Summer is pretty much over, and I'll be starting back to teaching next week (I mean, I'm back to doing prep stuff now, but actual teaching begins next week). So I'm gonna briefly discuss what is currently my Top 10 of the year thus far. I chose Top 10 instead of Top 5 mostly because, if you're a regular reader of my blog, my Top 5 is probably horribly predictable. So here are my Top 10 Favorite Films of 2010 Thus Far. And keep in mind, these are only including films I've actually seen (I haven't seen Winter's Bone, Toy Story 3, Get Him To The Greek, Get Low, The Expendables... or even Hot Tub Time Machine). And, again, these are my favorites, not necessarily what I think are the best (except for maybe the Top 3-5. Definitely the Top 3).
Top 10 Favorite Films of 2010 Thus Far
I have a pretty crazy theater story to go along with the first viewing of this movie. If you haven't read my review (or listened to the LAMBcast episode), let's just say I didn't really get to see the whole movie until it came out on DVD. It's not necessarily a scary movie, but it's pretty intense. And Timothy Olyphant does a pretty good job in it, as well.
Saw this one twice in theater. I picked up on more silliness the second time through, but it's still a fun ride regardless. Yeah, it has issues, but it also has a samurai battle against an alien monster. What else could you ask for?
This movie completely boggled my mind. It even inspired a rather lengthy article where I questioned what makes a good film adaptation. This movie is by every definition a terrible adaptation. It nearly destroys the source material. However, it was also pretty damn entertaining and managed to make a good spin on the source material (and in some ways improve it). It has a painful third act (at least for a mythology lover), but the rest of it was really good.
Not everyone shares my opinion on this one. This movie split people down the middle. There were those that either thought it was just OK, or there were those (like myself) who thought it was hilarious. I suppose that's really all I have to say on it.
It has an awfully slow first 15 or so minutes before Travolta shows up, but once he does, the movie shifts gears and becomes a non-stop thrill ride with tons of laughs (mostly thanks to Travolta). And it's produced by Luc Besson, and I have a soft spot for almost anything that man touches.
I didn't expect to like this movie as much as I did. Jaden and Jackie both do really well in their respective roles. The action was good, the comedy was good, and the chemistry between those main two guys was great.
A movie that unfortunately did not get a lot of theater love. But it has some great character with Chloe Moretz's Hit-Girl being at the forefront. And, of course, it has Nic Cage being crazy, but also mixing in a bit of Adam West and William Shatner. Who can't love that threesome combo?
This was totally my favorite of the year until the next two came along. Like Kung Fu Panda, I don't think I was expecting much going in, and then I was completely blown away... except I loved this one about five times more than Panda. What a wonderful animated film, and I'm really hoping it wins best animated film next year (at least at this point). Though it does have stiff competition with Toy Story 3, which will almost certainly take the Oscar. Oh well.
Really, there's nothing to say that hasn't already been said. Three times.
This movie is the very definition of "Nerdgasm." I was psyched for it from the first trailer, and then I ended up seeing it twice (so far) in theater. I absolutely adore every aspect of this movie, and it's gonna take a lot for this to leave my number 1 spot.
Note: You know, in making this list... I realized just how crappy of a year we've really had. I struggled to find 10 movies I even really liked, much less loved. 5 was easy, but all 10 was rough. There's been some real bad-to-mediocre movies this year... Granted, had I seen some of those other films I've mentioned, this might have been easier.
10. The Crazies
I have a pretty crazy theater story to go along with the first viewing of this movie. If you haven't read my review (or listened to the LAMBcast episode), let's just say I didn't really get to see the whole movie until it came out on DVD. It's not necessarily a scary movie, but it's pretty intense. And Timothy Olyphant does a pretty good job in it, as well.
9. Predators
Saw this one twice in theater. I picked up on more silliness the second time through, but it's still a fun ride regardless. Yeah, it has issues, but it also has a samurai battle against an alien monster. What else could you ask for?
8. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
This movie completely boggled my mind. It even inspired a rather lengthy article where I questioned what makes a good film adaptation. This movie is by every definition a terrible adaptation. It nearly destroys the source material. However, it was also pretty damn entertaining and managed to make a good spin on the source material (and in some ways improve it). It has a painful third act (at least for a mythology lover), but the rest of it was really good.
7. Dinner for Schmucks
Not everyone shares my opinion on this one. This movie split people down the middle. There were those that either thought it was just OK, or there were those (like myself) who thought it was hilarious. I suppose that's really all I have to say on it.
6. From Paris With Love
It has an awfully slow first 15 or so minutes before Travolta shows up, but once he does, the movie shifts gears and becomes a non-stop thrill ride with tons of laughs (mostly thanks to Travolta). And it's produced by Luc Besson, and I have a soft spot for almost anything that man touches.
5. The Karate Kid
I didn't expect to like this movie as much as I did. Jaden and Jackie both do really well in their respective roles. The action was good, the comedy was good, and the chemistry between those main two guys was great.
4. Kick-Ass
A movie that unfortunately did not get a lot of theater love. But it has some great character with Chloe Moretz's Hit-Girl being at the forefront. And, of course, it has Nic Cage being crazy, but also mixing in a bit of Adam West and William Shatner. Who can't love that threesome combo?
3. How To Train Your Dragon
This was totally my favorite of the year until the next two came along. Like Kung Fu Panda, I don't think I was expecting much going in, and then I was completely blown away... except I loved this one about five times more than Panda. What a wonderful animated film, and I'm really hoping it wins best animated film next year (at least at this point). Though it does have stiff competition with Toy Story 3, which will almost certainly take the Oscar. Oh well.
2. Inception
Really, there's nothing to say that hasn't already been said. Three times.
1. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
This movie is the very definition of "Nerdgasm." I was psyched for it from the first trailer, and then I ended up seeing it twice (so far) in theater. I absolutely adore every aspect of this movie, and it's gonna take a lot for this to leave my number 1 spot.
Note: You know, in making this list... I realized just how crappy of a year we've really had. I struggled to find 10 movies I even really liked, much less loved. 5 was easy, but all 10 was rough. There's been some real bad-to-mediocre movies this year... Granted, had I seen some of those other films I've mentioned, this might have been easier.
