The hype leading up to this Super Bowl has been almost nonexistent. Many of the Super Bowls in recent years have had many compelling stories that could intrigue interest outside fans of the two participants. Let’s look back.

The Hype of Past Super Bowls

Super Bowl 43: Cardinals vs Steelers

• Cardinals’ improbable (and first) run to the Super Bowl
• League’s best offense vs league’s best defense
• The amazing story of Kurt Warner getting back to the Super Bowl
• The Steelers back to the Super Bowl for the second time in 4 years

Super Bowl 42: Patriots vs Giants

• Patriots 18-0, knocking on the door of the undefeated season
• Giants make it to the Super Bowl as a 6th seed
• Added drama from their crazy game in week 17

Super Bowl 41: Colts vs Bears

• Peyton Manning finally makes a Super Bowl appearance
• Two black coaches in the Super Bowl
• Amazing offense (Colts) vs amazing defense (Bears)

Super Bowl 40: Steelers vs Seahawks

• Ben Roethisberger takes the Steelers to the Super Bowl in his second year
• Bettis returning home

Alright, no one (outside of Steelers fans) had excitement for this one.

Super Bowl 39: Patriots vs Eagles

• The possibility of the Patriots repeating
• McNabb and Reid finally making a Super Bowl

I could go on. Super Bowl XLIV’s most intriguing and hyped-up storyline is Dwight Freeney’s ankle. And New Orleans loves their team. That’s it. If Tony Dungy had not spiced things up by predicting a Colts blowout, there would not be anything else to talk about.

The playoffs had some great games (Packers/Cardinals, Vikings/Saints), and there is very little chance this Super Bowl will match them in terms of pre-game, in-game, or post-game drama. It is reminiscent of the Final Four a few years ago—complete chalk. We have the two top seeds who both nearly went undefeated (more on that after the Super Bowl). The two teams we knew were the best the whole season. The fact that it was expected makes it all the more mundane.

There is also the issue of the current state of the NFL. The fact that the two best passing offenses (perhaps not stat-wise, but we know they are the best) made it to this point signals a turn in the league. Whereas in previous years a dominant defense was important, now it is nearly pointless. With the league legislating defense out of the game (more on that in my predictions), teams have a better shot just chucking the ball as much as they can and hoping for calls. All the defense needs to do nowadays is avoid being on the field last.

And yet, as so eloquently put by every sports writer in history, “that’s why you play the game”. The one thing that can redeem the dreadful and horribly placed Pro Bowl, the lack of any outside interest beyond Colts and Saints fans, and the steady 0 on the excitement meter is a great game. A tight, thrilling battle of the best can erase any boring coverage from the last two weeks. An acrobatic, unbelievable play can turn tonight from mundane event into one I will always remember. A memorable finish can even turn a fan who rants about defensive rule changes into one who eagerly discusses the Super Bowl for weeks after its conclusion.

I hope we get that lucky.

Super Bowl XLIV Predictions

The Penalties (alternate title: Cady Bitterness)

The aforementioned changes that have sent the NFL down its chosen pansy path should be in full force tonight. I predict:

• At least 6 pass interference calls
• At least 4 roughing the passer calls
• At least 4 unnecessary roughness calls
• At least 2 calls so obviously wrong that remotes will be broken in rage somewhere in the country.

Other Assorted Predictions

In-game Celebrity Shots

• Kim Kardashian – 9
• Archie Manning – 7
• Bill Polian – 5
• Ricky Martin – 2

Number of Times Announcer Mentions Brett Favre

5

The Game Itself

I will be brief. Both New Orleans and Indianapolis have fantastic offenses. The Colts have an embarrassing secondary and Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning, so both teams will score a lot. I expect the Saints to jump out early, and the Colts will steadily get back into the game, taking this one down the wire. As for my game-changer, I think Dallas Clark and Reggie Bush could both be deciding factors for their teams. Who comes out on top?

Saints 37-34

The only thing left to do is to decide whether or not to wear my Willie Parker jersey to the Super Bowl party tonight. My fanhood is independent of playoff presence. Go Steelers.

The response in the tech community and among those I have spoken to since the iPad’s announcement has been rather negative. A lot of the concerns are similar: the closed nature of the system, the inability to render Flash, and the lack of multi-tasking (among others). None of those things really seem to be major problems to me, and they are no different than the “problems” faced by the iPhone. That device seems to do fairly well.

Speaking of the iPhone, does anyone remember what people were saying when it debuted several years ago?

The Past

Richard Sprague (Microsoft):

So please mark this post and come back in two years to see the results of my prediction: I predict they will not sell anywhere near the 10M Jobs predicts for 2008. Okay, it’s possible there are enough Apple religious people to buy a lot of them at first, but even the most diehard Mac fans who buy one of these will secretly carry two phones. One to prove how loyal and “cool” they are, and the other to actually make and receive calls.

There were 13.7 million iPhones sold in 2008 alone. And edit the phone part and this sounds identical to the comments being made about the iPad right now.

Steve Ballmer (CEO, Microsoft):

There’s no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance.

Ed Corrigan (CEO, Palm):

We’ve learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone. PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.

