Here it is folks. Another damn movie blog list about the best and worst movies of 2009. Take a gander at my official selection and comment on your thoughts about the list. Or if you like, post your own top 10 list in the comments.
The Best
10.The Box
Why it’s on the list: To me, The Box was a return to the old fashioned sci-fi thriller that not only paid homage to the genre, but brought it back to the spotlight. Although the trailers intrigued me, I still had my doubts about the movie before seeing it. However, Richard Kelly did not let me down. Everything from this movie was great. From the eerie soundtrack to unraveling the mystery behind the man with the burned face who gives the Lewis family the box.
What I loved most about that movie is that it ends with still a lingering mystery about the forces at work that were pulling all the strings. The movie left me hanging, but in the best way possible, making me theorize about what happens after the movie ended and who truly was behind it all.
9. Up In The Air
Why it’s on the list: Up In The Air makes it onto the list because it was THAT movie this year that hit me from all different angles, making me question my own life and the lifestyles of those around me. And when a movie can hit you on that personal level, it’s doing its job and it’s doing it well. On top of that, the entire film itself was just Grade A stuff. From the amazing cast to the pitch perfect pacing and execution of certain character-based story arcs. It’s hard to express truly how great of a movie it is. You’ll just have to trust me 
.
8. Black Dynamite
Why it’s on the list: It’s a shame that Black Dynamite didn’t get a wide release. This was the best comedy of the year, if you ask me. Everyone else will mention The Hangover as best comedy, but that’s probably because they didn’t see Black Dynamite. And if they did see it and didn’t think it was the best comedy of the year, then they are retarded.
From beginning to end, Black Dynamite keeps the laughs coming strong. Plus, it’s rich with replay value. I have watched the movie 4 times already and every time I watched it I have found new gags that I missed from previous viewings. My real appreciation for the movie comes in with the attention to detail and all the little film making “mistakes” and continuity issues that truly show the dedication behind this movie.
7. Brothers
Why it’s on the list: Like “The Box,” the trailers for this movie threw me off and had me expecting a mediocre movie at best. And just like “The Box,” I was completely wrong. First off, the trailers for this movie advertise to be something that it is not. I would tell what the movie is REALLY about, but in doing so would spoil the movie.
Brothers is an emotionally powerful movie. It almost had me in tears at the climax near the end of the movie. The story is one of the most compelling of the year and the performances given by all the cast members, children included, is the stuff of legend. Along with Up In The Air, it’s a very down to earth story about ordinary people that has the potential to hit you on a personal level. Especially if you are enlisted or know someone who is enlisted in the military.
6. Avatar
Why it’s on the list: As if I really need to tell you why this movie is on the list. Avatar is a massive breakthrough in movie making. Not in terms of storytelling, but in presenting new worlds to movie goers. The entire time spent on Pandora (the world in which Avatar takes place) I was treated to a breathtaking CG visuals that had me grinning from ear to ear.
Finally! Someone has broken that barrier and created a movie where the CG people… err Na’vi, wild life, and fantasy environment look real.
Avatar just blew me away. ‘Nuff said.
5. Star Trek
Why it’s on the list: I think I was in the same boat as a lot of people who weren’t big Star Trek fans. I, for one, never found the shows to be all that interesting. But DAMN! I was blown away when I first saw the trailer for J. J. Abrams’ Star Trek.
Sure enough, the movie lived up to my expectations and beyond. It’s not the best plot, but just like Avatar, it’s a superb visual masterpiece backed by a great cast, an engrossing story, and intense action sequences that set the bar high.
4. The Hurt Locker
Why it’s on the list: The Hurt Locker makes it on the list for being the single most intense movie I have seen this year. Constantly putting me at the edge of my seat as the movie places me into the world of an army bomb disposal unit whose new leader is a somewhat reckless cowboy whose careless attitude constantly has his team question his actions and state of mind.
