Best Movies of 2009 (Post your top 10!)

[Dr. Sylvan]

I'm surprised to see so many people in this crowd actually liked the new Star Trek movie.  [...] Us, reconciled in our nerd status as we are, this community didn't make a mental checklist of shit that was off about new Trek?  I am a man without a country, and now I shall go hang from the nearest curtain rod.

Maybe you'll feel better after you see my detailed objections.

And thanks for the "Star Trek: Lens Flare" quip. I'll be using that.

[Tha Gunslinga]

The plot was that it was supposed to be an alternate reality, no?  Wasn't that the whole point, that things were, you know, DIFFERENT THAN IN THE PAST?

Who pissed in your cornflakes this morning?

[Norm4eva]

The plot was that it was supposed to be an alternate reality, no?  Wasn't that the whole point, that things were, you know, DIFFERENT THAN IN THE PAST?

Who pissed in your cornflakes this morning?

Trek's done the alternate reality thing many times.  It makes for an interesting "what-if" episode, then it's tossed in favor of either restoring the continuum to its previous awesome or left to its own dystopian devices, in the universe from which it sprung.  Really the best thing to come out of Trek's ventures into dystopia is Spock's Beard.

Look, it's simple; take a character, any widely known character.  Superman.  We know Superman, we love Superman.  He's a victim of power creep, but that doesn't stop us from enjoying his adventures.  He's the original Tarmogoyf.  Anyway, let's take someone as immediately recognizable as Superman and mess with his upbringing.  Put him in Soviet Russia, or the Bronx, or Pluto.  Then take away some of his powers or change the way they work entirely; maybe he needs to eat peaches instead of soak up a yellow sun to get off on himself.  Then give him some retarded mallet or lightsaber or otherwise unnecessary implement to dispense his new version of justice.  Bottle it up, call it "Superman: The Reset", and tell people it's exactly the same Superman they've always known and loved, only NOW he has a giant fucking hammer full of peaches and doesn't necessarily give a shit about truth/justice/USA, and by the way instead of flying, now he rides a Segway.  Really, really fast.  Is it Superman?

@ Doc Sylvan - very yes.

[Killane]

Maybe it's because I always liked SW better than ST, but even though all of your objections to the science/continuity are 100% correct, I somehow just don't care when watching the Abrams ST movie. Maybe it's the same thing that made me like DS9 and Voyager better than Next Gen. Look back at the Original ST - not TNG, there were plenty of patently absurd occurances - the science was not always internally consistant in any of the Treks (moreso than the movie, but really internal consistancy is IMHO a black-or-white thing - it is or it isn't).

Kirk and Spock were true to the characters. Spock was never the "paragon of Vulcan logic" - he always had little bouts of humanity (a lie? an error.) Kirk was always a bad boy rebel type, a loose cannon, and arrogant as all hell. Bones was dead on to the original - acerbic, wry, cynical.

Utopia is boring. Black and white morality is boring. Sometimes, the story just has to rule over logic (we're not Vulcans

Oh, and FYI - the mining ship was enhanced by Borg technology (this is established in the novelization) - thus why it is so uber.

[Juggernaut GO]

Although it barely got a theatrical release, the hurt locker was probably the most impacting movie I've seen since the thin red line back in 98ish.  It brought realism to the iraq war we don't really see in the media.

For best of 09, its a tossup between 2 films for me,
watchmen
and
avatar

I can't pick between the 2, they are both friggin amazing, for similar reasons.
Both are politically driven films, but I'd have to say avatar really delivers visually.  It's just incredible.   You can guarantee there will probably be 2 sequels coming from avatar, but I doubt they will have the same impact on film.

[AngryPheldagrif]

Although it barely got a theatrical release, the hurt locker was probably the most impacting movie I've seen since the thin red line back in 98ish.  It brought realism to the iraq war we don't really see in the media.

For best of 09, its a tossup between 2 films for me,
watchmen
and
avatar

I can't pick between the 2, they are both friggin amazing, for similar reasons.
Both are politically driven films, but I'd have to say avatar really delivers visually.  It's just incredible.   You can guarantee there will probably be 2 sequels coming from avatar, but I doubt they will have the same impact on film.