Matthew Lynn (Bloomberg):

The iPhone is nothing more than a luxury bauble that will appeal to a few gadget freaks. In terms of its impact on the industry, the iPhone is less relevant… Apple is unlikely to make much of an impact on this market… Apple will sell a few to its fans, but the iPhone won’t make a long-term mark on the industry.

I compiled the above quotes from a sampling of this MacDailyNews article. It provides just a sampling of what was said before the iPhone becoming the premier cellular device and revolutionizing the industry. Was the first iPhone a little rough around the edges? Sure. But Apple led the way in moving cell phones forward dramatically, by making their own top-notch product and basically forcing other companies to try to keep pace.

Again, is any of this sounding familiar? I am not sure we want to bet against a company who revolutionized an industry 3 years ago. The same level of skepticism surrounded the iPhone. The above is just a small sample of how it got crushed when Jobs first announced it. Have we not learned anything?

Among the crowds crying to anyone who will listen about everything they thought the iPad should be, there are a few people who are aware that we may be at the start of another revolution. They suggest that we may need to “think different” about the iPad.

The Future

Steven Frank (Panic):

Apple is calling the iPad a “third category” between phones and laptops. I am increasingly convinced that this is just to make it palatable to you while everything shifts to New World ideology over the next 10-20 years.

And later:

The iPad as a particular device is not necessarily the future of computing. But as an ideology, I think it just might be.

This article is probably the best written about the subject of the iPad to this point. Frank captures what Apple is going after, and why we should be paying attention. The entire article is brilliant, and I highly recommend reading it in its entirety.

Fraser Speirs (Connected Flow):

For years we’ve all held to the belief that computing had to be made simpler for the ‘average person’. I find it difficult to come to any conclusion other than that we have totally failed in this effort. Secretly, I suspect, we technologists quite liked the idea that Normals would be dependent on us for our technological shamanism.

Speirs wanders along the same lines as the Frank article. Another great insight into the possible goal in mind behind the creation of the iPad. The iPad, with its controlled experience and simple interface, could make complex tasks much easier for the average user. That is an extension of what Mac OSX has been doing for years.

Andy Ihnatko (Chicago Sun-Times):

Is it better to have a device that is loaded with bullet-pointable features?

Or is it better to have a device that has a shorter list of specs … but which does everything right?

That’s not a loaded question. It’s the key difference between the Android and iPhone operating systems. It’ll also define the difference between a netbook and an iPad. The former looks great on paper. The Apple product looks great when you’re actually trying one out firsthand.

That debate is the heart of the matter. Apple is trying to simplify the mobile computing experience down to its core, and perfect those essential features. The iPhone spawned dozens of copycats that can mimic the looks, but not the experience. Design is more than a layer of gloss. Apple’s products look great, but the reason people enjoy them is because the experience of using them, both in terms of simplicity and reliability, is better than the competition. A laundry-list of features that the iPad does not have is irrelevant, because the idea is giving users what they need and nothing more.

Closing Thoughts

Back to the iPad—the hardware is great. The iWork and Mail software is impressive, but I am not a fan of the scaled iPhone apps or the iPad’s home screen. I love the idea of reading PDFs on it, and I think I understand Apple’s stance on the iPad standing between the iPhone and laptop computers in a third space (for now, as Steven Frank notes). But to judge a product before I have used it, and 60 days before its premium version will be available to the general public, seems a little premature. The truth is we are not going to know if the iPad is a success until later. Just like the iPhone. And the iPod. And the Mac.

I do understand the concern from developers about the iPad. It is for consumption. But, that is what a gigantic percentage of users are utilizing their computers for anyway. I think this also fits into the aforementioned third space, because the iPad can be used as a complementary computer. In this sense, the iPad can function as a primary machine for basic users, while also holding the ability to be a secondary device for power users. That is amazing potential. It remains to be seen if the software can live up to the incredible hardware and deliver on said potential, but I hope that the above review of recent history shed some light on my optimism.

I love Apple products not because they are from Apple, but because they are the best. If another company created a computing experience that was superior, I would love their products too. It is that commitment to being the best that leads me to believe there will be a lot of people eating their words in a few years (just like with the iPhone). But for now, we as the general public and the tech community do all that we can do.

We wait.

It all started after 2am, the best time to delve into high-octane sports arguments. In the height of my 2008 stand that both Kevin Garnett and Chris Paul were better MVP candidates than Kobe Bryant (still believe that), I had to defend myself. Being attacked from all sides by Kobe and LeBron supporters, it was at the argument’s peak that Chris Paul’s abilities were called into question. After being challenged to take a bet that he and the Hornets would not win a title in the next 10 years, I boldly rose to the challenge.

Of course, being that the wager is only for $10 (1 per year), I can safely say I would do it again. But the fact is that the years since Chris Paul officially took over as a top 5 point guard in the league have not been kind to the Hornets. Management has not exactly shown a commitment to winning by surrounding Paul with the talent he needs around him. (There is an interesting subplot of the bet involving CP3…I will just say that my position has always been that if Paul leaves New Orleans the bet is off).

Regardless, a few good draft choices and a little luck and I still have 9 more chances (2010 to 2018) to claim 10 bucks, and more importantly, the pride associated with winning. Chris Paul will be the best point guard in the game (if he is not there already), which also helps me.

