VioletEyedDragon (Level 19)

RIP Roger Ebert & Margaret Thatcher

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The 123 Movies I Saw from 2010: Best to Worst

	1. Winter’s Bone I had a very, very hard to pick my top choice and I only just decided on this movie. On first viewing Bone is very good, but it is only months later that you realize the true impact it has. There are, of course, the deep explorations of family and drug addictions—themes which in and of themselves make for a great story. Deeper, though, there are the ideas of responsibility and the little amount of control we have in life. Ironically, this movie is a great contrast to my favorite film from last year, The Brothers Bloom. While Bloom cheerily showed how in many ways we have far greater control over our destinies than we think, Bone grimly depicts the ways in which we should not fight the path we are on. There is hope, though, in its story. Ree, the teenage protagonist who is raising her siblings in a dark and dangerous area of the rural Ozarks, sees that she is always bound to the Ozarks and her family (including the violent extended relatives). There is a hint, though, that this does not have to be something to despair over—that everyone, like Ree, always has the choice to do everything we know we should and then spend the rest of our time simply viewing in wonder at the rest. The last scene in Winter’s Bone explores these ideas so deeply, ties everything together so well, and has such a profound impact months later that when you think back on that moment it is clear just how amazing this movie is.
	2. Let Me In I nearly picked this as my top choice, and if I had it would have been very deserving. This is the story of the corruption of innocence; the entry of evil. Make no mistake: It is also an excellent horror fantasy and a true vampire story. The reason it is so incredible, though, is the themes it has to back it up.
	3. The Book of Eli I completely agree with the belief that like True Grit this is a great 21st century western. It has some of the year's best action and an exciting plot. But what is more, this post-apocalyptic thriller has powerful messages on God and spirituality. Best of all, it uses them in a story that people really do want to see.
	4. The Joneses Both a powerful drama and a bitingly funny dark comedy, The Joneses provides a great metaphor on the commercialization of society and how it secretly affects us.
	5. The King's Speech This is a feel-good story, but it is also more. It is about getting treatment for and overcoming one's problems. It blends story and themes with ease. It is something you should definitely see.
	6. The Karate Kid The most fun movie of the year, this is the perfect family film. But it is also a truly great movie with some truly great morals that do not need to be difficult to see. I have never seen an audience laugh more, cheer more, and have a better time than at this movie.
	7. Toy Story 3 I do not think this is a family movie. I think it is far to intense and emotionally taught for children. I think Toy Story 3 is such a complex, heart-wrenching tale of moving on and the flow of life that it is meant for older audiences and anyone trying to right it off a tear-jerking kid fair should really take a closer look. I am saying this since I doubt anyone has not yet seen it.
	8. True Grit The story is intense and entertaining. The acting is perfect all-round. The cinematography is excellent. The directing (done by the Coen Brothers) is brilliant. Furthermore, there is the awesomeness of a good, straight-forward western coming around when the genre was nearly dried up. But best of all is the fact that the movie does its job of exploring what true grit really is.
	9. Animal Kingdom One of the best crime dramas of all time, this film is an excellent representation of what motivates and runs modern gangs. On top of that, it is a powerful story with magnificent performances (especially Jacki Weaver, who has been nominated for an Oscar for her work in this film). A should-be classic, this Australian picture barely touched American theaters, but the DVD is something that should be at the top of every American's wish-list.
	10. Monsters The ending is unnecessarily grim and the engaged girl's kiss to another man is, despite the circumstances, a bad message. Why is Monsters a good movie then? Well, there are a lot of reasons. The film is engrossing and the character interactions (between real life couple Scoot McNairy and Whitney Able) are believable. The decision to show a post giant monster attack movie not where everyone is reacting the attack but where the people are still struggling to get by is a new take done in a creative way. The messages on US indifference to Mexican troubles is done so effectively it is not preachy and I believe could get a few people to act. The improvisational dialogue from ordinary people hired by Director Gareth Edwards right off the street makes the movie relatable and disturbingly realistic. The octopus-like aliens are believable and original. And the whole movie was shot for the incredibly low $500,000--an amazing feat. Definitely one to check out!
	11. It's Kind of a Funny Story This dramady of a boy who checks himself into a psychiatric hospital is touching, funny, moving, and enlightening.
	12. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader It may be far inferior to its predecessors as well as far too tame, but the third (and probably last) installment in the big screen adaptations of C.S. Lewis's fantasy epics keeps much of the book's powerful messages and is entertaining to boot. I really give the creators of this film my appreciation for not editing out the movie's powerful spiritual themes.
	13. City Island This hilarious darkish comedy manages to bring along a nice message on family.
	14. Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Zack Snyder's beautiful animated fantasy epic manages to make talking owls perform legendary action in a fool-proof (if predictable) story that delights the post-five-year-old kids as well as anyone fortunate enough to check it out.
	15. The Warrior's Way The nice themes provide a great bonus to the artistically magical action extravaganza featuring ninjas fighting cowboys. Ninjas vs. Cowboys!
	16. The Winning Season While its tone shifts a bit too much, this story of an alcoholic coach (Sam Rockwell) of a high school girls basketball team becomes a touching and down-to-earth sports dramady.
	17. Iron Man 2 The second installment in the blockbuster super-hero genre; Iron Man 2 improves on the atrocious original by effective retconning, better themes, and faithfulness to the comic. In other words, they added War Machine.
	18. Extraordinary Measures Artistically this medical drama may struggle; but it is still an exciting story of what is justifiable when saving lives. It does not appear that the combining of several different characters truly upset anyone, seeing as they changed the name and events.
	19. The Last Exorcism It’s a little abrupt at times; but this fauxumentary horror is riveting, thought-provoking, and original.
	20. Daybreakers Creative and exciting, this is a notable entry in the vampire genre and a great film for most teen and adult audiences.
	21. Step Up 3-D
	22. The Other Guys
	23. Devil
	24. TRON: Legacy
	25. Get Low
	26. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
	27. To Save a Life
	28. Legendary
	29. Ramona and Beezus
	30. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
	31. The Expendables
	32. Life as We Know It
	33. The Sorcerer's Apprentice
	34. The A-Team
	35. Crazy on the Outside
	36. Shutter Island
	37. Megamind
	38. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
	39. Babies
	40. The Last Song
	41. I Want Your Money
	42. Tooth Fairy
	43. The Switch
	44. The Spy Next Door
	45. Oceans
	46. How to Train Your Dragon
	47. When in Rome
	48. Letters to God
	49. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
	50. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I

