Blogging: A Summary

 

My Weekly Stats

 

Hi Everybody,

With the semester winding down and finals popping up it time for me to reflect on my experience over this past semester in the world of blogging. And let me tell you what a strange and wondrous journey this has been. My whole life I have been the quiet type, the observer in the crowd. I am not a person who typically likes to bring attention to myself. However, I have always wanted to blog and bring my voice out there into the world. When I began taking Fundamentals of Digital and Online Media(FDOM) this semester one of the requirements for the class was that we had to create and keep up with a blog for the semester. And I have enjoyed every moment of writing and creating my content for the world to enjoy, and I plan to continue blogging for the years to come.

• Which tools were effective?
• Which tools weren’t?

When blogging you have to be aware of the tools in your arsenal when you use them right you can have a popular blog or post, however if you underuse your tools you are either left with a blog nobody has heard of. I believe I fall in the middle of underusing and the right amount when it came to promoting my blog. I loved promoting my blog through Twitter and being able to connect my blog to my twitter so that when I made a new post it would automatically be posted on my Twitter dash, making promoting my blog a lot easier for me in the long run. However, promotion is only one part of an excellent blog. I would say an ineffective tool to use while blogging, is not putting tags on your post to make them more search engine friendly. As well as under promoting my blog as well, as I only used Twitter to promote my post when I could easily have included Facebook and Tumblr, as these are two other social media platforms I have a presence on.

• What would you want to improve or include within the blog?

In the future of the blog I hope to add more regular post and daily content, such as during this summer, as I will have few distrancat that would prevent me from posting, as well as post review of new movies. I also want to include more just plan discussion post and possibly less top fives, because while I love my list, I want to drive in deep into the subject at hand.

• In what ways could the experience benefit you in the future?
• Discuss how you might implement these tools professionally in the future, in a job or an entrepreneurial endeavor.

I feel blogging is a great way of letting your emotions out while also connecting with the rest of the world. I have enjoyed knowing that I have a voice to speak with when it comes to the things I love and I what to continue to use this platform to allow my voice to be heard. Through blogging, I am better prepared for deadline assignments that a work environment would bring me and create content that audiences can enjoy. I now have to tools to actively promote myself in the workplace, as well as a digital portfolio of the work I have produced and the audience I have. Just having a digital footprint with this blog will allow employers and co-workers to see the work I involve myself in outside of the workplace and a blog is a fantastic way to try out new tools before implementing them into a long term project or goal.

Now it is time for my favorite part of the review, the blog stats.

• Which was your most popular week, and how many views and visitors did you get that week?

My most popular week was March 14, 2016, to March 21, 2016, has I had ten views and five visitors that week.

• Which was your most popular post of the year? How many views did it get? Why do you think it was the most popular?

My most popular post of the year was my blog review of Maria’s Cinematic Universe at six views. I believe that it was popular because people love reading reviews of what other people blogs are about as it is a great way of knowing whether or not you should start reading what they post.

• In all of the Site Stats data, was anything surprising to you?

What was most surprising to me was the number of visitors I had from other countries. I was only really expecting to have an America audience, but while reading my stats for this post, I discovered over the course of the semester I have had three visitors from Australia alone and one visit each from Ukraine, Russia, and Costa Rica. I am still amazed that I could reach and have a global audience, as well as have an audience at all. I want to thank all of your for taking the time and visiting. You guys are awesome.

• Do you have any Twitter, Facebook or other social media stats you want to share?

Over the course of the semester, I have had referrers to my site and my post from six visitors clicking the link on my Twitter post. I have had four visitors who found my blog while searching on Google, which is frankly really cool. And I had two visitors come to my blog from other WordPress users.

Once again, I want to thank everybody who has read my blog, and I want to thank FDOM for giving me that only the courage to create a blog but to stick with it. I hope you all have a great summer and stay for what I will be posting in the next couple of months.

Thanks Again,

Erin O’Donnell

 

Top Five Movies I Watched During Freshmen Year

 

Photo By Erin O’Donnell

 

It dawned on me while I was packing up my Freshmen dorm room that I have watched a lot of movies during my Freshmen year in College. I not only enjoyed new releases that quickly became my new favorite movies but also classics my friends insisted that I watched and the rare movie day in class. The films I looked at this school year alone are as varied as the school years and the classes I have taken themselves.

