11-25 of the 100 new movies in a year.

Just a brief wrap up. My last post went through 1-10 and explained what was happening. Instead of being repetitive I leave it to you to go back through the beginning of the the last blog to understand whats going on. If you are here for Aquaman news, look through the blogs that I follow for the latest and greatest. So on with the Movies.

Number 11 comes from Anne's request to see this movie.

(11) Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Guy Ritchie brings us an amazing fresh look at the Character's. I love most Ritchie films. This film was alright, not a must buy, but a must see for sure. I thought the action scenes were bright, and more than enough to make this a blockbuster film. The acting was awesome, who doesn't love Jude Law, Robert Downey Jr., and Rachel McAdams. I thought the break down of the beat down half way through was amazing. It's when we go into Holmes mind and see how he is going to win a fight, strike by bone smashing strike. The explosion scene was simply awe inspiring, explosions are over done in movies and Television, but rarely do you see and explosion and think to yourself, Holy Crap that was intense, nor do you normally think, I bet he lost an eyebrow or singed some hair. Then you throw in the comedy in the middle, and wow what a great movie. The hammer throw that was in the trailer, it was just as funny in the movie. Not the mention the key placement. The Boat. Sherlock Holmes stories are a consistent maze of clues that lead to the end, most of which they show you, but you have no idea how to put those things together. I was stumped of course, and it did make perfect since when Holmes put it altogether I love the mystery involved in the Holmes movies and Ritchie and company did a good job there too. So, the downside which weighed heavy on the decision of the final grade. There is a ton of filler that offers no killer whatsoever. Lots of moments when you just want the next scene to hurry up and get on with it. Lots of blah blah blah moments that drug the movie along, instead of smooth transitions. This leads to a rating of 4 instead of a 5.


(12) Avatar (2009)

First off I'm going to nip this whole 'best movie ever' nonsense right in the butt. It's not even the best on this list. It didn't win best movie of the year, and it didn't deserve to. Now that being said. The Movie was good, it didn't deserve the huge amount of hype that it got, but it does deserve credit where its due. The effects and CGI and world that James Cameron invented were all state of the art and mind blowing. Simply amazing on epic scales. The plants alone garner attention, as well as the animals and the Na'Vi were all amazing in several ways. The movements, reaction to the environments around them and overall feel were astonishing. The preachy anti-government tone of the movie, didn't ruin anything. Considering I am a bit of a environmental friendly person myself. However, I don't think it's plausible that a few birds, sticks, and stones could take down and entire army, but it was at least believable enough. The movie did become entirely predictable. I did like it a lot though. It didn't really disappoint, I'll just finish up saying I din't love this movie. I will probably watch it again though, because I did like it. I do give it a 4. If you recall a 4 is dang good score.


(13) Ugly Truth (2009)
I know it's the first chick flick of the year for me. I loved it. Funny, Witty, slapstick it had it all. I love Gerard Butler in this he was great, The Jello part was great. I really liked the ending it was the typical ending to one of these movies, but well done. OH YEA the underwear part SO FUNNY. Katherine Heigl was awesome as well, I loved it. It's an obvious 5 out of 5. So good all the way through, it did a little slow at one point but it straightened up relatively quickly. which means that the overall flow was good. The comedy to serious ratio was good too, it wasn't all comedy and wasn't all serious the right mixture of both. Great job. Great movie.


(14) 1408 (2007)


Ok, I went into this thinking i was about to get a nice big scare. I came out with a wow they could have done a better job hiding the set effects. John Cusack, is a hit or miss kinda guy, he is either holy crap that was amazing or holy crap that was crap. This movie, was crap. I didn't like it. The story didn't hold together well, the ending was a bit unresolved. A hotel room doesn't exactly scare me. Especially the whole burn it down to kill it deal. Samuel L. Jackson was more frightening in Shaft. I am tired of him too. It just wasn't that great. I really wanted to like it. I was told before hand that it wasn't that great, but it looked so good and I really wanted to see it. However, It did let me down and I can't think of a whole lot positive to say. The whole no being able to escape and the computer connecting and not connecting through the outer world was crazy. I liked the whole, There is no one in the room thing. Then the room tries to swallow him which was distracting because you can almost hear the compressors kicking in to move the room. It was distracting, you think you could of used a better actor for cheaper and maybe used the money saved to make a better quality film. What is with the Cusacks mouths anyway, the spit build up just on the inside of both john and his sister Joan make me want to vomit. wipe your mouth for goodness sake. oh... just uh yeah.... thinking about it and all. 2 out of 5


