My Top 5 Favorite Will Smith Movies

"You know the difference between you and me? I make this look good. "-Will Smith

This article is dedicated to Abe Kim, holding it down in the Far East, trying to make moves.

So I guess it started in December 2006. We had just suffered a buzzer beater defeat to Middlesex in Basketball on a Friday Night. Abe and I had contributed but we weren't on the court when some scrub on Middlesex got very lucky.

We were pissed but it wasn't going to ruin our day. In the end we didn't really care. I didn't really like our basketball team my senior year. There was a lack of talent and poor coaching. Usually that equals failure and as the season went on, things got worse.

My point is that I didn't care that we lost. Normally Rob, Abe and I would chill after the game but after the game, Rob had a legendary blow up. One of those where you just know to avoid the person until they speak to you without every other word being "Fuck"

The bus ride was pretty much silent on the way back and Abe and I decided to go see a movie that night. Both of us being huge Will Smith fans, the choice was simple: Pursuit of Happyness. After that we decided that we would make it a tradition to see any Will Smith movie when it came out, even if that movie really sucked. (Seven Pounds)

So here is the Top 5 in order, In My Opinion of course. So that means this list is 100 percent right. I pretty much am factoring in how much I liked the movie and his performance.

5. Ali (2001)- I first saw this when it came out and I must admit, I was a little young to appreciate it. I honestly was a little bored watching it but seeing it again a second time gave me a new appreciation for it. This is on the list though more for Smith's performance than the movie and he was rewarded with a Best Actor Nomination. I am a big fan of movies that are portrayals of historical figures. Will Smith does a great job playing Muhammad Ali and all the fight scenes, key for boxing movies, were well done. The Rumble in the Jungle at the finish is fabulous. Great supporting cast too.

4. Independence Day (1996)- The movie itself is a classic. One of the better summer blockbusters of the 90s and I honestly don't know a person who has not seen this. Great cast headlined by Big Willie Style. Smith delivers his usual blend of comedy, drama and all his action scenes are great. Also I love the chemistry between Jeff Goldblum and Smith. Some classic lines too. The "Welcome to Earth" after punching the alien. Talking to himself while dragging the alien in the desert. And when Goldblum asks him "You really think you can fly that thing.

Smith responds "You really think you can do all that bullshit you just said?" Good Stuff

3. Enemy of the State (1998)- I love this movie. I remember first watching this with my brother at my Grandma's house on a shitty TV in a dusty room. It honestly added another element to it. While this might be Smith's most sub par acting performance of the movies on this list, he still delivers. Smith surprisingly does well with older white guys as you will see later on the list. Him and Gene Hackman are a killer combo and they carry the movie. This movie also has a great supporting cast. Also I love the end of the movie in terms of how Smith and Hackman finally beat the guys that are chasing them. The shootout is beastly.

2. Pursuit of Happyness (2006)- By far the best performance of his career. Deserved all the rave reviews and that best actor nomination. It's classic Will Smith but on a whole new level. I don't think I have ever felt for a character or was rooting so hard for someone then Will Smith in this movie. The chemistry between him and his son is great and is the key to this movie. Obviously there is the scene when Smith is crying in the closet with his son (always gets me) or when he finally lands the job and does the Will Smith clap outside the office (i wanted to do the same thing when i saw this), but just the other little things Smith does in this movie, trying to fit in with a world that he tries literally harder than anyone else to become part off. Honestly just watch the scene when they tell him he gets the job. Incredible.

"You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period. "-Classic

1. Men In Black (1997)- Fun Fact: First time I saw this movie was with Ben and Dick Simons after I went to his birthday party that nobody but me showed up for. This is quintessential Will Smith. He is basically the fucking man in this movie. In this science fiction comedy, the combination of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith is perfect. Whoever thought that these two would be a legendary on screen duo has some serious foresight. Not only is this movie incredibly cool, Smith is absolutely hilarious. Honestly the highlight of the movie is when he comes in for the audition/examination to find Kay's partner. I was at the perfect age when this movie came out and I will still watch it any time it is on. Rip Torn is also great as Zed. Everything just works. Too many classic lines.

"Do you see this? Huh? NYPD! Means I will Nock Yo Punkass Down!"

Also Bonus points for the Men in Black song. That song is still the shit.