While I saw a ton of movies during my first two semesters at college, I have only listed the ones I felt have hugely impacted me, it does not matter when they were intentionally released, just that the first time I watch them be sometime between September 2015 and May 2016. Nor does genre matter, while they may be some similarities between films because of what I lean towards, I have not put style into account when making this list. All of these movies are just films I saw during my first two semesters in college.

Brooklyn: As I have said in a previous post, I am proud of my Irish heritage, and I can not think of a better movie that represents my heritage than Brooklyn. This coming of age tell is not normally a film I would watch as dramas are not my thing, but Brooklyn is just an incredible story from the start to the end. You can feel for Saoirse Ronan characters as she goes through your journey from Ireland to Brooklyn and all the bumps that happen along the way as she begins her new life in the Big Apple.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Growing up I was not into Star Wars at all. I would more likely be into watching Star Trek, then watching the Rebels blow up the Death Star. However, not even I could resist the buzz of one of the most talked about movies of all time. As of this date, I have seen the movie four times, and I plan to watch it again soon. Because of this film, I have fallen in love and have started to explore the Star Wars Universe, and I am learning more and more about the vast array of characters and the history of this Universe every day. For the actual film itself, I thought it was a fantastic mix of sci-fi, action, and humor. I love the characters, those both new and old to the franchise, and I am excited to see how the story and characters will develop over the next two films. If you have not seen this movie yet, you are doing yourself a huge disservice.

Ghostbusters: Yes, it took a movie night with my friends to final see this 80’s comedy classic. Ghostbusters is a hilarious movie, starring some of the greatest comics of all time, such as Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. This mix of sci-fi and paranormal, keeps you engage with the actions while provided some knee-slapping comedy. Some of my favorite film quotes come from this movie, such as “Listen, do you smell that?” said by my favorite Ghostbuster, Ray. The movie itself has stood the test of time, and while the effects may be more noticeable than they were in 1984, they still hold up, and the mix of practical and computer effects is just stunning to see come to life on screen. While I am excited for the new Ghostbusters movie to come out this summer, I know that it will not compare to this classic right here.

Deadpool: First, the fact that a Deadpool movie was made is still surprising to me. Second, the fact that it is one of the highest grossing R-rated movies of all times is even more surprising. What was once thought to be a project that would never make it to the big screen, has become one of the best superhero movies of the past decade. I believe we can all agree when I say we are living in a time when it seems that superhero movies are outnumbering standard releases. In between reboots and sequels, superhero films just seem to be crowding up release dates, and it appears their bubble is about to burst. While superhero films are some of my favorite movies, even I can agree that they are becoming overwhelming. However, Deadpool was a breath of fresh air for what seemed to be a decaying genre. The humor was right on point for the character, as was the violence. Deadpool provided the perfect commentary on the genre, by making fun of itself. This is the main point I want to get to. Deadpool was a fun movie because it was not afraid to be fun. By getting rid of the PG-13 rating, Ryan Reynolds was able to let the character thrive in an outlet we have never seen him in, film. Once an unknown comic character, Deadpool is now a comic book icon for the ages and is a hero we deserve in an age of superhero movies taking themselves way too seriously(looking at you Batman v. Superman).

Midnight Special: I am still upset at the treatment this film received. While I have known it would not be a box office success the fact that this movie received little to no marketing, amazes me. This film is a think piece. It does not feed it audiences answers, in fact, it leaves more questions than answers at the end of the movie. However, that does not mean this film did not understand that audiences are a lot smarter than studios would like to believe. This movie was an excellent example of shown not tell. You learn about the characters and the plot through natural dialogue. Nothing is out of place or seems forced. If you are looking for a sci-fi movie that is not only a fresh take on the genre but a homage to the sci-fi films that came before. This is the movie for you.

