I have always been a huge fan of Netflix. What’s not to like about them – get as many DVDs as you can watch delivered by mail for a very reasonable price. Add to that the ability to live stream movies via your PC, specific set-top devices and even some TVs and it is a match made in heaven for any lover of media on DVDs.

Unfortunately as of late, Netflix has been driving me away. I have been courting another DVD rental “lover” and that is Redbox. “What can possibly be the problem,” you might ask? Just look at my current queue of DVDs I’m waiting on.

(right-click & select “view image” for larger version)

Notice that the top 11 selections ALL have either “long wait” or “very long wait” holds on them. In fact “Inglorious Bastards” has been in my queue with “very long wait” for months. What’s the deal Netflix?

Either two things are happening: Netflix has a very limited supply of DVDs on hand and cannot meet the demands of its subscriber base or they are moving more towards live-streaming and will eventually get out of the mail order business. Sadly, I feel it is the latter.

So, I have cut back my “3 at a time” to “2 at a time” and to be honest, if Netflix does not improve its service to their DVD mail-order rental customers, I may move my subscription service to “0 at a time.”

I’m not sure how the “waits” placed on mail-order DVDs operates. The way it should function, at least in my thinking, is the same way as any queue works whether that be standing in a line at the local grocery store or waiting for a customer service rep on the telephone. If I’m 20th in line then after 20 people have rented and returned Netflix’s supply of any particular title, I should get the next one.

Unfortunately I don’t think it works that way but rather when I return a DVD and am eligible for another, if one of my top picks is not in the inventory, I ain’t getting it. That my friend sucks!

Therefore, we have been doing a lot of Redbox as of late, at least for new titles. And I have to say, Netflix’s inability to keep up with demand is only helping this new competitor become a viable threat to them.

How about it, Netflix? Are you listening? I can’t be the only long-time lover who feels jilted as of late. The real question: are you going to do anything about it?

After many years of wanting to see U2 live but always missing the opportunity (concerts sell out), I finally got to see themalong with my lovely wife Irma in their biggest, baddest show yet – U2 360. Tuesday, October 20th at the Cardinals stadium is where it all took place and although the show here didn’t sell out (Phoenix you suck), there were about 55,000 in attendance.

They played for about two hours and twenty minutes – 24 songs in all which included two encores. Some highlights of the show in addition to the awesome stage, light show and video effects occurred when Bono brought up three sisters who he sang and danced with during “In A Little While.” They even got to remain on stage and sit near Larry during “Unknown Caller” as Bono lays across their laps during Edge’s guitar solo.

One lucky little girl got to walk the catwalk with Bono during “City of Blinding Lights.”

At different times during the show, Bono namechecks Muhammad Ali, Shane MacGowan of the Pogues, and John and Cindy McCain, all of whom are at the show.

Below are a few photos.

Most of my close range shots did not turn out well thanks to the sucky Nikon P90 I was using (I returned it to Costco soon after). Had I been able to bring my Nikon D80 with its 200mm zoom lense, the close-ups would have been much much better. However, I had heard that no “detachable” lense cameras were allowed. Such is fate.

The remaining photos are available on my Flickr account.

We hope to see them again next June when they play at Angels Stadium in Anaheim during the second leg of their ongoing tour. Maybe then I’ll be able to get my trusty D80 in and get some killer shots!

In celebration of our 18th wedding anniversary, Irma and myself decided to do something we had both desired to accomplish for some time – to ride in a hot air balloon. We did just that this last Monday where we reached heights of up to 4,300 feet and lows just above the rooftops of Anthem homes.

We chose a smaller balloon company – Aerogelic Ballooning – mostly due to the fact that their baskets contained smaller groups of people (up to 6 compared to a dozen or more with larger companies). We were hpoing because it was a Monday that we’d be the only ones that showed up. This was not the case as two other couples showed up, however I must say they were pleasant people that I did not mind sharing the ride with at all.

In fact, we shared our ballooning experience with a young couple (boyfriend and girlfriend) who were celebrating the gal’s 25th birthday and an older couple (older than us) who were celebrating a new home purchase (balloon ride supplied by their realtor). It was a first time experience, that is ballooning, for all of us.