Late Edition: The one movie that could easily be on this list that I would have no problem arguing is Bad Boys. One of his earlier movies, Smith and Martin Lawrence are great. I should of made this 5A

Real Quick Mets Rant

I really dont want to get started because I could go on all day. My point is too Phillies fans who are so thrilled to beat the Mets. I really don't want to sound like a sore loser but the Mets really are a triple A team. The defense displayed and the horrendous attempts the Mets made at trying to hit the ball are laughable.

For Phillies fans, yea sure be happy. You just swept your rival so I wont take that away from you. But if you seriously think this Phillies team has a chance to do something in October again, you are kidding yourself.

Rodrigo Lopez, Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton would get their tits ripped by any other team with a major league lineup. (This includes most if not all Major League teams besides the Mets) There is a reason that the Phillies had a terrible record in June. No matter how good their lineup is, and trust me its one of the best in the league, the Phillies pitching will not lead them to any postseason glory. Hamels isn't half the pitcher he was last year. Myers is out for the year. and like I said, Jamie Moyer can only take you so far. Joe Blanton sucks. I dont care what he did on Sunday. And Rodrigo Lopez, need I say more. at least Chan Ho Park is in your bullpen. Lidge hasnt and wont repeat last years second half success.

Regardless, the Mets suck. I just wish we had an excuse, like we are a small market or something.

But yea the sad facts are that we have the second highest payroll and play in the biggest market and still have a triple A team on the field.

Omar Minaya: You have spent the second most money in the league and the product on the field is terrible. I really have nothing against these players but if you look at who is out there, only David Wright is a true everyday major league starter.

Santos: Backup Catcher
Schinder: Backup Catcher
Murphy: Platoon player who cant field and cant hit
Castillo: In the waining years of his career. should be a backup or the 8th hitter on a team
Cora: Backup
Sheff ,Tatis and Reed: platoon players and great bench options
Church: I guess you can call him an everyday major league player.
F-Mart: 20 years old and clearly needs more time in the minors.

Hopefully the Dodgers sweep the Mets and all us Mets fans can enjoy watching this train wreck. It is far better than trying to root for this team to win.

I also love the people that are like "o well we have played this poorly and are only 4 games back." By the allstar game that number will be 7 and the team will be no better.

Hey at least Oliver Perez is starting on Wednesday. For the sake of the guy I hope he pitches well but i hope he gets rocked just so Omar Minaya looks like a bigger idiot.

Ok so that wasn't that quick.

Bell and Summers Provide Power, Monte Effective in Win

On a clear and cool Sunday night, play resumed in the Charlie Brown lot to commence the holiday weekend. In impressive fashion, Rob Rubenstein led his squad in a tight 6-4 victory, picking up the win and save. Rubenstein took a slumping Dan Bell with his first pick and rounded out his team with Dan Breslauer, Tom Monte and Juice Summers. Opposing them was Jake Rainwater, Dylan Kessler, Pat Bell, Tom Marks and Jeff Feldman.


The game was already being anticipated as one of the best match ups ever seen and the game certainly did not disappoint. Dylan Kessler took the mound in the first and would recieve his wake up call a little earlier than expected. After inducing an easy come backer from Monte, Kessler walked Rubenstein on some close pitches to bring up a slumping D. Bell who had previously sat in the 4th of July Bell Residence Classic. Kessler got cute and floated a slider right down the middle which D. Bell crushed into the street in left center to give his team a quick 2-0 lead.


Kessler did not take too kindly to the Bell home run and led off the bottom of the 1st with a double off Rubenstein. After a Pat Bell walk, Rainwater came up with a chance to get some of the runs back. On a 3-2 fastball, Rainwater timed it but got a little under the ball, skying the ball a mile high before D. Bell sat under it in the outfield for a loud out. After walking Marks, Rubenstein sat down Feldman with some nasty stuff.


Rainwater started the second by getting Monte to fly out to Feldman. Rainwater then walked Rubenstein but got D. Bell to chase an outside slider to avoid any further trouble. D. Bell took the mound in the second and looked sharp retiring Kessler and brother P. Bell, making a spectacular one handed grab behind the mound for the latter out.


It was Feldmans turn on the mound in the top of the third and after walking Breslauer, Feldman came back by getting Summers on a grounder and struck out Monte. Breslauer pitched the bottom of the third and after giving up a lead off double to Rainwater, quickly worked Marks and Feldman to keep the game 2-0.


