Top 5 Films

Last week's Star Wars related top five got me thinking about my all time favourite films. It's a pretty easy list. The top four have been set in stone for some time. I thought film number five was pretty solid too, but now I come to write about it I'm not so certain.

1. Reservoir Dogs (1992) Dir. Quentin Tarantino
I'm pretty sure I only went to see this film because it had been banned. I remember Barry Norman giving it a glowing review and hinting at all sorts of things that sounded edgy and exciting. I had to drag a mate along as it wasn't the sort of movie my girlfriend was keen to see and, typically, we arrived late, walking in during the opening "Madonna" monologue and wondering what we'd missed. I love the way the film is put together; the sparseness of the main warehouse scenes, the snippets of what had led to that point and the gradual development of the characters involved. It doesn't even disappoint at the finish, a brilliant Mexican stand-off followed by an emotional end for Mr Orange and Mr White.

2. Fargo (1996) Dir. Joel & Ethan Coen
Lured in by the appearance of Steve Buscemi this was, I think, my first Coen Brothers movie. I'm a big fan of all their work now but this remains my favourite. It's got a gentle pace that gives the viewer time to take in the nuances of the film without sacrificing any of the pull from the plot. The scene that sticks in my mind is still Buscemi being fed into the wood chipper by Peter Stormare but many of the film's best moments involve very little happening at all. Brilliant performances from William H. Macy and Frances McDormand and some great cameos from other Coen regulars.

3. Pulp Fiction (1994) Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Tarantino has made a big impression on me. I feel like I've been there from the start and despite a gradual decline in quality he is still one of my favourite directors. "Pulp Fiction" is good enough to stake a claim for the number one spot, as do all of my top four. It has a more complex plot than "Reservoir Dogs" but that doesn't detract from the pace and thrill of the story. It contains more brilliant dialogue from the pen of Mr T and pulls off some neat cinematic tricks along the way as it jumps between time and location to magnificent effect.

4. Star Wars (1977) Dir. George Lucas
"Star Wars" is a film intrinsically linked with my childhood. I have vivid memories of my Mum taking me and my best pal to Kingston to see it. I can remember the Bus journey there, in the silence of contained excitement, and the bus journey home with our noisy discussion of the best bits. I remember talking about the scene where the Jawas capture R2D2, how brilliant light sabres were and the spectacular finale with the X-Wing squadrons. I went on to swap Star Wars bubble gum cards at school (still have the full Blue and Red set!) and got a Star Wars duvet and pillow case for Christmas that year. If you could get something with Star Wars printed on it (pencils, lunch boxes, pants) then I probably had it. I've seen it more times than I can count and still love it now.

5. Blade Runner (1981) Dir. Ridley Scott
For a long time "The Godfather" has taken this final spot and it remains a a fantastic film, it's just not one I've felt the urge to watch again very often. "Blade Runner" appeared some four years after "Star Wars" and offered me a sci-fi film with a bit of gritty reality thrown in. A sign I was growing up and much more appropriate, I thought, for a teenage boy to be into. It was darker and moodier than any sci-fi I'd seen before and revelled in the ambiguity of it's plot.

Top 5 characters from Star Wars

Like most boys (or girls) who were between the age of seven and twelve in 1977, Star Wars is one of my favourite movies. The saga it began is as popular now, thirty years on, as it was in the late seventies. Just the other day my youngest was explaining to me the plot details of the original movie whilst playing Lego Star Wars on the PlayStation. He knows the story as well as me and is as entranced by the characters as I had been in '77.

1. R2D2
I can't really explain why a small robot who communicates in bleeps and clicks made such a big impression on me. However, I'm pretty sure R2 would be high up in most people's top five. Alongside his "straight man" C3P0 he brings a comic lightness to the films yet also plays an important role in the key events. Anthony Daniels is perfectly cast as the counterfoil to R2's bravery and determination. The two robots were based on Tahei and Matashichi the peasant's from Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress and provide an alternative view of the saga which I think is one of the films great strengths.



2. Yoda
It took me a while to love Yoda. Initially he seemed to be just an excuse to use Jim Henson's Muppet appeal. However, If there's one thing the prequels got right it was the chance to see Yoda in his Jedi prime. Seeing the little green guy spinning in mid-air whilst demonstrating sword skills that would impress Errol Flynn is worth the price of admission on its own.




3. Han Solo
Yeah, Luke might have been the main hero but he was always a bit too wet to really admire. Han Solo was the real star of the show, a bit rough around the edges and not always driven by the right motivation, he was the lovable rouge it was impossible to dislike.




