Hello friends!

I have made a YouTube video compilation of my Top 10 favorite movies of the year, and I would love to share it with all of you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sf_gkvUPfA&fmt=22

I would post my list here too, but I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise

Any sort of feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

- Adam M.
"behindthelens414"

quote:

Adam M.
Slacker
Posted 20 February 2009 08:48 AM
Hello friends!

I have made a YouTube video compilation of my Top 10 favorite movies of the year, and I would love to share it with all of you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sf_gkvUPfA&fmt=22

I would post my list here too, but I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise

Any sort of feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

- Adam M.
"behindthelens414"

There's no slacking off in your montage of film clips.

A little long for my taste and the flashback/summary of movies was a bit over done. I would have used a recap just once at the end and edited down a bit. I would have also listed the movies on Metacritic, instead of making the reader have to go through the surprise, especially for people who might not agree with your selection of movies.

Your list of best movies almost dead on for me with the only big exception of The Dark Knight that was one of my big disappointments of the year. Overall, your presentation was amazing, with a great eye for capturing the critical essence of movies. Good list and excellent work.

Thanks

I too would have preferred only one segment of recaps, but I had to align the structure and arrangement of my montages with the structure and arrangement of the song.

quote:

Adam M.
Slacker
Posted 21 February 2009 01:06 PM Hide Post
Thanks

I too would have preferred only one segment of recaps, but I had to align the structure and arrangement of my montages with the structure and arrangement of the song.

If I've learned anything from watching good movies is that the soundtrack is usually accomplished in post-production. It is the contents of the movie that dictate the music, not the otherway around. Unless there were copyright issues or technical problems in editing the soundtrack, then I would have expected the montage to be the overriding concern and the music modified to support and heighten the visual flow of your wonderful and visually delightful presentation.

quote:

Originally posted by tabuno:

If I've learned anything from watching good movies is that the soundtrack is usually accomplished in post-production. It is the contents of the movie that dictate the music, not the otherway around. Unless there were copyright issues or technical problems in editing the soundtrack, then I would have expected the montage to be the overriding concern and the music modified to support and heighten the visual flow of your wonderful and visually delightful presentation.

Is this supposed to be serious? I didn't make a movie... I made a montage. You totally miss the point. The film composer creates his score based on the product of the editing room. I wasn't making a score-- I was making a compilation of clips. The score, if you will, was the part that was already made for me (Santogold's song), and I had to create the montage based on that song. The exact inverse of the filmmaking process. It would be IMPOSSIBLE to edit together a string of unrelated clips and THEN attempt to find a song that lined up with the editing process. That's absurd.

quote:

Adam M.
Slacker
Posted 24 February 2009 09:36 PM Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by tabuno:

If I've learned anything from watching good movies is that the soundtrack is usually accomplished in post-production. It is the contents of the movie that dictate the music, not the otherway around. Unless there were copyright issues or technical problems in editing the soundtrack, then I would have expected the montage to be the overriding concern and the music modified to support and heighten the visual flow of your wonderful and visually delightful presentation.


Is this supposed to be serious? I didn't make a movie... I made a montage. You totally miss the point. The film composer creates his score based on the product of the editing room. I wasn't making a score-- I was making a compilation of clips. The score, if you will, was the part that was already made for me (Santogold's song), and I had to create the montage based on that song. The exact inverse of the filmmaking process. It would be IMPOSSIBLE to edit together a string of unrelated clips and THEN attempt to find a song that lined up with the editing process. That's absurd.

I'm no techno wiz, but I'm assuming that a sound track can be as easily edited as editing movie clips so I'm thinking that why should a song be so sacred that it can't be modified just as selecting pieces from movies for montage. I don't see any difference. The purpose is to highlight and focus on the movies instead of the music. The music supports the movies not the other way around. Now if this thread had been on the music forum and the movie montage was supposed to emphasize the song intact, then I'd understand, but this a movie forum you're posting on. Figure skaters do this all the time, they have a series of technical and artistic movies and then they fuse together a song, but it is sometimes adapted in order to showcase the figure skating, not the music.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tabuno,

lolz @ this thread

My Final Top Movies of 2008

1. The Reader (2008). An intensely moving and powerful movie about romantic love, about legal morality, about vital decisions of life-altering events. Kate Winslet with a brilliant performance engages in a relationship with Ralph Fiennes as a boy. This is the "Summer of 42," "Love Story" packaged into a more haunting, emotionally substantive and riveting story about Winslet's character as a Nazi SS employee on trial and Mr. Fienne's character having to reconcile his own conscience. With minor omissions notwithstanding, a classic movie. [Reviewed 1/5/09]. 9/10.

2. Mama Mia!!! (2008). A near perfect musical for the baby-boomer generation that is pure refreshing, uninhibited entertainment, with great comedy and choreography, along with an award-winning singing, acting performance by Meryl Streep. Nine out of Ten Stars. [Reviewed 7/24/08].

3. Body of Lies (2008). Director Ridley Scott along with actors Leonardo Di Caprio and Russell Crowe have created an important statement in regards to cultural understanding and awareness in this captivated, compelling story about anti-terrorism and the need for human assets with compassion and heart. A mentally stimulating thriller with some techno-action, but it's starring role is the humanity sustained in this movie. [Reviewed 10/12/08]. 9/10.

4. The Women (2008). Hits right on delving into the light comedy-drama of contemporary women of today's generation. Bringing together a powerful ensemble cast of well-known female actresses, this movie explodes with an entertaining but fascinatingly real essence of contemporary women dealing with business and relational issues. [Reviewed 9/27/08]. Nine out of Ten Stars.

5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton star in this movie about a man who ages in reverse. The dazzling photography, luscious music, and the substantive and sensitive plot and subplots make up this amazing movie that spans the entire life of this unusual character. [Reviewed 1/10/09]. 9/10.

6. Changeling (2008). Director Clint Eastwood directs an award-winning performance from Angelina Jolie as the mother whose son is kidnapped and must suffer through a coverup by the Los Angeles police in the 1920s when they return a strange boy as her son back to her. This period piece embraces both a psychological thriller, crime drama, and just a human interest story based on true events. A brilliant piece (except for an extended gap in the story at the beginning, Jolie's character remains underdeveloped though brilliantly performed and a musical score that one point is discordant with what's going on in the movie). One of the most convoluted rated movie. [Reviewed 2/19/09]. 8/10.

7. Get Smart (2008). A groundbreaking, rough around the edges, sophisticated, underplayed adventure comedy in this Steve Carell helmed movie that reprises the television series. 8/10. [Reviewed 6/21/08].

8. The Chronicles of Naria: Prince Caspian (2008). Pevensie siblings after 1,300 years to a darker world and must address their own egos in this well balanced human and non-human interplay between good and evil on a much more realistic juvenile fantasy realm. 8/10. [Reviewed 5/18/08].

9. WALL*E (2008). A creative innovation in animation using a solid script that requires substantially less dialogue and vastly more difficult physical, visual communication of ideas in this meaningful movie about loneliness, simple emotions and ideas about this only remaining robotic waste collector on earth who accidentally discovers (even unknowingly) the key to the fate of humanity. Eight out of Ten Stars.

10. Tropic Thunder (2008). An adult comedy (R-Rated comedy circuit acts made into a movie with special effects). This no-holds barred comedy offends and satirizes, emotionally packs a thought-provoking punch at times about actors who believe in they are in war movie when they encounter real drug lords in an Asian Country where the movie is being shot. A risky, cultish movie that misses a few times but makes up for its daringly fresh comedy acts. [Reviewed 8/21/08]. Eight out of Ten Stars.

11. Slumdog Millionaire (2008). A fascinating look at India through the eyes of a lower caste boy and his eventual rise to fame on a game show as well as his growing up in the face of harsh poverty, crime, and flirting with a love relationship as well as his boy. Gorgeous music, a number of stumbling weaknesses can't hide the inspirational and rarely seen look at another culture behind the scenes. 8/10.


