Tag / Spider-Man

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2025: The Year In Movies

The return of my annual long December vacation helped push up a weak first eleven months of the year, giving me my lowest total since last year.  I managed to watch 55 movies last year, my fifth consecutive year under 100, despite being home all day and not needing to bother with pesky things like a commute.  Or exercise.  Reading 66 books and watching game shows all day probably didn’t help either.

Here’s a look back at the first 50 movies I watched last year and what recollection, if any, I have of them. The films are listed in the order I saw them.

Queenpins (2021)
A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam.

Blackwater Lane (2024)
A woman believes she will be the next victim of a serial killer.

MaXXXine (2024)
Mia Goth returns in this prequel to X.

Mothers’ Instinct (2024)
The friendship between two women is tested when one loses her son.

Blitz (2024)
A group of Londoners tries to survive during the German bombing during World War II.

Poor Things (2023)
Emma Stone plays a woman who has the brain of a baby transplanted into her head.

The Idea of You (2024)
A 40-year-old single mom begins an unexpected romance with the lead singer of the hottest boy band on the planet.

Back in Action (2025)
Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz star as retired CIA agents forced to come out of retirement to save their family.

Kinds of Kindness (2024)
Emma Stone reteams with writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos.

Y2K (2024)
Machines go nuts as the clock strikes midnight and the world enters the year 2000.

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Prolific Authors – Three Books

It is time once again to take a look at the authors I have read the most, dating back to high school.  This year, I’m once again on pace to set a new record for books read in a year, so I thought it would be nice to take a deeper dive into those books I’ve read through August of this year. Since our last check-in, I’ve read an additional 114 books, so there should be some movement over the past two years.  Without further ado, it’s time to take another look and see if my “favorite” authors have changed much over the years.  We continue today with the 21 authors I’ve read three times, one more than two years ago.

Kevin J. Anderson

Last read in the 20th century, he’s responsible for three of the X-Files books on my shelf.

Fredrik Backman

This Swedish author has become a recent favorite, showing up once a year prior to last year, with more to come, I’m sure.

The 22 Murders of Madison May – Max Barry

Max Barry

After a 17-year break, Barry returned to my attention in 2024 with The 22 Murders of Madison May.

Adam Carolla

The former comedian and current right-wing nutjob managed to get me to read three of his podcast regurgitations before being driven away.

Bill Carter

The former media reporter for the New York Times delivered three behind the scenes looks at the television industry, including the transition from Johnny Carson to Jay Leno and from Jay Leno to Conan O’Brien and back again.

Supreme Justice – Max Allan Collins

Max Allan Collins

Author of all entries of the Reeder and Rogers trilogy.

Keith R.A. DeCandido

Two Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels and a Spider-Man novel make up his works.

Diane Duane

A 23-year absence was broken in 2023 thanks to Intellivore, an entry in the Star Trek: The Next Generation series.

The Fireman – Joe Hill

Joe Hill

The son of Stephen King crossed my path again following a seven-year break.

Luke Jennings

The basis of the television show Killing Eve, Jennings’ trilogy takes a wildly different path.

David Lagercrantz

Stieg Larsson

Stieg Larsson wrote the first three entries in the story of Lisbeth Salander.  Following his death, David Lagercrantz continued the series with three entries of his own.

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Putting Down His PAD And Pencil

Peter David, fan favorite author and comic book writer, passed away this weekend at the age of 68.  Over the past thirteen years, he has had many health issues, starting with a stroke in December of 2012.

David was a prolific author, mostly in the science fiction and fantasy genres.  I’ve read a number of his works, mostly from the Star Trek: The Next Generation expanded universe.  The majority of my exposure to David’s work, however, was in the world of comic books.  He was most well-known for his award-winning twelve year run on The Incredible Hulk and also had notable runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.

While I haven’t been in the comic book game for quite a while, this news was still a bit of a shock.  I was aware of some of his earlier health issues, but not as up to date on the more current ones.  He was a unique voice and will surely be missed by his many fans.

