My Top 10 movies of 2010!

As the year winds down, it's time to look back and check back at the movies that made 2010 great.  It should be noted that while this is a top ten list, there are many good movies of 2010 as yet unreleased here in India and therefore I did not get to see them.  So, therefore, this is a list of the top ten movies I saw in 2010.  This is in no random order but I am kind of rating it in order of preference so here goes.  And I'm sure you can guess my all-too-predictable number one film.

1) INCEPTION: How much do I love this movie? Let me count the ways.  This movie has all the requirements that make it great in my book: tortured characters with plenty of angst, a screenplay that delivers, stunning visuals, stellar cast of actors, soundtrack that complements the film and a director whose imagination brings it all together.  And, oh yeah, let's not forget about that ending.  It's the ending that cinches it all for me.  You had me at spinning top!  My vote for best film of the year.

2) THE SOCIAL NETWORK: Another good film that is on the top of every critic's list.  How is it that movie about Facebook become so popular? How could it not? The "origin" story of how the one of the world's most popular social networking sites may not be all factual but it sure is entertaining.  Led by Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg and a young cast that includes Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, and Rooney Mara, the film contains some of the best dialogues of the year and is fascinating from start to finish.  Come Oscar night, this is going to be a contender for sure.

The rest of my list under the cut...

Annie Awards Nominations

The Annie Awards nominations are out!! No, it's not about little red-haired orphan girls.  These are the Animation Awards, the highest awards given out by the animation industry.  As usual, it's mostly between the big 2, DreamWorks and Pixar.  A couple of months ago, Pixar famously withdrew from the Annie Awards for unjust judging.  A close eye shall be kept on these proceedings for sure.

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature
Despicable Me – Illumination Entertainment
How to Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Tangled – Disney
The Illusionist – Django Films
Toy Story 3 – Disney/Pixar

Best Animated Short Subject
Coyote Falls – Warner Bros. Animation
Day & Night – Pixar
Enrique Wrecks the World – House of Chai
The Cow Who Wanted To Be A Hamburger – Plymptoons Studio
The Renter – Jason Carpenter


Rest of the nominees under the cut

Movie Review: Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is a sweeping majestic tale about a young owl, Soren, who is kidnapped (owlnapped?) by the Pure Ones, Tyto owls, who want to take on the Guardians for control of the owl kingdom.  Made by the studio who made Happy Feet, this movie takes it to a whole new level.  Where before there was miles of snow and ice, there are these enormous forests and trees that seem to have been around for hundreds of years. This is a world inhabited by owls and what a world it is.

This is a very niche fantasy film based on the books by Kathryn Lasky.  I was disappointed that there weren't too many people in the theater I was watching it at.  Films like this needed a bigger fan base for more fantasy animated films to be released.  The pleasant surprise was the animated short that preceded the film, a Looney Tunes short featuring Wiley E. Coyote and Road Runner up to their usual cat and mouse game.  But this time it was in CG and 3D, it was a delightful start to the movie, and I wish this trend of shorts before the movie catches on.  It'll force people to come on time for the movie.

On the actual film, it didn't disappoint.  I had been waiting to see this and am highly impressed with the look and animation of the film.  Bonus point, it has subtitles.  The owls mostly talk in Australian and British accents and sometimes, you miss what it is that they're talking about.  Having subtitles helped immensely.  The fur on the owls is unreal.  You can actually see the wind ruffle their feathers as they fly across seas and fly through snow and monsoons.  And the little owlets, truly adorable.  It was like watching a documentary on owls where they can talk and fight an epic battle at the end.  But in a good way as the animation and realism factor is very high.  There were so many moments in the film where all I could do is watch the screen is whisper "Wow" as the visuals and camera angles are absolutely breath-taking.  I would watch this movie again and again.  Big thumbs up!

Side Note: While this is a animated film, it is not necessarily for young children.  I think they might be afraid by the violence and actions of the owls against each other.  I think children 10 and up should be fine with it.

Directed by Zack Synder; Screenplay by John Orloff and Emil Stern; Music by David Hirschfelder; Editing by David Burrows.

With the voice talents of : Jim Sturgess (Soren), Ryan Kwanten (Kludd), Geoffrey Rush (Ezylryb), Sam Neill (Allomere), Helen Mirren (Nyra), David Wenham (Digger), Anthony LaPaglia (Twilight), Hugo Weaving (Grimble), Miriam Margolyes (Mrs. P), Adrienne DeFaria (Eglantine), Emily Barclay (Gylfie), Abbie Cornish (Otulissa)

Rating: 

Notable Links: The Social Network and Legends of the Guardians

A couple of days ago, I promised some good links.  I haven't forgotten, I just didn't get enough time to post it up as there were so many trailers to put up.

• As Roger Ebert tweeted from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the film with the biggest buzz at Toronto isn't even here.  The movie that Facebook has been studiously ignoring...The Social Network.  New York Magazine has a great article on Aaron Sorkin, how he wrote the script and what is it about Mark Zuckerberg that Facebook doesn't want you to know?  It's a long read but well worth it.
• Molly Ringwald talks about John Hughes
• The men behind the cameras, not anymore! Empire Online has a wonderful list of the top 10 Directors of Photography working in the industry today.  
• Over 40 new photographs from Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole.  I've already got my favorites.  
• Finally, some fun stuff, how well do you know your movies?  Can you guess what film it is just by checking the final frame of the movie?  Give it a go!! I got 15/20.  How about you?

Around the world in Posters!

Poster lineup time!

This one's a beauty.  Absolutely gorgeous.

aka Glitter 2.  You know it's true.  

The darling of festival season

There's something to be said about pictures being louder than words. 

And then everything becomes clear.  Check out the title written IN BLOOD!!!

Remove Anne Hathaway and this poster will be perfect. 

Tagline: It takes two to get tangled.

Tangled Poster by way of France. Love the colors!

Creepy poster of The Town

Not so creepy French poster.

This sort of reminds me of the Star Wars posters minus the illustrations. 

Tron Poster from France

And from Russia

Newest film from Woody Allen

I prefer this poster from Spain.  Lovely!