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14 Comments

mylifeforAiuron Feb. 27, 2011 at 7:34 p.m.

I really dig your honesty and indelible integrity - even if I don't agree with your opinion of The Ghost Writer.

Keep on writin'!

VioletEyedDragonon Feb. 28, 2011 at 3:57 p.m.

@mylifeforaiur said:

" I really dig your honesty and indelible integrity - even if I don't agree with your opinion of The Ghost Writer. Keep on writin'! "

thanks :)

arrowfan237on April 17, 2011 at 8:15 a.m.

You did not like Social Network? Like the idea even if I don't agree with many of your choices.

VioletEyedDragonon April 17, 2011 at 1:51 p.m.

@arrowfan237 said:

" You did not like Social Network? Like the idea even if I don't agree with many of your choices. "

thanks.
i disapproved of the tolerance towards drug abuse and underage drinking in TSN, as well as the inaccurate portrayal of real people.

TearsInRainon May 15, 2011 at 10:56 a.m.

As a fan of Sir Michael Caine, I couldn't help liking Harry Brown. I loved Let Me In though, one of the best movies of 2010. I feel I must see Winter's Bone now based on this list.

VioletEyedDragonon May 18, 2011 at 4:12 p.m.

@TearsInRain said:

As a fan of Sir Michael Caine, I couldn't help liking Harry Brown. I loved Let Me In though, one of the best movies of 2010. I feel I must see Winter's Bone now based on this list.

harry brown was pretty good.
i agree let me in was awesome
and do see winters bone. tell me what you think of it ;)

Black_Roseon Aug. 7, 2011 at 12:51 p.m.

You can't let your personal opinion of a person affect your view on a movie. Roman Polanski makes great films and Ghost Writer was one of the best of last year. Also, Social Netwrok does not promote tolerance towards drug abuse or alcohol, it just shows it as it is. You can't deny that happens.

Also, it was a more techincally competent movie than most films on the list. I know it's your opinion but that should at least be recognized.

VioletEyedDragonon Aug. 17, 2011 at 4:27 p.m.

@Black_Rose said:

You can't let your personal opinion of a person affect your view on a movie. Roman Polanski makes great films and Ghost Writer was one of the best of last year. Also, Social Netwrok does not promote tolerance towards drug abuse or alcohol, it just shows it as it is. You can't deny that happens. Also, it was a more techincally competent movie than most films on the list. I know it's your opinion but that should at least be recognized.

it really doesnt matter what i think of polanski, i dont think THE GHOST WRITER was a good movie either way.
and you are right THE SOCIAL NETWORK was artistically well-done. i actually have a lot to say about why i didnt write the movie. here is a link (i dont mind if you just skim what i wrote :) )
http://cinetim.blogspot.com/2011/02/four-months-ago-i-wrote-my-first-review.html

Black_Roseon Aug. 17, 2011 at 5:17 p.m.

