Today I feel that I need to write about an important and heartbreaking issue facing many kids everyday. This is a problem that has been going on since the dawn of toys... it is something that wakes us up in the middle of the night, since we were kids. We... out of nowhere, think back to our childhoods and think... "What the hell happened?" So when I share my stories today about my Missing Joes I hope they will give you comfort in knowing that you aren't alone.

The first Joe I remember losing was one that I truly loved to play w/ as a kid... Duke is the leader of "America's daring highly trained special mission force" but on this day he would have no one to lead but himself... for the rest of his life. I couldn't have been more than 5 maybe 6 and it was a summer day like any other... I was playing in my sand box in the back yard of my house having a hell of a battle w/ some of my other Joes when suddenly, my mom called me. I had no choice but to see what she wanted otherwise she would just keep calling for me over and over until neither of us could take it anymore. Duke at the time was my favorite figure to play w/... I remember having him in my hand or pocket all the time... He was just a cool guy. Anyway, my first instinct was to take him w/ me, but when I looked down in the sand box he was no where to be found? I looked around the immediate area all the while my moms voice kept calling "Matthew...Maatthew...Matthew Michael Skillern lets go!" Finally, she came out out to see what the hell I was doing and I told her what happened. She like all mothers took pity on me and helped me dig around in the sand looking for my fallen friend, but we couldn't find him and my mother and I never spoke of this strange experience ever again... And it isn't the last time this would happen either...

I have talked about my grandma's house a couple of times on here I think, mainly because I loved and still love being there so much. I have so many great memories of being there as a kid... But not everything was all roses and rainbows at grandma's all the time.  See my Grandma's house, to this day has a rock wall next to the driveway and it was and is the perfect place to set up battles w/ the Joes. It was that kind of day... I am pretty sure my brother was w/ me this time and we had been playing for what seemed like hours. We created battle after battle and plot twist after plot twist, using the rock wall as a truly bad ass setting... Suddenly, it was time to pack it in for the day and Destro and Storm shadow had disappeared? I thought that maybe they had slid down behind one the rocks in the wall because it had cracks and seems throughout... But my brother and I couldn't find them anywhere... If you've never owned any Joes, Destro and Strom Shadow are the cream of the crop. They were so cool looking and super fun to play w/ so this whole experience was devastating to me. (mainly because I'm crazy:) But the story doesn't end there. Years later I was out side in grandma's front yard, I think playing basketball of something, when the ball rolled into the grass... I went to pick it up and there half buried in the grass and ground was Storm Shadow's torso... No legs just torso. God only knows what the poor bastard had gone through to get to that point ,since it was clear across the driveway from the rock wall... Very disturbing. 

The last event involved a trip to my cousin's house where I loved to hang out as a kid! My cousin's house was also my grandparents house on my dad's side... They shared a double... So cousins and aunt on one side and my grandparents on the other... Anyway, My cousin and I were about the same age and both loved GI Joe, and whenever we hung out during that time we'd play and have battles and create stories w/ them. This visit was no different... We played for awhile when one of us (probably the cousin)  got the bright Idea to bury Rock n Roll in the ground, next to my grandparents front steps. We agreed that we'd bury him there until the next time I came back to visit. I was there pretty often as a kid, so I was back not long after and we quickly ran over to the other side of the double to start digging, only to find... a new side walk freshly poured right in the area we buried Rock n Roll. We panicked and began to try and dig under the side of the concrete, but we had no luck... Rock n Rock was gone forever along w/ many other fallen Joes from other collections of the 80s' child. But I will never forget the horror of seeing the Rock n Rolls grave covered in concrete!

Good now I feel better having shared yet another completely nerdy account of my childhood. But part of why I write this blog is to is to help remind people of their inner child... We were all kids once and we all had experiences like the ones I have shared and that's what's cool about being a apart of the human race. We have our differences but at the end of the day we are all just kids trying to make the best of whatever life throws at us. I have rebuilt My Joe collection over time and that gives me great joy! If you have any missing Joe stories or any others I would love the hear them!  YO JOE everyone!

