Follow Your Inner Moonlight

I've been meaning to watch First Class since it came out in theaters, and a couple of weeks ago I finally decided it was time to do it. I figured I might as well do an entire X-Men re-watch, including Origins, which I hadn't seen yet either. I started a movie review set with them and then realized there were three other Marvel movies I hadn't seen, which all tie in with The Avengers. So a superhero review set was born.





X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

This action-packed prequel to the popular X-Men films explores Marvel Comics character Wolverine's (Hugh Jackman) past and the events that influenced the mutant before the Weapon X program bonded his skeleton with the powerfully strong metal alloy adamantium. After the death of his girlfriend, Wolverine seeks vengeance against supervillain Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber). Ryan Reynolds, Danny Huston and Lynn Collins co-star.


I think I liked this one more than the average viewer. The same was true of the third X-Men movie. All I require from these movies is something fun to look at. I don't need witty writing or profound character development or heart-wrenching pathos. Give me something with explosions and chases and good sound editing, and I'm a happy movie-watcher. If I get more than that, that's excellent. But that's all I really need. And I got that here (and in the third movie). [Rating: 3.5 stars]



X-Men: First Class (2011)

In this exciting prequel to the X-Men series, Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) -- the future Professor X and Magneto -- are best friends dedicated to harnessing their powers and promoting the education of fellow mutants during the turbulent 1960s. The duo works together to stop a powerful adversary that threatens mankind, but their ideological differences drive them apart and turn them into ferocious enemies.


I waited quite a long time before writing this review because I was afraid if I wrote it too soon, all I'd be able to do would be to type "SQUEEE!!!" with about three lines worth of E's. Turns out that's still just about all I feel I can say about it, even ten days later. New. Favorite. X-Men. Movie. Though, because I don't like giving entirely negative or positive reviews if I can help it, I have to point out that January Jones made me cringe a few times. She's ... not very good. :( [Rating: 4.5 stars]



The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Edward Norton stars as Bruce Banner in this big-screen version of the classic comic-book tale about a doctor who searches for an antidote to his exotic condition, which causes him to transform into a hulking, green monster when under duress. Drawing closer to finding a remedy, Dr. Banner becomes sidetracked as he's pursued first by the military and then by a rival monster known as the Abomination. Liv Tyler, Tim Roth and William Hurt co-star.


I completely adored Lou Ferrigno and Stan Lee's cameos (though that's not a big surprise; very little makes me happier than Stan Lee cameos). And Tim Roth...? Well. I love Tim Roth. But this is another instance, like Origins, where I signed up for a comic book movie with fun action sequences, and that's what I got. Nothing special stood out as particularly negative, but nothing special stood out as particularly positive, either. And I'm okay with that. It was simply a fun way to spend a couple of hours. [Rating: 3.5 stars]



Thor (2011)

Kenneth Branagh directs this Marvel Comics-inspired action flick about the thunder god Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful warrior whose father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins) -- the king of Asgard -- forces him to live among humans on Earth and learn humility. Once there, he finds a friend (Natalie Portman), along with unexpected enemies sent from his world. Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård and Rene Russo co-star.


This movie gets a solid "meh" from me. I liked all the various effects; Bifröst is my favorite part of the whole film. I also liked the Frost Giants. (I was ... kinda on their side. XD) There were a couple of lines/scenes that made me chuckle, but not many. I only particularly liked two individual characters (Sif and Heimdall). I do have to say, though, that Anthony Hopkins as Odin is some of the best casting ever. Spot on. The only real complaint I have about the movie is that the romance aspect was just ... flat. The development was weak and the screen chemistry was iffy at best. It felt forced and unrealistic and I just didn't buy it. [Rating: 3 stars]



Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Marvel launches another super franchise with this action-packed origin story, which follows Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) as he volunteers for a secret experiment during World War II. Transformed into a superhero named Captain America, Steve goes after the Axis. With his perfect physique and heightened reflexes -- and his sidekick, Bucky (Sebastian Stan) -- Steve battles the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), a super soldier created by Italian fascists.


