Movie Review Thor 2011

There's a lot of substance to Norse mythology, with its rich layers of gods, their worlds and their feats. There are also a lot of characters and storylines surrounding the Marvel Thor comic books. As if this undertaking wasn't enough, the Thor movie chooses to include two thorough plot lines in vastly different locales, a love story, a redemption arc and a monarchist coup subplot, an army of giant arctic beasts, and a nearly unstoppable alien juggernaut. And that doesn't even count the extensive focus on bridging the connections between the random superheroes that will eventually form the Avengers.
Surprisingly it isn't until about the halfway point that the pacing begins to feel rushed, but from there the two-hour time frame barely contains the ambition of this origin film. Capable actors and special effects-laden action sequences keep the cheesiness mostly at bay, but poorly designed villains and bouts of hokey dialogue work to hinder their noble efforts. If you don't find phrases like "frost giants" and "rainbow bridges" distasteful, you'll likely forgive many of the film's sillier moments and indulge in the excitement of the otherworldly adventure.
Moments before King Odin's (Anthony Hopkins) son Thor (Chris Hemsworth) can be named successor to the throne, the realm of Asgard is infiltrated by their age-old nemeses, the Frost Giants. Infuriated by their presence and intent on exposing those responsible for the breach, Thor disobeys Odin's orders and travels to the icy realm of Jotunheim with his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his band of fearless warriors, including Volstagg (Ray Stevenson), Hogun (Tadanobu Asano), Fandral (Joshua Dallas), and Sif (Jaimie Alexander). Their imprudent actions cause the Frost Giants to declare war against Asgard and Odin banishes Thor to Earth where he is stripped of his god-like powers. Once there, the warrior encounters the fiercely determined astrophysicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) as well as a new battle to fight - first against government agency S.H.I.E.L.D. and then with a soulless destroyer whose sole mission is to ensure he never returns home.
The creators of Thor are misguidedly under the impression that everyone watching this new superhero movie is a fan not only of the comics, but also the other Marvel entities, as well as the previous Marvel movies. This is one piece of the puzzle that leads to The Avengers theatrical adaptation (stay through the end credits for another tidbit), and plenty of the running time is spent building references and alluding to characters from that universe. As a result, the Thor story is monumentally compacted. A lifeless romance is mustered with little enthusiasm or believability, a villain is created to fulfill a generic role of betrayal and jealousy, a history of feuding with gargantuans, epic battles and heroic warriors is erected, along with hasty explanations of portals, bridges, travelling between realms, and multiple, fantastic worlds. Even customs, rituals, ceremonies and costumes are briefly fleshed out, many of which must be taken for granted. Magic, wormholes, super powers, flight, a mighty hammer, a gatekeeper and more are presented but never detailed, forcing the viewer to simply accept the foreign kingdoms and inhabitants of Asgard and Jotunheim.
It's unique to have a superhero based on mythology, giving Thor a Clash of the Titans feel but with inventive alien influences including the various worlds of Star Wars. The Destroyer oversteps the boundaries of borrowing, however, blatantly stealing Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still. Humor is blended in acceptably, lightening the mood, even though the tone is never completely serious, and the computer graphics are equally fairish, generally sticking to the idea that if the cuts are rapid and much of the action is shrouded in darkness, no one will scrutinize the quality.
The Stranger in a Strange Land motif is fun, but Thor ultimately suffers from having too many separate ideas, including an Avengers subplot, several villains, a legion of heroes, a love interest, and decades of comic book backstory crammed into a single film. It's as if The Avengers movie is so important and universally anticipated that each comic book member needs to have their own feature-length theatrical flick rushed to theaters before the entire world gathers together for the slated 2012 release - a project that is likely to suffer from a similar problem: too many characters and not enough time.

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So Far Good Movies 2011

There is a huge craze of English movies all around the world. People are very fond of watching English movies. There are many people who go to cinemas to watch films. Some people watch movies in their homes either with their friends or alone. These are also a source of information. You can also learn or improve your English by watching English films.
There are many good English films which are released in 2011. There are also many good videos which are coming up. Many films have very exciting titles. Some of the good English films of 2011 are listed below:
• The Green Hornet: It is a very good action-comedy film which was released on 14th of January, 2011 in North America. The name of the director of this movie is Michel Gondry. The stars of this movie are Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz and Seth Rogen.
• Just Go with It: This is a romantic-comedy film which was released on 11th of February, 2011. The director of this movie is Dennis Dugan. The stars of this movie are Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler.
• No Strings Attached: It is a romantic-comedy film, released on 21st of January, 2011. The director of this movie is Ivan Reitman. The stars of this movie are Ashton Kutcher, Cary Elwes, Kevin Kline and Natalie Portman.
• The Roommate: It is a thriller film released on 4th February, 2011. The director of this movie is Christian E. Christiansen. The stars of this movie are Aly Michalka, Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly and Cam Gigandet.
• Hall Pass: It is a comedy film released on 14th June, 2011. The directors of this movie are Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly. The stars of this movie are Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer, Christiana Applegate and Owen Wilson.
• The Adjustment Bureau: It is a romantic thriller movie. The director of this movie is George Nolfi. The stars of this movie are Emily Blunt, Phyllis MacBryde, Matt Damon and Florence Kastriner.
• Take Me Home Tonight: It is a good movie released on 4th March, 2011. The director of this movie is Michael Dowse. The stars of this movie are Anna Faris, Teresa Palmer, Dan Fogler and Topher Grace.
• Red Riding Hood: It is a horror film. The director of this movie is Catherine Hardwicke. The stars of this movie are Lukas Haas, Billy Burke, Amanda Seyfried and Gary Oldman.
All of the above movies are very good movies of 2011. You will definitely enjoy while watching these movies.

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The History of The Doctor

'Doctor Who' is a popular science fiction television programme which started back in 1962. It was actually originally intended to be an educational series, but turned out to be a brilliant series where a time traveller known as 'The Doctor' travels through time and space in the Tardis, a 'police-box'. William Hartnell played the very first Doctor and his first adventure was going back 100,000 years to help cavemen discover fire. This first show was of course in black and white but it was the title sequence and theme tune which made it an instant success. Today the theme tune and title sequences is still based on the original but obviously enhanced with the latest audio and visual technology.
In 1965 some difficulties were arising. Firstly the then producer Verity Lambert was replaced by John Wiles. This became a problem when he didn't get on with William Hartnell. Also William was having trouble remembering his lines because of the early stages of the arteriosclerosis. Discussions led to the actor agreeing it would be best if he left. This gave the writers a headache, how to write him out of the show and replace him with another doctor? This became very significant as the story editor Gerry Davis came up with an ingenious way of writing the actor out. Because the character was an alien being, they decided that he would have the power to change his body when it became worn out or seriously injured, they called this process 'renewal' but it later went on to become known as 'regeneration'. This clever story line gave the show longevity and paved the way for many more actors to play 'The Doctor'.
Patrick Troughton played the second doctor through till the 1970's when Joe Pertwee took over. The role was then given to Tom Baker who went on to become the most popular and best remembered. The 80's saw Peter Davison becoming the doctor number 5 followed by Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy. Other Doctors followed but it wasn't until 2000s when the show came back with a vengeance. Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant were very popular. These actors, with the help of new writers and modern day television special effects, managed grab the attention of many new fans.
The beauty of the show is that it's now become a classic and iconic. It's a simple TV show which has captured the hearts of many fans of all ages. Families watch the show and parents tell their children of when they grew up and who their favourite doctor was. Everyone has their favourite Doctor, mine was Tom Baker as a child, but more recently I liked David Tennant.
There are not many shows that can be enjoyed and shared between the generations, but Doctor Who does this. If you're a fan you can buy like books, research and watch the spins offs, buy toys, DVDs, and they even did a film the odd film. You can get everything from stationary to lamp shade covers. If you really want to get in close on the action you can now even go on a tour of some of the studios and locations of some of the most famous episodes.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies

When it comes to action heroes there is no one better than Arnie. He fills the screen with his huge stature and perfectly placed one-liners. He has played characters ranging from a Kindergarten teacher to a US Marshall. You cannot mistake his voice when you hear it and more that one comedian or actor has imitated his Austrian accent. He is a movie icon because he never dies in any of his films but he does plenty of killing.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies always have him flexing his muscles because that's his trademark. In The Terminator Arnold plays the cyborg sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor. When the movie was first introduced there was something odd about it because you're not sure how it's going to play out. After a while you get the sense that Sarah Conner is no match for The Terminator. The roll that Arnold plays was spot on because it called for a robotic type person,and Arnie with his huge presence on screen and his famous line "I'll be back," made the movie so memorable that it's been selected by the Library of Congress for preservation. It's his most famous role and the one he best known for.
Movie Reviews for Predator were mixed because the beginning starts out normal but then it weaves into a science fiction/action flick. Arnold plays a former special forces Green Beret and with his huge muscles no one would argue the role wasn't made for him. He leads a band of gun toting friends into the jungle where they get picked off one by one by the unseen Predator. His size is dwarfed to the person who played the Predator but that didn't stop Arnie from trapping the alien and then finding out he's going to be blown up if he doesn't run away fast enough. He spends most of his time hunting the hunter.
Even though he's got an onscreen presence as a guy who has got it all under control Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies can be mazes in which you are finding your way out with him. Total Recall was a science fiction movie that had you guessing all the way down the line. It takes place on Mars and Earth and you're not sure if Arnold's character, Douglas Quaid, is the good guy or the bad one. Actually he's both, so he gets to play Quaid as the good guy and Hauser as the bad guy. He has some great lines such as "My name is not Quaid!," when in fact it really is.
True Lies was one of the most expensive movies ever made for its time, but when you've got the number one action/comedy star of all time it's alright to spend a little bit of money. Harry Tasker is a boring software salesman by day, or so his wife thinks. His action scenes are courtesy of James Cameron who directed him in The Terminator I and II. Arnie gets to be more of an actor when he isn't doing action scenes, but when he is, watch out! He has a famous one liner at the end of his battle with a terrorist, "You're fired".
Overall, you can't go wrong with Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies because he gets to play all the roles we would love to. He has comedic delivery, and when funny lines come from such a huge character you can't help but laugh at him. How often do you get to do that? Movie Reviews might not like every film he puts out but you can always count on a Hollywood studio to deliver with some action and Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies always make you feel bigger than life.