Without going into all the minute details of where we decided to launch from, the process of filling the balloon, the details of balloon flight, etc., I will say it was quite a pleasant experience. It was a bit cramped in the basket but the fact that you are essentially floating in the air was pretty awesome. Add to the experience, it was very cool that even though we did not launch from our little community of Anthem, Arizona, the wind took us there anyway.

It was neat that at one point we were literally within a few feet of Anthem rooftops which prompted many to come out of their homes and stare, wave, even take pictures. Just minutes prior, we were 4,300 feet in the air!

All in all I’m glad we did it and I would do it again in a moment’s notice. maybe next time we will try a sunset flight (did the sunrise this time) and see if going with a larger balloon company with larger baskets enhances the experience.

Here are a few photos taken from my Blackberry (apologies for the quality).

I just love the song “Magnificent” of U2′s new album, No Line on the Horizon. That is why I was thrilled to come across this very well done cover of the song done in “acoustic style.” It is really phenomenal that the guitarist can play and sing the song at the same time.

It appears from the URL that is included in video that the trio is a band from Brazil called “Lunares.”

With no further ado, here is the video that was uploaded to YouTube followed by U2 themselves performing the song recently at the Somerville Theatre in Massachusetts.

I like the Letterman show and watch it from time to time, especially if there is a guest on that I want to see. I don’t think I have ever watched the show religiously for a week straight. Last week was an exception because one of my favorite bands, U2, appeared on the show every night.

In all my years of watching Letterman (been watching since I was a kid), I have never seen an audience get so excited, so enthused, so jubilant over a musical guest than with U2. They lit the place up each and every night. I believe Dave himself has become a fan of the band.

Not only did they perform a different number each night, they were featured in a few comedy skits and were interviewed for a few minutes on Thursday night.

I have compiled videos of all their performances, the comedy skits and the interview below for your enjoyment. Now I can’t wait for the North American tour which should happen later this year.

The Music

Monday Night – Breath

Tuesday – Magnificent

Wednesday – I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight

Thursday – Beautiful Day

Friday – Get On Your Boots

The Comedy/Interview

Monday Night – Shoveling Snow

Wednesday – Top Ten List of Things U2 Has Learned Over the Years

Thursday – U2 helps Around the Office

Thursday – The Interview

Friday – Ask U2

Have you ever dreamed of flying? I’m not referring to airplanes, balloons or even hang gliders but to fly as the birds do would be simply fantastic. Good news for such enthusiasts is that there are several companies that are working hard to make such a dream a reality.

There are in fact several products either already available or being developed that will make human flight a very real possibility. Unfortunately for now it is reserved for those who are quite well off finally.

This was brought to my attention after reading the story of Eric Scott of Jet Pack International (Jet P.I.) who recently used a standard hydrogen peroxide-fueled jet pack to get across the 1,250-foot-deep gorge south of Denver. And while he was successful in his attempt, the downside is that his entire flight lasted only 20 seconds. The maximum flight time for a hydrogen-peroxide pack is about 45 seconds, though one company in California has recently extended that to 75 seconds by mixing in a little kerosene.

There is hope however for longer flights.

Scott Rhodes, chief operating officer with Go Fast Sports, a sister company of Jet P.I. (both are based in Denver), says they’re trying to break that barrier with a turbine jet-powered machine that lasts as long as 9 minutes in the air.

“It’s got one engine on the top, pointing backward, and two facing down to provide lift,” he explained to FOXNews.com about the T-73 model.

The turbine engines are much more fuel-efficient than the standard hydrogen peroxide jet pack, which is really a rocket because it doesn’t use the oxygen in the surrounding air as additional fuel.

The turbine-powered machine, named the T-73, which runs on standard jet fuel, will be available in the near future for around $200,000.

That is not all. Martin Jetpack, based in New Zealand, makes a propeller-driven machine that’s really not a jet at all. I doest have a maximum flight time of half an hour at 60 mph — enough to get you to work, if you live within 30 miles — and runs on easily available standard gasoline.

You can reserve one with a $10,000 deposit, though you’ll be paying $100,000 by the time it’s delivered (when that will be was not disclosed). That doesn’t include the cost of mandatory pilot training.