Honorable Mention

The Bank Job (2008). This crime thriller is a straight forward yet compelling bank job that has a hard-edge element that keeps the audience wondering about the climax. There are also more mature relational themes as background elements that lend more heavy weight meaning. [Reviewed 3/21/08]. 8/10.

Burn After Reading (2008). A quirky black comedy about the craziness of relationships, self-obsessions, and mistaken who done its starring George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Brad Pitt, and Tilda Swinton. The delicate balance of drama and black comedy precariously teeters but remains nicely balanced at the end.

Definitely, Maybe (2008). This heart-warming and contemporary family drama reaches out and presents a strong performance and script on the life of one man and his various serious relationships (not necessarily being serious all the time) in his life as well as his efforts to become a Presidential speech writer. In many ways, Will Hayes (played by Ryan Reynolds) has a typical but fascinating life as he meets and plays with and struggles with the "complicating" life of relationships. This movie avoids the stereotypes and deals mostly from the heart.
8/10.

Forbidden Kingdom (2008). A predictable but entertaining fantasy martial arts movie with fine performances by Jackie Chan and Jet Li as a boy is the center of a prophecy to save a kingdom and return a magical staff. [Reviewed 4/18/08]. 8/10.

Frost/Nixon (2008). A fascinating behind the scenes look at one of the most revealing and human insights into this momentous interview that took place between David Frost and former President Richard Nixon regarding some of his life and in particularly his own personal beliefs about what he had done in regards to Watergate. A number of weaknesses arose including the pseudo-documentary interview format of the primary characters supplementing the main storyline, some editing, pacing issues, and Frank Langella's appearing to act or perform as Nixon at times. [Reviewed 1/15/09]. 8/10.

Ghost Town (2008). British Actor Ricky Gervais captivates in a difficult comedian, jackass role and pulls it off in this funny and delightful romance comedy about a dentist who died briefly and can now see ghosts. [Reviewed 9/21/08].

Hancock (2008). Wil Smith and Charlize Theron offer up a nice change in chemistry as alcoholic superhero Wil Smith must come to terms with his chemical problem in this different dramatic, fantasy comedy Directed by Peter Berg that brings to the screen a new human perspective to the superhero story. [Reviewed 7/8/08]. 8/10.

Horton Hears a Who (2008). A fun, simple, entertaining animated full-length movie based on Dr. Seuss's short story with Jim Carrey and Steve Carrell in meaningful animated characters that stand on their own. [Reviewed 4/7/08]. 8/10.

The Hulk (2008). A great superhero movie of the year with a nice blend of humanity and action, an Edward Norton who brings a real human being to the screen along with a high-tech computer generated Hulk that captures sufficient realism to make his scenes fit well into the movie. 8/10. [6/15/08].

Kung Fu Panda (2008). A richly entertaining animated feature starring Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman's finely nuanced roles in a movie the finely blends animation with an sensitive script with nice elements of humor and creative martial art fighting. [6/13/08]. 8/10.

Made of Honor (2008). An entertaining and good look at men and female relationships as Patrick Dempsey, playboy gets a wake up call as his best girlfriend informs him that she's getting married and he gets to be her maid of honor. Contains a great look at men's failures when it comes at women but at the same time provides a great look at the intimacy that is required of relationships. The only failings is the beginning macho, man gets girl sequences, the initial Dempsy becoming a true maid of honor, and his horseback riding instead of swimming feat. [Reviewed 5/4/08]. 8/10.

The Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008). An exciting, creative action-thriller that improves on the action scenes along with a incorporation of sometimes predictable but funny humor with a slightly darker dramatic edge, along with some flaws. Nevertheless, this is an entertaining thrill ride that pushes the envelope of excitement at the risk of making a few mistakes along the way. [Reviewed 8/3/08] 8/10.

Quantum of Solace. Daniel Craig is a human James Bond who is vulnerable but resilient in this technology eschewing version that emphasizes the rich emotional intrigue and human dilemma of espionage. A gripping movie, except for some lazy-actions sequences in the beginning that fail to capture the original potential that the stunt directors attempted but failed. [Reviewed 11/14/08]. 8/10.

