Monday was the last recorded episode of The Triple Feature. It was kind of a bittersweet moment for me because, after a month away from the show, coming back for two more felt like someone yanked the rug out from under me. I find it weird that I won’t have a show to do next Monday.
But at any rate, it was our last show and the three of us named our picks for the Top 10 Movies of 2009. If any of you missed it, I decided to repost them here.
Now, I need to preface this list by letting you know that I am fully aware of it’s complete lack of “serious” films. The reason for that is, well, I didn’t see and serious films this year! This was not from a lack of wanting to see such films, but more a matter of circumstance.
You see, whenever there is a great film with a lot of buzz around it that both Cami and I want to see, it usually takes an Act of God for us to see it together. We need to find a babysitter, a day in the schedule that works for everyone… It can be a real pain. So if there’s a movie that both of us want to see and we can’t go together, I don’t go at all.
But if it’s a movie that is complete garbage that Cami has no interest in seeing, then I’m more likely to catch a late showing by myself after the kids are in bed. As a result, I don’t see a lot of “quality” films these days.
But I compiled a complete list of the films I did see plus the films I wanted to see and… we’ll get into that later. For now, my picks for the Top 10 Movies of 2009!
- Zombieland
I’ve made no secret of my distaste for zombie movies. I don’t like gore and a I don’t like cheap scares. But there was enough buzz around Zombieland that I felt compelled to check it out. Turns out the buzz was right as writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick turned in a sharp-witted and entertaining script that lived up to the hype.
- I Love You , Man
If I never hear the word “bromance” again, it’ll be too soon. But because of I Love You , Man hopefully I never will. The film is quite possibly the nadir of the emerging genre. A sweet, likable movie about nice people and their insubstantial problems. But the movie is funny is a way that isn’t forced. It doesn’t rely on outlandish situations but rather character idiosyncrasies to find humor. Count me in for a sweet, sweet hang, Jobin.
- Princess and The Frog
A grand return to form for The House of Mouse that features a strong female lead, a beautifully painterly style, upbeat musical numbers from Randy Newman and a message you can take to the bank, literally. “Wish on stars all you want, but wishing will only take you half-way. Hard work is really how you make your dreams come true!”
- Inglourious Basterds
I admired (but didn’t expressly enjoy) Quentin Tarantino’s hyper-violent “What If?…” version of World War II the first time I saw it. But the film has grown on me with time. Watching it again on DVD, I was impressed by how well the three main set pieces slowly build the tension and keep it suspended until it breaks. Christoph Waltz devours the screen as Colonel Hans Landa in the best supporting performance of the year
- Avatar
Despite its weak plot and somewhat uninspired dialogue, director James Cameron did an exceptional job with the visuals of this film and showing audiences something they’ve never seen before. In film, it is always better to show than to tell and Cameron over-delivers with Avatar. With over a billion dollars at the box office in 4 week’s time, he’s obviously done something right.
- Star Trek
Star Trek defined the summer for me. Big, loud and a little bit dumb – but damn if I didn’t have a good time. J.J. Abrams reboot not only makes the franchise accessible to a new generation, but it does a good job placating the existing fan base – no easy task. A tip of the hat to the casting department. Nearly every actor is note-perfect in the role. Considering the potential for this film to land flat on it’s face, the fact that it soars is a testament to the enduring legacy of Star Trek.
- The Hangover
The highest grossing comedy of all time is a modern comedy classic. That sounds like boilerplate critical hyperbole, but trust me. People will continue to watch and rewatch Hangover for years and years to come. Part of it is due to the outrageous situations of three heroes find themselves in, but mostly it’s because I think every guy either has (or wishes they had) a story like theirs to tell to their buddies.
- Taken
I don’t think anyone expected Liam Neeson to kick ass an take names as well as he did in Taken, but the movie was a left-field home run for me. Sure, it’s hard-boiled Eurotrash cheese, but if Qui-Gon Jin had been this badass in The Phantom Menace, it would have been a whole new ballgame.