So if you don't already know by now... I LOVE MOVIES! I grew up in a family of self proclaimed "movie buffs" my self included, and film deeply influences my writing, drawing and the way I see the world in general. I am one of those guys who expresses his feelings to people by comparing a real life situation to something that touched me in a movie I saw. I once tried to express my feelings to a girl by comparing them to the way Baby felt about Johnny in Dirty Dancing.(not my finest hour) That's another movie my mom watched all the time growing up and a movie I always get sucked into every time it's on! I am a sick, sick man! Anyway, one of the things that always come up when I get into a deep film discussion w/ a fellow film fiend is the movie sequel... A lot people hate them( I'm speaking to you Leslie)  I personally love a good sequel and I stress good! There is an art to it, and some when done right, even surpass the original.(very rarely) I am not putting these 10 sequels in any type of order and I have no doubt that I will forget to mention some good ones, so if I do please feel free to share! So here is my top ten sequels as I see them at this moment.

1.) Rocky 2: I know this will piss some people off, but Rocky 2 is a great movie! I have seen it countless times as well as the other films... Rocky 2 delivers the emotional power of the first film, by giving a the guy who had "nuthin"... everything... and then back to being a no good bum... I could seriously go on for years about why this is a great sequel but I will sum it up w/ 3 key moments... 1.) when Rocky asks Apollo if he gave him his best and Apollo simply says "Yeah." Hard to admit to any man that you rattled his confidence and even harder when you win, but you don't feel good about it. Plus, that is the moment you realize Apollo is actually a good guy. 2.) Adrian: " there's one thing I want you to do for me. Rocky: What"s that?  Adrian: Win... Win! I don't even need to explain! That moment and line are so amazing! 3.) The ending w/ the rope climbing and count out. Some people hate this ending, but I love it. You see... If we learned anything from Rocky 1 it's that Rocky above all else is heart, from the way he treats Adrian, Paulie and Micky to the way he fights! He isn't the smartest and he isn't the most gifted Physically, but his heart is unmatched! Sure he fought Apollo to a stand still in the first film, but he could never on his best day out box him. This is why the ending is perfect. His will and heart that carry him through life, beat an athlete that is far superior, the only way he knows how... Keep getting up when life knocks you on your ass! 

2.) Kill Bill 2: Here's the thing about Kill Bill and Kill Bill 2... I can't choose between them as far as which is better. They are both perfect films! I really wish Tarantino would release them as one film like he originally intended! Anyway, the film is just bad ass plain a simple. She punched herself out of a grave after being buried alive, rips the eye out of the face of her worst enemy, and explodes the heart of her greatest love, Bill, simply because she owes it to him after what he has done! Romance and bad assery at it's finest! Not to mention the amazing soundtrack! I have to say this too... I have talked to a lot of people about these films and normally people can't pick a favorite! That is a great sequel!

3.) T2: Judgement Day: This sequel is awesome because they took a unstoppable force of apathy and indifference and made him an unstoppable force of apathy, indifference and good. It just works so well...Cameron made a family movie inside an R rating. Sure, there are a lot of murders, but the kid does tell him that he "can't just go around killing people" if that doesn't scream family I don't know what does? And one more thing... Sarah Connor goes from helpless "Beauty" (Cause she was in the  Beauty and the Beast TV show too:) to Brutal- Buff- Bad Ass!

4.) Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier: I know this is a new film and maybe hasn't been around long enough to be included on this list, but I think this film deserves to be here! It has everything a good sequel needs... Great action, deeper character study and development, awesome plot that was both unbelievable and timely, and by the end of the film every characters world has been turned up side down and shattered! Finally, I loved Cap 1, but Cap 2 is a perfect film and it surpasses the original... That alone makes it deserving of being in a top ten!

5.) Predator 2: Yeah, I know some of you think I am too intense about the Predator, but would believe my girlfriend loves him waaay more than me! I like this movie because it has something every smart sequel  should have and that is a major change in the landscape and environment. We go from the remote jungle to a heavily populated city in future 1997... um... And our hero is a tired old cop played by the perfect tired old cop Danny Glover! I used to hate him and wonder why they cast him because he isn't always very believable physically in this role. BUT I think that is sort of the point... The only way to beat the Predator is to out smart him and to beat him at his own game. By the time they fight on the ship You believe it's possible for Danny Glover to beat this bad ass alien because someone has to lose and they are at a stand still. And then you see all the other Predators show themselves and instead of kill him they respect him! Awesome!

6.) The Empire Strikes Back: Basically... read last weeks top ten 80's film blog and you will know why this is on here. Other than it's a perfect film and has all of the qualities I have discussed thus far, in many ways surpasses the original.

