JC's Top 5 - Movie Villains

In any movie, the hero is only as heroic as his nemesis is evil.  Far too many movies have been ruined because the antagonist was just plain lame.

With that in mind, here is my list of the 5 greatest movie villains of all time!

5. King Edward the Longshanks

 

Movie - Braveheart

Actor - Patrick McGoohan

What makes him the baddest man in England - Two words - Prima Nocta.  King Edward the Longshanks invoked Prima Nocta essentially giving English Lords sexual rights to Scottish women on the night they were married. 

Memorable Quotes:

The trouble with Scotland, is that it's full of Scots.

Bring me Wallace. Alive if possible, dead... just as good.

If we can't get them out, we'll breed them out.

(When Longshanks orders his archers to attack the Scots, one of his officers questions whether they will hit their own men or not) Yes... but we'll hit theirs as well. We have reserves. Attack.

4. Khan Noonien Singh

Movie - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Actor - Ricardo Montalban

What makes him the baddest man in the Alpha Quadrant - In possession of a Starship and the most powerful weapon ever made (Genesis), Khan wasn't satisfied.  He still wanted to ruin Admiral Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise for marooning him on Ceti-Alpha Five.  It was ultimately his undoing, but it's refreshing to see a villain who isn't driven by power, money, lust or greed - but rather by good old fashioned revenge!

Memorable Quotes:

Ah, Kirk, my old friend, do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us revenge is a dish that is best served cold? It is very cold in space.

I've done far worse than kill you, I've hurt you. And I wish to go on hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me, as you left her. Marooned for all eternity, at the center of a dead planet. Buried alive

Surely, I have made my meaning plain. I mean to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I deprived your ship of power, and when I swing around, I mean to deprive you of your life.

3. Hans Gruber

Movie - Die Hard

Actor - Alan Rickman

What makes him the baddest terrorist in L.A. - Don't be fooled by his education and his ridiculously expensive tailored suits, Hans Gruber is cold and calculating.  He won't hesitate to kill you (I'm going to count to three....), thinks fast on his feet (Clay, Bill Clay...), and is absolutely ruthless (Shoot the glass).  When his best laid plans go awry (hello John McClane), he can improvise with the best of them.

Memorable Quotes:

When they touch down, we'll blow the roof, they'll spend a month sifting through rubble, and by the time they figure out what went wrong, we'll be sitting on a beach, earning twenty percent.

I am going to count to 3, there won't be a 4.  Give me the code.

I wanted this to be professional, efficient, adult, cooperative. Not a lot to ask. Alas, your Mr. Takagi did not see it that way... so he won't be joining us for the rest of his life.

2. The Joker

Movie - The Dark Knight

Actor - Heath Ledger

What makes him the baddest man in Gotham - The Joker is just plain crazy.  A self proclaimed agent of chaos, he even had the mob on the run.  The makeup and the scars (do you wanna know how he got em'?) give him an alarming look, but it's his absolute disregard for life that makes him so dangerous.  Plus, The Joker had some of the best lines ever delivered in a motion picture! 

Memorable Quotes:

I believe whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you........stranger.

This city deserves a better class of criminal, and I'm going to give it to them.

Wanna know how I got these scars? My father was... a drinker. And a fiend. And one night he goes off crazier than usual. Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn't like that. Not-one-bit. So - me watching - he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it! Turns to me, and he says, "why so serious?" Comes at me with the knife... "Why so serious?" He sticks the blade in my mouth... "Let's put a smile on that face!" And...Why so serious?

Do you want to know why I use a knife? Guns are too quick. You can't savor all the... little emotions. In... you see, in their last moments, people show you who they really are. So in a way, I know your friends better than you ever did. Would you like to know which of them were cowards?

Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it. You know, I just... do things.

1. Darth Vader

Movie - Star Wars

Actor - David Prowse, James Earl Jones (voice)

What makes him the baddest man in the galaxy - From the very moment we were introduced to Darth Vader aboard the Tantive IV, it was clear he was no ordinary villain.  The very sight of Vader was terrifying - the mask, the breathing, and his sheer size.  And it wasn't just the Rebels that needed to be wary of Vader's temper, his own officers had very little room for error serving the Dark Lord - just ask Captain Needa or Admiral Ozzel.  However the piece de resistance, Vader tried to turn his own son to the dark side in order to further his agenda of taking over the galaxy!