4. Darth Vader
One of the greatest ever movie Villains. He features in so many of the standout moments; his arrival on the captured rebel ship, the dogfight for the Death Star, his redemption as he dies saving Luke's life. Vader's appearance makes an impact on the story without the need for dialogue.




5. Boba Fett
A late change in my top 5 thanks to a chance conversation the other day (cheers Gav). Boba Fett doesn't say a great deal but he steals the screen whenever he appears. Star Wars kick started my love of collecting things. Initially it was bubble gum cards but I soon moved on to the little plastic figures. I think Boba Fett was particularly rare and I remember being over the moon when I eventually got one thanks to an offer on the back of a Corn Flakes packet. In Empire and Jedi Fett was cool because he looked battle worn and tough to beat, his subsequent revelation as the original source for all clones has only added to his mystique.



.

Top 5 Sitcoms that didn't make my other top fives

If you read this blog you'll know by know that I'm pretty anal about this sort of thing. Having returned to the sitcom topic I've realised there were a few great shows that I either narrowly ruled out or just plain forgot about. I'm probably pushing my luck but these are five sitcoms I reckon deserve a place in your hearts that I've not already mentioned.

1. The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin (1976-1979)
3 Series created by David Nobbs
Well observed satire of Reggie's struggle to come to terms with his middle class existence and gradually falling apart at the seems. It's back on BBC with Martin Clunes in the lead role but surely it can't match the genius of the original.

2. The New Statesman (1987-1992)
3 Series written by Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran
Wonderfully over the top performance from Rik Mayall as the archetypal vitriolic Tory politician. Like a less subtle version of "Yes Minister".

3. The Brittas Empire (1991-1997)
7 Series created by Richard Fegen & Andrew Norriss
If you could cope with the infuriating and fastidious Gordon Brittas there were some brilliant plot lines in this post "Red Dwarf" vehicle for Chris Barrie. Having come to a natural conclusion at series five the BBC made a mistake in bringing it back for two more runs but that shouldn't take away from it's prime time success.

4. Outnumbered (1997-ongoing)
2 Series written by Andy Hamilton & Guy Jenkin
Semi-improvised vision of 21st century family life that captures perfectly the chaos of working parents attempting to "do the right thing" whilst bringing up children who would test the patience of a saint.

5. I'm Alan Partridge (1997-2002)
2 Series written by Steve Coogan, Armando Iannucci & Peter Baynham
The best thing Steve Coogan has done. Social ineptness, banal conversation and an unhealthy obsession with Lexus cars.

And damn, I still didn't have room to talk about Rising Damp, The Munsters, The Addams Family, The Flintstones or Spaced.

Top 5 Sitcoms of All Time

My favourite sitcoms of all time.

1. Blackadder (1983-1987)
Blackadder rode the crest of the Eighties alternative comedy wave. It took the anarchic style of new young comedians and turned it into something acceptable for mainstream telly. Blackadder also reinvented itself every series. I remember being initially disappointed with the change in emphasis (Blackadder now the cunning lead instead of the abject failure seen in the first series) but with hindsight the second and third series were the show's creative peak. Glorious stuff.

2. Dad's Army (1968-1977)
In my Seventies top five I suggested this might be my all time favourite and it's pretty close. Ask me next week and I might have changed my mind but this is as close to perfect as comedy gets. A show I grew up with and still enjoy today.

3. Father Ted (1995-1998)
The last great sitcom? I recently watched all three series again (thanks to the joy of Virgin Media's TV choice) and it's timeless humour still capable of making me laugh out loud. Highlights include Father Jack's apparent death after drinking a bottle of floor polish, the "Flight into Terror" and the pastiche of "Speed 2" featuring Father Dougal on a milk float.

4. Porridge (1973-1977)
This is all about a consummate performance from Ronnie Barker. A true comedy legend and this is his masterpiece. Some lovely moments from the other characters of course including the wonderfully understated role provided by Richard Beckinsale as Lenny Godber.

5. The Young Ones (1982-1984)
The first sitcom I felt was aimed at me and people of my age. I was fourteen when it started and it changed the way I thought about so many things. Before The Young Ones I was happy to watch the same shows as my Mum & Dad (hence my love of Dads Army and Terry & June). After The Young Ones everything changed.

If you missed them here's the rest of my comedy Top Fives.

Top 5 British Sitcoms of the Seventies

Top 5 British Sitcoms of the Eighties

Top 5 British Sitcoms of the Nineties

Top 5 British Sitcoms of the 21st century (so far)

Top 5 US Sitcoms

.