Finally there is Thunderbolt Aerosystems, based in San Jose, Calif., who is selling its standard hydrogen-peroxide model now for $90,000. It says it’ll have its aforementioned hydrogen-peroxide/kerosene blend model, which lasts 75 seconds in the air, ready next summer for $98,000.

Although I have yet to hit the financial status to justify the expense of any of these machines, it is thrilling to see such inventions being developed, bringing humans closer all the time to being able to fly like the birds.

The band U2 has always been one of my favorites. From Bono’s superb singing voice to Edge’s unique guitar playing style to the quality and substance of their music, they have always thrilled me with their music and performances. Now a new book has been authored by my very good friend, Matt McGee that details all of the relevant day-to-day events that have shaped U2 into the band it is today. It provides the important stories behind the ‘who, what, when and where’ including insights about key moments in U2s development that have never been told before.

And who is this Matt McGee and why is he qualified to write a book about one of the all time greatest bands to ever have existed? Matt runs the most popular U2 fan site – @U2, which is not only the oldest independent site for U2 fans on the Web but has been invited to co-host events at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and has earned numerous awards over its long history. In December, 2007, Entertainment Weekly included @U2 at #4 on its list of the 25 Best Fan Web Sites covering music, movies, or television. All these accomplishments make me very proud of my friend.

And now he is an author! His book – U2 – A Diary is available for pre-sale and is scheduled to be released tomorrow. With the release of this book, Matt invited several of his friends and peers to ask him five questions about the band, the book or even Matt himself. I decided to take him up on that offer and below are his responses to my questions.

1. When did you first become a U2 fan and why?

My first encounter with U2 was 1981, when I heard “I Will Follow” on a Philadelphia radio station — WMMR-FM. I liked the song well enough, but not enough to really investigate the band or even buy the BOY album. Then when I heard “New Year’s Day” in 1983, that was it. What an amazing song — it gave me chills then, and still does today. That prompted me to buy the WAR album, which prompted me to learn more about the band, and I was hooked. Why? Great music, and music with substance. They had something to say, and I was all ears.

2. How did the @U2 site come about? Did you ever envision it becoming the number 1 fan site for U2?

Heck no! It started out mainly as a place for me to post some photos I had and some old news clippings I’d been saving over the years. Like every other web site in the mid-1990s, it was pretty much crap in terms of design and usability. But I think it was the only place you could find and read old news articles about the band. So that attracted an audience, and then other fans would send me their own clippings to transcribe and add to my site. It snowballed from there to the point that I needed to start adding people to help covering current news and adding old news.

3. Have you ever met any of the band members and if not, do you think you ever will?

I have not met any of them. I’m not the type of fan to stand in line before or after a concert to get a handshake and an autograph, and I’m not the type to wait for them outside their hotel or anything like that. It’s just not my style. I’m not real comfortable with the typical band-fan relationship, where the artist is WAY UP HIGH on a pedestal, and the fan is WAY DOWN BELOW. I’d like to meet them some day, but only when it can be on an equal footing, man to man … not fan to band.

4. Do you know the “real” names of Bono and Edge (or is that their real names)?

Sure — Bono is Paul David Hewson. Edge is David Howell Evans.

5. To your knowledge, is U2 a Christian band?

Oooooh. Now that’s a loaded question! This is something that gets discussed pretty regularly in Christian music circles, and also in U2 fan circles.

Here’s my take: They’re a band of believers who make music that praises God, questions God, is inspired by God, and inspires others to know God. They write songs about the same stuff you read about in the Bible, and hear about on Sunday mornings. They make a lot of Biblical ideas palatable to people who might not otherwise be comfortable reading the New Testament or sitting in a pew.

So, are they a Christian band? I think that evidence says yes. But they also use swear words, drink alcohol, and enjoy some of the fruits of their riches. So, some Christians say they’re not a Christian band. I suspect U2 likes it that way.

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Well there you have it – a peek into Matt’s extensive knowledge of this remarkable band. Want to learn more? Pick up a copy of his new Book – U2 – A Diary either online or when it becomes available in book stores.

