Well, I told people that I wasnt going to disappear from here while I was on vacation, but have only been keeping up with other people's blogs. I did see three movies in the last two days (I do this every year while on vacation, catch up on movies), so here are three quick reviews of the first three summer potential blockbusters-

The Sentinal- I came to it with high expectations as a big Keifer Sutherland fan (see previous comments on 24), and for the most part it lived up to its expectations. It was a little predictable, but he and Michael Douglas were great.

MI3- I have a love hate thing with Tom Cruise, but mostly I like him on the screen, and hate him in real life. This may have been the best of the MI films, thanx at least in part to Phillip Seymore Hoffman, who obviously is enjoying playing one of the best bad guys to come along in a while. A movie well worth seeing. I may even rent Capote to see him again.

United 93- The best of the three, but very graphic and the language is harsh. Be warned if you go to see it, but it is worth it, and the impact it has cant be denied.

Hey its a departure from the norm, but in honor of the fact that Im getting ready to go to the airport on my vacation, its my current idea. And, Id love to hear other peoples thoughts on it. again, not in order but at the top.

10. Antarctica- Okay, maybe I just want to see if Atlantis is really there, ala Clive Cussler and others- actually, Im just fascinated by it.

9. Sub- Saharan Africa- a photo safari has always been near the top of my list of things I want to do.

8. Little Bighorn National Battlefield- since I was a kid and read a kid's book about Custer's Last Stand, this has held a fascination for me. I guess you could add Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse monument to this one since they are all in the same area.

7. The Alamo- another childhood fascination- I was actually in San Antonio once, but just hitchhiking through, so I didnt take the time although I had some money at the time- something Ive always regretted.

6. The Great Wall of China- another long time fascination.

5. Japan- dont know how well I would fair with some of their superior attitude, but I would love to see it once.

4. Scotland- I dont even know where this one comes from- it goes back long before Braveheart, or Highlander, or even watching the British Open at St. Andrews, and I would love to see it.

3. Sicily- my whole family has been trying to get my dad to take us to his land of origin.

2. Australia- another fascination older than my memory of why, but I will say I definitely want to visit Hills Church while I am there.

1. Denali National Park, Alaska- I can tell you where this one started, with Dana Stabenow's mysteries, but the more I learned, the more I wanted to go, until this is now at the top of my list, and my first planned trip when I have the money. I imagine it will be a warm up for a photo safari in Africa or Australia in some respects.

I have said I would depart from the usual format for extraordinary reasons, and I have found another one. I seem to remember reading a book by a guy named Greg Rucka years ago, but cant remember which (so I guess Ill have to read all of his books- what a heartbreak ). Shooting at Midnight, which I happened across, was an awesome book. More in the Noir style than mystery, it has a number of unique features, including switching off who the first person character is in mid-book, and then switching back for the last part. I recommend it with a warning- there is some language, and it is honest about drug use without glorifying it in anyway. It is also graphically violent in a few spots, but is a must read.

Again, movies and tv- hard to seperate out.

10. Phillip Marlowe- played by several different actors in a few different movies, but Bogie in "The Big Sleep" was the best.

9. Spencer- forget the dreadful "Spencer for Hire" with Robert Urich, and look for the A&E movies with Joe Montenga.

8. Sam Spade- another Bogart special, from the great "Maltese Falcon"

7. Olivia Benson- if I was a scumbag, and had her from Law and Order SVU after me, Id either give up or kill myself.

6. Lily Rush- Id never feel safe thinking Id gotten away with Murder with her and the Cold Case squad around.

5. Miss Marple- played so well, by Helen Hunt in a couple of movies, but Joan Hickson was the best.

4. Calleigh Duquense- my choice for the hottest character on TV- she is the reason Miami is my favorite CSI. Her way of talking about guns in an almost sexual way is over the top.

3. Perry Mason- believe it or not, other people than Raymond Burr have played him, but who cares?

2. Bobby Eames- the toughest interrogator on TV on Law and Order CI- he is as unique in his way as Monk or any other character.

1. Hercule Poirot- it was a toss up in the top three, but he will always win. For me, there is no other choice than David Suchet portraying him.

I know, I know, I left out Monk, but I guess I should have started with 11. Monk probably wouldve been 3rd or 2nd.

There will be some familiar ones here, but a few surprises- not in order but at the top.

10. Perry Mason and the Case of the Sinister Spirit- the first surprise for some- a brilliantly written Perry Mason movie with a stellar performance by Dwight Schultze (from the A-Team and Barclay on multiple Star Treks). Also the most solvable of the movies.

9. The Caine Mutiny- not all courtroom thriller, but a great court martial.

8. Runaway Jury- a great movie from my favorite John Grisham novel- they had to change the book somewhat due to dated subject matter, but kept its great parts intact.

7. Presumed Innocent- another great mystery/courtroom thriller.

6. A Time to Kill- another Grisham thriller that was much better in movie than in book, with a one of the great closing arguments of all time.

5. The Judge- adapted for TV from a Steve Martini novel, it wasnt the best of his books, but one of my favorites, Law and Order CI's Chris Noth shines as the star.

Frankly, you can interchange the next four- they were the first four I thought of for the list, and hard to seperate in my mind.

4. Gone but not Forgotten- Another TV movie from a great book- its on one of my book lists- a courtroom thriller/serial killer thriller/murder mystery- a hard combination to make work, but it does here.

3. A Few Good Men- if you have seen it, no reason needs to be given for its place here- if you havent, go rent it.

2. Primal Fear- also on another list- Richard Gere and Edward Norton are brilliant, and as Ive said before, the most shocking ending ever.

1. Witness for the Prosecution- I guess in the end, this will always be my favorite. Charles Laughton's brilliant, at times hilarious performance alone is worth renting it for, but the solution is great as well.