7 x 7 = an award for FilmFather!

Alyson of The Best Picture Project has deemed me worthy of the 7x7 Link Award (well, me and six other bloggers).

What is the 7x7 Link Award, you ask? It highlights a blogger's favorite pieces of work and is passed on to others so they too can do the same as a way to promote posts and/or blogs.

Without much ado or further adieu, my answers to the 7x7 Award's questions.

1. Tell everyone something that no one else knows about you.
In Little League, I was picked off second base while talking to the opposing shortstop about Atari games.

2. Link to your posts that best fit the following categories:

a) Most beautiful piece:
I'd hardly call any of my reviews beautiful, but the one I feel is the most elegantly haunting is We Need to Talk About Kevin. Writing about that film made its disturbing and harrowing subject matter burrow even deeper into my psyche.

b) Most helpful piece:
My review of LEGO: The Adventures of Clutch Powers, because it helps bring attention and exposure to a criminally little-known yet fantastic family film (that includes parents, too).

c) Most popular piece:
Aside from the occasional blip, it's been my most consistently popular post, according to that widget on the right: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

d) Most controversial piece:
That's a toss-up: either my review of The Land Before Time or The Secret of NIMH. I'm no fan of Don Bluth (the former Disney animator and director of both films), and I let it show in what I wrote. I let any differing opinions stay in the comments sections, but I've actually had to delete personal attacks on me and my children from die-hard Bluth fans. Looking back, I might be less harsh if I reviewed these films today; my then-only son was a preschooler at the time, so I was definitely more protective about what he saw.

e) Surprisingly successful piece:
I knew it would be successful, but I had no idea how successful: my review of the exploitative, entertaining, B-movie classic The Sword and the Sorcerer, with 19 comments as of this post. It even received a comment from the director himself, Albert Pyun - the first comment, and on my birthday no less!

f) Most underrated piece:
Sadly, my review of L.A. Confidential. I worked hard on that one, and was certain that my take on this modern classic would open the floodgates for comments of agreement by fellow cinephiles. Unfortunately, the only comment I got was, "Hey, where are all the comments?"

g) Most pride-worthy piece:
Can I substitute "pride" with "schadenfreude?" If so, I choose my review of the absolutely horrible Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. The filmmakers gave me so much to sink my fangs into, I should really thank them for it.

3. Pass this award on to 7 other bloggers.
Cinema du Meep
Daddy Geek Boy
Dinner with Max Jenke
The Droid You're Looking For
Enter the Man-Cave
Luke, I Am Your Father
Me and You and a Blog Named Boo

He likes me! He really likes me!

"HE" IS CAL OVER AT Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness, who has bestowed upon FilmFather the Creative Blogger Award. As I said in my reply to him, thank you Cal...you're quite a creative fellow as well.

Based on what Cal did for his "acceptance speech" post, it looks like I have to give the Creative Blogger Award to seven other bloggers, then state five facts about me. Here goes...

Steve at You're Only As Good As Your Last Picture
Gilligan at retrospace
Kristin at Peanuts and Pumpkins (and not just because she's my wife; she often writes more creative headlines than I do at my paying job)
Michael at Cinema du Meep
Lance and John at Kindertrauma
Chris at When is Evil Cool?
Jason at Out-Numbered

And now, five fascinating facts about me...

1. I used to live down the block from Jon Bon Jovi's cousin's funeral home.
2. My favorite Spider-Man villain is The Lizard.
3. My favorite Batman villain is Two-Face.
4. My adult film name (first pet's name + street you grew up on) would be Smokey Arlington.
5. If given the choice, my last meal would be Alaskan king crab legs, Laffy Taffy, and a shot of Jim Beam.

Isn't me lovely...

FILMFATHER WELCOMES THE NEW YEAR with two award nods from fellow bloggers - Chris at When Is Evil Cool? and Geof at Enter The Man-Cave - who have both given me the award for being One Lovely Blog! I graciously accept, thanks guys.

Rules for accepting the award are that I must bestow the One Lovely Blog Award to 15 fellow bloggers I think are lovely as well. I've already given awards to most of my favorite blogs in past "ceremonies" (see here and here), but there are other blogs I've discovered or overlooked since then that are also worthy.

Here are my fantastic 15. If you're on this list and you've already received the One Lovely Blog award from someone else, a) congratulations; and b) sorry, I'm too lazy to check.

The B-Movie Film Vault BLOG!

Business Guys on Business Trips

Calvin's Canadian Cave of Coolness

Cane Toad Warrior

Creative-Type Dad

Dartman's World of Wonder

Film Insight

Funny Cats
Go Retro!
The Grateful Daddy

Motion Picture Gems

Proud Poppa

Retro Slashers Blog

Retrospace

The Sexy Armpit

On a side note, sorry about the lack of reviews lately. I was laid off from my paying job the day after I posted my review for The Korean. However, I just landed a new job, so things seem to be looking up. PLUS, I vow I will be back with a bounty of fresh reviews in the immediate future. Check back soon, check back often...

My scrap is honest...

SO SAYS GEOF at Enter the Man-Cave - he's tagged me with an Honest Scrap award. A Google search on the award defines it as the following:

"This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog content or design is, in the giver’s opinion, brilliant."

