Superman For Tomorrow

Geoff Johns first started taking over the DC Universe years ago with Green Lantern: Rebirth. Since then he has redefined some of DC's oldest titles like Teen Titans, The Flash, and Superman. Last week Johns completed his six issue story of how The Man of Steel became Metropolis's hero and the mortal enemy of Lex Luthor. The graphic novel form won’t be out till Christmas, but it will be a great gift for Superman fans. I can't wait to see what the general public has to say when they see just how Johns has shaped The Man of Tomorrow for the new millenium.

In the story we first see young Clark Kent as he is developing his powers. He breaks his best friend Pete's arm just by Pete giving him a football tackle. Clark then almost burns his school down with his heat vision after his first kiss with Lana Lang. Soon Clark's parents have no choice but to tell to him how he came into their care and where he came from. Also, The Legion of Superheroes arrive from the future to meet their idol and show him that being an alien isn't a bad thing.

Years later we see Clark travel to Metropolis, where he gets a job at a failing newspaper, The Daily Planet. Their editor-and-chief has been black listed for bad mouthing the cities self-appointed savior, their photographer is about to quit and move home, and their star reporter can't seem to write a positive word about anything. But after Clark shows the city his alter-ego everything in Metropolis changes. Just as Superman is revealed to the world someone from Clark's past is looking to turn the city against him.

John tale is full of classic Superman characters like Cat Grant, Parasite, Metallo, and Sam Lane. I was amazed at how much Johns was able to keep the cast the same at their core, but change them in a way that makes them seem fresh. The city of Metropolis is almost its own character as you see how Superman's arrival changes the it as well.  Johns also plays to the vunerable side of Clark, which helps us as readers not only relate to him, but make him seem less god-like and more human.
Gary Frank helps draw Johns story together with his terrific artwork. Frank gives each character a distinct look of emotions that helps intensify John's dialogue. At times you can almost see Frank basing his Clark Kent off of the late Christopher Reeves. Clark's first meeting with John Corben is hilarious, General Lane's interrogation of Superman is bone chilling, and Jimmy Olsen brings “the every man” into this world of fantasy.

Johns shows us why these characters have lasted for over seventy years, and will continue for many more. I highly recommend this story to any Superman fan, or any comic book reader. For those who are going to wait till the holidays to pick up the graphic novel I can already tell you that it’ll be a very merry Christmas indeed.

Comic Books That Need To Be Films

Comic book films are all over the silver screen these days. With the release of Green Lantern, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger all coming out next summer it doesn't seem like the superhero genre is going anywhere. There have been a lot of good films based on comic books, but there have also been a lot of bad ones as well. Warner Bros. is also in the early stages of making sequels to Batman and rebooting the Superman franchise.

I feel like the studios are forgetting about all the other publishing companies that have great characters, as well as the lesser known characters in the DC and Marvel universes that would make great movies. Let's not forget that a C-List comic book character, Blade, started the whole comic book film craze. Here are some characters or teams I feel would be great up on the big screen.

12) Aquaman

Vincent Chase and James Cameron made this character the biggest film of all time on Entourage, so let's see if fantasy can become reality. Justin Hartley portrayed Arthur Curry in a never aired Aquaman pilot. Arthur was a child of two worlds, much like Superman, Tarzan, and Spock. Even though Hartley's swimming career didn't last I still say this underwater adventure would be cool in 3-D. Aquaman is a hero who can breathe underwater, swim super fast, speak to sea life, and has super strength. It'd be the best sea movie since Steve Zissou.

11) The Darkness

Jackie Estacado was your average mafia hitman, but on his 21st birthday he gained the powers of The Darkness, an ancient power that let him create whatever he wanted, as long as it stayed away from light. Jackie used this powers to take control of the mafia, and along the way he has had to give up his playboy lifestyle, for when The Darkness conceives a child the host then dies immediately, much like it did with Jackie’s father. Talk about a buzz kill. All this power and he can’t even make whoopee.

Jackie has battled the mafia, battled demons in hell, and even somehow procreated with Witchblade without dying. Top Cow Comics has created a great universe with their Trinity and I would love to see it in full force on the big screen, hellions and all.

10) Savage Dragon

From Image Comics comes a hero who fights bad guys in a futuristic Chicago. Dragon was found in the rubble of a horrible explosion. He has no memory of who he is, or why he has a fin on his head, but he uses his incredible strength and agility to the CPD's advantage. Dragon takes down mutants and villains while trying to piece together what happened to him and who he is. Move over Robocop, there is a new officer of the law ready to kick some butt.

