I don’t know about you, but I find some actors incredibly annoying. In fact, often times some of Hollywood’s biggest draws drive me up the wall. Today I decided to give these actors the discredit they deserve by listing five of the most annoying actors in the world of cinema (to me of course). Now this is sure to get me some flack because there are a couple of names on this list that have a huge following. Then again I do tend to go against the grain just a tad. Now with so many fitting actors I wouldn’t call this the definitive list, but these five are phenomenally annoying.

#5 – Adam Sandler

To be completely honest, it’s not so much that Adam Sandler himself annoys me as an actor. It’s just that his balls of crap movies annoy me to the ends of the Earth. For that very reason I am inserting him onto this list even though he doesn’t really fit. Sandler has settled into this groove of churning out stupid, unfunny turds disguised as movies and he seems completely content with it. I guess it’s easier when you are making the money he is. But I would think there would be at least an ounce of creative integrity somewhere within him. On the other hand…

#4 – Seth Rogen

Okay, let the hate begin. Well maybe I am exaggerating the response a tad, but I know many people really do like Seth Rogen. Personally I have never found the guy funny. Like many modern day comedy stars, Rogen is pretty much a one-trick pony. You know exactly what you’re going to get anytime you see a Seth Rogen picture with the exception being his forays into playing non-stoner characters. But even then the movie feels exactly the same as the others. Despite his popularity, Rogen is a blow-hard that just doesn’t impress me.

#3 – Jack Black

Thankfully Jack Black hasn’t been as prominent on the big screen as he was several years ago. For me that is a good thing. Black is an actor that has one act and one act only. If you don’t find his shtick funny, well you’re out of luck. Even when he tries to take on remotely serious roles, that insipid act of his bleeds through. The actor is mostly known for his mush-for-brains roles that fits him. In all fairness I have to say I loved him in “Bernie”. Unfortunately I can’t say that about anything else he has done.

#2 – Chris Rock

I think it’s safe to say that Chris Rock’s popular glory days have passed by, but he still sticks in my side. He has had an occasionally funny moment, but overall I find his humor to be more akin to fingernails on a chalkboard. Rock is sometimes brash and loud and that’s not always a bad thing. But I think a lot of his act is generated from pretty bad and unlikable attitudes that he does little to hide. All of that, mixed with his obnoxiously shrill voice, makes him an actor that I find terrible annoying.

#1 – Ken Jeong

I swear I have no idea how this guy has a career. I know some people find him funny and some like his brand of humor. I honestly frown, turn my head, and often times turn the channel whenever this obnoxious, annoying clown shows up on screen. He is a guy whose gimmick may have briefly worked well but he has driven it in into the ground. For me Jeong isn’t funny. He isn’t entertaining. He isn’t talented. But he certainly is annoying.

So those are my five phenomenally annoying actors. Agree or disagree? Is there a name I missed? Please take time to share your thoughts in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you.

James Cameron’s “Aliens” has the distinction of not only being one of the best science fiction movies of all time but also one of the best sequels ever made. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched this movie since its 1986 release, but I’m sure it rivals any other. So in light of my affection for this film I thought it deserved a Phenomenal 5 spotlight. Now obviously I feel there are many things to love about this film so I wouldn’t call this the definitive list, but these five things about the movie “Aliens” are most certainly phenomenal.

#5 – The Ventilation Shaft Sequence

There are so many memorable scenes in “Aliens” and one my favorites is the great escape through the ventilation shafts. The creatures have made it through our survivors’ defenses and their last hope of escape are a long series of ventilation shafts that run out to the landing field. The bad thing is the aliens follow them in leading to a cramped and claustrophobic fight for survival. Cameron’s strategic camera adds an incredible degree of intensity to the sequence and James Horner’s pulse-pounding score amps up the tension. It’s a great scene with great edge-of-your-seat action.

#4 – Bishop

There is an assortment of cool characters in “Aliens” and one of my favorites is Bishop. He is a new model android that serves on the spaceship Sulaco. He accompanies Ripley and the marines as they investigate the lost communication with a colony. Lance Henriksen is perfect for the role. He constantly maintains a steady tone even when things quickly turn bad and he shines in every one of his scenes. And who can forget the part he plays in the final third of the film. There are many characters to love in “Aliens” and Bishop is one of the best.

#3 – The Colonial Marines

I remember as a young teen thinking that the Colonial Marines in “Aliens” were incredibly cool. Guess what, I still do. Sure they dabble in an assortment of stereotypes, but they still feature a variety of fun characters many of which offer some good depth. We see these layers peeled back when they realize the weight of the threat they face. Michael Biehn is fantastic as Corporal Hicks. Bill Paxton is perfect as the neurotic Hudson. I love Jenette Goldstein as the tough-as-nails private Vazquez. Apone, Gorman, Drake, Frost, etc. I love them all and each adds to the movie in their own way.

#2 – The First Encounter

There are a few movie sequences that I have watched so many times that I have them committed to memory. One of them is the first encounter between the Colonial Marines and the aliens. After tracking missing colonists to underneath a processing station, the marines are broadsided by a vicious and frightening attack. The buildup to the first encounter is dripping with tension. The costly firefight and the desperate escape that follows is exhilarating stuff. The entire sequence helps to open up and define the characters and their situation, and it remains one of my favorite science fiction movie scenes of all time.

#1 – Ellen Ripley

It’s unfortunate that we don’t get more strong and dynamic female movie characters like Ellen Ripley. She showed her toughness in the first “Alien” picture, but it’s in the sequel that we see her grittiness and resolve on an entire new level. Ripley is dismissed at first by the macho Colonial Marines. But it doesn’t take long for her to show her strengths and she can dish it out with any of them. Sigourney Weaver mixes a tender motherly instinct with a hard-nosed will to live resulting in what I think is one of the best female leads ever put on screen.

So there you have it. Those are my five phenomenal things about the movie “Aliens”. So what do you think about them? See something I missed? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this list and the movie in the comments section below.

Have you ever watched a movie and heard a distinct voice that you immediately recognized even before you saw the actor? Throughout movie history there have been certain voices that are undeniably memorable and they often times can add to the strength of the character or the movie. Sometimes they are just incredibly cool and are automatically associated with the actors themselves. Today I’m looking at five of the best and most recognized voices in cinema. These are five voices that I could recognize regardless of the role. Now with so many great ones I wouldn’t call this the definitive list. But there is no denying that these five movie voices are phenomenal.

#5 – George Clooney

Some may scoff at this pick but I think Clooney’s voice is one of the most distinct in modern cinema. Clooney often gets hype for his good looks and sex symbol appeal. He’s also a really good actor with a voice that is undeniable. The gravelly voiced Clooney has used his voice in a number of ways from playing romantic pretty boys to dense-headed backwoods Southerners. But perhaps the best use of his distinguished voice came in Wes Andersons’ animated treat “Fantastic Mr. Fox”. Again, some may laugh at this choice, but I think it fits onto this list nicely.

#4 – Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson is an actor who has had an incredibly diverse career. But there has always been one constant – that amazing voice. The 63-year old Neeson has used his Northern Irish voice to portray men of high distinction as well as hard-as-nails tough guys. It simply doesn’t matter what film he is in, Neeson is almost always good. But along with good acting chops comes that voice which is simply one of the best. And I can promise you this, if I hear him telling me about his “particular set of skills” I’m certainly going to be intimidated.

#3 – Vincent Price

Whenever I think of Vincent Price a huge grin spreads across my face. Price is known as a horror picture icon but he actually started out as a character actor. He would soon find his true home in the horror and suspense genres and helmed many great classic horror films in the 1950s and 1960s. His most well known feature was his incredible voice. It was eerie and ominous and with it he was able to frighten audiences or at least make them squirm. He often played characters who were mysterious and slightly off and he would use that unforgettable voice to soak them with suspense. For me Vincent Price is a true film great who did more for a movie genre than some today realize.

#2 – James Earl Jones

Now c’mon folks, you had to know that the great James Earl Jones would have to be on any list mentioning great motion picture voices. The 83-year old Jones has had an incredible career winning Tony Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and garnering an Oscar nomination. But whenever I think of Jones I will always think of his voice. Armed with one of the most powerful and towering voices ever, Jones has played a huge variety of roles. He’s played small but pivotal supporting roles as well as iconic ones in landmark franchises. Remember, this is the man who voiced Darth Vader! James Earl Jones is a legend and that great voice is one reason why.

#1 – Jeremy Irons

I realize that this may sound utterly ridiculous, but Jeremy Irons has one of those rare voices that absolutely entrances me. It’s poetic, soothing, and pristine. But as with every great actor armed with an incredible voice, it can also be menacing, threatening, and unnerving. Irons’ English accent mixed with a graveled deepness is as distinguished as any other voice ever to grace the big screen. He has used it in such a wide range of ways while never once losing the qualities that makes it so recognizable. Irons is a stellar film actor and stage actor. He has also read a number of audio books. Just another testament to how magnetic his glorious voice is.

So there are my five phenomenal movie voices. See any you disagree with? Who would make your list? I would love to hear your selection in the comments section below.

Every year to start off July I look at my five favorite movies of the year so far. This year has been filled with surprises and a few unfortunate letdowns. What’s really taken me by surprise are the number of high-quality blockbusters. We have had some multimillion dollar stinkers, but there have been several big-budget movies that have been great. Obviously there are tons of movie still on the 2014 calendar so there is no promise that any of these films will make my end of the year ‘Best of’ list. But so far all of these have impressed me enough to be called my favorites of 2014 (so far).

#5 – “The Lego Movie”

I can’t believe I’m putting this ahead of “Edge of Tomorrow”, a movie I really loved. But what can I say? “The Lego Movie is…well AWESOME. Anyone who frequently reads my stuff knows that I am probably one of the pickiest people when it comes to animation. It takes a lot for an animated feature to win me over. “The Lego Movie” won me over big time. Not only is it the best animated film I’ve seen in the past few years, it is also one of the best comedies. The script from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller is smart, sweet, and downright hilarious at times. Then there is the entire look of the film. I was amazed at how incredible the characters and the landscapes looked. There is also tons of hidden humor, inside gags, and an emotional payoff that never felt lame or manipulative. This was a great film and all I can say is “Everything is Awesome”!

#4 – “X-Men: Days of Future Past”

I was excited for this film the moment I heard it was coming, but I was also a bit skeptical. The joining of all of the major X-Men cast members from the past series to the prequel-boot seemed a bit gimmicky and it had the potential to fall flat. I’m glad the returning Bryan Singer didn’t allow that to happen. In fact, “X-Men: Days of Future Past” is the best X-Men film since the first installment way back in 2000. A very smart and clever story anchor this time-jumping superhero film. It isn’t wall-to-wall action, but it builds upon some great character interactions and a compelling central hook. It also has a clear focus which kept it from being messy and convoluted. There are also some great performances particularly from McAvoy and Fassbender. For me this film reinvigorated the X-Men franchise and I hope the next film can do the same.

#3 – “Godzilla”

I think ‘nostalgia’ is going to play a big part in the remainder of this list. It is definitely one of the things that really sold me on “Godzilla”. I had absolutely no expectations for this film whatsoever, but what I found was a movie that beautifully hearkened back to the original Godzilla and so many of the other creature features of the 1950s. I liked how every character, regardless of the star who portrayed them, worked to serve the greater plot. I liked how the movie intentionally holds back and doesn’t take the modern day approach of barraging our senses. I liked how some of the characters are written as though they were plucked right out of the 1950s. There was so much about “Godzilla” that took me surprise. Many of the complaints some have shared I consider strengths, and I appreciate the approach from director Gareth Edwards. What a fun surprise.

#2 – “The Monuments Men”

I know I may receive some flack for this one but so be it. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve went against the majority. I loved “The Monuments Men”. I understand that many didn’t go for what director George Clooney was doing. I thought it was fantastic. He took a truly remarkable story and told it in the style of the buddy war movies of the late 1960s and early 1970s. That nostalgic approach was easy for me to warm up to. Even the end credits and Alexandre Desplat’s score hearkens back to those old films. I’ve watched “The Monuments Men” twice and my enthusiasm for the film hasn’t waned. I know many people wanted a different movie than what Clooney crafted and I certainly respect that. But I loved the cast, loved the remarkable true story, and I loved how it took me back to movies from a different time.