As if the new team leader’s recklessness wasn’t bad enough, we also get a sense of fish out of water as the unit always has to juggle disarming bombs while keeping an eye on the local Iraqis who are watching them from an uncomfortable distance. Their intentions never known to be merely observing or hostile.
What makes The Hurt Locker unique is that it shows the hardships soldiers are going through without all the hollywood heroics and dramatization. Sure, there are build ups and high tension moments, but it’s all done with the intent to not just entertain you, but to truly express what it is like to be in “the hurt locker.”
3. District 9
Why it’s on the list: Oh man, this movie was really one of 2009’s movie highlights. The concept and story was just so fresh. It is truly a movie miracle that District 9 rose from the ashes of the failed Halo movie.
While it doesn’t beat out James Cameron’s Avatar for the CG movie magic medal, it comes close for its ability to blend fake alien life forms into that real environment of Johannesburg, South Africa. Even though the alien don’t speak a lick of audible English, the director Neill Blomkamp is able to convey a full range of emotions in them that comes off as believable.
One of the reasons this movie stands out is because it represents current conflicts that are going on today in the very city in which District 9 takes place. So there is a very human connection to what is going on with the aliens in the movie which allows me to become even more engrossed in the story.
A truly original piece of film that can neither be replicated or recreated again.
2. Pirate Radio
Why it’s on the list: Pirate Radio is a feel good comedy of sorts that focuses on a fictitious 1960’s pirate radio station called “Radio Rock” that broadcast its signal off shores from the United Kingdom. While it doesn’t take home comedy of the year award due to Black Dynamite’s presence, it’s still one hell of a movie.
The real greatness of this movie lies in the ensemble of characters that work for the radio station and live on the ship. All of whom carry a set of unique characteristics that set them apart from one another. The camaraderie among all the different characters brings a certain warmth to the film that cannot be denied. And although the movie doesn’t end with the most positive of endings, the warmth still remains even after the credits roll.
The reason this movie is so high on my list is because it’s one of those rare movies I can literally watch at any time, no matter what mood I am in. Basically, to me, the movie has infinite replay value. That is a feat that I hold in high regard.
*Note* Pirate Radio is an American cut of the UK film, “The Boat That Rocked.” The American cut is apparently missing 20 minutes of footage from the original film. This footage was taken out to shorten the film’s running time in which critics of the UK cut complained to be too long.
1. Moon
Why it’s on the list: AND HERE WE ARE! The numbah one movie! This spot goes to Duncan Jones’ Moon starring Sam Rockwell.
Moon made my #1 spot for a whole list of reasons. But mainly, Sam Rockwell carries this movie on his back in a way that if described, would only ruin the movie. Needless to say, the man deserves to take home an Oscar. Aside from Rockwell’s presence, the imagery, the AMAZING score by Clint Mansell, and the compelling story come together to create a flawless film that now holds high ranking in my “best movies of all time” list.
The Worst
10. Mutant Chronicles
Why it sucked!: Mutant chronicles was made probably with all the right intentions, and while the concept was indeed cool, we were left with a mediocre 80’s B movie that not even John Malkovich, Ron Perlman, and Thomas Jane could save from sinking.
I actually saw this movie 2 times. The 1st time at Comic-Con I fell asleep, so I decided to give it another chance. Ya… still sucks.
9. Knowing
Why it sucked!: Some people will blame Nic Cage for the cause of this movie sucking. But I am not a Nic Cage hater. Nor will I blame him for the reason this movie is awful. This movie sucks because there is an immense amount of build up and mystery going on that centers on these “strangers” who appear to be more than just human and are some how connected to the oncoming apocalypse. And when it comes time for that build up to finally pay off with the grand reveal, we are simply left with a “What the fuck was that? What?! Really? Oh… wow” bull shit of an ending.
8. Push
Why it sucked!: I will give any of my friends $50 if they can sit down and watch Push for the first time, and honestly explain to me the elaborate plan the main character comes up with to defeat the baddies at the end of the film.
