Gaiman's Sandman), Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Daredevil

So... what are some of your favorite comic book superheroes?

Friday's Top Five - TV Comedies

So, here's a feature I haven't done in a while (since the end of January actually). Thought I might resurrect it and reveal yet another five things I really enjoy and the reasons why. Today, we'll be talking about the TV shows that make me laugh the most. Many people who know me know that I prefer the television dramas to the comedies (mainly due to their episodic nature & film-like production quality). Today is not time for that, though. It's time for comedy.

5. "Family Guy" (1999-present)
Now I'll be the first one to admit that I don't laugh at this show nearly as much as I used to. Like so many other shows, it's gotten to a point where it's too much about the shock value and has become very preachy with regard to the political views of series creator Seth MacFarlane. That having been said, the early episodes of this show - particularly the first three seasons - were witty, original, and laugh-out-loud funny (particularly with regard to its unpredictability).

4. "The Simpsons" (1989-present)
Say what you will about the declining quality of this show in recent years (heaven knows I've said plenty), but it is difficult to deny that "The Simpsons" is one of the funniest shows of the last twenty years. Granted, most of their genius was contained to their first six seasons or so, but the brilliance in those seasons is incredible... all culminating the the two-part cliffhanger "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" At this point, I feel the show lost a lot of steam, but it's impossible to overlook its contribution up to that point.

3."The Office" (BBC version; 2001-2003)
In my mind, anyone who references "The Office" and is not talking about the BBC version is not a true "Office" fan. British humor makes the premise of this show work in a way that ceases to be gimmicky or soap opera-esque. The awkwardness of the workers in relation to each other and their boss David Brent is palpable... making it just that much funnier! After watching both seasons of this show and the Holiday Special, I don't think the American version even comes close. Dwight is a pale imitation of Gareth, Pam doesn't hold a candle to Dawn, Jim completely lacks the subtlety of Tim, and Michael Scott is a poor clone of Ricky Gervais' Brent. If you haven't seen this show, do yourself a favor and check it out STAT!

2. "Arrested Development" (2003-2006)
One of the funniest shows of the last decade, "Arrested Development" turned the whole idea of the family sitcom on its head by introducing the completely unrelatable, unlikeable, and utterly dysfunctional Bluth family to the world. Led by the brilliant former child star Jason Bateman with a fabulous supporting cast that includes comedy veterans like Jeffrey Tambor and Jessica Walter (who play Bateman's parents) to relative newcomers Michael Cera and Alia Shawkat (who play literal "kissing cousins"). From the brilliant insular humor to the in-jokes put in just for the fans, this is a prime example of a show that got cancelled long before its time.


1. "Seinfeld" (1990-1998)
From relative obscurity to an American classic, no television comedy has had the long-lasting impact of "Seinfeld". From their changing the way Americans talk, interact, and look at television and pop culture in general, "Seinfeld," unlike many shows that get a lot of hype and praise, actually finds itself worthy and deserving of the accolades. Taking the traditional sitcom and ignoring every and all conventions associated with it, "Seinfeld" was a gamble - something completely new and original... and funny to boot! From the zany antics of Cosmo Kramer to the abrasive absurdity of George Costanza, from the polarizing insanity of Elaine Benes to the harmonizing observation of Jerry Seinfeld, the cast and the jokes just worked for this program, which is why it, more than any other, is deserving of the top spot on this list.

Honorable Mentions: "Saturday Night Live" (1975-present), "Robot Chicken" (2005-present), "Extras" (2005-2007), "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969-1974), "That '70s Show" (1998-2006)

So, what are some of your favorite TV comedies?

Friday's Top Five - YouTube Videos

It's a great day and age we live in when we can watch videos from people around the world and watch and laugh with absolute amazement. We can literally peek in on anyone's life at the click of a mouse button and they let us in gladly. It's either really awesome or really freaky. One of the two.

At any rate, I've been watching some videos on YouTube lately and decided to compile a list of my top five favorites. If you've seen these before, enjoy them again. If not... get ready to laugh.

5. Soundwave vs. Dollansky
Oh, those wacky Canadians! As a joke to fellow students at the University of Alberta, some girl dressed up like the Decepticon known as Soundwave (from "Transformers" - the toys/TV show, not the movie!) in order to oppose a young man named Steven Dollansky who was running for "VP External" (some comm. dept. ranking or somesuch). The debate itself is a nice mix of humorous and ludicrous. A comedy gem, to be sure!

4. History in the Making
My friend Lee is really funny. Here's proof.

3. Asian Baby Singing "Hey Jude"
Say what you will about the Beatles and the song "Hey Jude". This baby is hilarious and adorable. Simultaneously. My favorite part is the build-up to the 'chorus' at the end. Masterful!

2. Charlie Bit My Finger - Again!
British babies and finger biting. This video has been a classic for awhile now and I'm not sure that there's anyone alive who's NOT seen this video, but if you haven't, please check it out... because it is hysterical!

1. "Jesus Is My Friend"
I'm not sure when this video was recorded (sometime in the seventies or eighties, if I had to guess based on the hairstyles and apparel choices), but it definitely does not stand the test of time! This is hilarious and ridiculous and just too, too funny! Check it!

Honorable Mentions: Star Wars according to a 3-year-old, Benny Hinn: "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor", Leroy Jenkins (Parental Advisory), Buhlud, Chad Hates Aliens

What are some of your favorite YouTube movies?