Top 5 U.S. Sitcoms

I kind of abandoned the sitcom top fives sometime last year and figured it was time I finished them off. This week it's my top five American comedies. Looking down the list sentimentality seems to have won over outright laughs. There are some contenders that might be considered funnier ("Frasier" was a near miss) but these are shows I watched a lot when they first hit the UK. Next week I'll reveal my all time top five sitcoms.

1. Cheers (1982-1993)
11 Series created by James Burrows, Glen Charles & Les Charles
This is the sitcom I would most like to live for real. There's something appealing about a bar "where everybody knows your name", where you can sit in the same spot every night and where the barman pours your drink before you've reached the stool. Norm and Cliff are both great characters, people that anyone who's been a regular at a local pub will recognise, and along with Carla and Coach they formed the heart and soul of the show. Friday nights watching Cheers on Channel Four was something I vividly remember from my pre-pub early teens. Great theme tune too.

2. The Simpsons (1989-present)
20 Series and counting created by Matt Groening
I might like the idea of living at "Cheers" but I'm more than a little concerned I'm turning into Homer. Does it count as a sitcom? I think it has all the components to qualify. Maybe it has an unfair advantage over live action (a massive cast of characters, never having to replace a lead actor and never having to worry about budget) but what really matters is that after twenty years it's still very funny.

3. Taxi (1978-1982)
5 Series created by James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels & David Davis
My memory suggests this was on BBC quite late (for an 11 year old anyway) which might have something to do with the impression it made on me. Judd Hirsch as Alex was the dramatic core of the show. Some quite down beat topics were covered and, whilst being extremely pessimistic about his own life, Alex was usually the guy who saved the day. I've not seen much of his other work but I'm pretty sure Latka was the highpoint of Andy Kaufman's career. Christopher Lloyd was also excellent as 60's drop out Jim Ignatowski. Another good theme tune too.

4. Roseanne (1988-1997)
9 Series created by Matt Williams
White trash TV. A forerunner to a more recent US favourite "My Name Is Earl". Roseanne was loud, domineering and blunt but carried it off with a certain charm. My favourite character is probably Daughter Darlene who came to the fore as the series developed becoming the perfect sarcastic foil for her mother.

5. Bewitched (1964-1972)
8 Series created by Sol Saks
This was re-run at the 5:00 tea time slot when I was still at school. A romantic comedy with a twist. Obviously I had a bit of a thing for the lovely Elizabeth Montgomery. I think it might be the nose thing.
.

Top 5 Incidents with my Glasses at Gigs

OK. Something a little different this week. I hope this might act as a useful reminder to myself that a) I am stupid, b) Beer only serves to make me more stupid and c) I should NEVER wear my glasses down the front at a gig - it's only going to end one way. I guess anyone who knows me has a pretty good idea where this is heading. These are in chronological order.

5. Pendragon at The Marquee (Late 80's)
I was a big fan of prog rock at the time and a regular at The Marquee when it was based in Charing Cross Road. It was a popular venue for the new wave of prog bands that continued to eek out an existence in the shadow of the mini-revival boom that had been stoked by Marillion. For all their faults you could rely on a prog band for a good bit of pogo-ing down the front. It was in the midst of one of these nights that my specs came off. This was the first time it had happened and I remember shouting "No! My Glasses!" as they tumbled in slow motion through the air. Amazingly the people nearest to me heard and we were able to create a small pocket of space in the surrounding chaos. There on the floor, almost lit from above like some holy grail, were my specs. I scooped them up, stuck them in my pocket and we all carried on bouncing. Huzzah!

4. The Georgia Satellites at The Town & Country Club (Early 90's)
I was being careful. I'd learnt my lesson. I stayed further back and avoided the tempting crush down the front. Nodding my head to the music what could go wrong. Then the music got to me and my head nodding became more rigorous. One big flick and - ping! - glasses gone. I turned around to find where they'd fallen and saw the bloke behind me holding them in his hand. Gratefully retrieved my specs and shuffled off quietly to the bar.

3. The Phantoms at The Fighting Cocks, Kingston (12th May 2004)
Watching some mates play what may have been their first proper pub gig I was somehow goaded into making things a bit more lively. Following my last incident I'd purchased one of those spongy straps to keep my specs on at gigs and for a while they did the trick. They did make me look a bit spoddy though, so by the early 2000's I was wearing them less. This was just a pub gig anyway so I wasn't expecting to get involved. In the midst of a jumping frenzy I "sensibly" decided to tuck my glasses out of harms way by placing them just behind one of the front monitors. Perfect. All went well until the gig finished. I'm chatting with a mate and one of the guitarists comes over to say hello. As he stepped off stage there was a crack under his foot and my glasses were no more.