9) Green Arrow

Another DC hero that Justin Hartley has portrayed on the small screen, Green Arrow has been a signature character not only in the DC Universe, but in comic book history, for decades. Oliver Queen was another billionaire orphan who drank too much and loved the ladies. But Oliver was betrayed by a family friend who wanted control of Queen Industries. He tried to kill Oliver, and left him on a deserted island to fend for himself. Oliver survived with only a bow and arrows to keep him alive. Oliver finds his way back to Star City to take revenge on the man who wronged him and be the home town Robin Hood.

Through the years Green Arrow has been a controversial character with his use of sharp arrows and his messed up sidekicks. One of the protégés had a drug problem and another was a teenage prostitute with HIV. Oliver Queen is edgy enough for today's generation to relate to, and has enough problems to make a great trilogy.

8) Irredeemable

From Mark Waid, the man who brought us the epic Kingdom Come, comes a story about what would happen if Earth's greatest hero turned against us. As the Plutionian’s reign of terror progresses we learn the story, or stories, that lead him to his breaking point through his friends, comrades, and victims.

Waid's main character is similar to Superman, and even though everyone knows Clark Kent will never turn evil, this a great glimpse into what it would be like if he did. Again, this is another hard edged and gritty film that today's movie goers would eat up. Heroes are dying, people are flying, and everyone has a part to play. It’s just good story telling.

7) Heroes For Hire

The Marvel Universe is full of big characters that fight evil on a global, if not universal, level. But then there are other heroes that are down in the depths of New York's underbelly helping the common man take down the gangs and kingpins who fill the streets with violence. These guys are the Heroes for Hire. The indestructible Luke Cage and the immortal Iron Fist formed a team to help those who can not help themselves. Let Iron Man and Fantastic Four take on Galactus while Cage and Rand take on the drug dealers down the street.

Heroes For Hire is so much more simple than other Marvel teams. I think it could be really relatable to audiences of all ages. Power Man and Iron Fist friendship is also something to be explored as Danny is a billionaire and Luke a man from the streets. With great potential comes great box office numbers.

6) Booster Gold

Heroes are often selfless, sacrificing their own lives to help others, and then there is Booster Gold. In the 25th Century, Michael gets his hands on some sweet gear and decides to travel back in time in the DC Universe to use this futuristic equipment to be a hero. The only problem is that nobody takes him seriously. Michael may be a jokester from the future trying to be a hero, but he's still just a jokester. He tries to steal the spotlight at every occasion, but when the going gets tough he's there to help the Justice League save the day.

I like Booster Gold because he's not as serious as other heroes. He's had a few issues over the last few years, but his real problem is trying to get other heroes to take him seriously. He's very arrogant, which is a great starting point for a character arch. His best friend also just happens to be a robot from the future named Skeets, and everyone loves a robot sidekicks!

5) Witchblade

Another Top Cow Comic, the Witchblade is an ancient weapon that has been used by many women over the years, such as Joan of Arc and Cleopatra. Now NYPD officer, Sara Pezzini wields this awesome weapon and fights off magical creatures who wish to harm this world and also who wish to possess the Witchblade themselves.

TNT had a Witchblade series a few years ago that didn’t last long, but I think mainly because to bring Michael Turner’s terrific drawings to life you need a big budget, and this could be an epic movie. Plus people always say there aren’t enough female heroes. Wait till they get a load of Sara Pezzini.

4) Quantum and Woody

Eric and Woody are childhood friends who lose contact with each other over the years. But when their fathers die in a helicopter crash they are reunited and stumble onto something that gives them powers simply by touching their control bands every 24 hours. Of course they have to do this or they’ll dissipate into energy.

This is one of the funniest and most entertaining comics I’ve ever read! Eric is a military man and Woody is nothing but a goofy slacker. Quantum and Woody has been called, "the Lethal Weapon of comic books" and think that hits it right on the nose. Quantum fights the bad guys while Woody hits on the damsel in distress.

3) Nova

DC Universe is about to unleash their own version of Star Wars next summer with Green Lantern, so I think Marvel should release their own Green Lantern: Nova. Richard Rider was just a high school kid until he was randomly chosen to join the Nova Corps., a group of intergalactic peace keepers. Since then Richard has been from one side of the galaxy to the next, been the sole processor of the Nova power, and saved the galaxy more times than Luke Skywalker's frenched his sister.