Top 5 Movies I brought with me to College

I am a person who only buys movies when they absolutely love the movie. However, when I moved into my dorm room for my first year at Texas State, I knew I could only bring a few of my favorite films with me and I had to make sure most of them were my absolute favorites.

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If you are interested in learning more about the movies in the slideshow check out the IMDb links below.

1. The Godfather
2. Pacific Rim
3. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
4. Thor
5. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Top 5 Films that inspire me to Workout

 

Photo by Erin O’Donnell

 

I will be the first to admit that I hate to exercise. I find a day doing absolutely nothing to be a lot better than a day, running around, getting sweaty, and just moving about. However, to stay alive and live a beautiful balance life, you have to exercise at least sometimes per week, if at least once a week.

Working out takes a lot of effort through, and for me to feel the need to workout I have to be motivated to do so. This is where movies come into the equations. Since the invention of the movie montage and just action films in general, it is a lot easier to find the inspiration I need to get out of bed a compete for a decent 45-minute workout on the stationary bike.

The movies that I am about to list below, always make me want to better myself and change my lifestyle for the better. Whether it is because I have been inspired by the film and the odds the characters, have been able to defeat. Or the fact that I think some of the characters look cool, and I would love to be able to save the city in my free time, without a doubt these are the movies that make me want to change for the better.

“Rocky”– Let us face it, the first movie you think about when it comes to workout movies, is the Rocky Franchise. Not only did Rocky popularize the training montage in Sports movies, but it also brought a new interest in boxing. In fact, whenever I get done watching any Rocky film, the iconic theme is stuck in my head, and I just pretend to punch the air until I realize I am acting a little bit weird. This is a film that makes me what to take a kickboxing class because I think it looks cool and would be a fun way to workout without having actually to go into the ring.

“X-Men”– I feel this goes without saying, but I love the X-Men universe. Just whenever I watch any of these movies, I just want to do a complete cardio workout and hope that Fox calls me in as a replacement. The last part of that sentence may be a stretch of a daydream, but every time I watch these movies I just want to spend weeks upon weeks completing a full body workout and just running on the treadmill. This film series makes me want to change for the better so I can be just like my favorite superhero team and help save the day where ever I am needed.

“Guardians of the Galaxy”– Sometimes I still can not wrap my head around the fact that Andy Dwyer of “Parks and Recreations” and Starlord are played by the same people. The body transformation that Chris Pratt put himself through for his role has Starlord has inspired me never to give up on my workout and give to 110% when I do a workout. I have figured if he can complete such an incredible transformation, then I sure can too.

“The Hunger Games”– Now we can all agree that the world Katniss lives in is awful. However after watching the whole series, I have been inspired to pick up a bow and arrow and just practice archery. Hunger Games, may have glorified violence and popularize the teen dystopia film and book genre, yet whenever I watch the movies, I think about the hours of work the actors have put to bring these phenomenal performances on screen.

“Man of Steel”– Two-Words, Henry Cavill. I have a lot of issues with the film itself, but I can not say it does not inspire me to pick up a dumbbell and just start lifting. Ever since I was a kid I loved Superman, and in my honest opinion, I think Henry Cavill is the spitting image of Superman from the comics. He has not only the perfect physique but his acting as Clark Kent as proved to me that an actor can do both roles perfectly. “Man of Steel” just makes me want to become a better person, not just for the world, but for myself as well. It was after watching this movie that changed my outlook on working out, as well as inspired me to attempt to make it a part of my daily routine.

Top 5 Original Songs for Film

 

Photo by Erin O’Donnell

As stated before on this blog, I am a huge fan of all things movies and watching movies is one of my favorite hobbies. However, movies are not the only thing I put my time and effort into. Outside of film, school work, and sleep, my next biggest passion is music and especially singing.

 

Since the age of three, I have been performing, whether it be on stage or in my bedroom, I have to sing. When I can’t sing it feel like the world is crumbling below my feet, dropping me down into a pit of despair. A bit dramatic, but it gets the point across. To me, singing and music are like breathing; I need it to live. In fact, music is what I am currently getting my minor in because I love it that much and couldn’t bear to part ways with it after high school. I have spent all of middle school and high school in the choir, and I plan to spend all of college in the choir as well.