Wow. I liked this one a lot more than I expected to. On one hand, I'd heard from several sources that it was the most boring of the films in the Marvel movieverse. On the other hand, a reliable resource said it was her favorite movie of the summer. So I went into this expecting to like it but not necessarily to be particularly impressed. Turns out, I loved it. It could have something to do with the fact that it was the next thing I watched right after Thor, but I got all the things I want from a comic book movie, plus great actors and a ton of characters that I really liked and cared about. I'll definitely be revisiting this one from time to time. [Rating: 4 stars]

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The Last Exorcism (2010)

Ready to expose his miraculous deeds as mere trickery, Rev. Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) invites a documentary crew to film his final exorcism. But when the devil actually possesses a girl's body, Marcus must regain his faith and engage in the fight of his life. Produced by Eli Roth and directed by Daniel Stamm, this frighteningly realistic horror movie also stars Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr and Louis Herthum.


I watched this mostly based on the recommendation of someone whose opinions I trust but for some reason I was still surprised by how much I liked it. I think it might have something to do with the fact that I knew Eli Roth was involved, so I had somewhat different expectations. He's not exactly known for his ties to subtle horror, you know? But that's what this was. No blood or guts or even pea soup. The ending fell a little flat for me, honestly, but it wasn't bad and everything leading up to it was good, so ... I liked it. [Rating: 4 stars]



The Haunted House Project (2010)

Over the past 42 years, six people have gone missing, eight people have died "accidentally" and eleven cases of murder have occurred in a haunted deserted house somewhere in Gyeonggi Province. The home is now banned for all persons to enter. Nevertheless, 3 members of an abandoned house exploring club and 3 staff members of a broadcasting company go into the deserted house. All of them disappear without trace. Only a video is left behind...


Imagine a Korean Blair Witch Project, only even more boring. Voila: The Haunted House Project. It's an 84-minute movie. It was 55 minutes before anything even mildly creepy happened. The last ten or fifteen minutes were good but it was far too little far too late. [Rating: 1.5 stars]



Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

Doors slamming shut, shadows moving across the floor -- the unexplained, terrifyingly real supernatural forces are back, and this time, Dan (Brian Boland), Kristi (Sprague Grayden), Ali (Molly Ephraim), baby Hunter and dog Abby become part of the nightmare as the cameras roll. Tod Williams (The Door in the Floor) directs and Michael R. Perry ("Persons Unknown") writes this spine-chilling sequel to the wildly popular 2009 flick.


I didn't like this quite as much as I liked the first one. It definitely scared me less, but I loved getting more of the story and the ending has me really looking forward to the third one. [Rating: 3.5 stars]



Cropsey (2009)

Directors Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio explore an urban legend that always disturbed them while growing up in Staten Island, N.Y. -- a rash of child abductions that struck the area in the 1970s and 80s -- in their gripping documentary. The legend became real when a handyman and drifter named Andre Rand abducted numerous young kids, setting off myriad motive theories, frightening residents in the community and tripping up the legal system.


It feels extremely strange to watch a documentary that's called an "investigative-crime horror-documentary film" and see archive news footage with anchors and reporters who I now, twenty-five years later, see on the news I watch daily. Anyway, this was interesting and informative but it was lacking ... something. I'm not sure exactly what. It held my attention very well while it was on and I'm glad I watched it but I'm not sure I'll remember it very far down the road. [Rating: 3 stars]



Let Me In (2010)

When 12-year-old Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) befriends his mysterious next-door neighbor, Abby (Chloe Moretz), the two outcasts form a tight-knit bond that gives Owen the courage to stand up to school bullies. But he slowly begins to suspect his new friend has a secret. Matt Reeves directs this uncommon coming-of-age thriller based on the award-winning Swedish film Let the Right One In. Richard Jenkins co-stars.