There are also rules for what I must do as an Honest Scrap winner:
1. Link back to the awarder's site
2. Present the Honest Scrap award to 10 other blogs
3. Write 10 honest things about yourself

Well, I accomplished number 1 in the first sentence of this post. Next, I bestow this award to the following 10 bloggers, in alphabetical order:

• '70s Child - Joe's daily dose of '70s memories and/or memorabilia. I go there every day to feel younger.
• The 21st Century Man - follow the adventures of John Wildermuth - filmmaker, father, boyfriend, ex-husband and friend - as he tries to discover what it means to be a man in the 21st century. (Read my interview with John here)
• Dinner with Max Jenke - the tagline is "New Horror Opinions at '80s Prices." Here, Jeff waxes poetic and nostalgic about all things horror - often providing insight I hadn't thought of before.
• The Dino Lounge - a great blog by Keith, primarily for crooner Dean Martin, but also featuring pics and video from other Rat Packers (including my fave, Sammy Davis, Jr.) and celebrities of that era.
• Greatest Movie Deaths of All Time - the title pretty much says it all. Video clips of some of greatest demises ever to hit the silver screen. Warning: It's heavy on spoilers and gore.
• Hear Rock City - if you like rock, pop rock, hard rock, or metal from the '70s/'80/'90s, you have to check out this blog by "Rocket," who posts links for downloading obscure, discontinued, and live bootleg albums from all the genres and eras mentioned above.
• The Hedgie's Hideaway - follow the adventures of Brian (a fifth-grade teacher from the great state of Delaware) and his family, including daughter Peanut.
• Kindertrauma - I can never say enough about these guys. They compile and discuss movies, books, TV shows, music, even toys that traumatized you as a child. It could be something made for kids, or something more "grown up" you stumbled upon as a child that scarred you deeply (but you can laugh at now). A fun, cathartic way to relive your childhood and connect with others who share your memories...however traumatizing those memories may be.
• The Moviezzz Blog - I'll let this blog's own description speak for itself, since I can't describe it any better: "The Moviezzz Blog is a daily blog about film, TV, and the world of pop culture, with an emphasis on the 1980's. Featuring weekly DVD release news, reviews, and features on forgotten films and stars."
• ZooBorns - your source for a daily dose of "awwww" and "ahhhh." Pics and videos of newborn animals from zoos around the world. One visit will put a smile on your face and lower your blood pressure a few points.

And now, 10 random facts about me:

1. I will own you on '80s song/artist trivia. (And I'm pretty awesome on '70s songs/artists too.)
2. I'm really good at storing or packing things for maximum space efficiency. (Just ask my wife.)
3. I got picked off 2nd base in Little League because I was talking about video games with the other team's shortstop.
4. I won a Journey Escape t-shirt from 16 magazine.
5. I actually like Lady GaGa's "Poker Face;" it's got a very '80s synth hook that I dig. (And Chris Daughtry's version takes it to a whole other level.)
6. I can recite the entire rap interlude from Blondie's "Rapture" from memory.
7. After I kiss my kids goodbye in the morning, I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and touch it to my cheek, so it'll be with me all day long.
8. When I was three, I OD'd on Flintstones vitamins and my parents had to rush me to the hospital.
9. Longtime guilty pleasure: Cheaters. Train-wreck TV at its finest. I can't not watch it when I catch it while channel surfing. Oh, who am I kidding: I have a Season Pass for it on my TiVo.
10. My childhood hero was Ken Singleton of the Baltimore Orioles.

FilmFather out!

Make that “the award-winning FilmFather”…

THE GUYS over at Kindertrauma have bestowed FilmFather with a prestigious Premio Dardo Award!

I’ve seen this award defined on other blogs as such:
This award shows the values that every blogger shows in his or her effort to transmit cultural, literal, ethical and personal values every day.

To give out this award, a blogger picks five blogs they think meet the criteria above. They then list these five blogs, each with a small summary and link. Then each of those blogs must pick five blogs for their own Premio Dardos…et cetry, et cetry, et cetry.

After much deliberation, I’ve come down to these five as my Premio Dardo recipients – a decent cross-section of dad blogs and movie blogs:

Sleep Deprivation Ninja
From the minute I saw his blog header, I was hooked. Follow the exploits of the Sleep Deprivation Ninja, a shadowy figure dealing with life as the father of a baby girl (Code Name Alice). You never know what to expect from this stealth, sleep-deprived assassin: He could be describing his latest ninja mission, relaying a story from his youth (“Ninja As Child”), or delivering a five-finger punch to your heart with some endearing prose about his little Alice. In between, marvel at some ninja haiku or the 100-word challenge.

Luke, I Am Your Father
A long time ago (not really), in a galaxy far, far away (well, Seattle)...there lives James, with his wife and their little boy Lukas. Great writing, cute pics and vids, stories you can relate to as a parent…and who doesn’t love a good Star Wars tie-in? (DC Urban Dad also gave this blog a Premio Dardo [just two days before I did], so that must really say something about its greatness.)

I have to wipe his what?
Follow the adventures of left-coaster, new parent, and stay-at-home dad Surfer Jay as he raises his son, Mr. Pants, and debates with his woman Lilly about whether to add to their offspring. Jay’s amazingly honest about how exhausting and frustrating new parenthood can be, and he often says what other fathers feel but don’t have the cojones to put out there. Also includes amazing photography of Mr. Pants, taken by Jay himself.

Stale Popcorn
I just discovered this blog yesterday, and I like what I see. Stale Popcorn is a UK blog featuring movie news, reviews, contests, trailers, and more. Their writing style is right up my alley.

Cultra Rare Videos (RIP)
Technically not a blog, but I had to share it with you. Cultra Rare Videos provides free downloads of rare cult, exploitation, and “guilty pleasure” movies, mostly from the ‘70s and early ‘80s and none of them available on DVD. If you grew up during that era and miss the nostalgia of VHS tapes, you have to check this out. The movies are .avi files; to view them easily, download a free VLC player (like I did) here: PC or Mac