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JUST WHAT WE NEED, ANOTHER END-OF-YEAR LIST 2007: THE FILMS
If you want expert analysis on the year in cinema, ask ![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thelastaerie. For me, 2007 was okay for movies, but not many knockout must-see pics. After the first eight entries on this list, I kind of struggled to decide what stood out enough to get it to ten.
One thing I can tell you is that numerology played a major role. I saw an awful lot of movies with the number “3” in them (Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Ocean’s Eleven 3, etc – and I didn’t even see Rush Hour 3 or Bourne Ultimatum 3). I also saw 300 and 1408, but not The Number 23.
Another thing I can tell you is that 3D film technology is pretty impressive. I’d be more impressed if they lowered the price, though – we passed on 3D versions of Beowulf and Harry Potter 5 because we didn’t want to pay that kind of premium. At least not for those specific movies. Okay, so my first 3D experience was Meet The Robinsons. But that was at a discount, and I came out of it sold on 3D.
Okay, let’s do this.
DISCLAIMER: Based on films I actually saw, not on what you think should win at the Oscars or whatever.
TFI’S TOP TEN DEF FILMS OF 2007
1. Planet Terror
2. The Lives Of Others
3. Children Of Men
4. Death Proof
5. The Simpsons Movie
6. Hot Fuzz
7. Sunshine
8. Lust, Caution
9. 300
10. Day Watch
WORST MOVIE I SAW IN 2007
Transformers
Optimus prime rib,
This is dF
thelastaerie. For me, 2007 was okay for movies, but not many knockout must-see pics. After the first eight entries on this list, I kind of struggled to decide what stood out enough to get it to ten.One thing I can tell you is that numerology played a major role. I saw an awful lot of movies with the number “3” in them (Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Ocean’s Eleven 3, etc – and I didn’t even see Rush Hour 3 or Bourne Ultimatum 3). I also saw 300 and 1408, but not The Number 23.
Another thing I can tell you is that 3D film technology is pretty impressive. I’d be more impressed if they lowered the price, though – we passed on 3D versions of Beowulf and Harry Potter 5 because we didn’t want to pay that kind of premium. At least not for those specific movies. Okay, so my first 3D experience was Meet The Robinsons. But that was at a discount, and I came out of it sold on 3D.
Okay, let’s do this.
DISCLAIMER: Based on films I actually saw, not on what you think should win at the Oscars or whatever.
TFI’S TOP TEN DEF FILMS OF 2007
1. Planet Terror
2. The Lives Of Others
3. Children Of Men
4. Death Proof
5. The Simpsons Movie
6. Hot Fuzz
7. Sunshine
8. Lust, Caution
9. 300
10. Day Watch
WORST MOVIE I SAW IN 2007
Transformers
TFI’S TOP TEN DEF FILMS OF 2007 [EXTENDED MIX]
1. Planet Terror
The better half of the Grindhouse double feature (which, you’ll recall, was split into separate releases here in HK). Admittedly, Robert Rodriguez had me with the poster image, but not only is this an excellent homage to 70s drive-in schlock, it’s a good camp horror movie in its own right. My only complaints: over-reliance on CGI (which kinda goes against the spirit of the thing), and was it really necessary to kill the kid?
2. The Lives Of Others
Slow-paced but engrossing movie about an East German Stasi man eavesdropping on a playwright suspected of subversion. Having been to East Germany, I can say they nailed the atmosphere, and it works as an allegory of life in a surveillance society that certain people in the US govt would justify as necessary these days. Only letdown is a slightly cheesy ending.
3. Children Of Men
This one surprised me because on paper – in future, all women become unable to have kids, then one turns up preggers, causing a power struggle – it didn’t sound promising. But the story is told well, and it also features some of the most amazing cinematic shots I’ve ever seen. Alfonso Cuarón is a class act.
4. Death Proof
Sure, I liked Planet Terror more, but Tarantino’s contribution was still a lot of fun, if a little wordy. And you can’t beat a film with classic cars, homicidal stuntpeople, Zoë Bell’s accent and Vanessa Ferlito giving a lapdance. But no fake trailers for the international version? What’s up with that?
5. The Simpsons Movie
Not too surprisingly, this was basically an extra-long Simpsons episode, but it’s an awfully funny one.
6. Hot Fuzz
From the blokes that brought you Shaun Of The Dead, only this time they take the piss out of buddy-cop movies like Lethal Weapon, Point Break and Bad Boys. Not quite as good as SOTD, if only because I prefer zombies to buddy-cop films, but it’s plenty funny.
7. Sunshine
People expecting this to be genre-revitalizing piece that 28 Days Later was for the zombie/plague apocalypse genre (since they came from the same writer and director) were pretty disappointed by this. So was I, but still, as space mission disaster movies go, it's actually pretty good, and really only starts to fall apart in the final reel. And even there. it's not all bad.