My name is Sean and I own a video store and a movie resource website. I Love movies and believe in providing good quality information to people. That is why I started my website. For people who love movies, my site has movie reviews. You can search movie quotes, browse trivia and so much more. You can even write your won review and share it with others. Please check it out and share it with others.

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Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba (full name Jessica Marie Alba), an American actress was born on 28th of April, 1981, has become known for her roles in the hit TV series Dark Angel and feature films Sin City, Dark, Into the Blue and Fantastic Four.
Jessica Alba was born in Pomona, California into an Air Force family. She has two siblings, both of whom appeared in an episode of Dark Angel. Up until 17 ypours of age Jessica Alba lived with her grand parents. Being a military family, they about quite a bit: Biloxi, Idaho, the states of Mississippi and Texas.
Jessica Alba had an array of health problems during her childhood. Her lungs collapsed twice, she developed pneumonia several times and a cyst in her nose. As a result of these health issues, she was often isolated from kids her age and her friendships suffered. Upon moving to California Jessica's health improved.
Since a very young age, Jessica Alba had a passion for acting. She took acting lessons, and this is where she was discovered by an agent. Her first role was a small one in a film titled Camp Nowhere. Later on she was featured in a number of commercials and some independent films. She also appeared in a comedy series on Nickelodeon. Some of the feature films she appeared in are Idle Hand (a horror flick) and Sin City.
In 2006, Jessica Alba was featured on the cover of Playboy magazine, and in the same issue she was named one of the 25 Sexiest Celebrities. In the same year, she was named Sex Star of the year by Playboy. Also, Jessica was voted number one of Askmen.com's 99 most desirable women.
As far as her personal life is concerned, she dated actor Michael Weatherly her costar in Dark Angel from 2001 to 2003. Afterwords, she was involved with golfer Sergio Garcia. On the set of Fantastic Four, she met Cash Warren the assistant director of the movie.
An interesting fact about Jessica Alba is that she has a strict "no nudity" clause in her contract. This can be attributed to her conservative upbringing.

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Malcolm in the Middle

Malcolm in the Middle is an American comedy television series that was telecasted from January 9, 2000 to May 14, 2006. It is created by Linwood Boomer and produced by Satin City and fox Television Studios. The series has proved so popular and syndicated in 57 countries, as in the United States, it has been syndicated in the day time on FX and at night time on Nick at Nite, and also on network ten in Australia. It ended after seven seasons and 151 episodes, and received critical acclaim and won a Peabody Award, Seven Emmy Awards, and one Grammy and was nominated for seven Golden Globes.
The whole series consists of seven characters, parents with their five children, named as Lois and Hal played by Jane Kaczmarek and Bryan Cranston respectively, Frankie Muniz in the role of Malcolm, Francis played by Christopher Masterson, Rees by Justin Berfield, Dewey by Erik Per Sullivan, and Jamie by Lukas Rodriguez. Malcolm plays a lead role in the series as a more or less normal boy who tests at genius level. Malcolm enjoys being smart but hates to take classes for gifted children, the reason of it is that they are teased by other students as Krelboynes. Malcolm's mother, Lois appears so haughty, strict, and a complete embarrassment to her five sons and devoted husband. Although she has a great sense of morality, and has a tendency to impose it on others. Malcolm's father Hal is more relaxed in his parenting than Lois, mainly because he is afraid to make wrong choices. Francis is the oldest of the brothers and the biggest troublemaker. During the first five seasons Francis is a regular character on the show. Francis was exiled to a military academy after he was caught in bed with his girlfriend. Reese is the second oldest of the children, and appears to be the least intelligent and most destructive, although at the same times, he shows even more intelligence than Malcolm when devising fiendish plans, and also has scored high on tests, when he set his mind to it. Dewey is portrayed as being quieter and more inclined to the arts than his brothers. Jamie, the fifth son of Lois, was added to the show in season four. He is the youngest of the family for almost all of the series.
The shows early seasons centered on Malcolm dealing with the rigors of being a teenager and lasting the odd behavior of his life. The characters are gradually explored in more depth in later seasons.

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Torchwood Review

This is a spin off from Doctor Who. Jack was killed off, resuscitated and abandoned sometime in the future but inexplicably we now find him safely back in the present leading 'Torchwood' an organisation which investigates and deals with inexplicable phenomena (like X-Files).
John Barrowman, whose guest appearances on Doctor Who added a fun and humorous element to the show, seems to only be able to truly shine while in the presence of a Doctor. And while his fake American accent is fine in small doses on Doctor Who, in Torchwood the extended use gets very annoying very quickly. Plus his story is mishandled, his missing two years which played an important motivation for his character in the Empty Child are not addressed at all. And the rest of the characters are unlikable and two dimensional at best.
But personally, the most disappointing aspect of the show is its billing as adult-oriented. The throwing in of some swearing and sex doesn't make it adult when the script is simplistic, juvenile and utterly lacking in any of the intelligence, edge or wit needed to raise it to the level of a genuine adult drama, it simply comes across as a kids show suitable for Saturday mornings than anything else.
Now, shows like Battlestar Galactica (the new one) manage to come across as adult through intelligent, layered scripts, which, if the need arises, include sex, violence and the rest, whereas Torchwood seems to have stapled these excesses on.
The other problem with this show is the overwhelming, dreadful music, which is not only awful in its own right but any kind of atmosphere or tension is more often than not blared out by the terrible, dated, cheesy techno.
The only thing that impresses me about the show are the special effects, which are actually decent but on the whole not worth keeping your eyes open for an hour.

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Watchmen Movie Review

"Watchmen" (7 out of 10)
Director: Zack Snyder
Screenplay: David Hayter, Alex Tse, based on the Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore graphic novel
Cast: Ensemble, including Jackie Earl Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Goode, Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup
Time: 2 hrs., 43 min.
Rating: R (strong violence, sexuality, nudity, vulgarity)
Grandly eloquent, gruesomely grisly and breathtakingly spectacular in what it wants to say, but clumsy and amateurish in its wrap-up.
The much anticipated "Watchmen" deserves a lot more artistic accolade than the knee-jerk criticisms are allowing it. It is, quite frankly, the most wildly ambitious comic book expression on the big screen ever, superior to "Dark Knight," "Sin City" and other attempts. Measured in terms of sheer creative input and explosive output, it absolutely had me hypnotized by its total audio-visual force all the way up to an ending that you can easily see is sputtering badly, headed for an unstoppable letdown in intelligence and imagination.
Up until then, the film rarely leaves you in peace. Set in continuous off-tones of deep sepia and and icy blues, its whiplash montage of vigorous images are nowhere arbitrary and everywhere pulsating. Every image is pumped up to max. This is pure comic book artistry supercharged into the demanding designs of the motion picture at uncompromising levels of film mastery. If there's a conventional confrontation, say a hand-to-hand fight or a lethal threat between individuals, it ratchets the energy up way beyond the orthodox, power-injecting every small aspect of the scene with hardball augmentation of blood, mutilation and bodily destruction.
And yes, as you might expect, this is the ultimate test of the admonition that in artistic expression, one must give the devil his due.
This is not the first time in film history that hideous violence has had to be painfully conceded as having its own energy to be judged in creative terms. The magnificence of the grotesque.
Yet you start to wonder, after almost an hour of this, if the film actually expects to roll continuously on its boosters and after-burners. Shouldn't we have some serious characters and emotional involvements?
Well, . . . it does seem to want to recognize that, but, let's see what's involved.
Based on the comic book, "Watchmen," often reputed among many critics and Hollywood insiders to be unfilmable, is certainly a grandly offbeat, bizarrely styled fantasy sci-fi adventure set in an alternate universe in a 1985 America. In this, Richard Nixon has been re-elected for a third term and nuclear war with the Soviet Union is imminent. By law, all superheroes have been outlawed. But a group of them calling themselves the Minutemen is inspired back into action when one of their number, "Comedian" (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), is brutally murdered and those remaining realize their own destruction may be imminent. More to the point, they will find that a far more grandiose and villainous plot is afoot, one involving nuclear destruction.
Their talents? Well, for those newcomer audiences to this ongoing saga, there's the masked Rorschach (Jackie Earl Haley), a sociopath with an ever-changing "Rorschach blot" mask who breaks thugs' fingers, dorky Dan Dreiberg (Patrick Wilson) who's a genius with gadgets, the smug Adrian Veidt (Matthew Goode) who has licensed his identity as Ozymandias, "the smartest man in the world," and seductive Laurie Jupiter (Malin Akerman) who unwillingly inherited her mom's superhero status. She loves Jon Osterman (Billy Crudup), a.k.a Dr. Manhattan. A government experiment had both destroyed him and granted him unimaginable superpowers that made him a weapon for the U.S. military.
It is Rorschach who sees a sinister connection between the murder of The Comedian and a coming apocalypse.
The film, with its often sharply observed cultural and political themes in more than a few cannily written dialogue segments, takes its cues from its bleak and barren comic book origins. It attempts to ground extensive violence into strong character and emotional values soundtrack by cleverly cued songs (Bobby Dylan's "The Times They are A-Changin'," Simon & Garfunkle's "The Sound of Silence," plus Richard Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries"). But in that, it fails. Those attempts come off as terribly ordinary.
The cast is ensemble, that is, not centered on any one. Intellectually, the film thrusts almost satirically, and often effectively, at modern examinations of chaos and order in a context of loony fanaticism and will in the way of The Joker and Batman, even as it pokes generously at the denseness of men, in particular military and presidential authority, in their macho- and ego-driven parodies of power. It has conventional murder mystery elements and various judgments on the subject of heroism.
Indeed, "Watchmen" lays doubt on notions of heroes and villains even as the survival of humanity under the protection of the Watchmen is in itself called into question.
The film draws no world calamity into play that it cannot depict with stratospherically spectacular screen dynamics. Watch Manhattan being consumed by nuclear blasts at the street level, or the incineration alive of a couple standing together in a kiss as their skeletons remain Watch the grandose representations of the planet Mars.
How, you may ask, is the film going to resolve all this? The final interactions are embarrassingly trivial. You may find yourself blanching in chuckles as the empty final statements. But hey, I was glad I saw this movie and do regard it as a landmark production. There really is something missing in your life's artistic experience, however ugly it may project itself to you in this film.

