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“The Joe and Dan Show” LIVE is coming to Elizabethtown, Kentucky on Friday, August 2, 2008.  Please stay tuned for further updates and be sure to come check us out.

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Last Friday, I had the pleasure of seeing “Iron Man,” the newest movie from Marvel Pictures.  And it was freaking awesome.  Due to the sheer awesomeness of this film, I was forced to rank this movie on the greatest superhero movies of all-time list.  Here is my updated list:

The Top 5 Greatest Superhero Movies of All-Time

1. Batman Begins

This movie is the standard in superhero films.  Christian Bale was cast perfectly as the caped crusader, with his brooding and anger.  This movie truly captured the darkness and pain that lies behind Batman’s actions.  And thankfully, this movie saved the Batman franchise after the debacles that were “Batman Forever” and “Batman and Robin.” (Note: This list could change with “The Dark Knight” coming out this summer)

2. Iron Man

Yes, I realize I just saw this movie so it’s fresh on my mind, but there’s no denying this film its place on this list.  Robert Downey Jr. is perfect as the womanizing playboy Tony Stark.  The complex nature that is being a superhero is shown in splendidly through the plot and acting.  I can’t wait for the sequel.

3. X2: X-Men United

The second film in this trilogy is certainly the best.  As a huge X-Men fan, I was a bit disappointed with the fact that Gambit was still not in this movie, but I digress.  In this X-Men, we are treated with a great storyline and perfectly cast characters.  This movie is on the list despite the fact that Halle Berry fully gives up on an accent (can anyone explain how she ever won an Oscar?).  And this isn’t a Wolverine love fest as it became in the last “X-Men: The Last Stand.”  The opening sequence with Nightcrawler is worthy of this list.

4.  Spiderman 2

The first Spiderman was good.  Not great.  Good.  This film builds on the story, shows some maturity, and has a great villain in Dr. Octopus.  We get to see Mary Jane and Peter’s relationship grow and how he deals with fame.  I’m typically a fan of sequels in trilogies (i.e. “Empire Strikes Back” and “Two Towers”).  And this one does not disappoint.

5.  Batman

Tim Burton did a wonderful job bringing this character to the big screen.  Michael Keaton originally seemed like an odd choice as Batman, but he ended up doing a pretty well with the Dark Knight.  And Jack Nicholson as the Joker was genius.  After the Batman show made a laughing stock of the hero, Burton was inspired by Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns” and created a strange, dark Gotham City that fits the character perfectly.

Thoughts?  Disagree?  Did I leave a film out that should be on the list?

If you are just joining us, we have a weekly segment here at “The Joe and Dan Show” called 8th Grade Joe. (Please read the previous posts for an example - just click on “8th Grade Joe” in the Category section)

In this segment, 8th Grade Joe will give you his thoughts on current events (1995-1996), what’s up with his personal life, and predictions for the future (anytime after May 1996). I’ll quit writing so 8th Grade Joe can blog.

Current Event

As I’m sure you know, we are in the midst of an election year.  This November, millions of Americans will head to the polls to elect the next President of the United States.  This year we have Bill Clinton (Democrat; the incumbent) versus Bob Dole (Republican; Senator) versus Ross Perot (Reform; won’t go away).  Obviously, I cannot vote yet because I’m only in 8th grade.  But if I could vote, I’m not sure who I would cast my ballot for.  Clinton has done a pretty good job in his first term.  Dole is a veteran of the military and Congress.  Perot has…a lot of money.

Regardless of who wins, I do know that the coverage for this election is dominating the news.  It seems like every four years, the news starts covering this stuff earlier and earlier.  It’s only May and I’m sick of it.

Personal Life

Summer is almost here.  I can’t wait to go to the lake.

But I must be honest.  8th grade has been great.  I’ve loved this year more than any other so far.  I will be sad to leave this behind.  Right now I’ve got a great girlfriend, great friends, and we are the top dogs at school.  Next year will bring a lot of changes.  We will be at a new school with new people and be at the bottom on the totem pole.

But that’s life.  Things change.  People change.  I might as well get used to that sort of thing.  But for now, I’m just going to enjoy the rest of this year.

