Z is for Zombies

Well A to Z-ers, it's the last day of the challenge. I won't deny that I'm glad to get a little break, but boy am I sad to see the end of my favorite year of A to Z thus far! I made so many new blogging friends and had such a great time acting as a co-host. I hope all of you had as much fun this April as I did. 

This is my fourth year participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, and every year I end with the same "Z" topic – Zombies! I'm a sucker for a good tradition, so it should come as no surprise that today's A to Z Movie Smackdown will feature our favorite brain-hungry fiends. So for the very last time this April cast your VOTE for your favorite . . . 

Z is for Zombie:

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[Alternate Pairing (Zombedy): Zombieland vs. Shaun of the Dead]

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And DON'T FORGET about the A to Z reflections post going on from May 4th through May 8th. We'd love to hear about what you did and didn't like about the challenge, how you thought we did as hosts, what could be improved, cool bloggers you met or new blogs you're excited to follow, how you dealt with writing 26 posts in one month, and anything else you'd like to share! Write a post about your experience with the challenge and then add the link to your post to the Linky List (you can find it here at my blog May 4th). Do not add your link until you've published your reflections post! I can't wait to hear everyone's posts about the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

Y is for Yuletide

It's the penultimate day of the challenge and time for the letter I struggle with every blessed year. Did anyone else have trouble coming up with something for the letter "Y"? Fortunately for me, I happened to come up with a category that not only works for today's letter, but also helps me settle a long debated subject with my friends. 

So for today's A to Z Movie Smackdown, the category is Christmas – or Yuletide – movies. And seriously, I could come up with a list so long it would eclipse the entire challenge (I'm a Christmas fanatic). But instead I'm simply going to feature two of my favorites and one movie that I absolutely hate (you'll have to guess which one that is, as I won't be telling just yet), and we'll see what you guys have to say about it. So cast your VOTE and let me know which is your favorite . . .

Y is for Yuletide:

 vs. vs.

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

X is for eXtraterrestrial eXterminators

Only three days left in the challenge, which makes me think . . . what on earth will I do with my time when April is over and I have no more alphabetic awesomeness? I guess I'll have to focus on other things like, oh no, my writing. 

Well, that's a problem for another day. Today I'm focusing on the letter "X" and another A to Z Movie Smackdown, and it's going to be a fun one! Why's that you ask? Because today is all about the ABC's of great entertainment – Aliens, Battles, and Cocky leading men. So VOTE for your favorite alien assault squadron, or in other words . . .

X is for eXtraterrestrial eXterminators:

[First Alternate Pairing (non-comedic): Battle LA vs. Edge of Tomorrow]

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

W is for Westerns

Well A to Z-ers, it's the last week of the challenge. I'm exhausted, but sad to see it coming to an end. I'm glad to see there are so many of you still participating. You've almost made it to the finish line!

For today's A to Z Movie Smackdown, I'm featuring the wild, wild west. I don't watch a lot of westerns, but the two I've chosen today are among the greats. One of these films happens to feature one of my favorite film characters, but telling you would be cheating. So VOTE for the following and let me know which is your favorite Western!

W is for Westerns: 

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

V is for Vampires

The vampire genre has become over-saturated in recent years, and with the invention of vampires that sparkle (Why? I mean, just . . . why?), my interest in these fanged immortals has experienced a rapid decline. That being said, there are two vampire franchises that really got it right and continue to hold my interest to this day. They've got it all: seedy underworlds that prey on humanity, vampiric half-breeds and hybrids, and amazing weaponry!

For today's A to Z Movie Smackdown, I'd like to pit these two bloodsucking series against one another and see which one comes out the victor. So cast your VOTE for . . . 

V is for Vampires:

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

U is for Under the Sea

Yay, we made it to the letter "U", which means it's time for another A to Z Movie Smackdown . . . animated style. Today's post features two swimmingly superb selections of the subaquatic variety (hmm, maybe I should have made this an "S" post). I can't wait to see how you all VOTE today. Will is be the titian haired mermaid with amphibious side-kicks, or the film that taught us that fish are friends, not food? Only you can decide! 

U is for Under the Sea:

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

T is for Trials

Well A to Z-ers, it's another beautiful day for an A to Z Movie Smackdown. Today we're kicking it back all the way to 1992 when two of the greatest movies of all time hit the big screen. Though they share a common thread – today's "T" category, trials – they are very different in tone. Still, they were both nominated for Academy Awards (one of them actually winning for Best Supporting Actress), and equally amazing. I don't know how you're going to choose between these two! Cast your VOTE and let me know which you think it today's winner. 

