My Top Ten Entertainment Surprises

I was rather shocked this year by just how many things of quality snuck up and bit me . there were really some wonderful films and shows I found this years, and I'm happy to share them with you. Also, you may be surprised that Superman returns is not on the list. the reason for this is very simple. I wasn't surprised by the quality of the film. While amazing, I knew it would be.

10. Veronica Mars- I must say I was incredibly lucky to find this show when I did. I started just weeks before season 3 premiered and I was lucky to be able to finish in time for the new season. Smart, funny and incredibly well cast and written, it's really a must see.

9. Robot Chicken- It's been around for awhile, but I just found this show and it's brilliant. Though sometimes blasphemous and often politically incorrect, the show uses toys to make fun of anything from the 80's to George Bush. My favorite clip has to be a Kill Bill rip off entitled Kill Bunny featuring a ticked off Christ hunting down such commercial distractions as the Easter Bunny and Santa. While I'm sure many will be insulted by it, I've included the You-Tube clip of it below. Admittedly it is much funnier if you've seen Kill Bill. Anyway, this show rocks. Check it out.


8. The Lake House- I know, I know, I don't know what came over me, but I did in fact watch this movie. With my Dad even. But it was great. Sincere and moving, it's a great love story. While a little unoriginal, the end still comes as a surprise (well, part of the end at least; there is a twist, I won't lie, and it's really incredibly easy to spot the clues at the beginning of the movie, but it makes up for it).

7. Jericho- Who knew that the story of a town trying to survive Armageddon could be so heartfelt and captivating? while it is a serial show going week to week, it's fun and, most importantly, planned out. I can't wait to see how long the walls of Jericho will stand.

6. Infinite Crisis- WOW. DC has managed to pull me in a hold me close. With a huge storyline and real, continuity altering events, new comic day has never been more fun. How they'll top it I have no clue, but all I know is that even if all i got was that single ride, it was enough.

5. Heroes- yeah, I'm just as addicted as everyone else. It's amazing- the dawn of superheroes just as it might have been in the golden age of comics. And don't even get me started on the new story arc- remember, "Save the cheerleader, save the World."

4. Cars- I'll admit it, when I saw the previews I thought Pixar had finally gone too far... but when I saw the movie I was impressed. Not only is the animation top notch, but the story was a great homage to the way the world should really be.

3. Clerks II- I was not going to see this movie. It looked foul, stupid, and I was rather upset with Kevin Smith for giving up and going back to the basics. but the movie reddemed itself with a great moral about doing what you want with your life, no matter what the world may think.

2. Brick- This movie is great. A down and dirty 30's detective film noir set in modern day high school, this movie rocks. With an amazing script and a perfect cast, this movie manages to be something that its very nature makes nearly impossible- it's something NEW. For those who are unfamiliar, the trailer is below. And for the record, while the movie is rated "R," I can honestly say that the movie did not deserve that rating. As most film buffs know, Indy films are always rated on a curve and given the higher rating (translation- no sex, no swearing- at all- no violence other than fist fights and while there is mention of drug use none is shown; for the first time there is a clean movie for adults).


1. Stranger than Fiction- let me just say how much I hate Will Farrell. I never knew before, however, how well he could act. this movie is a work of art. Genuinely funny and moving, the movie does not resort to crude humor or sappy emotions to bring home it's point. Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman really bring it to the table, and Farrell shows that he can walk with the big boys. A brilliant concept, the movie is about a man who starts hearing his life being narrated. He soon realizes that he is a character in a story, and before his story ends he must find the author in order to save his own life. At the sake of making a huge leap from never having videos to having THREE, trailer is found below.