But now, Chris Paul aside, what bets would I make for the next ten years of the NBA? (Note: I have no plans to gamble at any point in my life. Just roll with the premise.)

Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant Will Both Win Another Title

If Wade stays in Miami, it will be because Pat Riley brings in one of the many available stars from the 2010 free agency class to help him out. Riley knows this, and for that reason I see no way that he does not bring in a big name to carry some of the load. The Heat right now are one piece away from title contention (a dominant post presence). The combination of Wade, Beasley, and a combination of Alston/Chalmers at the point is enough around the perimeter.

This is where I start to dream about the idea of the two most possible scenarios: Bosh or LeBron coming to Miami. If either happens, the Heat instantly become legitimate contenders. Be it one of the big names or someone else, Wade is going to get enough help to win another before his career is done.

As for Kobe, his window is much smaller, but he already has all the pieces in place. The Lakers as a team are so unbelievably stacked with talent that it seems unfair to the rest of the NBA. The less work Bryant has to do (he has a ton of miles as it is), the better their chances are at the end. If they have the motivation they can just win another one this season without going far into the next decade.

I still think Kobe Bryant is a terrible teammate, but I cannot deny his skill. Does he make players around him better? No. But with that roster, he does not need to. He can be the fantastic individual player that he is, pick his spots and take over when the time comes, and the Lakers can win it all. Kobe has maybe 3 more years to do this, and I think he gets it done one more time.

Kevin Durant Will Be the Scoring Leader At Least 3 Times

Kevin Durant is one of the most dynamic scorers in the NBA, and he is only 21 years old. He is a matchup nightmare. A 6′9″ guard who can shoot over PG/SGs and blow by any bigs you put on him. Who is going to guard this guy? He already is averaging 28 points per, and he is not even close to his physical prime. He could become the best pure scorer in the NBA, which is why at least 3 scoring titles seems like a sure thing to me. I hope he gets a championship in there as well, but that depends on how well OKC surrounds him with talent (so far, excellent job).

LeBron James Will Win His First Title…in Cleveland

His size creates a major defensive conundrum, and he can play all 5 positions on the floor. But outside of his size, he cannot hurt you anywhere else. The barrel-to-the-basket move got him to the Finals once, but until King James can develop a post-game I am not scared. He is either going to charge to the rim like a rhinoceros or pull up from deep. I blame this mostly on coaching. Mike Brown makes no use of LeBron’s unique talents and the team suffers because of it. His go-to 1-4 set with LeBron getting the ball at the top of the key and basically doing everything himself will not win a title.

In ten years though, these problems will have changed. LeBron will have post moves, probably a new coach, and maybe a new team (if it is the Knicks then I change my bet to 0 titles ever). He will have a solid supporting cast wherever he is, and finally will be able to contribute rather than doing everything (see: Kobe Bryant’s most recent title). I think LeBron gets his, and I think he stays where he belongs—in Cleveland.

(Or Miami where he and Wade win 3 more…let me dream.)

The Clippers Will Blow a Draft Pick

Hey, I needed at least one sure thing.

More Questions

I stayed pretty conservative, just because thinking back the game has changed so much in the last ten years. Based on that, there is no way we can anticipate the changes that are coming. Will John Wall be the sure thing that every analyst believes he is? Will Brandon Jennings pan out over ten years time? Is Tyreke Evans the best player from the 2009 draft class? Looking ahead just a few months, in what ways will the free agency of 2010 shape the league’s future?

There are plenty of questions that will keep NBA fans entertained over the next decade. But for me, it is going to be hard to top the bet made on June 21, 2008, at a friend’s place around 2am.

Come on, CP3. We still have 9 chances to win me a Hamilton.

Back in September I made predictions for the playoff teams. I went 7/12 (for the second straight year strangely), missing on the 14-2 Colts (oops) and 12-4 Vikings (thought Favre was done), among others. The plus side is that I can learn from this. I learn more each season that in the NFL (and professional sports in general), history tends to repeat rule itself. There is some information to gather from the 2009 regular season in looking forward to next year, but for now I present my 2010 Laws of the Playoffs (in order of importance).

Law 1: Tanking Never Works

We have seen it fail in the past, and yet teams still maintain that shutting it down for the last few regular season games will benefit them. The year that New England went 16-0, they played every game to win. The did not lose the Super Bowl because they played too many games. They lost because the Giants were the first team they played that completely dedicated themselves to the pass rush. (The Ravens did in the regular season, and were one timeout miscue from winning then.) They lost, plain and simple.

The injury card might get played here, but I still do not buy it. Injury can happen in any regular season game or any practice. It is a part of football. The Steelers decided to play against the Browns in the last game of last season and Roethlisberger was injured. The decision to play was questioned, and the Steelers were written off. A few weeks later, I was in downtown Pittsburgh celebrating the Super Bowl victory.

Somehow with the passage of time, NFL teams have deduced that the reason the Patriots were not able to seal the deal was because they should have rested down the stretch after clinching their top seed. That is absolutely ridiculous. In a game of precise timing where every player talks about “game speed”, playing to win is critical for success. Therefore, the first law of the 2010 Playoffs decrees that any team that tanked down the stretch will not advance.

