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Top 10 Films of the Decade

With this year coming to a close, it not only marks the turning of another year, but the turning of a decade as well. This list is comprised of movies that I feel have helped push the medium of film-making forward and are movies everybody should see.

10. The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight is director Christopher Nolan's sequel to his 2005 original, Batman Begins. It is about Batman's attempt to capture his most infamous adversary, the Joker. This movie is probably one of the best superhero movies to ever come out. Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker is eerily remarkable. It not only was a fan favorite, but also a critical success as well, winning 2 Oscars. It doesn't reinvent the genre; it just does everything in superb fashion. It is a must see for any Batman fan!

9. Zodiac (2007)
Zodiac is a psychological thriller in the vain of other movies like Se7en. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an amateur detective trying to solve several horrific murders in the San Fransisco Area in the late 1960s to 1970s. What makes this movie very intriguing is the fact that the killer, who calls himself "The Zodiac", leaves cryptic messages about the murders. He taunts the police telling them that he will never be found. Probably the most interesting fact about this movie is that it is based on real events, where the serial killer has never been found. Gyllenhaal gives a great performance as well as supporting actors Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffulo. It is one of the best of the decade that shouldn't be missed!

8. Crash (2004)
Crash is written and directed by Paul Haggis. It is the story of several different people and how each of their lives ultimately "crash" into each other. Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, and Matt Dillon are just a few of the stars who are in this movie and give a gripping performance. It is incredible to see how Haggis set up the lives of the characters, making them come together. Each character can be associated with another directly or indirectly through the course of the film. It is a strong film that has more of a human element than we see from most films. It's definitely a film for the ages!

7. The Departed (2006)
The Departed is about the two different sides of the law. In this case, it involves the police and the mafia. Each side has a mole in the other's agency. They both know they have a mole, but each side does not know who it is. They search for answers, until they finally figure out who is behind what, resulting in one of the best endings of the decade. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, and Mark Wahlberg are just a few of the actors in this star-studded cast. This film is directed by Martin Scorsese and it is arguably his best film. It is a masterful work of art that shouldn't be missed by any movie fan!

6. There Will Be Blood (2007)
There Will Be Blood is Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 film about an greedy oilman, in 1898, who is willing to do anything to make a quick buck. It stars Daniel Day-Lewis in a tour de force performance as Daniel Plainview, the monopolizing oilman. Many critics have said that this is Lewis' best performance ever. It is something of beauty to watch an actor who really knows his craft. His performance is probably the best of the decade, not to mention one of the best of all time. It is a film about greed and what it does to people when they are obsessed with it. There Will Be Blood is an awe-inspiring film about what money can do to people, and is one anyone can enjoy, especially because of the performance given by Daniel Day-Lewis.

5. Avatar(2009)
Avatar is a futuristic movie about a paraplegic marine who gets the opportunity to travel to a new planet and have a new life. He gets the once-in-a-lifetime chance to become an alien on this other planet called Pandora, using special technology humans have made. Director James Cameron has outdone himself once again. The technology used in this movie is outstanding. You really feel immersed in the world. Movies like this are the next evolution in film-making and everyone should see this to get a glimpse into the future. (If you would like to read more about Avatar, you can read my review right below this post.)

4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button(2008)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is about a man, Brad Pitt, who ages in reverse. While the concept may sound strange, the movie is anything but. It is a remarkable journey about one man, whose journey through life is a little different than the rest of us. Brad Pitt is Benjamin, and Cate Blanchett is his love interest. It is a great movie with a different twist. To fully understand this movie it is something that must be seen. It is very worthy of being one of the best of the decade!

3. No Country For Old Men(2007)
No County For Old Men, based on the book by Cormac McCarthy, is about a man who stumbles upon $2 million and some dead bodies. The man, played by Josh Brolin, takes the money and flees. Not too long after he takes the money, he finds out that someone is after him and the money. That person happens to be a crazed killer named Anton Chigurh, played by Javier Bardem. Bardem gives a grand performance as this sociopath, who stops at nothing to get what he wants. Directors Joel and Ethan Cohen have done a remarkable job with this movie. It is a must-see for any movie fan!

2. Million Dollar Baby(2004)
Million Dollar Baby is a film about a young woman who wants to become a boxer. Hilary Swank plays the woman and reluctantly gets a coach, played by Clint Eastwood, to help her train. Eastwood isn't too fond of her at first, but through the course of the movie they develop a father-daughter relationship. It is an inspiring movie. One of the scenes near the end where Eastwood has to make a life-altering decision is one of the greatest scenes I've ever seen in a movie. Swank and Eastwood give great performances. This film has real emotional depth where other films just scratch the surface. It a great film that is definitely one of the best of the decade!

