Best in Film

The best thing about movies is that they transport you and your imagination to a place you never thought you could go, but the funny thing is, maybe Spielberg or Lucas always thought you could. Films can help you forget the stressful, drab or uneventful life that you live, without having to change who you are. But sometimes you are changed because the movies teach you something or tap into an interest you didn't know you had or develop a playful crush with a person you didn't know existed. All I am saying is that movies have the ability to transform and transport you.

As I watch "Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time" hosted by ABC News and People Magazine, I countdown along with Tom Bergeron and Cynthia McFadden the best in comedy, animation, action, musicals, science-fiction, kisses, characters, thrillers and lines. I've seen a number of the movies listed and honestly agree with most of the movies mentioned. If you missed the special, lucky for you...I've copied the list below and the titles in red are the movies that I've seen:

Comedies

5. Tootsie

4. Young Frankenstein

3. Some Like it Hot

2. Monty Python

1. Airplane

(Two drag movies which just proves that people, or just celebrities, think that cross-dressing is funny.)

Sci-Fi

5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Originally created by Spielberg at 16 years-old)

4. The Matrix

3. Avatar (Will have two sequels in the near future.)

2. ET (Influenced the future of product placement with Reese’s Pieces.)

1. Star Wars (All six Star Wars movies will be released on Blu-Ray this summer and it should break all kinds of records.)

Musicals

5. West Side Story

4. Singin’ in the Rain (Gene Kelly was amazing and had a 103 degree fever during the famous rain scene.)

3. The Wizard of Oz (This was my favorite movie as a small child.)

2. Grease (This replaced the former as my favorite movie as I grew older.)

1. The Sound of Music (Real family that boarded a train to escape the Nazis and didn’t actually climb the Alps. Also, they own a resort and brewery in Vermont.)

Kisses

5. Casablanca (Humphrey Bogart & Ingrid Bergman)

4. An Officer and a Gentleman (Richard Gere & Debra Winger)

3. Lady and the Tramp (I love that cartoon dogs made the list.)

2. From Here to Eternity (Burt Lancaster & Deborah Kerr)

1. Gone with the Wind (Clark Gable & Vivian Leigh)

Lines

5. “Here’s looking at you kid.” – Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca

4. “I’ll have what she’s having.” – Rob Reiner’s Mom, When Harry Met Sally

3. “I’m gonna make him an offer that he can’t refuse.” – Marlon Brando, The Godfather

2. “Go ahead, make my day.” – Clint Eastwood, Dirty Harry

1. “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” – Clark Gable, Gone with the Wind

Action

5. Gladiator

4. Die Hard

3. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Went 11 for 11 at the Oscars.)

2. The Dark Knight

1. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

Thriller/Suspense

5. Pulp Fiction (For some reason, I hate this movie.)

4. The Shining

3. Psycho

2. Jaws (I wouldn't swim in my above ground pool after seeing this movie. How would a shark get there?)

1. Silence of the Lambs

Animated

5. Fantasia (People think this movie is boring, but to an artist or a movie lover, it is amazing.)

4. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Started the princess fantasy.)

3. Beauty and the Beast (Reinvented the princess fantasy.)

2. Toy Story

1. The Lion King

(Are you surprised that I have seen all these? All Disney!)

Characters

5. Indiana Jones

4. Hannibal Lecter

3. Scarlett O’Hara

2. James Bond (Unfortunately, I haven't seen them all.)

1. Forrest Gump (Hanks is a genius.)

BEST EVER

5. ET (I thought it was pretty cool when ET said my name on the ride at Universal Studios.)

4. Casablanca

3. The Godfather (My mom looks like Talia Shire.)

2. The Wizard of Oz

1. Gone with the Wind (Largest set ever built and burned.)

That's the televised list and as you can see, there are a number of amazing films that I have missed over the years. Maybe it is because I have never had a long recovery from a surgery or the flu or been bed-ridden. If I had, I would have seen all of these movies and tons more, but there's always the Red Box and Amazon.com.

So I ask, do you agree with the movies they have listed?

*To find more categories and see clips of the movies, visit: http://www.abcnews.com/bestinfilm. 

I finally did it!

After my whole 30 B4 30 project, I was able to get two pieces of artwork framed nicely with a thick, plain black frame. I always wanted to enter my artwork in an exhibit or have my own show featuring all of my drawings and paintings from throughout the years. I always thought it would happen before I turned 30, but instead, TK hung the artwork in our apartment so they could be on display for the several people who have actually been to our apartment in the last few months. Not the same effect, but recently, one of the pieces had to come down and get bubble wrapped.

I entered "Bacchanal" into the Patchogue Arts Council's Juried Member Show that will be up from March 21 - May 22, 2011 in the Callahan Library on the Long Island Campus of St. Joseph's College. Thankfully, I only had to go a couple blocks to drop the piece off, and I know the area ;).

Today (on the first day of the show), like a huge dork, I went to go see my piece and it is currently hanging on the wall in the library with a few other black and white pieces. The show includes textiles, sculpture, paintings and drawings. I have no idea who created them all yet, but I will get to meet the artists at a reception next month. I find it interesting that a drawing of dozens of nude figures named after an orgy is hanging in a library named after a nun. Just a thought I had. Hmmm...

Honestly though, art is a big deal to me. I love creating it. I love looking at it. I love reading about it and I love visiting it. I just love it so much that I studied art and got a degree in it and a minor certificate in the history of it. So, I guess that means I am kind of an expert, right? I do consider myself an artist even though I don't get paid to create actual art every day. I get paid to write, plan and promote, but I don't get paid to write this blog, unfortunately. Maybe one day...and maybe one day I will have my own art exhibit featuring me. It will happen. I just hope it doesn't take another 30 years.

Am I smarter with my smartphone?

In 2009 I purchased the iPhone 3G (which is considered vintage now) and since then, it has been attached to me. And, the ironic thing is that I really don't like talking on the phone all that much. Texting though, that's where it's at.

I think there is something to say about limitless knowledge in a little box with rounded edges. The iPhone gives me answers to my questions with the swipe of a finger and the tap of a fingertip. There are just things that my iPhone can do that most of my friends and my own brain cannot, and that's rough for me to confess. For instance, I have settled many a bet with my Google application. I've found out the names of random songs on the radio using Shazam. And, I've converted currency with Oanda and learned bad words in Italian on iTranslate; all for no reason at all. But, the actual reason I do all this is because I can. I have the ability to do whatever 8 gigs and my AT&T connection allow me to do, and I plan on getting the most out of my $90 voice and data plan.

The only problem with having an iPhone is that I am always connected. I can't use the excuse that I couldn't get to a computer or a phone. I have both. Fortunately, I can say that my battery died or my phone was on vibrate, and be telling the truth...most of the time. (Did I mention I don't really like talking on the phone?)

Now that my friends realize how cool the iPhone is and how much I use it, they have actually gone ahead, made the purchase and entered the technological land of no return. And, as they travel to this land, I have become their iPhone ambassador. I have earned a burrito and a pick 2 at Panera Bread for my iPhone tutelage. I showed them how to use the phone, some of the features and recommended useful or fun apps, and I believe this was all very meal-worthy. Similar to a man, the way to my brain is through my stomach, so I am willing to help anyone who purchases an iPhone and needs help using it. After all, there are cheeseburgers, ice cream and waffles left to eat.

Now, what about that iPhone 5?