Best of 2007 Lists: Flicks

2007 (The List)
I used to make a “best of” list at the end of every year, and I’m resurrecting that tradition this morning. Not because I think you care, but I like making lists, and remembering good things. And if my list points you to wonderful things that you didn’t know were so dandy, that makes me happy. So let’s begin.


The List, Part I: Films, 2007
If may seem like I go and see a lot of movies, but I actually barely ever hit the cinema. I almost always pirate stuff. I wish going to a movie theater still gave the experience of “seeing it on the big screen, as it was meant to be seen,” but every time I see a flick at local megaplex Worcester Showcase North, it’s out of focus, partly off the screen, hindered by warbly sound, or all of the above. And it doesn’t matter if you complain multiple times. Even if they do correct it, by then we’re a fair way into the film and I’m too pissed off to enjoy it. That said:

30 Days of Night - I generally don’t like horror movies, because most of them are just bad movies with some gore on top. But I loved this film, its premise, the sense of (vampire) culture they give in the briefest suggestions.



300 - Simply outstanding. I was never a fan of Frank Miller’s original graphic novel, but I love the story itself, and this film captures it magnificently, frame by painted frame.
An Inconvenient Truth - Brilliant, from its message, to how it’s presented, in a simple and honest fashion. Gore & the filmmakers managed to make a film that is genuinely non-partisan (most things that are labeled “non-partisan” aren’t). It’s hard to make a successful call for action in our apathetic society, but this film managed to do it.



Crank - OK, this came out late last year, but I had to include it. The idea of this film was to make a non-stop, crazed over-the-top, frenzied action thriller, and it succeeds in (sometimes literally) leaps and bounds, each individual second. If you want a clever adrenaline rush like never before (well, in a film), you must see Crank. Oh, and it stars one of my male crushes, Jason Statham.

No End in Sight – The best of the scads of documentaries about the War on Iraq that I’ve seen, interviewing all the right professionals in the business (I choose this word pointedly) that once held positions in the Pentagon and similar large buildings. Voices of experience, speaking intelligently and without melodrama, in a documentary that is the same… unlike certain other films (coughMICHAELMOOREcough).

Spider-Man 3 – I was set up for a disappointment, based on early reviews, and so I was very happily surprised to see that this film was genuinely good, and capped off the (thus far) trilogy in a very smart way. Tobey Maguire and James DeFranco again delivered, Topher Grace did as well as he could, and Willem DeFoe again improves his performance over his original large role from Spider-Man 1. Thomas Haden Church (and the writing of a favorite character of mine, Sandman) did well, although my favorite villains of the series will remain DeFranco and Alfred Molina (Dr. Octopus). I really dislike Kirsten Dunst (and how Mary Jane is written in these films), but the other bit part regulars are still excellent supporters (J.K. Simmons in particular). My biggest beef was the handling of the origin of Venom. Bringing alien life into the picture (though this was the “original” origin of the alien symbiote) was distracting, and jumped the shark a bit… such is the otherwise splendid grounding to reality (well, plausibility) of this series, as far as comic book movies go. I really wish they’d adopted Venom’s (and the symbiote’s) origin from the outstanding Ultimate Spider-Man series, which involves Peter Parker’s discovery of his dead father’s life work. Much more interesting and character-driven.

Other notables include:

Bourne Ultimatum - There aren’t many decent “action thrillers” in which I care about the protagonist or his story, but this is definitely one of them, and the fact that they’ve maintained this level of quality for an entire trilogy is mighty swell.

Harry Potter #284 – Or whichever number this one was in the series. I know these films leave out a lot from the books (which I’ve not read, and never will), and I usually think that that’s a good idea (although Sin City was incredibly true to Frank Miller’s source material, and was f’ing brilliant). A film is not a book, and except for Sin City, it’s simply non-transferable. Although actually, the film version of 300 draws directly from many frames of Miller’s book to great effect. He has a genuinely cinematic style in his comics/graphic novels, and must have served as excellent storyboards for the two adaptations mentioned.

I Am Legend – A decent pop-film all around, and I’m a sucker for post-apocalyptic stuff.

Knocked Up – Like Superbad, this springs from the stable of and his Freaks & Geeks alumni & friends. Good fun, though not as entertaining as the other film.

Live Free or Die Hard – Still has the (acceptable) cheese factor of the franchise, but is probably the best sequel. There’s a great geek cameo, too.

Pirates of the Caribbean 3 – Like Spider-Man 3, I was surprised at just how good this film was; it’s a great example of a “popcorn movie” that gives “a rollicking-good time.”

The Protector – Another solid film from newcomer muay thai/parkour genius Tony Ja. Better than his first outing (The Warrior, which I still think is a decent film); there’s something truly groundbreaking in this film actually: in the middle of the film is an incredible slugfest of Ja vs. over a hundred assailants, all in one scene, with masterful choreography (of which the single, roving camera is an real part). It lasts almost five minutes… mind-blowing.

Ratatouille – another decent offering from Pixar, though not their best (which would be The Invisibles).

Resident Evil: Extinction – Definitely a guilty pleasure. This third film is much better than the second, although its ending sets up a possibly cringe-inducing premise for the fourth flick.

Sicko – Moore again needs to remove his melodramatic self from the film, which he did so well in Fahrenheit 9/11 (a truly great film). While Sicko is a good film and covers a vital topic, it was plodding compared to F9/11. It’s a shame that it so quickly vanished from theaters.

Smokin’ Aces – another fun pop-film, this with some truly great, wild characters.

Superbad – Again from the Freaks & Geeks alumni as well as bringing the adorkable Michael Cera aboard from the brilliant Arrested Development. Much better than Knocked Up.

TMNT – A new, CGI Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles flick that doesn’t serve as any particular sequel to the previous films, but doesn’t tediously re-hash their origin. This film was dumped from the theaters quickly, but is worth watching when you’re bored.

Transformers – Yet another good popcorn film; brought the classic icons successfully to the big screen, which is an achievement in itself, as well as pure fun.

War – A decent actioner, featuring two of my very favorites, Jet Li and Jason Statham. The gag of the film is a bit of a stretch (this film can be spoiled is you know it ahead of time), but it’s still much more interesting that the usual fare. Oh, and it stars two of my male crushes, Jet Li and Jason Statham.

So there we go. If you think that this was long and tedious, just you wait: I’ve got tons more reviews and recommendations and other lists…