Originally Posted By DAR It's that time of year when we start to see the critics dole out their lists for Best/Worst things in Entertainment. Now it's our chance. Include your Best/Worst in Movies, TV,DVD's, Music, Theatre, Books and anything else you can think of: First up from me movies-I still haven't seen anything released in theatres this month so this is subject to change. But the ten best films I've seen so far this year: 1. American Gangster-Two titans going at and it didn't disappoint 2. Ratatouille-Pixar hits yet another homerun 3. The Bourne Ultimatium-The best pure action film 4. Knocked Up-Yep it really was that funny. 5. Hot Fuzz-The best parody of the year, the final half hour was probably the most entertaining all year. 6. Grindhouse-Death Proof-Unlike Planet Terror, a real movie was made here. 7. Live Free or Die Hard-McClane is back baby. 8. The Simpsons Movie-Lived up to the hype 9. Transformers-Great fun. And those who decry a lack of story? It's about giant robots that's all you need. 10. Pirates 3-Confusing? Too long? Pfft Just as fun as ever. Worst five films: 1. Ghost Rider-Really awful. 2. Fantastic Four 2-Proof that while she maybe pretty Jessica Alba can't act. 3. Once-This musical was the "indie darling" of the year. Bored me to tears with only one good song. 4. Grindhouse-Planet Terror-Okay I got the joke, became tedious after 10 minutes. 5. Shrek the Third-Speaking of getting the jokes. This horse has been beaten to death so much that now it's pretty much dust. Underated-Surf's Up:Maybe it was penguin fatigue, but this was a funny movie. Overated-Superbad: What was funny was really funny but there were a lot of dead spots in this overlong film. Biggest Surprise-That Die Hard and Transformers were both good. Biggest Disappointment: Spider-Man 3-Just a major letdown.
Originally Posted By DAR Time out I need to redo my ten best since I left something out: 1. American Gangster-Two titans going at and it didn't disappoint. 2. Zodiac-The best thriller of the year. Very tense. 3. Ratatouille-Pixar hits yet another homerun 4. The Bourne Ultimatium-The best pure action film 5. Knocked Up-Yep it really was that funny. 6. Hot Fuzz-The best parody of the year, the final half hour was probably the most entertaining all year. 7. Grindhouse-Death Proof-Unlike Planet Terror, a real movie was made here. 8. Live Free or Die Hard-McClane is back baby. 9. The Simpsons Movie-Lived up to the hype 10. Transformers-Great fun. And those who decry a lack of story? It's about giant robots that's all you need. Honorable Mention. Pirates 3-Confusing? Too long? Pfft Just as fun as ever. Hairspray-The most fun musical maybe ever
Originally Posted By brotherdave Funny, most of what you listed I would agree with. One exception was Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Sure, it wasn't anywhere near the best movie of the year, or anywhere on my top ten list either. But, in a summer of overhyped sequels, I found this one refreshingly "light" and didn't expect much from it. We walked away enjoying it, if just merely for it's mindless 'popcorn flick' type of fun. No heavy, confusing plot (Pirates III and Harry Potter V), poor script and gross jokes (Shrek III), or overhyped, over' villained' other super-hero movie (Spider-man 3). Basically, we got what we expected. More of the campy fun found in the first film. I wouldn't put it on my 'best' of anything list, but, I wouldn't add it to my 'worst' list either.
Originally Posted By MissCandice I don't get out much so I didn't see a lot of movies. I loved Knocked Up and Ratatouille, and caught Hot Fuzz on DVD (what a riot). Best book of the year for me was of course Harry Potter. Best TV shows Pushing Daises and Dirty Sexy Money. best music: Brandi Carlile's cd The Story
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle My top 5 movies of the year (I'm seeing my 59th movie of the year tonight, Enchanted) - 1. Zodiac - I loved it! Very well-written thriller and it helped that it featured some of my favourite actors. I actually bought this yesterday in the Boxing Day sales and am going to make my sister watch it. 2. Snow Cake - I saw this because it had Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver in it, and it was just brilliant. I think this might have actually come out in '06 in the US - it seemed to have a very delayed release here, so I just wanted to include that disclaimer in case people think I'm nuts. 3. Hairspray - I came out of this with a huge smile and bought the soundtrack a few days later. It was so different to most of the things that come out nowadays and the music was brilliant. 4. Blades of Glory - I know this won't be on anyone else's top 5 list (!) but we laughed ourselves silly over this one. 5. Pirates 3 - A whole lotta fun and I was thrilled Barbossa was back. Honourable mentions go to Die Hard 4 and Meet the Robinsons, which I just really enjoyed. My worst - 1. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - I saw this at the drive-in because it came on after The Simpsons Movie, and I have to say it bored me to tears. It was about 10pm when it came on and I really just wanted to go home rather than sit through it. Terribly corny and cliched stuff. 2. Premonition - I won free tickets, and I'm glad I didn't pay to see it! I've decided between this and the Lake House I'm never seeing another Sandra Bullock film that involves any type of supernatural occurrence at all. I guess I'm lucky that even though I've seen so many movies this year, I don't really have any terrible ones. There were a few that were a bit lackluster - since DAR said Once I have to give another nod to that. I enjoyed the music though, but the movie was still boring. One of my friends said she came away with the impression that it was easier to get a movie deal than a recording contract, and I have to say I totally agreed with her. I also came out of Spider-Man 3 feeling disappointed despite not having had high hopes! Biggest surprise - I really didn't want to see Transformers, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Best book of the year for me was Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. Worst book was an English one called Lucy in the Sky which took me about 6 weeks to struggle through!