Law 2: Never Trust Number One

In the last decade of the NFL, only the 2003 Patriots entered the playoffs as a number one seed and won the Super Bowl. Every other Super Bowl winner this millennium was from a lower seed. While I cannot explain exactly why this is true, my bet would be the schedule. To obtain the best record in a conference, a favorable schedule is absolutely key. Winning more than 10 games in the NFL takes more than skill or game-planning. It also involves a lot of luck and a lower quality group of opponents.

Using simple probability, it is easy to create the second law of the 2010 playoffs—a number one seed will not win it all.

Law 3: The Quarterback is King

My football philosophy has never wavered. Run the ball, play defense. I still think it is the best way to win, and if a team masters those two things they will go far.

However, I may be forced to change my stubborn ways (not easy). The NFL has essentially legislated defense out of the game. You cannot hit anyone too high, too low, or too hard. You cannot touch the quarterback in any way. Even if you manage to hit the ball out of his hands, the play is going to be overturned to an incomplete pass. The NFL has gotten its wish. Quarterbacks and the offensive skill positions are the most protected players in the game, while defensive players, special teams, and linemen on both sides are ignored.

Unfortunately the Laws of the 2010 Playoffs must take these league changes into account. Law 3 states that a championship team must be run by an elite quarterback.

Law 4: You Need a Game Changer

• Jets: Darrelle Revis. He absolutely shuts down the other team’s number one.
• Ravens: Ray Rice. The rushing and receiving dual threat can break off a game-changing play at any time.
• Bengals: Nobody. I feel sorry for this team and all that they have gone through, but all they have is an overworked Benson, and an overrated Ochocinco.
• Patriots: Wes Welker. Their best offensive weapon is going to be hard to replace.
• Chargers: Antonio Gates. This matchup nightmare has been the best tight end in football for a long time. Now that Rivers has stepped up to another level, he is a huge weapon for San Diego.
• Colts: Peyton Manning. He was undeniably the best quarterback in the league this season. Unfortunately his team has already succumbed to the top two Laws. More on that later.
• Eagles: DeSean Jackson. He is, as of today, the most dangerous player in the game.
• Packers: Aaron Rodgers. Without him the Packers probably win 4 games this year. I would classify that as changing games.
• Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald. At his peak, unable to be covered.
• Cowboys: Nobody. Austin and Witten do not scare me. You can leave Roy Williams’ side of the field empty defensively if you like.
• Vikings: Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin. Both can completely change the face of a game.
• Saints: Everyone. Every week the Saints beat you with someone else. But like the Colts, they are already out of it.

Law 5: There Will Be a Surprise

Last year, the Arizona Cardinals were the unexpected team of the playoffs. There will be an out-of-nowhere team this year that makes a deep run. This is the most confusing of the laws, because while it is assuredly going to happen, it is difficult to predict who that team will be. My money is on the Green Bay Packers. They finished the season very strong, but with a tough loss to keep them motivated (at Pittsburgh). If the offensive line is healthy, this team has all the pieces to be an extremely difficult opponent in the playoffs.

Putting It All Together

Now that the laws are established, here is how I see things playing out.

Round 1: The Wild Cards

Jets over Bengals (Law 1)

Ravens over Patriots (Law 4)

Packers over Cardinals (Law 1, Law 5)

Eagles over Cowboys (Law 4)

Round 2: Divisional Playoffs

Ravens over Colts (Law 1, Law 2)

Chargers over Jets (Law 3)

Saints over Eagles (Law 3, Law 4)

Packers over Vikings (Law 5)

Round 3: Conference Championships

Chargers over Ravens (Law 3)

Packers over Saints (Law 1, Law 2, Law 5)

The Super Bowl

Chargers over Packers

There you have it. According to the 2010 Laws of the Playoffs, the San Diego Chargers will prevail over the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl.

It was a roundabout way to make my playoff predictions, but I hope you enjoyed my take on this year’s playoff picture. What are your playoff or Super Bowl predictions? Let me know in the comments.

The Yet Unseen

There Will Be Blood (2008), Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007), Avatar (2009), Into the Wild (2007), and more I am sure I am missing.

Just Missed the Cut

Bourne Identity (2002), Bourne Supremacy (2004), X2: X-Men United (2003), The Incredibles (2004), Gone Baby Gone (2007)

The Best Films of the 2000s

30. Rush Hour 2 (2001)

Since the majority of this list is seriously ranked and I spent an absurd amount of time ranking, and re-ranking everything, I feel I deserve this. Of course Rush Hour 2 is not on the same level as any of these other movies or those that missed the cut in terms of cinematography or storyline. It is a simple buddy comedy that has some entertaining action as well. But Rush Hour 2 is so much more than that to me personally. It stands with the original Rush Hour, and A Night at the Roxbury as the only three movies I can quote word-for-word.

It is one of the funniest movies of all time, and definitely the one I have enjoyed the most watching with friends. Rush Hour 2’s ranking represents not only one of my personal favorite films, but the idea that you don’t always have to be an expert critic (as I try to be for the remainder of this article).