Prediction For The Future

I predict that Bill Clinton will win this year’s election.  He will have a fairly quiet second term.  There will be the occasional news story, but nothing too dramatic.

I also predict that another Clinton will run for President someday.  And that Clinton will also face off against an older Republican senator that is a veteran with injuries that affect his hands or arms.

Gotta go.  Another Dunkfest at Crutch’s.

I really hate when gasoline gets on my clothes or skin.  That’s the worst.

I have lived in only two states - Kentucky and Missouri.  And of all the states in this nation, I had to chose the two worst for allergies.  Currently, I am dealing with red, dry eyes, a stuffed and runny nose (which is almost impossible), a dry throat, and a slight headache.  I have tried all the allergy medicines out there - Clariton, Sudafed, Benedryl…nothing works.

I have super allergies.  Nothing can stop this.

My own personal record for the number of times I sneezed in a row is 23.

This is miserable.

If you are just joining us, we have a weekly segment here at “The Joe and Dan Show” called 8th Grade Joe. (Please read the previous posts for an example - just click on “8th Grade Joe” in the Category section)

In this segment, 8th Grade Joe will give you his thoughts on current events (1995-1996), what’s up with his personal life, and predictions for the future (anytime after May 1996). I’ll quit writing so 8th Grade Joe can blog.

Current Event

So I suck.  I know.  I haven’t written in awhile and I apologize.  Let’s move on.

I’ve been growing my hair out for quite a while now because I figure I better enjoy it now while I have it.  All of my mom’s brothers are bald, which is not a good sign for me.  Anyway, I decided I better start getting my haircut by someone who knows how to deal with my long locks.  That’s why I’ve left the barbershop that has cut my hair since I was a little kid and  started going to Karen.  A lot of my family already goes to Karen, so there’s a built-in connection.  And having a connection with the person that cuts your hair is important.  I’m entrusting my hair to them, so I better have a good relationship.  I like Karen a lot and I’m already her favorite.

Personal Life

At least once a week, someone tells me I look like Jonathan Taylor Thomas.  I guess that’s OK.

Lauren and I are going strong.  In less than a month we will be attending the 8th Grade dance together.  This is a formal event and I have the perfect suit already picked out.

In school related news, the state of Kentucky forces 8th graders to complete a portfolio of a variety of writings.  And let me tell you, I can’t wait until it’s over.  I love to write, but I hate being forced to do anything.  It’s an authority issue that I’m working on, so back off.  My theme for my poetry entries is Women, Wrestling, and Wal-Mart.  Pretty classy.

Prediction For The Future

As much as I love my long hair, I will eventually lose it.  Life’s not fair.

Karen will continue to recognize me as her favorite and all my friends will be jealous of this fact.

Perhaps writing could be in my future…probably not.  That’s a lofty goal.

Well, that’s it for this edition of 8th Grade Joe.  I’ve got lots more writing to do.  Stupid portfolios.

My history with cars has been less than stellar. I’ve had cars that had no radios, no air conditioning, the passenger door wouldn’t open, duct tape residue on the dashboard, etc.

I am one to drive cars until they die. My first car was a 1987 Toyota Camry that finally gave up on me after 225,000 miles. My next car was a 1988 Toyota Tercel that was damaged in a hail storm (it only had a slight crack in the windshield and a few bumps and they totaled it). My next car was a 1989 Nissan Sentra (sensing a pattern yet?). A great car with some great memories. I then moved into the 90s with a 1998 Dodge Intrepid that I bought for only $300.00 (definitely a blessing). I currently drive this car today.

My wife’s car, a 1993 Honda Civic, finally bite the dust this past week. We cannot live as a one-car couple, so we began the process of finding a new car immediately. I hate going to car dealerships. I feel like an idiot because I know nothing about cars…nothing. It’s as if I revert back to a small child around salesman.

Long story short, my wife now drives a 2003 Toyota Corolla. For the first time, one of us is driving a car that was made in the same decade we are living in.

Now, I have to wait until the Dodge craps out on me. Hopefully soon.