First 100 Movie Reviews Wrap-Up!
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2344/s0022.jpg
It's been an eventful few months, hasn't it? I can't believe I'm already at this point, but...I've reviewed 100 films. This has been fun, but after 100 films, I think it's time to summarize what has happened so far. If you've missed any of the reviews so far, this will be helpful for you, and even if you haven't, it should hopefully allow me to further convince you which movies to watch, as well as which movies to stay away from.
I would first like to thank all of you for your support over the last little while, as without you, my reviews wouldn't get read. Posting in them brings them back to the top of the forum, as well as moves them into the "most recent" section of the forum, meaning more people read them.
I would also like to thank the ones of you who actually have critiqued my reviews, and allowed me to improve my writing. Look back to the first film review I wrote, and look at them now. My style has changed, I'm sure, but I have also gotten better at writing them.
There will be a few categories to work through, and for each film, I will state why I believe it deserves to be part of the category I put it in. Well, let's get on with it, as you are here to find out the films, not read a long, drawn-out explanation that is attempting to justify me eating up a thread.
Best Action
The films which are there almost just to entertain you. Not the deepest films, but possibly the most entertaining.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.226846-2-50-Reviews-Doomsday-2008>Doomsday
<img height=150>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dd/Doomsday_poster.jpg
Doomsday is a film that is so much silly fun that it manages to be incredibly entertaining. It's there for the sole purpose of entertaining its audience, and it does this really well. It pays homage to many 1980's films, and manages to tell a coherent story throughout its over-the-top action sequences.
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.250737-2-50-Review-Sin-City-2005>Sin City
<img height=150>http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2149/sincityposter060305.jpg
Sin City is a visually impressive film, but is also really entertaining. It's ultra-violent, but also has an emotional core behind that violence. Two of the three stories were amazing, while the third was just "okay". Still a great watch any day of the week.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.248979-2-50-Reviews-Black-Hawk-Down-2001>Black Hawk Down
<img height=150>http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/2172/blackhawkdownver1xlg.jpg
Black Hawk Down ended up being far more pure action than I had expected, and ended up being a really good film. It had fantastic action, and managed to make you care for its characters despite the fact that none of them get much development. Ridley Scott did really well with this film, and it is definitely worth a watch.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.249870-2-50-Reviews-Wanted-2008>Wanted
<img height=150>http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/319/wantedmovieposter.jpg
In terms of pure action, Wanted takes the cake. It is a balls-to-the-wall action film, but it also gives the audience something to think about while, and after, watching it.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251797-2-50-Reviews-Inception-2010>Inception
<img height=150>http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6185/inceptionposter0.jpg
Inception was a film I went to see twice when it was in theatres. It was that good. It had a brain, it had great action, and it had interesting, sympathetic characters. It was visually outstanding and was a treat to watch. It felt much, much shorter than its runtime indicates, and that shows me that it is a great film.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251797-2-50-Reviews-Inception-2010>Inception
<img height=200>http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6185/inceptionposter0.jpg
Inception is nearly a perfect film, and because of this, it wins "Best Action". While it might not have been all action like a Wanted or Black Hawk Down, Inception was a complete film, one which still keeps me entertained after many watches.
Best Comedy
When you need a laugh, these films are there for you.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.240196-2-50-Reviews-I-Heart-Huckabees-2004>I Heart Huckabees
<img height=150>http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8458/ihearthuckabees.jpg
I Heart Huckabees was, to me, an outstanding example of a thinking-man's comedy. It doesn't let you sit back and enjoy it, but instead asks you to participate alongside it. It isn't the funniest film on the list, but it gets a lot of praise from me due to its interesting story and characters, along with the fact that it is likely the most engaging comedy I have ever seen.
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231873-Marter-to-the-Movies-Scott-Pilgrim-vs-the-World>Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
<img height=150>http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/4248/scottpilgrimvstheworldt.jpg
I didn't think that it would be nearly as funny as it would be, but I ended up having an amazing time while watching it. It was hilarious, and probably the funniest film that will be on here. It also had great action scenes and interesting characters.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.249385-2-50-Reviews-The-Princess-Bride-1987>The Princess Bride
<img height=150>http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6558/princessbride.jpg
The Princess Bride was an adventure film, that had so many funny moments that it ended up being a great comedy. It has many different genres hidden within it, and ends up being a far deeper film than I would have thought. Now a cult classic, it's a film that you should give a look.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.242335-2-50-Reviews-Pirates-of-the-Caribbean-Curse-of-the-Black-Pearl-2003>Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
<img height=150>http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/7789/piratesofthecaribbean.jpg
Curse of the Black Pearl had almost everything that is needed in a movie. It was funny, it had a lot of action and it had really interesting and unique characters. It's an incredibly memorable film, and stays entertaining to this day.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.247358-2-50-Reviews-Dogma-1999>Dogma
<img height=150>http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1828/dogmaposter.jpg
Dogma reminded me that, after not seeing good comedies for a while, that they did still exist. Dogma was quite funny, and was a good introduction into what Kevin Smith's movies are going to be like. It had interesting characters, funny situations, and managed to not be as offensive as it thought it would be.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231873-Marter-to-the-Movies-Scott-Pilgrim-vs-the-World>Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
<img height=200>http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/4248/scottpilgrimvstheworldt.jpg
A comedy needs to make you laugh, and Scott Pilgrim was the film that made me laugh the most. It wasn't as engaging as I Heart Huckabees or Dogma, but it was the funniest film I watched in the first 100 films I watched, and wins the Best Comedy award from me.
Best Drama
The dialogue, character-driven films which make you remember you have emotions.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.230924-2-50-Reviews-The-Departed-2006>The Departed
<img height=150>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/Departed234.jpg
Martin Scorsese's film definitely deserves a spot on this list. The Departed was a great film. It had great acting and pacing, and it had a story that was really entertaining. The characters were all well developed, and the film was shot beautifully.
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.228761-2-50-Reviews-Pans-Labyrinth-2006>Pan's Labyrinth
<img height=150>http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9962/panslabyrinth.jpg
Pan's Labyrinth is the first foreign film that will appear on my list. It definitely won't be the last though. It likely has the best special effects out of the films in this category, as it has a large fantasy base. Don't be fooled though, this isn't a childish film, and it has all the drama that you could want, and possibly more than your emotions can handle.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231661-2-50-Reviews-Snow-Angels-2007>Snow Angels
<img height=150>http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/292/snowangelsmovieposter75.jpg
Snow Angels makes me cry. It makes me cry just thinking about it. This is the film that broke me. Before watching it, I didn't really show many emotions during films. There would be touching scenes, and I wouldn't shed a tear. Now I do, all thanks to this film. It's sad, but manages to stay powerful and entertaining all the same.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.238550-Marter-to-the-Movies-The-Social-Network>The Social Network
<img height=150>http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8041/socialnetworkx.jpg
Of the films I've seen from David Fincher, this is his best. It told a story about the creation of a website, or more so used it as a basis to have an in-depth character drama. It was a very thrilling film, one that really surprised me with how good it was.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251569-Marter-to-the-Movies-The-Fighter>The Fighter
<img height=150>http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/6448/thefighterposterlg.jpg
The Fighter just came out, and is still in theatres. Because of this, go see it while you can. It was a really good film, and this is coming from someone who isn't a fan of boxing at all. Seriously, it was really good.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231661-2-50-Reviews-Snow-Angels-2007>Snow Angels
<img height=200>http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/292/snowangelsmovieposter75.jpg
Anyone who knows me is likely not shocked by this reveal. I really enjoy--no, I loved this film. That is not a word I use lightly either. This is my pick for Best Drama, and I don't think any more words that I say can do it justice. I. Loved. This. Movie. Go. See. It. Now.
Best Horror
The films designed to chill you to the bone. Or not, in the case of some of them.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.241026-2-50-Reviews-Vacancy-2007>Vacancy
<img height=150>http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5842/vacancye.jpg
The number one thing I dislike about horror films is when they decide to throw in unnecessary jump scenes. Vacancy uses them, but they are there only when appropriate. They increase the tension, instead of making me sit back and go, "well, there was another jump scene".