Sometimes, you can like a movie just because you like it. And that’s okay.

29-27. Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003)

If we can just be real with ourselves, this is all one movie. Most people either enjoyed all three or did not enjoy any. I must give credit where it is due, as this trilogy is one of the greatest accomplishments in modern cinema. It has the grandest scope of any film this decade, daring to draw from endlessly detailed source material and please both the diehards and newcomers equally. Its success is unbelievable considering the circumstances. But, it is still boring at many points, hence the ranking.

26. Taken (2008) (original review)

Taken is a straight old-school action flick. Liam Neeson stars as the guy you simply do not cross, traversing Europe with no regard for anything except his single mission—get his daughter. I loved its simplicity and its unprecedented dedication to nonstop butt-kicking.

25. Iron Man (2008) (original review)

From my review:

Another thing that makes Iron Man different from other superhero movies is the humor. I loved the fact that Iron Man the film did not take itself too seriously, and really let itself takes audiences on a fun ride. There were so many one-liners and hilarious scenes I would almost call the movie a comedy (intentionally, unlike the joke known as Spider-Man 3). It is that funny.

24. Insomnia (2002)

Having seen both the American version Insomnia listed here and the original 1997 Norwegian version, I surprise even myself to say that both are quality movies. Yes, the original version is probably better, but the direction that Christopher Nolan takes with his Insomnia is so different that they feel like two individual creations. With all the Batman hype bringing Nolan into the spotlight, many forget that he was making great movies long before he has handed the Caped Crusader.

23. Ratatouille (2007) (original review)

Reading this site for any amount of time would create a lack of surprise for the amount of Pixar films on this list. What makes Ratatouille stand out to me is its spectacular character design (learn about it here). Of course, I’m just trying to find something unique beyond the great story, characters, and animation that every single Pixar movie has.

22. Finding Nemo (2003)

It was hard to rank these two Pixar entries back to back, but I gave Finding Nemo the nod. I feel that it has become the lost treasure of Pixar’s fantastic library. The characters are more fully developed in Nemo than in most movies you saw this decade. The story encompasses the bond between father and son, overcoming our weaknesses, and rising up in the face of tragedy. And it’s still funny enough to show a three-year-old. That is not common.

21. Gladiator (2000)

I have not seen Gladiator since 2000, but the fact that I remembered to put it on this list should say something about its quality. The violence of the coliseum was entertaining, but the real reward is the story of Maximus. Ten years is not an eternity, but I think in today’s consume-and-forget society it is safe to say that Gladiator has already stood the test of time.

20. District 9 (2009) (original review)

Sci-Fi had a very strong decade, and District 9 was a fantastic entry into the category. The building pressure of the opening brought on suspense for a turn that at once floored me and kicked the movie into overdrive until the end. It will be remembered for its creativity, intensity, and the best CGI and special effects my eyes have seen.

19. Juno (2007) (original review)

Though Juno is fantastic, I have a hard time forgiving it for the legion of Michael Cera scripts it created (to be played by Cera himself, or understudy Jesse Eisenberg). Its wholly original sense of style and sharp dialog made it as unique as its title character. Yeah, Jason Bateman is really creepy, but this is also the only time Jennifer Garner actually gets to act. Trade-offs.

18. (500) Days of Summer (2009)

It seems very early to put 500 Days of Summer on my best of the decade list, but I was so immediately impressed by the film I watched on New Year’s Eve that I could not leave it out. 500 is a romantic comedy with deeply engaging characters, a touching yet truthful story, and a whimsical sense of humor, but the presentation is what sets it apart. The staggered storytelling, fantastic editing, and excellent chemistry between Deschanel and Gordon-Levitt are the pieces of the film that propelled it this high up in my ranking.

17. Big Fish (2003)

Big Fish is an amazing film, but for one reason or another got lost in the shuffle of the decade lists. Tim Burton’s penchant for the surreal and his ability to capture human emotion culminated in Big Fish. The majestic landscape paints a dreamlike atmosphere to explore the relationship between a father and son.

16. Batman Begins (2005)

Without this rebirth of the franchise, The Dark Knight could not have been made. Christopher Nolan’s reinvention of Batman was phenomenal when I first saw it in theaters. It has since tarnished since because of the superiority of The Dark Knight, and its lackluster villain. And the fact that the major device of destruction makes no sense (note: humans are composed primarily of water). And there’s that part about directly violating one of the most important parts of Batman lore (he does not kill). The point is, even with all those mistakes, it is still a great movie. That should be an achievement in itself.

15. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

It is quite possible that the greatness of Shaun of the Dead is what led me to feel completely underwhelmed by Zombieland this year (that and Fake Michael Cera). This zombie comedy delivers the laughs with gags, but the subtle humor and attention to detail are what make it rise above the competition.

14. Good Night and Good Luck (2005)

This historical nod to another era of television is both educational, informative, and engrossing. Good Night and Good Luck has been called boring by many of the friends I excitedly recommended it to. Perhaps they were not drawn into the world of news and McCarthyism during that era. The fantastic acting performances and the precisely recreated sets of the 1950s (the film uses real McCarthy footage and was shot in black and white for added effect) were enough to make this one of my favorites of the decade.

