Liftingfaces

(PAST AND PRESENT)

5. Cinnamon Toast Crunch - A solid staple in any cupboard.

4. Cookie Crisp – Cookies and milk, I mean, come on.

3. Trix – Trix are for kids, adults, and when I’m a senior citizen.

2. S’Mores – They changed the recipe, but they used to be irresistible.

1. Count Chocula – It’s like Lucky Charms, but with a gothic twist.

(WITH THE WORD “BLACK” IN THEIR NAME)

5. The Black Keys - Mp3

4. Black Swans - Mp3

3. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Mp3

2. The Black Angels - Mp3

1. Black Heart Procession - Mp3

(PAST AND PRESENT)

5. Shock G

4. JT the Bigga Figga

3. E40

2. Spice1

1. Too Short

(THAT GO REALLY GOOD TOGETHER. TRY IT.)

5. “Rain” - Bishop Allen

4. “Sugar Baby” - Samamidon

3. “Graveyard Girl” - M83

2. “Lost Verses” - Sun Kil Moon

1. “The Hot Hot Rays” - Fleet Foxes

(FROM DRAMAS FILMED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS)

5. “Memento” - This is technically a title sequence, rather than an opening scene as it were. But the iconic high-angle of Guy Pierce exposing a polaroid by shaking his hand, only to find out he was doing this action in reverse and the photograph was actually UN-developing, summarized the entire film so simply that it deserves a spot on the list.

4. “Michael Clayton” - The writing of this film is impeccable. Gilroy’s words, and Broadbent’s narration gave an amazing amount of tension to a visual sequence all but void of any life at all.

3. “Insider” - This film (and my wife agrees) is one of my top 5 favorites of all time. We are both big Lisa Gerrard and Michael Mann fanatics, so the merging of two artforms, as well as a great script and two stellar lead performances, made this opening sequence involving Al Pacino staring through a burlap sack in the Middle East on his way to an exclusive interview one of the best.

2. “Batman Begins” - I love Christian Bale as an actor. I love Christopher Nolan as a director (see above). I love Batman. This one is sort of a no-brainer. Though Bale was not in the opening scene, watching the child Bruce Wayne stranded in that well, with the bats, well it sort of gives you shivers.

1. “Fellowship of the Ring” - Because I have read the books, and I knew the epic nature of the characters, and where they were about to take me, seeing them on the big screen in all their glory gave me chills upon first, second, even third viewing.

(WHOSE SOLO ARTISTS HAVE BETTER ALBUMS)

5. Doveman - Sam Amidon

4. Songs: Ohia - Jason Molina

3. Whiskeytown - Ryan Adams

2. Animal Collective - Panda Bear

1. New Pornographers - Neko Case, A.C. Newman, Destroyer

(ALL OF THEM FREE)

5. Lineracer - Mindless fun.

4. Yeti Sports - Easy to play, impossible to master.

3. Polar Peril - Smooth animation, simple but fun gameplay.

2. N* - Difficult to the point of impossible, but fun physics game.

1. Amoeball** - Hard to describe why this is so good, but it is!

* This game is a standalone application, but cross-platform.
** This game requires a 3rd party plug-in to run.

(I’D LOVE TO SEE DO BATTLE)

5. The Trinity Christian College Trolls

4. The Converse College Valkyries

3. The California State College-Long Beach Dirtbags

2. The California Univ. of Pennsylvania Vulcans

1. The Webster University Gorloks

Runners up:

- The Univ. of California-Santa Cruz Banana Slugs

- The Earlham College Hustlin’ Quakers

- The Northern Montana State Univ. Skylights

(YOU WOULDN’T GUESS WERE COMIC MOVIES)

5. From Hell - The Hughes Brothers (2001)

4. American Splendor -  Shari Springer Berman + Robert Pulcini (2003)

3. Road to Perdition - Sam Mendes (2002)

2. Ghost World - Terry Zwigoff (2001)

1. A History of Violence - David Cronenberg (2005)