T is for Trial:

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[Runner up pairings: Fracture vs. The Lincoln Lawyer]

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

S is for Sharks

Duuuuh duh. Duuuuh duh. Duuuuuh duh, duh-duh dududududu . . . 

I still can't step a toe in the ocean without the sound of the infamous shark theme song swimming terrifyingly through my mind. In fact, those sinister notes are sending goosebumps down my spine right now as I gear up for today's A to Z Movie Smackdown. Boy is it a good one. 

Swimming in from the shores of the East Coast we have one of the most infamous chompfests of cinematic history. A movie so terrifying it kept many a movie-goer permanently on dry land. Which incidentally wouldn't help them much with today's West Coast selection, a movie that added a whole new level of terror to tornadoes and gave new meaning to the phase "it's just so bad it's good". So cast your VOTE and let me know which film takes home the prize!

S is for Sharks:

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

R is for Robin Williams

Good morning A to Z-ers. I want to start off by apologizing to everyone who commented on my blog the past three days that I haven't gotten back to yet. I was in the LAND OF NO INTERNET (I seriously didn't know that still existed today) for a few days and fell way behind, but I'm going to do my best to play catch-up today! I can't wait to stop by and check out all your posts I missed.

As for today's post, let me preface this by saying this A to Z Movie Smackdown is going to be a bit of a tearjerker. It's been several months since the death of Robin Williams, but my heart still hurts a little to think of a beloved childhood idol passing away before his time. His movies made me laugh, took me on adventures, and taught me some important life lessons. 

His body of work is simply spectacular, and I could have easily listed twenty films here for you to choose from. Instead I decided to pick my favorites -- the movies I watched so often as a little girl I still have them memorized. Sorry for the extra selection, but narrowing it down to three was the best I could do. So VOTE for your favorite Robin Williams film and never forget the joy he brought to the big screen. 

R is for Robin Williams:

vs.vs.

[Alternate Pairing (Animated): Aladdin vs. Fern Gully]
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Many of you have already heard the wonderful news already, but for those of you who haven't, let me be the first to tell you that this year -- for the FIRST time -- the A to Z Challenge is releasing a Survivor T-Shirt to commemorate all your hard work! 

Created by our very own, very talented Jeremy Hawkins, you can get a shirt of your very own at NETOSHOP. I for one plan to wear mine around May 1st like a badge of honor, possibly while carrying a boom box (if indeed one of those dinosaurs can still be found) belting out Queen's We Are the Champions. It seems a fitting end to an exhilarating challenge. 

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

Q is for Quest

Happy Monday everyone! Are you ready for one of the more difficult letters of the A to Z Challenge? I've struggled with this one in the past, but not this time! 

This year I couldn't wait to get to the letter "Q", for I have an awesome topic for an A to Z Movie Smackdown. In fact, the worst part about today's post is that I can only choose two movies to pit against one another. But I had to narrow it down to the best of the best examples of Quests in modern film. So without further ado, cast your VOTE and let me know which you think takes the prize. 

Q is for Quest:

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

P is for Prom

Well A to Z-ers, it's the close of another week of the challenge and boy has it been a great one. I've made so many new blogging connections and found some great new A to Z themes to go back and catch up on tomorrow during the day off. What about you guys? 

For today's A to Z Movie Smackdown, I'm kickin' it back to one of my favorite nostalgic movie eras, otherwise known as the late 90's. These two films favorites both came out in 1999 and feature ill-conceived bets, dearly departed actors (rest in peace Heath Ledger and Paul Walker), and the glue that holds this category together, proms! So cast your VOTE for your favorite flashback prom flick.

P is for Prom:

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[Alternate 1999 Prom Pairing: Never Been Kissed vs. Drive Me Crazy]
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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

O is for Outer Space

For today's A to Z Movie Smackdown, I'm feeling in the mood for something a little bit . . . out of this world. I thought I would pair up two fairly recent movies that feature the great expanse we call outer space and see which one made an impression. So cast you VOTE for today's metagalactic match-up!

