Year in Review: Movies
Woof. What a dog's ass year for Movies. DVDs continued to become prime entertainment, while the movie theatre became a place to send your kids when you didn't wanna spring for a sitter. Bad movies, bad audiences, bad revenues, bad, bad, bad. What was good about this movie season? Welp, here's what I came up with (read: what I can remember...).
March of the Penguins- Big surprise, the cute penguin movie appealed to the guy with a comic that features a cute penguin. Beautiful, lyrical documentary that's actually legitimate fun for all ages.
Howl's Moving Castle- Absolutely breathtaking anime from the master himself, Myazaki (spell?). Funny, exciting, bizarre, beautiful, everything a good movie should be and more. Further proof that there's still life in 2D.
A History of Violence- The latest from one of my favorite directors, David Cronenberg. This film made my ass squirm. Mind games, ultraviolence, and a film that will make you think for days. You've been warned.
The Devil's Rejects- Speaking of squirming, Rob Zombie's dirty as hell flick was so intense that you almost need to be on tranquilizers to watch it. The scene in the hotel room is just as brutal as anything from a 70s grindhouse flick.
Kung Fu Hustle- Chuck Jones meets Kung fu. Zany, funny, wierd, exciting. The fact that the kick ass martial artists become goofier and goofier as the movie progresses is reason enough to watch the flick.
Mirrormask- Whoo. Purty. Very purty. Like poetry or a fairy tale given movie form. Visually, this was one of the most daring films of the year.
Star Wars Episode III- Everyone else can bitch about the prequels, but not me baby! This was the perfect endcap for the prequels. Best Space Battle Ever. Best Lightsaber Duel Ever. Anakin burns away and only the Monster that is Vader remains. The Emperor finally gets to show why he rules. And General Grievus. Hell yeah, General Grievus. This flick was what it was all about.
The Brothers Grimm- Director Terry Gilliam makes a semi-mainstream film, and has fun doing it. This truly is a fairy tale come to life, with a solid cast and lots of good old fashioned Gilliam magic.
(I'm sure there's gotta be a film or two I'm forgetting. But that's the way it goes, you write up an end of the Year list and there's always a film or two you forget. Screw it, let's just jump to the best film of the Year...)
The Year's Best Film: Sin City-
Was there ever any doubt? Gutsy, crazy, sexy, funny, smart, dumb, wierd, creepy, violent, brutal, ugly, beautiful, controversial. Beloved by people with good taste, hated by schmucks. Nothing else this year even came close to this act of cinematic daring. Mickey Rourke deserves an Oscar for his performance as Marv. No joke. I will buy the Uncut super edition tomorrow, and I'll probably watch the movie four or five times throughout January.
Movies I wanted to watch but didn't for some reason: Kontrol, Palindromes, Wallace and Gromit, King Kong, Chronicles of Narnia.
Honorable Mention: Batman Begins- Story: 4 Stars, Fight Scenes: Minus 500 Stars.
If anyone can think of a flick or two I've forgot, drop a line on the Comment section.
March of the Penguins- Big surprise, the cute penguin movie appealed to the guy with a comic that features a cute penguin. Beautiful, lyrical documentary that's actually legitimate fun for all ages.
Howl's Moving Castle- Absolutely breathtaking anime from the master himself, Myazaki (spell?). Funny, exciting, bizarre, beautiful, everything a good movie should be and more. Further proof that there's still life in 2D.
A History of Violence- The latest from one of my favorite directors, David Cronenberg. This film made my ass squirm. Mind games, ultraviolence, and a film that will make you think for days. You've been warned.
The Devil's Rejects- Speaking of squirming, Rob Zombie's dirty as hell flick was so intense that you almost need to be on tranquilizers to watch it. The scene in the hotel room is just as brutal as anything from a 70s grindhouse flick.
Kung Fu Hustle- Chuck Jones meets Kung fu. Zany, funny, wierd, exciting. The fact that the kick ass martial artists become goofier and goofier as the movie progresses is reason enough to watch the flick.
Mirrormask- Whoo. Purty. Very purty. Like poetry or a fairy tale given movie form. Visually, this was one of the most daring films of the year.
Star Wars Episode III- Everyone else can bitch about the prequels, but not me baby! This was the perfect endcap for the prequels. Best Space Battle Ever. Best Lightsaber Duel Ever. Anakin burns away and only the Monster that is Vader remains. The Emperor finally gets to show why he rules. And General Grievus. Hell yeah, General Grievus. This flick was what it was all about.
The Brothers Grimm- Director Terry Gilliam makes a semi-mainstream film, and has fun doing it. This truly is a fairy tale come to life, with a solid cast and lots of good old fashioned Gilliam magic.
(I'm sure there's gotta be a film or two I'm forgetting. But that's the way it goes, you write up an end of the Year list and there's always a film or two you forget. Screw it, let's just jump to the best film of the Year...)
The Year's Best Film: Sin City-
Was there ever any doubt? Gutsy, crazy, sexy, funny, smart, dumb, wierd, creepy, violent, brutal, ugly, beautiful, controversial. Beloved by people with good taste, hated by schmucks. Nothing else this year even came close to this act of cinematic daring. Mickey Rourke deserves an Oscar for his performance as Marv. No joke. I will buy the Uncut super edition tomorrow, and I'll probably watch the movie four or five times throughout January.
Movies I wanted to watch but didn't for some reason: Kontrol, Palindromes, Wallace and Gromit, King Kong, Chronicles of Narnia.
Honorable Mention: Batman Begins- Story: 4 Stars, Fight Scenes: Minus 500 Stars.
If anyone can think of a flick or two I've forgot, drop a line on the Comment section.
2 Comments:
Jarhead was aight. I got my money's worth out of Lord of War, too.
You forgot King Kong. I love that movie. Also I agree, Sin City was the best.
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