The Nick Vinson Top Ten

Now. I am generally against the labeling of "Best of the Year." Mostly because it assumes that film is some sort of contest. Or race. So this isn't so much a Top Ten but a list of movies that I greatly enjoyed. They made the experience of going to the movies fun. They made cinema exciting. Which is what any good movie should do, and if they dont then damn 'em all. Also, given that I am against the label of "Best of-" I have arranged these in alphabetical order. Enjoy.

28 Days Later - Director Danny Boyle revives the zombie movie, basically by ripping off Outbreak and paying homage to George C Romero's classic Dead Trilogy (Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead). He returns to the brilliance he displayed with Trainspotting. This movie is not only the best zombie movie in along time, it may also challenge the Exorcist for title of "Scarciest Film Ever." Right down to the hardcore ending this film never disappoints.

Big Fish - I still stand by my original statement. Tim Burton's Best Film. All the crap that I usually don't like about a Tim Burton film is absent, and all the things I do like are present; visual splash, dark wonder, and terrific characters. So good I immediately turned to my date and said "Quick let's go see it again." Unfortunately, she wanted to go home.

City of God - The most visual arresting movie I have seen in years. I left the theater with my jaw hanging open. This was so gorgeous I literally could not believe my eyes. Everything you hear about this movie is absolutely true. Co-directors Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund wisely chose to cast non-actors throughout the piece. The result is a movie that tricks you into thinking it is a trippy documentary. Whats even better, the whole thing actually happened.

Elf - God bless Jon Favreau, and Will Ferrell. They have made the best Christmas movie since A Christmas Story. This movie will make you smile. I sat through almost the whole piece smiling in wonderment. The best part is that anyone of any age can go and enjoy this movie. Its a movie that kids and adults can both enjoy...

Finding Nemo - ...and speaking of which... Another homerun for the folks at Pixar. I wanted to go take a big long dive in the ocean and never come back. If the "Mine, Mine, Mine..." routine doesn't make you laugh, if the scatterbrained memory loss of Dory doesn't have you in stitches, if... oh, I give up. If you didn't enjoy this movie you have no soul nor spark of life.

Kill Bill vol. 1 - Quentin Tarantino's 4th Film. Or is it 4 1/2??? No wait that would make it 3 1/2 wouldn't it?? 'cause the other half is coming out in... what April now? In any case, this movie is soooooooo long overdo that it almost fell into the realm of the ridiculous (which would join the forthcoming Guns 'N Roses album Chinese Democracy, and the fourth Indiana Jones movie). Fortunately, it did the one thing that keeps it from becoming such; it didn't suck. It in fact didn't suck so well that I feel compelled to own the DVD and have it on constant play in my room. Just to feel normal. Its a kung-fu movie made by a video-store man that loves kung-fu movies. and this is a short blurb. What do you want? Relative commentary? Go read a book.

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - I have nothing to add here. If you haven't seen the first two, don't worry doesn't matter, but you should probably hit yourself and get instep with EVERYONE ELSE ON THE PLANET. If you have you already know. You already know. Peter Jackson and co. have made fantasy cool again. Or at the very least made it okay for nerds everywhere to read big thick fantasy books in public. It however, is still not okay to walk around dressed as a Dragonmaster, or Elf. Save that for the bedroom.

Master and Commander-The Far Side of the World - Not only is Hollywood making grandeous sea epics again, but Peter Weir is making grandiose sea epics... again... for the first time. Moving on, this picture was pants. It gets 2 Pants Up. Russell Crowe gives yet another strong/powerful performance as Captain Jack Aubrey. I dare say without him this picture would not have worked, and without the back-up support of Paul Bettany and Billy Boyd(yes, thathobbit) Russell Crowe wouldn't have worked. Superbly cast and superbly shot.

Spider - David Cronenberg proves he isn't all gore and weirdness. Well actually he did that on Dead Ringers, but none of you know what I'm talking about. Pity that. Ralph Fiennes gives an almost wordless perfomance that is absolutely convincing and compelling. He spends the entire movie incoherently mumbling something to himself. Cronenberg directs this character study with light touches of atmosphere that haunt you well after the film is over.

X2 - I am so happy that this didn't suck. The problem with X-Men was that it had to introduce and give pseudo-origins for the first half. By the time the plot finally kicked in, it really didn't seem all that interesting. Mind you, X-Men is still a good movie. Luckily, with the sequel we can dispence with all that crap and get to the goods! Wolverine's beserker rage. Magneto cutting lose and killing the pitiful human scum. And Brian Cox giving you the best thing a great action movie needs, a villian you absolutely despise.

Honorable Mention:
These are the movies that didn't quite make the cut for various reasons, and if you find any in my list objectionable feel free to replace those with some of these:
Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
Spy Kids-3D
The Hunted
The Good Thief
Pirates of the Caribean: the Curse of the Black Pearl
Confidence
Phonebooth
Intolerable Cruelty


Thank you and Goodnight!



Editors Note: At present time Nick V has not seen Mystic River. Last Samurai, Matchstick Men, The Station Agent, Les Triplettes de Belleville, Party Monster, House of Sand and Fog, Cold Mountain, 21 Grams, In America, American Splendor, The Whale Rider, Lost in Translation, orThe Cooler. But he really meant to, honest. He did.
- posted by Nic @ 8:36 PM

 
You realise what this means...

Shes going to disagree with at least ONE of us. So is she the Tie breaker then? Its like the supreme court. This way there can never be a split of opinion. I applaude the new addition of Alison to our unholy alliance.


- posted by Nic @ 11:03 AM

 
New additions
Through a minimal amount of badgering (i.e. none at all), Alison now makes the third member in our triumvirate of opinionated doom. That's all, kiddies, that's all we're taking. Applications not being accepted at any time. We're elitist.


- posted by The Bringer of Joy and Mirth @ 9:32 AM

 
Hello! This is the Other Nick!

In coming days, when I am feeling not ill I am going to attempt to post meaningful/insightful critics of movies(theatrical/DVD) and music.
So, until that day, have a good day.


- posted by Nic @ 7:47 PM

 
I love Tim Burton, and I want to rub his tummy.
I liked me some'a dat Big Fish stuff.

That's the short version. The long version took a couple of days, beginning with "that movie was pretty, and I look forward to forming a real opinion of it." The next day was more like "hmm, I really liked the movie, but I feel cheated by the unneccessary mystery in regards to the character of Edward Bloom and his exaggerated past." But then the next day it was all "nope, I'm wrong, the movie was fucking brilliant." Still not as good as Edward Scissorhands, but entirely more mature, which gets bonus stars in my book, regardless of the fact that I lack a book and do not routinely issue stars.

That's my first post, folks. It might get better from here on out.


- posted by The Bringer of Joy and Mirth @ 6:54 PM