I read the whole thing and I honestly think you make really terrible points, here's why:

When was the last time you saw a historically accurate movie? EVERY movie based on real life events manipulates things in one way or another to make for good drama, that's what it is, drama, nothing else. It's not important if said events took place 5 years ago or 50 years ago. Please mention ONE movie that is historically accurate and not biased in one way or another. Which btw, I didn't find it biased at all. Yes, they show Zuckerberg as an asshole but they also show Saverin as a wussy, both movie clichés that we're used to see. Every movie turns their main characters into clichés. even if they're based on real people. Also, you might argue that the movie is pro-Saverin but there's very little people who didn't come out of a theater after watching it and didn't think Zuckerberg was a complete badass.
The drug thing is more of a personal issue you have with the type of people who behave that way. Yes, not EVERYONE does it but the movie is not telling you that, it's just showing you about the people who DO and it's also not showing us the consequences because that simply isn't the point of the movie. If you want to watch a movie about the consequences of drinking and doing drugs go watch Thirteen or something. This is a really really stupid reason to knock points out of a movie.
The vast majority of us? Have you ever actually seen normal ass facebook posts? they're as vanal as one couldn't even imagine something to be. It's cool that you don't use it like that but the VAST MAJORITY do, either way, the movie doesn't focus too much on the actual facebook or how people use it, so it's rather strange why you would say anything like that.

The Social Network will not destroy the internet. But it will have lasting repercussions. People could stop using Facebook. Too many will associate with a pathetic outlet full of perverts and bullies. Facebook will most likely be phased out for some slightly different social network (likely not as good), and this movie will have a large piece of the blame.

Almost one year later and you couldn't be more wrong. Facebook remains at the top of social networks annd competitors are copying them as happened when it first got popular, just look at google and G+. Also when facebook is replaced for a slightly different social network the movie won't be to blame. It's the natural course of things, just look what happened to MySpace when FB appeared, there wasn't any movie about MySpace released, people just like fancy new popular things.

As for being the worst movie of last year, a year that gave us Tooth fairy, Karate Kid, My Soul to Take AND The Last Airbender, no. Social Network was a masterpiece of cinematography, which can't be denied and that alone makes it better than the vast majority of last year's fims.

VioletEyedDragonon Aug. 19, 2011 at 2:11 p.m.

@Black_Rose said:

I read the whole thing and I honestly think you make really terrible points, here's why:

When was the last time you saw a historically accurate movie? EVERY movie based on real life events manipulates things in one way or another to make for good drama, that's what it is, drama, nothing else. It's not important if said events took place 5 years ago or 50 years ago. Please mention ONE movie that is historically accurate and not biased in one way or another. Which btw, I didn't find it biased at all. Yes, they show Zuckerberg as an asshole but they also show Saverin as a wussy, both movie clichés that we're used to see. Every movie turns their main characters into clichés. even if they're based on real people. Also, you might argue that the movie is pro-Saverin but there's very little people who didn't come out of a theater after watching it and didn't think Zuckerberg was a complete badass.
The drug thing is more of a personal issue you have with the type of people who behave that way. Yes, not EVERYONE does it but the movie is not telling you that, it's just showing you about the people who DO and it's also not showing us the consequences because that simply isn't the point of the movie. If you want to watch a movie about the consequences of drinking and doing drugs go watch Thirteen or something. This is a really really stupid reason to knock points out of a movie.
The vast majority of us? Have you ever actually seen normal ass facebook posts? they're as vanal as one couldn't even imagine something to be. It's cool that you don't use it like that but the VAST MAJORITY do, either way, the movie doesn't focus too much on the actual facebook or how people use it, so it's rather strange why you would say anything like that.

The Social Network will not destroy the internet. But it will have lasting repercussions. People could stop using Facebook. Too many will associate with a pathetic outlet full of perverts and bullies. Facebook will most likely be phased out for some slightly different social network (likely not as good), and this movie will have a large piece of the blame.
Almost one year later and you couldn't be more wrong. Facebook remains at the top of social networks annd competitors are copying them as happened when it first got popular, just look at google and G+. Also when facebook is replaced for a slightly different social network the movie won't be to blame. It's the natural course of things, just look what happened to MySpace when FB appeared, there wasn't any movie about MySpace released, people just like fancy new popular things.

As for being the worst movie of last year, a year that gave us Tooth fairy, Karate Kid, My Soul to Take AND The Last Airbender, no. Social Network was a masterpiece of cinematography, which can't be denied and that alone makes it better than the vast majority of last year's fims.

1. Maybe there is no perfect history film, but many--probably most--are more accurate than TSN. also, it does make a difference how recent it was because MARK ZUCKERBURG AND CO. ARE STILL ALIVE. it is deliberately ignorant to pretend this doesnt hurt them.
2. First off, drug and alcohol use wasnt as prevalent among Harvard alums as the picture portrayed. You are proof that it has made people think that successful college students get drunk and high all the time. That isnt true. Thats the point.   Also, if one shows something like that as normal, it makes people think it is a harmless thing to do, or a normal thing to do. And its NOT!! i know its not the point of the movie, but its something people will take away from it.
3. It is what people say in text chat that is what is important. And even seemingly trivial posts are a nice way of connecting and far more valuable than we might think.
4. Facebook is in trouble. It may still be the largest social networking site (by a lot) but Twitter is gaining popularity fast. It could likely take Facebook's place.
5. Movies like the TOOTH FAIRY are inoffensive. Not artistically fantastic, but there are so many shockingly offensive films out there it is ridiculous to pick something like that as WORST PICTURE. TSN is offensive.