(15) Red Sonja (1985)

Ok, I thought this was going to be just as good as the Conan Movie. I thought it would translate well. It didn't really. The story was pretty lame, which made me not as interested as the Conan Movie. The action was pretty good, I liked Arnold in it. The whole crazy going off half cocked without a full proof plan, just kicking butt and taking names just didn't come off as it should have. I thought they could have done a better job at picking Sonja, because she was not attractive even by 80's standards. I thought she was Ok body type cast, but a warrior had to pull of intelligence, and that she did not. It was not a good movie overall and I suggest the skip on this one. Not because it isn't worth your time, but because it was just bad. 2 out of 5.

(16) Extract (2009)

I watched this for Three reasons. Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, and the combined power of the two. It didn't get me too far though. I like Mila has grown up and movies are starting to show what I noticed on that 70's show. It's about time she does more than the voice for Meg on Family Guy. I thought she was great in this movie. I liked the character the walking over whomever to get whatever she wants was a great concept for her. I really liked her all the way through the film. Her character is evil, and I loved her. The way this town captures small town america is amazing. It takes place in a town much like the one I grew up in. Nothing there but a plant that almost everyone in the town works at. That single plant is the lifeline of the town. Bateman plays his part much like he plays every other part, which is on the money. However, the resemblance to this character and the one from arrested development, was... spot on identical. I did like the jogging pants theme, and the whole hiring a guy to sleep with his wife to see if she would cheat on him. Ben Affleck was in this one as well, as a drugged out bartender at what looked like a hotel lounge. Fantastic really. So, then comes the downfalls of this movie. It felt like it was never going to end. EVER. It just kept dragging on little by little until I started to stop appreciating the things that made it worth watching. I mean Mila's pretty face can only carry you so far. Plus, the plot was equally weak. Batemans character began to become annoying and the movie started to pain. Then it ended with no more than a whimper. That depressed me. No great ending after such a perfect setup. Sad that such greatness was lost towards the end. 3 out 5.

(17) Rat Race (2001)

I watched this because A girl I worked with went on and on about it and how it was so funny. The cast is action packed. Seth Green for goodness sakes. Plus, Cuba Gooding Jr, Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Lovitz, Kathy Najimy, Jon Cleese, and Amy Smart, plus Mr. Bean. So basically the plot is simple first one to get to the money wins it. Tons more people in it. It was ok, lots of crazy one liners and silly slapstick. Lots of nonsense too that wasn't funny at all. Lots of toilet humor, vulgar humor, I liked the angry woman part, and the bus part. The whole Nazi thing was a bit stupid. The race continued and the whole rich people betting on stuff was a bit redundant. Seth Green and the guy with him were funny to watch, but other than that I'm not sure I really liked it overall. It was ok, I don't feel like I wasted my life with it, However, I don't think you should watch it. I give it a 2 out of 5.

(18) Post Grad (2009)

I love Alexis Bledel, and so does my wife which means we watched this movie together. Anne loved it. I thought it was depressing. I also thought there were some really good funny parts, like the time when the mom and dad walk in with the blow up couch. HAHAHAHA that was great. Otherwise the movie was a chick flick, a good one, but lets face it I'm not a chick. I like the dad in the movie played by Michael Keaton. He was unbalanced and fantastic. It was a fun movie and suggest watching it with your wife or girlfriend, you won't be ashamed that you picked it out. I mean Bledel is awesome. So at least watch it to see her in grown up situations, it's awkward, but fun. however, it is a 3 out of 5.