Memorable Quotes:

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of The Force.

The force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet.

Impressive. Most impressive. Obi-Wan has taught you well. You have controlled your fear. Now, release your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me.

Luke, you do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your power. Join me, and I will complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy.

I am altering the deal, pray I don't alter it any further.

You don't know the power of the Dark Side!

No.  *I* am your Father.

JC's Top 5: The Summer 2010 Movies I'm Looking Forward To Most

With the first of the big summer blockbusters being released this weekend, I thought it only appropriate to provide a new JC's Top 5.  So, here in descending order, are the movies I'm most looking forward to seeing this summer season. 

5. The A-Team

Release Date - June 11

This movie looks like a total cheeseball flick, but I loved the TV show when I was a kid, so I'm hoping to love this movie now that I'm an adult.  Lots of guns, big explosions, tons of fights - really, what's not to love??  I'm not so sure Liam Neeson was the right choice to play Hannibal, and I'm more than a little nervous about Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as B.A. Baracus, but as far as I'm concerned, Bradley Cooper as Faceman, and Sharlto Copley as Murdock, was simply pure casting genius!!  I love it when a plan comes together. 

4. Robin Hood

Release Date - May 14

10 years ago Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe teamed up and created what, in my humble opinion, is one of the ten best films of all time - Gladiator!  This month they're back with their take on the classic tale, Robin Hood.  Watching the trailer, it looks like a cross between the aforementioned Gladiator and and another of my favourite movies, Braveheart.  Let's face it, Scott + Crowe = Pure Awesomeness!

3. Iron Man 2

Release Date - May 7

Ahhhh, the first of the big summer blockbusters - and I can't wait!!!  I didn't see the first movie in the theater because quite frankly, I wasn't interested in Iron Man.  Yes, I'd heard how great it was.  But still - I had ZERO interest.  When it was released on DVD, I rented it for my kids - and OH. MY. GOD!  Did this movie kick ass or what?!??  Now, I'm giddy with anticipation waiting for the next chapter in the Iron Man franchise!  Only 2 more sleeps!!

2. Predators

Release Date - July 9

I was a huge fan of the original Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and I know I'm in the minority, but I actually really enjoyed Predator 2 as well.  So when I initially heard that there was going to be a Predators movie, I was 50% excited, and 50% worried that we were going to get the same kind of crap that we saw in AVP and AVP2.  However, the movie is based on a script that Robert Rodriguez (producer) wrote back in 1994 and is considered a direct sequel to the 1987 original, ignoring the events of Predator 2 and the AVP movies.  And I'm pretty sure it's going to get an 'R' rating which is fantastic news!!  From the look of the trailer, and the character featurettes that have been released through the official website, this movie looks like it is going to be freakin' amazing!

1. The Expendables

Release Date - August 13

If action movies could produce an orgasm - this would be the one to do it!  While I have been looking forward to this particular movie for the last year or so (I just about died when they moved the release date from April to August), I have been waiting for a film like this my whole life!  The movie features the who's who of the 80's and 90's action movies - Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Danny Trejo - and oh yeah, a killer cameo scene with Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Really, need I say more??

JC's Top 5: Bon Jovi Songs

Bon Jovi has been my favourite band for years. They've produced 10 studio albums, and 4 compilation/live albums. Their 11th studio album, The Circle, will be released next month and I for one am super excited about it!

It's been a while since I've posted a JC's Top 5 (actually, it's been a while since I've posted anything), so with a new Bon Jovi album coming about, I thought it was only fitting to honour my favourite band.

With well over 100 Bon Jovi songs to choose from, trying to narrow down my 5 favourites was difficult, but, here are the results.

5. Thank You for Loving Me

If the future Mrs. Meanie and I were to choose to have a traditional wedding (which we won't), this song would have to be given serious consideration as our first dance. It's a beautiful song that eloquently captures the essence of how a man feels about his girlfriend/wife. But in typical Bon Jovi fashion, while the song is sweet and sensitive, it still retains an element of masculinity.

Favourite Lyrics:

You pick me up when I fall down
You ring the bell before they count me out
If I was drowning you would part the sea
And risk your life to rescue me

To listen to Thank You for Loving Me click here.

4. Hey God

Hey God was a single from Bon Jovi's sixth studio album These Days. If you're not familiar with the song, it could be because the only place in the world that it was a hit was the UK (those Brits sure have great taste!).