#1 – “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”

Even with all of my excitement and incredibly high expectations for this film, I was still caught off guard by how much I love this movie. In fact I went back to watch it again expecting to see my enthusiasm tempered. It definitely was not. I thought this was fantastic from start to finish. It succeeded in capturing the characteristics and nuances of the comic book character blueprints while telling a story that opened up the characters, was filled with nostalgia, and brought back memories of old-school action films. Every detail, every performance, and every plot twist worked for me on some level. And the Winter Soldier himself couldn’t be any better. I’m a huge fan of the Captain America comics, but even with my critical eye I had an absolute blast.

I cannot believe that this list is so blockbuster heavy, but that is the kind of year it has been. The big budget pictures have really surprised. Now the question is how will they hold up against the rest of 2014’s movies we have ahead of us. Time will tell but it has been a surprising year so far.

With so much disorderly conduct happening in movies sometimes you need a good sheriff to come in and settle things down. On the other hand, sometimes the sheriffs can be the cause of all of the unrest in the first place. Today’s Phenomenal 5 looks at a wide assortment of movie sheriffs. Whether in westerns or modern day, good movie sheriffs had added a lot to films over the years. Now with so many to consider I wouldn’t call this the definitive list. But there is no doubt in my mind that these five movie sheriffs are nothing short of phenomenal.

#5 – Sheriff Brackett (“Halloween”)

Sheriff Brackett had a pretty easy gig. Haddonfield was a pretty quite little town in Illinois. With the exception of a horrible murder of a teenaged girl by her 6-year brother fifteen years ago, the town has been quite and peaceful. Boy does that change when Michael Myers (now 21) comes back to town. At first Sheriff Brackett thinks that Michael’s return is a hoax. Afterall it is Halloween. But one murder after another proves the validity of the terror and soon Brackett is in over his head. He scrambles from one crime scene to another trying to understand the gravity of the situation as well as how to control it. He’s a fun ingredient to this horror classic.

#4 – Little Bill Daggett (“Unforgiven”)

Remember when I said that sometimes the sheriff could be part of the problem? That was definitely the case with Little Bill in Clint Eastwood’s Oscar winning western “Unforgiven”. Little Bill was a former gunfighter so he knows how to sling lead. He has a strict ‘no guns allowed’ policy in his town and if you break that policy you can expect the beatdown of your life. While this may seem like a case of good intentions gone bad, Little Bill later shows that he isn’t the true beacon of law and order that a town really needs. Gene Hackman won an Oscar for his portrayal of Little Bill and you would be hard pressed to find someone who will say he didn’t deserve it.

#3 – Sheriff Bart (“Blazing Saddles”)

It’s another western but a much different one. The Mel Brooks comedy “Blazing Saddles” would never be made today, but thank goodness we can still look back on it and enjoy all of its great satire and head-on craziness. One of the best parts was Cleavon Little as Sheriff Bart. He was simply a pawn put in as the sheriff of a small town in order to push the buttons of the racist townsfolk. But Sheriff Bart is a lot smarter than some think. In fact, he’s almost always the most intelligent person in the scene. Little plays the role with the perfect measurement of sincerity and sarcasm and he fits perfectly into this great Mel Brooks concoction.

#2 – Sheriff Buford T. Justice (“Smokey and the Bandit”)

There weren’t a lot of high expectations for “Smokey and the Bandit” when it was first conceived. Then the biggest box office draw at the time (Burt Reynolds) signed on and expectations changed. But I don’t think anyone expected that the supporting character Sheriff Buford T. Justice would drive in and steal the entire movie. The late great Jackie Gleason was given complete creative liberties to invent and add-lib which helped make the character insanely funny. Buford T. Justice was an imbecile, but he was also too arrogant to ever recognize it. That set the table for a number of hilarious encounters as he chases Bandit across a host of Southern states.

