Most Memorable Movies of 2009 (my list)

As the year comes to a close, I thought I’d summarize some movie picks across the categories below. Despite what some of you might think, I didn’t make it out to “every” movie this year (but I sure did try). Still many gaps to fill before awards season plays out.

Most enjoyable:
In no particular order. Not necessarily the “best” movies of the year, but those films that either delivered to my very high expectations, or provided a unique moviegoing experience. Anything I saw more than once immediately qualified for this category.

1. The Hurt Locker – Gritty. Intense. Memorable. Relevant. I’ve been told this is about as realistic a portrayal of life in Iraq as has been put on the big screen. I believe it.

2. Star Trek – Best popcorn flick. Best franchise reboot. Best casting. The choice for McCoy was genius.

3. AVATAR – My first big screen IMAX 3D experience will be tough to top. Cameron created a beautiful, if not derivative world (see Dances With Wolves, The Abyss and Aliens). A must see on the big screen.

4. Inglorious Basterds – This would be a very different film without Christoph Waltz in his supporting role He steals every scene he’s in. Tarantino’s most tempered work, while still toying with his self-indulgent nature.

5. Drag Me to Hell – Sam Raimi goes back to his b-movie roots. Just wish he’d found a role for Bruce Campbell.

6. Adventureland – This one resonated with me on many levels. Fantastic soundtrack, great cast and terrific dialogue. It felt like a long lost Cameron Crowe film.

7. Paranormal Activity – More fun with a movie audience. A movie that scares with what it doesn’t show you.

8. Zombieland – Went back for the double tap four times on this one. Best cameo appearance of the year.

9. District 9 – A more accessible alien story than Cameron’s. Microsoft must be kicking themselves for shit canning the Halo film after they saw what that crew ultimately produced.

10. Informant! – The rabbit hole ran deep on this one. I had no idea where I was going. Another solid performance by Matt Damon.

11. Anvil: The Story of Anvil – Hard to believe this wasn’t scripted. An underdog story with bite.

Honorable mentions (it was a good year for movies): Up, (500) Days of Summer, The Hangover, The Road, I Love You Man and Cloudy, With a Chance of Meatballs.

Biggest disappointments:
These either under-delivered against my expectations, or just plain sucked it.

1. Terminator Salvation – Bad acting coupled with a plot full of holes. McG shot his wad in the trailer.

2. Fanboys – I so wanted to like this, but just couldn’t get there. Penalized for failing under such a great premise.

3. Sorority Row – Chopping up sorority girls has never seemed less inspired.

4. Funny People – Not a good year for Rogen. Didn’t hate this as much upon leaving the theater, but it didn’t sit well after the fact. An Apatow film with no likable characters just doesn’t work.

5. Couples Retreat – How the mighty have fallen. No likable characters and no chemistry. How can Vaughn and Favreau come off as un-funny?

6. The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard – A movie so insultingly bad that it made me angry.

7. Bruno – The crudeness didn’t bother me, but the unrelenting mean-spirited nature of this one was a turn-off.

8. Observe & Report – Paul Blart was saved by sweetness. This mall cop had none. Unfunny, bitter and self-indulgent.

9. The Knowing – Actually pretty good through the first three quarters of the film, but the ending is so whacko that I can’t endorse.

10. Away We Go – This must have been all that consisted of the screenplay. Yawn….

Didn’t get to see, but still on the list:
Still holding out hope that a couple of these could crack the list for best, but likely won't know until after the first of the year.

1. Up in the Air
2. Whip It
3. Sherlock Holmes
4. Boondock Saints 2
5. The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
6. An Education
7. Precious
8. Moon
9. The House of the Devil
10. A Serious Man

Movie Icons

I just discovered an intriguing review by Empire online featuring their take on the 100 greatest movie characters.

It's impossible to read through a list such as this without using your own, very personal filter... but I think they did a pretty good job of providing an interesting mix. There are a few choices that I can't help to feel are somewhat over-weighted, but I admire some of their top tier choices including the number one pick. They could have easily gone with mainstream box office heroes, but I think they dug deeper than that.

Definitely worth a look. And yes, Marneus, the list includes some characters from Middle-Earth.

Marneus' Review of Avatar - BAD COP

Porqchop and I saw Avatar on Friday in its full IMAX 3-D grandeur.