But I love this song because the characters in it are all on the edge of despair and questioning their faith. And really, who among us (that don't question the Big Guy's existence) haven't wondered if God actually notices or cares about our struggles?

Favourite Lyrics:

Hey God I'm just a little man
Got a wife and family
But I almost lost the house, yeah I bought into the dream
We're barely holding on when I'm in way too deep
We're two paychecks away from living out on the streets.

To listen to Hey God click here.

3. Have a Nice Day

Have a Nice Day is one of those songs that just makes you feel good! It's empowering and fun all at the same time. And not surprisingly, it was a top 10 hit around the world!

Favourite Lyrics:

My Daddy lived a lie, that's just the price that he paid
Sacrificed his life, just slaving away
Oh, if there's one thing I hang on to
That gets me through the night
I ain't gonna do what I don't want to
I'm gonna live my life.

To listen to Have a Nice Day click here.

2. Prayer '94

Prayer '94 is a reworked version of Living on a Prayer that was included on Bon Jovi's greatest hits album Cross Road. So why did I pick this song and not the original?? I really feel the slower tempo of this song suits the lyrics and captures the despair (and hope) of Tommy and Gina much better than the original did.

Favourite Lyrics:

Gina dreams of running away - yes she does
When she cries in the night Tommy whispers
Baby it's okay - it's ok, someday.

To listen to Prayer '94 click here.

1. You Give Love a Bad Name

You Give Love a Bad Name is not only my favourite Bon Jovi song, it is the song that got me listening to them in the first place! From the first time my friend Russ played this tune for me I was absolutely hooked. I rushed out and purchased Slippery When Wet and instantly fell in love with the band!

VH1 ranked You Give Love a Bad Name at number 20 on their list of "100 Greatest Rock Songs", and I've ranked it at #1 on my list of Top 5 Bon Jovi Songs. I wonder which the band considers a bigger honour??

Favourite Lyrics:

Paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A school boys dream, you act so shy
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye

To listen to You Give Love a Bad Name click here.

Let me know what you think of my list. Do you agree? Disagree? And what's your favourite Bon Jovi song?

JC's Top 5: Rocky Moments

Growing up, Rocky Balboa was one of my hero's - along with Luke Skywalker, Daniel Larusso, and Captain Kirk! So it was only a matter of time before I dedicated a top 5 list to the Italian Stallion, Rocky Balboa.

This list is all about 'Rocky Moments'. Now, one of the things you'll notice is that Rocky's speech to his son from the movie Rocky Balboa made the list here (one of my top 10 movie scenes of all time), but is not included in this top 5. Why?? Because this blog is about the emotional moments from the Rocky movies. Those moments that either give you goosebumps or bring a tear to your eye. And Perhaps Rocky's speech to his son was one of those moments, but I chose not to include it.

My blog - My rules!

With that in mind, I give you JC's Top 5 Rocky Moments! Enjoy.


5. He's Not a Machine. He's a Man!

In Rocky IV, Rocky Balboa takes on the seemingly unbeatable Russian Captain, Ivan Drago. Early on in the movie, Drago kills Apollo Creed in an exhibition fight and Rocky is looking to avenge the death of his bestest buddy. The fight doesn't start out so well for Rocky as the Russian lays a pretty good beating on him. But as we know from the previous three flicks, Rocky's chin is made of iron! Drago however must have missed Rocky I thru III because he's caught completely off guard when Balboa launches a powerful counter attack! This is one of my favourite scenes of the Rocky (uhhhhh.....sixology??) and you will be cheering FOR SURE!





4. We've Got Everything But The Truth......

They say that behind every good man there is a great woman. Never has that been more evident than in the following clip. After the death of his trainer Mickey, and the revelation that all 10 of his title defences were against handpicked opponents, Rocky is struggling to find his mojo. Unsure of himself, his training with former foe turned friend Apollo Creed has been somewhat lacklustre.

Enter Adrian Balboa.

She gives Rocky an inspirational speech that rivals any that Barack Obama has delivered!

In the following clip, the Rocky III training montage follows the tongue lashing bestowed upon Rocky by Adrian. Enjoy.