Okay, the first thing you need to understand here is that I think the original Sweish film is perfect. So it's not contradictory for me to rate this one four stars and still say it didn't hit my emotional buttons or impress me as much as the other. This remake was far better than I had hoped, though. I adored Chloe Moretz, the music was amazing, and it definitely did justice to both the Swedish film and the book it was originally based on. I was very very pleased. [Rating: 4 stars]

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The Box (2009)

A disfigured man named Arlington Steward (Frank Langella) informs Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur (James Marsden) Lewis that they have 24 hours to decide if they want to push a button inside a box that will give them a cool million -- but a complete stranger will die at the same time. Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko) writes and directs this thriller based on sci-fi writer Richard Matheson's short story.


I think maybe I'll just steer clear of Richard Kelly in the future. I'm unimpressed by his work. I really love Frank Langella and the idea of the movie is good -- I like the original story quite a lot -- but I was just really underwhelmed. [Rating: 1.5 stars]



Insidious (2011)

After moving into a new home, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and his wife Renai (Rose Byrne) confront terrifying tribulations when their son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) falls into a coma and his body starts to attract malevolent forces from a mysterious netherworld. But when the family decides to move again, hoping to leave the evil spirits behind, they realize that their problems are just beginning. James Wan (Saw) directs.


I'd heard good things about this movie but I still wasn't expecting too much. I wound up pleasantly surprised! There were definitely moments of cheese, but there were far fewer than usual in modern horror. I was properly creeped out for most of the movie, I never got bored, and the very end was great. I'm glad I watched it but, if I'm totally honest, I kind of wish I'd watched it during the daytime instead of at one in the morning... XD [Rating: 3.5 stars]



Burke and Hare (2010)

Director John Landis rolls out his first feature film in more than a decade with this black comedy based on the true exploits of two 19th-century body snatchers, played by Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis. When Burke and Hare's successful business -- selling corpses to the Edinburgh Medical College for dissection -- is hampered by a supply shortage, the men are forced to take drastic measures. Isla Fisher and Tim Curry also star.


I almost never have high hopes for comedy films because ... I'm just so damn picky about comedy. And John Landis is kind of hit-or-miss for me, so I wasn't expecting much. Maybe I should have, though, because I've never not loved anything I've seen Simon Pegg do. Also, I've seen much less of his work, but I really like Andy Serkis, too. This wound up being delightfully dark comedy. Before the five minute mark, I'd commented to my co-watcher that I'd already snickered more than a half dozen times, and it kept me laughing out loud through the whole thing. Not to mention, Simon Pegg was adorable. Aww, Burke. ♥! [Rating: 4 stars]



The Witches (1990)

A young boy named Luke (Jasen Fisher) and his grandmother (Mai Zetterling) go on vacation only to discover their hotel is hosting an international witch convention, where the Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston) is unveiling her master plan to turn all children into mice. Will Luke fall victim to the witches' plot before he can stop them? This adaptation of author Roald Dahl's fantastical children's story co-stars Rowan Atkinson and Brenda Blethyn.


I'm so sad that I didn't see this movie when I was a kid! It would've been one of my favorites. Even now, it's still really fun to watch. Of course, it features Jim Henson puppetry, so naturally it's going to be fun to watch. The ending was really different from the book, and possibly not quite in the spirit of the book, but ... I still liked it. Even though it was significantly happier, which isn't usually my thing. XD [Rating: 3.5 stars]



Little Fockers (2010)

Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) has finally won the approval of his intimidating father-in-law, retired CIA agent Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro). But when Greg and wife Pam (Teri Polo) add a pair of rambunctious kids to the mix, the tension between the two men rises to the surface once again. Expect chaos as the couple tries to juggle the demands of raising children in the hilarious third installment of the Meet the Parents story.


If I'm totally honest, I have to admit to a couple chuckles. But mostly I just hope they're done making movies about this family because the second one was the only one worth watching. Probably because Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand are the only good thing in the whole series. :( [Rating: 2 stars]

Grab-bag batch of reviews this time! Some stuff other people wanted to watch with me, some stuff I happened to catch on TV (yay free HBO preview weekends!), some stuff I just couldn't stand seeing on my To Watch list any longer... It turned out to be an interesting mix of good and bad.





Due Date (2010)

Days before his pregnant wife's due date, Los Angeles architect Peter (Robert Downey Jr.) is about to fly home from Atlanta when a series of unfortunate incidents land him on the "no-fly" list, forcing him to hitch a ride across the country with slacker Ethan (Zach Galifianakis). As Peter desperately tries to get home, he must deal with Ethan's laid-back attitude, numerous delays and several mishaps in this road trip comedy. Jamie Foxx co-stars.


I'm going to quote what froda_baggins said about this one: "It's seriously like a bunch of frat boys sat around and were like 'Well THEN he masturbates. AND THEN HE GETS THE SHIT BEAT OUT OF HIM! THEN HE GETS HIGH! THEN HE GETS SHOT! THEN HE VOMITS!' wtf." There was one moment that made me seriously laugh, and a couple more that made me chuckle. And the soundtrack was good. That's all that saved this movie from being time I wish I could get back. [Rating: 2 stars]



Tangled (2010)

Disney animators take on the classic Grimm Brothers story of Rapunzel (Mandy Moore), a long-locked beauty imprisoned in a secluded tower by evil hag Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy), who needs the rejuvenating powers of Rapunzel's tresses to remain young. When a bandit on the lam (Zachary Levi) helps Rapunzel escape, the old crone plots to recapture her and end her budding romance with the thief in this Golden Globe nominee for Best Animated Feature.


Disney, thank you for reminding me why I love you. ...That's it. That's my whole review. Go watch it. [Rating: 4.5 stars]



Christopher and His Kind (2010)

The 'divinely decadent' Berlin cabaret scene is in full swing when a young and wide-eyed Christopher Isherwood arrives in the city to stay with his close friend and occasional lover, the poet WH Auden. To Isherwood's reserved English sensibility, the city's thriving gay subculture is thrilling and intoxicating. But Christopher soon finds himself heartbroken after the failure of a hopeless love affair, and so sets out on a process of self-discovery as he forges an identity and place for himself amidst the chaos of 1930s Berlin.


When I finished watching this, I immediately wrote down my star rating but I couldn't come up with the words for a review. So I let it sink in for a while. I thought about it on my own and I read/listened to what other people had to say about it. And I still don't know if I have the words. I think this is one of those things that you either get or you don't and it's an entirely emotional thing. There isn't really a good way to describe what it feels like to get it, or exactly what it was that made me get it. You just have to watch and find out for yourself. And if nothing else, even if it doesn't work for you as a whole, Matt Smith is definitely worth watching. [Rating: 3.5 stars]



The Lovely Bones (2009)

When 14-year-old Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) is murdered, she watches from above as her family deals with her tragic death -- and as her killer prepares to strike again. Torn between vengeance and healing, Susie's loved ones are forever changed. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz star in Peter Jackson's adaptation of Alice Sebold's riveting, best-selling novel; Susan Sarandon and Oscar nominee Stanley Tucci co-star.


Peter Jackson did a good job of filming an "unfilmable" book with the Lord of the Rings series, but he didn't do such a great job here. I didn't seriously dislike this movie, but it didn't really work for me. I was rather bored. [Rating: 2.5 stars]



Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010)

Middle school isn't all it's cracked up to be for self-described "wimpy kid" Greg Heffley, who discovers a frightening new world teeming with boys who are taller, tougher and hairier than he is -- and decides to document it all in his diary. Directed by Thor Freudenthal, this kid-friendly comedy based on Jeff Kinney's illustrated novel cast its star by asking kids to submit their auditions online.