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A Game of Thrones

A Song of Ice and Fire is a high fantasy story written for adults. April 17th, HBO will be launching a TV show based on the series, book 1 - A Game of Thrones - to be more specific. In light of this I thought a book review might be in order. If you are interested in the TV show, you can find out more about it by clicking on the link lower in the article.

This summary does not give the book any justice, but it is meant as a reminder for anyone who has read the book and forgot, so they might prepare for the TV show.

Prologue

The story begins with a prologue, set in a moonlit but cold forest. Three men, brothers of the Night's watch have found a camp of wildlings, seemingly dead. When they look closer, the wildlings are gone, soon to be replaced by unnatural creatures, who soon kill two of the three men.

Chapter 1 - Bran

The book portrays the story in a point-of-view fashion. The title of a chapter means we see the chapter's story as the character in the title sees it.

Bran is a 7-year-old boy who is taken in a company of about 20 men to see his first King's Justice. A man, bound hand and foot is about to be beheaded by Bran's father, Lord Eddard Stark, for desertion. It is the third man from the prologue, half mad from terror. Bran faces this bravely. After they head back to Winterfell, their home, Bran's brother Robb and his bastard brother Jon Snow find a huge dead Direwolf, with 5 wolf pups. Jon convinces their father to let them keep the pups. 5 pups are a sign. He tells theirs father the pups were meant for his 5 trueborn children, 3 boys and 2 girls. He leaves himself out of this count but later finds the sixth pup, driven away from the rest. The sixth pup is an albino and will belong to Jon.

Catelyn

Catelyn is the Lady of Winterfell, wife of Eddard Stark. She find her lord husband in a godswood. She was of a different faith, she prayed indoors. The Starks had older blood. Like the First men, Starks prayed to the nameless old gods. She brings Ned heavy news. Ned used to be a ward of Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, who was like a father to him and Catelyn's sister was married to him. Catelyn brings the news of Jon Arryn's death. In addition. the king of the realm is coming for a visit. The king is a great friend of Ned. Together they usurped the old kind, who was insane.

Daenerys

We find Dany preparing to meet her soon to be husband for the first time. Her brother Visery's has made a deal with certain influential, rich people to basically sell his sister in exchange for an army. Daenerys and Viserys are the last of the Targaryen line, who were dragonkings before Robert Baratheon usurped Aerys. Viserys is a cruel and probably mad with dreams and rage. Dany is a girl of 13.

Eddard

The king arrives to Winterfell, with a host of 300. Robert Baratheon, the king, his wife Cersei Lannister, her brothers, Jaime and Tyrion, the imp and a huge host of followers and guards. We find out the king has changed somewhat since the last time they met, but he still is a great friend of Ned. They visit the tombs so the king can pay his respects to his first love, lady Lyanna, Ned's sister, who would be queen, had she not been murdered before they were married.

Jon

Jon is seated at a separate table from his family. He is a bastard and as such does not belong among his trueborn siblings. He quite enjoys this, since it means he can get drunk for the first time while his siblings have to entertain the queens offspring. He is 14, and looks much more like his father than his trueborn brothers or sisters. His seat also let him feed his wolf, Ghost, while the others had to stay in the kennels. Ghost never made a sound, but dogs always seemed to fear him. Benjen Stark, Ned's brother and a brother of the Night's watch joins him and Jon tells him he would like to join the Night's watch as well. Being a bastard, he had no rights to inherit in Winterfell. Benjen tries to dissuade him and Jon angrily and drunkly stumbles out of the great hall. Outside he meets Tyrion, the queen's dwarf brother. After the initial scare, they come to a good conversation. Tyrion, shorter than Jon, with mismatched eyes, ugly and drunk, gives Jon a lessen about being a bastard and when he opens the doors of the great hall. the light from within makes Tyrion seem as tall as any king.

Catelyn

Catelyn tries to convince her husband to accept the king's offer. The king proposed to Ned that he should become King's hand and to also wed his elder daughter Sansa to prince Joffrey. During this argument, they are interrupted by maester Luwin, who brings a message from Lysa, Catelyn's sister. The message is written in a code language, that only Catelyn knows. The message is a warning, saying Jon Arryn was murdered by the Lannisters, queen Cersei Lannister. In the end they decide Ned should go south to accept the position of King's hand, taking his daughters Sansa and Arya and his son Bran with him. Since Jon would not be welcome in King's Landing or in Winterfell, he would be allowed to take the black and join Night's watch. Robb would stay in Winterfell to learn to be a lord. So would Rickon, who was only 3 years old.

Arya

Arya is a girl of 9 years. the younger sister of Ned Stark. She is not good at the typically womanly deeds. she is much more a tomboy. Of all the Stark children she looks the most like Jon Snow and their lord father. Instead of doing her needlework, she goes to see her wolf, which she named Nymeria, after a hero princess. Sansa, her sister has named her wolf Lady, which seems stupid to Arya. They both meet Jon, who is watching Bran and the princes younger brother Tommen practice their swordplay. On the other side of the field they see prince Joffrey with his guard. After Tommen and Bran are done, Robb is ready to challenge Joffrey, but Joff makes excuses in a way that clearly taunts Robb. He asks to fight with real steel instead of blunt tourney swords. They're not allowed so Joffrey get's to leave, with Robb fuming with fury behind. Arya, having seen the show, reluctantly returns to her hated needlework, where her mother and her septon await her with scolding looks.

Bran

Bran is getting ready to depart for King's Landing. He was very excited to leave, waiting to see the knights from the stories, but now that the day was upon him, he couldn't get himself to say his goodbyes. He hasn't named his wolf yet. He reflects that Rickon's wolf is named Shaggydog, which is stupid and that Robb's is named Gray wind, which was good, because he was very fast. Instead of saying his goodbyes, Bran goes climbing. He was a great climber, much to his mother's dismay. As he climbs on the huge towers, he overhears a discussion about his father. A man and a woman are talking about Ned becoming the Hand. When he tries to go closer, he sees they are both naked. He doesn't really understand it, but a sexual relationship is strongly implied. Hanging above the window he realizes the woman is the queen and at that moment, the woman sees him. The shock of it makes him lose his grip and just at the last moment, the man catches him. It is the queens twin brother Jaime. Bran relaxes for a moment. The man says:"The things I do for love." and let's go. Jon starts falling to the ground, with his wolf howling somewhere deep below.

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5 Movies - Personal Recommendaiton

If you are a regular moviegoer, you may find yourself a bit fed up with the Hollywood formula after a while. After all, it's not the formula but the departure from the formula which turns an ordinary film into something great. The true masters recognize this fact and make their films accordingly. When you are in your home flipping through your satellite TV channels, you will find a number of opportunities if you want something outside of the typical. Here are five films you ought to check out.
1. Rodger Dodger. The cynical, misogynistic point of view gets its day in the sun with this fascinating film starring Campbell Scott and Isabella Rossellini. What happens when a jerk of this magnitude gets the right to mentor a young nephew in New York City? The state of child development hangs in the balance when Scott's character gets to tutor Jesse Eisenberg on the ways of women. Scott's character doesn't escape criticism in this excellent picture playing on IFC in high definition.
2. Glengarry Glen Ross. One look at this literary title will tell you that serious things went into this film. David Mamet's adaptation of his own hit play captures the essence of greed in the 1980's and is a real Death of a Salesman for our times. You might need to talk yourself down after all the cursing and berating involved, but the performances of Ed Harris, Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey and especially Jack Lemmon (who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar) will renew your faith in the acting craft. This film's electricity is often revived on satellite TV networks like HBO.
3. Oldboy. Korean films have never made it to the U.S. on a large scale, but if pictures ke Oldboy keep getting made, that trend will be reversed. One of the boldest pictures ever made, there are haunting revenge sequences followed by the consumption of live squid and double-crossing that will make a film noir fan check the scorecard. Oldboy is a true revelation and should be seen without edits in HD technology.
4. Touch of Evil. Stepping back nearly half a century in time never felt so good as when checking out this Orson Welles classic on satellite TV network Turner Classic Movies. Welles pulled out all the stops: Charlton Heston plays a Mexican, Marlene Dietrich a Gypsy and Welles himself a 300-pound corrupt border cop. There are scenes in this film that might not get by the censors in 2010, but Welles made his picture nonetheless.
5. 2046. Foreign film lovers gushed over Wong Kar-Wai's devastating tale of unrequited love In the Mood for Love. 2046 takes the same concept and tells a much darker side of the story, with Tony Leung's character losing his chivalrous side and part of the action happening in the future. To be enchanted and stimulated intellectually at once is the filmmaker's ultimate goal, and Wong Kar-Wai succeeded yet again with this film. Check it out on IFC.

