Best...
...Looking: Star Trek. It must be seen to be believed. The special effects on tap here easily beat out the explosion fueled romp that was Transformers, thought that one still looked good. The cinematography is superb as well. The brilliant looking trailer only hints at the beauty in store for you.
Runner(s) Up: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Public Enemies
...Guilty Pleasure: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Transformers 2 is a terrible movie. You know that going in; you know that going out. You know that at home; you know that everywhere else. The thing is, you don't know that when you are actually watching, because it is so God damn ridiculous and fun, that you just don't care. I don't advise seeing it twice. After the first time, you do start to care.
Runner(s) Up: Friday the 13th
...Job Staying Faithful to Source Material: Watchmen. Yeah, the movie is about as faithful as it gets, for better or worse. Pretty much every scenario from the incredible graphic novel is included, and handled really well, mind you, but a lot of it is kinda boring, given how talky this thing actually. Even so, it's probably the best adaptation we would have gotten, regardless of that awful sex scene.
Runner(s) Up: State of Play, Terminator: Salvation
...Animated: Up. No competition. No need to write anything. It's Pixar, for God's sake!
Runner(s) Up: NONE!! (To be honest, I haven't seen another animated movie so far this year)
...Comedy: The Hangover. Just thinking about this hysterical film brings a laugh to my throat. This movie is so funny. All the performers display brilliant comic timing. The writing is sharp and witty. The scenarios are ridiculous and hilarious. It's the perfect comedy.
Runner(s) Up: I Love You Man
...Action: Taken. Yes, Star Trek was the better movie, but Taken had better fights, better shootouts, and better car chases. A strong performance from Liam Neeson doesn't hurt either. Sure the movie sucked otherwise, but in terms of sheer violence and thrills, it's difficult to beat.
Runner(s) Up: Star Trek, Terminator: Salvation, Watchmen
...Drama: State of Play. It's nice to see a decent political thriller these days. What better way to vent our frustration at the government by going to movies where said government is the antagonist. Good performances from Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, and Rachel McAdams elevate the somewhat shoddy material above the rest of the pack. A good pick.
Runner(s) Up: Up
...Performance: Johnny Depp in Public Enemies: Put simply, Mr. Depp is John Dillinger. When he steps on screen, you forget that he is an actor. You are seeing Public Enemy Number 1 up there. It's mesmerizing.
Runner(s) Up: Zachary Quinto in Star Trek, Jackie Earl Haley in Watchmen
...Overall: Star Trek. I never thought I'd say that a movie in the Star Trek franchise would be the best piece of cinema I had seen so far this year, but, I've always been able to surprise even myself. JJ Abrams and crew have done a fantastic job making Star Trek accessible to millions of people. Rock solid performances from Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, and others do so much to elevate this movie from good to great!
Runner(s) Up: Public Enemies, Up
And, now, onto the opposite of these movies. Enjoy the public executions. They're all for you!
Worst...
...Looking: X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Good luck not seeing the scene where Gambit jumps through the air and prevents a massive rock from falling on Wolverine and thinking that it didn't look fake. The special effects, given the budget, were, in a word, awful!
Runner(s) Up: Knowing
...Guilty Pleasure: Knowing. It should have been a guilty pleasure, a smart apocalypse movie. But a stupid plot, awful performances, and a grim and depressing ending make this movie one sad thing to sit through. Nicolas Cage should really have his head examined. If you want to feel really sad and suicidal, see this movie. If you want thrills and some cool, apocalyptic destruction, look elsewhere.
Runner(s) Up: I don't know. The phrase guilty pleasure implies just that, pleasure. So, I guess, Wolverine.
...Animated: Nothing. Gotta be honest, haven't seen any other animated movies so far. I would put Up here, seeing as it's the only animated movie I saw, so it is technically the worst, seeing as I have nothing to base it on. But, that would insulting the genius that is that movie. So, nothing here. Yay!
Runner(s) Up: NOTHING!
...Comedy: Bride Wars. Anne Hathaway, what is wrong with you? You deliver such a genius performance in Rachel Getting Married, and you follow it up with, Bride Wars? What? Are you serious? How stupid do you have to be to star in this unfunny, boring, stupid, alleged comedy. You're lucky you're so damn pretty!
Runner(s) Up: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Land of the Lost
...Action: X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Like I said my review, the action scenes are really boring in this movie. I blame the director, who has no experience with action. Why do studios insist on legitimizing their action movies by bringing in award winning directors who have no idea how to excite the audience with action. Why couldn't they have gotten someone like Christopher Nolan, Ang Lee, or Peter Jackson? We'll never know now.
Runner(s) Up: Push
...Drama: Knowing. Like I said, a stupid plot and awful performances do nothing for this movie. All the actors overplay it to an uncomfortable point; the color palette is trying to get somber tones, but only succeed in making you roll your eyes. Director Alex Proyas even pulls a Michael Bay and pans to a mournfully waving American Flag after a particularly grim scene. Cheap shot!
Runner(s) Up: Killshot
...Performance: Megan Fox in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. I know. I know. She's hot. Shut up! Doesn't change the fact that kinda sucked in this movie. It's obvious that she is bored with role, so we are bored watching her. Then again, she doesn't serve any purpose other then to be a target that all the boys with holes in their pockets can ogle at while they feverishly and sweatily tug at, OH MY, I should stop!
Runner(s) Up: Nicolas Cage in Knowing, Lynn Collins in X-Men Origins: Wolverine
...Overall: Knowing. See above.
Runner(s) Up: X-Men Origins Wolverine
To Come Throughout the Rest of 2009 (Hopefully): (500) Days of Summer, The Hurt Locker, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Bruno, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Inglourious Basterds, It Might Get Loud, District 9, 9, Nine, Shutter Island, Funny People, Taking Woodstock, The Informant, Surrogates, A Serious Man, Zombieland, Couples Retreat, An Education, The Road, 2012, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Armored, Brothers, Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, Invictus, The Lovely Bones.
No comments:
Post a Comment