13. House of Flying Daggers (2004)

House of Flying Daggers is in contention for the most beautiful film listed here. The colorful backdrops of China are jaw-dropping. House fuses kung-fu action around a powerful love story that feeds off the spectacular visuals. The action is so intense and wonderfully choreographed that even the fighting contributes to the allure of House of Flying Daggers. This is one of the films I would present to illustrate film as an art form.

12. Serenity (2005)

I have to qualify this by saying that you should only watch Serenity after viewing the entire Firefly television series. Serenity acts as the conclusion to Joss Whedon’s fantastic show. It has hilarious dialogue, tons of action, and thoroughly rewards longtime viewers on every front. It is the perfect film finale to one of the best shows to ever air on TV.

11. Up (2009) (original review)

Pixar’s Up is their most emotional and serious film. Laughter, tears, and fantastic characters. The impossibly high standard is once again set with a beautiful display of colors and wondrous backdrops. I do not know what else to say. They are on another level.

10. Primer (2004)

At its core, Primer is a nerd’s dream film. Written, directed, and even acted by a former engineer, the level of technicality in the script and presentation is insane. It is a perfectly crafted, suspenseful film about power and corruption that is wrapped within a shell of science fiction. I am still not sure I have fully gotten my head around it, but its complex plot helped Primer to become one of the ten best movies of the decade.

9. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) (original review)

I thought about putting the entire trilogy right here. As I have said before, the Bourne trilogy is the best one that I have ever seen in terms of each installment maintaining such a high level of quality. It is the perfect espionage thriller series, capped off by the tremendous Ultimatum, which ends up being the best of the three.

8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a creative triumph with a breathtakingly original story and an amazing visual style. It is the spiritual predecessor to movies such as the aforementioned (500) Days of Summer. The movie delves deep into the human mind, weaving a maze of love and love lost. Jim Carrey is fantastic as he leads a touching movie, unlike the characters of the film, the audience will never forget.

7. Children of Men (2006) (original review)

Women can no longer have babies and the world is set to end in about 50 years when the last humans will die off. It might not sound like an uplifting movie, but the story is incredibly moving. It is action-packed, moves at a frenetic pace, and its camerawork is unbelievable. A powerful sci-fi adventure that will stand for a long time as one the best from the 2000s.

6. The Dark Knight (2008) (original review)

The Dark Knight is amazing in many different ways. I could talk about the acting (minus Bale’s Batman voice). There is the twisting, turning story and all the great action scenes. There is the world of Gotham that, even with its masked heroes and villains, is made real and believable. But above all of that, there is one thing that stands out to me as setting Dark Knight as one of the best—the hype. After more hype than I have ever experienced for a movie by every single person who even remotely anticipated it, The Dark Knight delivered. I still cannot believe it not only met its unimaginable expectations, but exceeded them.

5. The Fountain (2006)

It has taken me years to fully comprehend The Fountain. Every part of the film is so deep that it takes time to appreciate how much work went into crafting it. Even the lighting and camerawork are used to symbolize transformation across the film. Its story is so emotionally passionate that it ignites the screen just as much as the stunning visuals. The Fountain is a captivating, touching work of art. It just might take a while for that to sink in.

4. Sunshine (2007) (original review)

If only one word could be used to describe Sunshine, it would be intense. It is a thoughtful exploration of human character, but so chillingly paced that I almost had an anxiety attack. The characters are so well-developed in such a short time it is astounding, and they are the main contributors to Sunshine’s brilliance. It is, like many near the top of my list, an absolutely beautiful film. Additionally, I thought that the controversial third act of the film actually fit well, and provided the path to the perfect ending.

3. 3:10 to Yuma (2007) (original review)

Every time I watch 3:10 to Yuma I get chills from how good it is (this can be confirmed by those who have seen it with me). Bale, Crowe, and Ben Foster all deliver incredible performances. The story is entertaining both for its surface of the journey to Contention and its underlying themes of courage and perseverance. I have never been able to capture precisely what makes 3:10 so fantastic in words, so all I can say is if you have not seen it, I give it my highest recommendation.

2. WALL-E (2008) (original review)

Certainly the most controversial review in the history of this site (if that means anything to you), my love of WALL-E is widely known. The genius of the first 45 minutes of dialogue-free story is unrivaled. It is Pixar’s most artistic film, and their most simple as well. WALL-E rids itself of the extraneous in creating a film that is purely what it needs to be, and nothing more. Every piece of the film, from the animation to the sound to the wonderful characters, is exquisite. It is a landmark achievement not just in animation, but in all of film (and it should have been nominated for Best Picture in 2008). WALL-E is one of the best movies I have ever seen.

1. Memento (2001) The hardest part of making this list was establishing the top spot. I was able to gather my top 5 fairly easily. Deciding amongst them was extremely challenging though, and as mentioned above, this list is subject to change.