I read the first book in this series a while back when I was at my cousin's house for some kind of holiday or family dinner. I sat there in his living room and read the whole thing and I loved it. So, naturally, I was a little nervous when I heard there would be a movie. I even held out for a while before watching it because I really loved the book and I didn't want to see it ruined. Well ... it wasn't. This movie is very nearly as adorable and funny as its source material. I thoroughly enjoyed it. [Rating: 4 stars]

I just went through almost a month's worth of my usual clickies sources. There is no rhyme or reason to this list. I haven't sorted or organized at all. It's just the links in the order that I found them. Enjoy!




- Paul Kuczynski. I love satire so this guy had something going for him in my book, but I really like his style, too. Great stuff.

- Devoted dad Steve Garey made a 580km (360-mile) round trip to track down his daughter's cuddly toy Eeyore. You know what? My dad would do that for me. He has done a round trip of about fifty miles for my blankie when I was about five, but I bet he would've gone a lot farther if he'd had to.

- Out of Context Science. "Good science, badly quoted. Removing knowledge from context and leaving something that's sometimes hilarious, sometimes strange, and, hopefully, completely absurd."

- A history of picture books. I'd never thought to wonder about this but it turned out to be really interesting.

- "Psykopaint gives you a full tablet of brushes, colors and styles for you to modify your own pictures, modify their templates, or start from scratch to create some pretty cool works that are all wholly original."

- Here's a 14-minute video that illustrates every nuclear bomb explosion from 1945 to 1998. Disturbing. How the fuck are we not all glowing?

- Have you ever wondered what a trillion dollars looks like? This will give you an idea.

- "Between 1887 and 1892, John C.H. Grabill sent 188 photographs to the Library of Congress for copyright protection. Grabill is known as a western photographer, documenting many aspects of frontier life — hunting, mining, western town landscapes and white settlers’ relationships with Native Americans. Most of his work is centered on Deadwood in the late 1880s and 1890s. He is most often cited for his photographs in the aftermath of the Wounded Knee Massacre on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation." And now his stuff's in the public domain, so have a look!

- GREAT GAME. Lurking Title. "In each question, we'll show you the title of a movie - with a twist. Pick which film the title refers to 10 times, and you make it to the next level. But every wrong answer costs you some popcorn. Don't run out!"

- Crossword puzzles. The sort that will highlight for you, so you can play online without having to print them out. I apologize for ruining your productivity FOREVER.

Ages ago I told ninepointfivemm that I'd do a review set of movies that she wanted me to watch, so she made a list of her cinematography favorites. I started working on it in November and have finally finished. Go me!





L.A. Confidential (1997)

In 1950s Los Angeles, three wildly different cops (Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe and Kevin Spacey) form an uneasy alliance to ferret out deep-seated police corruption. But some people will do anything to land their faces in the pages of trashy Hollywood tabloids such as Hush-Hush magazine. A must-see whodunit, Brian Helgeland's script adaptation won an Oscar, as did Kim Basinger for her supporting role as a Veronica Lake look-alike.


I love Kevin Spacey. That's ... really all I can think to say. If you are even a slight fan of crime drama, mysteries, noir, or any of the actors in this film, and you haven't seen it before... See it. [Rating: 3.5 stars]



The Fall (2006)

Set in the 1920s, director Tarsem Singh's visually lush drama stars Lee Pace as paralyzed movie stuntman Roy Walker, who bonds with an imaginative 5-year-old named Alexandria (Catinca Untaru) as they convalesce together in a Los Angeles infirmary. To coax the girl into procuring the cache of morphine he wants from the hospital pharmacy, the suicidal Roy regales Alexandria with an elaborate fantasy about larger-than-life heroes.


Absolutely fantastic. The little girl was just plain amazing; she and Lee Pace had some of the best on-screen chemistry I've ever seen. They were just so natural and believable. There were parts where they cracked me up and parts where they made me nearly sob. And, holy crap. What. An. Eyegasm. I can't even begin to describe how visually pleasing this movie is. [Rating: 4 stars]



Ed Wood (1994)

In one of his best-ever performances, Johnny Depp plays Ed Wood, a grinning goof with a sunny disposition who was heralded as the "worst director of all time" -- and certainly made the movies to prove it. (He also loved to direct his epically bad films while dressed in women's clothing.) Martin Landau turns in an Oscar-winning performance as aging horror icon Bela Lugosi, while Sarah Jessica Parker and Bill Murray co-star. Tim Burton directs.


