10. Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith
What more is there to say about the grand finale of Star Wars that hasn't been said? A great conclusion to such an epic story. With 6 movies dedicated to this franchise, the legacy of Star Wars will be remembered in time to come. This is probably the top grossing film worldwide this year. This blockbuster has raked in $380,270,577 in the US box office since its release this May and ranks as the 7th in All Time Box Office charts. It is the top of ten movies which made their debut into the Top 100 movies of all time this year.
09. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Directed by Tim Burton (I missed Corpse Bride. Damn!) and based on a well loved story by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is probably one of the best family movies this year. The charming Johnny Depp takes on the role of Willy Wonka and drives the movie to Box Office success. With the help of humurous poem-turned-songs of the Oompa Loompas and the entertaining punishments given to the 'bad' children, it's a movie that reaches out to the young and old. My love for the story was what made me watch the movie and it didn't disappoint. more...
08. King Kong
Spanning 188 minutes and directed by Peter Jackson (who's used to directing such epics. Think LOTR.), this is his version of the 1933 version which he saw as a kid. It was his inspiration to go into directing. Backed by a wonderful cast, King Kong is still hitting its chest triumphantly at the box office this month despite strong competition from other holiday blockbusters. I watched this movie at 2AM and despite its length (and the fact that I watched it in the wee hours of the morning), I didn't fall asleep! That alone is enough to justify watching it. In a more awake state.more...
07. War of the Worlds
Tom Cruise is brilliant. To be honest, I used to think that he was just a good-looking and overrated actor so I've never went anywhere near the movies he's made. He has a legacy. With about 30 movies under his name, I'm ashamed to say that I've never watched Top Gun, Mission Impossible, Vanilla Sky and Minority Report, just to name a few. It was 2004's Collateral in which he plays the bad guy, which made me sit up in awe of his versatile acting skills. Directed by the equally famous Steven Spielberg (Jurrassic Park, MIB II), this film is a believable sci-fi. Action-packed and with plenty of special effects (plus the screams of Dakota Fanning which rings in my ears till this very day) this movie is a memorable one.
06. Constantine
With a brooding Keanu Reeves taking on his biggest role since The Matrix combined with a very solid storyline, Constantine rages into my chart at a very respectable #6, almost making it Top 5. Demons. Heaven. Hell. God. It's a dark movie, no question about that. It's one with many unexpected moments. Of course there's also Rachel Weisz, who acts as twins. She does respectably well as the vulnerable-but-still-kicking-butt policewoman bent on avenging her sister's death. I cannot believe I watched a film about exorcising demons during Chinese New Year. Outrageous. Tilda Swinton also leaves a deep impression as Gabriel. Be sure to catch her in Narnia as well!
05. Fantastic 4
Representing Pop Culture at its peak, featuring a gorgeous cast (Woah Jessica Alba and Chris Evans ), and based on a comic book, this movie is a joy to watch. The characters of the Fantastic 4 and how they interact is portrayed very well. Each one has his unique character and brings something special into the movie. It's light-hearted and fun, and comes in #129 in the All Time Box Office charts in the US, raking in $154,695,569 since its release in August. I forsee a sequel. more...
04. American Pie Presents: Band Camp
There is a lot to be said about this movie.
I cannot believe I enjoyed it so much despite watching it on a tour bus. And even after watching it in segments for a second time.
For reasons unknown to myself, this movie did not make it to the silverscreen and went straight to DVD instead. Essentially a flick aimed at teens, its toilet humour and other antics basically showcases how sex takes over pretty much everything when one's at the age of uncontrollable hormone surges. However, there's also a plot about friendship and music weaved into what is a big just-for-laughs (RA). I like it so much because I can relate to it. Okay, and the fact that it's just a rapturously rowdy movie. It's basically about this guy, Matt Stifler, being punished and thus sent to band camp, where he gets a spy camera kit to make a porn video of the girls in the camp.
Here's a few screencaps for the uninitiated. Also, one of the nastier quotes from the movie:
Matt Stifler: What the fuck!
Brandon's friend 1: Are you a rookie, you look lost?
Matt Stifler: Are you an asshole, your hairy and you smell like shit!
03. Innocent Steps
Korean movies are inspiring. There's no argument. The effort in which they've put to showcase their talents and to make the presence of their culture felt is nothing to be laughed at. I seriously doubt Singapore can do the same, because of the lack of a unique culture. Of course, that isn't the point. Innocent Steps tells a story of a great dancer who is in need of a partner. A girl (who feigns her dance ability) is sent to him, and because he has no other choice, he teaches her to dance with him. He is impatient and rough, but the girl's dedication wins him over. However in the end, he is injured, and the girl was forced to be somone else's partner.
A gripping love story, combined with the passion of dancing portrayed by its many dance scenes, makes this movie a must-watch. more...
02. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
It is no surprise that this is the second-highest grossing movie of the year, and it surpasses two of its predecessors (Prisoner of Azkaban and Chamber of Secrets) to take #28 of the All Time Box Office charts.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint return for the 4th episode of Harry Potter. Destined to go one further than the Star Wars series, I hope that the 3 actors are able to take on their roles till the end and not outgrow them. Many have expressed disappointment at the movie's 2.5 hour run (I don't see why it shouldn't have been 3) and at the pace of the movie, but it is fantastic to see the story come alive in the movie. The strong presence of the more matured actors in the movie also gives it credibility and depth. It could've been better, but luckily the story lived up to its hype of being one of the more exciting moments in Harry Potter (as compared to the previous two) so... It's good stuff.
This graphic makes me relive all those wonderful moments in the movie!
01. The Island
So maybe there was a bit of biasness because of the presence of Ewan McGregor. And the very gorgeous booty of Scarlett Johansson. But The Island has a storyline sufficient to hold its ground. I have no idea why it flopped everywhere, and why it was labelled as a huge disappointment in terms of marketing and everything. It earned less than a quarter of its budget. Arhm.
I bought this DVD for the post-Christmas celebration for my company just a few days ago. It was great to watch it again, and it was even better to see that all eyes were on the screen. No one fell asleep. There was action. There was a storyline which challenged principles and believes. There was a pair of good-looking people on screen. There was the amazing acting skills of Ewan McGregor when he acted as a clone and his original self. His Scottish accent. His American accent.
It's gruesome at some parts and has many twists in the plot. There were times where I thought the story was going to come to an end and they'd live happily ever after or something, but the movie carries on to reveal darker truths about human nature, and about using technology to play God. Thought-provoking, action packed and entertaining. more...
The Island is my pick for Movie of the Year.
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