7.) The Color of Money: This movie is a personal favorite... Some people may not even know or put together that it is a sequel to the Hustler... Anyway, I love checking in on where Fast Eddie ended up and getting another shot at playing pool on top again. And Tom Cruise plays a great tool in this film... Everyone knows a guy who is super good at everything and is an asshole about it and Cruise kills this part! It also mixes the old school w/ the new school, which is a great contrast to the original film... Oh and did I mention it's a Scorsese film? Nuff Said!

8.) Halloween 2 (original): I love this movie! I love that it picks right back off from where we were in the first film. And that it almost all takes place in a hospital of all places. This is where people go to heal and hopefully not die. We find out more about Michael's and Loomis' back story and everything is more bloody and more intense. It is a great sequel to a classic horror film!

9.) Evil Dead 2: In the words of my brilliant and beautiful girlfriend Hali... "It's the best sequel ever because it's basically the same movie as the first one only waaay better!"  I think that sums it up nicely!

10.) Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan: This movie saved the Star Trek movie franchise after Star Trek: Motion Picture was panned and super long and some what boring. Richardo Montalban is one of the best villains ever on screen! He commits so fully to his part and you believe that he both despises and respects Kirk. He is just over the top enough to be incredible... The plot is very interesting and we find out Kirk has a son at the same time Kirk finds out. AND  freaking Spock DIES! What more do you want in a sequel?

11.) Aliens: Now, Aliens almost made my list last week, but I went w/ Predator because I think it is a slightly better film and the Predator Hunts and Kills Xenomorphs. Anyway, Aliens has a lot of great stuff happening. Riley has been asleep for a long time and everyone she knows is dead (see great stuff)... They want to Capture and study the Aliens?!!!! What the hell?!!!! There's more action and better effects, a Queen Alien and there's one of the greatest lines in movie history... "Get away from her you bitch!" and said w/ such conviction! They cranked this sequel all the way up to 11 so it gets the 11th spot on my top ten!

Okay, there you go... I hope you enjoy this blog, mom. (I am implying that she is the only one who reads these) If you have comments or Movies you would add please let me hear them!

Hello again, It has been pretty cool to see that the numbers are rising on this website, but what is really cool is that people seem to be reading these blogs! So thank you!

So yesterday I'm at work and I make a joke about telling someone never to come in to work on Tuesdays... I then actually used the term " I'm gonna get all Biff on her." My co worker is a few years younger than I am and her face looked both confused and empathetic as I tried to explain the joke, which for those fans of 80's cinema know, was a reference to Back to the Future. Anyway, she of course had no idea what I was talking about, but smiled and laughed to make the "old 34 year old guy" feel better. Anyway, this got me thinking if this woman of say 26 or 27 hasn't seen Back to the Future what other classic 80's films has she not seen? Now, since I'm somewhat of  psycho when it comes to things like this I started making a mental list of my favorite films of the 80's and came up w/ a top ten.( I actually do this quite a bit and it is always changing.) Anyway. here it is... This list is not in any order because that just isn't fair!