Originally Posted By Spooky Ghost Still need to see Juno and Attonement but my top 3 at least are: 1. Sweeney Todd 2. Stardust 3. Zodiac... but yeah i'm waiting to fit those in before I finish my year end list
Originally Posted By MissCandice LB, thanks for reminding me of Hairspray. A delight from beginning to end.
Originally Posted By DAR Now to get to the rest of my best of's which won't be a ten best or ten worst since I don't have enough to fill it out. TV-Proof that the sitcom isn't dead-The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm Proof that it might be-Just about everything else. And sorry but 30 Rock is not as good as people say it is. Proof that the drama is alive and well-Friday Night Lights, Lost, Heroes and The Sopranos. While were on the Sopranos the ending was brillant. Seeing Tony getting whacked or going to jail or witness protection would have been boring and predictable something the show avoided. Proof that the drama is not doing so well-24 It pains me to say this but this past season of 24 was just so ludicurous and unbelieveable and predictable(not that the other seasons weren't) This was once my favorite show, here's hoping that whenever it comes back it'll go back to the way it was. Proof that reality tv contains some good-Dirty Jobs, Deadliest Catch, Mythbusters, The Dog Whisperer. Proof that reality tv is just crap-Just about everything else although some fall into the "guilty pleasure" category for me. Speaking of... Guiltiest pleasure-The Hills and Rock of Love with Brett Michaels Best tv show I've seen all year-Planet Earth. You actually owe it yourselves to watch this if you haven't. Music-This is going to be a very limited category since I didn't download much. But as far as full albums go Alicia Keys and the Killers released terrific new discs. Singles-I really like Stronger by Kanye West. Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie. Umberella ella ella ella by Rhiana. And God help me but I also enjoyed Crank Dat by Soldier Boy which in my heart I know is terrible. Books-In 2007 I read only one book that was released that year. It starts with an H and ends with an S. And in the middle is "arry Potter and the Deathly Hallow" But I can't imagine if I read a better book this year.
Originally Posted By christiemarsh88 In no particular order: Best Movies of the Year: 1. Hairspray--just left me in the theatre with a Jack Nicholson "Joker" kind of smile plastered on my face. My cheeks are *still* sore from smiling 2. Ocean's 13--a beacon of hope among endless parade of threequels. Proof that a movie of this kind does not need to live solely off the jokes set up in the first two movies. 3. Sweeney Todd--managed to hit just the right note between morbid and hilarious: a sweet spot, indeed. 4. Ratatouille--Like the spices and produce they cook with, Remy, Linguini, and Emile are fresh and tasty. Plus, this movie really inspired me to learn to cook. I can make pancakes now! Believe me--a step in the right direction. 5. Mr. Bean's Holiday--unlike "Bean" Rowan Atkinson's second feature-length turn as the bumbling Brit really captured the laughs of the original show. Plus, they didn't feel the need to rip an entire 15 minutes from the show. The ol' "head caught in the turkey", anyone? 6. 300--I wasn't exactly in this film's target audience, but I loved it, nonetheless. Maybe not "Citizen Kane" great, but definitely beautiful in its own way. Best TV of the Year: 1. Lost, Season 3--a freakin' Flash Forward?!?! Who saw that coming? It was brilliant. It suprised us all, and it was brilliant. That's all I have to say. 2. The Office, Season 4--continuing greatness. Ed Helms is a wonderful addition, and a great foil for Dwight. Laid back, but still crazy enough to date Angela. And Dwight mercy killing Angela's cat? Genius. 3. Pushing Daisies, Season 1--Something's fishy here. There's just no way that this show is in its Freshman season. It's too precise and calculated to be so new. I love the candy-coated visuals contrasted with the sudden and violent deaths of so many people, animals, and plants that surround the Pie Maker, the girl called Chuck, and the knitting detective. See my remarks on Sweeney Todd for why this is so great. 