10 Favorite Movies of 2007 & F1's Alonso + Kimi
I read the Oscar list and felt bad that I haven't watched any of the nominated movies. Nevertheless, with all my TV shows basically gone and motorsports not yet starting, I feel like doing this list.
Top Ten Films in 2007:
10. Ratatouille
Trust Pixar to come up with something cute, original, and graphically superior to all other 3D animation features. The sewer drain scene, with the water sloshing around, was my particular favorite. And of course, I have to give kudos to a 'cartoon' that made me crave real (French) food.
9. Futurama: Bender's Big Score
So this wasn't released to cinemas, but I cannot NOT put it on the list because it DELIVERED perfectly on old school Futurama. Greatly innovative and randomly logical, I personally thought it was better and funnier than The Simpsons Movie.
8. Fracture
Thriller of the year. Convoluted and clever, it featured great performances by Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins, whose sparring in the courtroom and beyond was highly enjoyable.
7. Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
A good, efficient adaptation of the longest book. The darker themes of authoritarianism, suppresion, and death were well-handled. I particularly liked how it explored the growth of Harry's various relationships, utilizing clips from (and at the same time, paying homage to) the preceding Harry Potter movies. Casting was right on the money regarding Luna Lovegood, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Lord Voldemort, and the other characters were also most 'true to the books' in this adaptation.
6. Stardust
Cheeky, fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously, it featured hilarious performances by Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer. The love story is classic and will be adored by any romantic.
5. 300
Out of all the graphic novel-based movies, 300 works best because it was cleverly told as a purposely exaggerated, morale-boosting tale of courage for soldiers off to fight the mighty Persian army. It featured astonishing graphics, brilliant battle scenes, and six-pack-boasting men in skimpy leather undies (I'm not into this, personally, but I know some people are ;D).
4. Ocean's Thirteen
Repairing the mistakes of its Twelve predecessor, the movie returns the boys to what they do best: casino heists in Vegas. Fun, cheeky, stylish, and adorned with groomed men in suits (I AM into this), it's definitely a movie I will often re-watch.
3. Enchanted
The surprise delight of the year! Sweet, cute, and tongue-in-cheek funny, it really takes me back to my childhood Disney memories, when animations were musicals. Amy Adams delivered a knock-out performance as a character, who otherwise could've been annoying, had she been played by another actress.
2. The Bourne Ultimatum
Undoubtedly the best sequel of the year and the best in the Bourne installments. Matt Damon is sympathetic as the rogue spy, struggling to discover his true identity while reaping vengeance on his former boss. Lacking fancy gadgets, expensive attire, and beautiful [window dressing] love interests, Jason Bourne makes his British-counterpart-with-the-same-initials look like a flippin' pansy boy.
Finally, my favorite movie of 2007...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
... here's a hint:
1. Sunshine
VISUALLY STUNNING! I don't think I've ever seen a movie so adept at controlling the amount of light and shadow that goes in each frame to such great effects. It succeeded in making both 'sunshine' and darkness eerie, claustrophobic, and plain absolutely terrifying. In fact, this was probably the first film, in which I was more comforted by the dark and frightened by the light.
The script may not have been perfect, but I loved Danny Boyle's almost 'simplistic' style (his last success was the grainy 28 Days Later), in developing his characters (all more or less committed to "delivering the payload"), in designing his set (one reason I'm normally not a fan of sci-fi is that it tends to be too elaborately bogus), and in generally restraining the tone of the film (it was quiet and filled with clean, close-up shots). The theme of space madness and man's fascination with light, as related to God, was also deftly handled. And with a great cast, made up of Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh, and Chris Evans, this is a movie I will definitely continue to re-watch with awe.
C'est tout!
Speaking of motorsports earlier, for those of you who are new to my journal (grace à Robin Hood), boy are you in for an annoyance a surprise. When I don't have TV (like I usually do during the US summer break), I tend to obsess about sports, particularly motorsports and specificially F1. So, um, hopefully you'll bear with me...
To somewhat celebrate Alonso clocking in the fastest time at a practice session, despite driving last year's Renault (which was no superstar, lemme tell ya), despite having no traction control, and despite going against the newly-launched cars of Ferrari and McLaren, I'm posting a few pics of my favorite guys.
Alonso & Kimi, celebrating the latter's eventual championship win in Brazil:
The only two World Champions on the grid for many years to come, hopefully, donning their tux for the presentation gala:
Still the wallpaper of my cellphone (no kidding!):
Bearing in mind Renault's performance last year, I won't dream too highly for Fernando. So, I think this year I'll be hoping for Kimi's second title and for Heikki to kick his teammate's butt.