That said, Memento is certainly deserving of the position. Not only is it the fourth film directed by Christopher Nolan on this list (Wow), Memento is the best film of the 2000s. A movie has to make a considerable impact to be considered the best, and it is clear that Memento has changed the industry from both a filmmaker’s and viewer’s perspective. For better or worse, it gets mentioned every single time a new film has a creative or innovative way of storytelling. Its open-ended conclusion can inspire long discussions dissecting the finale piece by piece. It had a big hand in bringing thoughtful cinema to a general audience (at least among my generation) and opening the way for directors to create more of those films. And even amidst all of its confusion, Memento always seems plausible. Much like in The Dark Knight, Nolan creates realistic characters that transcend their unrealistic situations.

Some say that Memento is never the same after it is seen for the first time, and that may be true. But to unravel Memento from its layers of brilliant presentation is to appreciate it for the masterpiece of cinema that it is.

Playoff Predictions

Last season I was 7/12 in predicting the playoff teams. You can read last season’s AFC predictions and NFC predictions if you want to verify that stat. Here are my playoff predictions for 2009:

AFC Division Winners

• Steelers
• Jaguars
• Chargers
• Patriots

AFC Wildcard

• Ravens
• Jets

NFC Division Winners

• Packers
• Saints
• 49ers
• Eagles

NFC Wildcard

• Redskins
• Bears

The 7 Best Moments of the 2008 Steelers

7. Roethlisberger to Santonio Against the Titans

This one is a sentimental pick. I had a somewhat large group of people over to watch this game, and during it there were many arguments concerning Roethlisberger as one of the league’s best quarterbacks. This play sparked controversy because those against Roethlisberger (surprisingly many for a group watching in Pittsburgh) said that the throw was terrible and Holmes made a great catch. Are they letting blind hatred for Big Ben cloud their speech? Is Roethlisberger one of the league’s top 3 quarterbacks? Is it still a fantastic catch? Absolutely.

6. Townsend’s Pick 6 to Beat the ‘Boys

I actually know Dallas fans who think Romo is a better quarterback than Roethlisberger. Ben has more rings than Romo has playoff victories, so let’s not get too carried away.

5. Holmes’ Playoff Punt Return

I absolutely love the punter’s stat at the beginning of this clip. I was in the kitchen getting the nacho cheese that had just finished cooking when I hear my roommate Jesse start screaming. I throw the cheese on the counter and jump the couch to start jumping up and down with him in excitement and anticipation. After Santonio scored the touch I am pretty sure we annihilated the nachos in celebration.

4. Polamalu’s Playoff Pick 6

“Watch out. Ed Reed is hungry.” – John, a friend of mine (who happens to be a Patriots fan) speaking before the AFC Championship. In the battle of the league’s two best safeties, I think this round had a clear winner.

3. Polamalu’s One-Handed Interception

Where does this fit into the most athletic plays in NFL history? Top 25? Top 10? Polamalu’s fingertip interception is just incredible.

2. Roethlisberger to Holmes for Super Bowl XLIII

When this happened real time I think I cried. Then I screamed at the pitch of an 12-year-old female soprano along with several other fully-grown men and women. I am having trouble even thinking about the next part of this article to write (Gasp! He writes out of order!) because I cannot get the grin induced by this clip off my face.

1. The Single Greatest Play in Super Bowl History

Easily contends for my all-time favorite piece of video. And please hear me, I love the Roethlisberger to Santonio touchdown catch. It capped off one of the great Super Bowl drives in history, and that is without getting into the triple-coverage-beating perfect pass and toe-tapping, jaw-dropping catch that inspired this run-on, hyphen-happy sentence. However, we will see game-winning touchdown drives again. Super Bowl XLIII will not be the last time someone wins with a late touchdown pass.

We will never see anything, anything, like what James Harrision accomplished on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium. A 6 foot, 242 pound linebacker intercepting the ball in the end zone and taking it back 100 yards for a touchdown with no time left in the half in a game decided by 4 points? The interception alone stopped the Cardinals from going into halftime with the lead. Adding on a touchdown is not only implausible considering the circumstances, it defies all reason. One could argue it was just as important as the final game-winning drive, because without Harrison the drive cannot happen. This play will go down as one of the greatest feats in the history of the Super Bowl, and for my money it is number 1.

If you are not excited for the 2009 Steelers at this point (which, based on these clips, is impossible) let me bring up a few points. The Steelers are returning 9 of 11 starters on an all-time defense still coached by Dick LeBeau. Their first round pick running back and second round receiver from two drafts back are ready to contribute on the offensive side of the ball. Their quarterback has the record for most wins in his first five seasons as a starter, and already has two Super Bowl rings (and somehow, is still trying to silence doubters). Two words: Mike. Tomlin. Sadly the Steelers are also bringing back the exact same offensive line. Regardless, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for this year. And no matter what happens I am going to cheer my heart out and wave my Terrible Towel like it’s the last chance I will ever have.

Go Pittsburgh. Go Steelers.

I often talk about expectations going into a film. It is often the case that some prior knowledge or ideas about a movie can drastically alter the experience of seeing it for the first time. My viewing of District 9 was optimal because I had only seen the teaser trailer. I knew enough to be interested, but not nearly enough to impact my experience.

The surprise element was key, because I did not see any of the twists and turns coming. District 9 is not a somber, heady science fiction film in the vein of 2001 or Moon. It is an intense, racing thriller of the genre that consistently kept me in suspense. The first twenty minutes or so of set up were dripping with tension, followed by a blitz of pulse-pounding ferocity. I have trouble remembering a sci-fi film that used action so effectively.

