Epitome Monday: Joe Johnston, First Avenger director

Image via WikipediaSomething different today. Directors! As the slate of summer movies starts, Captain America is a movie that is getting some attention.

The director of the action, period piece is Joe Johnston. The man is a protege of George Lucas. He designed Boba Fett! Heck, he was a stormtrooper on the Death Star!

He is a master of special effects, but also loves to tell a great story.

He stepped in to clean up the mess a previous director made of last year's "Wolfman" with Benico Del Toro.
Before that, he directed the passion project, "Hidalgo."

My epitome movie for Mr. Johnston is "The Rocketeer." Sure he did great special effects in "Jurassic Park 3," still my fave of those dino-movies.

He had a great run with "Jumanji." Did you know he directed "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids?" The man is versatile, but his willingness to tell a great story married to even better special effects is unmatched.

Which movie of his was YOUR favorite?

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Epitome Monday: Nathan Fillion

Image via WikipediaWhen my copy of Entertainment Weekly arrived with Nathan Fillion on the cover last week, I knew he would be the actor I wanted to talk about today.

I would commend you to pick up the issue because it does a fine job looking at the man's career.
You might recognize him from "Desperate Housewives." He did do a season on there.

You might even recognize him from his earlier ABC work on "Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place" (BAD TITLE) with a future previous entry: Ryan Reynolds. Who knew they were both Canadian?

You PROBABLY know him from his current role in ABC's "Castle."
He has had a few notable movie turns like the wrong Ryan in "Saving Private Ryan." Or written off turns in "Slither" or "White Noise 2."

Fillion has done a lot of work on TV that did not last. An appearance in "Lost." The aforementioned season of "Desperate Housewives." Or even the Fox short season of "Drive."

No role will epitomize Fillion more than Malcom Reynolds from "Firefly" and "Serenity." Sure, he has done some fantastic voice work on "Justice League" and even the "Venture Brothers," but nothing appeals to his fans or myself more than this role.

Fillion owned this short-lived, Joss Whedon creation (and later worked with him again on Buffy and Dr. Horrible). The show was great and was done justice by its ensemble, but this man and this role were the beating heart of it.

What say you? Are you a "Browncoat?" Could you tell me different on Fillion?

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Epitome Monday: Natalie Portman

Cover of V for Vendetta (Widescreen Edition)So I wanted to go back and recognize another Academy award winner from this year, but keeping the balance stuck with female. I think Natalie Portman had a career worthy of honoring a while back and while I have yet to see Black Swan, I am sure she deserved it.

While I have forgiven the transgression of helping Lucas mess with our collective childhoods by being the in the Star War prequels, I still think she is a great actress.

I love the trajectory of her career. She has been in small dramedies like Anywhere But Here, Where the Heart Is, and Zach Braff's Garden State.  She has also done diverse comedies like Mars Attacks! (remember that?) and the recent No Strings Attached.

While a generation will think of her as Padme from Star Wars, there are two movies that stand out for me. The more recent V for Vendetta was a great performance. However, if I have to pick a single performance that is her shining moment: the breakout role of Mathilda from Leon, the Professional.

At 13, she held her own in an action/drama against Jean Reno and Gary Oldman! You knew from that performance alone that she would eventually get an Oscar, right?

So which is your epitome role for Portman?

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Epitome Monday: Han Solo or Indiana Jones?

So I started with Robin Williams, moved on to Angelina Jolie, and last week talked about recent Oscar winner Christian Bale. I'd love to hear what you think their best flicks are. Feel free to click back through and let me know!

This week, I decided to break the pattern and try something different. I think most of us can agree that Harrison Ford peaked somewhere in the eighties. Yeah, he has done some great work since then, but people around the world know him for one of two roles:

Han Solo in the Star Wars movies or Indiana Jones in those movies. This is less about the actor and more about the roles, but I am very curious to learn which you think is the better one for Harrison Ford?

                                      



Your preference?

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The Kids are All Right

photo © 2008 Epic Beer | more info (via: Wylio)
I suppose the title was misleading.
This isn't a review of the poignant Oscar nominated movie. If you would like one, look at Damond's here.

Rather, I wanted to talk about the state of raising kids today. I inherited two great kids when I  married my wife nearly eight years ago. We had our own together six years ago- you've heard of her. 

We've had the "kids in the world" discussion a few times. The state of the world is so rocky, global warming, wars etc. I've actually heard people say they were not having kids because they could not imagine bringing kids into "this" world.

Wow. When I was growing up I remember the Cold War. I remember the drills. We heard the history of the Bay of Pigs and how on the brink we were then!

The problems of the world may have changed slightly or a lot I supposed based on your point of view, but if our parents all took the same POV none of us would be here.

My kids also talk about their problems as if they were something new. Nothing has changed on that front either has it? Mind you, there are new iterations of old problems and new ways to get in trouble, but bullies are still bullies, grades are still grades, and the world is still going to keep spinning.

So, yes the kids are STILL all right and I am glad I have mine.