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The Tale Of The Blind Samurai Zatoichi

In the last couple of years I've become interested in a couple of Japanese related subjects. Zatoichi, "The Blind Samurai", which I accidentally clicked into while watching "Samurai Saturday" on the IFCTV channel is number one. In case you are not up on Zatoichi, he's a chubby, blind, Yakuza who is kinda lovable, but is deadly when it comes to cutting up people with his special sword.
The funny thing about that sword is he holds it upside down. I finally figured out that because he was blind, they wouldn't let him go to the regular Samurai school, so he just stumbled along as best he could and ended up teaching himself. I doubt he even knows he holds it upside down.
There was a guy a couple of years ago who went around in the movies claiming to be Zatoichi, but you could tell right off he was a fake, even before the first arm was cut off because he had blond hair. Zatoichi, with his shaved, monk looking hair was ahead of his time and at no time would he have dyed it blond.
My second interest is Japanese woodblock prints. Once I saw the bright colors of these Japanese style woodblock art and the everyday life of the Japanese people subject matter, I was hooked. It also interested me because those Japanese artists used the same technique, at least to me anyhow, that the old comic book printers used.
I began to read about woodblock prints and looked at a bunch of them on the Internet and in a few of those giant coffee table books that never end up on the coffee table. They are usually used by your spouse mixed in with a stack of other coffee table books to provide a steady base for a lamp. Not long after, I discovered that you could buy these prints on eBay.
Soon, I began to try to buy a print. I was most interested in seeing if I could get a Hiroshige for a good price. Hiroshige was what I would say was the Japanese version of Norman Rockwell. eBay is an excellent place to buy things. I bought a laptop, credit card terminal printer, a Sanada Hiroyuki movie, and a few other items that are now used to stack lamps on.
I almost bought an antique Samurai sword, but luck being with me I was out bid by what I eventually found out to be a shill who was bidding for the company selling the sword. He was trying to bid up the price. As a proper reward, they ended up buying their own fake, Chinese made, Japanese sword because I didn't take the bait. Of course, I didn't know all this at the time, I just didn't want to pay the price that they had bid up to.
Buying stuff on eBay takes a certain predisposition for patience, I've got some of the stuff but on the whole I would have to confess to a general shortfall of it. I made the decision and I decided that I would wade in and buy a Hiroshige woodblock that I had found, I would have gotten it too if I hadn't been outbid - in the last 30 seconds.
Now, I'm neither cynical or overly skeptical, but the fact that this person was able to skin me just a few seconds before the bell hit a sour note with me. I repeated this exercise a couple of times with the end result being I still didn't own a print. I decided that there may be some "black ops" software out there that allows one to better advantage oneself in this, the art of eBay battle.
Okay, I got to it and did a little sniffing around and sure enough, I found the software that would put me on equal footing with these 30 second guys. I did a little better than that though, the one I found would let me hold my bid close to my chest, and with only 3 seconds to go, I was able to raise and it was too late for the other guy. I'm sure he is still trying to figure it all out.
The thing that will kill a new hobby faster than anything, at least that I've been able to dig up, is that no matter how much you argue with yourself that this is the last one you are going to buy of this or that for a while, you always seem to run across another one you really can't pass on.
To prove my point in the clearest way I can think of. just go through Jeff's old posts and add up all the camera stuff he has managed to put in inventory. I'm not saying Jeff is addicted, or anything of that nature, but he sure seems to have a tendency to get more than a few fancy gadgets that he "just happened" to run across on his way to the train station.
I'm satisfied with the prints I have now and don't plan on buying any more in the near future, the chief reason being I don't ever travel by train. I have them framed and mounted on the wall of my office here at home. It's satisfying, looking at them and thinking about the Japan I remember. Of course this was after the Meiji period, but before the eBay period so I expect my memories of Japan don't match the reality of Japan.

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Star Wars Video Games

Star Wars is one of the most successful franchises of all time, and it's no surprise that there are a large amount of video games to choose from. The problem is, how do you know which ones to play? Of course, you could play them all, but that is not really practical considering the fact that there are over 50 different titles spanning various different consoles in the last decade alone. This guide is designed to introduce you to the six best titles from the last ten years. The number six was chosen since it correlates with the six movies in the franchise.
#6: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008) -- Windows, Mac OS, PS3, PS2, Xbox360, Wii
This is a very popular title because of recent marketing campaigns by LucasArts (the creators of the game, and founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas). It is a third-person action game and features the use of state-of-the-art technology. The player assumes the role of Darth Vader's apprentice and must use their Lightsaber and force techniques to defeat enemies throughout the universe.
#5: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (2001) -- Nintendo GameCube
One of the most highly praised Star Wars games and one of the best overall on the GameCube console. This is a flight action game where the player assumes control of various spacecraft to complete the missions throughout the game. The game covers the original trilogy period which consists of Episodes 4-6 so there will be many familiar locations to those who are fans of the films.
#4: Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (2007) -- Windows, PS3, Xbox360, Wii
This game takes a different approach and depicts the Star Wars universe using Lego created characters and locations. It contains great humor and gameplay and is one of the most entertaining Star Wars experiences you can get on any platform. The Complete Saga will take the player from Episode 1 all the way through Episode 6.
#3: Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2005) -- Windows, PS2, Xbox
Battlefront II builds upon its highly successful predecessor, Star Wars Battlefront, with improved gameplay, campaigns, and graphics. Additionally, Battlefront 2 adds new features such as allowing the player to play as Jedi and to take part in space battles. This is a great single player game, but is even more fun with a friend. Whether you choose to play as the Empire or Republic, you'll have a blast.
#2: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 -- The Sith Lords (2003) - Windows, Xbox
Commonly referred to as KOTOR 2, this is one of the most in-depth Star Wars experiences you will find. With a campaign lasting 40+ hours, there is plenty for you to explore and enjoy in this wonderful game. Classified as a third person RPG (role-playing game), the player assumes the role of an exiled Jedi Knight and must complete various quests and objectives to move along with the story. The choices you make will affect the outcome of the story and whether you represent the light side of the force, or give into the dark side.
#1: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) -- Windows, Xbox, Mac OS
Set 4000 years before the events of A New Hope, this took Star Wars and RPG games into a new direction. Using the same mechanics as its sequel KOTOR 2, Knights of the Old Republic slightly edges it out for the Number 1 game based on the greater storyline and the innovation contained within. It has won many awards including Game of the Year, and acted as the foundation for the future of Star Wars games at the time. If you are to only play one Star Wars game, it is highly recommended that you choose Knights of the Old Republic.
If you enjoy these games, be sure to keep an eye out for Star Wars: The Old Republic which is scheduled for a 2011 release. From the creators of Knights of the Old Republic, this new game is a MMORPG (Massively multiplayer online role-playing game) similar to games such as World of Warcraft, but takes place in the Star Wars universe.

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Heart-Breaking and Sad Japanese Dramas

When I just got into Japanese dramas, I found them highly entertaining but each series are just so long! Each episode is usually an hour each, consisting of 23 episodes per season. They are so time consuming I wanted to make sure they were good before I got into them. Well the 3 dramas I've listed below will sure to make you crying like a baby and maybe call up an Ex and tell you how much he/she means to you. Resist the urge! Instead, grab another box of tissue and continue down the list. The series all contain star-crossed lovers, gorgeous lead actresses and actors and some tragic problem that the cruel world just had to place upon them to test the strength of their love.
1. Sekai no Chshin de, Ai o Sakebu (Crying out Love, In the Center of the World)
Adapted from Kyoichi Katayama's Novel and later turned into a movie. This drama started off the careers of 2 prominent teen actors: Yamada Takayuki Ayase Haruka
Synopsis: Matsumoto Sakaturo, presently age 34, is unable to move on with his life. He wakes up with tears in his eyes, unable to shake the ghost of his past. For the last 17 years, his heart has been filled with sorrow and guilt from losing his high school love, and perhaps the love of his life - Hirose Aki. Now visiting his old home town and bombarded with the past memories of their relationship as well as being confronted by his current relationship, Sakaturo must find a way to move on from the tragic part of his life. "I thought I might be using a lifetime's happiness in a moment. I was that happy and she was that beautiful."
2. 1 Litre no Namida (1 Liter of Tears)
Adapted from Aya Kito's diary, published shortly after her death.
Synopsis: about a girl who was diagnosed with Spinocerebellar Degeneration an incurable degenerative disease at 15 just as she was coming of age. She discovers love just as she finds out her time is running out, exploring to the question of what happens when you have only a little time left to experience love.
3. Kamisama mou sukoshi dake (Please God, give me more time)
A tragic love story about a girl Kano Masaki played (Fukada Kyoko) who contracted HIV after selling her body to pay for concert tickets to her idol- famous composer Ishikawa Keigo (Kaneshiro Takeshi). After the concert Masaki chased after Keigo in the rain. After seeing her drenched from head to toe, Keigo offers to let her stay the night at his apartment where they developed a unique relationship.
So there you have it, three dramas guaranteed to have your hearts beating and your eyes watering and lumps forming in your throat. I just have one request - please don't email me afterward yelling at me, asking why I was so mean as to suggest such heart breaking tales. Don't fret! I plan to give you top 3 Japanese Comedies! Guaranteed to have happy endings, so you can see the lighter side of the world!