- Up
The only reason Up isn’t number one on this list is because it becomes a little too much of a madcap adventure that gets lost within itself near the end. I mean, dogs with special collars that allow them to talk… I’m on board with that. Dogs that can fly biplanes? That’s where I draw the line (present company excepted). Up finds exceptional human truth in the opening montage that captures the marriage of Carl and his wife Ellie. In what results as the most raw and emotional scene of any children’s movie in recent memory, that truth is what carries the movie aloft.
- Fantastic Mr. Fox
For me, Fantastic Mr. Fox was simply the right movie at the right time. I was charmed by it’s hand-made sensibility and lo-fi approach. I was swayed by director Wes Anderson’s trademark dry snark and obsessive attention to detail. I admired the film for taking it’s time, going at it’s own pace and presenting us with something joyfully different than the barrage of digital 3D wonders that have saturated movies right now. I’m all for the progression of technology. But sometimes tried and true techniques in the hands of a visionary that cares about craft and attention to detail the medium requires is the perfect little love letter to film goers.
So, there you have it! My picks for the Top 10 Movies of 2009! Stay tuned for my complete list of films watched in 2008 (ranked in order) as well as the movies I WANTED to see, but haven’t.
Please feel free to leave your feedback in the comments below!
I was looking forward to another one by Raimi despite the third one. The first two movies just fit with the begging of summer, they were so bright and sunny, they put me in a happy mood, which is rare for me. So, I hope they don’t decide the next one has to be all dark and gritty. And I agree with you Tom, Zak Efron or and origin story would suck.
Tom why would you put the idea of Zak Efrom as Spidey into the universe? He’s just on the edge of annoying and being ignored. But yeah I don’t think they’d be stupid enough to do an origin again, however I’m okay with an older Spider-Man. Ever since Wolverine Origins I’ve been really annoyed with the whole kid friendly thing and I do not want to see the tired tale of Peter getting a date against the odds only to have to go fight an overweight man with metal arms and goggles.
I agree, why do we need a “reboot” of the franchise? I can only see this ending in disaster.
You’re right, Toby is getting a little too old to play Peter Parker, the Amazing Spiderman.
I couldn’t bear to watch Spiderman 3, but I’d like to see Raimi get another chance.
Recasting – how about like Batman? Where a diffrent actor plays the hero in each movie and the real draw is the villian.
I will miss Raimi and Bruce Campbell’s cameos…but we need a re-casting (as long as they keep Dylan Baker as Doc Connor. Cause then I can say I met the Lizard). Efron would make a bad Spidey….
*shudders at the mental image*. It will be interesting to see what happens to the franchise.
I think a reboot might be a good idea, since Spidey 3 was shudderworthy. And how many conceivable villains do we have left? Back in the good old days, I was totally all for Sean Maher as Spiderman and Jewel Staite as Mary Jane, and not just as a Whedonite. How awesome would that have been? I doubt that would still work, sadly.
And can they PLEASE keep Bruce Campbell cameoing? That was one of the few redeeming qualities of the third movie.
I think the spidey suit should have rubber nipples in this reboot. And then Spidey should be played by Val Kilmer. Then played by Christian Bale.
Btw, you’re the only person I know that’s used “you’re” incorrectly instead of “your”… usually it’s the other way around.
RE: “you’re / your” – It was late… 🙁
Thanks, though. I’ll go back and fix that tonight. 😉
I don’t mind the reboot. I was wondering how Marvel was going to pull the film franchise into the Marvel Universe movies they’ve already done, and rebooting seems to be the obvious choice.
RE: Artemis. That doesn’t work because Peter actually has a life outside of Spidey, and it’s delved into quite deeply in virtually all of the comics. His two rival girlfriends, his constant need for money/livingspace, his aging family, and especially his missing parents figure prominently into several storylines.