8. Lust, Caution
Like a lot of Ang Lee’s recent stuff, it’s slow and longer than it needs to be, but apart from that, it’s a pretty engrossing and emotionally complex story. Also, everything you’ve heard about the sex scenes is true (except for whether they “really did it” – and you know full well they didn’t). It’s not often you get sex scenes that convincing that are also somehow actually relevant to the story.
9. 300
I found myself comparing this to Beowulf – lots of swords and bellowing and that. But for all the “This is SPARTAAAAA!” memes, 300 wins out. Beowulf’s biggest weakness is the uneven animation. 300 puts computers to much better use, and it’s a well-told legend that looks fantastic. The fact that I don’t normally go for ancient war movies says a lot, too. So does the fact that I tend to prefer Neil Gaiman over Frank Miller.
10. Day Watch
The second installment of the Russian series from director Timur Bekmambetov that started with Night Watch. With the back story involving the struggle between Light And Dark Others (i.e. humans with magic powers vs vampires), it borrows a lot from The Matrix and Underworld, and it takes a lot of effort to figure out what’s going on, but it’s imaginative as hell and fun to watch.
WORST MOVIE I SAW IN 2007
Transformers
I saw it for free on an airplane and still felt ripped off. Admittedly, I wasn’t a fan of the source material either, but still, Michael Bay remains one of the most annoying directors ever.
1. Planet Terror
The better half of the Grindhouse double feature (which, you’ll recall, was split into separate releases here in HK). Admittedly, Robert Rodriguez had me with the poster image, but not only is this an excellent homage to 70s drive-in schlock, it’s a good camp horror movie in its own right. My only complaints: over-reliance on CGI (which kinda goes against the spirit of the thing), and was it really necessary to kill the kid?
2. The Lives Of Others
Slow-paced but engrossing movie about an East German Stasi man eavesdropping on a playwright suspected of subversion. Having been to East Germany, I can say they nailed the atmosphere, and it works as an allegory of life in a surveillance society that certain people in the US govt would justify as necessary these days. Only letdown is a slightly cheesy ending.
3. Children Of Men
This one surprised me because on paper – in future, all women become unable to have kids, then one turns up preggers, causing a power struggle – it didn’t sound promising. But the story is told well, and it also features some of the most amazing cinematic shots I’ve ever seen. Alfonso Cuarón is a class act.
4. Death Proof
Sure, I liked Planet Terror more, but Tarantino’s contribution was still a lot of fun, if a little wordy. And you can’t beat a film with classic cars, homicidal stuntpeople, Zoë Bell’s accent and Vanessa Ferlito giving a lapdance. But no fake trailers for the international version? What’s up with that?
5. The Simpsons Movie
Not too surprisingly, this was basically an extra-long Simpsons episode, but it’s an awfully funny one.
6. Hot Fuzz
From the blokes that brought you Shaun Of The Dead, only this time they take the piss out of buddy-cop movies like Lethal Weapon, Point Break and Bad Boys. Not quite as good as SOTD, if only because I prefer zombies to buddy-cop films, but it’s plenty funny.
7. Sunshine
People expecting this to be genre-revitalizing piece that 28 Days Later was for the zombie/plague apocalypse genre (since they came from the same writer and director) were pretty disappointed by this. So was I, but still, as space mission disaster movies go, it's actually pretty good, and really only starts to fall apart in the final reel. And even there. it's not all bad.
8. Lust, Caution
Like a lot of Ang Lee’s recent stuff, it’s slow and longer than it needs to be, but apart from that, it’s a pretty engrossing and emotionally complex story. Also, everything you’ve heard about the sex scenes is true (except for whether they “really did it” – and you know full well they didn’t). It’s not often you get sex scenes that convincing that are also somehow actually relevant to the story.
9. 300
I found myself comparing this to Beowulf – lots of swords and bellowing and that. But for all the “This is SPARTAAAAA!” memes, 300 wins out. Beowulf’s biggest weakness is the uneven animation. 300 puts computers to much better use, and it’s a well-told legend that looks fantastic. The fact that I don’t normally go for ancient war movies says a lot, too. So does the fact that I tend to prefer Neil Gaiman over Frank Miller.
10. Day Watch
The second installment of the Russian series from director Timur Bekmambetov that started with Night Watch. With the back story involving the struggle between Light And Dark Others (i.e. humans with magic powers vs vampires), it borrows a lot from The Matrix and Underworld, and it takes a lot of effort to figure out what’s going on, but it’s imaginative as hell and fun to watch.
WORST MOVIE I SAW IN 2007
Transformers
I saw it for free on an airplane and still felt ripped off. Admittedly, I wasn’t a fan of the source material either, but still, Michael Bay remains one of the most annoying directors ever.
Optimus prime rib,
This is dF
no subject