For years there have been rumors that a major amusement park would be built in Arizona. Recently it was speculated that Six Flags had bought land somewhere north of New River Arizona and was planning on building an amusement park. It was a rumor. There have also been rumors that an all-indoor park was being planned. Now there is news that a group is planning on building a park somewhere between Phoenix and Tucson.

The group, One Dream, One Team, plans to build a 350-acre park near Florence. The group says the park, called Coyote Canyon, will be themed on Arizona history and geography. Roller coasters, rides and entertainment would center on five districts: Old West, Indian High Country, Rocks and River County, Canyon Country and the Central Corridor (representing the Valley’s metro area and where hotels, shopping and office space would be located). Rides could also include a roller coaster that dives underground, where thrill seekers would plunge into a “canyon.”

The group chose Florence because it’s between the two cities and because of the area’s Old West history. The group’s CEO says estimates show the park costing $600 million, but there are no plans to request public funding.

We will see if this comes to fruition or if it simply pans out to be another rumor. It would be awesome to have at least one decent roller coaster to ride on a regular basis within driving distance. A collection of coasters would be even better.

If you are not one of the 8 million subscribers that Netflix currently has, you may or may not have heard about the DVD rental giant’s disaster last week when their shipping system all but died. It all started last Tuesday when Netflix reported a technical glitch that prevented them from sending out DVDs to subscribers. Those issues continued at many of their 55 distribution centers through Thursday when on Friday they finally appeared to resolve whatever issues they had.

Some customers were very understanding, recognizing that systems can break from time to time while others were downright upset, even threatening to switch to Netflix’s fiercest competitor – Blockbuster.

Myself, I was not really that concerned. So I have a few days with no new movies coming in. I do have a pretty active life and can find plenty of things to do besides watching movies. So I’m more on the side that gave the company some slack. In fact, I have always considered myself a Netflix brand evangelist, especially seeing that I am still bitter at all the late fees I have ever had to pay to Blockbuster during the pre-Netflix days.

When Netflix stated on Tuesday that they would be crediting people’s accounts, I thought that was a good move to attempt to absolve what was turning out to be a very nasty public relations situation for the DVD rental company. That is until I heard the actual amount – 15%.

Now I suppose mathematically, 15% is fair. However, I don’t feel it is enough to really appease customers who are let’s say – very passionate about their movie watching. Some folks seemed as if their life was ruined. And maybe it was for that week. Just look at some of their comments found at the Netflix community blog.

I wasn’t disappointed… I am PISSED…THANKS FOR SCREWING UP DATE NIGHT!

Netflix just lost a long time customer. I am gonna take myself to the video store, and grab a bite. Then I am going to go online and check out Blockbuster. I bet a new customer saves more than 15%.

Now my queue says movies will ship next Thursday. Great work Netflix. My solution is simple – I will cancel my account. I suggest others do the same for a month or two and give Netflix a nice revenue hit so they rethink their 15% discount. For me if the disk are not shipped until next Thursday, that will be 2 weeks.

15% is not adequate, I’m sorry. I get 3 movies at a time, and in a rare moment of PLANNING AHEAD, I returned all 3 movies to get 3 more for my movie party tonight. Suffice to say, no movies arrived, so instead I have to go to the local movie store and rent 3 replacements. Total cost for 3 rentals? $12. Thats about 75% of my total monthly Netflix cost, so this 15% discount is bullshit.

Oh, and I love this one – the conspiracy theory (second paragraph):

I had no inkling there was a problem at Netflix until I received an email today. Movies I had returned last week were just ‘received’? 15% for a week of no movies is definitely insufficient, regardless of whether you are whiny or not. This is a business, we expect a product for payment. Point is our credit cards will no doubt be charged on time.

It’s Friday, a rainy weekend ahead, bored kids and NO movies. But worse no explanation at all about the source of the problem and THAT concerns me more. It’s not about being whiny – I am concerned about hackers, identity thieves and so on. NETFLIX: IS there anything we need to know that you’re not telling us? The truth always comes out so I think if somebody is not being honest now’s the time to tell the customers what the heck is really going on.

There are a lot more – upset people I mean. This is inevitable as there are just some people that demand perfection. Of course we know that no company is perfect and today’s technology is far from perfect. It does have imperfect mankind behind it.