Making his wiffle debut, Pat Bell took the mound facing the heart of the order. Rubenstein smacked a single to left bringing up Dan Bell. D. Bell crushed a pitch that was about to land in the same place as his first home run. Kessler ran back into the middle of the street and made a Willie Mays like catch to rob Bell of a 2 run homer. Fans were calling Kessler's play one of the top web gems of the year. Pat looked like he was going to escape the inning with no damage but Breslauer walked bring up Summers. On a 3-2 pitch, Summers lifted a big fly to left that no one would be catching to make it a 5-0 game.


Monte took the hill in the bottom of the 4th and pitched the quickest inning of the game, getting Kessler to ground out and got some defensive help from Breslauer when he caught a Pat Bell opposite field poke, snaring it off the ground as he lost his balance.


The shutout would not be broken until the bottom of the 5th with Rubenstein on the mound. Rainwater took the first pitch of the inning and ripped a line drive that reached the street to put his team on the board. Pat Bell came up later in the inning with runners on first and second with one out and delivered a clutch double to center field that made it a 5-2 game. However an anxious Rainwater came up, and swung at three curveballs that were in the dirt and struck out to end the threat.

Rainwater again walked Rubenstein to start the inning but got D. Bell to sky a pop up to the mound. Rainwater however missed a gimme double play by bouncing the ball before it hit the chair. He then retired Breslauer on a screwball that nailed the outside corner. D. Bell would pitch the bottom of the sixth and had some control problems walking two batters in the inning but already struck out one for the first out. Facing his brother Pat, D. Bell got Pat to strike out swinging on a full count to keep his team up 3 runs.

Feldman took the mound in the top of the 7th and ran into early trouble. Summers ripped a single down the line. After Monte grounded out, Rubenstein reached base and D. Bell doubled a run home to make it a 6-2 game. Feldman was able to retire Breslauer on a hard grounder to third that Rainwater was able to handle.

The bottom of the 7th began with a Rainwater single off Breslauer. Marks then popped up to get a quick 1st out for Breslauer who then all of a sudden lost control. Breslauer walked Feldman on 5 pitches and fell behind Kessler before he lifted one to the opposite field. D. Bell, with a cig in his hand, ran to make a one handed catch but couldn't as the ball dropped scoring a run to make it a 6-3 game. Pat Bell would walk to load the bases and then Breslauer walked Rainwater to make it a 6-4 game. With the cracks slowly forming in Breslauer's ball, Marks gift wrapped him a life preserve swinging at a 4-0 pitch popping it up to D. Bell to end the inning.

They would have a chance in the bottom of the 8th of Monte but again Rainwater and his team failed in the clutch. Feldman struck out to start the inning putting the team in a hole. Kessler and P. Bell reached base before Rainwater swung at a 2-1 inside changeup and grounded out weakly to Monte to end the threat and more or less, the game. Rainwater threw his hat in frustration, knowing that that was his teams last chance to get back in this game.

Rubenstein would pitch the bottom of the ninth and after walking Marks to start the inning, Rubenstein would come back and strikeout Feldman and Kessler to end the game, picking up his 1st save in an impressive 6-4 victory.

Rubenstein: 6
Rainwater: 4

Box Score
W: Rob Rubenstein (1-1)
L: Dylan Kessler (2-1)
S: Rob Rubenstein (1)
HR: D. Bell (1), Summers (1), Rainwater 1(4)
RBI: D. Bell 3(4), Summers (3), Rainwater 2(14), Kessler 1(11), P. Bell (1)

Rainwater's 8 RBIs lead onslaught

In a short sided game, Jake Rainwater hit 2 bombs had 8 RBIs and Dylan Kessler added 6 more RBIs and collected the Win in a 16-2 beating.

Rob Rubenstein and Tom Monte were unable to stop Rainwater Kessler and Dan Breslauer, who contributed all over the diamond.

The game remained scoreless for the first two innings as Rubenstein put another zero on the scoreboard to make it 15 innings without giving up a run. Rainwater, Kessler and Monte each pitched effectively, keeping the game tied at zero.

In the top of the third, Rainwater finally cracked Rubenstein. Rainwater ripped a grounder at Monte who was unable to field the ball cleanly, allowing a run to score ending Rubenstein's scoreless streak at 15.

