My girly post of the year

Not that I think it's a bad thing, since this is about a romantic drama, and not one of those tear jerker chick flicks that I've never seen. Anyways, last night after work I finally got around to watching Pride & Prejudice (which I downloaded), and quickly had my face kicked in with awesomeness. Not since Sense & Sensibility have I seen a romantic drama this awesome. Heck, I'd say it's better than S&S since it's not as slow (as far as I can remember). An amazing love story that drew me in from the start with it's great acting, writing, beautiful landscapes and music (classical piano OWNS me!). I heartily recommend it to everyone I know, even though I know none of my guy friends will care and the girls (the few I know) will want to see it regardless. The second it comes out I expect everyone to watch it whether they have to buy it, rent it or borrow the copy I'll be buying. Oh, and a few more thoughts about the movie.

1. Kiera Knightley finally proves that she can act. None of that boring acting from Pirates of the Caribbean.

2. An amazing love story that had me all giddy by the time it was over. Granted it was 3:30 in the morning so that might have had something to do with the giddiness. Anyways, all the twists and turns had me frozen in my seat and I even laid in bed for awhile afterwords thinking about the story, characters and the events that took place.

3. Judi Dench is the ugliest and meanest old woman actress ever, but she does a good job at it.

(note: My love for this should counter my hate for the Star Wars prequels)

Doug's look back at the best stuff of 2005

Well, I figured I've planned on doing this post for the last month or so, so here it is. Nobody is even reading my blog or commenting that I know of (I'm guessing because they've been busy with family and friends over the holidays) so I'll continue to take a break from blogging until things pick up again. I just wanted to get this done before we got too far into the new year. And speaking of the new year, I might also start work on a "look ahead at my most anticipated stuff of 2006" post. Anyways, I hope everyone enjoys this post.

My favorite movies of the year: (Note that I haven't seen a few yet. Like Capote, Broken Flowers, etc. Also I'm rating stuff based on entertainment, not content and stuff, so some of these might have content that offends certain people)

1. Cinderella Man
2. The Aviator
3. Serenity
4. King Kong
5. The Machinist
6. Batman Begins
7. Hotel Rwanda
8. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
9. Walk the Line
10.The Life Aquatic

honorable mention: Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire, March of the Penguins, Million Dollar Baby, Red Eye, Kung Fu Hustle, Ray

My favorite Animated films of the year:

1. Wallace & Gromit in Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Probably my fav movie of the year period)
2. Howl's Moving Castle
3. The Corpse Bride

honorable mention: Grave of the Fireflies, Porco Rosso (These didn't come out last year so I couldn't include them)

Most disappointing movies of the year:

1. War of the Worlds
2. Star Wars Episode III
3. The Island

My favorite books of the year:

1. Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince
2. Every Man, God's Man
3. Knife of Dreams (Book 11 of the Wheel of Time)
4. A Voice in the Wind (I think that's the name)
5. I forget what it was, but I know I read it and enjoyed it

My favorite games of the year:

1. God of War
2. Resident Evil 4
3. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
4. Guitar Hero
5. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
6. Psychonauts
7. Mario Kart DS
8. Shadow of the Colossus
9. Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
10.Sonic Rush

honorable mention: Radiant Silvergun and Valkyrie Profile (neither came out in 2005)

My favorite artists/cds of the year:

Matthew Good and Sloan's greatest hit albums
Radiohead's OK Computer and The Bends albums
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

My review scores for every movie I saw in 2005 (only including movies that were released in theatre or on DVD)

Serenity - 9
My Date with Drew - 7
King Kong - 8
Shaun of the Dead - 7
Primer - 7
The Final Cut - 5
National Treasure - 5
House of Flying Daggers - 7
The Life Aquatic - 8
In Good Company - 7
The Chronicles of Narnia - 8
Cinderella Man - 9
March of the Penguins - 8
Walk the Line - 8
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - 7
Wallace & Gromit in Curse of the Were-Rabbit - 10
The Corpse Bride - 8
Million Dollar Baby - 7 (the ending takes away from its score)
Batman Begins - 8
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - 7
Fantastic Four - 6
The Island - 6 (first half - 9/10, second half - 5/10)
Red Eye - 7
Star Wars Episode III - 6
War of the Worlds - 5
Madagascar - 3
Howl's Moving Castle - 9
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - 6
The Longest Yard - 6
Kung Fu Hustle - 7
The Aviator - 9
The Machinist - 8
Ray - 7
Hotel Rwanda - 8
Fun With Dick & Jane - 6

Still waiting to see the following 2005 movies: Everything is Illuminated, Broken Flowers, Elizabethtown, Pride & Prejudice, Good Night and Good Luck, Capote, The Constant Gardener, Syriana, Oldboy, Pride, An Unfinished Life, The White Countess, Cache (Hidden)