3. There's One Thing I Want You To Do For Me.....

The Rocky movies are full of great life lessons. The lesson in this clip is an important one, so ladies - PAY ATTENTION!! We men can accomplish nothing without your support. No matter what we're doing in life - working, playing, loving or living, if we don't have the support of the woman we love the most, we will suck at it. In the back of our head, we will always be thinking, "she doesn't want me to do this", or worse, "she doesn't believe in me"!!

Let me set up the following clip for you. Following their epic bout from the first Rocky, Apollo Creed desperately wants a re-match to prove that the first fight was a fluke (Rocky went the distance). Rocky accepts the challenge from the Champ even though Adrian wants him to retire (for health reasons) and is vehemently against the fight. As a result, his training for the fight is uninspired, and life at home with his pregnant wife is strained. When complications during childbirth result with Adrian slipping into a coma, Rocky begins to evaluate what's important in his life.

This clip picks up with Adrian waking from her coma. Yes, the shivers you'll get watching this are normal.




2. Rocky Balboa Has Shocked The World!!

I could watch this scene over and over and over again! Wait a second, I have watched it over and over again! Ok, here's what you need to know about this clip - Rocky Balboa has no chance of beating Apollo Creed for the title. ZIP. ZERO. NADA.

Having said that......enjoy the clip.




1. Where's Your Hat?

Ok, this may not be a spine chilling or awe inspiring clip. Nor is it a clip that will have you leaping from your couch and cheering. But it is my favourite moment of all six Rocky flicks.

I have long believed that save for Titanic, the first Rocky may be the greatest love story ever told! In this clip, Rocky Balboa has just accomplished what no other fighter in history has managed - he's gone the distance with the Champion Apollo Creed. So how does Rocky celebrate this implausible feat?? By crying out for Adrian! And when she finally arrives in the ring, mere moments before they exchange their first "I love you's", Rocky utters the greatest line from the entire series - "Where's your hat?".

Those three simple words epitomize the Rocky character and I absolutely loved it. Enjoy the fight!



Let me know what your favourite Rocky moment is!

JC's Top 5 - Childhood Memories

Last Saturday, the future Mrs. Meanie and I were travelling to see her brother in Mississauga. Unfortunately an accident forced us off the highway in Burlington and as a result, we travelled through my old stomping grounds. As I was pointing out places that held special meaning to me and recalling childhood memories, an idea came to mind - why not blog about it?? And then a better idea came to mind - why not add an entry to JC's Top 5? Yes, I'm a genius!

And so, I give you JC's Top 5 Childhood Memories!

Enjoy.

5. Pokey Hats and Jumbo Cookies

As a child, there was almost nothing better than finding out we were taking a trip to my Grandmother's house. Nanny, as we call her, was the bestest host ever!! All the little things we didn't get at home were plentiful at Nanny's house - assorted candies, pop, trifles, and apple crisps. She always had something tasty that was ready to be served.

But the best had to be Pokey Hats and Jumbo Cookies!!

Pokey hats are what the Scottish refer to as ice cream cones because if you turned the cone upside down, it resembled a hat! The ice cream was always vanilla, and while it may not sound so exciting, this was always the highlight of our visit!

Jumbo cookies really aren't all that "jumbo", and I'm not even sure why they're called "Jumbo Cookies", but to this day they are the yummiest cookies I have ever tasted! Even now, if I know Nanny has made a batch of Jumbo's, and is bringing them over, I get giddy!

4. Kevin and Wendy

Whether it was sitting up on Christmas Eve to see if we could catch a glimpse of Santa, or driving our parents nuts with our crazy giggle fits during dinner, as a child, some of my best memories are of the times I spent with my cousins Kevin and Wendy.

We would get so excited when our parents told us we were going to our cousins house because it meant loads of fun, fun, fun!! We would swim in their pool, play Intellivision (Astrosmash still rules!), and we would always get to stay up late!

My favourite memories with Kevin and Wendy?

1. 
   
   Street hockey! Kevin and I played a ton of street hockey. He usually played net. I was either Borje Salming or Darryl Sittler, and he'd be Ken Dryden or Vladislav Tretiak. I would like to say that I buried the biscuit on him many times, but the truth is Kevin was unbelievably gifted as an athlete and if I took 10 shots on him, I'd be lucky to score twice.
2. 
   