The concept is very similar to Green Lantern, but I think Nova has a little more flash and style than GL.  Just look at Nova's badass costume! Plus, Richard only being in high school can play up the comedy and the awkwardness of being a teenager with powers. This should knock the captain of the football team down a few knotches.

2) Iron Fist

I recently picked up an Iron Fist graphic novel just out of curiosity, and now I collect Brian Michael Bendis's New Avengers series just because it's got Iron Fist in it. Danny Rand was a child when he lost his parents in an exhibition to the Artic. Danny was found by monks who trained him in their martial art ways, and ten years later Danny was ready to be worthy of the dragon power known as the Iron Fist.

Danny is one of many who has possessed the power of the Iron Fist, and he uses it, along with his billions of dollars, to fight crime in New York City with the help of his best friend, Luke Cage, and his African-American girlfriend. Ed Brubaker's recent run of The Immortal Iron Fist opened up a whole new world of possibilities for this character, along with seven other realms with champions, just as Iron Fist is the champion of this realm. I feel like Iron Fist is a mixture of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Green Arrow. Brubaker's run also had a dash of Mortal Kombat. I just heard today (August 25, 2010) that Marvel Studio has commissioned writer Rich Wilkes to start working on an Iron Fist script.  This film will have everyone wanting a dragon tattooed on their chest.

1) The Boys

With all these super heroes running around our movie theaters how are we possibly supposed to regulate them all? Bring in The Boys. They're a CIA team whose sole purpose is to take down super being when they start doing things they shouldn't. This team is edgier than any who has come before it with its violence and sexuality running wild like mosquitoes on a pond. One of the main characters is even based on actor Simon Pegg.

And when they’re not hunting down naughty supers they’re telling their life stories to each other. You know with names like Bill Butcher, Mother’s Milk, and the Frenchman they’ve had f%cked up life. Early stages of a film based on The Boys is said to be underway.  Let’s get it on!

5 Shows My DVR is Aching to Record

Last night my wife and I made a very important decision. We weighed the pros and cons, took out the choices we were unsure of, and we chose which TV shows to set our DVR too this fall. It’s a timeless tradition that will be interesting to see which shows make it to May, and which shows we stop watching even before Christmas. Very few of the new TV shows from last season are still on our DVR, but I have promise for our choices this year. Here are five new shows I plan the check out this fall.

5) Undercovers: NBC: Wednesdays 8/7c: For the mind of J.J. Abrams comes what looks like the African-American version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw are the Blooms, a retired spy couple whose marriage has begun to fizzle. But when a friend goes missing the two decide to renew their license to kill and soon find out that the thing that may be missing from their marriage is a little danger.

This idea isn’t very original, but it is a good idea none the less. A good looking couple playing sexy spies is something none of us can get enough of. With J.J. Abrams behind the project I’m sure it’ll end up being another one of his cult classics, if it last. This is a strictly an entertainment show for me, and one that I see watching on a weekly basis with my wife.

4) Outsourced: NBC: Thursdays 9:30/8:30c: For the minds who brought you The Office comes a show that is looking to keep NBC’s comedy Thursday’s must-see-TV alive. Todd’s company sells novelty items like whoopee cushions and wallets made of bacon. Todd’s call center is sent to India and now Todd is stuck managing employees who have no idea what a whoopee cushion even is.  Oh boy! 

It’s a classic fish-out-of-water story, and those are always hilarious. The cast is full of a bunch of unknowns, but so was The Office when it started. NBC is known for having some great comedy classics like Friends and Will & Grace. Let’s see if Outsourced can go the distance.

3) Outlaw: NBC: Wednesdays 10/9c: Jimmy Smits has been on the side of the law all the way back to his run on NYPD Blue, to his presidential win on The West Wing. In this new drama Smith plays Supreme Court Justice Cyrus Garza, and after only a short time into is lifetime of service he steps down to become an attorney again. Garza believes the system is corrupt and is looking to serve “the little guy” once again.

I’m not a big fan of law shows, but this one has promise, especially with Smits playing a man who gives up the sweet life to help the less fortunate, almost as if he were a superhero. Graza is supported by his law clerks, Eddie and Mereta, who will be sure to get their own storylines along the way. NBC has brought us some great dramas like Law and Order and The West Wing so I can’t wait to see what Smit and Outlaw turns out to be.