1. Memento(2000)
The number one film of the decade just happens to be from the first year of the decade. Memento is based on the short story "Memento Mori," written by Jonathan Nolan. The film is directed by his brother, Christopher Nolan. The film is about a guy who has short-term memory loss. He uses tattoos, pictures, and notes as a way to try to find the guy he think killed his wife. The movie is told in reverse. The first scene of the movie happens to be the last scene in the time line or plot. While this may seem confusing, and at times it is, this gives a layer of depth other movies just don't have. It makes sense because of several things throughout the movie. The best part about it is that you have to watch it several times to understand the various facets. You can't really learn everything there is to learn in one viewing; it really takes multiple viewings. This is the pinnacle of film-making and something everyone should see. This movie is without a doubt the best film of the decade!


So there's my list for my top 10 films of the decade. Feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think. You can even let me know what you thought were your best films of the decade.

Avatar Review

Avatar was written and directed by Academy Award winning actor James Cameron. It tells the story of Jake Sully, a crippled marine who gets the opportunity to transform into an alien creature called the Na'vi. Jake's mission is to learn the way of the natives from the inside out, so he can help the humans gain the rare mineral that they are searching for.

The cast includes Sam Worthington (Jake), Sigourney Weaver, Giovanni Ribisi, Michelle Rodriguez, Zoe Saldana, and Stephen Lang.

This movie is truly a great triumph in film making. James Cameron spent years working on a special camera system that made this movie come to life. The camera helps to make every person look a lot more realistic and believable. It adds another layer of depth that just wasn't possible before.

One of the greatest parts of the movie are the visuals. For the first few minutes of the film, I wasn't even paying attention to what was happening. I was just so engrossed in the beauty of the world that Cameron had created. It was something of sheer and utter beauty. Some of the best visual showcases are when the Jake and company are in the forest at night. The way the forest lights up is something of magic.

From a plot perspective, it isn't anything fantastic. It sticks to a familiar plot structure that we all are familiar with. It wasn't bad, but it was something that we are used to. He sticks to the formula and it works, resulting in a great movie, with some predictability. I did find, however, a few holes in the film that were minor grips in the overall story arch.

I saw Avatar in IMAX 3D. I feel this is the only way it should be seen. Cameron created this technology so this movie could be viewed this way. I plan to see it at least one or two more times because watching at home just won't be the same. You just won't get the full experience of this film if you see it in 2D or even standard 3D. Everything from the sound to the gorgeous high def visuals adds another layer that just can't be matched. The 3D in this movie is one of the first films that uses 3D correctly. It doesn't do any stupid camera tricks where some object is flying out at you. The main emphasis on 3D is to show you the depth, which helps to put you more into the world.

This movie has changed the way I view film. Now I look at movies and say that it was either pre-Avatar or post-Avatar. I want to see more types of film implement this type of technology.

I have heard talks of Cameron making two more Avatar films, but I'm not sure if it will happen. The movie comes to a conclusion and ultimately resolves the conflicts it sets up. I could see an Avatar 2 and 3, but it will only happen if this is a blockbuster hit and James Cameron feels like making two more movies.

This is a genre defining movie that can't be missed. It has raised the bar on all movies in the future and has set a new standard on what can be achieved. Avatar is definitely a film every movie fan must see and it will be talked about for a long time to come!

10 out of 10

The Fourth Kind Review

The Fourth Kind is a movie about alien abduction. It is a movie that is supposedly based on true events, but that is something that is still to be decided.

The movie gets it's name based on a scale of alien contact. The first kind-sighting, the second kind-evidence, the third kind-contact, and the fourth kind-abduction. While there really is a scale that measures the kinds of close entcounters with aliens, this is one of the only known facts about this movie.

The movie opens with the star, Milla Jovovich , telling you who she is and that this is based on actual case studies and that you can draw your own conclusions.

Milla Jovovich plays Dr. Abigail Emily Tyler, who is a psychiatrist in Nome, Alaska. Some of her patients have been reporting strange things happening to them in their sleep, so she investigates. Her findings help her reach the conclusion that they were abducted by aliens.

The movie does something very interesting. At parts where she is interviewing her patients, the movie does a split screen, or a side by side view of supposedly actually case study footage. You see the dramatization, as well as, what purportedly the real thing. This brings a level of depth and realism to the movie that I really loved. It made me much more invested and it made me care a lot more.