(19) Jennifer's Body (2009)

I will not lie to anyone I watched this because Megan Fox is in it. I am glad I did because it put me over my small obsession over her really quickly, she is a bad actress. I didn't realize before this, because lets face it Transformer movie's don't take a lot of acting to make them good. The robots make them good. So the only thing anyone paid attention to as far as she went in the Transformers movies were he "assets" that she brought to the films. That being said. The concept for Jennifer's body wasn't that bad of a concept. However, that didn't carry the film past the opening credits. I mean a demon possessed Cheerleader going around seducing young guys to eat them alive. This story line has potential, but the fact that everyone in it treated this movie like a serious movie instead of a violent monster movie makes it out to be a little over dramatic and well pompous. Amanda Seyfried is terrible I don't like her in anything. I wish she would disappear, she can't act, she has those bugged out eyeballs that make her hard to look at. I don't like when they try and make her sexy, because they fail. Just like this movie. The only saving grace in this movie is the actual plot, it has potential to be good. however, it's not as good as it should have been. Casting Megan Fox was actually a good call, but the taking the movie serious was the directors downfall. You can't send a message with a Demon Cheerleader. If you want to send messages do a better movie and have someone important in it. 2 out of 5.

(20) House (2008)

Anne and I wanted to watch this because it was on Netflix instant cue and we were in the mood for a scary movie. Anne fell asleep. I was uncomfortable and couldn't fall asleep. I would have. It was terrible. So bad. Just don't watch it, I don't care if Michael Madsen is in it. Don't watch it. 0 out of 5.

(21) New York, I Love You. (2009)

this one had tons of Blockbuster stars along with some soon to be blockbuster stars. Bradley Cooper,Andy Garcia,Hayden Christiansen, Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Christina Ricci, Ethan Hawke, James Caan, and many more.. However the movie wasn't all that great. It was very artfully done. The acting was astonishing, but it wasn't interesting at all, not even a little. It's like when you see a piece of metal and its been welded in a funny way and they call it art, and then you ask the question inside your head "What are these people on? Why in the world is this Art?" It's the same here. I can't say I understood this fully. Justan and Shana watched it with us and I could tell they were not impressed either. It just didn't make me want to stay awake or interested. I'm glad we rented it and didn't go see it in the theater because I hate walking out, and I would have. Just not appetizing at all. The acting was good though. No Plot. At all. None. Pointless. It gets a 2 out of 5.


(22) The Quick and The Dead (1995)


The Quick and the Dead is a classic Western. Sharon Stone was OK in it. Leonardo was great. Sam Raimi's stuff is either good or it isn't. I have to say I liked this one, not a lot, but i did. Russel Crowe was in it. He was awesome in it, I wonder why the Russel Crowe mania didn't start here instead of with Gladiator. Holy Crap I want to watch Gladiator right freaking now........ ..... What movie am I reviewing I just finished watching Gladiator..... I think I'll watch it again....... ....... Ok Seriously what am I doing, Yes the Quick and the Dead. Russel Crowe is in that. Man Gladiator is good. Gene Hackman is great in it. I like Cowboy movies. The Western's movie genre is an art and either you are great or your not. I think This movie has moment where you really really like it and moment when you say i think I'll go clean the kitchen while this conversation finishes. You go you clean the Kitchen Scrub the pans and then... The conversation is still going WHAT THE HECK. It's 107 minutes. 85 minutes of it is useless and pointless. The other minutes were great western moments. Since the crazy slow story which wasn't that great. Just slow and dull. I give it a 3 out of 5. Great acting.


(23) The Scorpion King 2 (2008)



I saw this and I thought to myself. WOW! This is going to be good. I loved the Mummy. I loved the Mummy 2. I liked the Scorpion King a lot. The Scorpion King 2.... was crap. Mike Rowe as cleaned stuff out of his pants that was less fecal matter. The poster looked cool. I mean Randy Couture was in it. I thought for sure it would be at least watchable. The Bathroom was never cleaner. So bad, not even the fighting scenes are worth watching. The woman in it was Karen Shenaz David she was actually good and Natalie Becker stole the show from anyone else in the entire movie. Couture surprised me at how decent he was. I expect when people of his nature come to screen to stink it up, but he didn't do to bad, I would like to see more of Couture. The main character Michael Copon couldn't act his way out of a paper bag. He ruined the movie. Actually that was harsh, the plot and script and director ruined the movie. He just helped them do it. I'll give it a 1 for Randy, Karen, and Natalie.

