I have a confession to make: I love movies. I love watching movies, talking about movies, seeing how movies are made, and poking holes in a movie’s logic. Namely, this is because of the way films appeal to my geeky side. Today, I’ve decided to compile a top-ten list of my favorite “geek” films. Please note that none of the Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter films appear in the list; this is purely intentional. Enjoy!

1. Street Fighter: Legend of Chun Li – Aside from the fact that this film is based on the immensely popular Capcom video game series, this film changes the way you look (and think) about your favorite classic Street Fighter characters.

2. Clerks II – If you thought that this film wouldn’t make the cut, you would be grossly mistaken. The way writer/director Kevin Smith (with the help of actor Jeff Anderson) rips into the “Lord of the Rings” film series is befitting of any geek who is a Star Wars fan that loves to poke holes in Hollywood’s logic.

3. A Beautiful Mind – Not only does this film cover conspiracy theories, but it also prominently features mathematics and its usage. In this film, John Nash (historical mathematician, played by Russell Crowe) uses mathetmatics to explain every mundane occurences, like the moving patterns of a pack of squirrels, making it perfect for geeks who find numbers interesting.

4. Independence Day – What film could be better for geeks than a film that has a geek for a hero? In this film, David Levingston (played by Jeff Goldblum) uses an old hacker technique to disable a communication signal by the invading alien swarm. Not only that, but the numerous references to advanced technologies and the paranormal make this perfect for any technology geek.

5. The Triangle – This Sci-Fi Channel original film, starring Bruce Davison (who you may know as Senator Kelly from the “X-Men” films) and Eric Stoltz, tells the story of five people charged with explaining what I consider to be the “mother of all paranormal phenomena”: the Bermuda Triangle. This film is perfect for geeks due to its use of government conspiracies and new technologies, such as a machine that can cause catastophic electromagnetic fields.

6. Minority Report – This Tom Cruise film, based on the novel by Philip K. Dick, features futuristic societies and innovations in technology, such as a machine that can detect crimes before they even happen. This film also makes you wonder just how far technology could go before it would be too far. Not only that, but it’s from the guy whose novels brought us “Blade Runner” and how bad could that be?

7. The Nightmare Before Christmas – I had to include this in the list, since it was basically created with large action figures and, as everyone knows, action figures are geeky. During one critical sequence, Jack uses the Scientific Method and a chemistry set in an attempt to figure out the whole “Christmas thing”, making it the perfect film for science (or science fiction) fanatics. It’s also perfect for horror fans, since it makes you think twice about how you view the numerous icons of the Halloween holiday.

8. Super Mario Brothers – The original geek film! Not only is this film based on the classic characters of the Nintendo universe, but it is also one of the few “game to screen” adaptations to stay true to its original inspiration (even if the dynamics of the characters were changed for dramatic purposes). I’ll admit that I found Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo hard to swallow as brothers (one’s white and the other is Latino), but their comedic timing and presenation are impossible to resist. Above all, however, is the geek pride one feels when pointing out the various characters from the “Mario” universe like Yoshi and the Koopa brothers, Iggy and Spike (all from Super Mario Bros. World).

9. Coraline – Yes, another stop-motion animated feature! Again, action figures are geeky, and this film was made with glorified action figures. And who can forget the character of Whyborn who, without a doubt, is one of the geekiest characters to come out of Hollywood since the nerds of “Revenge of the Nerds”! All you have to do then is add the voice (which, sadly, doesn’t appear enough in this film) of John Hodgman, better known as PC from the Apple TV commercials, and you have a full-blown, five-alarm geek emergency here!

10. Phenomenon – You probably wouldn’t expect this movie to be listed on a geek’s list of favorite movies, but this one is an exception. What makes this film geeky is that it deals with extrasensory perception, better known as ESP. Not only that but, during a pivotal point in the film, John Travolta makes a list of animals in alphabetical order, though he pokes holes in his own logic by pointing out that several of the animals are either mythical (meaning they don’t exist) or extinct. How geeky is that?

What are you favorite geek films? What makes them geeky? Please leave your thoughts, insights, or even your own top-ten list in the comments below.

Having a home theater can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work. Having to keep all of those cables organized and having to use numerous remotes to control those devices can prove somewhat annoying and can also lessen the movie-viewing experience.

It doesn’t have to be that way, however; following these simple tips, you can simplify your home theater setup and get back to your enjoying your favorite films and television shows with crystal-clear sound and picture.