Black_Roseon Aug. 19, 2011 at 5:59 p.m.

You act like you know Mark Zuckerberg, how do you know what's accurate and what's not? From reading? If so what do you know about the intentions of the people writing what you read? If he gave two shits about it he probably would've sued ever since the book was released.
Don't take it bad but based on your writing I highly doubt you're in Harvard, so again, how do you know what happens there when you're not being fed the "fancy college for smart people" propaganda? I'm a college graduate, maybe not fucking Harvard but I've seen what goes on in parties and whatnot, even the smart guys drink and get high once in a while. Denying it happens is downright ignorant of you. Also you act as if this was the first movie that shows that side of college, as if it wasn't happening since Animal House or, hell, even Horse Feathers.
Twitter will take Facebook's place eventually because of what I said, people like fancy new shit and they sure love their random stuff. Also Twitter allows more connection with the people they admire (Sports and Entertainment personalities), you don't see Justin Bieber or Ashton Kutcher interacting with their fans on fb the way they do it on twitter, and that's been happening since before the movie was released. You seem to be ignorant of the natural course of these things and also of the fact that most of the general audience has already forgotten about this movie in favor of the latest popular flicks.
Every movie is offensive against one thing or another if you look at them in a certain way, The Godfathers painted every Italian as gangsters, Tropic Thunder was offensive against every actor who takes their job seriously, The Karate Kid is offensive against everyone who knows Kung-Fu, Tooth Fairy is offensive in the sense that it was a middle finger to every Dwayne Johnson fan.

Honestly, all your points seem to go beyond "I don't like this movie" to be sort of randomly blinded by some deep conservative feelings to be aggressively against it.

VioletEyedDragonon Aug. 22, 2011 at 2:28 p.m.

@Black_Rose said:

You act like you know Mark Zuckerberg, how do you know what's accurate and what's not? From reading? If so what do you know about the intentions of the people writing what you read? If he gave two shits about it he probably would've sued ever since the book was released.
Don't take it bad but based on your writing I highly doubt you're in Harvard, so again, how do you know what happens there when you're not being fed the "fancy college for smart people" propaganda? I'm a college graduate, maybe not fucking Harvard but I've seen what goes on in parties and whatnot, even the smart guys drink and get high once in a while. Denying it happens is downright ignorant of you. Also you act as if this was the first movie that shows that side of college, as if it wasn't happening since Animal House or, hell, even Horse Feathers.
Twitter will take Facebook's place eventually because of what I said, people like fancy new shit and they sure love their random stuff. Also Twitter allows more connection with the people they admire (Sports and Entertainment personalities), you don't see Justin Bieber or Ashton Kutcher interacting with their fans on fb the way they do it on twitter, and that's been happening since before the movie was released. You seem to be ignorant of the natural course of these things and also of the fact that most of the general audience has already forgotten about this movie in favor of the latest popular flicks.
Every movie is offensive against one thing or another if you look at them in a certain way, The Godfathers painted every Italian as gangsters, Tropic Thunder was offensive against every actor who takes their job seriously, The Karate Kid is offensive against everyone who knows Kung-Fu, Tooth Fairy is offensive in the sense that it was a middle finger to every Dwayne Johnson fan.
Honestly, all your points seem to go beyond "I don't like this movie" to be sort of randomly blinded by some deep conservative feelings to be aggressively against it.

1. the book was nonfiction, and was merely quoting Saverin. and it would have been bad press to sue the movie. interviews with Zuckerberg indicate he is upset about the movie. and really that isnt a surprise because the movie portrays him in a terrible light.
2. that goes on in parties but the people who party hard all the time dont invent facebook or get into harvard. they might have attended parties once in a while but that doesnt mean they are doing it all the time. people who party believe everyone else is but THEY ARE NOT. and the movie spreads this myth.
3. give audiences more credit
4. my feelings are based on the fact that this movie is mean-spirited and it encourages unhealthy behavior and it has a bad overall message. and please show me the part in the karate kid that actually offended you, because i think all you really had against it was you didnt like that kind of movie. also, i am aware of who Dwayne Johnson is.

fables87on Jan. 18, 2013 at 12:33 p.m.

I really liked It's Kind of a Funny Story too.

VioletEyedDragonon Jan. 18, 2013 at 2:03 p.m.

@fables87 said: