I collect things... I wouldn't call myself a hoarder, but I have trouble letting go of things. Recently, I have been doing a lot of sorting and sifting of my collection and it has been draining to put it mildly. Sometimes I don't know where to begin. 

I love to be surrounded by things that I find inspiring or beautiful. So collecting comics, toys, film and tee shirts has been like breathing for me. I find they give me great pleasure, but it isn't really about the object itself for me I love the beauty and everything and the who I relate to it... But It's more of the memories that they represent. I am sure that doesn't sound like a ground breaking statement in terms of why people hold onto things, but it's the simple truth. Some people take pictures... I watch movies and remember what I did the day I saw it... I remember and relive how it made me feel anytime I re watch it. Some people visit a place from their childhood that gives them a rush of memories... I will read an old comic or just look through them and remember when I first saw it, who I was w/ and why it was a good day or a bad day. Some people collect shot glasses from places they have visited... I have managed to hold onto and rediscover many of my favorite action figures from my childhood, which are filled w/ memories of my friends, family and even some of my favorite locations! Some people listen to music( Guilty) and relive moments of their life... In my crazy mind every time I put on a tee shirt it represents a time in my life. I have a closet full of shirts that reference what I believe to be important times in my life, and many have been given to me by important people from those times! (even purchased w/ money or a gift card they gave to me).

I have been settling into my new place unpacking and figuring out where things are going to go, and more importantly the things I need to let go. I have learned that now more than ever I have a lot of stuff. It has nothing to do w/ me needing to have things, it's just pure and simple memories to me and beauty. I recently sold of some figures I have had for many years. Many where given to me by people who loved me very much... some I don't see any more but will always care for very deeply. Letting go of them was not easy, but when I did I felt better. I am lucky enough to have a very good memory and I know that although I don't have those specific toys anymore, I will always remember them and who I received them from. I think of my stuff as a bridesmaid needing to lose a few pounds before the wedding... I need to slim down my life but hold of to the things that are the most important. 

The thing about collecting things is that they are always around even when the people who gave them to you go. People tend to leave, drift a part or betray for various reasons but maybe they gave you something... and even though they are gone they are always still there to remind that you guys had fun. Or that you guys cared for each other once... so much so that they went out w/ you in mind and picked out something cool for you... maybe they even made you something? Collecting is very personal and not just for the collector...many times the people that care for you take interest in something you love because they love you. So when you get a cool gift take a moment to always remember who got it for you... find a nice place for it, remember the person when you wear it or recall the time the two of you enjoyed a film together as you watch it again. People leave sometimes, that is life, but memories stay w/ you just like the figures, films and funny books I surround myself w/ both for inspiration and because I like to remember the good times in certain periods of my life. So take care of each other and remember where you are now and who you're w/... Someday it may be a very special memory to you. Be kind to each other. 

I rambled like crazy last week so this week I wanted to keep things more condensed. ( the way I keep my outrage :) )This week I have to do a John Hughes list. One because I love his films/writing and two The Breakfast Club is coming back to theaters for it's 30th anniversary! To me these are great reasons to have a Best of John Hughes Top Ten. I think that most of these will speak for themselves and I won't be putting these in order like last weeks incredible Marvel Movies list! BUT The Breakfast Club would be my number 1 hands down. So lets do this!!!

1.) The Breakfast Club
2.) Plains, Trains and Automobiles
3.) Weird Science
4.) Ferris Bueller's Day Off
5.) Dutch
6.) Uncle Buck
7.) Sixteen Candles
8.) Some Kind of Wonderful
9.) Home Alone
10.) National Lampoon's Vacation
11.) She's Having a Baby
12.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
13.) The Great Outdoors
 
Okay so it is a little more than 10, but who could blame me, this dude was a rare talent! He wrote films that inspired and moved people in their soul. He is the guy who made the term "dramedy" into a thing! Thank god he didn't stay in advertising! Anyway, let me know what you think and if I missed any! Or just tell me your favorite film or lines! Take care and be kind out there!

Yeah that's right I am going to tell you the best Marvel films. Why? Because it's time I make a list where I actually have rankings! And I feel like starting some shit. Or at least having a nerd-bate. Anyway, Marvel became film studio not too long ago and they have unleashed some of the coolest blockbusters of the last 20 years. When dealing w/ Marvel Entertainment it can get a bit confusing as to what studios own which characters so for the sake of certain people (I am talking to you Bryan and Nate Raisovich :) ) I must clarify that I will not be including and Spider-Man (Sony), Fantastic Four (Fox) or X-Men (Fox) films of this list. I actually enjoyed several of these films ( especially the first two Spider-Man films) but Marvel Entertainment has really created something special around the Avengers teams. So let's dive in and piss some people off! :)

10.) The Incredible Hulk : I had pretty high expectations for this film. I mean you have Edward Norton playing Bruce Banner. In all honesty that is perfect casting from Norton's physical characteristics to his acting ability, but ultimately I believe good films come down to story telling and the re-watch factor.The story telling isn't the worst ever, that I can remember anyway. And they tried to bring the "TV series" element back to the character, but it just felt confusing and the ending was pretty rushed to me. I heard Ed Norton was really pushing a certain direction for the story and character to go and that he ended up actually rewriting a lot of what was originally written. Maybe that is why the film felt choppy? Anyway, this one ranks a 10 because it is pretty sub par compared to the rest of the Marvel films.  

9.) Ironman 2: It missed the mark. ( no pun intended) This is a film that had too much going on. You have Ironman, War Machine, Whiplash, Justin Hammer and Black Widow all contending for screen time. I think Whiplash was supposed to be the main Villain but it sort of seemed like Justin Hammer was by the time the film ended? And Whiplash actually had more cause to hate Stark then Hammer so that made sense to the story, but they didn't really use right. The film looks great and introduces cool new tech and effects. The sequence w/ Stark and Whiplash at the race is pretty bad ass, but the movie loses steam by the end and although the robots they fight are pretty cool it becomes pretty boring and rushed. It isn't the worst film I have ever seen, but it is pretty weak over all. In fact, I liked Black Widows and Happy (Tony's body guard ) where they storm Whiplashes hideout. She kicks everyone's ass while Happy struggles to take out one guy. This is a truly great introduction to Black Widow and the highlight of this film. But it's a pretty solid 9 on my list.

8.) Thor : Unlike the first two films, overall I really like this movie. They sold the fish out of water concept very well w/ the Gos walking w/ men and whatnot. Thor is the ultimate meat head when we first met him, but we quickly learn that he has a heart of gold. He is taught humility by being striped of his powers but eventually, like Superman in a completely different universe, he fights for us. It is a pretty simple premise, but a great introduction to who Thor is and why he cares about us. Make no mistake this is a good film it just isn't as good as some of the other films yet to come. Loki is of course an incredible villain in this film! One of the best villains in the Marvel films if not the best! 

7.) Thor : The Dark World : I really enjoyed this film! And I do think it is only slightly better than than Thor in that it all comes together nicely! It feels much more epic.I like the Dark elves and the ether or whatever concept. Plus, we see more of Asgard and other strange places. But the thing I love most about this film is Loki. We have to remember that this is happening after Avengers when Loki tried to destroy Earth so it is a bit surprising that some how they let him out! I love that Thor and Loki come together as brothers and that we see that Loki does truly love Thor in a weird unhealthy way. And the beauty is that the whole film we think that the Dark elves are the bad guys when pretty much the whole time he is fighting along side Thor! That's right Loki is the real villain in this film! He always have a plan! This movie is solid and a hell of a good sequel!

6.) Ironman 3 : I love Shane Black as a director and writer! He can make an action film and he is the king of writing cool one liners! And that is what you get w/ Ironman 3! Tony loses everything and goes back to the beginning and literally finds his inner child. Or at least a smart kid who helps him realizes he needs to get back on the "iron" horse and face life head on again. This film shows that Tony is human, meaning although he hides behind wit and brains and fights God and aliens... he is still just a man in a suit, but he has seen and done some crazy stuff that many humans haven't! I love the ending as well. Come on AI Ironman suits fighting superhumans! Awesome! 

5.) Ironman : This film took us into the Marvel Movie age! It jump started the superhero genre after Spider-Man 3 damn near killed it! This movie is just fun from beginning to end! It updates Tony's origin story but doesn't really change it a lot! And Robert Downy Jr. kills it at Stark! The story isn't overly complicated... Stark sells weapons, realizes his weapons are being used in ways he doesn't agree w/ and he changes his focus to the betterment of humanity. He uses his arc reactor (from his suit) to produce clean energy. What could go wrong... Well, never have "the Dude" as your partner he likes his weapons. I liked that his first real villain was a mirror of the person he decided not to be! He basically defeats the last part of the man he once was by the films end. Oh but it's just a superhero movie, right? Anyway, I am sure people will cry that this isn't higher, but I think the "Final Four" films are pretty great.

4.) Captain America : The First Avenger: I feel like this film doesn't get enough praise. I mean if you don't love Steve Rogers by the end of this film then you have no heart! In the comics Cap is it! He is the hero all the other hero's wish they were. Even a cold blooded killer like the Punisher has nothing but respect for Captain America! This movie explains why, for the people who don't know. It's the classic story... The guy w/ the huge heart and no skills to back it up. He has been laughed at and picked on his whole life when suddenly fate steps in and gives him all he ever wanted... a chance to do his part during WW2. This is before he ever even becomes Cap. He is just a 125 pound weakly... That dives on grenades that he thinks are live, to save his company! That's a hero folks! He will do whatever it takes to save lives and help the world no matter how small. He eventually is given a super soldier serum, which we learn enhances everything good about Steve Rogers... the dude who jumped on a GRENADE, while everyone else stood around. How good is her after taking the serum? It is incredible to think about a person like that in any world! Another awesome thing about this film is that it gives you a history lesson and a nod to all the "real comic fans" out there. See Cap was originally created as War propaganda! He was a way to get kids to support the troops by buying war bonds! In the movie we actually get to see Cap in his original Jack Kirby designed costume... Cap is basically a form of entertainment for the troops and away to give the kids an idol to support for the war. Pretty smart if you ask me. This film also is the final set up for Avengers... everything that happens Avengers is a result of what happened in Cap 1! Just chew on that for awhile. 

3.) Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier : This movie is incredible. It completely knocks the Marvel movie universe on its ass and changes the game completely! Basically, we find out everything Cap fought and sort of died for was a lie! (In a manner of speaking.) We get to know Cap a little more in this film too. He is a man out of time and he is struggling to adapt to a very different world! Like Cap 1 this film sets up... not just Avengers 2... But the entire direction of the Marvel universe. As the film ends we realize the only people on the planet Cap and his friends will be able to trust... is the Avengers!

2.) Marvel's The Avengers : I know this is a controversial spot for this film. I contend that it is the greatest Superhero film ever made! It has everything you have ever wanted in a hero film w/ out all the set up. We don't need set up because of all the other superhero solo films. We just get non stop action and the Avengers fighting, which is very true to the comics! The Avengers have to learn to get along and fight side by side. The pacing of this film is perfect and all of the performances are great for a superhero film! There are some funny and moving parts at times, but mostly it is a bunch of bad ass heroes beating up alien, Gods and each other. It is a huge epic film and moves too quick to get overly personal. They are there to as my friend Jon says "give em' what they what." And it does deliver. But for me it falls just short of Number one. My buddy Nate made a great point about how Avengers had a lot to live up to because of all the hype, but all of the films helped the momentum of the film as well. The majority of the films I have ranked are very good movies, and did a great job of setting up all the characters, so by the time we get to Avengers we sort of knew what to expect... meaning all our favorite heroes in an Extra Special Superhero film! It had a lot working for it to work... if that makes sense. To me it was almost impossible for it to fail because of all the movies that lead up to it. And because of that it is the best superhero film ever... But that doesn't mean it is a one of the greatest films ever. I promise I love the Avengers and am not trying slight it in anyway... I just think it covers the superhero genre perfectly, which was the point. I don't think it completely transcends it.

1.) Guardians of the Galaxy : I am a going to say this now so remember this in 20 or 30 years when you realize I am right. I have seen a lot of movies... a lot! So when I say that Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the best movies I have ever seen, then hopefully you know how serious I am. On pure mass appeal and family entertainment, it should have been nominated and won the Best Picture this year. Every now and then a film comes along that fires on ever cylinder... Guardians is such a film. It effectively crosses and mixes sci-fi, action, comedy and tragedy in to a true epic like Star Wars, Gone w/ the Wind or Jaws did before it. These are films that broke down the walls of genre and just became great movies! Classics if you will. Guardians is an instant classic largely because it has something for everyone. It is sad, extremely funny, action packed, cute and cuddly and moving! And it has a very important element that all good movies should have... Nostalgia. This film has a little bit of the 70's and 80's in it which hits the mark for at least two generations of movie goers. It makes you feel w/ music, memorabilia and relatable  experience. And ultimately it has a very clear theme. Friend ship and family. These two things are important to everyone. And friends and family don't get along all the time, but they are there when it counts! And sometimes they end up being the people you don't expect! The Guardians don't like each other at first and have absolutely nothing in common other than they are all space misfits, but somehow they learn to love each other by the time the film ends and, literally, together they are stronger! This film it extremely re-watchable as well! I have seen it like 5 or 6 times already. And you should too! It will put you in a good mood! You have people doing super things in this film but you can't call it a superhero film. You have Some Sci-fi shit happening, but it isn't just that. You have those laugh out loud gut busting moments, but it isn't a comedy. Finally, you have a boy who just misses his mother and it looking for a family... what's not to love about this film! It is a great MOVIE! And that is why it's number 1 on my list! It transcends genres... Marvel's own genre in fact and becomes one of those special movies we will continue to love thought out our lives!

