My Top Ten Favorite Movies

1. Rio Bravo
   
   I really love Westerns, and I really love John Wayne, and this movie is my favorite of both categories. 
   
   
2. Inglorious Basterds
   
   I'm not one to shy away from violence or gore, and I love the characters in this movie so much, and admire Tarantino's films for not pulling punches. While Kill Bill is another favorite, Basterds wins for it's fantastic dialog and excellent cast.
   
   
3. The Great Mouse Detective
   
   This is a childhood favorite of mine, and honestly was one of two Disney movies to ever actually frighten me. Rattigan was one scary savage bad guy.
   
   
4. Hellboy
   
   I just really like Hellboy. I like him a lot, and this movie is probably my favorite comic adaptation ever.
   
   
5. Captain America: The First Avenger
   
   Because Captain America.
   
   
6. Bottle Shock
   
   This movie is a fantastic gem. An independent film starring Alan Rickman and Chris Pine, among others, Bottle Shock is funny and quirky--an underdog's tale in the best sense of the word. Based on the true story of the 1976 Paris Tasting, where America emerged victorious despite the odds and prejudice against them.
   
   
7. The Song Catcher
   
   Another independent gem, this movie is wonderful, and tells the story of a woman professor of music  in the early 1900's heading up into the Appalachian Mountains and making a musical discovery that astounds her, and meeting people that confound her. A drama, so expect to me emotional. Also, has one of my favorite love stories on film in it.
   
   
8. Casablanca
   
   I'm a sucker for an old classic. What can I say?
   
   
9. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
   
   I literally watched this move once a day, every day, for over a year of my life. The books were my obsession for years, and I still love them.
   
   
10. Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame
    
    The other Disney movie that terrified me when I was little, I've developed quite an affection for it as I've grown older. This is possibly my favorite movie soundtrack of all time, as well.

Introduction and My Top Ten Favorite TV Characters

I feel bad that I have a for realsies grown-up blog, and I don't actually blog on it. See, I don't much condone an interest in politics or current events and the public discussion of fandom is mostly relegated to my tumblr. I end up leaving myself principle-ed into a writing conundrum. What on earth do I have let to write about, if not about politics, current events, or how much I love comic books?

Considering all this, I got to thinking a few weeks back about what I should write about on here. I know in the past I've tried out my humor writing chops, told a few childhood stories, given some advice, even posted something like a journal or diary entry a time or two. Then it occurred to me: I pretty much write like a magazine for young persons with questionable priorities, except for the ads and top ten lists and fashion and pictures and actual interesting articles or valid opinions on current events.

My errors realized, I decided to rectify my lack of both top ten lists and pictures.

So I decided to write up a bunch of lists as a blogging challenge to myself. I came up with ten ideas for top ten lists. Then I realized that most of them sucked and would be too hard to write and cut it down to only six. Over the next few weeks (or months, I'm not good at this consistency thing) I'll be posting my top tens lists, with pictures for the enjoyment of whoever is bored enough or psychologically unsound enough to be interested.

The first list up is..... TV Characters!

1. Crowley (Supernatural)
   
   
   
   
   
   I love Crowley. So much. He's smart, sassy, straight up classy, and evil to boot. What more can you ask for? 
   
   
2. Bones/Dr. Leonard McCoy (Start Trek)
   
   
   
   
   
   While I have a lot of respect for a well written intelligent character, the heartfelt Leonard McCoy wins over Spock every time. Bones is just great. I love how loyal he is, and how relentlessly humane he is in every situation he every gets hauled into, no matter how alien it turns out to be. DeForrest Kelley is impossible to beat, but Karl Urban does the role justice in the reboot.
   
   
3. Daria (Daria)
   
   
   
   
   
   Considering my love of cartoons, Daria is the show I wish I had been able to grow up with. While it was a few years before my time, I identify a lot with the issues the titular protagonist encounters and I learned a lot about how to be brave enough to be myself by watch the show. Also, one of the few shows where I actually have genuine respect and affection for the main character.
   
   
4. Shore Leave (The Venture Bros.)
   
   
   
   
   
   In a show filled with characters that make me explode with liking, the one I have to say I respect the most is Shore Leave. In short, his character is a gay super spy with a sailor motif right like something out of the Village People. He's hysterically funny, competent (which is a huge bonus on this show), joyful, surprisingly deep (maybe) and just plain fun, especially as a Sphinx (Sphinx!) Agent in the most recent season. 
   
   
5. Gregory House (House)
   
   
   
   
   
   I debated a lot about including House on this list. See, I absolutely loved the show, first three seasons. But then after that.... I absolutely did not. It went down hill, in a really bad way. But I'm a sucker for a broken person, and Gregory House is most definitely broken, as well as smart, snarky, compelling, and a complete asshole. 
   
   
6. Tig/Chibbs (Sons of Anarchy)
   
   
             
   So, I couldn't decide who I adored more from Sons of Anarchy, Tig or Chibs--so I went with both. Tig is an adorably lovable psychopath, while Chibs is a sad sad sad man, with a sad sad sad history. They're both well-developed and well-written characters in a sharp and dramatic show that never ceases to impress me.
   
   
7. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Star Trek: TNG)
   
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   My answer to who's the better captain, every single time. Captain Picard has every other captain beat for class, ethics, intelligence and badassery. Also, he's played by Sir Patrick freaking Stewart.
   
   
8. Giles (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
   
   
   
   Like many others on this list, intelligence is the trait I most enjoy in this guy. Giles is the very epitome of a Badass Bookworm. He's the mentor character, which is always a fun one for me, with a troubled past and a wealth of knowledge that he uses, like the wise old awesome guy he is, for kicking ass and taking names and just plain doing what needs to be done. He's the character I loved at the start and he's the character I loved at the end.

    9. Duke Crocker (Haven)



Haven was a show I didn't expect to like as much as I did. I watched it on the recommendation of a friend, and don't regret it one bit. While I debated including the show's main character Audrey Parker instead of Duke (I love all the main trio to pieces), I went with the rogue character instead for entirely shallow reasons. Eric Balfour is freaking hot and I enjoy looking at him.

10. Elisa Maza (Gargoyles)
    
    
    
    A blast from my past, Gargoyles is a cartoon that I remember being head over heals for when I was itty bitty, and then a few years ago, I ran into it again on the internet and rediscovered why I loved it so much. Awesome flying monsters, fantastic bad guy and a seriously competent, beautiful and role-model-worthy  female lead in Detective Elisa Maza.
    
    
    Honorary Mention:
    
    Harvey Specter (Suits)