This past weekend was one of entertainment’s grandest conventions. The San Diego Comic-Con has evolved into a premier event and while I’m still sad (and a bit annoyed) that comics, the thing the Con was first built around, has been pushed further and further back, there are always incredible nuggets of news and revelation that gets the geek in me all worked up. Now with so much information coming out of the convention there’s no way I can cover it all. Instead I thought I would share five bits of news that thrilled me out the most.

#5 – “Avengers: Age of Ultron”

Normally any information about the upcoming sequel to “The Avengers” would automatically find its way close to the top of this list. But at SDCC Joss Whedon managed to truly excite the inner geek in me only to dampen my enthusiasm a little later. It was revealed that the sequel will be titled “Avengers: Age of Ultron”. That alone thrills a long time Avengers comic fan like me. But then Whedon announced that Hank Pym would not be a part of the film and that they were rewriting Ultron’s entire origin. WHY? How can you have Ultron and not have Hank Pym? Pym has a deeply intricate connection to Ultron and removing that takes away enormous potential. Still I’m excited to see what we get. Just not as much as I could have been.

#4 – The “Guardians of the Galaxy” cast unveiled.

Photo credited to Marvel.com

Being a huge comic book fan since the late 1970’s it’s been a ton of fun for me watching these great characters take on a new life on the big screen. That said, “Guardians of the Galaxy” was one that filled me with concern. Those feelings were eased a little as the cast came together at SDCC. And what an “interesting” cast it is. Benicio del Toro, Chris Pratt, Djimon Hounsou, Zoe Saldano, Lee Pace, Dave Bautista, and Michael Rooker were all in San Diego to talk a little bit about their roles and the look and time of the film. I still have some significant concerns but this looks like it could officially bring Marvel’s cosmic universe to the big screen with style!

#3 – Anthony Mackie is Falcon!

This may have been out there already but Anthony Mackie confirmed that he will play Sam Wilson, a.k.a Falcon, in the upcoming “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”. Now if you’re not familiar with the Winter Soldier story arc from the comics you’re in for a huge treat. It’s one of the bet Cap arcs ever in my opinion. And if you’re not familiar with Falcon you’ll be equally pleased (assuming he’s done well). Falcon is a best friend to Steve Rogers, keeping him grounded and providing him a needed release point. They have a fantastic relationship and Falcon Is a big reason Captain America is one of my favorite books. But don’t get me wrong, Falcon is also a kick butt character and I can’t wait to see Mackie take him on.

#2 – “X-Men: Days of Future Past” cast assembles.

I had heard bits of information here and there about the second X-Men movie from the recent reboot. The “X-Men: Days of Future Past” panel verified many things and unveiled others. Perhaps the coolest moment came when the entire cast was assembled and featured several old familiar faces. The film will serve as a sequel to two films and also a bridge between them. We got the full effect of that when Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Hugh Jackman, and Halle Berry stood on stage next to Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, and Jennifer Lawrence. Many other cast members were present and this looks like it could be something special. Lets just hope it’s more like “X-Men: First Class” and less like “X-Men: The Last Stand”.

#1 – A “Superman/Batman” movie? YES!!!

Nothing from San Diego Comic-Con caught my attention and blew me away more than the conformation of an upcoming Superman/ Batman movie. On the heals of the global success of “Man on Steel”, Warner Brothers has put Zach Snyder back in the driver’s seat for a sequel. But this time the Dark Knight himself will be joining in. Henry Cavill is back as Superman but no word on who will don Batman’s cape and cowl. But one thing is for certain, DC and Warner have a formula here loaded with mind-blowing potential. There is such a huge history between these two characters in the comics and the thought of them meeting up on the big screen geeks me out like nothing else!

So what excited you most out of this year’s San Diego Comic-Con? Obviously this was a pretty heavy superhero influenced list. Now I would love to hear from you.

Last Friday (July 19th) marked my 42nd birthday. Yep, I’m that old but I feel blessed beyond measure. So considering that, I thought I would incorporate birthdays into this week’s Phenomenal 5. Today I’m looking at birthday parties. Now these aren’t meant to be the best parties but truly memorable ones from motion picture history. So many parties came to mind and I left out a few that I truly loved for the sake of a more fun and diverse list. So considering that, I wouldn’t call this the definitive list. But there is no doubting that these five movie birthday party scenes are absolutely phenomenal.

#5 – “IRON MAN” 2
Nobody can throw a party like Tony Stark. But when your a stubborn, egotistical, self-destructive, billionaire playboy that’s not always a good thing. In this scene Stark’s drunkenness, self-loathing, and personal pity party alienates practically everyone close to him. His overt flirting with a sultry Scarlet Johansson pushes Pepper away and his carelessness with his Iron Man weaponry leads to an armored throwdown between Iron Man and War Machine (manned by Stark’s best friend). The biggest victims are Tony’s pride and his expensive mansion in this fantastic sequence.

#4 – “SIGNS”
It may be easy for some people to forget M. Night Shyamalan’s 2002 horror thriller “Signs”. For me this has always been one of the director’s best and I like nearly everything about it. Nestled inside the film is a birthday party scene that’s easy to miss. But I had to include it because its one of my favorite scenes in the movie. A very nervous Joaquin Phoenix sits in a closet anxiously watching TV for any bit of news on a possible alien invasion. For him it comes in the form of amateur footage taken at a 7-year old’s birthday party in Brazil. It’s a pretty tense scene laced with a touch of humor from Phoenix. And I’ll always remember the newscasters opening comment: “What you’re about to see may disturb you.”

#3 – “THE BIRDS”
There are a number of signature scenes from Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. In fact, this film has already been on one Phenomenal 5 list of movie gas station scenes. Well one of its great moments takes place during an outdoor birthday party. Kids are everywhere doing what kids do at birthday parties. There is cake, balloons, laughter, and fun games There is also a horde of menacing gulls that quickly make their presence known. They swoop down and crash the party in their own unique way. They really make a mess of things and lets just say it’s one birthday party that those kids will never forget.

#2 – “THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING”
Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy was an amazing motion picture accomplishment. From the sheer cinematic scope of the film to the incredibly realized vision of author J.R.R. Tolkien. It garnered well deserved accolades and its a fantasy spectacle unmatched by any other. And to think it all started with a birthday party. Bilbo Baggins wasn’t that excited for his party and he had a pretty big surprise for everyone. But that didn’t completely dampen everything. We still got our first introduction to the hobbits and Gandolf leading into an adventure that is hard to beat.

#1 – “SIXTEEN CANDLES”
Not every party has to be a big, loud, crowded bash. Such is the case with the 80’s teen comedy (and for me one of the funniest movies of all time) “Sixteen Candles”. Samantha (Molly Ringwald) wakes up to what should be one the best days of her life – her 16th birthday. Instead she finds her big day lost in the chaos of her big sister’s upcoming wedding. Through this film Sam weaves through one disappointment and annoyance after another. But all ends well with a small birthday cake shared with the boy of her dreams. This small birthday scene at the end of the film is the perfect conclusion to a truly great comedy.

So now you’ve heard my choices, what are yours? I’d love to hear what you would have included. Please take time to share your thoughts below.

My very first Phenomenal 5 looked at movie hitmen. Looking back on it I decided it needed a reboot. First there were a few slight changes to be made but it also got no traffic whatsoever. Hey, I was just starting, ok? Well today we are looking back at that topic. Now the job of hitman has been a popular motion picture occupation for years so it’s worth checking out some of the best. I want this to be a pretty diverse list so I had to leave off some REALLY good one. Considering that I won’t be calling this the definitive list. But there’s no denying that these five movie hitmen are most certainly phenomenal.

#5 – MICHAEL SULLIVAN, SR (“Road to Perdition”)

I never really envisioned Tom Hanks as a mob hitman/enforcer. That was before 2002’s “Road to Perdition”. He nails the role of Michael Sullivan, Sr. who, with young son in hand, goes on a revenge-fueled mission to pay back those who killed his wife and younger son. Hanks melds perfectly into the Depression-era setting and he’s one tommy gun-toting father that I wouldn’t want after me. It may not sound like the perfect mix on paper, but Hanks was a phenomenal choice.

#4 – T-800 (“Terminator”, “T2”, “T3”)

Arnold Schwarzenegger has several big-time action roles under his belt but none are as memorable as the robotic hitman sent back in time to kill the mother of John Connor. Of course in later movies he would serve as protector. He may be a cyborg of few words (and in Schwarzenegger’s case that’s a good thing) but he won’t quit his mission until either it or he is done. Whether he’s riding a Harley to George Thorogood’s “Bad to the Bone” or wiping out an entire police station, the T-800 means business.