2) No Ordinary Family: ABC: Tuesdays 8/7c: Michael Chiklis is Jim Powell. Jim has been living the suburban life with his wife Stephanie and their two kids. But on a family vacation through the Amazon their plane crashes and each of them soon find themselves exhibiting strange powers. They must find out whether to use these powers for a greater good or continue to live ordinary lives.

I’m excited to see Julie Benz back on TV as Stephanie Powell. I know she’s got some great acting chops from her roles on Angel and Dexter, and I hope the chemistry between her and Chiklis as a couple will help hold this series together. Romany Malco from The 40-Year-Old Virgin plays Jim’s best friend and when he finds out his buddy has got super powers he’s all about trying to set-up their own Batcave.

With Smallville on its last season and Heroes taking an early exit another show has to step in as ‘people with powers’ and I hope this show is it. It seem like it may have an The Incredibles vibe to it, but as long as they can balance the every day things a family goes through with extraordinary scenarios I think it’ll be alright, I hope.

1) Running Wilde: FOX: Tuesdays 9:30/8:30c: From the creator of Arrested Development comes a new comedy starring the hilarious Will Arnett. Arnett plays Steve Wilde, an oil tycoon’s son who has gotten everything he’s ever wanted except his childhood sweet heart, Emmy. Emmy, played by Keri Russell grew up to be an extreme humanitarian, but her daughter just wants a normal life, which Steve is willing to provide.

Arnett is funny as hell and from the previews it seems like he and Russell have some pretty good chemistry on screen. Arrested Development was a great show that was praised by critics but puzzled audiences. Is America ready to give this kind of crazy comedy another go? I’d say we have a better chance of seeing Steve and Emmy get together by the first episode, but we can dream can’t we?

The Switch Sets Off O'Reilly, But Not Any New Territory

Last week I was watching the news and Bill O’Reilly had his panties in a bunch, again. Apparently he was mad at Jennifer Aniston. I thought to myself, what could one of America’s sweethearts do to deserve O’Reily’s hate? The Fox News columnist (that’s right, I said columnist because he voices his opnions, not facts) was mad about Aniston’s new film and how it says that in American women don’t need a man to have a baby. You be the judge.

Jason Bateman is Wally. Wally is a pessimist and a skeptic, who challenges everything his best friend Kassie does. Kassie, played by Aniston, tells Wally she is going to be artificially inseminated with Patrick Wilson’s sperm, and after a drunken accident Wally has to use his own “guys” to replace the ones he just lost. Seven years later he meets Kassie’s son, who just happens to have all his quirky personality traits. Now Wally must decide whether he should tell Kassie the truth about what he did and his feelings for her.

We’ve all seen this movie a thousands of times, but at least the sperm angle is new, right? Bateman plays the kind of character he plays best, the negative party pooper. He’s a leading man we care about, but I prefer to see him step out of his shell with memorable roles like Dodgeball. Jennifer Aniston falls into queue as the lovable girl-next-door who is looking for love in all the wrong places, except right in front of her face. Again, this not really a stretch for her.

The supporting cast is straight out of traditional type casting. Jeff Goldblum pays the same character he was in Nine Months. He is Wally’s friend who has a swinger lifestyle and tries to advise Wally in the ways of love. Meanwhile Juliette Lewis plays what I can only assume is herself as the crazy, female best friend to Kassie. If Woody Harrelson showed up with a gun I think the film might have taken a turn for the interesting.

The only person I felt worked an acting muscle or two was the new comer Thomas Robinson has Sebastian, Kassie and Wally’s child. Robinson was great as the weird kid who could pull off all of the strange things Batman's character encompasses. I’m curious to see how Robinson’s career we will go. Elijah Wood or every other child actor?

So what is Bill O’Reilly upset about? This is a cookie-cutter film about a woman who is tired of waiting for love just so she can have a baby, and her best friend hijacks her pregnancy with his own seed. Does O’Reilly need to waste the precious Fox News time on this? Don’t they have Democrats to attack? This film had some funny moments, like the million others like it, but I for one won’t be spending any more time on this film, that is until the next Jennifer Aniston movie comes out.