(24) The Black Freighter (2009)



This was a short film that came along after the Watchmen was released. It is the comic book that the boy in the Watchmen was reading. This whole side story was cut from the movie, it should have been, I was really stoked that they made the Black Freighter to go along with the Watchmen. It's animated and the main and only voice is Gerard Butler voicing the Sea Captain. It was a short story of Tragedy and what bad things can and terrible luck can do with your mind. It's a story of a sea captain and his failings because of storms, Sharks, Insanity you know the usual stuff Sea Captains go through. It's good. better than good. I think they did a great job with it and they should do a full length feature of it, and should make sure Gerard Butler is the Sea Captain in the real version. I loved it. It was almost better, maybe better than the Watchmen which it is a part of. Definitely watch this a great story, not something to watch with the kids, but the Watchmen tag should imply that.

(25) Justice League: Crisis on two earths (2010)


I love DC comics. I love the whole Crisis stuff. The separate worlds and dimensions and then the different batmans and supermans that each one bring to the table. If you have never read any of the Crisis books and want to. I highly suggest you watch this first. They do a wonderful job explaining this complicated idea. This doesn't cover a comic verbatim but, it does a fantastic job with all the characters including Deathstroke, and Ravager. They did well with casting I love it when they get that right. Unlike in Batman the red hood, they totally cast the joker's voice over wrong. I liked the whole thing. The introduction of more hero's and villain's than you can count. I do have one issue.. I am about to geek out here. On the World where good guys are bad guys. Why is Lobo a bad guy. He isn't really a good guy on our world but yet here he is with that worlds Zatanna and Speedy. I don't understand that part. Sorry about that short geek out I notice this kinda thing. I loved Batman calling in backup and his backup being Aquaman, Black Lightning, Firestorm, Black Canary, and Red Tornado. Crazy amounts of characters in this, If your not an insane fan don't even assume you will know what's going on because you won't. That adds to the Chaos in the story. It's amazing and a whole lot of stuff in there fore geeks like me and other people who don't know a whole lot. Simply a 5 out of 5 amazing. I bought the Blu Ray.



Ok, So there we are up to 25. I have to get the last one in before the end of the year. I only have 1 movie left. I'll get you 25 to 50 soon.

Brandon

My 100 movies in 2010. 1-10.

At the beginning of the year, I made a few goals for the year, like most people. I got some of them completed, some of those goals were a bit ambitious and didn't get accomplished. A few of those goals were simply not important enough for me to continue working on and were given up on.

One of those goals was to watch 100 movies that I had not seen before, I watched a lot of movies a few times, So I couldn't count those, I watch some movies a few times a year, just because they are good. I have watched a few movies with my wife that she had not seen even though I have. So, I basically looked through different critics sites (Mainly Chris Gore) and watched some of the more popular movies that people out there love. I will have to say that I had a lot of fun with this and experienced movies that I otherwise would have never thought of watching. Netflix Instant play is amazing, I watched tons of these movies through that outlet. Of course the Traditional renting and buying took its fair part in this as well as going out to the theater to catch it, I even did a few Midnight showings. I was even on the local news at the Harry Potter opening this year. I tried to be as ridiculous as possible with my answers so I could be super Nerd, and just to out do my nerdyness, Anne decided to correct me during the interview so that her nerdyness would outshine my own. This of course is Ok because when it comes to Harry Potter Anne's nerdyness and obsession is far beyond my own.  

I gave these movies a 1 to 5 rating. 1 terrible do not watch, 2 not very good, 3 watchable you should rent it, 4 rent or buy, 5 buy the collectors edition. Thats pretty simple.

Without further wait here are the 100 movies I watched in 2010. Remember, I had not seen any of these before hand, some of these movies are older and may surprise you that I had not seen them before, but whatever, I am going to continue to do this, watching the weird, popular, and critically acclaimed along with the terrible, stupid, and life changing idiotic movies. I enjoy it. So read this and hopefully you will find a few to check out along the way as well.