If you liked Hurt Locker as a commentary about Iraq, go see Brothers. It's an equally if not more powerful commentary on Afganistan and PTSD.

[Juggernaut GO]

saw that also, i thought it was well done.  The messenger was another war related movie that was pretty brutal to watch, just from an emotional standpoint.

As for brothers I really thought spiderman acted his ass off, he plays insane pretty well.

[nataz]

@ Travis

did you see HBO's taking chance?

[Norm4eva]

Oh, and FYI - the mining ship was enhanced by Borg technology (this is established in the novelization) - thus why it is so uber.

I really don't want to belabor the point, but I think this is true of any movie - if I have to read the book in order to make sense of a plot hole, then the movie probably isn't very good.

On a nerd note, books don't enter into the canon by default, so while an interesting explanation, ultimately fail.

OT: I liked Up.

[ELD]

I know it doesn't quite belong here, since it came out late 2008, but Let The Right One In was one of the best films I've seen recently.  It's Swedish (Låt den rätte komma in) so I didn't discover it until this year.  I checked the 2008 discussion, and there was no mention of it, so I just wanted to share the movie with the TMD community.  I believe they'll be making a remake of it, which I can only imagine will butcher it. 

[Klep]

I know it doesn't quite belong here, since it came out late 2008, but Let The Right One In was one of the best films I've seen recently. 

That's the one about the little kid vampire?  Yeah, that did seem interesting, but it never came anywhere near me.

[BruiZar]

Not sure which ones are from 2009 and which ones are not, but here are the ones I watched last year:

Uncharted 2, best movie of 2009
I love you man
PS I love you
Red Cliff
Hitch / Wallstreet (Mandatory every year)
Casshern
Hot Rod
Star Trek
Rize
Terminator Salvation

Haven't seen Avatar yet but I'm sure it should be up there

[Matt]

I know it doesn't quite belong here, since it came out late 2008, but Let The Right One In was one of the best films I've seen recently.  It's Swedish (Låt den rätte komma in) so I didn't discover it until this year.  I checked the 2008 discussion, and there was no mention of it, so I just wanted to share the movie with the TMD community.  I believe they'll be making a remake of it, which I can only imagine will butcher it. 

I have it sitting on my computer for a rainy day...

[Diakonov]

I'm so glad people are making the fern gully -> avatar connection. I think FG was a better movie then then avatar, although no where near as pretty, but meh, thats just me.

Avatar is like a decent looking blond with fake tits. Fun to look at, but once you get past the pop-up graphics there isn't a lot to write home about.  

http://web.me.com/pascalboogaert/Site/foto3_files/original.jpg

That is hilarious.  In the back of my mind I knew the movies were similar, but it's probably been 15 years since I've seen Pocahontas, so I didn't quite realize to what extent.  The scene where they are under the "wisdom trees," or whatever they were called, is what triggered the deja vu for me.  In my mind it was starkly equivalent to the romantic scene in Pocahontas under the willow trees.

Uncharted 2, best movie of 2009

Honestly, we should be allowed to count this, and it would be in my top 5.

[Razvan]

That was a very nice analysis of Star Trek. I like that movie because i had zero previous connection to the entire ST universe minus watching a few Voyager episodes.

I also think Avatar is just about the prettiest movie I have seen, the story is bland, and every idea is stolen from somewhere... war40k, warcraft, aliens, whatever... which ironically all comes back to movies James Cameron made anyway... but still. It also has way too many obvious parallels to modern day politics. Yes, we understand, america sucks. So has everyone else... ever. In my opinion, movies are supposed to be made for the idea of enjoyment, not social commentary.

Sorry, that was my random rant.

Hangover was awesome, ST was awesome, D9 was over-rated as well. I haven't seen Sherlock Holmes yet, but I am willing to bet that might be my favorite. But these would be my top 5 movies. Haven't seen 10 movies this year

[Juggernaut GO]

yay star trek!