So that wraps it up. I think this is a pretty solid list overall but as always feel free to comment. Or tell me I'm wrong :) I just like to hear what other people think. ( except Doug) Anyway, hope you enjoy, sorry if I ramble sometimes... I actually try to make these short. Be kind to each other. 

As the three of us know I love film. I quote them all the time. So much so that one day people will be standing over my grave and say something like...

1.) " That's no casket... it's a space station." 

2.) "You're gonna need a bigger urn."

3.) " Yo Adrian... HE DID IT!!!!"

4.) " He ain't got time to bleed... anymore."

5.) " Wow, what a totally amazing excellent funeral... NOT!"

6.) "Get away from him you bitches." 

7.) " Matt Skillern's Blog really pumps my nads."

8.) " You're alright Skillusso."

9.) " That woman deserved her revenge... and he deserved to die."

10.) " Here's buryin' you, kid."

11.) "Stupid, worthless, no good, goddamn, freeloading son of a bitch. Retarded, big mouth, know-it-all, asshole, jerk."

12.) "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let Matt Skillern's body rest peacfully now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you."

13.) " It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. With all dead, well, with all dead there's usually only one thing you can do."

14.) " If you want the ultimate, you've got to willing to pay that ultimate price. It's not tragic to die doing what you love."

15.) " Of my friend, I can only say this: of all the souls I have encountered in all my travels, his was the most... Human."

I will save some for another day! For now be kind to each other,find something that moves you and enjoy it!

I just want to do a Top 5 for my mom this week. She is one of the coolest people I know and no matter what she is dealing w/ she stays positive. She makes a lot of people happy! So I want to share some of my favorite memories about a person who has spread a lot of light in this world.

1.) St. Nicholas Day: So we had this Christmas calendar that I think my mom still uses every December to count down the days in this month of celebration. Anyway, she would always fill our stockings w/ treats and an early present a couple weeks before the big Holiday. Anyway, I remember getting up one morning and finding a Hulk Hogan WWF wrestler in my stocking. Back then we thought it was jolly old St. Nick showing up early, but along it was just mom giving us an extra day to be a kid and have fun. 

2.) St. Louis: I was still going to catholic school and my brother and I were being released for spring break. We were supposed to be picked up by our normal car pool person when we saw mom in her little silver Honda waiting for us. We run up to see whats going on and all she says is that we are going on vacation. Eventually, she told us about St. Louis and the Arch.... we stayed at the Thrifty Inn, saw a Cardinals game and went to the zoo! And mom made us laugh. I remember her saying it had been a tough year and we deserved to have a good time... I remember mom telling use grandpa told her to spend some time w/ the boys and he'd take care of the hardware store that mom managed for him. Most of all I remember a great vacation w/ my mom.

3.) Taking care of me whenever I was sick: I have written about being sick as a kid before... My mom was the one who took me to the doctor and picked me up from school when I was sick. I know lots of peoples mom do this, but I was missing 60 plus days a year of school and she was always figuring out who was going to watch me or taking off work to look out for me. She'd make me Mrs. Grass chicken noodle soup, rent me movies and always get me to the doctor. And she never got mad at me or thought I was faking. She found a lung specialist to look at me and eventually I got better! Sure, it seems like maybe being sick isn't the greatest memory, but my mom made it bearable and even made me smile when we sat for hours in the doctors office.

4.) Becoming friends: Parent and children relationships are complicated but mom and me for the most part always got along pretty well. But when I was a teen I was pretty hardheaded at times sometimes just a jerk. Even early in college I could be difficult to live w/. Eventually, I moved out from mom's house and started to live my own life. You would think that mom and I would have grown apart a bit, but instead she and I got closer. We normally touch base once a week and she has become one of my best friends. 

5.) Lost: Back in 2004 I was pretty into Smallville. Normally I would go over to moms and have dinner after I had class on Wednesday and we would watch it. But when Lost started that all changed. I remember I missed a couple Wednesdays and I had started to flip between Lost and Smallville. I hadn't completely made the switch until I realized mom was really into Lost. Eventually Lost became own hang out time! It remains something that mom and I always chat about even though I admit that I am a little too crazy about it. 

I could name many more awesome memories w/ my mom, but I think less is more when it comes to sharing this week. All I want to say is that I love my mom and feel extremely lucky to have her in my life. Those of you who know her understand who special she is. As I mentioned before she is a pretty tough lady and able to handle a lot, but everyone needs a little bit of "the positive" thrown their way sometimes. So toss a little bit her way. Take care  and be kind of each other.