Rating: C

Scott Pilgrim Throws Down a Fatality on Repetitive Films

One very special morning when I was a child I came out into the living room to see what Santa had brought me, and before my brother and me was a brand new Nintendo. We spent all day playing Duck Hunt and Super Mario Bros. Sometimes growing up I wished for several lives to get something right, or found money just lying around for me to pick-up. Unfortunately life isn’t a video game, but that’s not the case for Scott Pilgrim.

Michael Cera plays Scott, an unemployed 22-year-old who has a gay roommate, plays in a band, and is dating a high schooler. But everything changes when Scott meets Ramona, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Ramona is the kind of girl Scott dreams of...literally. In order to date her Scott has to get past her ex’s...again, literally. Ramona has seven evil ex’s who are devoted to ruining her love life forever. If Scott wants this girl, he’s going to have to power-up, get the high score, and grab as many extra lives as he can to defeat them.

Based on the graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O’Malley, this film was like a breath of fresh air to the film industry.  Instead of making a film based on a video game (which usually suck) this film takes video games cliches and puts them in real world scenarios.  My generation grew up on Nintendo, Sega, and Playstation, and to see a film about what it would be like if life was a video game is just frikkin cool. Director Edgar Wright made sure the battles, sound effects, and score were brought right out of the games we all played, making the audience comfortable with everything that was happening.

Of course to pull it all off Wright needed the right cast, and I think he found it. Cera was a great lead for this fast talking, actions packed, comical film. Scott is a mixture of emotions as he struggles with his insecurities, tries to make a relationship work while struggling to deal with her baggage, and eventually coming to terms with his own position in life. Cera pulled it all off superbly, because by the end of the film I was rooting for him.

Of course a hero is only as good as his supporting cast. Mary Elizabeth Winstead played Ramona with such allure and mystery that even I would have fought seven people just for her affection. Kieran Culkin added a lot of laughs as Scott’s gay roommate, Wallace. His sexual escapades and wise advice made him the kind of roommate we all wish we had at one time in our lives.

The rest of Scott’s entourage filled their roles nicely, but Scott had to take on the evil ex’s on his own, which included some recognizable faces like Chris Evans, Bradon Routh, and Jason Schwartzman. When Schwartzman and Cera duked it out in a fist fight I found it rather odd since both of them are known for playing nerdy characters but here they were throwing down like some kung-fu movie. The ex’s all had too little of screen time to really make an impression, but they filled their roles well nonetheless.

If you can keep with the quick transitions and fast dialogue, this film is a romance about two young people who had gotten love wrong a lot of times and have to stop letting their past dictate their future. Meanwhile, we get to see some cool fights, funny punch lines, and Winstead change her hair color every twenty minutes. If you have wasted hours of your life playing video games then this is a film for you; for our generation.

Rating:  A-

My Top 12 Disney Aniamted Films (non-Pixar)

I’m sure that most of you by now have had a chance to check out the latest Disney/Pixar masterpiece, Toy Story 3. I for one thought it surpassed its predecessor with quite a bit more heart and laughter. One of the preview’s before the film was of Disney’s next 2-D animated feature, Tangled. It is the story of Rapunzel, who is voiced by Mandy Moore. With hand drawn animation becoming more and more rare I miss the days of watching animators have to draw with a pencil instead of a mouse. The Disney/Pixar films are great, don’t get me wrong, but there is something so pure and raw about the films of ol’. So here are some of my favorite Disney animated films that Pixar didn’t have a hand in.

12. DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990)

I know, I know, you’re asking yourself just how crazy can I be to put this film above classics like Cinderella and Lady and the Tramp? Well first off, those are girl movies, and I’m a boy! I remember seeing this film in theaters and being in wonder as Uncle Scrooge and the boys take their adventures from my small TV at home to the massive movie theater.

While searching for the treasure of Callie Baba Scrooge finds a magic lamp, which the evil Merlock has been hunting for years. Merlock has the a object that can grant the master an infinite number of wishes on the lamp. Scrooge, Huey, Dewy, Louie, and even Webby must get the lamp back from Merlock and reclaim Scrooges fortune before Merlock turns Duckberg into ground zero. My only complaint about this film; no Gizmo Duck!

11. Peter Pan (1953)

I have always been a moderate fan of “the boy who didn’t want to grow-up,” which is why I like this film so dearly. Neverland was a place full of adventure and danger that any young boy would have a field-day in. The sequel, Return To Neverland, was horrible, and one of the films Disney made to make a few bucks by ruining their classic films. The same magic only happens once, and we only need to see Peter rescue Tiger Lilly and defeat Captain Hook in one great film.