A large part of the satisfaction of the action is that at no point did I feel the story was put on hold for a shootout. Amidst the explosions a plot was constantly being pushed. It is rarely contemplative, instead relying on undertones beneath the energetic presentation to tell a story of persecution. The story was often times just as intense as the action surrounding it, driven by phenomenal performance from lead actor Sharlto Copley.

His primarily computer-generated supporting cast was quite a sight to behold. District 9 has hands-down some of the best special effects I have ever seen. The aliens and environments are so well-crafted that they feel almost natural next to their human counterparts. Director Neill Blomkamp has an excellent handle on the gritty environment, and created a world that absorbs the audience so well that it makes aliens feel realistic.

To discount the intelligence of District 9 would be a mistake. Though it is extremely action-packed and full of raw emotion, there are still plenty of moral dilemmas proposed within the film. I appreciated its commitment to providing both explosions and expositions. It is simultaneously entertaining and thought-provoking, though it perhaps relies too much on shock value at times.

Though my thoughts have been glowing so far, I still have trouble rating District 9. While I loved the style, cinematography, acting, and story, I feel like the rush I felt in theaters will be lost upon further viewings. Still, its technical achievements are amazing in my opinion, and District 9 is an example of a creative and thoroughly innovative entry into the science fiction genre.

8.5/10

To those wondering, yes, I am indeed nerdy enough to avoid telling any of my friends about my planned new phone, then announce it on my web site as some sort of surprise unveiling.

Then again, none of that activity should surprise any of my friends at all.

Hello, iPhone.

Moon is a difficult movie to explain without giving everything away, so my thoughts might seem more generic than usual in the interest of keeping things spoiler-free. Based on that comment, it is easy to infer that the trailer only gives a small hint at the true plot and developments within the film.

There is always a danger with hyping movies within one’s own mind. After seeing Moon’s fantastic trailer and viewing the amazing promotional material, I was extremely excited to see it. In that regard I suppose the advertising agency did its job very well, but the movie itself left me wanting a little more.

Perhaps it was the ideas of what I thought the movie was going to be. I had an idea of the plot weeks before I even stepped foot into the theater. A man is in space with three weeks left until he gets to fly back to Earth. Commence suspenseful deconstruction of the human psyche.

For the first 30 minutes it looked like everything was going according to plan. I was on the edge of my seat, and with each passing minute the level of intensity was rising. Then, with a sudden change of pace, that was snatched away. All the questions, all the suspense, all the intrique–gone. My disappointment could be simply the result of my own desires, or it could be because Moon was lacking; I will never know. There within lies the problem of letting your mind run with anticipation.

I was left with a stellar first act, followed by an average middle and end. Even in my disappointment, I was stunned by the performance of Sam Rockwell. The script required him to single-handedly carry the entire film, and he responded by giving an inspiring display of emotion. The acting was fantastic, and it certainly had to be to make Moon work.

Moon is a solid science fiction movie, and one that I might enjoy more a few years away from thoughts of what it should be. As it stands today, I see some spectacular acting and set design, but moreso a huge pile of lost potential. I wanted Moon to join Sunshine as a psychological thriller (along with one of my favorite movies), but it just did not happen. Watch it without creating your own story first, and it will deliver.

7.5/10

Michael Mann has had great success in the crime genre. His films include Heat, Collateral, and Miami Vice, all three of which I highly enjoyed. Public Enemies has elements of these films, such as the character exploration of the villain. Mann has always turned the audience around to see things from the villain’s point of view. John Dillinger is a perfect antihero to fit this style of storytelling.

Dillinger is played wonderfully by Johnny Depp, who gave a brilliant performance that captures the audience. Viewers root for Depp just as real citizens did for Dillinger in the 1930s. His Robin Hood style of robbery combined with his smooth charm makes him a captivating lead character. Combine his exploits with his love interest and Public Enemies has a very entertaining and complex lead. As the film progresses we see Dillinger’s deconstruction from an untouchable mobster to an illusioned and desperate man.

The story is more emotion than narrative. I identified with the characters much more than I anticipated the next stage of the chase between Dillinger and Agent Melvin Pervis (Christian Bale). At times the plot was confusing, and though Depp was excellent, we did not see enough of Bale. Without the exploration of the cop side of the case, it was hard to develop a real interest in their cat and mouse game. I think with the balance tilted slightly more towards the story behind the law enforcement the story could have been more engaging. Additionally, I feel that there was more to the character of Agent Pervis than the stereotype tough agent we were given.

I would not be willing to sacrifice much of Dillinger’s story however, but it would be difficult to add anything to the film. At 2 hours and 20 minutes Public Enemies is certainly not lacking content. I noticed the runtime a little bit, but that could have been because I saw it in a packed theater at approximately 1000 degrees. I understand the length because time is needed to delve into the characters as Mann wants, but there were some areas that could have been cut with little consequence.

Public Enemies is a thoughtful crime drama that I did enjoy. The action and story are solid, and the acting is phenomenal. It is nowhere close to Heat, but then again few movies are.

7.5/10