Friday's Top Five - Christmas Movies

Once again - "that time of year." And, on the last Friday before the 'big day,' I've decided to lay out my top five favorite Christmas movies. This list will be decidedly controversial, but then I've never been 'typical' in terms of my tastes in... well... anything really. Enjoy!

5. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
"B-but this is the best Christmas movie of all time! How can you rank it so low on your list?!" Invariably, whenever I tell people that I don't think Frank Capra's perennial holiday classic is the "best," I get this reaction, just as I'm sure I'm getting it from you right now. I suppose, for me, the over-saturation of this movie over the course of the last fifty years has worn this movie thin. Don't get me wrong - I still enjoy it. But, for me, this film has become such a classic that it doesn't pack the same punch it used to. Still, I love the character of Clarence ("Heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cloves!") and find George Bailey's character arc to be one of the most fascinating in cinematic history. So, there!

4. "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1964)
As a kid, I used to love the old Rankin-Bass Christmas specials, characterized by the wooden puppets and fun little sing-alongs. (These are the guys who are also responsible for "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "The Year Without Santa Claus," "The Little Drummer Boy," and the animated "Frosty the Snowman".) "Rudolph," though, always stood out to me as something special. The fantastic characters - the elf who wants to be a dentist, the Abominable Snowman with a toothache, the singing snowman, the eccentric prospector, an island of 'misfit toys,' and, naturally, the red-nosed reindeer with a heart of gold - coupled with the memorable songs, the fun animation, and the vocal talents of Burl Ives (as Sam the Snowman) really helped to make Christmas a memorable time for me as a child.

3. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" (1966)
I actually prefer this animated version to the live-action Ron Howard-Jim Carrey from 2000 for a number of reasons. Firstly, I get awfully nostalgic when watching this version, mainly because it's the version I loved so well as a child. Secondly, I think that 26 minutes of the voice talents of Boris Karloff do more to establish the Grinch as one of the nastiest creatures in all of literature than Jim Carrey does in 104 minutes. Finally - and what I feel makes the whole movie - is the Grinch's theme ("You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch") sung by Tony the Tiger himself, Mr. Thurl Ravenscroft. Better in every way (in my humble opinion).

2. Scrooged (1988)
In my mind, there are few comedians alive who can square with Bill Murray. The man has been doing deadpan for ages and been doing it well-enough to have made a career out of it. One of my favorite roles - largely for sentimental reasons - is his turn as a spiritless television executive in Richard Donner's retelling of Dickens' classic book, A Christmas Carol. Taking on the 'Scrooge' role (as does Buddy Hackett), Murray is surrounded by a host of magnificent talent, including Carole Kane as the sadistic Ghost of Christmas Present, Alfre Woodard as the female Bob Crachitt, Karen Allen as Murray's big-hearted lost love, and Bobcat Goldthwait as the disgruntled laid-off employee. A fabulous film that I don't see nearly as often as I'd like!

1. Elf (2003)
I know, I know. "A Will Ferrell movie at No. 1?! Stephen, you're slipping!" And that may well be true. It seems, however, that Ferrell's honest turn as the lively, unassuming human-turned-elf Buddy strikes a chord with me and stands as a modern Christmas classic. Masterfully acted (including some standout performances from Ed Asner, the lovely Zooey Deschanel, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, and Bob Newhart - with great cameos by Amy Sedaris, Faizon Love, Leon Redbone, John Favreau, Kyle Gass, Andy Richter, and Peter Dinklage), wonderfully written, and unendingly charming, Elf stands as a great film about the child-like wonder of Christmas that gets so easily lost this time of year.

Honorable Mentions: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), "Frosty the Snowman" (1969), "A Garfield Christmas Special" (1987), "A Claymation Christmas Celebration" (1987), "The Little Drummer Boy" (1968)

Friday's Top Five (Saturday Edition) - Favorite Christmas Carols

Well, it's that time of year again - the "most wonderful time" as it were. With finals rapidly approaching next week, that means that Christmas time is almost upon us. As such, it's that time when we start hearing those old familiar songs and carols over and over and over again. I heard quite a few of them last night performed by some very talented high school students at CCHS' annual Christmas music concert. It got me thinking... what are some of my favorite Christmas carols? (For the purposes of this list, I'm opting to choose more traditional carols that truly capture the meaning of the season. This is not to say I don't enjoy the novelty carol - quite untrue, in fact. But traditional carols are traditional for a reason - they're timeless.)

5. "What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)"
What makes a beautiful Christmas song? Start with some beautiful music... and 'Greensleeves,' a traditional British folk song about unrequited love, certainly does the trick. Whether played on piano, violin, saxophone... whatever, the song is more widely known as an instrumental piece these days. The Christmas overtones were added by William Chatterton Dix in 1865, making this song a gorgeous holiday classic that has and will continue to stand the test of time. I'm a big fan of the Sarah McLachlan version from her Christmas album 'Wintersong,' released a couple of years back.

4. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
Another fantastic song. This one has got a lot of meaning - the lyrics speak of the ransom of a "captive Israel" and speaks of the nation in exile, desperately in need of both Savior and Messiah. While the composition of the song seems haunting and dreary, the words evoke a note of hope amid suffering. A powerful tune that has been synonymous with the Advent season since its writing. Beautiful. Sufjan Stevens does a good version of this song - worth checking out.

3. "The Ukranian Bell Carol" (a.k.a. "The Carol of the Bells")
Probably the newest of the songs on this list, this song was first performed in 1916 as a New Year's anthem and, ironically enough, was meant to be sung a capella. The irony, of course, is the fact that the most popular versions of this song today are instrumental (most notably performed by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra). Having heard this song performed both by instrumentalists and a capella by a choir (like Straight No Chaser from IU), I'm not sure which version I enjoy more... but I do know that this is assuredly one of my favorite carols!

