Best Movies so far...
V for Vendetta 8.5/10
United 93 9.5/10
Mission Impossible III 8.5/10
Clerks II 9.5/10
Superman Returns 9/10
Ricky Bobby 8.5/10
A Scanner Darkly 8.5/10

Decent Movies...
Pirates of the Carabean II 7.5/10
Miami Vice 8/10
Lucky Number Slevin 8/10
Xmen 3 7/10
Nacho Libre 7/10
Da Vinci Code 7/10

Bad Movies...
Click 5/10
Scary Movie 4 6/10
Hostel 6/10

The movies I've seen in order by what I thought of them:

Best this year
V for Vendetta (tie)
United 93 (tie)
Clerks II

Decent movies
Brick
16 Blocks
Talladega Nights
Pirates of the Caribbean
X-men 3
Lady in the Water

Worst this year
Superman Returns
Over the Hedge
Underworld: Evolution
The Benchwarmers
Scary Movie 4
The Hills Have Eyes


I'm tempted to put some of the "decent" movies in the "best" pile, but it's an elite group. I didn't hate Superman, it just didn't come anywhere near my expectations. I enjoyed Talladega nights (especially S.B.C. as Jean Girard), even though it was basically a slightly inferior clone of Anchorman. I'm seeing World Trade Center later today. Roeper loved it, but considering it got a 66 metacritic rating compared to United's 90, I don't know what to expect.

Thus far it has not been a great movie year for me. First, I didn't get to see V for Vendetta but after reading your passion about it will see it ASAP. I think United 93 is the best movie thus far. The worst movie for me had less to do with acting, storyline, etc. It was bad in relation to my expectation. Lady in the Water was terribly disappointing from a director far more talented than this film.

I saw World Trade Center last night and I liked it quite a bit. It is at times sappy and overdone, but I found myself (to my complete surprise) wiping my eyes a few times. The performances of the two main characters are quite good.

quote:

I saw World Trade Center last night and I liked it quite a bit. It is at times sappy and overdone, but I found myself (to my complete surprise) wiping my eyes a few times. The performances of the two main characters are quite good.

I actually enjoyed it a lot. Not as much as United 93, but pretty close. My only complaints were that it was a little long and some of the sappier moments.
("Name our daughter Olivia. It's what you want."
"No, I want to name her Alyssa for you.")

Cue the music from Bambi

Just saw Talladega Nights for the second time. Very funny, but I bet I'm not the only one pissed off that some of the scenes from the previews weren't actually in the movie.

correct, you are not the only one.

I haven't been to the theatres much this year, less than last year at this time. Of the movies I have seen, my top 2 favorites this year so far are V for Vendetta and Inside Man.

I just saw Little Miss Sunshine. It's the best movie that I have seen in a number of years. I'm sure there will be people who walk out on it because its characters and situations are so far out of the ordinary. There are others who will dismiss it as a typical dysfunctional family movie. It's neither. It's dark humour to be sure, but it reaks not just of humanity but of the human spirit. To say it is a typical dysfunctional family movie totally misses the point since the movie satirizes such psychological categorizing and posturing. For me it was so funny that I laughed to the point of tears. I saw others at the theater who had the same reaction.

quote:

Originally posted by Dale M.:
I just saw Little Miss Sunshine. It's the best movie that I have seen in a number of years. I'm sure there will be people who walk out on it because its characters and situations are so far out of the ordinary. There are others who will dismiss it as a typical dysfunctional family movie. It's neither. It's dark humour to be sure, but it reaks not just of humanity but of the human spirit. To say it is a typical dysfunctional family movie totally misses the point since the movie satirizes such psychological categorizing and posturing. For me it was so funny that I laughed to the point of tears. I saw others at the theater who had the same reaction.

I just saw Little Miss Sunshine today with a friend who thought it was mediocre. I was suprised when he said it because I thought the movie was such a fun and entertaining experience. Definitely one of my favorites of the year so far... The dance scene is worth the price alone!