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.240632-2-50-Reviews-Funny-Games-2007>Funny Games
<img height=150>http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/621/funnygamesusposter.jpg
Funny Games isn't your typical horror film, and actually, this works in its favor. In fact, most of my favorite horror films end up being ones that aren't "standard". Funny Games tells the story of a family being tortured, but the plot isn't what's important. The film has a message, one that it continues to preach all throughout the film. It managed to really entertain me though, and that's something to be praised.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.235794-2-50-Reviews-Let-the-Right-One-In-2008>Let the Right One In
<img height=150>http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2909/lettherightoneinposter.jpg
Sadly, this is the only category in which I could find a spot for this movie. It's a shame that it isn't going to win, as it just doesn't have enough horror elements to make it a real horror film. It's still a great film though, and I recommend watching it even though it will not win this category. It is well acted and well made. Go see it.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.240465-2-50-Reviews-30-Days-of-Night-2007>30 Days of Night
<img height=150>http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7558/thirtydaysofnightver4.jpg
I didn't like 30 Days of Night as much as I thought I would, but it was still quite an entertaining vampire film. The cold environment fit perfectly, and the vampires were incredibly frightening.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.241735-2-50-Reviews-Martyrs-2008>Martyrs
<img height=150>http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2348/martyrs.jpg
Martyrs is another non-typical horror film. It starts off being kind of scary, but by the second half, it abandons that thought. It ends up having a fairly deep-rooted message, and every single scene has a reason to be there. It's not all that scary, but still manages to be a horror film.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.240632-2-50-Reviews-Funny-Games-2007>Funny Games
<img height=200>http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/621/funnygamesusposter.jpg
While not being a standard horror film, Funny Games was the film in this category that I enjoyed the most. I'll definitely give Let the Right One In an honorable mention though, as it was the best film of the 5 nominees. It just wasn't enough of a horror film to be the best one.
Best Thriller
The films which thrill you from beginning to end, whether through their story or characters.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.234802-2-50-Reviews-No-Country-for-Old-Men-2007>No Country for Old Men
<img height=150>http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/9914/posternocountry3.jpg
This is a film that was almost superb, but it was let down by its ending. It is still quite good, and it stays entertaining throughout, but the ending was disappointing. Note that I'm not talking purely about the ending scene, but actually the last 20 or so final minutes. It definitely could have been improved upon.
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.243884-2-50-Reviews-Gone-Baby-Gone-2007>Gone Baby Gone
<img height=150>http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/7517/600fullgonebabygonepost.jpg
Gone Baby Gone is the directorial debut of one Ben Affleck, and what a debut it is! It was heavy in the dialogue department, but the story was quite thrilling despite this. It was a fun film to watch, and marks an excellent debut for Affleck.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.243272-2-50-Reviews-Eastern-Promises-2007>Eastern Promises
<img height=150>http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/8815/easternpromisesxlg.jpg
Eastern Promises' beauty lies in its characters. They are all incredibly interesting, and while you don't get to find out all that much about them, it manages to work in this film. You want to watch it again just to find out little details that you missed about them the first time.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.232615-2-50-Reviews-Hard-Candy-2005>Hard Candy
<img height=150>http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1601/hardcandyfilmposter.jpg
Hard Candy is more of a revenge film than anything else, but it was still quite thrilling. It has a difficult subject matter, one that it presents to us full-on. the acting is great, and while there are no "morally-good" characters, you still want to keep watching.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.246582-2-50-Reviews-Shutter-Island-2010>Shutter Island
<img height=150>http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/334/shutterislandposterw.jpg
Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island was a great film. It was thrilling, had a great central mystery, and likely had the most memorable soundtrack out of any film on the list. The acting was great, and the main character was really interesting. Sadly, the supporting cast wasn't developed enough to make you care about them, but a re-watch is almost a given with this film.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.243272-2-50-Reviews-Eastern-Promises-2007>Eastern Promises
<img height=200>http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/8815/easternpromisesxlg.jpg
I originally thought I was going to pick No Country for Old Men, but then I remember the bad feeling that the ending gave me. Eastern Promises ending wasn't great, but it was better than that. It was also a great, character driven thriller, one that you will want to re-watch right after seeing it.
Biggest Surprise
The films which didn't score well with critics, but I ended up enjoying far more than I thought I would.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.227257-2-50-Reviews-Resident-Evil-2002>The <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.227437-2-50-Reviews-Resident-Evil-Apocalypse-2004>Resident <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.227628-2-50-Reviews-Resident-Evil-Extinction-2007>Evil <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251665-2-50-Reviews-Resident-Evil-Afterlife-2010>Quadrilogy
<img height=150>http://www.trailershut.com/movie-posters/Resident-Evil-4-Afterlife-Movie-Poster.jpg<img height=150>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/Resident_evil_apocalypse_poster.jpg<img height=150>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/RE_Extinction.jpg<img height=150>http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4060/reabig.jpg
These films scored really poorly from critics, and I can certainly see why. The thing is, I still enjoyed them. The latter three were certainly better than the first, but they're all entertaining in their own right. Afterlife was especially good.