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2024: The Year In Movies

The return of my annual long December vacation helped push up a weak first eleven months of the year, giving me my lowest total since 2021.  I managed to watch 52 movies last year, my fourth consecutive year under 100, despite being home all day and not needing to bother with pesky things like a commute.  Or exercise.  Reading 62 books and watching game shows all day probably didn’t help either.

Here’s a look back at the first 50 movies I watched last year and what recollection, if any, I have of them. The films are listed in the order I saw them.

The Assistant (2019)
A day in the life of an assistant to a film producer, who quickly realizes that abuse is all around her.

The Holdovers (2023)
A tight-assed teacher and a troublesome student bond when they are left alone at their boarding school over winter break.

May December (2023)
An actress starts to come between a couple who, twenty years ago, had a notorious tabloid relationship.

The Equalizer 3 (2023)
The latest entry in the Denzel Washington series.

Wrong Turn (2021)
A group of friends hiking the Appalachian Trail come across a community none too happy to see them.

The Equalizer (2014)
When a young girl is kidnapped by Russian pimps, a former commando comes out of retirement to rescue her.

Plus One (2019)
Longtime friends agree to be each other’s plus one at the various weddings they get invited to.

Pearl (2022)
A young woman tries to become a star to escape from her overbearing parents and living on an isolated farm.

Thanksgiving (2023)
A killer attacks on Thanksgiving.

Upgraded (2024)
An intern at an auction house misrepresents herself to impress a man.

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Fifty Years Of Music – 2002

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2002, the year I celebrated my 28th birthday.  Only 29 songs remain familiar to me today, with just 21 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#96: Avril Lavigne – Sk8er Boi
iTunes stats: 29 plays

Peaking at #10, it gave Lavigne her second straight top ten hit and a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

#95: Alanis Morissette – Hands Clean
iTunes stats: 12 plays

The lead single from Morissette’s fifth studio album, it reached #23 and was her last single to crack the Top 40.

#87: Jewel – Standing Still
iTunes stats: 20 plays

Spending a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100, it topped out at #25

#77: Ludacris – Rollout (My Business)
iTunes stats: 23 plays

Nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance, it went to #17.

#71: No Doubt featuring Lady Saw – Underneath It All
iTunes stats: 12 plays

Spending two weeks at #3, it is the groups highest charting single.

#63: Eminem – Lose Yourself
iTunes stats: 55 plays

The track from the 8 Mile soundtrack spent 12 weeks at #1 across 2002 and 2003, becoming the rapper’s first chart topping single.

#59: No Doubt – Hella Good
iTunes stats: 26 plays

The second single from the group’s fifth studio album, it peaked at #13.

#56: LeAnn Rimes – Can’t Fight the Moonlight
iTunes stats: 12 plays

The theme song from Coyote Ugly, it stalled at #71 in 2000 but returned to the charts in late 2001, eventually rising to #11.

#54: Missy Elliot – Work It
iTunes stats: 21 plays

Elliot’s most successful single, it spent ten weeks at #2, tying Foreigner for the longest stint at that position.

#47: Eminem – Cleanin’ Out My Closet
iTunes stats: 31 plays

The second release from the rapper’s fourth studio album, it peaked at #4.

#46: Five for Fighting – Superman (It’s Not Easy)
iTunes stats: N/A

The first charting single for the band, it reached #14 while being used to honor the victims, survivors, police, and firefighters involved in the 9/11 attacks.

#45: Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of My Head
iTunes stats: N/A

Written and produced by former singer Cathy Dennis, it topped out at #7 and was her best-selling single in the US since 1987.

#43: Pink – Just Like a Pill
iTunes stats: 28 plays

Peaking at #8, it was written by Pink and Dallas Austin for her second studio album.

#36: Pink – Don’t Let Me Get Me
iTunes stats: 21 plays

The fifth top ten hit of Pink’s career, it reached #8.

#35: Sheryl Crow – Soak Up the Sun
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The lead single from her fourth studio album, it went to #17, becoming her sixth Top 40 hit.

#32: No Doubt – Hey Baby
iTunes stats: 27 plays

Earning the band the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, it spent two weeks at #5.

