The best car chases

I found an article on CNN.com this morning listing the top 10 movie car chases. The list essentially goes like this***:

10. Cannonball Run
9. Death Proof
8. The Fast and the Furious
7. Mad Max II: The Road Warrior
6. Vanishing Point
5. Gone in 60 Seconds
4. The French Connection
3. The Italian Job (the Michael Caine original)
2. Ronin
1. Bullitt

***Green indicates what I've seen, red indicates what I haven't seen.

I'd personally rank The French Connection's chase over Bullitt's, not only because I found The French Connection to be a better movie, but largely because the elevated train chase had a much greater feel of realism, grittiness, and spontaneity to it. Ronin definitely deserves the #2 spot for its intense BMW/Peugeot pursuit. Though I'm surprised that none of the chases from the Bourne movies made it onto this list, as the chase through Moscow at the end of The Bourne Supremacy was one of the best I've seen.

Ronin chase

The French Connection chase (or at least a small chunk of it)

Bullitt chase

A Japanese Sideways

This morning, Will forwarded me an article stating that a Japanese version of the movie Sideways was going to be filmed. My first reaction was, "Please don't mess with a good thing!", because Sideways, both book and movie, is a fabulous story that succeeded quite well in both media. But then I remembered that various American films are actually remakes of certain foreign films—the jewel example being Martin Scorsese's The Departed, which was remade from Hong Kong's Infernal Affairs.

Though I can't think of anyone better suited to play Miles than Paul Giamatti, who was sorely robbed of an Oscar nomination for the role. And I highly recommend watching the film with a bottle of merlot at hand, despite what Miles's character says. ;) And if you ever have the chance, give the book a read, too. It's quite a good ride, with unique prose!

Shrewd Stan and the trouble with Teddy

I had a chance to read Nationals president Stan Kasten's chat on the Washington Post today, and I couldn't help but notice a cleverly-crafted answer he gave.

Woodbridge, Va.: Has Teddy Roosevelt had a good spring training? Do you expect him to win any races this year?

Stan Kasten: How would I know if he is going to win any races this year, I am not Nostradamus. But, the law of averages says he is going to win someday. And the only way to be there when that happens is to attend every game.

Attend every game? Was that a little shameless plug for attendance I heard there, Stan?

The question of whether Teddy will win a race is an important one, though! We're now entering the fourth year of the Washington baseball franchise, and Teddy hasn't won a single President's Race yet! Though there was plenty of opportunity for it already: the home opener in 2006, the home opener in 2007, the final game at RFK in 2007, the home opener at the new ballpark in 2008. The last two in particular would have been ideal for a Teddy win, but alas, it never came to fruition.

I humbly suggest that the powers-that-be allow Teddy to finally win (preferably a win that is nothing short of glorious), because dragging his losing streak out like this is going to get old very fast (if it wasn't old already).

Beautiful music (VII)

I've been on something of a Liszt kick lately, so I figured I might as well share the love. :)

Un Sospiro

Grand Galop Chromatique

Consolation No. 3

Transcendental Etude No.11

Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude (Part 1)

Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude (Part 2)

And finally, my favorite Liszt piece of all: the Dante Sonata. (Though feel free to skip the introduction by Brendel.)

Aprés une lecture du Dante, fantasia quasi sonata (Part 1)

Aprés une lecture du Dante, fantasia quasi sonata (Part 2)

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Since I don't have any green shirts to wear today, I'll be celebrating this St. Patty's Day with Guinness stew . . . and, of course, with Guinness!

Happy birthday, Will!

I think John Denver was onto something!

With Nora en route to Vietnam as we speak (she took off from Dulles at 11:30), this only seemed fitting. Except for the "playing around" and "wedding ring" parts. ;)

Nora's doing Relay for Life

For anyone interested in the fight against cancer, Nora's participating in a Relay for Life team at Shenandoah University. If you wish to donate, you can visit her page and make a contribution there.

Beautiful music (VI)

Etude-Tableaux in F sharp minor, Op. 39 No. 3, by Rachmaninoff. I think I can hear the air being cut by the furious flying of hands over the piano!