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Star Trek the Next Generation

Star Trek the next generation Internet TV is just by the name one of the most appealing way to get audiences to the Internet. Star Trek, if not the most popular TV series ever produce, is definitely one of the most successful and its content was so innovative and groundbreaking that attracted the attention of millions of people in different ages and crossing generations. We should also keep in mind the extreme popularity of Star Trek world wide that guaranteed a long success to the series.

Today Star Trek is still extremely popular and the whole concept is a perfect fit for an internet content, as TV introduced the next generation of Star Trek to people that were used up to the moment, to watch the original series and motion pictures on the theater. In the same way, the Internet is now offering the opportunity to watch all of them together, online right in front of your eyes, at the comfort of your computer on star trek the next generation internet TV experience.

This is a simply fantastic thing and anybody can count on interacting with some of their favorite content. Of course Star Trek the next generation Internet can be also a research experience, as people, while they are watching, can actually find more and more information on Star Trek and, on top of that, if they want, they can even buy gadgets and supplies for their collections. This is the beauty of the Internet and Star Trek fits right into it.

The easiest way to watch Star Trek Next-Generation online is with the TVChannels2PC Internet TV software [http://satellitetvoninternet.com/] For a small one time investment you will have access to live sports, full episodes, movies, news, weather and much more. Why pay high monthly fees for satellite or cable?

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Halloween Films - Top 10 Scary Movies of All Time

The 10 Scariest Films of All Time make for a great Halloween affair. It's not just about the screams - plenty of movies can give a cheap thrill. The 10 scariest films of all time are all about establishing a haunting, terrifying atmosphere that will linger in your dreams for years to come. Not for the weak of heart, here are our 10 scariest films of all time.

1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - More realist than many of the movies in this list, The Silence of the Lambs delves into the crime genre with more flair than has been seen since. One of the many films on this list that was originally considered a box office failure, but it's popularity grew exponentially from its pure excellence.
2. The Shining (1980) - If you're a horror fan, and you haven't seen The Shining, see it now. The Shining is better known for the Steven King book, but the movie tackles horror in its own uniquely terrifying way.
3. Alien (1979) - The movie that spawned an entire franchise. Before the Alien vs Predator prequels, Alien was a landmark horror film that stunned both critics and audiences with its sci-fi undertones and terrifying horror scenes. It was a tremendous success in sales, but its popularity has died off after so many sequels.
4. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) - An all-time horror classic, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre is still embedded in popular consciousness. It's 2003 remake failed to capture the same audience, and this remains a landmark film in many ways.
5. Paranormal Activity (2007) - Paranormal Activity is one of the most uniquely horrifying films ever released. The fact that it was produced for such a low budget (less than $200,000 USD) just makes the movie even more impressive. Quiet and brilliantly timed horror.
6. Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - One of the landmark slasher films, Nightmare on Elm Street can be hard to watch. It's scary, yes, but it's also bloody and gory. It has only gained in reputation since it was released.
7. The Exorcist (1973) - One of the most famous horror movies ever, The Exorcist is based in paranormal activity gone very wrong. Science and modern thought pale in comparison to the paranormal in this movie, and even the exorcist is unable to control the evil.
8. Poltergeist (1982) - This movie is so cursed, even the people who starred became effected by it. Poltergeist was a great movie that remains edgy and terrifying to this day, and the sudden deaths of many of its cast members only adds to its mystique.
9. Friday the 13th (1980) - Another classic, the original Friday the 13th was easily the best movie out of its series, and continues to be a landmark movie in pop culture. One of the major reasons why people know better than to go out in the woods by themselves.
10. Nosferatu (1922) - To be honest, many modern movie watchers will have a tough time being scared during this movie. But while Nosferatu wasn't the first horror movie, it set the standard for horror for an entire era of films.

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Analysis of Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai"

Who is the real hero Akira Kurosawa's film, Seven Samurai? Are the seven samurai the real heroes, or the peasants?
Seeing the samurai as the heroes in the film is instantaneously acceptable: the movie itself was entitled after them; they are the strong ones in the film; and they have affected the plot significantly. Yet after watching the film, why does this fledging critic feel that the samurai, the heroes as they are, did not achieve their goal, their destiny? Was this critic looking at the story in a different perspective instead of the proper one?
A common viewer would simply be amazed with the storyline, the actors, and the unique plot structure that have influenced a number of films. Indeed, Seven Samurai has been influential in the developments of the film industry. We see movies like Ocean's Eleven, Gone in 60 Seconds, Dirty Dozen, and the like. It was even made into a Japanese anime with the same plot structure, only longer, entitled Samurai Seven. Truly, the movie can capture any viewer with its superb production and storyline despite being an old film.
Another look at the film is indeed needed, not for entertainment, but for a deeper understanding of what the story is all about. The story is not about the samurai themselves nor the attacking bandits, but the story of the peasant hero Rikichi. Rikichi is a young farmer who has first voiced out on fighting the bandits. Everyone in the village is in despair, ready to yield to the bandits when they arrive, but Rikichi vows not to surrender anymore. He is different from all the peasant farmers in the village. Later, we see that he lends his house to the samurai, and that his biggest secret is his wife's going with the bandits. It is not clear though whether the wife was forced to go with the bandits or she liked it. The only significant part of knowing the whereabouts of his wife is the death of the first samurai. Indeed, the heroes in the film are not the samurai, but the peasant farmer, especially Rikichi. In the end, even the leader of the samurai, Kambei, said that they did not win the fight but the farmers.
In this light, the critic shall look at the film from the viewpoint of the peasants, i.e. Rikichi. Also, since the movie has been criticized as unique and new during its release, the Proppian analysis shall be applied to prove that there is nothing new with the plot structure.
A Proppian Analysis of Seven Samurai
In analysing the film with a Proppian eye, one must remember that the elements of the dramatis personae may not necessarily follow the exact pattern. Sometimes, the elements are even overlapping one another. The only aim therefore is to prove that there exist elements of the stories that Propp has identified. With this in mind, the Proppian analysis follows:
Initial Situation
A village in the mountains has been ransacked before by a group of 30 bandits. In the beginning of the film, we see the bandits talking about ransacking the village again. But when they realized that they have ransacked it before, they decide to return to the village when the barley has been harvested. A villager happens to overhear the conversation of the bandits and reported that to his people.
Absentation
At this point, no one has gone missing (except the wife of Rikichi, but it is not yet the issue). What seems to be absent at this point is the "normal" day of the villagers; seems like their lives have been devastated further by the news that the bandits would come on harvest time. From this point, the lives of the villagers have been different throughout the film.
Interdiction
Then, while the villagers are whining over what will happen when harvest time comes, Rikichi madly cried that they should fight the bandits. His fellow villagers cowardly withdraw from the idea. Manzo says that it is just crazy talk; i.e. fighting the bandits. All the peasant should do is to endure for when they lose, all of them shall be killed. Rikichi then mentioned something that would be significant later in the film, they have killed weak samurai. He said that they are able to kill weak samurai but they are now scared in killing bandits. His anger may be later on implicitly explained, when we find his wife with the bandits.
Violation of Interdiction
The villagers go to the Elder for a wise suggestion on what should be done. The elder himself suggested that they should fight, which makes Rikichi smile. When asked how they shall fight the bandits without the knowledge of battle, he said that they shall hire samurai. He had seen it before, villages that hired samurai did not burn, and were not burnt by bandits.
Villainy and Lack
Now, the lack is identified: hungry samurai who would accept food as payment for defending the peasants.
Departure
There are four peasants sent to look for these samurai who shall defend them, one of them is Rikichi.
Mediation, Solution, Acquisition & Return
The peasants enter the city to search for samurai, but they are unsuccessful, being turned away by every samurai they requested. Then, they witness a samurai rescue a boy from a thief. And, he did not ask for any payment. When Kambei walks towards another town, a young samurai asks him to be his disciple, Katsushiro. Then, the farmers ask Kambei to help defend their village from the bandits, he accepts. Kambei then helps the farmers to recruit more samurai. They are to recruit Gorobei Katayama, Heihachi, Shichirōji and Kyuzo. Kambei had initially decided that seven samurai would be necessary, but he plans to leave for the village with only the four because time is running short. A man named Kikuchiyo tails them to the village at a distance; he wants to be accepted as a samurai. Thus, the lack has been discovered-the seven samurai.
Testing & Reaction
However, when they have returned from their journey, nobody has welcomed them. Everyone has been scared at the samurai, like their fear from the bandits. The elder asks for understanding for this behaviour of the villagers. The question why the villagers are scared of the samurai is not yet answered. Yet, they are reminded that they indeed need the samurai when Kikuchiyo sounds the alarm. They have gone out of their houses screaming for help from the samurai. With this, the peasants did not pass the challenge to prove their heroic qualities. None however is expected from these peasants; still, the element of "testing" is present.
Second Lack
When Rikichi is asked about getting a wife, and almost everytime the word wife is mentioned, he gets angry and runs away. This attitude of Rikichi gives a cloud of mystery in his character.
Task
A difficult task is proposed not only to our hero, Rikichi, but to the whole village-the defense of the village. The samurai have to teach the villagers how to handle spears and swords. They also created tall barricades so the bandits on horses would have a hard time looking for an entrance to the village. Evacuation is also suggested which the peasants find difficult to do.
Branding
There is no physical branding whatsoever found in the film, however, there exist a branding on the peasants: when the samurai discovered that these peasants they are trying to help have killed a number of samurai, just like them. They wanted to kill them all after their discovery. Yet, when Kikuchiyo describes to them what drives these peasants to kill, their anger turned to compassion. The peasants have been branded as samurai killers, but still, the samurai help them.
Solution
At this point in the film, the tasks given by the samurai are finished: there are high wooden walls that serve as barricades; the fields have been flooded; and the houses are emptied.
Reconnaissance & Delivery
The bandits have been sighted by the samurai. These bandits also saw that the village has been changed and there are samurai present inside. To be able to use the element of surprise in the forthcoming battle, the samurai needed to kill these scouts. They are successful, and the secret that the village is ready to fight is kept intact.
Second Testing
Another failure of the peasants to show their heroic quality is when the samurai caught a scout of the bandits alive. They kill the caught bandit, with only vengeance in their hearts. This is not a characteristic of the traditional hero; although, they exhibit a natural trait of humans.
Second Departure & Second Mediation
As the captured bandit confessed about their hideout, The samurai think they need to know the place and somehow know their enemy, so Kambei sends three samurai including Rikichi. In this part, we see the wife of Rikichi with the bandits. What is shocking in this revelation is when Rikichi calls for his wife-the wife throws herself into the fire. Is it shame that drove her to kill herself? Or, is she already crazy at that point of her life? It is degrading to think that she has enjoyed the life of the bandits, so she never wants to return to her husband anymore, and that her burning of herself is but an accident. Whatever it is, Heihachi dies from a gunshot while retrieving the maddened Rikichi.
Struggle
The fight between the bandits and the samurai with the villagers begins. The defense has worked well, the bandits are confused and do not know where to attack. At night, the bandits think they can attack the village by climbing up the barricades, only to find out that the peasants are patiently waiting to attack them.
Acquisition
The samurai feel that the bandits are somehow advance than they are for those have muskets. They decide that they should get at least one of the three muskets of the bandits. Kyuzo volunteered and is able to acquire a musket from the base of the enemy.
Complicity
The bandits have helped their enemy unwittingly through attacking the village mindlessly. The villagers, with the help of the samurai, let one bandit on horse to enter the village as they stop the others, then, the villagers inside kills the lone bandit to his surprise. This technique has worked a number of times until the majority of these bandits have been killed.
Claim & Exposure
The arrogance of Kikuchiyo brings a huge setback on the part of the villagers and the samurai. He was jealous of Kyuzo when the latter gets the musket from the enemy's base. So, he abandons his post and retrieves another musket. Though he was successful, Gorobei, one of the samurai, and Yohei, one of the peasants who looked for samurai, are killed. Indeed, Kikuchiyo is not a samurai nor a peasant hero in the film-he is the "false hero" element, as Propp identified.
Victory
Kambei knows that the enemy shall attack with all their might the next day, and he is right. The bandits have attacked fiercely, yet unsuccessful. The samurai are almost done with killing them when the leader of the bandits who escaped and hide in a hut, shoots Kyuzo. Kikuchiyo tries to attack the leader but is also shot by a musket. He was able to kill the bandit leader but with a price of his life.
Transfiguration
The last scene gives away what this fledging critic finds hard to discover-the real hero of the film. The samurai who survived are not given any new appearance, i.e. there is no new clothing, and even their faces are as gloomy as death. However, at the other side of the field, we see the peasants singing happily as they plant the new sprouts in their farm-a very symbolic juxtaposition of exact opposites: the happy peasants and the gloomy samurai; the graves of the dead samurai and the field where new rice and barley shall spring. Even in the last line of Kambei it is revealed, "Victory belongs to those peasants. Not to us."
Conclusion
In conclusion, with this Proppian analysis of Kurosawa's film, the answer is clear-the film is not a unique film as other critics have claimed. The characters, setting, and purpose of the films are new but the plot structure and the functions of the characters are not new, at least in the eyes of a Proppian critic. Also, from the transfiguration element identified by Propp, the heroes indeed are not the samurai but the peasants. From this observation, this fledging Proppian critic recommends that another analysis using the Marxist literary criticism may be done to the analysed film.
References:
Kurosawa, Akira. (1954). Seven Samurai (Film). Sojiro Motoki
Propp, V. (1968). Morphology of the Folktale. (L. Scott, Trans.). Texas: University of Texas Press. (Original work published 1928).