#1 – Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (“No Country for Old Men”)

Tommy Lee Jones has had a number of great movie roles throughout his career. For me this is his best. It is almost like novelist Cormac McCarthy wrote this wonderful character with Jones in mind. The Coen brothers didn’t miss the opportunity to pass up this fine seasoned actor who plays one of my favorite sheriffs. Ed Tom is ready to retire especially in light of the changing landscape of law enforcement and the new waves of violent crime. He constantly ponders the shocking ways of the new violent world while coming face-to-face with it after seeing the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong. In a movie featuring so many fascinating characters, Sheriff Bell may be the most fascinating. That’s why he tops this list.

So what do you think? These are my top movie sheriffs. Who did I leave off? Who would you include? Please take time to share your thoughts below.

Everyone likes a good bromance, right? Some call them guy flicks and others call them buddy movies, but let’s be honest. We can call them bromances and it fits just fine. Now I’m not talking about romantic relationships. These are guys whose close friendships are well-defined. But I’m not talking about the obvious ones. Today’s list looks at some of the more surprising and unexpected movie bromances. Now with so many out there I wouldn’t call this the definitive list. But there’s no denying that these five movie bromances are not only surprising but phenomenal.

#5 – Joker & Noah (“The Defiant Ones”)

There are a number of reasons why the bromance between Joker and Noah in Stanley Kramer’s “The Defiant Ones” is surprising. First, it didn’t start that way. In fact the two men despised each other. The escaped convicts were shackled together by a prison warden with “a sense of humor” and for most of the film we wonder who is going to kill who first. There was also racial tensions between the two, one man white and one man black, which boils over into several scenes. But over time an amazing thing happens. The two men begin to gain a respect for each other and their unusual circumstances forge one of the most unlikely bromances.

#4 – Jules & Jim (“Jules et Jim”)

Jules is an Austrian writer and Jim is a reclusive Frenchman. The two meet in Paris and become inseparable friends. That doesn’t sound like a surprising bromance, does it? The surprise isn’t that they became friends. The surprise is that they maintained their friendship. First came World War I which saw Jules and Jim fighting on opposite sides. But the biggest obstacle to their bromance comes in the form of Catherine. She’s a beautiful and free-spirited woman that captivates the two friends. As you can expect, both fall in love with her yet maintain a friendship that we usually don’t see in movies. The movie branches into some strange directions which makes their sustained bromance all the more surprising.

#3 – Bodhi & Johnny (“Point Break”)

If you look at their personalities, desires, and overall approaches to life the bromance between Bodhi and Johnny in Kathryn Bigelow’s “Point Break” makes perfect sense. There’s only one problem (and trust me, it’s a big one) – Bodhi is wanted by the law and Johnny is the FBI agent assigned to take him down. But Johnny’s undercover work brings him into Bodhi’s world and the two develop a strong bond which makes Johnny’s dedication to his assignment even tougher. He never wavers in his pursuit even as their bromance grows stronger. It leads to a number of great encounters between the two surprisingly good friends.

#2 – King George & Lionel (“The King’s Speech”)

Now this could easily be the most surprising bromance on this list. Two men who couldn’t be more opposite in terms of their social status and place of power come together in a moment of desperation. The newly crowned King George VI is the right man to take over the crown, but he has one significant problem. He uncontrollably stammers which makes public speaking and communication (an absolute necessity at that time) frustrating and impossible. That’s when he reluctantly employs the help of Lionel, an Australian speech therapist. Their lifestyles clash. Their living conditions clash. Their personalities clash. Yet through all of that they develop an incredibly touching friendship that is most certainly surprising.

#1 – Driss & Philippe (“The Intouchables”)

One of my favorite films from the last few years is “The Intouchables” and it just so happens to feature one of the most surprising bromances. Philippe is a wealthy quadriplegic who lives in Paris. His condition requires a permanent live-in caregiver an that’s where the cocky streetwise Driss comes in. The problem is Driss only applies in order to get a check from the government for job searching. But Philippe likes Driss’ brash approach to things while Driss likes the idea of living it up in Philippe’s mansion. Several obvious conflicts arise between these two polar opposites but a fascinating bromance develops between these two men who desperately need new directions in their lives. It’s a fantastic movie.

So there are my five surprising movie bromances that stand out above the rest. Agree or disagree? I would to hear your thoughts in the comments section below!