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.226415-2-50-Reviews-The-Happening-2008>The Happening
<img height=150>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a6/Happening_poster.jpg
This is the film that got it all started for me. I didn't think that The Happening would be any good, but it turned out that it was really funny. No, it wasn't thrilling like it should have been, but it was still enjoyable. In this case, not sticking to its genre paid off.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.241838-2-50-Reviews-Silent-Hill-2006>Silent Hill
<img height=150>http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3161/silenthillposter.jpg
Video game adaptations don't have a great history, and critically, Silent Hill was no different. And yet, I liked it. It was a pretty solid horror movie. It might have been a poor adaptation of the game, but I still enjoyed myself while watching it.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.242946-2-50-Reviews-Ultraviolet-2006>Ultraviolet
<img height=150>http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1173/ultraviolet.jpg
I didn't think much of Ultraviolet before watching it. Nobody I know liked it at all, and critics hated it. I didn't think it was great, but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as people told me. It was enjoyable, but only if taken as a dumb action film.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.228340-2-50-Reviews-Whiteout-2009>Whiteout
<img height=150>http://www.moviesonline.ca/movie-gallery/albums/userpics//poster_whiteout_ver3.jpg
Called by some as "The Worst Movie of 2009", Whiteout was the worst reviewed movie on this list. I knew this going in, but I still liked it. Probably more than I should have, but it wasn't a bad movie at all. It's exciting, at times anyway, and it managed to keep me entertained.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.228340-2-50-Reviews-Whiteout-2009>Whiteout
<img height=200>http://www.moviesonline.ca/movie-gallery/albums/userpics//poster_whiteout_ver3.jpg
This was a hard choice, as all of these films surprised me more than they should have. Still, Whiteout was the one that surprised me the most with how much I enjoyed it. Maybe it was because it was panned so heavily, but I had fun while watching it, and it made me mad that so many critics hated it. Mad enough that I wrote them an open letter.
Best Film
The moment you have all been waiting for. Here are the nominees for the film which I consider to be the best out of the first 100 films I've reviewed.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.250737-2-50-Reviews-Sin-City-2005>Sin City
<img height=150>http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2149/sincityposter060305.jpg
If only Sin City's middle story was great, then the entire film would have been amazing. That one story drags it down, but not enough to stop it from being one of the best films I watched.
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.230924-2-50-Reviews-The-Departed-2006>The Departed
<img height=150>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/Departed234.jpg
The Departed also failed to win its respective category earlier on, but that doesn't stop it from being an excellent film. This is likely due to the personnel involved in its creation, as it has excellent starring actors, and a great director.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231661-2-50-Reviews-Snow-Angels-2007>Snow Angels
<img height=150>http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/292/snowangelsmovieposter75.jpg
I can't describe my feelings for this film without tearing up with memories of me watching it. This film hit such a personal note with me that it saddens, yet also makes me happy whenever a thought of it enters my mind. Go see it.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.235794-2-50-Reviews-Let-the-Right-One-In-2008>Let the Right One In
<img height=150>http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2909/lettherightoneinposter.jpg
This is another beautiful film. It has excellent acting, and tells the story of two friends, one of which happens to be a vampire. This isn't like Twilight though, and the film takes a look at whether or not being a vampire would actually be a good thing.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251797-2-50-Reviews-Inception-2010>Inception
<img height=150>http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6185/inceptionposter0.jpg
Inception is the complete package. Good acting, great visuals, and and interesting story. It's my top film released in 2010, and is one that I really enjoy watching.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231661-2-50-Reviews-Snow-Angels-2007>Snow Angels
<img height=250>http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/292/snowangelsmovieposter75.jpg
I think I've said all I need to at this point. Snow Angels is an amazing film. It is my favorite so far, and it was the most powerful film I've ever seen. Seriously, go watch it now.
Intermission Time!
Next, we will look at the worst films I've seen so far. Take a break from reading all this, and maybe go watch a good movie.