2. Detroit Cobras at ULU (8th September 2004)
Note the date. A mere four months after my previous incident. New specs in place. This was a cracking gig. I was well sozzled by the time the Cobras hit the stage and there was no way I could resist the lure of their blend of classic soul and garage rock. Mid-pogo my glasses did that familiar mid air somersault off my nose and disappeared into the dark below. Unlike the Pendragon gig I couldn't find them. They had completely vanished from view. Enjoying the rest of the gig I had a minor epiphany - realising that if I'm moshing about down the front I didn't actually need to be wearing my specs at all. When the bands had finished I had a root about to see if I could locate my specs and found just one single lens. It was heavily scratched and not much use but I took it home as a reminder that I needed to be more careful in future.

1. Dananananayroyd at Hoxton Bar & Grill (2nd April 2009)
This was a fun evening of beer and hijinks, missed last trains, an overnight stay in that there London and getting trapped in a corridor the following morning. Five years on and it looked like I'd got the message. I took a hard case to most gigs and stuck my specs away if I felt the urge to mosh. The specs I'd got after the Cobras gig were still going. They were a great pair of glasses, the coolest I'd ever owned, but were a little bent out of shape from the normal rigours of family life. That's no excuse though. I should have taken them off before the music took control. We'd had a fair bit to drink and not very much to eat. We'd come up straight from work and I'd forgotten to bring my case. The music started, the crowd went wild, I couldn't resist. Thirty seconds in and - spoing! Another pair of glasses hit the deck and disappear for ever. Another brilliant gig means I'm having too much fun to care. Again one of my mates went in search of my ruined glasses and amazingly found them amongst the dust and detritous at the front of the stage. They weren't in good shape.

This doesn't read too well for me does it. Over twenty five years attending gigs and I still haven't learnt my lesson. I'm over forty now, a father of two, I really should know better. Despite that, these were all great nights out. Maybe I just have to accept that this is inevitable. I also know that I should try contact lenses. I have had a couple of aborted attempts but it's the whole sticking your finger in your eye thing. Its just unnatural.

The shattered remains of my lovely OWP spectacles.

Top 5 Muppets

I can remember the first time I ever saw the Muppets. A boring evening at one of my Uncles was transformed by an explosion of colour and a show that seemed to be "The Good Old Days" for kids. I was clearly drawn to the under-dog characters. The great Gonzo being fired from a cannon and ignored by everyone, Fozzie's jokes failing miserably to raise a laugh and Beaker's realisation of impending doom from the inevitable explosion he was about to face. Maybe I feel some empathy with these characters but then I also found Waldorf and Statler's acerbic wit just as funny. Animal? He's just cool.

1. Gonzo

2. Waldorf and Statler

3. Animal

4. Beaker

5. Fozzie Bear

.

Top 5 things written by Alan Moore

Continuing the comics theme. Alan Moore is a genius and I was lucky enough to be reading comics at a time when he was at his peak. He changed the face of comic book writing and spearheaded the British invasion of Marvel and DC. In the words of Pop Will Eat Itself - "Alan Moore knows the score".

1. Captain Britain (Marvel UK) Art: Alan Davis
In the early 80's Marvel UK, an imprint that had previously existed to reproduce Marvel US stories for the British weekly market, began producing original material. Alan Moore took over writing duties from Dave Thorpe and turned Captain Britain into the first truly great UK based title. Initially published in "Marvel Superheroes" Moore's stories were so popular Marvel created the new "Daredevils" title (which also featured the excellent noir-esque "Night Raven" text stories) to showcase his talents. Illustrated by Alan Davis, Captain Britain was an easy introduction to the world of Moore. On the face of it a standard comic-book superhero story but with the sort of sub-plots and hidden meaning that went deeper and darker than anything I read before.

2. V for Vendetta (Quality Comics) Art: David Lloyd
Dez Skinn was the man responsible for transforming Marvel UK and when he fell out with the Marvel hierarchy he began his own Quality Comics imprint. Warrior was the flagship title and in it's 26 issue lifespan it became home for the best and most original UK comic creations. Originally published in black and white with art by Dave Lloyd, V offered a dystopian view of Britain under the rule of a fascist party with echoes of Nazi Germany and Orwell's "1984". Warrior ceased publication before the story had finished and DC eventually republished and completed the story in colour for the US market.