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Naruto 530 Spoilers and Predictions

After a noticeably long absence, Naruto returns to his titular manga. It's only a brief appearance, but it's nice to be reminded that the main character is still kicking around. This week, we open upon Bee and Naruto as Naruto continues to train. Bee thinks that Naruto is close to figuring out the tailed beast bomb, but Naruto is having trouble concentrating because he can sense a disturbance in the force. What's interesting here is that Naruto and Kinkaku both possess kyuubi chakra acquired at different times in the history of the kyuubi, but Naruto is able to sense that someone else is tapping into the same energy. Whether or not he figures out the source of the disturbance and learns about the war remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Darui is looking a little haggard from using the Seven Star Sword and Crimson Gourd and jokingly tries to apologize to Kyuubinkaku (as he shall be referred to in the rest of this review). Kyuubinkaku will not be appeased and begins to rage against First Division. His particular demon fox cloak forms five miniature tails and one huge tail that can be used to physically attack opponents. First Division makes Kyuubinkaku a priority as various shinobi including Choza step up to bat. Choza grapples the beast barehanded, though, and we know that kyuubi chakra is toxic upon physical contact. At this point, an elderly cloud shinobi gives his allies some information he probably should have divulged earlier. Back before Madara tamed the demon fox, the Hidden Cloud made a play for possession of the bijuu and as a result, the Kin-Gin brothers were swallowed whole by the fox. So it seems that the story we were presented about how the brothers acquired their power contained more truth than myth. This anecdote also reveals that the Hidden Cloud has been an ambitious village from the beginning, and although they would later turn traitor, Kinkaku and Ginkaku once took up extremely dangerous missions on behalf of the village. Could this be a case of power corrupting the brothers? Or perhaps in devouring such evil and unfiltered chakra, they were fundamentally changed. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
As the First Division front line starts to panic, intel is passed onto Shinobi HQ. News of the new developments surprises Tsunade, even though she is the leader of the village most intricately connected to the Kyuubi. It's here that the Raikage reveals that Kinkaku and Ginkaku survived those two weeks in the fox's stomach by feasting upon its meat, eventually forcing it to throw them back up. This legendary feat inspired others to repeat their actions, but no other person has gained bijuu chakra this way, since bijuu chakra is deadly when consumed. The Raikage posits that the reason Kinkaku and Ginkaku accomplished such a feat is that they're probably distantly related to the Sage of the Six Paths himself. At this point, the Raikage believes the best option to contain Kyuubinkaku is to seal him with the fifth shinobi treasure. And it's a good thing they possess a tool capable of sealing this beast, because Kyuubinkaku's cloak has masked the rope needed to make Darui's weapon's work.
Instantly proving wrong my theory from last week, the fifth shinobi treasure is the Amber Purifying Pot that is used by the Hidden Cloud to host the eight-tails. Some readers predicted this, and if you saw it coming, congratulations! The pot works similar to the other treasures, but with fewer requirements. All that's required for sealing is to call out to your target and if he responds, then he becomes sealed within the pot. As a weapon, it is quite a trump card, but that it wasn't brought out until now implies there is a limit to how many individuals can be sealed within it. If it only has a capacity of one entity, then it makes sense to save the pot for a particularly troublesome revived ninja. Otherwise, it would make quick work of Edo Tensei. Furthermore, the Raikage reveals that Kinkaku and Ginkaku stole the treasures when they defected from the village and the pot was the only one the Hidden Cloud was able to recover.
Shikaku points out that First Division needs relief now and can't wait for the item to be delivered. Luckily, the Raikage's secretary is skilled in using transfer techniques so that's not a problem. The problem is that Kinkaku once possessed the five treasures, therefore he should know how to counter them, which is where Shikaku steps in. His plan is to revive the Ino Shika Cho formation and to do so he communicates with Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji through Inoichi's technique.
While Shikaku is prepping his strategy, First Division is having a hard time handling Kyuubinkaku. The battlefield is being demolished and it reminds me of the damage Naruto did to the landscape when he fought Sasuke in Kyuubi form. First Division is being outclassed by a lone shinobi, and Kyuubinkaku knows that Darui is trying to seal him in the pot. He makes the smart decision and tries to take Darui out when he realizes the allied plan. And he would have succeded but not for Darui's fellow general, Kitsuchi, and his earth technique taijutsu. And with Kitsuchi arrives Second Division, ready to support the dwindling First Division. Team Asuma is going to be the lynchpin of Shikaku's plan, but each of the members is nervous going up against the legends that defeated even the Nidaime Hokage. Shikaku let's the kids in on a secret. Legends are often exaggerated after the fact and it's never truly long before someone outdoes the original and a new legend is born, tying in once again to the theme of new generations supplanting older generations.
Comforted by Shikaku's wise words and with their former teacher watching, Team Asuma begins to forge a legend for the new age. Darui starts things off by ordering all available shinobi to barrage Kyuubinkaku with kunai, yet Kyuubinkaku isn't impressed by these third rate or 'copper plated' ninja. After all, he is a Kage level individual who once stood toe to toe with giants. Choji uses the momentary distraction of the barrage to charge at the enemy, though Kyuubinkaku tosses him away easily enough. But this too is reavealed to be a faint, as Shikamaru successfully uses his Shadow Mimic technique. It doesn't hold for long against the force of the kyuubi's chakra, but it holds long enough for Ino to cast Mind-Body Switch. After that, Ino simply responds to Darui, Darui seals Kyuubinkaku, and Ino bails from the body before it is sealed.
And so the battle with Kinkaku and Ginkaku comes to a close. Both brothers were talented shinobi with first rate abilities and chakra, but as Darui points out, copper can be more valuable than a gold coin if you collect enough of it. And Team Asuma demonstrated excellent timing and teamwork in a desperate situation on the battlefield. Surely their legend is growing. Three kids were able to defeat two Akatsuki members with intelligence (and a little help) and a jinchuriki with teamwork. And as promised, Darui has stripped away that gold plating of pride the brothers were so proud of.
Impressions
This chapter was great. There was a lot of plot momentum, a peek at the main character, and good bits of action and strategy. I'll admit the battle with Kin-Gin was shorter than I was expecting it to be, but for such a lean fight, there was little to no filler. Kishimoto did a great job of conveying how quickly First Division became desperate against a jinchuriki. It'll be interesting to see how the allied shinobi handle the remaining former jinchuriki given that there are quite a few left. I also think it's fitting that the battle was won not through brute strength, but with intelligence, which is the key to true victory on the battlefield. In addition, the characterizations continued to be excellent. and Shikaku gave us a nice thematic cap to the last few chapters.
That said, this chapter was fool of information concerning the larger mythology of the series and I'd like to take a moment to talk about how this chapter shapes the history of the ninja world. What we know know is that:

• At some point early on in the formation of the Hidden Cloud, the village tried to attain the kyuubi. As a result, Kinkaku and Ginkaku absorbed the chakra of the bijuu through devouring its innards, a feat which remains unrepeated. The Hidden Cloud also collected the five shinobi treasures said to have belonged to the Sage of the Six Paths.
• Konoha then took possession of the Kyuubi with Madara Uchiha initially taming the beast, but after a falling out with Konoha, Senju Hashirama's wife served as its vessel.
• Kinkaku and Ginkaku defected from the Hidden Cloud, taking with them the five shinobi treasures, of which only the Amber Purifying Pot was recovered.
• The Nidaime Hokage attempted to enter into a formal alliance (possibly to help end the First Shinobi World War) with the Nidaime Raikage, but the Kin-Gin brothers staged a coup. In fact, this seems likely, since a country is extremely vulnerable during a time of war making the possibility of a coup easier.
• The Nidaime Hokage, Tobirama Senju, died during the First Shinobi World War, allowing his team to flee as he faced a force known as Team Kinkaku. Kinkaku is known to have defeated the Second Hokage, leaving him near death at least. Thus, we can conclude these incidents are the same.

The preceding information actually clarifies a few inquiries from past chapters. From this we know how Kinkaku and Ginkaku came to be summoned with four of the five treasures. If they were hidden by the brothers before they died, then Kabuto would have no trouble learning their whereabouts with Edo Tensei. It also explains why the brothers are so reviled in the Hidden Cloud. It isn't just that the brothers attempted a coup. It's that they did so at the cost of prolonging a war that had devastated the five nations. Also, both brothers could use the demon fox cloak, and Kinkaku was known to have used in battle before, presumably after Ginkaku's defeat (according to Kakazu). In that case, then it becomes clearer why Tobirama Senju might have developed Edo Tensei. His deceased, elder brother Hashirama was one of two individuals able to tame the bijuu at the time, and the Hidden Cloud had two shinobi possessing Kyuubi chakra. If he ever needed to stop either in battle, then his best bet would be to revive his brother and have Hashirama deal with the Kyuubi's chakra. In this context, while the techniques still seems dubious, it also seems like a necessity.
And let's consider Kinkaku and Ginkaku. Naruto hosts the Kyuubi, but only the beast's Yin chakra (or was it Yang). When they devoured the Kyuubi's meat, the brothers are likely to have absorbed completely unfiltered chakra. They survived a situation where death was all but certain and raged for two whole weeks. Two weeks of nothing but thrashing and eating Kyuubi meat. It is easy to see how they would be considered the two bright lights of the Hidden Cloud after this. But afterwords, Konoha took possession of the Kyuubi, trumping their own feat. Furthermore, their own village was prepared to enter into a peace treaty with the very same nation. What had that sacrifice been for? They had thrown themselves into capturing the Kyuubi and almost lost their lives in the process. By all rights, they should have died after eating the meat of the fox. Now, their enemies possessed the Kyuubi, and their own village was ready to simply accept this. From this perspective, it's easy to understand how warriors as vain as Kinkaku and Ginakau might betray their village and Kage. And there is no telling how hosting such unfiltered evil chakra changes a person. Despicable they may be, but they are not beyond the ability to be empathized with. They had their positive qualities. After all, as brothers they cared deeply for each other.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Predictions
Last week I predicted that Kyuubinkaku would rage and that the shinobi army would have to pull out all the stops to contain him, although my prediction for how he would be stopped was wrong. We also didn't see the former jinchuriki, and my theory about the remaining shinobi treasure was incorrect.
What might we see next week? I think that now would be the perfect time to bring Asuma into focus since his team has demonstrated their growth since his death. Though, I doubt his soul would be released as a result of the encounter. From there it could go many directions. Third Division is still fighting the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist and shinobi with kekkai genkai. Notable revived shinobi are still fighting First Division. The revived bijuu have yet to be seen. The former Kage should be converging upon Gaara. And there's Black Zetsu. What I want to see is Dan and maybe have his significance explained. I think what we will see is the beginning of a conflict with the former Kage and/or Black Zetsu.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5996361

Twin Peaks - A Musical Analysis

Do you remember David Lynch's weird TV series called Twin Peaks? It debuted in 1990 on ABC and I remember it got a lot of buzz in Norway where I saw it. Every Friday evening at 11pm I had my pizza ready and Twin Peaks on the tube. It was different from the other TV shows, and it was helped on by Angelo Badalamenti's weird jazzy score. Anyone remember the red room with the weird dwarf who said things backwards? Remember the weird dance he did? That's one of my favorite moments, and the music is absolutely spot on.
The show was canceled after only a couple of years, rumors had it that David Lynch had a spat with the directors of ABC about the show, and it was canceled abruptly in the second season with a very strange ending. Who here doesn't love the log lady? This show has some of the weirdest characters ever developed, but it suits David Lynch perfectly.
The soundtrack was one of the first soundtracks I bought and it was a great one. I remember one tune on this called "Night Life in Twin Peaks" that scared me, so whenever that came on I quickly fast forwarded to the next song, that's right, forwarded. I didn't have a CD player yet. It may be a strange soundtrack and I think I love it because of a mixture of sentimentality and the music. For whatever reason, Twin Peaks, the music and the show has a place in my heart forever. Bob still freaks me out though.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3490557

Best Movie List 2011

Each year comes with its own list of movies, some going down the history books as being the best to ever come out of Hollywood. Each person has their own perception of what are some of the best movies of all time. This depends on genres and ranking at the box office. At times, a movie may not have made it to top ten box office but still remains as one of the best of all times. So what is your list of the best movie list? It doesn't matter whether it was released in 2011 or 2010 or 1999 or 2000. Herein, the article tries to capture some of the movies that wowed the audience in 2010.
How to Train Your Dragon
Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Fantasy
Directors: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders.
Cast: Jay Bruchel, Gerald Butler, Jonah Hill and America Ferrera
If you loved Kung Fu Panda, Shrek and Madagascar, then you will definitely love How To Train Your Dragon. It is a comical movie that is setup in the legendary world of Vikings as well as Dragons. The storyline has been developed from the book by Cressida Cowell. The plot revolves around young Viking lad who goes by the name Hiccup and resides in the Island of Berk. In this island, battling dragons is a norm. Digging in too deep into the plot will spoil the whole reason to have you watch the movie. If you did not catch this movie when 2010 came to a close, then you need to do all you can to buy or rent one.
The Wolf Man
Genre: Thriller/ Horror/ Fantasy
Director: Joe Johnston
Cast: Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving and Geraldine Chaplin
Stories revolving the mythical werewolf never cease to amaze many in America as this movie is another epic of the enigmatic werewolf. After returning to his ancestral home, a man is bitten by a werewolf that happens to be his father and has to accept his fate. If there is a movie that will keep you guessing from the beginning to the end then it has to be The Wolf Man.
Toy Story 3
At the beginning, I thought this is another one of those childish movies. However, upon reviewing it found to be something that can be watched by all. After a toy's owner, other kids treat Andy leaves home for college, the toys are taken to a day care facility where to their shock with no regards.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6037874

You Need to Start Watching Now

Note: The Shield and The Wire are both highly recommended, but because both shows had ended in 2008, they are not included on this list (among many others).

