My Pick for Oscar

I want Up in the Air to win. Mostly because it was filmed locally and has a story line apropos to the times. I have a feeling that Avatar will win because it has all the special effects and the story line leans more to the direction in which those voting for the awards prefer.

I can't truly say which movie has more cinema qualities like acting and story line and the like, as I have not actually gone to a movie in a theater since 500 Days of Summer, which was the first I'd seen since I don't remember when. Hence, I can only base my opinion on the reviews I have heard and read. Maybe that's a poor reason to pick a movie for an Oscar, but it seems that some of the best movies always just miss winning the Oscar. Perhaps Mr. Clooney can remember that when the largest grossing movie of all time takes the little statuette.

The Princess Bride

Rating: Just-for-fun (yeah, I made up a new rating; it's my blog, I don't care)

I found this Princess Bride meme at the blog Drowning Myself Whenever I Can, and I had to post in like manner. Let me just say at the outset: I LOVE The Princess Bride. It is my favorite movie of all time. In fact, people refuse to watch it with me anymore because I can quote pretty much the whole thing. This is why it was difficult to find one quote, so I picked a whole scene because it has a few memorable quotes including Westley's line "Drop--your--sword." What women doesn't swoon there? So here is my favorite, um, scene.

Prince Humperdinck: First things first, to the death.
Westley: No. To the pain.
Prince Humperdinck: I don't think I'm quite familiar with that phrase.
Westley: I'll explain and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon.
Prince Humperdinck: That may be the first time in my life a man has dared insult me.
Westley: It won't be the last. To the pain means the first thing you will lose will be your feet below the ankles. Then your hands at the wrists. Next your nose.
Prince Humperdinck: And then my tongue I suppose, I killed you too quickly the last
time. A mistake I don't mean to duplicate tonight.
Westley: I wasn't finished. The next thing you will lose will be your left eye followed by your right.
Prince Humperdinck: And then my ears, I understand let's get on with it.
Westley: WRONG. Your ears you keep and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, "Dear God! What is that thing?" will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever.
Prince Humperdinck: I think your bluffing.
Westley: It's possible, Pig, I might be bluffing. It's conceivable, you miserable, vomitous mass, that I'm only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. But, then again... perhaps I have the strength after all.
Westley: DROP— YOUR—SWORD. . . Have a seat. Tie him up; make it as tight as you like.
Prince Humperdink: Oww!

You're Joking!

Rating: MS
I must protest! How on earth can Entertainment Weekly create a list of 25 best movie musicals and make two major gaffes? First of all, how can any thinking person place anything related to "South Park" in the top ten, especially when it is placed next to (and higher) than "Meet Me In St. Louis"?
Second of all, how can they completely omit from the list "Hello, Dolly"? What can be greater than Dolly Levi walking down the staircase at the Harmonia Gardens to singing waiters, except when she gets to the bottom and there is a Barbara Streisand/Louis Armstrong duet? Not to mention Michael Crawford as Cornelius Hackl. Please, how can "You killed Kenny!" even compare to that?
Bah.