O is for Outer Space:

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

N is for Nicholas Cage

Let me start by saying, this A to Z Movie Smackdown is going to be a free-for-all. The best of the best to the worst of the worst. Because "N" is for Nicholas Cage, and the man is a legacy unto himself. I mean what . . . strange and fascinating choices of film roles he's made over the years. Movies we respect, movies we, ahem, make drinking games out of. 

And while I've done my best each day to restrain myself to just two movies (and the occasional Alternate Pairing), today I simply could NOT narrow it down. I wouldn't even know where to start. 

So for today's Smackdown, feel free to VOTE for whichever Nicholas Cage movie you just can't live without. Whether it's because it's a genuinely great film, or a movie you just love to hate, vote away. And feel free to add any of your own favorite Nick Cage movies not featured below to the list. There are just soooo many good ones. 

N is for Nicholas Cage:

NOTE: I'm also posting over at the A to Z Website today, so stop by and visit me there!
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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here. 

M is for Mice

Check it out bloggers. We've made it to halfway through the challenge! Can you believe it? It feels like it's flying by. But then, time flies when you're having fun, right? 

For today's A to Z Movie Smackdown, I'm kickin' it old school -- all the way back to my childhood as a matter of fact. Today I'll be featuring two animated films that I loved as a kid and, to be honest, still love today. My friend Tina was incensed that I didn't use Pixar's Ratatouille, but as that particular film features a rat, it didn't quite fit into today's category. So cast your VOTE for today's double feature and let me know which Mouse movie gets the cheese!

M is for Mice:

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here. 

L is for Libraries

Yay, we've made it to the letter "L" and what happens to be one of my favorite A to Z Movie Smackdown pairings of the challenge! One of them was a made for TV film that I DVR almost every time I see it pop up, and the other is a childhood favorite. I can't wait to see how you guys VOTE on this on!

L is for Libraries:

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here. 

K is for Kung Fu

Hello fellow A to Z-ers, it's the start of a new week of the challenge. I'm feeling refreshed and ready to come check out all of your "K" posts!

This A to Z Movie Smackdown post is dedicated to my wonderful husband, who absolutely loves all things Chinese and Japanese. I've got to admit, this particular category of film is not really my cup of tea. In fact, I had to ask around to find two movies that would make a good pairing (the alternate pairing below was all mine though!). But for those of you who are fans of the genre (or even if you're not), VOTE for you favorite . . . 

K is for Kung Fu: 

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[First alternate pairing: Kung Fu Panda vs. Rush Hour] 

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here. 

J is for Jail Breaks

Well, we're coming to the end of the second week of the A to Z Challenge. How is everyone doing so far? Sticking with it? And for those of you how have voted everyday, a HUGE thank you for checking in on my blog every day. 

For today's A to Z Movie Smackdown, I'm featuring two movies who even the least cinematically inclined will have heard of (if not seen). They're both great movies with terrific casts, and if I had to pick one, well, I'm not really sure I could. So let's hear from you guys instead. VOTE for your favorite . . . 

J is for Jail Breaks:

 vs.

My personal favorite jailbreak movie: O Brother Where Art Thou. 

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.

I is for Island Isolation

For today's A to Z Movie Smackdown, I'm featuring two movies that, while they fall under the same category, are very different in tone and content. One is a dark drama, the other a silly comedy. One received Oscar nominations, the other is, well, a guilty pleasure movie. I'm really interested to see how you guys VOTE on this one. So cast your ballot and let me know what you think of . . . 

I is for Island Isolation 

 vs,

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here. 

H is for Hitman

I think I can, I think I can . . . get to the end of this challenge and visit all the bloggers still participating in the challenge. Whew, this is fun but exhausting. Still though, I'm having a blast. I hope all you are as well!  Anyway, let's get back to the challenge and my A to Z Smackdowns. Today I'm featuring a topic my husband came up with when I couldn't think of an "H". So VOTE for you favorite movie that falls under . . . 

H is for Hitman

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here. 

G is for Grand Theft Auto

Rise and shine bloggers, it's a beautiful day for an A to Z Movie Smackdown. For today's tete-a-tete, I'm in the mood for something a little bit . . . illicit. With danger around every corner and speeds upward of 180 mph, these two movies certainly fit the bill. (And make me want to drive like a maniac when I'm cruising down the freeway.) So cast your VOTE for your favorite film in the category of --

G is for Grand Theft Auto:

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This post is part of the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme (in case you didn't already guess it) is Movie Smackdowns. Cast your vote NOW! Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you'd like to check out the other A to Z participants, simply click here.