[Shock Wave]

I haven't seen a ton of movies this year, but I saw Avatar in 3D IMAX last night and let me tell you, it is everything that the hype has suggested and a box of cookies. For me, it was an incredible movie experience.

[Smmenen]

I haven't seen a ton of movies this year, but I saw Avatar in 3D last night and let me tell you, it is everything that the hype has suggested and a box of cookies. For me, it was an incredible movie experience.

I saw it at a 3D Imax, and I can't wait to see it again.   

Supposedly, Cameron is saving the "sex" scene for the DVD.  LOL.

[Diakonov]

Supposedly, Cameron is saving the "sex" scene for the DVD.  LOL.

WHAT

Is that for real?

(2 blue penises in one year?)

[Meddling Mike]

Saw:
Watchmen- Pretty good, true enough to the original graphic novel to appease the inner fan boy, but not mind blowing.
I Love You Man- Very funny and enjoyable
Wolverine- Massive disappointment
Star Trek- Great film all around, can't wait for the sequel
S. Darko- An abomination, loved Donnie Darko, could barely sit through this.
Angels and Demons- Fun movie
Terminator: Salvation- Better than anticipated
Bruno- Had it's moments, but it was no Borat, and like Borat has no rewatch value whatsoever.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince- Another solid contribution, a little unhappy with how they diverged from the books.
Julie and Julia- Date movie, turned out to be a pleasant surprise, found the Julia Childs/Meryl Streep side to be more interesting than the Julie/Amy Adams side of the story.
District 9- Meh
Inglourious Basterds- Fun, had it's moments, but it was no pulp fiction
Extract- Why do Mike Judge Movies get so little recognition, this was a pretty funny film, highly reccomend this and his other lesser known film Idiocracy
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs- Cute
Paranormal Activity- Better than I would have anticipated, I liked how they eased you into it, sort of a better version of the Blair Witch project
The Invention of Lying- This movie was hilarious and Ricky Gervais was perfect in this movie.
2012- Meh
Bad Lieutenant- This was a much better film than I had anticipated, very dark.
Sherlock Holmes- Fine, but it didn't satisfy my hunger for Iron Man 2
Dorian Gray- Saw it on a plane, wasn't half bad.
Up- Really cute film

1. Star Trek
2. Up
3. Watchmen
4. The Invention of Lying
5. Extract
6. Bad Lieutenant
7. Sherlock Holmes
8. Paranormal Activity
9. Inglorious Basterds
10. I Love You Man

[honestabe]

Sherlock Holmes was pretty decent.  Sort of reminded me of the TV show House MD, but as an Action movie, and not a Drama

I found "I Love You, Man" to be so awkward, I couldn't even watch the whole movie.  It was funny but the awkwardness made it literally unwatchable.

[Klep]

Sherlock Holmes was pretty decent.  Sort of reminded me of the TV show House MD, but as an Action movie, and not a Drama

Given that Gregory House is Sherlock Holmes, M.D., that shouldn't come as a surprise.

[Grand Inquisitor]

Rank:

1) Up in the Air

#ofmoviesproducedin2009-1) Men Who Stare At Goats


That is all.

[Diakonov]

I have an erection for George Clooney.

That is all.

[Godder]

Sherlock Holmes was pretty decent.  Sort of reminded me of the TV show House MD, but as an Action movie, and not a Drama

Given that Gregory House is Sherlock Holmes, M.D., that shouldn't come as a surprise.

Yeah, right down to calling him House. I liked the movie, although it had a gaping flaw in Lord Blackwood's execution (IRL, he'd have been autopsied and buried on prison land somewhere).

[KingoftheScrubs]

I haven't seen a lot of movies this year, but three stand out:

I Love You, Man
Observe & Report
The Hangover

As you can see, I'm biased toward comedic films; also the Hangover is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen.

I also liked Philip Seymour Hoffman and Nick Frost in Pirate radio and Jeff Bridges (in his most Lebowski-esque role since TBL) in The Men Who Stare at Goats.

[reaperbong]

i forgot that Observe & Report came out last year, i'd pretty much say that was my favorite movie of the year. that film makes me laugh to no end. I haven't seen the other two comedies yet but i really want to.