I, too, caught Little Miss Sunshine over the weekend, but would apparently fall into the category of people who aren't that impressed. I mean, I'm a big fan of the Indy Dramedy, but this film was incredibly forced. It was like the writers were checking boxes as they wrote the script -- 1) introduce each quirky character; 2)show each character facing adversity; 3) then show how each character overcomes their problems. Throw in a couple oddball scenes for laughs, layer on an Indy soundtrack, and you've got instant art house success. I reject the idea that this film "reaks of humanity," because, to me, it was grown in a test tube. The last 15 minutes is undeniably hilarious, but the preceding hour and a half almost made me want to cut my wrists -- not only because it was depressing, but because it was highly predictable.

I mean it wasn't "All About My Mother" or "The Royal Tenembaums" but it had charm. I thought Steve Carrell did a good job and so did Alan Arkin. But your right in the aspect that it isn't original to the genre what-so-ever and that it was predictable. I still enjoyed it for some reason. I mean it was far superior than Talledega Nights or even Clerks 2. But those are just mainstream flicks that are highly commercialized by Corporate America. So I usually don't watch those types of films. I thought Little Miss Sunshine wasn't as depressing as it was refreshing. Which may sound awkward but I found it to be a nice breath of fresh air. I value your opinion about the movie and think it's understandable. So Yes, I enjoyed the movie but compared to the likes of the amazing Squid and the Whale of last year it wasn't even close. But it still was enjoyable.

Brokeback Mountain, although I'm not sure that counts; it's 'this year' in the UK. So, possibly Syriana and I really enjoyed Miami Vice. But it is a fairly thin field, it must be said.

BROKEBACK & SYRIANA are both '05 releases, in the U.S. anyway. Good choices, though. SYRIANA was my favorite movie in '05 as a matter of fact.

Meanwhile, in '06 the best film I've seen so far is actually a trilogy or trio of films called PUSHER I, II & III. PUSHER I actually received a brief commercial run in '99, but is playing in rotation with PUSHER II & III, which are '06 releases in the U.S.

Just amazing work that portrays criminals in Copenhagen.

I'd say World Trade Center was pretty good...

Pusher kinda sucked.

Films released in 2006 (I haven't seen too many), but somebody tell me a legit one better than my number one:

United 93 - B+
V For Vendetta - B+
Eels: With Strings (direct to video) - B+
Neil Young: Heart of Gold - B
Scoop - B
Inside Man - B
Find Me Guilty - B (on the low side)
Firewall - B-
The Da Vinci Code - B- (mostly for Ian McKellen)

quote:

mark f Super Bad-Ass Jedi
Posted 25 August 2006 08:32 PM

Films released in 2006 (I haven't seen too many), but somebody tell me a legit one better than my number one:

United 93 - B+
V For Vendetta - B+
Eels: With Strings (direct to video) - B+
Neil Young: Heart of Gold - B
Scoop - B
Inside Man - B
Find Me Guilty - B (on the low side)
Firewall - B-
The Da Vinci Code - B- (mostly for Ian McKellen)

Of the movies I've seen United 93, V For Vendetta, Inside Man, Firewall, and The Da Vinci Code, I'm pretty close with you on your order though I'd push up the ratings a little bit on United 93. I haven't come close to making a top movie list yet but it's coming.

Mark F -- I'm almost shocked that Find Me Guilty, Firewall, and The Da Vinci Code round out your list for the year thus far. Nothing personal, it just suprises me based on other postings I've read of yours.

At the moment, I'd have to say the following, in preferrential order:

1) Thank You for Smoking
2) Brick
3) Cache
4) Wordplay
5) Inside Man

I have yet to see United 93, but plan to as soon as I can. Neil Young, WTC, and Superman Returns are solid films that might be in my Top 10 by year's end, but I hope that the fall and winter releases will have something to say about that.

I wasn't trying to shock anybody. Those are the ONLY movies I've seen that were released this year, although I've now seen the original British version of The Descent, which I give a B-.

I watched Cache two-and-a-half times, and my meager comments about it are here.

I don't think you can force yourself to enjoy a film like Cache. I wouldn't say that Haneke is an aquired taste or anything, but I would say that his films produce a love it or hate it response. I happend to love Cache, but can understand your reaction.

Still, the latest Vin Diesel and Harrison Ford movies? I'll admit that 2006 hasn't produced that much thus far, but need we scrape the barrell?