My love for music through, along with my love for film, has reminded me that so many great pieces of music were made for movies, whether it be the score or a song included on the soundtrack. In fact, this led to me realizing that a lot of my favorite songs were written for movies.

To make this list a little easier, I have decided to exclude musicals and Disney musicals, as they have the upper hand when it comes to songs for movies. What I am writing about are those songs or scores that provoke and stirred emotions in me the way music should. The other criteria I am including is that the song just had to be written for a movie and including on the soundtrack. I am not just listing my favorite songs that have been nominated or have won awards because let us face it not every great original song is even nominated, just songs that were made for movies.

1.”Breath of Life”: by  Florence + the Machine for the film “Snow White and The Huntsman”– From the pounding drumbeat to the angelic choir, to Florence Welch powerful voice, this song proves original songs can sometimes outshine the movies they were made for. In a couple of years, most people will barely remember “Snow White” existed, yet everybody will remember one of the most emotional heart-wrenching songs to every grace a pair of earphones.

2.”Falling Slowly”: by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova for the film “Once”– This is a song you listen to when you are head over heels in love. From the poetic structure to the sweeping acoustic guitars, and the blending of the leads vocals. The song may be simple in nature and structure. However, it is potent in meaning about such a pure and honest feeling. A must listen to for anybody who is in love, or who has once been in love.

3.”My Heart Will Go On”: by Celine Dion for the film “Titanic”– I believe it is impossible to have a best original song list without “My Heart.” Not only is it one of the best power ballads of all times, but just one of the greatest love songs ever written. Dion incredible voice mixes well with the tremendous energy the songs has in its instrumentals. This song is just as good as the movie it was made for, if not just a little bit better.

4.”When She Loved Me” by Sarah McLachlin for the film “Toy Story 2”– Not once have I been able to listen to this song without bawling because it that good. McLachlin was able to convey the fleeting nature of childhood while displaying the emotions a toy feel for its owner. McLachlin soprano vocals blend well with the piano score and create poetry in motion.

5.”Main Theme/Overture” by John Williams for the film “Star Wars”– From the soft opening to the powerful sweeping motions, this song is legendary and has become synonymous with the movie itself. In front of every opening sequence in every Star Wars movie to date, it hard to find somebody who has not listen to this song at least once in their lives. The Duh, Duh, Duh Da Da Duh, Duh as becomes pop culture itself. This score changed the game of how audience related to music in movies and proved scores could be just as powerful as the movies themselves.

Blog Review: Maria Cinematic Universe

I do not hide my love for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and neither does Maria Gomez from Maria’s Cinematic Universe. With an incredible blend of geekery and analysis, Gomez is a force to be reckoned with, like the superheroes she and I have grown up admiring.

My first drawn to her website was the reviews she had for not only trailers of upcoming Marvel movies, such as Captain America: Civil War and X-men: Apocalypse, but for Marvels movies themselves, such as her excellent review of Deadpool. In her reviews, Gomez writes like a pro, yet with a sincerity that feels like you are talking to a friend. While reading her review for Deadpool, I could feel her genuine interest and love in her chosen subject and how much she cares for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which I found refreshing as somebody who loves to review films and subjects I enjoy as well.

What locked me into the blog was her post on Sexism in Superhero Merchandise, an issue I too am passionate about fixing. I loved her fresh take on the subject and the example she uses to prove her point. This is a subject I too have been passionate about for the last few years, has she as mentioned, T-shirts and action figures are lacking female superhero representation, with movies such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and even The Avengers lacking in merchandise with the principal female characters. This post caused me to reflect more on my feelings about the issues she as pointed out and reassured me that my blog can be more than a platform to reviews movies, but to allow a chance to talk about social issues and causes that I care about.

I am looking forward to reading more from Maria’s Cinematic Universe in the future, and I wish her the best of luck in her blogging endeavors as she deserves all the success in the world.