1.) Goonies : Yeah, I know big surprise... If you want to know some of my reasoning for this one read my Blog from a few weeks back where I ramble on and on about how there making Goonies 2  and why the first one is so special and Blah, Blah, Blah!
2.) The Empire Strikes Back: I am only going to include one of the Star Wars films from the 80's,simply because I think one is only slightly better than the other. Reason 1.) Training w/ Yoda... Reason 2.) "No, I am your father." Reason 3.) Leia: I love you. Han: I know. There are many other reasons for my including this film, but these 3 reasons need no explanation!
3.) The Breakfast Club: Basically, this movie is incredible. It is written to perfection by the man who in many ways set the tone for the 80's film, especially for teens, John Hughes.I feel like this movie is timeless and a must watch film for any high school student or anyone who felt the alienation of high school or anywhere for that matter! Nuff Said.
4.) The Karate Kid: This movie is a special film for me because it was a movie that my brother and I would watch over and over again w/ my mom or our Betamax player... Yeah, we did have a Betamax and it was far superior to the VCR, but way too expensive... the only reason we had one was because my dad got a discount through the electronics store he managed! Anyway, I love this film for one simple reason... Everyone needs a good friend that you can count on to have your back! Oh and the sound track is super bad ass too!
5.) Back to the Future: Another film my brother and I would watch w/ my mom all the time! One of the Ultimate family films and extremely smart and well written! It's funny, it's "heavy," and it will tug at the heart strings. There is nothing not to love about this film!
6.) Raiders of the Lost Ark: This is the greatest action adventure film ever made! Harrison Ford is at his best playing the iconic Henry Jones Jr, and Karen Allen is the best of the Jones ladies! So many films have tried to capture what Raiders does and just haven't been able to do it! It's a perfect film!
7.) Predator: I love this film! It is one of Stan Winston's best monsters and one of Arnold's best and probably most underrated roles. This film is the Jaws of the 80's, super suspenseful, brutal and of course the fear of the unknown! The sound track is awesome too! I also, like how the cast is so small and how all this stuff just happens to them... Dutch's worst fears are realized as he watches his men get picked off one at a time. Great film!
8.) E.T. the Extra Terrestrial: If I included the most bad ass Monster Alien of the 80's I have to include the sweetest and kindest. I remember rewatching ET a lot as a kid, and always crying in certain parts. It was the Goonies w/ an Alien and I love it. The movie is all of about Heart right down to the glowing one ET has beating in his chest. 
9.) The Terminator: Time Traveling Cyborg... Nuff Said.
10.) Batman: Okay, say what you want... The film is a bit dated by today's standards, but I saw this movie like 5 times in the theatre when I was a kid.And I watched it again not that long ago and I think it holds up fine... I still love Jack and Keaton is great! In Fact, Not even Bale has done it better than Keaton who was both broody and charming and he looked and sounded bad ass in the Batsuit. He didn't turn into a monster w/ uncontrolled rage against criminals he was Batman! And when he said it you believed it. 

So that's the list I came up w/... Like a said this list changes all the time for me and there and many other films I could have included, but I only have 10 spots and in the end all of these films have played major roles in my life and art! And that's sort of what this blog is about! If you have thoughts or any films you want to mention or your own top ten... Please share it! I love reading other peoples feelings about movies!

Amazing Spider-Man 2 isn't getting the best reviews, but as fan of the comics since I was a little kid up until today... It's a great film and heres my 5 reasons why....

1.) Andrew Garfield has grown on me... Sure I liked him in the first film, but he sold me in AS2! He is witty, charming and has a bit of the James Dean cool factor.  Peter should be a a bit more Nerdy at times, but honestly I think over all they have found a good mix. After all, Peter Parker hasn't really ever had a problem finding a date. And did I mention that they have finally figured Spidey's humor on film. The wise cracks are there and so is the heart! This is a testament to Andrew Garfield as an actor and a fan of the character!

2.) The Classic Suit is back... I missed it in the First film and in the AS2 I really think it looks better than ever. And more than Tobey Mcguire, Andrew Garfield and his Double look Dare I say "Amazing in the Suit." There is a certain build that Spidey needs to have and Mr. Garfield has the right look both in and out of the suit.

3.) The Peter and Gwen Chemistry is all there and working on all levels. They nail How it feels to be young and in love, and having a complete disregard to the outside world even when it keeps on Knocking! Emma Stone I so charming and beautiful( Jim Carey said it first folks) and is a great balance to Garfield's boyish charm. Also, The two of them look like they could have been taken straight from the pages of a Spidey comic! You will fall in love w/ their love!

4.) There is a nice mix of action, exposition and drama. Some of the scenes w/ Spidey scrambling through New York saving people are the best ever put on film. It is an awesome ride, w/ plenty of rest stops a long the way... Sometimes even in an action film, there's just too much action and not enough getting to know and empathizing w/ the characters. They did a great job w/ both aspects plan and simple!

5.) Finally, this film is aimed at the comic fans! If you are a fan of the Spider-Man comic I think you will enjoy this film. Sure, not everything is perfect, but the heart is there, the tragedy is there, and most of all the Parker luck is there! We are witnessing why Spider-man is who he is w/ this Reboot franchise... We definitely got that in the Raimi version, and I still love it... BUT There are moments in this film that will potentially destroy you emotionally, from a Spidey comic standpoint. The aunt May Peter relationship, Gwen and Peter, Harry and Peter... Even Electro and Peter have some great scenes as far as Spidey being Spidey and other characters delivering in classic ways! I repeat if you are a fan of Spider-man and Know the way certain things happen in the comics this movie will move you like none of the others have!

So there you have it... Don't always listen to the critics and what Rotten Tomato says, because this movie is great! If you have seen it tell me what you think! Good or bad!