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2344/s0022.jpg
It's been an eventful few months, hasn't it? I can't believe I'm already at this point, but...I've reviewed 100 films. This has been fun, but after 100 films, I think it's time to summarize what has happened so far. If you've missed any of the reviews so far, this will be helpful for you, and even if you haven't, it should hopefully allow me to further convince you which movies to watch, as well as which movies to stay away from.
I would first like to thank all of you for your support over the last little while, as without you, my reviews wouldn't get read. Posting in them brings them back to the top of the forum, as well as moves them into the "most recent" section of the forum, meaning more people read them.
I would also like to thank the ones of you who actually have critiqued my reviews, and allowed me to improve my writing. Look back to the first film review I wrote, and look at them now. My style has changed, I'm sure, but I have also gotten better at writing them.
There will be a few categories to work through, and for each film, I will state why I believe it deserves to be part of the category I put it in. Well, let's get on with it, as you are here to find out the films, not read a long, drawn-out explanation that is attempting to justify me eating up a thread.
Best Action
The films which are there almost just to entertain you. Not the deepest films, but possibly the most entertaining.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.226846-2-50-Reviews-Doomsday-2008>Doomsday
<img height=150>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dd/Doomsday_poster.jpg
Doomsday is a film that is so much silly fun that it manages to be incredibly entertaining. It's there for the sole purpose of entertaining its audience, and it does this really well. It pays homage to many 1980's films, and manages to tell a coherent story throughout its over-the-top action sequences.
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.250737-2-50-Review-Sin-City-2005>Sin City
<img height=150>http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2149/sincityposter060305.jpg
Sin City is a visually impressive film, but is also really entertaining. It's ultra-violent, but also has an emotional core behind that violence. Two of the three stories were amazing, while the third was just "okay". Still a great watch any day of the week.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.248979-2-50-Reviews-Black-Hawk-Down-2001>Black Hawk Down
<img height=150>http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/2172/blackhawkdownver1xlg.jpg
Black Hawk Down ended up being far more pure action than I had expected, and ended up being a really good film. It had fantastic action, and managed to make you care for its characters despite the fact that none of them get much development. Ridley Scott did really well with this film, and it is definitely worth a watch.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.249870-2-50-Reviews-Wanted-2008>Wanted
<img height=150>http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/319/wantedmovieposter.jpg
In terms of pure action, Wanted takes the cake. It is a balls-to-the-wall action film, but it also gives the audience something to think about while, and after, watching it.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251797-2-50-Reviews-Inception-2010>Inception
<img height=150>http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6185/inceptionposter0.jpg
Inception was a film I went to see twice when it was in theatres. It was that good. It had a brain, it had great action, and it had interesting, sympathetic characters. It was visually outstanding and was a treat to watch. It felt much, much shorter than its runtime indicates, and that shows me that it is a great film.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251797-2-50-Reviews-Inception-2010>Inception
<img height=200>http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6185/inceptionposter0.jpg
Inception is nearly a perfect film, and because of this, it wins "Best Action". While it might not have been all action like a Wanted or Black Hawk Down, Inception was a complete film, one which still keeps me entertained after many watches.
Best Comedy
When you need a laugh, these films are there for you.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.240196-2-50-Reviews-I-Heart-Huckabees-2004>I Heart Huckabees
<img height=150>http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8458/ihearthuckabees.jpg
I Heart Huckabees was, to me, an outstanding example of a thinking-man's comedy. It doesn't let you sit back and enjoy it, but instead asks you to participate alongside it. It isn't the funniest film on the list, but it gets a lot of praise from me due to its interesting story and characters, along with the fact that it is likely the most engaging comedy I have ever seen.