4. Studio 60, Season 1 (and final)--I will not stop proclaiming how much I loved this show. Hate me if you want, but it was silly and over the top and overly dramatic, and I loved every minute of it. Best Music of the Year: 1. Corinne Bailey Rae--True, 2006 saw the release of her breakout album, but 2007 has been another great year for Miss Rae. 3 Grammy Nominations and a Live album certainly are nothing to sneeze at. 2. Rufus Wainwright, "Release the Stars"--A great album. I don't feel like it quite measures up to Wainwright's best album, "Poses", but I still find myself humming songs like "Rules and Regulations" and "Slideshow" so often that I have to include this album on any "Best of" list. General Worst of the year: 1. Heroes, Season 2--So much has been said about this show's slump, that I don't feel I need to comment. Things did get better at the end, though. 2. CSI, Season 243--This was the first show I felt like I couldn't miss. This was the show that I planned my evenings around for so long. And now, I just feel disgusted. It wasn't so much the Sara-Grissom relationship, and it wasn't Sara's departure--that I was fine with. It was the gigantic, big-enough-to-encircle-the-entire-Vegas-strip plot holes. How did the Miniature Killer get the car on top of Sara by herself? What happened to the twisted little juvenile killer girl? Was she ever arrested? And the biggest mystery of all--why do they keep putting Grissom in old man hats?!?!?! 3. Sweeney Todd "Highlights" Soundtrack--No "Final Confrontation"? No "Ladies in their Sensitivities"? Some will say, "but, Bethany, that's a great way for them to sell a cheaper CD to those who only care for a few of the songs!" If only they were right. But they sell this CD for the usual $15, and then tack on an additional $7 if you want to hear the full soundtrack, billing it like it's Special Edition or something. That'd be like me putting down my money for the one-disc version of Pirates 3, only to find out that they'd cut out the ending. "Don't worry," they say. "It's available on the 2-disc Special Edition for only a few dollars more." Ending on a High Note: Greatest piece of Pop Culture of the Year: John Travolta in a fat suit--what better way is there to say "funny"?
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x Bethany, you have such a way with words. And HOW can they cut out the ending on Pirates 3? The very very end? After the credits?? That would make me very very mad. That opens the door for a "story yet to be told"
Originally Posted By christiemarsh88 Thank you! Of course, they couldn't cut out the ending of Pirates 3 (calm down, deep breaths...in, out.) I'm saying that just including the ending doesn't make for a Special Edition DVD or CD. Yet that's what the Sweeney Todd Soundtrack does.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Best Guilty Pleasure of 2007: 1. CSI: Miami This is must-see-TV. Hopelessly corny bad acting by Mr. Caruso. He's the only one that seems not to be in on.... the joke. Yeeeaaaahhhhhhh!!!! Top Thing I Don't Need To Hear/Read About In 2008: 1. High School Musical I haven't seen the original nor the sequel. I'm sure it's enjoyable, and congrats to Disney Channel for knocking one out of the park. But for the love of God, enough already. No company can beat an audience senseless with something like Disney. Did killing "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" teach them nothing? Best TV Show of 2007: 1. The Office Constant laughs continue (almost as many as CSI: Miami!), and the show has really hit its stride (though the 60 min. episodes don't seem to pack the same comedic punch as the 30 min. version). The characters are so well defined now that just a quick expression tells us exactly what they're thinking. Happiest Return of a Favorite in 2007: 1. Live Free or Die Hard Truly awful title, but a really fun movie. McClane's still got it, and Justin (I'm a Mac) Long as his bewildered sidekick added just the right touch.
Originally Posted By DAR I've seen the unrated version of Live Free or Die Hard which adds extra swearing. I'm not a fan of that per se, but there is something to hearing John McClane drop a few choice words.
Originally Posted By Spooky Ghost Heres my revised top 10! 1. Sweeney Todd- The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 2. Stardust 3. Zodiac 4. Juno 5. There Will Be Blood 6. No Country For Old Men 7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 8. Hairspray 9. Atonement 10. Hot Fuzz
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle Sweeney Todd STILL isn't out here. It might make my top 10 list for 2008 ...