3. Watchmen (DC Comics) Art: Dave Gibbons
Following his successful run on "Swamp Thing" Moore was given the chance to produce his own limited series. "Watchmen" was the moment when comics really broke into the mainstream. A story told from more than one viewpoint with a non-linear plot that redefined what comics could do. An alternative history of the United States where superheroes had existed since the 40's and were now considered part of the establishment.

4. The Ballad of Halo Jones (Fleetway) Art: Ian Gibson
My memories are kind of hazy now but I'm pretty sure my earliest contact with Moore was through 2000AD. "Future Shocks" and "Time Twisters" were one-off stories, a sort of sci-fi "Tales of the Unexpected". These were followed by "D.R. and Quinch" the time travelling miscreants who brought a touch of humour to "the Galaxy's greatest comic". Halo Jones was a more serious story chronicling the female lead's journey from teenage runaway to interstellar soldier. A radically different tale from anything else published in 2000AD, or anywhere else at the time.

5. Marvelman (Quality Comics) Art: Garry Leach/Alan Davis
Another "Warrior" story. Moore took a character, originally created by Mick Anglo in 1954, that had not been seen since the early 60's and transformed him into a contemporary hero. Initially unaware of his superhero past he struggles to overcome chronic migraines and dreams of his previous life. He eventually rediscovers his power and embarks on a search for the truth behind his loss of memory and the people responsible.

Crikey. That reads like a potted history of early 80's comics. Sorry, I'll try to be wittier and more concise next week.

Top 5 Movies based on comics

I'm getting needlessly excited about the release of the Watchmen movie. Most of the superhero films I saw as a kid were major disappointments. The technology wasn't capable of coping with the most basic of powers, the plot lines and acting were rarely good enough to compensate. Hollywood also concentrated most of it's early financial backing on DC characters and I was a Marvel fan. Nowadays, in an echo of the golden age of comics, Marvel characters are claiming the limelight.

1. Sin City (2005) dir: Frank Miller/Robert Rodriguez
A visually stunning movie that perfectly captures the tone and feel of Frank Miller's original comic. Tarantino and Rodriguez know how to film pulp fiction and the addition of creator Frank Miller as a director also paid dividends. I don't think it's possible to create a closer version of the original material as they achieved with Sin City.

2. Iron Man (2008) dir: Jon Favreau
It doesn't get bogged down in having to explain what the comic was all about yet manages to capture all the important elements of the story. Iron Man was never my favourite Marvel title and that might have let me enjoy the film without spotting all the irritating mistakes. Not that I think they made any. Robert Downey Jr is the perfect Tony Stark and the plot manages to explain his transformation into Iron Man without slowing the pace of the film. Favreau is already lined up to direct a sequel but what I'm really excited about is The Avengers movie which is expected to follow it.

3. Spider-man (2002) dir: Sam Raimi
I think this was the film that showed Hollywood it was possible to create a "comic book" movie that was a good film and not just a cash in. My memory had this out before X-men but it seems I'm wrong about that. Raimi gets everything right including the casting of Tobey Maguire as the awkward and fallible Peter Parker. Spider-man 2 maintains the quality and possibly benefits from not having to deal with the origin story but for me the original edges it.

4. X-men (2000) dir: Bryan Singer
It's not perfect but Singer gets more things right than he gets wrong. Possibly higher placed than it would be if I didn't love the original X-Men comics so much. Wolverine is a fantastic character but he's dominated the sequels to the detriment of the rest of the cast. This film gets the balance just about right and benefits from focusing on a smaller group of superheroes.

5. Batman Returns (1992) dir: Tim Burton
My favourite Batman film. Burton gave the studio what they wanted with "Batman" (1989) then got to make the film he wanted with this film. Keaton isn't perfect as Bruce Wayne but Danny DeVito's Penguin more than made up for that. I considered "The Dark Knight" in this spot but (and this might be a symptom of getting old) felt it a lacked some subtlety in it's story telling. Too many guns and explosions which didn't really evoke the feel of the original Frank Miller story.

.

Top 5 Mr Men

Roger Hargreaves stumbled across the perfect formula for children's bed time reading. They're quick to read, easy to follow and colourful to look at. They're timeless too. I had them read to me as a kid and now read them to my children who enjoy them as much as I did. If I ever become a grandad I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the process happen again. A mention also for Arthur Lowe who narrated the TV series. His was the perfect voice for the style of story and the voice I hear in my head (and occasionally try to emulate) when reading the stories out loud.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.