Top Ten Movies of All-Time

Okay, so after recently seeing the quirky independent movie FILM GEEK (which is recommended for people like me who would take the time to make random "Top Ten" lists of things), I decided to compile my latest, ever-changing TOP TEN MOVIES OF ALL-TIME list. To be honest, the top five remains pretty consistent and the bottom five will sometimes morph depending on what I've seen of late. But for those of you out there having Ken withdrawals and for the curious or just plain bored, here is my TOP TEN MOVIES OF ALL-TIME as of September 2006. Factors for inclusion include my appreciation for the film, its quotability factor, and the chances of me stopping and watching it from any point while surfing channels on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Read and discuss ...

1. HALLOWEEN (1978) – Starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence. Directed by John Carpenter. In terms of uncompromising style and suspense, there are few films that match it even to this day. Sadly, it also influenced far too many “slasher” imitations that never were able to capture the same lightning in a bottle. Favorite Quote: "It's Halloween, everyone's entitled to one good scare."

2. DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993) – Starring Jason London and Matthew McConaughey. Directed by Richard Linklater. For me, this “day in the life” portrait of high schoolers in 1976 is spot-on and seems eerily familiar to my own life. Favorite Quote: "That's what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age."

3. THE BLUES BROTHERS (1980) – Starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. Directed by John Landis. I still find it hard to believe that Belushi was either drunk, stoned or both during the filming of this legendary classic. Every scene sparkles with originality and humor and it remains one of the most quotable movies among friends. Favorite Quote: "What kind of music do you have here at Bob's Country Bunker? Oh, we've got both kinds: country and western!"

4. THE GODFATHER (1972) – Starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Granted, there are arguably “better” gangster films (GOODFELLAS and THE GODFATHER, PART II), but this remains the stepping off point and set the standard for all films that followed. Favorite Quote: "Never let anyone outside the family know what you're thinking."

5. PSYCHO (1960) – Starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Indeed, Hitchcock made superior films to this “low budget quickie” (NOTORIOUS and VERTIGO, to name just two), but Psycho remains his late-career masterpiece just for the sheer audacity of its infamous shower scene. Favorite Quote: "Why she's as harmless as one of these stuffed birds!"

6. SCARFACE (1983) – Starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. Directed by Brian De Palma. Even though it was directed by modern master of suspense Brian De Palma and written by the anti-establishment Oliver Stone, this is really a comedy masquerading as a gangster film. Pacino’s performance makes me laugh every time I see it. Favorite Quote: "In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women."

7. JAWS (1975) – Starring Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss. Directed by Steven Spielberg. This was one of the first movies I can remember seeing more than once in a movie theater and I’ve been obsessed with movies ever since. And it still proves that “less is more” when it comes to thrilling audiences. Favorite Quote: "We're going to need a bigger boat."

8. CASABLANCA (1942) – Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Directed by Michael Curtiz. This remains one of the few romantic movies that guys can readily latch onto without feeling guilty. It’s probably because it’s smartly written, stars two of the silver screen’s greatest icons, and is as accessible today as it was over 60 years ago. Favorite Quote: "Major Strasser has been shot. Round up the usual suspects."

9. TOUCH OF EVIL (1958) – Starring Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh. Directed by Orson Welles. While CITIZEN KANE is undoubtedly Welles’ masterpiece and a cinematic gem, I personally prefer this no-holds-barred film noir tale which is every bit KANE’s equal in terms of direction, dialogue and cinematography. That Welles was able to make this film within the studio system after essentially being written off also makes it the greater achievement. Favorite Quote: "He was some kind of a man. What does it matter what you say about people?"

10. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) – Starring Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle. Directed by Mel Brooks. There isn’t one film I can think of that is equal parts loving homage and wholly original comedy. And the movie’s quotable factor is right off the scale. Favorite Quote: "What knockers! Oh, thank you, doctor."

Meet Spenser

I know it's been a LONG time since my last post, but after vacation we got sidetracked with end-of-summer projects ... and ... getting this cute little guy settled in our home. Meet SPENSER STEVEN SOUZA, the latest addition to our household. He's a Peek-A-Poo (or Peke-A-Poo), which is a cross between a Pekingese and a poodle. Margie and I have been talking about maybe getting a dog for some time and we finally surrendered to this adorable little guy when we saw him at a local pet shop. So far he's been a lot of fun ... although the whole puppy training process is a bit unnerving. For the most past, he's done well. My wife picked the name "Spenser" after first seeing him and I, naturally, latched onto it as a longtime fan of Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels. Of course, I think Margie was thinking more of Doug's stout little friend on THE KING OF QUEENS, but either reference is fine by me. He just looks like a "Spenser" ("Spence" for short) to us. Can't wait until he's fully housebroken, though ...