2. "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"
This is a great song that remains a favorite of mine. Speaking again of the need for a Savior, this song definitely possesses the 'peace' elements of the Christmas season - Christ has come to save mankind and, as such, there is no longer any need to fear, worry, or fret. Magnificent. Of all the fabulous versions of this song out there, I love either the version the Trans-Siberian Orchestra does before "Carol of the Bells" (link above) or the version the Barenaked Ladies recorded with Sarah McLachlan (which includes a version of "We Three Kings" - icing on the cake!). It's fun and poignant all at the same time.

1. "O Holy Night"
Easily my favorite Christmas carol of all time! The powerful crescendos, the moving lyrics, and the swell within everyone in the place when the choir encourages all to "fall on your knees" at the awe and majesty of the miracle of Christ's coming. While solo versions of this song can be exquisite (like those from Josh Groban or the incomparable Luciano Pavarotti), for my money, nothing beats a good choral arrangement of this piece (which are apparently hard to find on YouTube).

Honorable Mentions: "We Three Kings," "Angels We Have Heard On High," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "Little Drummer Boy"

So... what are some of your favorite Christmas carols?

Friday's Top Five (Saturday Edition) - Comic Book Movies

As crazy as life's been lately, it's been difficult for me to update with any amount of regularity. Unfortunately, this is likely going to get worse with Christmas right around the corner and J-Term and the musical happening almost immediately after that. Still, now seems as good a time as any to talk about a subject near and dear to my heart - comic book movies. With the almost electric buzz surrounding the upcoming Watchmen film, there's been a lot of talk as to what the best comic book movies are/have been. So, here's the list of my top five.

5. Superman II (1980)

While 1978's Superman: The Movie let Hollywood know that superheroes could legitimately be done on the silver screen (by making us all believe a man could fly), it was the sequel that really perfected the series. Expanding the Superman mythos by including a trio of Kryptonian killing machines as well as the genius of Hackman's Lex Luthor, Superman II answers the question, "What if the world had no Superman?" Better than the original and far better than its three predecessors (and, yes, I'm including 2006's 'should-have-been-a-relaunch' Superman Returns), Superman II is the beacon of the Superman series.

4. X2: X-Men United (2003)
Yet another sequel that surpassed the original (which seems to be a trend on this list), X2 took everything that was good about the first X-Men film and made it bigger! From the opening sequence involving Nightcrawler 'porting through the White House to the first appearance of Colossus to Wolverine going berserker... X2 has it all. Of course it helps that Nightcrawler - one of my favorite mutants - finally got time on the big screen. X2 also did what the first film couldn't do in terms of story - it fleshed out the characters even more and created some truly unforgettable moments. It's a shame that Brett Ratner had to come along and ruin the whole franchise...

3. Batman Begins (2005)
After the horrid Joel Schumacher renditions from the late 1990's, Batman needed a Hollywood makeover... so thank heaven for Christopher Nolan, critically-acclaimed director of Memento and Insomnia, who gave the Batman franchise the shot-in-the-arm it desperately needed. Defying convention, Nolan concentrated on the origins of the Caped Crusader only putting Christian Bale (in my mind, the best Batman to date) in costume for little over a half an hour. He also opted to focus on some lesser-known Bat-villains like the Scarecrow and R'as al Ghul rather than bigger names like the Joker or the Penguin. All these risks paid off in full as Batman Begins reminded moviegoers of just how awesome the Dark Knight really is.

2. Iron Man (2008)
Marvel has had a lot of hits on their hands ever since the first X-Men movie in 2000, but none have been quite as well-done as this year's summer smash, Iron Man. The elements of story, direction, effects, characterization, and score fit together so well. Robert Downey, Jr. owned the film as the charismatic billionaire industrialist Tony Stark. Jeff Bridges was villainous perfection as Obadiah Stane (a.k.a. the Iron Monger) while Gwenyth Paltrow lit up the screen as the sweet Pepper Potts. The biggest weak point of the film was Terrance Howard's far-t00-subdued performance as James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, making me happy to see Don Cheadle stepping into the role for the sequel. With the Nick Fury cameo leading to an Avengers movie and the fact that this is Marvel's first film as their own independent studio, I would say that Iron Man is Marvel's greatest achievement to date.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)
If Superman: The Movie proved that Hollywood could do a superhero film well, then The Dark Knight proved that a superhero film could be an Oscar-caliber event. Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, and the rest of the cast of Batman Begins returned to pit the titular Dark Knight against his greatest foe: the Joker, masterfully played by Heath Ledger. I'll admit, I was as skeptical as anyone when I heard Ledger was going to play the Joker... but, like so many other comic fans and moviegoers, I was blown away by the caliber of his performance. Ledger was a runaway freight train, bowling over every other character in the film and giving audiences a new vision of horror and villainy. Now, with The Dark Knight being re-released in theaters to remind the Academy of Ledger's performance, it seems legit that some Oscar attention might finally be paid to a superhero movie... and, in my mind, it's long overdue!

Honorable Mentions: Spider-Man 2 (2004), Sin City (2005), X-Men (2000), 300 (2006), Spider-Man (2002), Superman: The Movie (1978)

So... what are some of your favorite comic book movies?

Friday's Top Five - Best Movie Casts

Sorry to have gone so long without an update. Life's been pretty hectic as of late. Now... on with the list!