The case study footage helped a lot and is what will keep the word of mouth about this movie going. It shows things that doesn't seem humanly possible. A main point of discussion is the real Dr. Abigail Emily Tyler. While they say she is real, their is no evidence of her existence anywhere, but it is still fun to speculate the validity of her existence. (I will post a link to an article that might help you decide the truth of the matter at the end of my review)

I loved this movie, the style in which it was shot just works and it makes it all the much better. I think it is one of the best alien abduction flick many years. It left me with chills! It is a definite must see!!

9.5 out of 10

Here's the article:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/214375/the_fourth_kind_missing_persons_in.html?cat=40

Feel free to leave your thoughts or comments on the movie.

Paranormal Activity Review

This movie has captivated audiences since its initial release. People have said it's the scariest thing they have ever seen. Their have even been reports of people running out of the movie theater crying.

Paranormal Activity is about about a couple who experience unexplained phenomena. Supposedly, the girlfriend, "Katie" is haunted by a presence that she can't explain. They try different methods of contact the presence, until finally the heed results.

Some of the ideas are fever clever and are a great way to instill a sense of fear in the audience. One example, is when the boyfriend, "Micah" puts baby powder on the floor to make sure that if something comes in there bedroom they will have proof. Then out of nowhere, you see footprints appearing, without anything making them. The movie has other instances like this that help it seem more realistic.

The acting was awful, since these are first time actors, they don't really know how to act. Some might think it makes the movie seem more realistic, but for me it just seems stupid.

One thing I didn't realize going into this movie was it was shot like a home made video. Micah, the boyfriend is filming the whole thing, trying to find evidence of "Paranormal Activity". So if you are the squeamish type, this moving isn't for you with all the shakes of the camera.

The most startling fact is that it was shot in one week for a budget of $15,000. To date, the movie has already made $100 million dollars in the U.S. alone, making it the most profitable movie ever made.

I personally didn't find it scary. I thought that it did have a few good scares, but nothing that great. What I think people liked about the movie is the fact that you don't really see whats happening, so it leaves it to the imagination.

This is the type of movie that is best seen with a group of friends. The audience reaction is really a key role in why this movie works. It's a good film, especially for the budget, but not the scariest movie ever made, as some would claim.

7.5 out of 10

2012 Review

From director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow) comes 2012, a disaster flick that might just actually happen.

2012 is based on the premise that on December 21, 2012 the world is going to come to an end. The reason being, that that is the last day on the Mayan calendar. Also, that the planets in our solar system are all supposed to be lined up in perfect symmetry next to each other, an event that happens only once every few million years.

Most of the movie is spent with John Cusack and Amanda Peet, following them on their journey to escape the crumbling world around them. While this does make for an interesting popcorn flick on the big-screen, it leads to one close call after another. It is fun to watch them overcome insurmountable odds, but its just so implausible it's laughable.

The reason this movie does appeal to me is the fact that it discusses what might happen on that faithful day in 2012. It makes you think about your mortality more than Emmerich's other movies. Their are several scenes in the movie where people are calling to their loved one's, knowing good and well that it might be the last time they ever talk to them.

The acting isn't bad, it's just mediocre. Two things worth noting is that Woody Harrelson plays a small role as a conspiracy theorist, who first tell Cusack about the impending doom. Danny Glover is also in this movie as the U.S. president.

While there are many theories about what will happen in 2012, it is interesting to see this movie and speculate what will could happen, if anything. It a standard popcorn flick with some very cool and extravagent close calls that Roland Emmerich has always been known for.

8.0 out of 10

Pirate Radio Review

Pirate Radio tells the tale of a group of guys who saved Rock' N Roll for England. The government didn't allow radio stations to play rock music, so a few DJ's decided to change all that. They live on a ship where 24/7 they broadcast rock music to the masses.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman, one of the stars of the movie, is the head DJ. Along with Rhys Ifans (The Replacements) and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead) as two of the other DJ's.

I found this movie interesting for a few reasons. One reasone being, it is based on a true story. It is also exciting to know that this really did happen and it makes the movie feel a lot more enjoyable to watch.

Since this is a movie about Rock N' Roll, the music has to be phenomenal and it was. There were many times throughout the movie where they would be playing a song and the actors would be jamming out right along with it, giving you the sense that they really loved what they were doing. The music really is a great part of this movie; they play everything from Jimi Hendrix to The Beatles.

This movie isn't for everyone, the humor is a lot cruder than I thought, but I didn't mind it. The humor fits the movies, especially since about British music junkies in the 1960's. Some of the humor I found to be skewed more to British people since that is what the movie is depicting, but that could just be me.

It's a fun comedy with a lot of laughs. If you just feel like seeing something a little different, but know you want to have a good time than this is your movie.

8.5 out of 10