This movie just ... made me happy. But Tim Burton movies tend to do that. They make me feel at home. I really can't come up with anything I disliked. The closest thing to a complaint that I have is that it felt weird to watch a Tim Burton movie that didn't use Danny Elfman's music. It wasn't bad, just different. (And I just have to make a note: Bunny Breckinridge is probably my favorite Bill Murray role ever.) [Rating: 4.5 stars]



Road to Perdition (2002)

Hit man Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks), known in his 1930s Chicago world as The Angel of Death, is on the run after his wife (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and son are murdered. With his surviving son (Tyler Hoechlin) in tow, Michael sets out to exact brutal vengeance. Complicating matters in this crime actioner are a reporter (Jude Law), Al Capone's enforcer (Stanley Tucci) and other shady characters.


This movie stands out in this set because it's the only one that wasn't already in my queue. I really had no interest in it on my own but I'm very glad I took Jessi's recommendation. I was reminded that I don't actually dislike Tom Hanks, the whole feel and look of the movie made me feel comfortable and content, there were a couple of scenes near the end that I thought were particularly well-shot, and I found the story itself interesting and touching. [Rating: 4 stars]



Blade Runner (1982)

In a smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles, blade runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is called out of retirement to snuff a quartet of escaped "replicants" -- androids consigned to slave labor on remote planets -- seeking to extend their short life spans. This definitive special edition of director Ridley Scott's classic features his restored and remastered version with added scenes, plus an authoritative documentary about the making of the film.


I'm not sure why I've only just seen this movie since I went through a serious sci-fi phase when I was younger that I haven't totally grown out of. I guess I just was never much into robot sci-fi; I didn't bother with Asimov until I was well into my twenties and I'm still not a huge fan. But you'd think Harrison Ford would've been enough to get me to watch this, even if I didn't like sci-fi in general. Well, whatever, the problem has been remedied and I've seen it now. I'm actually sort of glad I waited so long. I read the book it was based on a couple of years ago and I'm not sure I would've enjoyed either one as much as I did if I'd read/watched in the opposite order. Though I might have. The music is great, the visual effects are great, the sets are great, the cinematography is great... And I was reminded that I like Harrison Ford because he's a good actor, not just because he's attractive. XD [Rating: 3.5 stars]

News:

- Thanks to cuddyclothes for this one: Fake robot baby provokes real screams. Woo! Uncanny valley! x_x

- Del Monte is going to market individually-wrapped bananas. Really. Bananas. Which are ... you know ... naturally wrapped ... in their own skin...

- A new dinosaur has been discovered. They're calling it Thunder-thighs.

- Ten-year-old BAMF of the day: Supatra Sasuphan claims being officially recognised as the hairiest girl in the world has boosted her confidence.

- Fetal BAMF of the day: baby gives parents a thumbs-up via ultrasound

- Theme park ride moved due to ghosts

- Study finds people literally fall in love with their favorite possessions

- High Court bans man with low IQ from having sex after council complains

- Scientists can convince people they have three arms.

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Fun/Interesting Miscellanea:

- Birthday Best Sellers: get a list of New York Times best sellers for the week of your birth.

- Victorian criminal records of female convicts

- Taming the Wild. "Only a handful of wild animal species have been successfully bred to get along with humans. The reason, scientists say, is found in their genes."

- The Ghosts of Old London

- xdress.com: Lingerie for Men, Men's Lace, Men's Satin & Panties

- Fonts In Use: Type at work in the real world

- If social media were a high school, this is what the yearbook would look like.

- Photographer Howard Schatz places actors in a series of roles and dramatic situations to reveal the essence of their characters in In Character.

