Up to the Minute

We know that this List will be extremely controversial as have been the other AFI Lists. The criteria used is ridiculous in all these Lists to date. Those choosing are mostly age 40 or less. Nothing prior to their lives is even considered, unless already labeled a classic. The list is much on the pretentious or snobby side…meaning “Cinema.”

On seeing the preview for the upcoming AFI 100 Comedies Special, I found my predictions to be 100% accurate. Most comedies in the preview are recent, dating from 1960 on. Most are not funny, but in some cases (i.e. Chaplin) merely clever or innovative. Some are merely romantic films. And some are shockingly bad!

My criteria for such a List would be: 75% = laughs; 15% = cleverness and 10% = warmth/a feel good atmosphere. Comedies are supposed to be funny. It is extremely difficult to film a successful comedy and most attempts to date are failures. I would not rule out stupid or dumb comedies if they deliver fun and laughs. This means films like “Dumb and Dumber”, “Airplane” and the “Naked Gun” series would fit the criteria. In viewing the previews of the upcoming Special I saw films that would not even make my List of 300 Best Comedies. In order for this list to have credibility and validity it must include: Laurel & Hardy films, Bob Hope’s early movies including the “Road to …” pictures with Crosby & Lamour, classics like “Bringing Up Baby”….which should rank in the Top 3, newer classics like “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and “What About Bob.” Seeing tripe like “Caddyshack”, “Mel Brooks films which are ALL uneven and garbage like “Animal House”, Adam Sandler, Chris Farley and David Spade films really tells me that this List will be ludicrous. We’ll rip it apart here…soon after we view it!

I very much enjoyed the BBC production of "A Walk with the Dinosaurs" on Discovery Channel this weekend and its followup, equally as entertaining, "The Making of A Walk with the Dinosaurs." The only negatives were Discovery Channel's incessant interruptions to visit their On-line site for further information, the long and multiple commercial breaks and their ever present dizzying Logo on the screen. This is as distracting as having someone poking you in the ribs and waving their hands in front of your face while trying to watch something. Extremely annoying! Why must networks continue these irritating practices. Does anyone agree with me on what a nuisance they are?