In my mind, there's little that can make a good movie even better than a fantastic ensemble. Some movies are lucky to have one or two good-to-great actors in order to bolster sales and increase viewership, but there is not like a plurality of those kinds of actors to make it an instant classic! Here are some of my favorite ensemble casts:

5. L.A. Confidential (1997)
Starring Academy Award winners like Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, and Kim Basinger (in the role that won her that Oscar), nominees like James Cromwell, David Strathairn, and Danny DeVito, and Satellite Award nominee Guy Pearce, L.A. Confidential is a story about love, loss, and betrayal in a town where such words are more commonplace than shamed actors. Each actor in the film is simply spectacular, particularly Crowe and Pearce, who play two sides of the same coin as the only honest cops in a crooked department. Easily one of the better casts assembled in recent years, it's amazing they lost the SAG 'Best Ensemble' to *shudder* The Full Monty.

4. A Few Good Men (1992)
In a cast led by three-time Oscar nominee Tom Cruise (in that cocky role he was born to play), three-time Oscar winner Jack Nicholson, and two-time Golden Globe nominee Demi Moore, A Few Good Men (directed by Oscar nominee Rob Reiner) also stars the ubiquitous Kevin Bacon, the amazing Kiefer Sutherland, the hilarious Kevin Pollack, and the incomparable J.T. Walsh along with cameos by Christopher Guest, Noah Wyle, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. Based on the Aaron Sorkin play, the story has it all - intruigue, murder, suspense, humor, and sharp banter and dialogue... all delivered by a truly capable and worthy cast. Though often one-dimensional, Cruise holds his own against Nicholson (no easy feat) and Sutherland lights up the screen, giving off a raw dislikability that few others can master.

3. The Usual Suspects (1995)
A film that, for me, became an immediate classic (particularly because of its amazing ending), The Usual Suspects has one of the greatest casts I've even seen. Think about it. Gabriel Byrne. Kevin Spacey. Chazz Palminteri. Benicio del Toro. Pete Postlethwaite. Kevin Pollack. Heck, even Stephen Baldwin turns in a decent performance (one of his only, that I've seen). The ensemble here performed so seemlessly and so brilliantly that there could be no doubt in anyone's mind that these men were all hardened criminals who would stab you in the face at a moment's notice. A brilliant ensemble cast!

2. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Based on a David Mamet play (which, in retrospect, should have made my list of favorite plays a couple weeks ago), this film stars Oscar winners Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Jack Lemmon, and Alan Arkin and nominees Ed Harris and Alec Baldwin, and Cannes Best Actor Jonathan Pryce... and they work together beautifully! Jack Lemmon called this cast the best ensemble he'd ever worked with. From a Hollywood legend of Lemmon's caliber, that's high praise indeed! If you don't like language, you won't like GGR, but if you can handle it, this movie is gripping, human, and brilliantly-acted!

1. Heat (1995)
One of the greatest ensembles I've ever seen. It's incredibly historic as well, being the first movie in which the legendary actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro actually appeared onscreen together. Not only does this movie feature these two cinematic giants, but it also features Val Kilmer (The Saint), Jon Voight (Midnight Cowboy, Deliverance), Tom Sizemore (Black Hawk Down), Diane Venora (Romeo + Juliet), Amy Brenneman (TV's "Judging Amy"), Ashley Judd (Kiss the Girls), Myketli Williamson (Forrest Gump), Wes Studi (Last of the Mohicans), Ted Levine (Silence of the Lambs, TV's "Monk"), Dennis Haysbert (TV's "24" and the All State commercials), Natalie Portman (V for Vendetta, Closer), Danny Trejo (Desperado, Con Air), William Fitchner (The Longest Yard, TV's "Prison Break"), Hank Azaria (Run Fatboy Run, TV's "The Simpsons"), Tone Loc (singer of "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina"), and even a young Jeremy Piven (TV's "Entourage")! With a cast like this, it's no wonder that Heat - directed by Michael Mann (Academy Award nominated director of Last of the Mohicans, The Insider, Ali, and Collateral) - ranks as one of my all-time favorite action movies and my all-time favorite ensemble film cast!

Honorable mentions: Hamlet (1996), Best in Show (2000), Pulp Fiction (1994), Reservoir Dogs (1992), A Time to Kill (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998)

So, what are some of your favorite movie ensembles?

Friday's Top Five - Plays

Well, it's that time of year again - fall play season! This year, I'm directing my first show at CCHS which has me very excited, but I know it'll be a lot of work! With that in mind, I've put together a list of my top five favorite shows! Enjoy!

5. "You Can't Take It With You" by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
One of the funniest ensemble shows you can find is "You Can't Take It With You". A large enough cast to accommodate even the largest of theatre programs, this show has big heart and even bigger laughs. I was first introduced to this show in the fall of 2003 when we did it up at Olivet. I played Boris Kolenkhov, the Russian ballet teacher, and had a great deal of fun with everyone in the cast. Sure, it's a bit preachy and moralistic... but, written at the height of the Great Depression, how could it afford not to be?
The great story of an eccentric family with a young daughter who's madly in love with the son of a wealthy, uptight businessman, "You Can't Take It With You" follows the Sycamore family through their daughter Alice's courtship with an insane cast of characters like something out of sheer insanity! A family with so many varied interests - ballet, playwrighting, xylophoning, masks, fireworks, candies, printing, painting, snakes, and well, too many other things to name - can all become lost in the shuffle at times, but the play remains humorous, despite some obvious dating of the events and happenings.

4. "The Boys Next Door" by Tom Griffin
When I tell them I've played a mentally retarded man, most people always seem to wonder how I did it without offending people. But, played with honesty (thanks, Prof. Cohagan!), the part of Norman Bulansky became heartfelt and sincere. In fact, this play has more heart than any I've ever seen and, after performing it at ONU in the fall of 2004, it became an immediate favorite. Not many people know of it outside of theatre people, but I always feel I have a connection with those few individuals. Like we've stumbled on something great that the rest of the world is happily oblivious of. Check this show out, if you get the opportunity.
Entering the world of four mentally retarded men, "The Boys Next Door" is humorous in its honesty of their portrayal. Centering on their burnt-out social worker, Jack, "Boys" takes us into the lives of Arnold (an OCD man with a penchant for the dramatic), Norman (a loveable mentally retarded man who loves donuts and his girlfriend Sheila), Lucien (a severely retarded black man who can't read, but loves Spider-Man), and Barry (a marginal schizophrenic who pretends to be a golf pro). Taking the audience to unbelievably high feel-good moments to tear-inducing sadness and back to raucous laughter seems all at once natural and cathartic. Easily, one of the best shows I've ever done!

3. "The Curious Savage" by John Patrick
The only show I've ever done twice, "The Curious Savage" stands apart as one of the funniest shows I've ever done (and also as one of the most fun). My first trip was in the spring of '03 at Olivet where I played a violin-playing statistician-turned-mental patient. The second was in the summer of '05 when I played the overbearing senator whose step-mother had been locked in an institution. Both times, I had such unbelievable fun that when the time came to choose my first show to direct at CCHS, I couldn't think of a better show to put on.
Tracing the life of an eccentric elderly woman who has been committed to an institution by her stepchildren after the death of her husband, "The Curious Savage" draws a fine line between those whom society deems 'insane' and 'dangerous' and society itself. The real trick, however, is that it does so with a charm and wit that is seldom seen in the theatre anymore. The characters it portrays are well-rounded, funny, and, probably most importantly, honest. I find myself relating to the "wicked" stepchildren, while at the same time loving the "guests" for their charm and sincerity.

2. "12 Angry Men" by Reginald Rose
Though I've never done the play, I've been a fan of Rose's "12 Angry Men" for quite a long time. When given the opportunity to see the Broadway touring company last spring, I leapt at the chance and was surely not disappointed. Rose creates a fantastic sense of drama that continues to be heightened throughout the show as these men compete with the heat and with each other. The show deals with the nature of truth and the power of a single dissenting voice. This is a show I would love to either be in or direct some day... though I'm not sure if either is a real likelihood at this point, unfortunately.
The story of a jury trying a murder case, Reginald Rose creates tension, animosity, and drama... and shoves it all into a cramped jury room. As the verdicts of 'guilty' resound around the room, only Juror #8 has the audacity to offer a plea of 'not guilty'. From there, the action begins as he slowly convinces every man in the jury room over to his point of view. As powerful as it is uncomfortable, "12 Angry Men" stands as a true triumph of theatre.

1. "Waiting for Godot" by Samuel Beckett
This one falls amongst the most classic stories in theatre. Certainly one of the most popular of the 'absurdist' style (though probably not falling into that grouping itself), Beckett painted "Godot" around two imbecilic 'heroes' who have become theatrical legends. Vladmir and Estragon (or Didi and Gogo, respectively) are constantly waiting for the titular Godot but never seen to be able to remember exactly where they are or why. Playing with the philosophies of existensialism, "Godot" is often intentionally contradictory, leaving the audience as confused as the main characters. Fun additions are the bombastic Pozzo and the ironically-named Lucky, who torment Didi and Gogo (though not maliciously).
I first read this show in college, but saw it performed in the spring of 2007 at Olivet, directed by my good friend Matt McMahan. Expertly performed with perfect humor and appropriate amounts of despair, I was quite impressed with the production. I quickly found my own copy of the script and read it once every couple of years or so. This is the play that opened me up to the world of Beckett, so I'm incredibly thankful for that as well.

Honorable mentions: "Death of a Salesman" (Miller), "The Bald Soprano" (Ionesco), "A Doll's House" (Ibsen), "Tartuffe" (Moliere), "War to End All Wars" (Gebby), "Boy Kissing" (McMahan)

Note: I didn't include Shakespeare or musicals intentionally. That's another top five for another Friday.

Friday's Top Five - Influential Fiction

Kyle Hopkins (Covenant's new English 12 teacher) and Justin Knapp (Covenant's favorite son) got me thinking a couple weeks ago when I posted my Top Five Influential Books list. Both of them mentioned fiction titles, which struck me as I hadn't included any on my list. Honestly, I found this odd, particularly since fiction is my favorite style of literature (though, it seems, I've been reading much more non-fiction lately - odd). Because of their influence, I give you my Top Five Most Influential Fiction titles:

5. Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
In Cold Blood was some of my first exposure to the writing of Truman Capote since I was forced to read his short story "A Christmas Memory" in middle school. (And, since I didn't like anything I read in middle school - because I was being forced to read it in middle school - it was a futile endeavor.) However, after reading In Cold Blood, I felt inspired to pick up some of Capote's other writings. Breakfast at Tiffany's was the first. I was amazed at Capote's use of prose - its poetic nature and fluid rhythm, almost as if it were a living thing in and of itself. I am consistantly enamored with his writing and think it a shame he didn't stick around to write more.

4. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
I read Brave New World my senior year in high school and absolutely loved it! My reading of it followed my reading of Sir Thomas More's Utopia, Orwell's 1984, and Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death, so I was already fascinated by the concept of dystopia - a society which seems perfect to a degree, but falls apart when the surface is scratched or upset in any way. Huxley BNW defied my prior notions of a dystopia largely because of its characters are unaware of the flaws inherent in the society. In his nightmarish vision, Huxley paints a society so close to the one in which we live, it's almost frightening.

3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
I had heard Gaiman's name mentioned before, namely in comic circles as the author of the series The Sandman. Other than that, I knew nothing of him before I picked up American Gods one summer night during my high school days. One of the first things I noticed was that it was epic in scope. Indeed, the book had a cast in the dozens (with many more unnamed besides) and told a story that stretched across centuries and continents, written in a style that is at once self-aware and unassuming. Gaiman reveals himself a master story-teller in both this and its sequel, the novella The Monarch of the Glen. If you've not read either, do yourself a favor.

2. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Like many, my first exposure to Carroll's wonderful creations was Disney's animated classic Alice in Wonderland. In fact, it wasn't until high school (when I read Carroll selections for speech tournaments) that I discovered the amazing text pieces the film had been based on - Adventures and its sequel, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. They were so different from Disney's version, which made them so compelling. With rich characters and oddly absurdist thinking, it became no wonder to me that Alice (and Carroll) had successfully captured the imaginations of so many for so long.

1. 1984 by George Orwell
No other book has elicited such a response from me. Read not for class but of my own volition (a rare feat for me in high school... at least with regard to a classic piece of literature), I found 1984 haunting, disturbing, and compelling. I connected well with its main character and, as such, was upset by the course of action within the book. A thinly-veiled indictment of Communism, Orwell's masterpiece has stood the test of time as a chilling work regarding both the role of government and free will.

Honorable mentions: Watchmen (Moore & Gibbons), The Reluctant Fundamentalist (Hamid), Waiting for Godot (Beckett), Sophie's World (Gaarder), Cat's Cradle (Vonnegut)

*NOTE* - I have actually not read Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, which I know is a literary heresy. It's on my list of "books to read," but know that it's exclusion on this list is mainly due to that fact.

So... what are some of your favorite fiction titles?

Friday's Top Five - Rock Guitarists

I love rock music, particularly the harder edged stuff of the pop/hair metal genre. Mostly, the stuff you'd find on any classic hits station. I really love to just crank the music and just go - particularly driving to and from work or church. I'm especially fond of any powerful guitar solos. Maybe it's my own jealousy at not being terribly musical, but I love them. So, I decided to compile a list of some of my favorite rock guitarists. These lists probably won't measure up to many you'd find online, but again, not being terribly musical, I just know what I like... and I like these guys.

5. Ace "Space Ace" Frehley (Kiss)
I've really been digging on Kiss lately, particularly their early stuff from before Frehley and drummer Peter Criss left the group. The stuff those four guys did together is unbelievable... and Ace held his own against the theatrics of Simmons. (Of course, when you're shooting fireworks out of your Les Paul, how can you not?) For a taste of what makes Frehley truly great, check out "2000 Man" from the Dynasty album. Classic!

4. Angus Young (AC/DC)
And speaking of showmanship, few guitarists can measure up to AC/DC's Angus Young! Decked out in a complete Catholic schoolboy uniform, Young prances across the stage as he plays, bringing adrenaline and charisma with him. And, while I've heard the guy's as dumb as a post, he can play guitar like few others in the rock world. Just check out the opening licks on "Thunderstruck" if you don't believe me. One of the classic guitar riffs that I always count among my favorite rock guitar intros ever.

3. Jimmy Page (Yardbirds, Led Zepplin)
I've only recently become interested in Zepplin, which many rock fans would undoubtedly consider a heresy. Oh, sure, I'd heard "Stairway to Heaven" before. Who hadn't? And Page's guitar in that song is unparalleled. And then I started getting into more of their stuff and finding out more about the artist known as Jimmy Page. What I learned, I loved! One of my particular favorites would have to be his solo toward the end of "Immigrant Song". Combined with lead singer Robert Plant's captivating vocals, Page's guitar packs a much more solid wallop!

2. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
Say what you will about the politics of the band as a whole - Van Halen's guitar is solid! And while I'm a fan of a lot of Van Halen's stuff - from "Panama" to their cover of Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" - it's not hard to admit that the best part of listening to the band as a whole is listening to Eddie's electrifying guitar. "Eruption" is called one of the greatest rock guitar solos of all time... and for good reason. Eddie wails on that thing and leaves his audiences screaming for more. Truly brilliant at what he does!

1. Jimi Hendrix (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
As if anyone else really could be number one! Hendrix was a brilliant showman and completely revolutionized the way the guitar was perceived by the rock crowd. Most would point to his rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" from Woodstock as the perfect example of this... and I think they'd be right to an extent. However, being the Dylan fan that I am, I think I'd be remiss if I didn't mention his version of "All Along the Watchtower" - a brilliant song made even more so when given that Hendrix touch. Amazing!

Honorable mentions: Slash (Guns N' Roses), Carlos Santana (Santana), Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Eric Clapton (Yardbirds, Cream, solo), Brian May (Queen)

Who are some of your favorite rock guitarists?

