MOVIES OF THE YEAR

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This collection does not include releases in December, and mostly focuses on wide releases.

Enjoy!

      10.  G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra

A live adaptation of the G.I. Joe toy franchise; The Rise of the Cobra, despite it being panned by critics, it was still a really interesting movie which was well received worldwide. Also the scene where the Eiffel tower was destroyed was simply just amazing. 

Basically, the movie follows two American soldiers, Duke and Ripcord, who join the G.I. Joe Team after being attacked by Cobra. Directed by “The Mummy” director Stephen Sommers, it stars Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans, Sienna Miller, Adewale Akinuoye-Agbaje and Dennis Quaid.

Simply put, G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra is a really cool franchise in the making as a sequel is already in works.

        9.    Thirst

First thing you’ll need to know about this movie is it was made and produced in South Korea, loosely based on the novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola. I think the plot and gritty effects really does the film justice.

The film tells the story of a priest—who is in love with his friend’s wife—turning into a vampire through a failed medical experiment. This film is about passion and a love triangle, as it is unique because it is not just a thriller, and not merely a horror film, but an illicit love story as well. Written and directed by Park Chan-wook, Thirst has also been labelled the No. 10 best movie of 2009 by Time magazine.

        8.     My Sister’s Keeper

Imagine being brought into this world solely as a spare part for your sister, whom suffers from acute promyelocytic leukemia. The only drama on the list is based on Jodi Picoult’s novel of the same name. This is one the very few movies that nearly brought me to tears since Marley & Me, because the way the story was being told from each member of the family’s own viewpoint.

My Sister’s Keeper follows a mother’s determination to do anything to keep her daughter alive, even though it tears her family apart. Directed by Nick Cassavetes, it stars Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva and Alec Baldwin.

         7.     Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

First thing non-followers of the Harry Potter series should understand is never – ever see a movie that is way into its sixth instalment without watching the first five. The Half Blood Prince really took a different direction, unlike Order of the Phoenix which was building the final stand-off between Harry Potter and Lord Voldermort. 

It follows Draco Malfoy, who has been given an assignment by Lord Voldermort himself; as well as Dumbledore and Harry’s quest to weaken Voldermort by finding and destroying his (Voldermort) seven Horcruxes, thereby making him less immortal.

The movie is really dark compared to previous parts, but it has also helped in the build up of anxiety for the two part Deathly Hallows.

         6.     Terminator Salvation

So Skynet has been activated, Salvation is action packed with wicked machines that battle humanity, which all the more makes the battle against humanity hopeless (at least for the humans). It really builds up the action right till the very end, with some really cool destruction scenes. Directed by McG, its cast includes Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Common, Bryce Dallas Howard and Helena Bonham Carter.

Set in John Connor leads an attack by the resistance on a Skynet base, however he discovers a new program developed by the machines that could wipe out the human race, Terminator incorporating living tissue. But after the base is destroyed by some sort of nuclear explosion Marcus Wright emerges from the wreckage, years after signing off his body for medical research.

NB – Cameo by Arnold Schwarzenegger in fight scene with Bale.

         5.      The Hangover

This is by far the funniest movie of the year, as it takes an opposite look at the “waking up in Vegas” phrase. And it really shows that truly some guys can’t handle Vegas. Also the film was inspired by the filmmakers’ (Jon Lucas, Scott Moore, Todd Phillips and Jeremy Garelick) real life misadventures.

The film is based on four friends who travel to Vegas for a bachelor party, only to wake up the next morning not remembering a thing, the groom missing, their suite really really messed up, a chicken, a baby and a tiger in the bathroom. Directed by Todd Phillips, it stars Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Heather Graham.

         4.       Up

Basically the most character-humanizing animated feature of the year, produced by the studios that brought us The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., Toy Story, Cars, Finding Nemo and Ratatouille – Pixar. It’s no surprise that this movie ended up this high on the list. 

Up is an adventure based on Carl Fredricksen, in order to beat the court’s ruling for him to move into a retirement home, Carl comes up with a scheme to keep his promise to Ellie (his wife whom recently passed) to create a makeshift airship using tens of thousands of helium balloons that lift his house off its foundations. And Russell, a Wilderness Explorer trying to earn his final merit badge for "Assisting the Elderly", has stowed away on the porch after being sent on a snipe hunt by Carl the day before.

         3.       The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Only aliens should claim that they haven’t heard of the Twilight movies by now. Simply put New Moon was one of this year’s most anticipated movies, and it definitely lived up to its billing.

This vampire romance film, now comes with a new supernatural; Werewolves, and it also creates a love triangle amongst Bella, Edward and Jacob. Oh! And there’s also the Volturi who have some really cool abilities, like Jane (Dakota Fanning) who by simply staring can inflict really excruciating pain.

         2.       Star Trek

Credited by the media as a reboot of the series, I wasn’t really sure since I never saw the series itself, but boy was I wrong – The movie was simply AWESOME! Its characters are also unique in their own sense, as it also paved the way for a new cast.

The film follows James T. Kirk and Spock before they unite aboard the USS Enterprise to combat Nero, a Romulan from their future who threatens the United Federation of Planets. Directed by the creator of Lost, J. J. Abrams, the new cast are Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldaña, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Eric Bana, Winona Ryder and Tyler Perry.

And here are the fallout five:

       I.            District 9

    II.            Law Abiding Citizen

 III.            The Blind Side

 IV.            Precious

    V.            Zombieland

         1.       2012  

Imagine the Mayan’s predictions being correct and all, and the only way to survive is to purchase a ticket to board a modern day arc. The only snag is that this ticket costs €2 billion, that’s right 2 billion Euros. From the Director of Independence Day, Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow and 10,000 BC.

The film briefly references Mayan calendar, and the 2012 phenomenon in its portrayal of cataclysmic events unfolding in the year 2012. Because of solar flare bombardment the Earth's core begins heating up at an unprecedented rate, eventually causing crustal displacement. This results in an onslaught of Doomsday event scenarios plunging the world into chaos, ranging from California falling into the Pacific Ocean, the eruption of the Yellowstone National park, massive earthquakes, and Megatsunami impacts along every coast line on the Earth.

The only reason this film made #1 is because December movies were excluded, but besides that it’s a wonderful movie with ridiculously amazing effects that make you wonder if the predictions are actually correct.

Happy Holidays.