While I can certainly understand technical glitches, I feel pretty strongly that Netflix should have offered minimum 50% credit or nothing at all. 15% is like a spit in the face. It is not the money but rather then principle. Of course 50% would have cost Netflix a lot more money and they know this. However, it may have helped them to get through this public relations nightmare in a much smoother fashion.

Don’t worry, I’m still a Netflix loyalist. I’m not going to be chased away by some technical glitches and a measly 15% credit. I do hope for Netflix’s sake that they learn from this lesson and should something like this happen in the future, that they will take into consideration the feelings of those who have voiced displeasure in the way Netflix handled this situation.

What about you the reader? Whether a Netflix customer or not, do you feel 15% is justified? Should customers have received more? Or maybe you fee they should not have received anything at all? I’d love to hear your opinions.

I have seen a lot of great movies in my time. Interesting story lines, amazing cinematography, incredibly suspenseful, out of this world funny and the like. One thing I really enjoy besides these elements is intriguing characters that are acted out extremely well.

With that, I give you my all-time top list of favorite movie characters.

1. Tony Montana (Scarface) played by Al Pacino (Scarface)

In 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant takes over a drug empire while succumbing to greed. Pacino does such an astounding job transforming himself into a Cuban gangster. His role has provided us with famous lines known everywhere such as, “Say hello to my little friend,” or “I always tell the truth. Even when I lie.”

2. Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry) played by Clint Eastwood (Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, The Enforcer, Sudden Impact & The Dead Pool)

In the film that started them all, Eastwood plays a San Francisco cop with little regard for the rules (but who always gets results) where tries to track down a serial killer who snipes at random victims. In the following movies, Dirty Harry chases after vigilante cops, terrorists, rapists and a mystery murderer. The Dirty Harry character produced some of the most famous movie quotes of all time including, “Go ahead, make my day.” as well as “Do you feel lucky, punk? Well do ya?”

3. Jack Torrance played by Jack Nicholson (The Shining)

A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future. We already know that Nicholson can be a bit zany from his role in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” However, Nicholson’s role as a family man turned psychopathic killer is haunting to say the least.

4. Captain Jack Sparrow played by Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean 1, 2, & 3)
In a film modeled after the famous attraction at Disney theme parks, Blacksmith Will Turner, played by Orlando Bloom, teams up with eccentric pirate “Captain” Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor’s daughter, played by Keira Knightley, from Jack’s former pirate allies, who are now undead. While all the actors who played pirated did an exceptional job, Depp’s transformation into Jack Sparrow will live on for ages as one of the best acting performances of all time.

5. The Joker played by Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Batman and James Gordon join forces with Gotham’s new District Attorney, Harvey Dent, to take on a psychotic bank robber known as The Joker, whilst other forces plot against them, and Joker’s crimes grow more and more deadly. I really enjoyed Jack Nicholson’s role as The Joker in the 1989 Batman movie but ledger completely transforms himself into such an evil and crazed villain. Had I not known Ledger played the role, I would not have recognized him.

6. Dr. Hannibal Lecter played by Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal & Red Dragon)
A young FBI cadet, played by Jodi Foster, must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer (Lecter) to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims. While Hopkins has played many memorable roles, all of which it performed superbly, he will always be remembered best as Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

7. William Wallace played by Mel Gibson (Braveheart)
Braveheart is the partly historical, partly mythological, story of William Wallace, a Scottish common man who fights for his country’s freedom from English rule around the end of the 13th century. Gibson incites passion for freedom in this gripping film – one of my all time favorites.

8. Don Vito Corleone (Godfather) played by Marlon Brando (The Godfather)
Brando plays an aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty who transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son, played by Al Pacino. Brando does an excellent job transforming himself into a ruthless mob boss and yet one who cherishes his family and friends dearly. Famous quotes include, “I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse,” and “Never tell anybody outside the family what you’re thinking again.”

9. Beatrix Kiddo played by Uma Thurman (Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2)
Thurman’s character, The Bride, wakes up after a long coma. The baby that she carried before entering the coma is gone. The only thing on her mind is to have revenge on the assassination team that betrayed her – a team she was once part of. In Vol 2, the murderous Bride continues her vengeance quest against her ex-boss, Bill, and his two remaining associates; his younger brother Budd, and Bill’s latest flame Elle. Thurman does a most excellent job transforming herself into a bad-ass professional killer that you would in no way want to be enemies with.