Friday's Top Five - Influential Books

Well, school has started and that means that life turns very busy very quickly. A lot of teaching and a lot of grading - and I've only been at it for two days! Boy, am I tuckered! Still, I'm going to try to keep up on this blog, even if it's just to post my regular features - Hot Topic Tuesday (which no one seems to read) and Friday's Top Five (which seems to be the most popular feature so far).

At any rate, since school has started, I wanted to post a list of the five books that have most influenced my thought over the last several years (some might call them the 'formidable' ones). These are books (and thinkers) that have shaped my thought and helped me formulate what I believe. (P.S. ~ I consider the Bible to be a given, so know that it ultimately trumps my #1 choice. Just know.)

5. "Beyond Good and Evil" by Friedrich Nietzsche
Falsely called the "father of nihilism,' Nietzsche has gotten a bad rep - particularly from the Christian community. Why? Because he wrote, "God is dead and we are the ones who've killed him." It mostly gets taken out of context. Nietzsche's statement is actually an indictment of the modern philosophical project, made popular by thinkers like Rene Descartes, who said "I think, therefore I am." In Nietzsche's mind, since human reason has replaced God, we have killed him... and the world now has a deep sense of hopelessness as a result. More than any other thinker, Nietzsche (through this book) has helped me understand the current state of the unsaved world at large.

4. "Desiring God" by John Piper
Piper hit me at a time in my life when I'd been asking a lot of questions, particularly about issues of faith. What did it mean to follow God? What is the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism and can it be the difference between heaven and hell? How the heck are we supposed to be joyful always?! Piper may not have answered all of these questions directly, but his book definitely gave me something to think about at a time when thinking about God was all I could do. For the first time, I began to think for myself and think outside the 'box' I'd constructed for myself. This was one of the first books I can say honestly 'changed my life.'

3. "The Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer
I first read this book as a freshman in high school and found it quite enjoyable. Tozer explained something difficult, like the attributes of God, in a way that I could understand and in short, concise chapters, which I loved. I rediscovered it in college when I opted to read it as a Bible study with a girl I liked at the time. We never ended up reading it together, but I found myself enthralled as I re-read it. When I began teaching last year, this was one of the two books I decided to go through with my freshman for in-class devotions. I don't think they got a lot out of it, but I surely did!

2. "Confessions" by St. Augustine
One of the quintessential Christian classics, I would call "Confessions" the book every Christian should read before they die! Part autobiography, part devotional book, part philosophy/theology text, "Confessions" reads as a book by a man who has much to be thankful for - Augustine shares of all the major turning points in his life, his major sins, his conversion, and his life as a follower of Christ. Definitely a book I would recommend to anyone who asked me for something good to read!

1. "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Next to the Bible itself, no book has shaped my current view of the act of being a Christian better than Bonhoeffer's essential work on what it means to be a "disciple". The whole idea of grace has, for me, been a constant source of wonder and (dare I say it?) amazement over the past three or four years. The difference between cheap and costly grace is staggering... yet I would imagine that most Christians would not even be able to discern the difference. Bonhoeffer pulls no punches and his work stirs and challenges. Definitely one for someone who has a question about what it means to truly serve God.

Honorable mentions: "Mere Christianity" (Lewis), "Fear and Trembling" (Kierkegaard), "Republic" (Plato), "Resident Aliens" (Hauerwas & Willimon), "The Politics of Jesus" (Yoder)

What are some books that have influenced and impacted you?

Friday's Top Five - Graphic Novels and Comics Series

Since I didn't post my Top Five last week, I'll post two this week. I made a list of each of these last week for another teacher, so I've been thinking about them... prompting me to make this list. Enjoy!

I've long been a comic reader, but didn't become a fan until I got into high school. I find myself really drawn to epic storylines with some great artwork more than I am to the 'pop' comic stuff (which is a lot of what the superhero fare is these days - stuff like 'Superman,' 'Batman,' and 'Green Lantern'). That being the case, I tend to like stuff that skews a bit darker.

Below is a list of my top five favorite graphic novels and comics series. What's the difference? Graphic novels are typically limited series - one-shots, miniseries, or maxiseries - combined into one volume, whereas a series is an extended run which is often collected into several graphic novels. Therefore, graphic novels first:

5. "Camelot 3000" by Mike Barr & Brian Bolland
It really doesn't get much better than Arthurian legend... unless you completely update the tale and set it in the year 3000. There is a legend that says when he is most needed, Arthur will rise again and liberate England. The Earth is being attacked by aliens from outer space. England is practically a desolate wasteland. That time is now. The first true 'maxiseries' in comics history, "Camelot 3000" was an epic work that was among the first comics to be considered for 'mature readers' due to its dealing with subjects like sexuality, adultery, and war. A classic when it was first released... and certainly still as relevant today.

4. "Kingdom Come" by Mark Waid & Alex Ross
Taking a cue from an abandoned Alan Moore script called "Twilight of the Superheroes" (how's that for a Nietzschean allusion for you?), Waid and Ross put their heads together to create one of the best stories of the last twenty years. In a world that wants gritty, dark superheroes who aren't afraid to kill, superheroes like Superman and Batman have been passed off as obsolete. When a faithless pastor is called by the Spirit of Vengeance to oversee the end of the world, he watches helplessly as the heroes battle... while the fate of the earth hangs in the balance. Waid's words would only be half of the battle without Ross' photorealistic paints to set them off, however. My first major exposure to comics in general.