1. Instead of connecting your devices to numerous inputs on your home theater receiver, try using a RF modulator instead. These handy devices, which can be purchased at any electronics store, can be placed on shelves, removing unnecessary clutter from your living room (or wherever your home theater is located) floor. Not only that, but it will allow you to more directly connect the receiver to your television, eliminating the need for numerous remotes.
2. After you connect each device, whether it’s a video game console or DVD player, be sure to label each input on the RF modulator, so as to avoid confusion. The last thing you need while preparing to view a movie is having to remember what you plugged everything into.
3. Be sure to connect the output of your RF modulator into a single input on the back of your home theater receiver. This will further reduce the number of remote controls you will need, since each input device will be directly connected to your television through a single input source on your television. By this time, you should only require the remotes to your television and home theater receiver.
4. Be willing to sacrifice high-tech for simplicity. Most DVD players (namely Blu-Ray players) come with HDMI compatibility, for connection on high-definition televisions. More often than not, however, people own standard definition televisions that, unfortunately, do not have HDMI connections. Don’t worry, though; the difference is so minimal that you won’t even notice the presence of a difference.

Do you have any tips or tricks on how to make the home theater experience more enjoyable? Feel free to share your tips, thoughts, and insights in the comments below!

I don’t get the chance to watch television very often but, when I do, I always happen to come across a show that peaks my interest. Usually, these shows combine entertainment with science or technology and this show is no exception. I am, of course, referring to “House, M.D.“, which stars Hugh Laurie and airs on the FOX television network. So, I have decided to share with you, my darling blog readers, a short top ten list of my favorite episodes (all episode descriptions are taken directly from the DVD box sets, currently available on Amazon).

1. “Humpty Dumpty” (Season 2, Episode 3) – Medical theories are literally falling to pieces around House and his team when a worker slips offi Dr. Cuddy’s roof and then discovers his hand is decomposing.
2. “House vs. God” (Season 2, Episode 19) – A fifteen year old faith healer refusing brain surgery forces House and his staff to confront their religious beliefs.
3. “Who’s Your Daddy?” (Season 2, Episode 23) – House’s ex-bandmate brings in a sixteen year old Hurricane Katrina victim suffering from hallucinations and making surprising claims about the identity of her father.
4. “Whatever It Takes” (Season 4, Episode 6) – The CIA recruits House to treat a deathly ill agent with a mysterious illness, and the fellowship contenders clash with Foreman over a case involving a stock car driver.
5. “Frozen” (Season 4, Episode 11) – Long-distance diagnoses are put to the test when House and his team help a doctor at the South Pole who has fallen gravely ill and must treat herself.
6. “Birthmarks” (Season 5, Episode 4) – Family histories affect House, who receives word that his father has died, and his patient, a young woman who collapsed in China while searching for her birth parents.
7. “Last Resort” (Season 5, Episode 9) – House, Thirteen, and several patients are taken hostage by a man with an unexplained illness who says he’s willing to kill for a diagnosis.
8. “The Greater Good” (Season 5, Episode 14) – The pursuit of happiness becomes a pressing issue when the team takes on the case  of a sick cancer researcher who recently gave up saving lives in order to save herself.
9. “The Tyrant” (Season 6, Episode 3)* –  House’s team struggles with an African politician who falls ill and decide if they want to help him after he’s charged for crimes against humanity in his country.
10. “Broken” (Season 6, Episode 1)* – House engages in a battle of wits and wills against the attending physician in charge of his detox program. When he starts to lose, House resorts to blackmail to gain the upper hand.

The episodes marked with a (*) are not currently available on DVD, though they can be found through the Hulu online video streaming service. So, what are your favorite episodes of “House, M.D.” (or any other show, for that matter)? Leave your thoughts and insights in the comments below! Who knows? They may even be featured on this blog!

Before I even begin to write this blog, I would like to make it known that I am not a fan of American Idol. Don’t get me wrong; it’s a widely successful show, but it’s just not my cup of tea. A lot of that may be due to the grotesque ramblings of one Simon Cowell, or it may be my idealistic thought that true musicians are discovered on the streets, not on a soundstage in some overblown talent show. Only God (or whatever deity you choose to believe in) will ever know.

While I am not a fan of American Idol, I have noticed a disturbing trend recently concerning the show.

A few weeks ago, American Idol judge Paula Abdul announced that she would no longer be joining Simon, Randy, and Kara (whose existence I was unaware of, until last season) at the judges table. This led to an outpouring of support and encouragement from her Twitter followers, as well as mainstream media and Internet bloggers. In fact, even I wished Paula the best of luck, and I don’t even follow her on Twitter (you can follow me, however, at my Twitter profile).

A few weeks later, I received an e-mail from a member of the social community, informing me that daytime talk show host Ellen Degeneres had been rumored to be joining the American Idol cast. It wasn’t until after the rumor had been confirmed, however, that I began to wonder just what that would mean to the American Idol audience.

So, my question to you is this: what is your reaction to Ellen DeGeneres joining the cast of American Idol? Do you think she would make a perfect replacement for Paula, or will Ellen be able to stand on her own? Can Ellen’s Twitter following equal (even) higher ratings for the popular Fox Television series?