My 2011 was a pretty solid one. Like most people’s it had it’s ups and downs but I’m here in 2012 and I’m off to a good start. So here’s my lists for my favorite things from 2011. Enjoy..

Music
1. Balance and Composure - Separation
2. The Devil Wears Prada - Dead Throne
3. Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
4. Doomtree - No Kings
5. Defeater - Empty Days & Sleepless Nights
6. Fireworks - Gospel
7. Touche Amore - Parting The Sea Between Brightness And Me
8. Evidence - Cats & Dogs
9. Close Your Eyes - Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts
10. Common - The Dreamer, The Believer
Honorable Mentions : Title Fight - Shed, The Roots - Undun, La Dispute - Wildlife, Atmosphere - The Family Sign, August Burns Red - Leveler, Dessa - Castor, The Twin

Video Games
1. Batman : Arkham City
2. L.A. Noire
3. Mortal Kombat
4. COD Modern Warfare 3
*Short list I know, but I don’t play many games.

Movies
*This one was a little hard because I didn’t get to see two movies that I really wanted to. I missed out on Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and Drive but I’m pretty sure if I had seen them they would be on this list. These also won’t be in any particular order because I can’t recall or decide which ones I liked more/most.
- The King’s Speech
- Moneyball
- Everything Must Go
- 50/50
- Kung Fu Panda 2

Fashion (Clothing/Shoes)
1. The Hundreds
2. 10Deep
3. Nike
4. Jordan
5. Rebel 8

     So there you have them. My favorite stuff from 2011. Now these lists only apply to things that are able to be listed. I had some pretty awesome times in 2011, there were also some bad but the good outweigh them. The times with friends, family, and such are more important than any CD I bought or movie I saw. To all my friends who shared and experienced 2011 with me: thank you. Thank you from the top to the bottom of my heart. You guys, my friends and family, are what keep me going and I appreciate that.

Have a blessed 2012,
Zach

     Last night I saw Warrior with my lady, my brother and his lady, and our friend James. Warrior is the story of two brothers from a broken home who are battling personal demons, life struggles, and their past. They use MMA to try and solve their problems. Tom Hardy (Bronson, Inception) plays the younger brother who is a former Marine who just returned from war. Joel Edgerton plays his older brother, a teacher who is struggling to keep a house over his family’s head. The two brothers find out about an MMA tournament with a grand prize of $5,000,000 and decide to train to participate.

     As the movie develops we see into the personal conflicts each man is dealing with more and more. Tommy (Hardy) is haunted by his participation in the war in the Middle East, and Brendan (Edgerton) is having trouble taking care of his family after losing his job temporarily. And on top of that both men have issues with their father who was an abusive alcoholic, but is now a born-again Catholic. As their father (Nick Nolte) tries to rebuild their trust, and his family, the boys have trouble putting their love and faith back in the man who ruined their younger lives.

     The movie was really good. Tom Hardy is one of my favorite actors and he doesn’t really play the character I felt he was going to. He’s reeling from the action in the Middle East, and he has a dark aura because of it. He’s feeling angry, guilty, and he’s an asshole for most of the film. I’ve never seen Joel Edgerton in anything before but he played his part very well also. Brendan was the perfect balance to Tommy’s brooding angst with his kind heart. He loves his family, and wants to take care of them, and does so by fighting in parking lot MMA matches until he gets a shot in the big tournament. The only thing the brother’s share is a deep-rooted hatred for their father. Brendan’s a little more open to his father’s new choices while Tommy verbally abuses him any chance he gets.

The film was full of powerful moments. The fights were awesome. You feel every punch and cringe at every slam. The dialogue, cinematography, action, and story all come through and make you feel it. It’s a heartbreaking and heartwarming story in one.

If you like good movies then you should go see this.

Peace,
Zach

     Katie and I saw The Help tonight, and we loved it. When I first saw the previews I sort of backed it, but dismissed it as another “girl coming of age during the civil rights era, writing a controversial book about her community” type of film. Well I was right, and I was wrong. The movie was really good, all the actresses gave heartfelt performances, and it was a powerful film. It touched on controversial elements from the Civil Rights movement but showed them from a different perspective.

I really enjoyed the movie. I’m a big fan of Emma Stone, and her Southern accent pretty much made the movie for me. There was another character, Celia Foote, she broke my heart in the film. She was so cute, and sincere! But I don’t the name of the actress that plays her.

If you like good movies then you should go watch this one.

Take care,
Zach

The movie Memento is awesome.

I’m going to get one of Leonard’s tattoos, but I don’t know which yet. I’m leaning more towards the one on his right bicep that says, “consider the source(there’s a solid line underneath those words) memory is treachery (is underneath the solid line) ”. But like I said, I’m not 100% on that yet.

Peace,

Zach

     I’ve been watching James Bond movies today on the telly, and realized that Daniel Craig is a hardass. My favorite Bonds are probably Connery, Brosnan, and Craig. I know people say they’re cheesy, nothing but action, and demeaning to women. But I try not to dig into movies like that and enjoy them at face value for the stories and creativity. Maybe I sound too much like a typical guy, but who doesn’t enjoy cool cars, spy gadgetry, beautiful women, and sweet action scenes?

I do.

Zach