Year in consumables: 2009 movies

Star Trek posterEvery year it seems I debate how to approach this list. Is it based on the movies from the year that I actually viewed during that year? Any movie I viewed that year? Any movie that came out in that year that I have seen as of the date this is posted?

Traditionally it is the first of those choices and I double checked last year’s post and that’s what I did. I guess I can stick with tradition, but it kind of sucks. I can tell you right now that the best movie I watched during 2009 was Slumdog Millionaire, but that came out in late 2008. The best movie I have seen from 2009 was The Hurt Locker, but that was this past January (2010). Both would top the list for their given year of release, but that’s not how I am doing the list. That’s the rub.

Besides Locker, I have also watched eight other movies from 2009 this year, and yes, some of those would make a Top 5 list, but also, if I included them, it should really become a Top 10 list, but with those on top of 14 other movies, that is still a small sample for a list of ten. I am getting off track.

So, here’s what I did see during 2009 that also premiered in 2009 (everything on Blu-ray from Netflix unless noted with T = Theater):

Also, the following direct to Blu-ray releases:

I won’t include these in my Top 5 list because they are hard to rate against theater released stuff, plus they might just end up 3-5. Nerd.

I suppose, since I referenced it above, I should include the list of those other ineligible movies that I have seen between now and the end of last year:

  • The Hangover
  • The Hurt Locker
  • (500) Days of Summer
  • Funny People
  • District 9
  • Extract
  • 9
  • Zombieland
  • Couples Retreat

(Flixd post for those at some point soon.)

The best part about this post this year is I have written about every movie in this list except Star Trek and Terminator Salvation. Star Trek makes my Top 5 for the year. Terminator Salvation might make the Bottom 5.

So, here’s the Top 5 along with the words from their reviews (you may have noticed I didn’t link them above):

  1. Star Trek: As I said, no review from this one when it dropped, so here are some fresh words. It is nice when a film not only lives up to the hype and expectations, but exceeds them. I feel like this did, and not just because I am a nerd. This is a good new-fashioned reboot of a franchise, not a bad one like Terminator Salvation, which for all its promise and yes, a few good things, disappointed. Anyway, after watching Trek, I kinda wished anything prior was all like this. It captured a great balance of humor, technology and action. It was serious, but not too serious. Chris Pine’s Kirk was better than Shatner. Simon Pegg’s Scotty killed it. I didn’t hate Bones! I actually liked Sylar as Spock, and I HATE Sylar for ruining Heroes (and the producers and writers and network). I left wanting more. It is the first film in a while that I have watched again. In fact, twice since the theater. I can’t wait for the next installment. Can. Not. Wait.
  2. Up: Do Kevin and Dug steal the show? Of course they do; this is a Pixar flick after all, but there is way more here than just the quirky sidekicks. The Carl and Ellie love story was so well done in a way that both kids and adults can understand in different ways, which again, is the Pixar way. On top of that, top notch voice acting, which again again, is the Pixar way. I have only just seen you, but I love you.
  3. Watchmen: I wrote a lot of words about this one because I had (finally!) read the mini-series before seeing the film. You can click on over to the post if you want to read them because I can’t copy all that here.
  4. Away We Go: Can there be any doubt that John Krasinski is the man? What a great and quirky performance he gave here. Definitely not thinking anything about Jim and The Office and Maya Rudolph was good as well. The story was just so well told. I’m not exactly in the same place as they are in life, but close enough that it resonated a lot, so definitely check it out.
  5. I Love You, Man: I think in past posts of this series it has been established I am a Paul Rudd fan, so it shouldn’t surprise you that I liked this one. Jason Segel — thankfully not showing his junk — and Rashida Jones rounded out a nice cast so all three were great. The premise of the movie was good and executed well, but I didn’t laugh out loud that much while watching it. Okay, generally when Lou Ferrigno shows up it was laugh out loud funny, but not laughing out loud didn’t take away from enjoying the comedy that was there. Not for anything, but Ferrigno is making a nice living playing himself lately, no?

My guess is this trend of watching at home instead of the theater will continue. I haven’t seen anything in the theater yet this year, even though some things have already dropped that I thought I would. I can say for sure that I will see Iron Man 2 in the theater, but other than that, I don’t know. One or two others at the most I would think.

Next up is the music post and if you missed it, the games post has been up for awhile. What do you think of my list? Sucks, right? What would you suggest? Leave a comment, yeah?