Top 5 Austin/Texas Films

 

Photo Taken by Erin O’Donnell

For most people Austin is the music capital of the world, and we host both the ever growing ACL Music Festival and South by Southwest to prove this, however to me Austin is my hometown and my favorite place to be in the whole wide world. I have been reminded of my love for this city has I have spent the past week here on Spring Break, and have taken every opportunity I can to explore the city I love so dearly. However over the past couple of years, Austin has become a home for budding filmmakers all over Texas to explore their creativity and embark on journeys only this beautiful city and this magnificent state can provide us.

 

While reflecting on this, I realize a couple of my favorite movies have been centered on my favorite city, as well as the great state of Texas itself and these movies have reminded me over the years of what growing up in Austin feels like. That is why I felt compelled to make this list of some of my favorite Austin/Texas films and the Texan Filmmakers behind these movies.

1.Dazed and Confused– Directed by Richard Linklater this film has quickly become a cult-classic, and it is not hard to see why. Not only does this movie feel nostalgic, but it tells a beautiful coming of age story that can only be displayed in this film and the Austin setting. In between the classic lines, yes even the famous “Alright, Alright, Alright.” and the retro soundtrack cranking out tunes by Alice Cooper and The Runaways you have a film with a lot of heart and soul told by characters that feel like real people. This movie cemented Linklater as a prominent filmmaker in the Austin film scene and helped made stars out of Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, and Parker Posey.

2.Rushmore– As a huge Wes Anderson fan, I knew I had to put Rushmore on this list. While the movie is not set in Austin, it is set in Texas. The Film has all the quirk you have come to expect from an Anderson film and for all the right reason. Actor Jason Schwartzman, in his first feature film, brings the character of Max Fisher to life with only the charm and wit a teenager can bring to this precocious character that Anderson has proven to be a master at Writing. While Bill Murray does an excellent job as the supporting Herman Blume, bringing his eccentric energy to the mix. With a beautiful screenplay and the spark Anderson is known for today, this is a movie to watch if you are not only new to Wes Anderson in general, but are a huge fan already.

3.Boyhood– Another Linklater film, this movie is not only an incredible journey in Filmmaking, as it was shot over the course of 12 years with the same actors but a fantastic story as well. Now this film does not tell a story in the traditional sense, but in the relative sense. This is a movie that you feel you could have lived, or known somebody who has lived it. My favorite aspect of this movie is the fact is that it is so relatable, this could be because I am the same age of the protagonist and can relate to the changing years and the culture that has come to going up in Austin during this time as well. When I watch this movie, I am reminded of home and my childhood, and I enjoy the feeling of nostalgia I get from this movie.

4.Spy Kids– This is more nostalgic on my favor, but Spy Kids was one of my favorite movies growing up and has stuck with me throughout the years. Robert Rodriguez can bring the wacky world of Spy Kids to life the only way he knows how my making a movie he wants to make. While this movie is not set in Austin, it was filmed here and in many of the background scenes, you can see the Texas State Capital and the streets of Downtown Austin. The movie may be stuck in the early 2000s, but it is an enjoyable film that awakens the youth inside. Not only that but sometimes it is wonderful to realize that Rodriguez was able to make a film with this outrageous plots and zany characters. Not only does Antonio Banderas star in it but Tony Shalhoub, George Clooney, and Alan Cumming starring in the same movie is a miracle in itself, and the child stars Alexa Vega, and Daryl Sabara do an excellent job leading the ensemble cast. A must watch for any person who just wants to sit down and have a fun night watching movies.

5.Bernie– Yet another Linklater, but this film is special in my heart. Not only did this movie proved to me that Jack Black has Acting Chops, but that Matthew McConaughey is a fantastic actor as well even after his string of less than stellar films. The film is black comedy at its finest with moments that will make you laugh and cringe at the same time, and you can not tell which one is worse to do at any given moment. The film is also based on a true story of convicted murderer Bernie Tiede and does a great job blending the story retold by Black and McCounenhay and the interview with actual residents of the small town the story takes place in.  This movie is a must watch for any movie buff who wants to have their minds blown that great filmmaking.

Top Five Irish Actors

 

Photo by Erin O’Donnell

 

First, I would like to apologize for not posting much in the past few weeks. Sadly I have been busy with school work and have not been able to focus my time on my blog. From now on through that will no longer be the case and I am exciting to post more in the future and getting to connect with you all on this blog.