- Photographer Irina Werning recreates photographs decades later with their original subjects.

A WHOLE MONTH OF NUMBERED LISTS. AREN'T YOU EXCITED!? Seriously, I promise I'm going to try harder to get back to doing clickies posts at least once a week.



- 100 Best British Films
- 70 Best Walk For Choice Signs
- 50 Most Hated Characters in Literary History (lololol, #1...)
- 30 Literary Quotes That Just Might Get You Laid
- 20 Scariest Things That Go Bump in the Night
- 20 Great Voiceover Performances
- 15 Unintentionally Hilarious Newspaper Headlines
- 15 Common Astronomy Myths
- 13 Animal Friendships Sure To Melt Your Heart
- 11 Funny Fine-Print Warnings
- 10 of Writing’s Filthiest Pervert Geniuses
- 10 Evil Psychopaths You Probably Don't Know
- 10 Great Horror Films of the 1950s
- 10 Best Picture Oscar Winners That Could’ve Been
- 10 Most Expensive Sex Toys In The World
- 9 Movie Dragons
- 9 Kid's Movies That Aren't As Cute As You Think
- 5 Hilarious Jeopardy Moments
- 5 Satirists Attacked by People Who Totally Missed the Point

And for my final catch-up clickies post, I bring you mental_floss's Weird Week in Review, Weekend Links, and Daily Cup of Links since Christmas.





- Odd travel requests on planes
- Goth wedding pictures
- LOLarious obituaries
- How humans freeze (and thaw)
- Real, Live "Practice Babies"
- North American English dialects
- An interactive map of 15 years of UFO sightings
- 2000 vs. 2010: How the world has changed
- 2010 movie box office
- If the Best Picture nominee posters told the truth...
- The New Yorker profiles Guillermo del Toro
- Lessons in Manliness from Atticus Finch
- Riverside Hospital, the quarantine hospital that housed Typhoid Mary.
- Indoor Desert
- Beautiful starfish
- San Diego Zoo’s first baby of the year: a Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko
- Silk. Oooh, colors...

I haven't done clickies at all in the new year. :o So I'm putting the last few days of 2010, all of January, and the first couple days of February all together. This post will be all the interesting numbered lists from that time. In a day or two, I'll do one with news and miscellanea.



- 20 Logos That Resemble Male Genitalia
- 18 Weird Wikipedia Entries
- 16 Iconic Bunnies
- 15 Celebs That Met Their SNL Parody Actors
- 12 Font Fails That Will Bring Out Your Inner Fifth Grader
- 12 Things Improved With Rainbows

- 10 Mashups You Should Have Listened To In 2010
- 10 Best-Dressed Literary Characters
- 10 Best Fictional Detectives
- 10 New Books to Kick Off the New Year
- 10 Lesser-Known Fictional Games
- 10 Out-of-Control TV Teens
- 10 Creative Hollywood Kills
- 10 Horrifying Video Game Enemies
- 10 Bizarre Toys for Kids (I had one of these.)
- 10 Great Philanthropists Who Are Kids
- 10 Plus-Sized Models
- 10 Sex Demons
- 10 'Vampire' Serial Killers
- 10 Badasses You (Probably) Don't Know
- 10 Truly Badass Saints
- 10 Cultural Touchstones of the ’90s That Should Never Come Back

- 9 Book Displays That Will Make You Fear For Humanity
- 7 Craziest Sexual Arousal Tests Ever Used
- 7 Myths Mythbusters Proved That We Still Can’t Believe Are True (My favorite isn't here: You can polish a turd.)
- 6 Instances Of Actual Blood Libel, Not Imagined Ones
- 6 Plot Threads Famous Movies Forgot to Resolve
- 5 Ways to Respond to Bathroom Gender Harassment
- 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Winston Churchill
- 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Edgar Allan Poe
- 5 Topics The Palins Shouldn’t “Expertly” Discuss (Number 6: Everything else.)