The movie’s super power aspect is cool, but cannot save this movie from the terrible character development and poorly written plot that both myself and friends of mine who saw it could not make sense of.
7. Race to Witch Mountain
Why it sucked!: Oh, “The Rock,” I really, really want you to make it big in Hollywood, but man, you gotta stop doing these shitty movies. I know that this is a kid’s movie, but damn, even if I was a kid I would have looked at my parents and asked, “Why did you take me to go see that bullshit?”
The movie is riddled with a host of bad cliche characters, plot elements, and movie gags. There is no originality in this movie, which just makes this look like an obvious attempt to cash in on Escape to Witch Mountain by simply remaking it and letting the association by name to the original do all the money making.
6. Halloween II
Why it sucked!: This movie was a terrible let down. The 1st Halloween by Rob Zombie was terrific. But this sequel felt rushed and not thought out. As if Zombie was forced to simply put out another film with producers hounding him to make it edgier without considering to actually put a good story behind it.
There are so many elements of this movie that seemed unnecessary. And the entire movie is a drawn out wait to the final confrontation between Michael Myers and his darling sister, which left me completely bored.
5. 2012
Why it sucked!: Roland Emmerich returns to form with 2012, aka Day After Tomorrow 2. While the visuals are somewhat cool to watch still, I feel as if they are feeling a little bit dated. I feel like I am watching a CG apocalypse, and not the real thing.
The rest of the more is just piss poor. We are treated to the same old edge of your seat “are they gonna outrun the disaster!?” gags that we have seen time and time again. But in 2012 they are painfully obvious. There is nothing intelligent about this movie. This is the definition of a popcorn movie, but the guy behind the concession stand counter gave me a bag of unpopped kernels instead.
4. The Haunting in Connecticut
Why it sucked!: Boring plot + bad acting + sound effect frights gags + unrewarding ending = P.O.S.
3. A Perfect Getaway
Why it sucked!: 3/4th of this movie is built around the viewer trying to guess who the killers on the island are. When they finally reveal the killers’ identity, we are already too bored to care. The killing duo aren’t even threatening.
When you place a murder mystery on a tropical island, it’s usually a good idea to tone down the pretty island parts when the movie is supposed to start inflicting paranoia and fear into the audience. Dark clouds, rain, and thunder usually help. Boooo!
2. The Fourth Kind
Why it sucked!: The concept from the trailer looked somewhat interesting. But then you find out the “archive footage” is fake, which they show in the movie to make you believe what’s going on is real. Then the movie puts the fake archived footage on one side of the movie screen, with the actual movie on the other side.
So basically, we are watching a movie happen on screen 2 times, at the same time…. with each movie frame directly next to one another. Just saying that made me feel stupid.
1. Dragonball: Evolution
Why it sucked!: This movie should actually be #10 on the list because it’s so bad, it’s good. I was laughing my ass off in the theater at how bad this piece of shit was.
An explanation as to why this movie was bad: The movie tries to fit two seasons of the anime into an 85-minute movie. It’s not even a 1.5 hour movie! Plus, you have opening and closing credits to take up time in the 85 minutes.
That’s just 1 reason this movie is bad, but that reason alone is enough to put this movie at the #1 spot.
Everything in this movie is rushed. From the pacing, to the introduction and development of characters. The audience never gets to breathe and to take in whats going on. Overall, the movie feels like a CliffNotes cut of a Dragonball movie that was supposed to be made, but never was.
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Tags
2012, A perfect Getaway, Avatar, Black Dynamite, Brothers, District 9, Dragonball: Evolution, Halloween II, Knowing, List, Moon, Mutant Chronicles, Pirate Radio, Push, Race to Witch Mountain, Rob, Star Trek, The Box, The Fourth Kind, The Haunting in Connecticut, The Hurt Locker, Top Ten, Up In The Air
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