Second, I want to wish everybody a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. This holiday is marked by a huge celebration in my family, as I am half Irish from my Father side of the family, and we try to find any reason to celebrate our heritage as often as we can. Because of my Irish heritage, I find myself enjoying Irish cinema and will find any excuse I can to watch an Irish movie with my friends who are not well adapt to this culture. Because of my love of Irish cinema, most of my favorite actors and actresses are Irish and today’s list will be of my favorite actors and not my favorite movies as that list would be far too long to write.

Attributed to IMDb

 

1. Cillian Murphy– Quite frankly one of the best actors in the business, Cillian Murphy over the years has appeared in both indie films and blockbusters alike, having appeared in movies such as one of my favorite “Breakfast on Pluto” and as Scarecrow in “Batman Begins”. Currently, he is starring in the lead role is “Peaky Blinders” on Netflix and he is excellent in every scene. He is one actor I always keep on my radar when he has new movies or projects coming out.

 

Attributed to IMDb

 

2. Domhnall Gleeson – For you “Harry Potter” fans out there Domhnall Gleeson is best known for playing Bill Weasley in the film series, but he is quickly making a name for himself. In 2015, he was in “Ex Machina”, “The Revenant”, “Brooklyn”, and one of my personal favorite “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Domhnall Gleeson is an actor who has range, and just like Cillian Murphy can star in both Indie and Blockbusters alike. With two more Star Wars film coming out along with various film project in between them, I expect a lot more great work from him in the future, and hopefully some nomination.

 

Attributed to IMDb

 

3. Saoirse Ronan– Being only 21 and already having two Academy Award nomination under your belt is a huge accomplishment, and I can not think of anyone better to have these than Saoirse Ronan. Since 2007, Saoirse has been stealing the screen with her roles in various films such as “The Lovely Bones”, “Hanna”, and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” Along with her nomination worthy performances in “Atonement”, which is was only 13 years old at the time, and “Brooklyn”,  Ronan has proven herself to be a dedicated performer to her craft. I expect great work from her in the future, as she has failed to disappoint me yet.

 

Attributed to IMDb

 

4. Liam Neeson– One of my movie guilty pleasure. I am not entirely sure why, but I will see any movie this man is in over and over again. From his Academy-Nominated role in “Schindler’s List” to “Non-Stop” to even “The Lego Movies”, Liam Neeson is a delight to watch on screen. Thanks to his career-saving role in the “Taken” series, Neeson has continued the trend of Older Actors in action movies, and he is a reason it is not completely a bad genre to have in the cinema.

 

Attributed to IMDb

 

5. Maureen O’Hara– This Red-headed Silver-screen beauty sadly died last year but has left a legacy that many actors can only dream of reaching. I grew up watching Maureen O’Hara in “Miracle on 34th Street” every year during Christmas and loved every scene she was in. As one of the last surviving stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, O’Hara worked on many films with many of cinema’s great, such as John Wayne in the 1971 Western “Big Jake” and starred in the 1939 Best Picture Winner “How Green was my Valley”. O’Hara is often cited as Ireland first Hollywood superstar and during her career has helped paved the way for many Irish actors to star in movies today. It is safe to say that without Maureen O’Hara, the Irish presence in Hollywood would not be what it is today.

 

Top Five Movies based on Comic Books/Graphic Novels

I have been collecting comic books since I was Sixteen years old but have been reading comic books since I was about seven. It was my Dad who first introduce me to the magical world of superhero and supervillains when I was younger. There was nothing more that I like to do then watching the battle between good and evil unfold in the pages in front of me. Often this would lead to me envisioning my very own stories for these characters to face; I would let my imagination run wild as these heroes came to life in my head.old but have been reading comic books since I was about seven. It was my Dad who first introduce me to the magical world of superhero and supervillains when I was younger. There was nothing more that I like to do then watching the battle between good and evil unfold in the pages in front of me. Often this would lead to me envisioning my very own stories for these characters to face; I would let my imagination run wild as these heroes came to life in my head.