   Christmas dinners! Any dinner with my cousins was a laugh a minute, but there was something special about Christmas or Thanksgiving. At one particular Christmas Dinner, we were laughing so hard we were shaking. We had sore tummy's and the tears were rolling down our faces. Of course we were told to "be quiet and eat our dinner", but when my sister attempted to eat her buttered dinner roll, she was shaking so hard, that she missed her mouth and wound up buttering her forehead with it! Ok, it seems a lot funnier when you're 10!
3. 
   
   Superbowl XVIII. Raiders vs. Redskins. Kevin and I were the only two in the house rooting for the Raiders (since none of our parents were Redskin fans, I can only assume they had money on the game). After the Raiders took a 14-0 lead, Kevin and I were hootin' and hollering so much that our parents kicked us out of the family room and forced us to watch the rest of the game in the basement. Much to the dismay of our parents, we continued our hooligan ways in the basement. To this day, it is still the greatest football game I have ever seen!

3. Uncle Tim and Chuck E.!

If I could describe my Uncle Tim with one word it would be 'joker'. Yes, he is the undisputed king of practical jokes!

So I will never forget the day he was babysitting my brother and I and he surprised us by taking us to Chuck E. Cheese's.

Chuck E. Cheese's had just opened in our city, and of course when he asked us if we wanted to go, I thought he was joking. In fact, even as we cruised into the parking lot, I still thought he was pulling our leg. It wasn't until we got inside and actually ordered the pizza that I realized that this wasn't another one of his practical jokes - we were really at Chuck E. Cheese's! None of my friends had been there yet and I knew they'd be sooooooo jealous! It was one of the greatest days of my childhood!

Pizza and an arcade - does it get any better?? Thanks Uncle Tim! You done good!

2. A long time ago......

The first time I saw Star Wars in 1977, it was the most magical event of my short little life! Right from the opening crawl and the ensuing space battle above Tatooine, my imagination was instantly transported to a galaxy far far away!

The spaceships were amazing. The alien creatures were weird. The robots (called droids) were cool. The Princess was beautiful. Darth Vader was bad! And a farm boy from a desert planet saved the galaxy! What was not to love for a 5-year old boy??

And so it is, that I still remember the warm summer day, sitting on a grassy hill at the side of the road, a stone's throw from my house, when my Dad, returning from work, pulled up in the car, rolled down the window and shouted, "hey buddy, do you want to go see Star Wars again"? Did he mean now?? Like, NOW, now?!??

Yes, he meant NOW, now.

I was on cloud 9! I couldn't believe I was going to see Darth Vader, Han Solo, Princess Leia and my hero, Luke Skywalker AGAIN!!

Now, you have to understand, the reason this was such a momentous occasion in my childhood is that my Dad almost never did this kind of thing. He was more of a, come-home-from-work-and-fall-asleep-on-the-couch kind of Dad. So it was something very special indeed and I will never ever forget that day!

Fast forward to 2009 and still no movie has matched the excitement or captured my imagination the way Star Wars did.

1. Colouring with my Mommy

My absolute favourite childhood memory happened to be when I was sick. Weird I know - but please, read on......

I was on the couch, watching Sesame Street, sipping a Ginger Ale, eating dry crackers, and colouring in a colouring book. As a little gaffer, I couldn't stay within the lines to save my life!

And then my Mom sat down next to me, grabbed some crayons and started colouring the picture on the left hand side of the page. I was so happy that my Mom was colouring with me. The simple act of my Mom colouring with me had an effect that no medication ever could.

And then the most incredible thing happened. The picture on my Mom's page came to life!! Ok, not literally, but I was amazed at how well my Mom could colour! She didn't colour outside of the lines once!

I still remember how pretty the Princess in the picture looked when my Mom was finished. I remember how blonde (or, yellow) her hair was. I remember her pretty blue dress. And I remember I wanted to save that picture to show my friends. At that moment, I was the proudest 5-year old on the planet! I knew that none of my friend's Mom's could colour like my Mom! My Mom was special, and she was all mine!

Thanks Mom, not only for the best childhood and childhood memory ever, but for your love and support throughout the years!

I will always love you best.

JC's Top 5 - Expanded! 10 Greatest Movie Scenes

Hey everyone! JC here. I know, I know......it's been a long time since I've had a blog entry, and for that, I apologize. I swear, I will be more diligent moving forward.....I may just blog your face off!