10. Bill ‘The Butcher’ Cutting played by Daniel Day-Lewis (Gangs of New York)
In 1863, Amsterdam Vallon, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, his father’s killer. The character Day-Lewis plays believes that America should belong to native-born Americans and opposes the waves of immigrants, mostly Irish, entering the city with, as you can guess by his name, much violence.

11. William Munny played by Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven)
Retired Old West gunslinger William Munny reluctantly takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner, Ned Logan, played by Morgan Freeman, and a young man who has yet to kill anyone. The character Eastwood plays is similar to the many other “man with no name” western characters he has played so well over the years. I feel this role is my favorite due to the fact that you not only get to see Eastwood’s “cowboy” toughness but at the same time see someone who has some humanity to him and actually struggles with the reality that he has to kill again.

12. Austin Powers played by Mike Myers (Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, The Spy Who Shagged Me, & Goldmember)
It all started with Myers playing a 1960′s hipster secret agent who is brought out of cryofreeze to oppose his greatest enemy into the 1990′s where his social attitudes are glaringly out of place. Myers is hilarious as Austin Powers but also does exceptional job playing other characters in these films including Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard and Goldmember.

13. Aileen Wuornos played by Charlize Theron (Monster)
A dark tale based on the true story of Aileen Wuornos, one of America’s first female serial killers. The tale focuses on the nine month period between 1989 and 1990, during which Wuornos had a lesbian relationship with a woman named Selby. And during that very same time, she also began murdering her clientele in order to get money without using sex. Theron completely transforms herself into a, well a monster. She is not even recognizable as the Charlize we all know both in looks and character. A superb job creating a most memorable movie character.

14. Howard Hughes played by Leonardo DiCaprio (The Aviator)
A biopic depicting the early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes’ career, from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s. Although I am unfamiliar with the characteristics and nature of Howard Hughes, DiCaprio played this role in such an entertaining fashion and clearly demonstrated his talent as an actor.

15. Stanley Ipkiss (The Mask) played by Jim Carrey (The Mask)
Bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss is transformed into a manic super-hero when he wears a mysterious mask. I had a tough time choosing between Carrey’s role as The Grinch and this one. I think this one won out simply because of the zaniness Carrey portrayed in the character. Oh, the eye candy (special effects) helped as well.

16. Edward Scissorhands played by Johnny Depp (Edward Scissorhands)
Johnny Depp plays an uncommonly gentle young man, who happens to have scissors for hands, who falls in love with a beautiful teenage girl but finds himself in all sorts of trouble along the way. This was one of a few roles Depp has played for director, Tim Burton.

17. Sherman Klump played by Eddie Murphy (The Nutty Professor)
Grossly overweight Professor Sherman Klump, desperate to lose weight, takes a special chemical that turns him into the slim but obnoxious Buddy Love. Not only did Murphy do an exceptional job playing Sherman Klump, he pulls more than double duty playing Buddy Love, Lance Perkins, Papa Klump, Mama Klump, Grandma Klump and Ernie Klump, in what ends up being one hilarious time.

18. Captain Hook played by Dustin Hoffman (Hook)
When Captain Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan, played by Robin Williams, must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy. Although Hoffman’s role as Captain Hook is quite corny, I thought it was highly entertaining and played out exceptionally well.

19. Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein played by Robert De Niro (Casino)
Greed, deception, money, power, and murder occur between two mobster best friends and a trophy wife over a gambling empire. I just had to include De Niro somewhere on this list. Some of the most memorable characters he has played is when he is somehow involved in the mob. I could have selected “Goodfellas” as well and I even like that movie better. However, I think Casino shows De Niro in one of his best roles as an organized crime figurehead.

20. Norman Bates played by Anthony Perkins (Psyco)
Last but certainly not least is Norman Bates. A young woman steals $40,000 from her employer’s client, and subsequently encounters a young motel proprietor too long under the domination of his mother. It’s classic Hitchcock as well as one of the all time best horror films Perkins plays a very eerie character indeed.

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