#28: Shakira – Whenever, Wherever
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The lead single from the Colombian singer’s English language debut, it peaked at #6.

#25: Chad Kroger featuring Josey Scott – Hero
iTunes stats: N/A

Recorded for the Spider-Man soundtrack, it topped the Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts while topping out at #3 on the Hot 100.

#24: Pink – Get the Party Started
iTunes stats: 26 plays

Originally written for Madonna, Pink took the party anthem to #4 in late December 2001.

#23: Michelle Branch – All You Wanted
iTunes stats: 16 plays

Reaching #6, this second single from her debut album was written by Branch.

#22: Enrique Iglesias – Hero
iTunes stats: N/A

Released eight days before the 9/11 attacks in 2001, it spent fifteen weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart while going to #3 on the Hot 100.

#21: Eminem – Without Me
iTunes stats: 25 plays

Earning two Grammy nominations, the lead single from Eminem’s fourth studio album peaked at #2.

#20: Creed – My Sacrifice
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending nine weeks atop the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, it reached #4 on the Hot 100.

#14: Jimmy Eat World – The Middle
iTunes stats: N/A

The band’s only Top 40 hit, it went all the way to #5.

#11: Avril Lavigne – Complicated
iTunes stats: 18 plays

The debut single from the Canadian singer-songwriter, it topped out at #2 while staying on the chart for 31 weeks.

#6: Vanessa Carlton – A Thousand Miles
iTunes stats: N/A

The singer’s debut single, it remains her biggest hit, reaching #5.

#5: The Calling – Wherever You Will Go
iTunes stats: 17 plays

The band’s only single to reach the Hot 100, it peaked at #5.

#3: Nelly – Hot in Herre
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The lead single from his second studio album, it spent seven weeks at #1 during the summer of 2002.

#1: Nickelback – How You Remind Me
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending four weeks atop the Hot 100 across 2001 and 2002, it was named the most played song of the decade on US radio stations.

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Prolific Authors – 3 Books

Way back in December of 2011 (and again every other December since), we’ve taken a look at the authors I have read the most, dating back to high school.  Since I’ve far surpassed my “normal” reading output the last three yeas, I thought it would be nice to once again take a deeper dive into those books I’ve read through the start of October. Since our last check-in, I’ve read an additional 118 books, so there could be some movement over the past two years, but it’s time to take another look and see if my “favorite” authors have changed much in that time span.  We continue today with the 20 authors I’ve read thrice, an increase of eight over the past two years.

Kevin J. Anderson

Last read in the 20th century, he’s responsible for three of the X-Files books on my shelf.

A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman

Fredrik Backman

This Swedish author has become a recent favorite, showing up once a year over the past three years, with more to come, I’m sure.

Adam Carolla

The former comedian and current right-wing nutjob managed to get me to read three of his podcast regurgitations.

Bill Carter

The former media reporter for the New York Times delivered three behind the scenes looks at the television industry, including the transition from Johnny Carson to Jay Leno and from Jay Leno to Conan O’Brien and back again.

Executive Order – Max Allan Collins

Max Allan Collins

Author of all entries of the Reeder and Rogers trilogy.

Suzanne Collins

The woman behind a little trilogy about a young woman named Katniss who upends her entire world.

Keith R.A. DeCandido

Two Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels and a Spider-Man novel make up his works.

Alex Finlay

A DC lawyer writing under a penname, Finlay has placed three books in my hands over the past two years.

The Guest List – Lucy Foley

Lucy Foley

Another recent fave, Foley, a New York Times best seller, has shown up annually since 2021.

Megan Goldin

The former Reuters correspondent first appeared on my radar in 2021 with her debut, The Escape Room.

Paula Hawkins

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Prolific Authors – 2 Books

Way back in December of 2011 (and again every other December since), we’ve taken a look at the authors I have read the most, dating back to high school.  This year, since I’ve far surpassed my reading output of any year on record, I thought it would be nice to take a deeper dive into those books I’ve read through October. Since our last check-in, I’ve read an additional 118 books, so there could be some movement over the past two years, but it’s time to take another look and see if my “favorite” authors have changed much in that time span.  Today, we start things off with the now 41 authors I’ve read twice, an increase of six over two years ago.