10. Fringe

(FOX - 2008 - Sci-Fi)

At first this show didn't stick with many of us on the must watch show list, but the unique plots lured us back and now we consider it a must watch. This show is about a government task force tracking down paranormal activity with the help of a research scientist, Walter Bishop (actor John Noble), who has the characteristics of Frankenstein and the brilliance of Albert Einstein rolled into one, his sarcastic son Peter Bishop (actor Joshua Jackson), and FBI Agent Olivia Dunham (Actress Anna Torv). Besides the X-Files element in this show, one of the things viewers will notice is the parent-child conflict specifically between Walter and Peter as they try to resolve cases. Fringe is big on conspiracies and some intense twists on "fringe science". This show just stands out from the rest in its plot developments.

9. Monk

(USA - 2002 - Dramedy)

Background: This is the creator of the website talking, Nick Shin. Call me an idiot or ridiculous and I certainly deserve both, but I personally ignored this incredibly humorous show for about 6 years solely because of the title; not once did I give this show a chance before 2008. I thought the show was literally about a monk and the adventures inside the monastery. I figured how can a show about a monk and a monastery be remotely interesting. Bad assumption (don't judge a show by its title?) On a random weekend in 2008, I was incredibly bored, had no commitments, and had all the time in the world. Thus, my introduction to Monk. Now onto why you need to start watching too.

Monk is one of those shows where every single person in the world can relate to its main character, Adrian Monk (actor Tony Shalhoub). How? 3 words, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Your situation may not be as, to put it lightly, as severe as Monk's, but every person has some sort of OCD whether it be washing your hands in a certain way, putting on your socks/shoes a certain way, morning routine, bedtime routine, and on and on. The title character of this show works as an obsessive compulsive private detective and consultant for the San Francisco Police Department homicide unit. At one point, and (fans) correct us if we're wrong, Monk's nurse/assistant pointed out 120 or so phobias. What's entertaining about this show is not only Monk's brilliance and attention to detail on the field as he solves the cases, but Monk's ability to deal with his numerous phobias throughout the show including the always humorous therapy sessions. It is the subtleties of Monk and the characters around him that becomes a laugh out loud moment. Each episode is a stand alone so start watching this show.

8. In Treatment

(HBO - 2008 - Drama)

Each episode of In Treatment features therapist Dr. Paul Weston (actor Gabriel Byrne) having a session with one of five patients. The casting for this little known show offers an array of characters ranging from teens to middle aged and singles to married couples. In Treatment displays a full range of emotions with superb acting that makes you care about and believe what you are watching. One of the more unique and riveting parts of this show is the portrayal of the therapist (Paul) going to his own therapist. The character development and the artistic storytelling is brilliant. This show might make you uncomfortable at times and it might take a lot out of you, but what we do know is that the combination of incredible acting, storytelling, and character development will get you hooked; don't give up after one episode.

7. Breaking Bad

(AMC- 2008 - Dramedy)

Quite possibly the most entertaining show and most original show to watch right now, Walter White (actor Bryan Cranston - the dad from Malcolm in the Middle) quite simply is a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal lung cancer going entrepreneurial to raise enough money for his family. Well, the entrepreneurial part isn't exactly what one might suspect and this is where the show becomes extremely entertaining. Walt decides to team up with a former student, whom Walt flunked, to get into the crystal-meth business. How's that for unique writing? If you've ever felt you've been way in over your head, you will certainly enjoy watching this show as Walt quickly learns the dangers of competing with rival meth dealers.

6. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (IASIP)

(FX - 2005 - Comedy)

Remember Seinfeld? The show from the 90's that everyone seemed to enjoy immensely due to its random plots and often commercial resolutions. The oft-imitated formula has been mirrored throughout the years, but one show in particular has nailed it on the head. IASIP is possibly the funniest show on television due to the obvious lack of rules or shame. We follow the lives of Mac, Charlie, Dennis, and Dee as they scheme and screw people over on an hourly basis. In the end, everything blows up in their faces in a commercial fashion. If there was ever a show that embodies the basic drives of the human nature within all of us, this is it. Just watch it. Now.

5. Entourage

(HBO - 2004 - Dramedy)

We know, anyone who hasn't been hiding under a rock knows about the show so we'll try to make this one short. Entourage deserves a spot on any "best of" TV shows list. The only reason why the "professional" critics do not include this show is because of its target audience. There are just some out of the target demographic that do not want to watch quirky, douchebag-like, 20 (and 40?) somethings, and their adventures as a group. We know that it is extremely hard to argue that Entourage is the most well-written show or even best performed (although Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold is absolutely brilliant and the reason why you should start watching), but this show just entertains. It is mindlessly distracting and addicting.

4. Dexter

(Showtime - 2006 - Dramedy)

How many of us have a dark side? A special side (mmmm, frites) that lays dormant within our mind and only comes out for special occasions. If you raised your hand, then you need to watch Dexter. Dexter is a forensic blood spatter analyst by day for the Miami-Metro Police Department (MMPD) and a serial killer by night. Before you turn to a different website in disgust, you need to know that Dexter has a conscious. As a youth, Dexter show signs of a sociopath, but his adoptive father, a detective for the MMPD, took those tendencies and taught Dexter to use them for the good of mankind, or in this case, killing people who have escaped their due punishment from the justice system. The show is in no shortage of thrills and suspense. Touching, clever, exciting, and often humorous, Dexter, is one anti-hero that every one can relate to, even if you don't want to admit it.

3. Damages

(FX- 2007 - Drama)

Thought the show was canceled? Actually many of you reading this top 10 list realize it's been awhile due to the writer's strike. Well, it's back and it's wonderful. With the final episode of season 1 airing back in October 2007, the second season is (well, has been) officially back. Due to the hiatus, Damages has fallen off the radar, but this show absolutely deserves a "best of TV shows" nod. Damages is a legal thriller that stars Glenn Close as the brilliant and ruthless litigator Patty Hewes. The show revolves around Patty and her protege, Ellen Parsons (actress Rose Byrne). With so many legal thrillers on the air, it's hard to describe how and why this series stands out head and shoulders above all the others. To put it simply, superb acting, intelligent writing, thought-provoking, an actual story line as opposed to one story per episode, and in true sense of the word, a thriller. The story itself is intriguing, but it's the storytelling and the performances that really make this show a must watch now. We feel like this is still not doing the show justice....let's see, you will never be bored watching this show; it is consistent from beginning to end. The folks at FX is doing something right and everyone needs to take notice.

2. Rescue Me

(FX- 2004 - Dramedy)

We all enjoyed The Sopranos. It made us feel bad and yet, so good. The ultimate anti-hero, Tony Soprano, was someone we hated and loved at the same time. Since it left television, where does one go to root for a likeable bad guy? The answer is Rescue Me. The main character, Tommy Gavin (actor Denis Leary), is a member of the NYFD. He is about as rough as they come and highly respected for his displays of bravery on the field.

Whether he is sleeping around with widows of victims from 9/11 (a large theme during the show), abusing drugs and alcohol, hitting people and being a sleezeball, one can see why Tommy Gavin is not a likeable fellow....on the show. However, we in the real world find ourselves enamored with a guy that is a coin-flip away from being cool or being a turd, just like Tony Soprano.

Here is a list of similarities between The Sopranos and Rescue Me

* Sopranos = New Jersey. Rescue Me = New York. You can connect the two.

* Infidelity

* Drug and alcohol abuse

* Curse like sailors

* Violence towards strangers, friends and family

* Hallucinations

We are sure the list could go on, but it would distract the attention away from this show you need to watch. Feel free to comment if you find additional similarities and we will consider adding it to the list. Anyway, this is a tremendous show that only adds to FX's taste in great shows. Watch it.

1. Mad Men

(AMC- 2007 - Drama)

Okay, you get it, we get it, Mad Men is a great show based on the countless number of critics and wannabe critics like ourselves. By now Mad Men (and AMC for that matter) has received the major props it deserves, but we cannot emphasize it enough. We would never have imagined the slowest possible drama on television topping our list of "must watch TV for 20093. Where's the action, where's the humor, where's the convenient douchebag that we like to talk about, where's the [insert additional analogies]. With all that said and the hype the show has been garnering since its debut, we still think Mad Men is an underrated show.

Definition of Mad Men as explained during the first episode - "In the 1950s and 1960s, the advertising industry was based on Madison Avenue in New York City. In fact, 'Madison Avenue' used to be slang for 'the ad industry'. Madison/ad men was contracted into "mad men" by the mad men themselves."

For those still doubting this top TV show to watch now, perhaps the very reason you are not watching this show is because of the time frame in history in which the story takes place; we admit, it was for us. The 60s was far before any of our times at Everything Topped, and based on the show the 60s was racist, sexist, unhealthy (based on the number of cigarattes the characters smoke every 5 seconds), and most importantly, a transition period. Actor Jon Hamm as the lead character, Don Draper, is brilliant as the creative director at Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency. Don struggles to stay ahead of the changing times and the young executives at the Agency all the whilst making the plays in the boardroom (and bedroom). The intense performances are portrayed not only in Don's personal life, but also through the unique aspect of how people sell themselves in the ad industry. The characters are complex, sophisticated, and well developed. It's a slow moving drama, yes, and many who are impatient and simply close-minded, will not enjoy Mad Men. Getting a truly accurate picture of a time when not many shows or movies are set makes this the top show you need to start watching for 2009.

There you have it, our list of the Top 10 TV Shows of 2009 You Need To Start Watching Now. We would love to hear your thoughts so feel free to comment on the list. Ridicule us, praise us, hate us, love us for our list. Got topics/categories you'd like topped? Give us a shout through the comments or contact us.