Just like every kid, I dreamt of growing up and having superpowers, I can not think of a super power I didn’t want. I wanted to fly, have heat vision, control water, read minds, turn into animals, basically any super power that existed I wanted to have it. However, for most of my life superheroes were only cartoons on a page, and on animated series on televisions, sure we had the Superman films but in the modern age, they were no longer satisfying. We wanted our heroes to be gritty and face danger at every corner; we wanted our heroes to be humans face with an uncertain destiny. We wanted to see the world in our heroes.

It was not until I was six that I could recall a superhero movie that had a huge influence on me, yet when Spider-man came out in 2002, I could envision one of my favorite heroes as a real human being, instead of ink on a piece of paper. This movie is what kickstarted my love of superheroes and comic books into the full out nerdiness it is now.

Throughout the years I have seen many, many movies based on some of my favorite comic books and graphic novels while some films have disappointed me, many films have exceeded my expectations and fuel my passion even further.

1. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World– Based on the graphic novels by Brain Lee O’Malley this cult classic has everything you could want in an Edgar Wright movie, witty and hilarious dialogue, heartful moments, choreographed fights, larger than life characters, and even a killer soundtrack to go along with the film. This film is a love letter to video games and indie music and mixes these two perfectly. Not only is this movie visually stunning, but it feels genuine. If I have friends who have yet to see this movie, I will pop it into my DVD player and just sit and watch it with them, because everybody deserves to see this masterpiece at least once in their lives.
2. Captain America: The First Avenger–  I have an enormous soft spot for this movie because it was the first time I saw a superhero movie and had to think really about all the characters involved. I was no longer just a kid who could sit back in my seat and for the next two hours lose their sense of the world as the action sequences blow my mind, I was enthralled wth the characters, especially Peggy Carter. I will defend Captain America with all my breath, but I will fight for Peggy Carter.  I felt she had a purpose in the story whether than being another love interest for the hero to save. Peggy Carter could save herself. The movie was a refreshing take on period pieces, a specially of directors Joe Johnston, but still had the modern feel of the superhero movies we know and love today. This film was the perfect way to introduce the first avenger to the rest of the world before the Avengers, and I would not have it done any other way.
3. Kingsman: The Secret Service– Yep, the unexpected hit from last February, is based on the comic book series of the same name by Mark Millar, best known for writing Kick-Ass. This movie was fantastic and left me speechless at the end. The action sequence in the Church is enough for me to put this on my list, as it look effortlessly choreographed. Even the fact that Oscar Award Winning Actor, Colin Firth was in this movie at all still amazing me, as he goes against character type for the role in was in, and he played the role perfectly. Not only was this movie the perfect parody of spy movies, but it was the perfect homage as well because it shows director’s Matthew Vaughn, love of this particular film genre instead of attempting to go against the grain. I am excited for the sequel to come out in the next few years, but for now, at least, I have this movie to keep me company.
4. The Avengers– Two Words: Hulk Smash. This movie was the superhero movie that I had waited my whole life for the moment it came out. It has humor and action and surprising interactions with characters. When I left the theater, I wanted to see it over and over and over again. To me, these are the signs of an excellent film. The movie did not touch issues lightly, and the tensions between the heroes before they form the team was a beautiful touch, as the formula of the team being happy to work with each other was starting to get dull by the release of this movie. The pacing was fantastic as nothing felt slow or quiet; there was always some form of action or tension happening on screen.
5. The Dark Knight– This list would not be complete without this movie. It may be on every best film list you can read on the internet, and it deserve to be, just because it is that good. Christopher Nolan take on Batman will not be forgotten for years to come, with his gritty and quite frankly the realist takes on the famous cape crusader. The acting in this film is phenomenal, with Heath Ledger’s Joker at the forefront of it all. His performance is still chilling to this day and is the best live action Joker to date. With all that said and done, this movie made me a huge Nolan fan, and I will see any of his other movies without hesitation. As well as being the pinacol of how Superhero movies are structured in the D.C. Universe, this film truly changes the way the world view Superhero movies, they were no longer just for kids, but could now resistant with adults.