Here are my takes:

The PROS.

This movie is a technological wonder. I could not believe how seamlessly the real characters and the CGI toons flowed together. The marine jump-jet-helicopter-esque gunships (taken straight out of The Incredibles, I might add) looked so real, you literally take them completely for granted. They look ABSOLUTELY, PERFECTLY, R E A L.

Yes, the movements of the aliens weren’t quite as perfect, but even still, they were very nearly so. In order to suspend disbelief for a fantasy of this magnitude, the viewer cannot be distracted by inconsistencies with the effects. In that regard, this movie was truly revolutionary. The effects were absolutely seamless.

The IMAX experience itself was absolutely gorgeous, and I loved the way the 3-D was used only to add depth to the visual experience, and not to make you duck in your seat to avoid being hit with a poison-tipped arrow!

For visual effects, I give this film an A+.


The CONS.

The plot is rehash. Big time. I’m saying it’s an amalgamation of Aliens, Dances With Wolves, and Braveheart, but with none of their heart. This is nothing you haven’t seen before.

If you are going to make a movie of this magnitude, with the insane budget and otherworldly effects, I think you also need to have a plot that is equally epic.

I’m a big James Cameron fan, but this time he George Lucas-ed us. He got so enamored with his effects; he forgot what makes a movie great. Story is key, and the sooner the big Hollywood types figure that out, the better!

The downside of the 3-D experience was the length of the movie. I walked out of the theater with a dull headache, and the bridge of my nose was aching from having the heavy plastic 3-D glasses sitting there for nearly 3 hours. I loved how the 3-D looked, but I am hesitant to recommend that anyone go to the 3-D showing. While the 3-D added a bit to my overall experience, I can’t say that I wouldn’t have enjoyed the movie as much without it. Bottom line, the 3-D is beautiful, just know what you’re getting into ahead of time :-)

For plot and ‘heart’, I give this film a B-.


The SOLUTION.

One of my giant aggravations in life is when people sit back and snipe at other people’s creations. Constructive criticism I can live with, but sniping with no suggestions for improvement is just petty, and usually indicates a person with no creative ideas of their own.

Because of that, I feel the need to at least offer up my own thoughts on how this movie could have been improved. Take them or leave them :-)

To begin with, the ‘bad’ characters were way too bad for my liking. The audience could not connect with them in any real way. Their motivations were never even hinted at. The ‘evil’ colonel and the bad corporate douche were pale, 2-D representations of conflict. This 3-D movie deserved better.

I think a slight plot change could have solved the problems mentioned above, and added a lot of much-needed heart at the same time.

It’s really quite simple: the ‘unobtanium’ that they were mining (weak name…), should have been touted as critical for the survival of the earth and/or the human race.

That would have created a very real moral dilemma, and would have given the ‘bad’ characters some believable motivation – they have families/friends/etc back on Earth that they are trying to save.

All of the characters would have been torn by what is right. After all, is it OK for us to destroy another species to ensure our own survival? (Even juicier if it’s hinted that we brought the ruin on ourselves…) At the end of the day, the characters could still ultimately have gone in the directions they did. Some members of the audience could have sided with the colonel, and even the corporate jerk-off. Regardless, they would have at least been given a bit more realism. (Granted, this is not necessarily the most original idea in it’s own right, but I’m trying to stay within the framework I’ve been given here...)

Villains the audience can relate to are always better, and more memorable. That is what Avatar needed, and what might have breathed true life into it, to complement the incredible visual effects.

At the end of the day, Avatar turned out to be the Tin Man (but in really stunning, 3-D CGI.)


Overall GRADE:

B


--Marneus out.

Avatar Theater Choice

Pretty sure I'm going to see Avatar on my day off this Friday, but I'm faced with a bit of a conundrum. And it's a big one. Cinema Suites, or iMax 3D?

Plush seats where they serve you food and drink, or in-your-face 3D alien action on the mother of all screens? Suppose I can't make a bad choice, but looking for your input. Popcorn's involved in either scenario.

Help me people.

First Post

Hoping to stir up some interest amongst the gang. Thinking this could be a great space to share thoughts and review of movies, music, games or whatever else motivates us to action.

In aggregate, we can provide an informative point of view. Shoot me a message if you're interested in joining the gang.