So for my first blog in a few months I've decided to tackle one of my favourite subjects - movies!! More specifically, my favourite movie scenes of all time. And since I've made you all wait so long for a blog entry (thank you for your patience - even if I never had it), I'm gonna give you a little something extra - an expanded JC's Top 5. For this entry, and this entry only, it's a Top 10!! Now that's worth the wait isn't it??

There have been so many classic scenes in film over the years, but the following is a list of my favourites. I may have forgotten some, or omitted your favourite scenes, but hey, it's my blog! If you don't like it.....go write your own damn blog!

Ok, Here we go........

10. A Bronx Tale - Now you's can't leave.

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't root for Italians often - you can thank my ex-wife for that! Having said that, in this scene from 'A Bronx Tale', not only am I cheering them on, but by the end of the clip, I almost wish I was Italian!! Almost. Ok, I made that up....but the scene kicks serious ass! Check it out.




9. Bruce Almighty - My tiny little nipples went to France.

I have seen this clip from 'Bruce Almighty' at least 20 times and it still makes my laugh until I cry! It is easily the funniest thing I have ever seen in a movie and there was never any doubt that it would be included in my 10 Greatest Movie Scenes! I know when you watch it you howl with laughter.


To view the clip, click on the picture below (click 'back' in your browser when you are done), or right click on it and choose 'view in another window/tab'.

8. Goodfellas - How am I funny?

How could any list of classic movie scenes not include this scene from Goodfellas?? The phrase "How am I funny?" has become a part of our everyday vernacular thanks to this scene. In my humble opinion, it's Joe Pesci at his absolute finest! Besides that, the look on Ray Liotta's face (the actor portraying Henry Hill) is absolutely priceless!

7. Glengarry Glen Ross - Coffee is for Closers Only

Alec Baldwin may not be much of a Father, but this dude can seriously act. Glengarry Glen Ross is the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of sales movies. And not only is this Alec Baldwin's best performance ever on screen, this is without a doubt one of the greatest scenes of all time!



6. Rocky Balboa - You gotta be willing to take the hits

I know what your thinking. A clip from Rocky 6 is one of the 10 greatest movie scenes of all time?? JC have you lost your mind?!?? Believe me, when I walked out of the theater after seeing this movie I was stunned that I had learned a valuable life lesson from Rocky Balboa. But check out the clip, it's an incredibly powerful scene and one that I guarantee will stay with you for the rest of your life.



5. Taken - A Particular Set of Skills

Unless you've spent the last year living under a rock, you've probably seen this clip before. The genius marketing campaign for the movie Taken promoted this clip as a way to lure people into the theater. Liam Neeson's character listens helplessly via cellular phone as his daughter is kidnapped while on vacation in Paris. What follows is a very stern warning to the kidnappers that sends shivers up my spine every time I hear it. You're going to love it......check it out!



4. Braveheart - Are you ready for a war?

Throughout the years there has been a great deal of inspirational speeches delivered in movies, however the best ever is given by William Wallace (Mel Gibson) to his fellow Scotsmen in the movie Braveheart right before the Battle of Stirling. I've watched this scene at least 50 times, and I still get goosebumps when Wallace delivers the line, "You may take our lives, but you'll never take our freedom"! Enjoy!



3. Jurassic Park - T-Rex Escape!

There has only been one time in my movie-going life where I was literally on the edge of my seat watching a film - the T-Rex escape in Jurassic Park. From the moment the fearsome creature first breaks free from it's paddock in 'Jurassic Park', you know you're about to watch something truly remarkable. The T-Rex's breathtaking debut is nothing short of cinematic brilliance, and thanks to the astonishing special effects it's one of those rare and magical moments that almost never happens in film.

Click the picture below to view the scene. Oh, and I apologize but the clip is in French (not that it matters - it's not the dialogue that makes this scene).



2. The Dark Knight - How about a magic trick?

Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker is hands down the greatest cinematic performance of all time. You could debate this point with me, but unfortunately you'd be wrong. We are introduced to the Joker character earlier in The Dark Knight, however in this particular scene, we get our first glimpse into the maniacal genius that Ledger has brilliantly crafted.

Again, click on the photo to view the clip.



