Hippies and terrorists are the same thing

30. Apocalypse Now (1979) - One of those movies that, through parody, tribute, and clips, it feels like I've seen, but never sat down to watch all the way through. Now that I have I'm torn. It was a damn good movie, one that you should definitely see in your life if you're a movie fan, but I can't see watching repeatedly. I'll go Four Stars instead of five for that.

28. All About Eve (1950) - I Fell asleep the first time I watched this–a combination of a long morning & drugs–and was so upset for missing chunks I simply had to watch it again. Old Hollywood (from when they could still make movies about themselves without being accused of egocentrism) with old Hollywood dialogue and pacing.

Ths movie makes me want to watch more Bette Davis movies and hope they're all Five Star like this'n.

27. High Noon (1952) - Well, that confirms that, westerns and I do not mix. I have never been more bored than trying to watch this. Yes, I'm aware it's an allegory for the HUAC & McCarthyism and stuff. Yes, I read Wikipedia, but I still don't care.

26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) - I first saw this not that long ago when I realized I had not seen it. It's hailed as a classic, and with good reason. I went in expecting hokey, and got it. But I also went in expecting some pretty nice drama and got that. There's no choice but to give it Five Stars, if only for the awesome filibuster scene.

25. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) - I love this movie, despite its flaws. Mostly I think I love the book, which watching the movie always makes me want to watch. The book just has so much more in it. The movie, though, does a good job of excising the stuff in a way that it's not missed by anyone who didn't read first. Five Stars.

24. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - The first movie I ever saw. And of course I will only watch the original guns not walkie talkies version. For years and years and years I still cried when E.T. died. I actually find it annoying to think of the movie as a Christ allegory, but facts is facts. This movie will be Five Stars in my book until the day I die all old and dessicated.

New Yearsery

Disclaimer: New Years Eve is not, nor has it ever been, important to me. When you have a tendency to see midnight roll in at a regular basis it's not all that special. And I'm not a drinker, so I won't be draining a bottle of champagne to celebrate my calendar becoming obsolete. Plus, the decade starts next year anyway, so screw that noise.

As I begin this it's something like four hours until my (central) time zone hits 12 and it's officially 2010. Sadly we haven't been anywhere, let alone are we gearing up to go back.

It seems to be the done-thing to either reflect on where you were 10 years ago or make a list of resolutions or both. Unfortunately I have no interest in either of those, since I'd rather not think about where I was 10 years ago and don't really believe in resolutions. Another done-thing appears to be to speculate on where you're going and where you intend to be in the next 10 years. Also mostly meh on my part. My immediate plans are well known, and trying to look a full 10 years into the future just gives me a headache. But for reasons not even known to me I do feel like marking this occasion, so I think I'm going to decide on some projects worth doing in the next year. This is all spur of the moment, so we'll see how many I decide are stupid in the morning.

52 weeks in a year, so I intend to read 52 non-fiction books. Fiction can be too easy, but I don't intend to cut fiction out of my diet.

I'm nearly done with my 100 movies, which I started in September and will probably wrap at the end of January. That's five-ish months. 52 movies would be too easy, 365 too many, so decided to halve it and attempt to watch & short review 183 movies. That's a rounded up half. A movie every two days is easy. I don't really have a theme this time, and I'm certainly not doing all theater-new movies, so I have to come up with something.

12 months. I believe I shall rip off Beatle's Week from everyone's favourite Muppet. Instead of the Beatles, whom I love, though I'm going to pick a different artist to vary it up some. I'm leaning towards making it Smashing Pumpkin's Year but there are strong arguments for They Might Be Giant's Year, (early) Metallica Year, Tom Waits Year, or even, because it will drive–the fiancée completely in-sane–Marilyn Manson Year. I've got a bit of January to flip coins, though, so no worries about making that decision before the clock hits 23:59 tonight.

I would like to do something 365 times, but I have no clue what it is. Just because it's 365 doesn't mean it has to be done daily does it? If I can come up with something by mid-January I'll be on it.

I can't really think of any more numbers that go into a year, so I'll leave it with those.

I give myself 4 months before I've shed all but one of these anyway. Confident!