As far as villains missing from the Spidey universe, I still haven’t seen Carnage, the Lizard, Shocker, Kingpin (I know he was in Daredevil, but he’s also a major Spidey enemy), Kraven the Hunter, and a few others that I can’t remember the names of but can certainly describe (Chameleon, that one flying guy that can change from young to old, The Cat, etc, etc). There are plenty of villains for Spidey to smash over the next few years, and they haven’t even gotten into the whole “MJ Is Missing” storyline that basically dominated the entire 90s cartoon series. Madam Webb? The vampires? Dude, Spidey’s universe is so deep that they can probably keep it going for several decades with different actors in a similar role.
Admittedly, Toby looks the part of Spidey almost too well, and they’ll be hard-pressed to find somebody who looks that youthful with that physique and those acting skills to fill his shoes.
Aw! I was so bummed when I heard this news. I wanted Toby to do one more Spiderman movie. Would Rocky IV have been the same without Sylvester Stallone? Okay, poor example.
Jesus, you only need to be 27 to have a mid-life crisis now? I’m 42 and I was planning on having mine this year. Am I too late?
Not 27, Bogtrotter. 37.
Yeah, I’ll admit 37 isn’t really mid-life crisis territory. But as far as Peter Parker is concerned, it might as well be. Spider-Man was always more interesting as a kid barely keeping it together. He should be in his mid-20’s to early-30’s tops.
This seems reminiscent of what happened with Batman. Batman was recast every few movies and once a decade or so they would “reboot” it with his origin story again. Are comic book stories really becoming that formulaic?
I’m all for a reboot, with Max Dillon as the villain of the piece. ONE villain, thank you. And let’s see some of Max’s horrible pre-Electro years, so we can get into his psychology. I’d really like for him to wear the Ditko suit, but if we must go with the latest, maskless-but-tattooed version, that’s fine.
And at least _moderately_ unknown actors should play both Spidey and Electro. MJ too.
But Dunst was perfect for the part of MJ… I mean in the comics MJ was a horrible actress as well.
Well you don’t have to be in mid life to have a mid life crisis sure look at High Fidelity. I will say I am happy MJ will be recast. I mean she’s suppsoed to be a supermodel with a heart of gold, like she’s the reward Peter gets for getting his ass kicked everday of his life until the spider bit him and even a bunch of days after that. Kirsten Dunst never pulled that off, especially with the jealousy subplot in Spidey 3, mind a whole big part of their relationship is their grief over Gwen Stacey.
I love that Tom has a permanent shrug in this strip 🙂
I knew its was inevitable for a Spiderman reboot but I didn’t expect it to be this soon. And where did that Zac Efron reference come from? You still bothered about Disney buying Marvel?
Chris,
The Zac Efron reference came straight from an Entertainment Weekly article that suggested him for the role.
Also suggested? Robert Pattinson and Daniel Radcliffe.
UGH.
They need to just continue on. Or reboot to him being spiderman already. Dating Gwen Stacey and then accidently snapping her neck when (let’s use hobgoblin voiced by Mark Hamill) throws her off the bridge.
I’m still torn on this one. IMO it worked ok for Batman and somewhat rejuvinated the series however the whole marvel/disney thing worries me that it will be just another movie geared towards the “tween” generation.
Tom, what scares me about Sony doing the reboot, and ousting Raimi: 1) the problems with Spider-Man 3 all came from things that the studio forced on Raimi. They’re the ones that dictated that Venom had to be in the movie, and Sandman’s role was severely diminished as a result. Imagine what Spider-Man 3 would have looked like with the removal of Venom! Much better right? OK, so we have to lose the “New Goblin” Power Ranger as well, but who knows who came up with that? 2) Marvel did this recently in the comics, and it was a disaster called “Brand New Day.” And that’s EXACTLY what I’ll refer to this reboot as, since I’m pretty sure it’s going to be equally as lame, since no Raimi probably equals more studio interference.
Like Woody Allen in a mask and stretchy pants, he’s your friendly neurotic Spider-Man.