#3 – JASON BOURNE (“The Bourne Trilogy”)

While Jason Bourne is a man searching for his true identity, we learn really, really quick that he has some serious skills. This one time CIA killing machine turned into their ultimate nightmare once he went “off the grid”. Bourne showed off through jaw-crushing fight scenes, intense car chases, and his amazing ability to fly under the radar. Bourne isn’t to be messed with. Just look at the trail of broken noses, snapped necks, and wrecked cars if you need proof. He has to be on this list.

#2 -LEON (“The Professional”)

How can you not love Jean Reno’s low-key but deadly Leon in 1994’s “The Professional”. We get to see just how well he knows his unique craft through some fantastic action sequences. But what makes Leon so endearing is his relationship with 12-year-old Mathilda played by Natalie Portman in her motion picture debut. Leon has all the tools to make him a phenomenal movie hitman but it’s that tender heart and his appreciation for a good glass of milk that sets him apart.

#1 – ANTON CHIGURH (“No Country for Old Men”)

Even though he sports one of the worst haircuts in motion picture history, Javier Bardem’s Anton Chigurh is brutal and terrifying . But he’s also an enthralling character and is involved in all of “No Country for Old Men’s” best scenes. The Coen brothers’ signature dark humor make Chigurh even more fascinating to watch. Bardem won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance and once you see the movie it’s easy to see why Anton Chigurh is at the top of this list.

So there are my picks for phenomenal movie hitmen. Clearly there are some great ones not on the list. Agree or disagree? Who did I miss? Leave your comments below and share who you would have included.

There is something all of us possess that highlights our own special uniquenesses. It’s this odd thing called taste. Our wide variety of tastes show themselves in a wide variety of ways. Just think about it. One person may love 19th century classical music while another loves 1980’s hair metal. One person may only read crime novels while someone else only reads biographies. I know some people who love Italian pasta while others hate it and would prefer a thick-cut ribeye steak anytime. I could go on and on but you get the point.

Our tastes are just some of the things that set us apart from each other and our tastes are defined by an assortment of different things. They help to reveal our own unique personalities, our own unique voices, our own unique preferences, and our own unique passions. We may share specific tastes but an individual’s collective tastes help to give them an individuality that can often times be fascinating.

I’m especially drawn to people’s different tastes when it comes to movies and television. There’s such a widely varied gamut of likes and dislikes when it comes to these areas of entertainment. I also love how a person’s passionate taste for something helps identify them. For example I know that Ruth at Flixchatter adores British cinema and the many great actors that come from the U.K. Mark at Marked Movies is all about Robert DeNiro and his many great films. Lady Sati over at Cinematic Corner is incredibly passionate about “Game of Thrones”. I could go on and on.

But for me there’s an even more fascinating way to look at our different tastes when it comes to movies. It amazes me how two people can look at one movie and have such drastically different responses to it. Tastes can so wildly vary that one person may despise a film with all their being while another person adores the film and is passionate in their defense of it. There was a time in my immaturity where I would get frustrated when someone disliked a movie that I thought was brilliant. I know, it’s a silly notion but it’s true. I just couldn’t grasp how a movie that gave me such a wonderful experience could be such a pain for someone else. Movies are a funny thing.

It all comes down to this – movies are subjective. They have the uncanny ability to effect every soul differently and appeal to specific tastes in various ways. Movies can scare one person but not another. They can make one person laugh while another sits stone-faced. They can bring one person to tears while another rolls their eyes. There’s just a unique quality about movies that is directly connected to our individuality. What works for one doesn’t always work for another. That’s why movie critics most often debate the writing, the direction, technique, etc. And even then the critic can’t separate his or her own individual taste if they’re being honest in his review.

Still, I can’t promise you that I won’t scratch my head or roll my eyes when I hear that you like Seth Rogan or Will Ferrell movies. I can’t promise that I won’t sit in a state befuddlement when I read a rave review of a Nicholas Sparks film or I see an Adam Sandler movie take in over $100 million. I can’t promise you any of those things. But I can say I better understand it. Like I said, taste is a really odd thing.