The Year started out very rough, I do like my horror films, as does Anne, My friend Justan and his girlfriend Shana. We shared many movies on this list together, but the very first movie on the list was picked by Shana. I had heard very little about it other than it was scary and cheaply made. Shana's choice was.
"Paranormal Activity" (2009)
The movie started out with Justan and I doing the typical making fun of it and saying things like "Oh No the door moved!" as the movie went on the more terrified we became. It was well done it scared me. It scared the lot of us. It may have been our experience with it versus in a theater, we did rent it. I'm not sure, but i had trouble sleeping that night, and occasionally I will hear a noise and there is no sleep for me that night either. Basically with the Horror Genre if it A) makes me laugh B) makes me grimace in disgust or c) Make me toss and turn in fear. It was worth watching. This one is worth watching, It's not a movie I would watch again or buy, but i do give it a rating of 5. Why, well because it scared the crap out of me and despite it's very small budget, it was made really well. The Fire scene didn't fit in, but other than that It was a fabulous start to my list. Good job Shana.



2012 (2009)
This movie directly followed the first. Anne and I both were so scared from the previous movie that we decided to watch this directly after. Shana and Justan left and Anne and I both knew we wouldn't be able to sleep, So we popped this movie on the PS3 and away we went. I thought it would chase the scary thoughts from my head. Little did I know it was just going to scare me more. Not with the story line, Not with the end of the world is coming thing, not even with the government giving up on the majority of the people, What scared me is how bad this movie was. I went into this expecting one the best movies I was going to see all year. I expected good things, I mean John Cusack was in it. I did not get these expectations met. This movie's only saving grace was Woody Harrelson's performance. I gave it a rating of 2. It was a stinker. If you have been looking forward to seeing this I suggest skipping it unless you are a fan of Woody's then skip to his part and stop the movie directly there after, because i saw cooler things cleaning out my refrigerator this year. That weird growth on the goat cheese was psychedelic.



"The Mutant Chronicles" (2008)
This movie was my first random pick. I had heard good things through various blogs. I didn't agree with these things that I heard, I didn't find it "oddly compelling." I think I ended up mopping the floor while it was on. It wasn't that the movie was bad...Oh wait, That's exactly what it was. This movie struck me in that very narrow area. The area in between 'that was ok' and 'that was so bad it was good'. It fell into the 'ok that was so bad'. Most movies like this end up being so poorly made and acted that I ended up liking it, just because it was bad. I can't begin to tell you the amount of terribly awful films I have watched just because they are what they are. This one is not that. It's too serious, and it gets a 1 rating. Don't waste your time watching the trailer.


Conan the Barbarian (1982)

This is my first dive into the older movies. I know 1982 wasn't to long ago, but looking at Arnold then and now you get a better perspective of how long ago it was. Taking into consideration that this movie was done in 1982, I go in with the mindset that the effects are also going to be from 1982 and not quite as good as todays. That being said, they weren't that bad to begin with. I liked the story it was epic. I love Arnold, always have, I don't know why, but he just really resonates action film for me. Conan was great, I thought for sure I wouldn't like this, but I was wrong. My first thought of negativity was that it had long streaks of repetitiveness and was a bit to long. There were scenes in the movie that could have been easily cut and if the movie were at todays standards I think they would have been. I loved the staging and custom buildings, It was done so very well. I suggest you watch it if you haven't just so you can say that you have seen it. Some of the effects of course were laughable, but if I watched in 1982 I would be impressed. Well, not me really because I may have even seen it in 1982, but I was still dropping dookie in diapers then, So I don't think I would have remembered it. I give it a rating of 3.


"Hellboy: Blood and Iron" (2007)
If you are keeping count this is movie number 5 of the year. I really like the Hellboy story, Blood and Iron was rather good. I like Vampire stories. This was a particular good one. I really do enjoy the Hellboy character and had seen the live action movies before I had seen this one. I do like Animation, there will be many more on this list, A lot of them comic book related. I like the characters and they way the interact with one another. This one was particularly good because it delved a little into the past of Broom and his escapades against this vampire. The vampire character was how vampires should be, Because I don't believe in those wimpy Vampires that sparkle in the Sun. When Vampires see the sun they should ignite like my eyebrows when I light the grill. I mean real fire not just a sparkler. This woman was evil in a cup, and choked all who dared to take a drink. The monster's of course are Hellboy's strong points and it didn't let down. I give it a rating of 4. If you like Hellboy, you will like this. If you don't know who Hellboy is, wake up and look him up.

Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian. (2009)
Night at the Museum 2 is unmistakably forgettable, which actually hurts how good it actually was. Lets face it the series explored all options of Museum life coming alive in the first one. So, it was just a matter of plot and new characters to liven up the series and make this movie worth watching. That is exactly what was accomplished, they not only creatively took out some of the previous characters so that you don't get distracted with previous characters and lets face it Amy Adams is the next Meryl Streep, she is wonderful, have you seen her other movies, AMAZING! She was the saving grace in this movie, the wonderful crazy scene with the plane in the Smithsonian, was awesome. The plot was lazy. Very lazy. Stiller wasn't in it, I mean he was there, but no effort, but lets face it he hasn't given a good effort since Dodgeball. I do give it a 4 though, I did really like it. You don't pack a movie with that many stars and not have something to offer.... I'm looking at you Be Cool.


The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
This one is going to surprise a lot of people. First off, No I had not seen it before and watched it by myself for the first time this year. Second, it will be the only time I ever watch this movie. Just because something is creative or quirky doesn't make it good. The Wilson brothers are the only reason to even think about watching this steaming pile of crap. Yes I didn't like it. It was not funny. Period. If you disagree, that's fine, most of america thinks it funny, most of america also like movies like barbershop, I don't. I didn't like it. So what, It's only good parts for me was Luke Wilson. That's it, his part was funny, that's it. It gets a 2, some of my friends love this movie and they are entitled to their opinions on things, I guess I am either not open minded enough or just don't get it, because it was hyped up and many people told me it would be the best movie I see all year, and compared it to the comedic genius of the big lebowski. However, it wasn't even close.

9 (2009)
Another movie watched with Justan and Shana. This one wasn't quite as scary. Not anywhere near as a matter of fact. However, I did like it. It had good action. Great art work throughout the movie, the world that was created around the story was done so remarkably well. However, I do have to point out that the overall story was a little weaker than I normally like. There wasn't a clear story around the world that was created for it. Although represented wonderfully, I can't say it lived up to its high expectations. The large amount of work in the art of the movie did get a 5 out of 5 though. It is definitely a movie that I will own soon, If i don't get it for Christmas.

Comic Books Unbound (2007)
Well this was a documentary on Comic books made into movies and the cross influence on the two areas. It was surprisingly not horrible. It was ok. Not anything you should run out and pick up. It's not for the hardcore comic book fan. (me) however, it is for movie fans who don't read the comics, but like comic book movies. It focuses on the more recent films like the Batman movies of late, Batman Begins playing a huge role in the movie. Hulk plays a role as they poke fun at the graphics. it overall doesn't really dive too deeply into anything comic book, but does give a brief look at the comic books in which inspired the directors of the movies. It wasn't the best but it wasnt the worst. I'll give it a 3.

One Fast move or I'm Gone (2009)
I was turned onto this documentary through the soundtrack in which Justan turned me onto, I bought the soundtrack long before I decided to watch the movie. I didn't know a lot about Jack Kerouac, I do now, because this Documentary got me interested along with the soundtrack. Two things you need to know. Jack's stuff is a little different. and B You need to 100% buy this soundtrack. It's some of the best music that has even been released. Anne and I love this album and probably listened to it 200 times this year. It just went through Kerouac's career and lots of famous people read his poetry as they went through the places and interviewed the people that Kerouac was around when he wrote Big Sur. If you're a Kerouac fan or want to know more about him, you should check this out, The music makes it beautiful. the man makes it epic. it's a 4.


Well, That's the first 10. I will get the next few out over the next few days. I hope you enjoyed It. I cut it down to ten, because I did write a little before getting into the movies. So the next blog will have more movies.