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231873-Marter-to-the-Movies-Scott-Pilgrim-vs-the-World>Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
<img height=150>http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/4248/scottpilgrimvstheworldt.jpg
I didn't think that it would be nearly as funny as it would be, but I ended up having an amazing time while watching it. It was hilarious, and probably the funniest film that will be on here. It also had great action scenes and interesting characters.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.249385-2-50-Reviews-The-Princess-Bride-1987>The Princess Bride
<img height=150>http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6558/princessbride.jpg
The Princess Bride was an adventure film, that had so many funny moments that it ended up being a great comedy. It has many different genres hidden within it, and ends up being a far deeper film than I would have thought. Now a cult classic, it's a film that you should give a look.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.242335-2-50-Reviews-Pirates-of-the-Caribbean-Curse-of-the-Black-Pearl-2003>Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
<img height=150>http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/7789/piratesofthecaribbean.jpg
Curse of the Black Pearl had almost everything that is needed in a movie. It was funny, it had a lot of action and it had really interesting and unique characters. It's an incredibly memorable film, and stays entertaining to this day.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.247358-2-50-Reviews-Dogma-1999>Dogma
<img height=150>http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1828/dogmaposter.jpg
Dogma reminded me that, after not seeing good comedies for a while, that they did still exist. Dogma was quite funny, and was a good introduction into what Kevin Smith's movies are going to be like. It had interesting characters, funny situations, and managed to not be as offensive as it thought it would be.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231873-Marter-to-the-Movies-Scott-Pilgrim-vs-the-World>Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
<img height=200>http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/4248/scottpilgrimvstheworldt.jpg
A comedy needs to make you laugh, and Scott Pilgrim was the film that made me laugh the most. It wasn't as engaging as I Heart Huckabees or Dogma, but it was the funniest film I watched in the first 100 films I watched, and wins the Best Comedy award from me.
Best Drama
The dialogue, character-driven films which make you remember you have emotions.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.230924-2-50-Reviews-The-Departed-2006>The Departed
<img height=150>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/Departed234.jpg
Martin Scorsese's film definitely deserves a spot on this list. The Departed was a great film. It had great acting and pacing, and it had a story that was really entertaining. The characters were all well developed, and the film was shot beautifully.
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.228761-2-50-Reviews-Pans-Labyrinth-2006>Pan's Labyrinth
<img height=150>http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9962/panslabyrinth.jpg
Pan's Labyrinth is the first foreign film that will appear on my list. It definitely won't be the last though. It likely has the best special effects out of the films in this category, as it has a large fantasy base. Don't be fooled though, this isn't a childish film, and it has all the drama that you could want, and possibly more than your emotions can handle.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231661-2-50-Reviews-Snow-Angels-2007>Snow Angels
<img height=150>http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/292/snowangelsmovieposter75.jpg
Snow Angels makes me cry. It makes me cry just thinking about it. This is the film that broke me. Before watching it, I didn't really show many emotions during films. There would be touching scenes, and I wouldn't shed a tear. Now I do, all thanks to this film. It's sad, but manages to stay powerful and entertaining all the same.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.238550-Marter-to-the-Movies-The-Social-Network>The Social Network
<img height=150>http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8041/socialnetworkx.jpg
Of the films I've seen from David Fincher, this is his best. It told a story about the creation of a website, or more so used it as a basis to have an in-depth character drama. It was a very thrilling film, one that really surprised me with how good it was.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251569-Marter-to-the-Movies-The-Fighter>The Fighter
<img height=150>http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/6448/thefighterposterlg.jpg
The Fighter just came out, and is still in theatres. Because of this, go see it while you can. It was a really good film, and this is coming from someone who isn't a fan of boxing at all. Seriously, it was really good.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231661-2-50-Reviews-Snow-Angels-2007>Snow Angels
<img height=200>http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/292/snowangelsmovieposter75.jpg
Anyone who knows me is likely not shocked by this reveal. I really enjoy--no, I loved this film. That is not a word I use lightly either. This is my pick for Best Drama, and I don't think any more words that I say can do it justice. I. Loved. This. Movie. Go. See. It. Now.
Best Horror
The films designed to chill you to the bone. Or not, in the case of some of them.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.241026-2-50-Reviews-Vacancy-2007>Vacancy
<img height=150>http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5842/vacancye.jpg
The number one thing I dislike about horror films is when they decide to throw in unnecessary jump scenes. Vacancy uses them, but they are there only when appropriate. They increase the tension, instead of making me sit back and go, "well, there was another jump scene".