Breslauer pitched around some trouble in the third to keep the game 1-0. Finally it was Monte who unraveled on the mound. Rainwater missed a grand slam by inches, driving in two with the double. Breslauer walked and Kessler doubled with the bases loaded. Rainwater came up again with one on and golfed a ball into the street to make it an 8-0 game.

Coming up again in the 5th, Rainwater Kessler and Breslauer batted around twice against Rubenstein. With only one fielder, Monte and Rubenstein had trouble on balls in play. Rainwater added an RBI double and Kessler collected 3 more to make it a 12-0 game.

In hopes of a comeback, Rubenstein faced Breslauer in the bottom of the 6th with the bases loaded and nobody out. Breslauer got Rubenstein to pop out to Breslauer who ran in, spinning and fired a throw without looking at the chair and got the double play. The game became 15-0 in the 7th when Bresluaer doubled with the bases loaded and Rainwater ripped a ball for a double down the line batting lefty to bring his RBI total to 7 for the day.

Rubenstein and Monte added an RBI each off Rainwater to make it a 15-2 game but it would not be enough. Rainwater capped the game with a solo shot of Rubenstein to make it a 16-2 game. Breslauer pitched the ninth and held the opposition scoreless for 3 innings.

Rainwater 16
Rubenstein 2

Box Score
W: Dylan Kessler (2-0)
L: Rob Rubenstein (0-1)
HR: Rainwater 2(3)
RBI: Rainwater 8(12), Kessler 6(10), Breslauer (2), Rubenstein 1(8), Monte 1(4)

Drugs are Bad

Andrew Smith delivered another key hit and Tom Monte continued to approve on the mound, picking up the win and the save in a fast paced 3-1 game.

Rob Rubenstein selected Smith and Joe Olarra with his first two picks and took Monte with his next selection. He would be opposed by Jake Rainwater who took Dan Bell with the first pick. Rainwater would then take Gordon Millner, Jeff Feldman and eventually pick up Galen Pass.

The first inning featured mound aces Rainwater and Rubenstein shutting down the opposition. Both Rubenstein's out coming on strikeouts. The second inning was more of the same as Bell and Olarra would pitch scoreless innings, setting up what looked like another pitching duel.

Monte would pitch the top of the third and gave up a lead off double to Bell. He composed himself to retire Rainwater on a high pop up. Feldman was sent down afterward to keep the game scoreless.

Feldman took the mound and immediately found himself in a hole. An error, double and walk loaded the bases for Monte. Feldman got the first out by retiring Monte on a weak grounder. Feldman couldn't dodge the bigger bullet, that being Smith's bat who ripped a double into left field scoring two. Rubenstein followed with an RBI single making it a 3-0 game. Feldman was able to get Olarra on a sharp grounder.

Rubenstein took the mound in the 4th and lit up Millner and Bell for the second time. Rainwater followed with another impressive inning to keep the game at 3-0. His team looked to battle back when a wild Olarra loaded the bases with one out. With Bell up, Olarra couldn't find the strike zone and forced in a run. Rainwater followed and got a 4-1 pitch to crush and skied it to left center that Smith was able to come down with. The three base runners stranded would come back to hurt Rainwater and eventually cost his team the game.

In the top of the 6th with one on, Pass flared a ball to opposite field that Rubenstein caught and was able to peg the runner for a rare double play. Feldman rebounded with a solid inning of work in the bottom of the 6th getting two ground outs.

Rubenstein continued his streak of scoreless innings to 14 but was close to giving it up. He walked Bell and gave up his first hit, a double to Rainwater but then struck out Feldman on a filthy screwball that Feldman was helpless to watch nail the chair.

Rainwater extended his scoreless streak to 9 innings but his team was unable to come through when it mattered. Olarra pitched a quick 8th inning, capping his day with a filthy riser to strike out Bell.

Monte came on for the save in the ninth and got Rainwater on a weak fly ball. After a Feldman walk and a Pass double, Millner had a chance to redeem himself after struggling all day but swung at the first pitch and tapped a weak grounder to Monte to end the game.

Rubenstein: 3
Rainwater: 1

Box Score:
W: Tom Monte (1-2)
L: Jeff Feldman (0-1)
S: Tom Monte (1)
HR: None
RBI: Smith 2(5), Rubenstein 1(7), Bell (1)