10. Bolt (2008)

John Travolta is the voice of Bolt, a movie star dog thinks he possesses super powers in real life. He’s on a quest to find his owner, voiced by Miley Cyrus. Bolt is accompanied by a reluctant feline, an eager hamster, and some ambitious pigeons.

This movie is the story about a dog and his owner. It also has a lot of funny lines, thanks to Rhino the hamster. This film became an instant classic the moment it was made, and it was also my first 3-D movie experience. It’s one of the few computer-animated films that isn’t done by Pixar, but Disney knows how to still make a good movie on their own.

9. The Sword in the Stone (1963)

This film plays with the legendary tale of King Arthur, and his trusted advisor, Merlin. After accidentally falling through Merlin’s roof the crazy wizard begins instructing young Arthur in the ways of the world, which personifies turning him into a fish, a squirrel, and even taking down an evil witch.

I love Disney, I love King Arthur, how could I not love this film? Merlin almost has a mad scientist vibe going on in this film and the magic battle between him and Mim is quite entertaining. In the end it just goes to show that even the smallest of people are destined to do great things.

8. Mickey’s A Christmas Carol (1983)

There are a few films I have to watch each Christmas season, and even though this one has been off my list for the past few years I must remind myself to watch it this year. Uncle Scrooge is a mean old man who hates Christmas, so much that he takes it out on his employee, Mickey. Then he is visited by three ghost and the Charles Dicken’s classic takes off with your favorite Disney characters.

7. Tarzan (1999)

He is the king of the jungle for a reason. In this new interpretation of Tarzan, the human is raised by apes and looks to find out more about who he is when Jane and her father show up. They are accompanied by the greedy Clayton, and Tarzan must choose between learning more about these strangers that look like him and his family.

The film has a great voice cast, including Glenn Close and Minnie Driver. The action sequences of Tarzan “tree surfing” are quite entertaining as well. The lesson of this film is about feeling alienated and knowing who your true family really is.

6. Hercules (1997)

After The Lion King I skipped the next few Disney films, but luckily Hercules came along to bring me back. Hercules was stolen from his father Zeus and was raised as a human. As a man he must learn what being a hero truly means if he wants to rejoin Olympus. But Hades is looking to take Zeus down a few notches and Hercules is the one person that stands in his way.

This film has some great songs, along with a Michael Bolton hit. Danny DeVito helps provide the comedy as Hercules trainer, Phil, and James Woods is a great as Hades. Not even the gods can keep this film down!

5. A Goofy Movie (1995)

If you have an embarrassing dad, or parent, then you must have seen this film. Goofy wants nothing more than to take his son on a fishing trip for the summer. Max wants nothing more to get away from his dad and make to L.A. for a concert. It’s a movie that has a happy ending, and nobody gives us more laughs along the way than Goofy.

4. The Lion King (1994)

What could Disney do to follow up Aladdin? They take you from the Arabian desert to the African plains. The young lion cub can’t wait to grow up to be king like his dad, voiced by James Earl Jones. When tragedy strikes Simba runs away; never to be heard from again. His friend Nala finds him in paradise with two unlikely companions and must try to convince him to come home and save Pride Rock from his uncle Scar.

Timon and Pumbaa alone are enough to make this movie worth a watch. I also like it when animated films get away from using people and go with animals; it’s refreshing. This movie is packed with an all-star voice cast that will have you singing Hakuna Matata by the end.

3. The Fox and the Hound (1981)

So get this, there is this young fox, Todd, who is best friends with a hound dog named Copper. The whole world is trying to tell them they can’t be friends, and their bond is tested over and over again, almost to the point of death. I’ll go ahead and tell you I cry every time I watch this movie.

Young Todd and Copper are pretty adorable and the woodpecker provides some decent laughs. It’s a buddy movie that has a heart bigger than a bear. Why in dear lord did they try and make a sequel?

2. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

An enchanted castle; check. Great supporting characters; check. A musical number that can rival anything on Broadway; check. A young prince is curse to be a beast unless he can find someone to love him for who he really is, but can sweet Belle be that person before the spell is irreversible? Let’s hope so, otherwise little Chip is stuck as a tea cup for the rest of existence.

1. Aladdin (1992)

Why is this film my number one choice? It’s three fold:

a) Great songs

b) I would love to have a magic carpet

c) Nobody is funnier than Robin Williams

I rest my case.