1. The Empire Strikes Back - I am your father

What else could possibly occupy the number one position?? In the year 2009 we all know that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's Father. However in 1980 when Vader declared his paternity in The Empire Strikes Back, it spawned debates on school playgrounds around the world that would rage on for 3 years until the release of Return of the Jedi. Was Vader actually Luke's Father, or was he simply pulling the wool over his eyes?? For the record, I was on the wrong side of that debate.



Let me know what you think of my list. Do you agree? Disagree? What would you have included??

JC

Which of the Top 10 Scenes was your favourite??

JC's Top 5: Survivor Hotties

What is JC's Series of Top 5 you ask?? Well, from time to time I'll be composing lists of my 5 favourites on any given subject (eg. 5 favourite baseball movies, 5 favourite "Rocky" moments etc. - a la High Fidelity). Any time you do a list of 5 favourite anything there will always be somebody who disagrees, and I'm cool with that. Anything posted here on my blog is based on my own opinion - if you don't like it, create your own damn blog!!

Ok, so for the inaugural list, I've decided to go with 2 of the things I love the most - women and Survivor! That's right, the 5 hottest women (again in MY opinion) to appear on everybody's favourite reality show - Survivor! As I am writing this blog season 18 has not yet begun, so I have only included contestants from the first 17 seasons.

Enjoy.

5. Ami Cusack (Vanuatu, Micronesia)

Ami is one of many contestants to appear on the show twice! First in Season 9 (Vanuatu) and then again as one of the "Favourites" in Season 16 (Micronesia: Fans vs. Favourites). Ami probably isn't your atypical "hottie", but there was something about this woman that just screamed sexiness!! Her Season 9 bio page on the official Survivor site says she is in a relationship with Crissy (another former Survivor contestant). However in an interview Ami denied being in a lesbian relationship and said that she has never considered herself gay. Gay or Straight, Ami definitely has the "hubba hubba" factor and takes the number 5 spot on my list!

4. Mary Sartain (Micronesia)

Mary is a wee bit of an oddity on this list in that she only appeared on 2 episodes of Survivor. The other 4 women on this list went deep into the game in one or more season's and therefore received a lot of screen time. Mary was the 1st of the "Fans" to be voted out in "Fans vs. Favourites" and the 2nd castaway overall so we never really got a chance to get to know her. The fact that she is even on this list is a testimony of how "hot" she actually is. I wonder, where on this list she would be if we had been given more time to get to know her. For now, she'll have to settle for number 4.

3. Stephenie LaGrossa (Palau, Guatamala)

Oh Stephanie - my first Survivor crush! As big a fan as I am of the show, I didn't start watching until Season 10, and Stephanie was one of the reasons I kept watching (I've since gone back and watched several of the first 9 seasons on DVD). Unfortunately for Stephanie, in Season 10 she was the last Surviving member of the Ulong tribe which is the only tribe in the 18 Season history of the show to lose every single immunity challenge! By the time she joined the Koror tribe, she was easily picked off. She fared much better in Guatamala where she made it to the final two before finishing runner up to Danni. Any woman that can look as hot as Stephenie after 39 days without a shower definitely deserves a spot on this list!

2. Amanda Kimmel (China, Micronesia)

To say that Micronesia was a special season of Survivor would be an understatement. And not just because it gave us the dumbest decision in the history of Survivor, but rather because 3 of the top 5 hotties on this list appeared all appeared in that season! Amanda played the game of Survivor brilliantly in back-to-back seasons and to this day is the only Survivor to be a runner up on the show twice (she lost Season 15 to Todd and Season 16 to Parvati). Amanda was everything a Survivor should be - a fierce competitor, loyal (in 2 seasons she never voted against her alliance) and hot! I flip flopped with this pick several times as Amanda could easily have finished with the number 1 spot on the list. But alas, she came in at number 2.

1. Jessica "Sugar" Kiper (Gabon)

Sugar has the dubious distinction of being the only person in the history of Survivor to never have had her name written down on the parchment at Tribal Council. Of course, that and $10 will get you about $10. Oh, it also earns her the number one spot on this list!! Although already an established pin-up girl, Sugar is not your traditional hottie. Don't get me wrong, she has everything you'd want in a hottie - a gorgeous smile, nice body, and looks great in a bikini! But she had something else too - a splash of naughty in her attitude!! I for one couldn't resist her! For those of you who may be doubting my choice of Sugar in the number 1 slot - check out the photo gallery on her website!!! Two words to describe this Survivor hottie - Hubba Hubba!