Top 10 Anticipated Films of 2009

Just a quick disclaimer: No one voted on this. This is not based on any public consensus, it is purely my opinion. It's my opinion that you guys should stop focusing on the big Hollywood blockbusters, and really look at the upcoming lineup, look for those potential hidden gems. So if your offended not to see films like Harry Potter 6 and Transformers 2 on the list, get over it. And now without further ado, the list:

10. Black Dynamite

This looks like everything Grindhouse should have been. That Tarantino/Rodriguez project was an admirable experiment, but somehow it never clicked, at least with me. Maybe it's because i never liked zombies films or slasher flicks. I'm more of an action guy. And in the way of stupid grindhouse action movies, this looks like a dream come true.

9. Monsters vs. Aliens

Basically the 50-Foot Woman, the Blob, the Fly, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Mothra team up to fight aliens. Does it get much more awesome that that? Dreamworks animation has had their share of bad movies, but with Kung Fu Panda, they proved that they are capable of great things.

8. Give 'Em Hell, Malone

Thomas Jane is so underrated. He's a great actor, one of my personal favorites. And he shines his best in the action genre, at least that's my experience. Plus the fact that, with Clint Eastwood retired, this is pretty much the closest we'll get to another Dirty Harry film. Sure it looks a little under-funded, but that can often be a plus.

7. Terminator Salvation

Can James Cameron's shoes be refilled again? Well, the PG-13 rating and a lackluster television spin off initially suggested no. But Live Free or Die Hard worked out fine, and the trailers look very promising. Besides, how can you go wrong with Christian Bale? Of course, his last post-apocalyptic film was the less-than-stellar Reign of Fire, but still.

6. Rambo V

Now I admit that this seems like a bad idea. John Rambo's last battle felt like a perfect conclusion to the series. One of the reasons the Rambo series is my favorite film franchise is because it hasn't been done too death...yet. Still, I can't deny a desire to see my favorite commando on the big screen. I trust Sly. You should too.

5. The Road

Viggo Mortensen. Oh, you need more? OK, how about: sunless post-apocalyptic setting, Lone Wolf and Cub-style father-son story, Reaver-type cannibals running around, and a source book written by the author of No Country for Old Men. Oh, and Charlize Theron. Got your attention now?

4. Avatar

James Cameron and science fiction go together like peanut butter and jelly. Just look what happened when he tried his hand at a period piece? I mean, sure, Titanic was they highest grossing movie of all time, but that doesn't change the fact that it turned a real human tragedy into a cliche teen soap opera. So it's nice to see the man doing what he does best.

3. Up

Pixar never fails. Sure they've stumbled a bit here and there, but have they ever had a genuine total failure? No, of course not. This film seems like a combination of Around the World in Eighty Days, and The 21 Balloons, and looks like the perfect timeless adventure epic that could possibly challenge even WALL-E.

2. The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

Heath Ledger's REAL last film. Maybe not his last completed film, but his true last film, nonetheless. Not only is it basically a tribute to the late actor to allow audiences to say goodbye properly, but it looks to be an incredibly artistic, visually stunning film. Did you expect any less from Terry Gilliam?

1. Watchmen

The greatest graphic novel of all time is finally getting the cinematic treatment. No wonder the hype is so big. Fans have been speculating about this thing forever, with their reactions ranging from joy to rage. Obviously the choice of Zack Snyder to direct was a controversial one, but I have faith in him. This will either be an epic failure or an epic masterpiece, either way it's a can't-miss event.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: The Wolfman, Inglorious Basterds, Sherlock Holmes, Public Enemies, Where the Wild Things Are, The Lovely Bones, Ninja Assassin, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Incredible Love, 9, Franklyn, and Clint Eastwood's next project (as a director) that doesn't have a name yet.

What about you? What movies are you looking forward to this year (I mean other than Transformers 2)?

Movie Review: The Spirit

So is The Spirit truly the worst superhero movie ever made? Watch my review to find out.

Movie Retrospective: Sweeney Todd

This is by far the worst film Tim Burton has ever made. Yes, even worse than Planet of the Apes. Here's why.

Part 1:

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Part 2:

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Movie Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

It has often been said that youth is wasted on the young. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button shows us what it would be like if it weren't. The film follows a man named, of course, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), who was born with the body of an eighty-year-old man. He father, horrified, abandons him on the doorstep of a rest home for the elderly, where his adopted by Queenie (Taraji P. Henson), the caretaker. Benjamin is thought to have some unknown condition or disease, and the baffled doctors are sure he's dying. Miraculously, the child grows consistently healthier, and years later it becomes apparent that Benjamin is aging in reverse, becoming younger instead of older. While he is still a child, he meets a girl named Daisy (Cate Blanchett) who will soon become the love of his life. And this from there we follow the entire life of this extraordinary man as he tries to learn to live in a world were everyone's going in the opposite direction he is.

The Pros: When I first heard about this film, I was unbelievably excited. Not only did it have a genuinely talented cast, but it was directed by David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club), and the screenplay was written by Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Ali). Add the fact that it was a truly original idea, and you have a film that has the potential to be amazing. However, I probably set my hopes a little to high, because the film didn't quite live up to my expectations too high, because the film didn't quite live up to my expectations. Nonetheless, it was still a fantastic film. And to my surprise, the most impressive aspect was the script or the actors. It was the special effects. And I don't mean empty, flashy, George Lucas special effects. These are real, subtle but astounding, special effects. Many different methods have been used in the past to make actors appear older or younger, using both makeup and CGI, and they've evolved over the years. But never has the transformation been this seamless. You never have a clue how much is digitally-based, and how much is makeup. This film is truly a landmark in visual effects. We can only hope that X-Men Origins: Magneto does as well de-aging Ian McKellen.

Unlike Forrest Gump, however, this film is actually quite cynical. As we see Benjamin rise from the helplessness of old age, only to descend into infancy and forget his former life, the grim moral of the film becomes clear. As Cate Blanchett's character says, no matter what we all end up in diapers. But despite this cynicism, it still has sweet moments, and is regardless a well-crafted story.

The Cons: As good as the script is, ultimately, it falls short of the brilliance of Forrest Gump. I was surprisingly disappointed with the performance of Brad Pitt, who never managed to rise above adequate.

The End: Despite my minor disappointment, this is truly one of the best films of the year, and should definitely show up on a lot of top ten lists. It's not top five material, but it definitely worthy on the top ten, and definitely deserves a Oscar for visual effects and/or cinematography.

Overall, I give The Curious Case of Benjamin Button a Gold Anarchy Coin.

Click here to visit the official website for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Movie Review: Gran Torino

Finally, it's finished. My review for Gran Torino is here, plus a little tribute to the man himself, Clint Eastwood.

(NOTE: I mistakenly refer to Clint Eastwood as a Vietnam Veteran in the review, and to the Asian characters as Vietnamese immigrants. It was only after the review was made and uploaded that I realized my mistake: he was a veteran of the Korean War, and the Asians were Hmong.)


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Movie Review: Seven Pounds

If my voice sounds bad, I apologize, I was really tired when I recorded this. Here's my review for Seven Pounds.

Movie Review: The Day the Earth Stood Still

Sorry this took so long to get up. Here's my review for the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still.