I'm thinking of going to the race live when it debuts in Melbourne, pending a good, um, 'financial situation' then.
Top Ten Films in 2007:
10. Ratatouille
Trust Pixar to come up with something cute, original, and graphically superior to all other 3D animation features. The sewer drain scene, with the water sloshing around, was my particular favorite. And of course, I have to give kudos to a 'cartoon' that made me crave real (French) food.
9. Futurama: Bender's Big Score
So this wasn't released to cinemas, but I cannot NOT put it on the list because it DELIVERED perfectly on old school Futurama. Greatly innovative and randomly logical, I personally thought it was better and funnier than The Simpsons Movie.
8. Fracture
Thriller of the year. Convoluted and clever, it featured great performances by Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins, whose sparring in the courtroom and beyond was highly enjoyable.
7. Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
A good, efficient adaptation of the longest book. The darker themes of authoritarianism, suppresion, and death were well-handled. I particularly liked how it explored the growth of Harry's various relationships, utilizing clips from (and at the same time, paying homage to) the preceding Harry Potter movies. Casting was right on the money regarding Luna Lovegood, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Lord Voldemort, and the other characters were also most 'true to the books' in this adaptation.
6. Stardust
Cheeky, fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously, it featured hilarious performances by Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer. The love story is classic and will be adored by any romantic.
5. 300
Out of all the graphic novel-based movies, 300 works best because it was cleverly told as a purposely exaggerated, morale-boosting tale of courage for soldiers off to fight the mighty Persian army. It featured astonishing graphics, brilliant battle scenes, and six-pack-boasting men in skimpy leather undies (I'm not into this, personally, but I know some people are ;D).
4. Ocean's Thirteen
Repairing the mistakes of its Twelve predecessor, the movie returns the boys to what they do best: casino heists in Vegas. Fun, cheeky, stylish, and adorned with groomed men in suits (I AM into this), it's definitely a movie I will often re-watch.
3. Enchanted
The surprise delight of the year! Sweet, cute, and tongue-in-cheek funny, it really takes me back to my childhood Disney memories, when animations were musicals. Amy Adams delivered a knock-out performance as a character, who otherwise could've been annoying, had she been played by another actress.
2. The Bourne Ultimatum
Undoubtedly the best sequel of the year and the best in the Bourne installments. Matt Damon is sympathetic as the rogue spy, struggling to discover his true identity while reaping vengeance on his former boss. Lacking fancy gadgets, expensive attire, and beautiful [window dressing] love interests, Jason Bourne makes his British-counterpart-with-the-same-initials look like a flippin' pansy boy.
Finally, my favorite movie of 2007...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
... here's a hint:
1. Sunshine
VISUALLY STUNNING! I don't think I've ever seen a movie so adept at controlling the amount of light and shadow that goes in each frame to such great effects. It succeeded in making both 'sunshine' and darkness eerie, claustrophobic, and plain absolutely terrifying. In fact, this was probably the first film, in which I was more comforted by the dark and frightened by the light.
The script may not have been perfect, but I loved Danny Boyle's almost 'simplistic' style (his last success was the grainy 28 Days Later), in developing his characters (all more or less committed to "delivering the payload"), in designing his set (one reason I'm normally not a fan of sci-fi is that it tends to be too elaborately bogus), and in generally restraining the tone of the film (it was quiet and filled with clean, close-up shots). The theme of space madness and man's fascination with light, as related to God, was also deftly handled. And with a great cast, made up of Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh, and Chris Evans, this is a movie I will definitely continue to re-watch with awe.
C'est tout!
Speaking of motorsports earlier, for those of you who are new to my journal (grace à Robin Hood), boy are you in for an annoyance a surprise. When I don't have TV (like I usually do during the US summer break), I tend to obsess about sports, particularly motorsports and specificially F1. So, um, hopefully you'll bear with me...
To somewhat celebrate Alonso clocking in the fastest time at a practice session, despite driving last year's Renault (which was no superstar, lemme tell ya), despite having no traction control, and despite going against the newly-launched cars of Ferrari and McLaren, I'm posting a few pics of my favorite guys.
Alonso & Kimi, celebrating the latter's eventual championship win in Brazil:
The only two World Champions on the grid for many years to come, hopefully, donning their tux for the presentation gala:
Still the wallpaper of my cellphone (no kidding!):
Bearing in mind Renault's performance last year, I won't dream too highly for Fernando. So, I think this year I'll be hoping for Kimi's second title and for Heikki to kick his teammate's butt.
I'm thinking of going to the race live when it debuts in Melbourne, pending a good, um, 'financial situation' then.