Revolutionary Road (2008). Leo DeCaprio and Kate Winslet are reunited in this family drama set in the 50s where they are torn apart of the rigid conformity of the American culture of their times. A powerfully emotional and compelling, but somewhat flawed movie. [Reviewed 1/25/09]. 8/10.

Seven Pounds (2008). Wil Smith plays an IRS agent with a past in which he begins to plot the fate of several other people he has studied in this insightful, emotional movie about redemption. [Reviewed 12/21/08]. 8/10.

Sex and The City (2008). An emotionally charged romantic drama about contemporary relationships among the more professional female crowd. Sometimes difficult to experience for its male-bashing, the movie eventually presents a insightful, balanced depiction of relationships, avoided the soap-opera, politically correct stereotypes this movie could have fallen into. [Reviewed 6/1/08]. Eight out of Ten Stars.

Swing Vote (2008). A comedy-drama about one man's vote (Kevin Costner) to decide the U.S. President that is a meaningful statement on American politics while at the same time offering a poignant depiction of a daughter who carries adult responsibilities and a flawed man who has yet to find himself and his place in his daughter's life. [Reviewed 8/3/08]. 8/10.

W (2008). A dramatization by director Oliver Stone for President George W. Bush's life (with the exception of his Presdential election, a weak performance by Thandie Newton as Condeleeza Rice, this movie is nonetheless fascinating in the humanization of the President of the United States. 8/10.

War, Inc. (2008). John Cusack, co-produced, co-wrote, and starred in this biting, dark comedy about the contemporary military-industrial conflict in a fictional country and resembles the Iraqi conflict. A boldly risky script with drama as well as a wry, intellectual humor that strives to stay the course. Except a terrible idiotic scene of Mr. Cusack running in a bunker, War, Inc. survives to victory in making its statement about war. [Reviewed 11/22/08]. 8/10.

The Wrestler (2008). Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei (as a stripper) star in this authentic, real-feel drama about an almost used from professional wrestler. This is a lot of depth and visually exciting story, even though the relational elements are somewhat too superficial to adequately promote a resonance. However, Mr. Rourke's character performance feels spot on, worthy of a best actor award. [Reviewed 2/7/09]. 8/10.

Good But Failed to Make the Grade

27 Dresses 7/10.
Alvin and the Chipmunks 7/10.
Bee Movie 7/10.
The Dark Knight 7/10.
The Day the Earth Stood Still. 7/10.
Fool's Gold 7/10.
Journey to the Center of the Earth. 7/10.

In Bruges. Colin Farrell along with Branden Gleeson star as two average paid killers who find themselves in Bruges in Belgium on assignment. This dark comedy while gritty and raw, is forced a few places with an almost too realistic Colin Farrell (won Golden Globe for best actor in musical or comedy), with the mental warts and wrinkles and all with a convenient ending. 7/10.

Iron Man 7/10.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day 7/10.
Nim's Island 7/10.
Stop Loss 7/10.
Vantage Point 7/10.
Wanted 7/10.
The X-Files: I Want to Believe 7/10.

Disappointments

21 6/10.
Bedtime Stories 6/10.
Eagle Eye 6/10.
Four Christmases 5/10.
Hellboy II 5/10.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 6/10.

Rachel Getting Married. 6/10. Anne Hathaway offer up a powerful performance despite uneven direction, editing, and cinematography in this somewhat pretentiously made film. 6/10.

Vicky Christina Barcelona 6/10.

Terrible

Cloverfield 3/10.
The Happening 3/10.

Missed/Haven't Seen Yet

Australia
Che
Defiance
Doubt (Meryl Streep)
Flash of Genius [Netflix qued]
Gran Torino (Clint Eastwood)
Happy Go Lucky [Netflix qued March 2009]
Milk (Sean Pean)
Pineapple Express
The Secret Life of Bees
Under The Same Moon
Valkyrie
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

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Originally posted by Mikey Rocks:

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O_o

By the way, "Slumdog Millionaire", "Quantum of Solace", "Indiana Jones", "Bolt", "WALL-E" are great movies!