Documentaries

In between footage of Michael Phelps and Romanian marathon runners, I've been watching the Olympics and their side stories of panda cubs and beach volleyballers visiting the Great Wall.  Somehow it had slipped my mind (hey, lotsa DVDs coming out, so little time to think about all of them) that I could see more of the same (the China sights, not Phelps--sorry, fans) with a new documentary called Wild China, which was not so coincidentally released this month (there's a Blu-ray too).   Our reviewer says "We see the jumping spiders atop Mount Everest, the winding grace of the Great Wall, and of course some shy pandas that many people equate with China." You can watch the trailer below:

OK, so they've actually been around since 1990.  But 1,000 issues of any magazine is something to celebrate, and EW is doing it in style, with their trademark: lists, lists, and more lists. "The New Classics: The 1,000 Best Movies, TV Shows, Albums, Books & More of the Last 25 Years" is great fun, and ranks every form of media you can think of since 1983, with input from both editors and celebs. Where else could you find a magazine cover with Harry Potter, Maggie Simpson, Edward Scissorhands, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer?  And lists written by Jodie Foster, Neil Gaiman, and and Liz Phair? 

Here's a list from none other than Viggo Mortensen, who reveals his top 10 pieces of advice he's heard on movie sets.  There's something for everyone here, I think.  (True, I'm biased because I adore him. But I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.)

1. ''One job at a time, and each job a success.''

2. ''Whatever you are feeling at this moment can be useful, no matter how far removed or even distracting it may seem from the scene you are playing. That is as close to 'real' as you will ever get.''

3. ''There is no way in hell that's going to work. That is the worst idea I have heard today — perhaps ever. Are you trying to single-handedly ruin my movie?''

4. ''Try it — what's the harm? It's only film and time.''

5. ''No hay dolor.'' (''There is no pain.'')

6. ''All you really need to play the moment is air and water.''

7. ''When in doubt, admit it.''

8. ''Don't tell me; show me.''

9. ''Censors tend to do what only psychotics do: They confuse reality with illusion.''

10. ''I love you.''

Happy weekend, everyone!

Another fun list from Entertainment Weekly: They're counting down the 100 films from the past 25 years that will stand with the all-time greats over time. Nos. 100-76 are revealed today, with the rest coming over the next few days. (It's also fun to see a list that doesn't include the same stuff over and over again.)

100. SOUTH PARK: BIGGER LONGER & UNCUT (1999)
99. THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999)
98. THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY (1999)
97. GLORY (1989)
<------96. FAR FROM HEAVEN (2002)
95. IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (2001)
94. FULL METAL JACKET (1987)
93. ED WOOD (1994)
92. MENACE II SOCIETY (1993)
91. BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985)
90. NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (2004)
89. BREAKING THE WAVES (1996)
88. AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY (1997)
87. SWINGERS (1996)
86. Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN (2002)
85. THE 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN (2005)------->
84. SIDEWAYS (2004)
83. EVIL DEAD 2 (1987)
82. LOST IN TRANSLATION (2003)
81. MOONSTRUCK (1987)
80. MICHAEL CLAYTON (2007)
79. WAITING FOR GUFFMAN (1996)
78. TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991)
77. SID AND NANCY (1986)
76. THE DEPARTED (2006)

don't see your favorite on this list? Don't worry, there are still 75 left to go. -- Ellen