classic movies

These sneakers bear the bittersweet reek of unfulfilled potential.Longtime readers of this blog might recall my encounter last April with the McFLY 2015 project.

The project was launched by two Canadian brothers — Charles and Michael "Mickey" Maloof — as an effort to convince Nike to market the wicked shoes Marty McFly wears in "Back to the Future Part 2."

Why is this a good idea? Check out the YouTube clip below and it should be self-evident. Yup. The shoes tie themselves. If I could buy a pair, I totally would. I'd never again have to worry about tripping all over myself and having people point and laugh at me while I cry.

Frank SinatraOK, I'll be the first to admit I'm not a huge fan of Frank Sinatra. Dean Martin's easygoing style is more my speed.

But, Sinatra was one heck of an actor and next Tuesday (May 13), fans of his work can blow their economic stimulus checks (don't tell me you already blew it!) as Warner Home Video releases nearly two dozen of his films on DVD. All at once.

'Battlefield Earth':
required viewing?Good news! Someone out there has compiled a handy list of 300 movies you must see before you die.

The catch? The “someone” in question is Maxim magazine, so the list includes categories such as "Classics, Nudity, & Train Wrecks.”

The list includes true works of art — “Cool Hand Luke,” “On the Waterfront” — and some more questionable titles — “Battlefield Earth,” “Jackass: The Movie.”

Overall, The Maxim 300 is a pretty decent best-of list, provided you're not into tearjerking date movies that star Meryl Streep or Barbara Streisand. If you are into tearjerkers and you're a typical Maxim reader, you might want to consider laying off the estrogen therapy for awhile.

In the interest of being all green and stuff, I'm recycling my first-ever Classic Movie Corner. It appeared in the Oct. 27, 2005, Leader print edition and makes its online debut today. For regular readers of my blog, it should be no surprise it was ...

Ken Foree in
'Dawn of the Dead'Dawn of the Dead (1978)

MPAA Rating: R
Directed by: George A. Romero
Starring: Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, Gaylen Ross, David Emge, Jese Del Gre

The Gist: It’s the end of world! Zombies are eating everyone! Wanna go to the mall?

Edmond O'Brien in 'D.O.A.'“D.O.A.” (1950)

MPAA Rating: Not rated
Directed by: Rudolph Maté
Starring: Edmond O'Brien, Pamela Britton, Neville Brand, Laurette Luez, Virginia Lee.

The Gist: The clock is ticking as a man scrambles to find his own murderer.

Tom Cruise in 'Born on the
Fourth of July'“Born on the Fourth of July” (1989)

MPAA Rating: R
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kyra Sedgwick, Willem Dafoe, Tom Sizemore

The Gist: A tired, broken soldier struggles to find his way home.

Walt Disney's 'Dumbo'“Dumbo” (1941)

MPAA Rating: G
Directed by: Ben Sharpsteen
Voices by: Sterling Holloway, Betty Noyes, Verna Felton, Edward Brophy, Herman Bing

The Gist: Now hear this: Never underestimate a little guy with massive ears.

Edith Scob in 'Eyes
Without a Face'“Eyes Without a Face” (1960)

MPAA Rating: Not rated
Directed by: Georges Franju
Starring: Pierre Brasseur, Alida Valli, Juliette Mayniel, Edith Scob, Alexandre Rignault

Donald Pleasance
in 'You Only Live Twice'“You Only Live Twice” (1967)

MPAA Rating: PG
Directed by: Lewis Gilbert