Max Barry

An Australian author, I’ve enjoyed the two novels of his I’ve read, Jennifer Government and Company.

Laura Caldwell

I have no idea how I came across the work of this local author, but I must have enjoyed it enough to go back for seconds.  Unfortunately, she passed away in 2020.

Michael Chabon

Winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, the most recent of the two works of his I’ve read.  I have another, Wonder Boys, waiting in the to read pile, so he rise up some day.

Fate Of The Union – Max Allan Collins with Matthew V. Clemens

Matthew V. Clemens

The co-author, with Max Allan Collins, of the final two chapters of the Reeder and Rogers trilogy.

Ernest Cline

The man responsible for both Ready Player One and Ready Player Two.

Bill Clinton

The former president has co-written two novels with James Patterson.

Felicia Day

The first author here that I’ve happened to meet in person.

Cameron Dokey

She makes the list based on two entries in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series.

Diane Duane

Living in Ireland, she is responsible for a Star Trek: The Next Generation book and a Spider-Man novel, of all things.

Warren Ellis

The comic writer, currently in exile after being called out for abusing women, makes the list thanks to two prose novels.

David Fisher Continue reading →

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Loss Of A Legend

Legendary Marvel artist John Romita passed away yesterday at the age of 93, according to his son, fellow artist John Romita Jr.  Romita defined the look of Spider-Man for a generation and was Art Director for Marvel from 1973 through the early 2000s.

Romita’s career began in the late 1940s at what was then known as Timely Comics.  Following a stint in the Army, Romita returned to what was then known as Atlas Comics, helping to relaunch Captain America in 1953.  After a short stint at DC working on romance comics, Romita returned to the newly christened Marvel Comics, where, following a short stint on Daredevil, he took over the art duties on Amazing Spider-Man following the departure of creator Steve Ditko in 1966.  Along with his tweaks to the design of Spider-Man and Peter Parker, Romita helped create iconic characters like Mary Jane Watson, Rhino, Kingpin, Shocker, and more.

As Art Director, Romita also designed a number of characters on titles that he wasn’t working on, including Wolverine and Punisher.  He was inducted into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame in 2002.

I have at least 38 comics drawn by John Romita in my collection, starting with issue #44 of Amazing Spider-Man, cover dated January 1966, and ending with issue #132, from May of 1974.

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Travelling The 50 States – California

Over my 47 years, I’ve done my fair share of travelling across these United States.  I thought it would be an interesting experiment go look back at those trips to each of the 31 states I have visited (62% isn’t bad, is it?) and see if, and when, I may be returning.  Working in alphabetical order, we start today with the 31st state to be added to the Union: California.

State: California
Joined the Union: 1850
Visits: 11

With eleven visits between 1998 and 2019, the Golden State is the state I have visited the most, outside of those I have lived in and/or attended college.

My first visit was in 1998 to attend Comic Con International in San Diego.  I went early, spending the entire week and enjoying some pre-Con time checking out the sights, including the San Diego Zoo.

I returned the following year for Labor Day weekend, but this time up to the San Francisco Bay area, to visit my old friend Scott, who had moved out there after graduating to work at AMD.  What I remember from that trip is my first Giants/Phillies tilt at the former Candlestick Park, my first trip to the toilet that at the time was called Network Associates Coliseum, and a car trip over the Golden Gate Bridge.

I returned to San Diego for Comic Con in 2000 and 2003.  I don’t remember much of the 2000 trip, but the 2003 trip included my one visit to the former Jack Murphy Stadium to see the Padres face the Diamondbacks.  At the Con, I managed to see many of the stars (or, at least, bit players) from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Smallville, and Tru Calling.

With the Cubs coming off their first division title since 1989 and a new stadium opening in San Diego, my friend Pete and I planned a trip for the Cubs mid-May road trip.  We attended all three games at PETCO Park, which the Cubs swept, while also taking in the local sights and the ambience of the Elephant and Castle bar in our hotel. Continue reading →