3. "The Dark Knight Returns" by Frank Miller
After an era where Batman had been battling farcical aliens on foreign worlds and fighting villains who employed giant typewriters as gimmicks, Frank Miller came along and made the Dark Knight a truly dark knight. Set forty years or so after the DCU of the '80s, "DKR" (as fans affectionately call it) sets an aging Bruce Wayne back into the spotlight to stand up against a Gotham overrun by gang violence and corruption. Miller humanized Batman, putting him at odds with old foes (like Two-Face and the Joker), law enforcement, and the government (including Reagan's lackey, Superman). Along with my #1 pick, this book is one of the two that has truly revitalized the industry.

2. "Maus: A Survivor's Tale" by Art Spiegelman
The true story of Auschwitz survivor Vladek Spiegelman (the author's father), "Maus" tells the story of a Polish Jew from before the beginning of the war up until the time it was written using anthropomorphic animals as characters. The Jews are depicted as mice, Germans as cats, French as frogs, Poles as pigs, Americans as dogs, etc. (For more information into the reasonings behind the animal usage, check the Wikipedia article.) Spiegelman himself struggles as he relates his father's tale, attempting to be simultaneously honest and sympathetic. What comes out of it is one of the great graphic novels of the 20th century.

1. "Watchmen" by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
Few graphic novels have both captured and challenged the imaginations of comic book fans quite like "Watchmen". The high mark on the list of two of comics' greatest legends, "Watchmen" is truly a feat, lending credence to comic books as a medium since its initial publishing in 1985. Twelve issues in length, Moore uses the murder of a masked avenger to uncover a conspiracy that, while deconstructing the superhero genre, deals with the human condition, war, belonging, impotence, and justice. Truly a love letter to the superhero genre (despite criticisms otherwise), Moore and Gibbons set out to answer the question, "What if superheroes really existed?" The answer is at once shocking, epic, humanizing, and meticulous. If you read one graphic novel in your life, make it "Watchmen".

Honorable mentions: "Batman: The Killing Joke" (Moore & Bolland), "From Hell" (Moore & Campbell), "V for Vendetta" (Moore & Lloyd), "300" (Miller), "Batman: The Long Halloween" (Loeb & Sale)

And now... comics series:

5. "Starman" by James Robinson & Tony Harris
Relying heavily on a time known as "The Golden Age of Comics" (i.e. 1930s-1940s), "Starman" tells the story of Jack Knight, the son of one of those 'Golden Age' heroes who reluctantly takes over for his aging father after his brother's death. We see Jack make the journey from reluctant hero to duty-bound man of honor as he battles for the love of his city, his family, and his love. Definitely playing on the 'legacy' aspect of the hero, Robinson incorporates various Starmen through history while never taking for granted that the reader may or may not know who they are. A well-written, well-executed arc from start-to-finish!

4. "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Never mind the abysmal movie of the same name. "League" is one of the rare comic gems (and, coincidentally, Alan Moore's 'swan song' in the comic book field) that completely blows the reader's expectations and previous knowledge away. Characters from throughout literature - from Bram Stoker's Mina Harker to Jack Kerouac's Sal Paradise - are used as members of a team put together to fight the odd things in the world. With villains ranging from Fu Manchu to Big Brother, no literary character or device ever used is safe from Moore's deft touch. The best part? Moore is incredibly true to his source material, making "League" a great intro to someone who loves to read but has never much been into comics.

3. "Swamp Thing" by Alan Moore & Steve Bissette
I highly doubt that when Len Wein and Berni Wrightson created a man who turned into a living plant for a horror comic, they counted on him having such a massive cult following. It's really all thanks to comic book legend Alan Moore who turned him into the first major 'mature readers' ongoing title in comics history. Moore took the campy horror of "Swamp Thing" and made it real as his hero battled nightmare men and famous movie villains (from the wolfman to zombies). Moore also completely revamped the character's origin and, after removing all human traces from him whatsoever, sought to make this monster into a man... and did so to tremendous effect.

2. "Fables" by Bill Willingham & Mark Buckingham
Similar in execution to Moore's "League," imagine a world where all your favorite fairy tale characters had been run out of their enchanted homelands and were exiled in present day New York City. Imagine they had set up a government run by King Cole and Snow White. Imagine the Big Bad Wolf as town sheriff. Imagine Prince Charming as a mysoginistic ladies' man and Rose Red as a rebellious wild child. Imagine the Three Little Pigs as socialistic masterminds and Little Boy Blue as a war hero-turned-clerk. Imagine the Frog Prince as a janitor and a certain bridge troll as a doorman. Imagine all these things and so much more... and you might begin to see why "Fables" is one of the most original, fun, and (dare I say it?) imaginative titles to come along in ages!

1. "Sandman" by Neil Gaiman
What do you get when you combine one of the most imaginative writers working today with a plethora of the best artistic talent the comics industry has to offer? You get "Sandman," largely regarded to be the crowning acheivement of award-winning author Neil Gaiman. "Sandman" tells the story of Dream, one of the Endless - a group of seven siblings who have been around forever... and probably will be, too. From being imprisoned by a sorceror for the better part of a century to making a deal with William Shakespeare, from righting wrongs within his home, The Dreaming, to battling gods and faeries, Dream (a.k.a. Morpheus) is at once aloof and compassionate, alien and human. Another arc that runs from start to finish, Gaiman's "Sandman" is perfectly complete (and another of those runs that people who usually shun comics can appreciate for its sheer artistry).

Honorable mentions: "Bone" (Smith), "Top Ten" (Moore & Ha), "Authority" (Ellis & Hitch, Millar & Quitely), "Planetary" (Ellis & Cassaday), "Animal Man" (Morrison & Truog)

What are some of your favorite graphic novels and comics series?