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.240632-2-50-Reviews-Funny-Games-2007>Funny Games
<img height=150>http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/621/funnygamesusposter.jpg
Funny Games isn't your typical horror film, and actually, this works in its favor. In fact, most of my favorite horror films end up being ones that aren't "standard". Funny Games tells the story of a family being tortured, but the plot isn't what's important. The film has a message, one that it continues to preach all throughout the film. It managed to really entertain me though, and that's something to be praised.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.235794-2-50-Reviews-Let-the-Right-One-In-2008>Let the Right One In
<img height=150>http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2909/lettherightoneinposter.jpg
Sadly, this is the only category in which I could find a spot for this movie. It's a shame that it isn't going to win, as it just doesn't have enough horror elements to make it a real horror film. It's still a great film though, and I recommend watching it even though it will not win this category. It is well acted and well made. Go see it.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.240465-2-50-Reviews-30-Days-of-Night-2007>30 Days of Night
<img height=150>http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7558/thirtydaysofnightver4.jpg
I didn't like 30 Days of Night as much as I thought I would, but it was still quite an entertaining vampire film. The cold environment fit perfectly, and the vampires were incredibly frightening.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.241735-2-50-Reviews-Martyrs-2008>Martyrs
<img height=150>http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2348/martyrs.jpg
Martyrs is another non-typical horror film. It starts off being kind of scary, but by the second half, it abandons that thought. It ends up having a fairly deep-rooted message, and every single scene has a reason to be there. It's not all that scary, but still manages to be a horror film.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.240632-2-50-Reviews-Funny-Games-2007>Funny Games
<img height=200>http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/621/funnygamesusposter.jpg
While not being a standard horror film, Funny Games was the film in this category that I enjoyed the most. I'll definitely give Let the Right One In an honorable mention though, as it was the best film of the 5 nominees. It just wasn't enough of a horror film to be the best one.
Best Thriller
The films which thrill you from beginning to end, whether through their story or characters.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.234802-2-50-Reviews-No-Country-for-Old-Men-2007>No Country for Old Men
<img height=150>http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/9914/posternocountry3.jpg
This is a film that was almost superb, but it was let down by its ending. It is still quite good, and it stays entertaining throughout, but the ending was disappointing. Note that I'm not talking purely about the ending scene, but actually the last 20 or so final minutes. It definitely could have been improved upon.
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.243884-2-50-Reviews-Gone-Baby-Gone-2007>Gone Baby Gone
<img height=150>http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/7517/600fullgonebabygonepost.jpg
Gone Baby Gone is the directorial debut of one Ben Affleck, and what a debut it is! It was heavy in the dialogue department, but the story was quite thrilling despite this. It was a fun film to watch, and marks an excellent debut for Affleck.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.243272-2-50-Reviews-Eastern-Promises-2007>Eastern Promises
<img height=150>http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/8815/easternpromisesxlg.jpg
Eastern Promises' beauty lies in its characters. They are all incredibly interesting, and while you don't get to find out all that much about them, it manages to work in this film. You want to watch it again just to find out little details that you missed about them the first time.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.232615-2-50-Reviews-Hard-Candy-2005>Hard Candy
<img height=150>http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1601/hardcandyfilmposter.jpg
Hard Candy is more of a revenge film than anything else, but it was still quite thrilling. It has a difficult subject matter, one that it presents to us full-on. the acting is great, and while there are no "morally-good" characters, you still want to keep watching.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.246582-2-50-Reviews-Shutter-Island-2010>Shutter Island
<img height=150>http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/334/shutterislandposterw.jpg
Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island was a great film. It was thrilling, had a great central mystery, and likely had the most memorable soundtrack out of any film on the list. The acting was great, and the main character was really interesting. Sadly, the supporting cast wasn't developed enough to make you care about them, but a re-watch is almost a given with this film.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.243272-2-50-Reviews-Eastern-Promises-2007>Eastern Promises
<img height=200>http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/8815/easternpromisesxlg.jpg
I originally thought I was going to pick No Country for Old Men, but then I remember the bad feeling that the ending gave me. Eastern Promises ending wasn't great, but it was better than that. It was also a great, character driven thriller, one that you will want to re-watch right after seeing it.
Biggest Surprise
The films which didn't score well with critics, but I ended up enjoying far more than I thought I would.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.227257-2-50-Reviews-Resident-Evil-2002>The <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.227437-2-50-Reviews-Resident-Evil-Apocalypse-2004>Resident <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.227628-2-50-Reviews-Resident-Evil-Extinction-2007>Evil <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251665-2-50-Reviews-Resident-Evil-Afterlife-2010>Quadrilogy
<img height=150>http://www.trailershut.com/movie-posters/Resident-Evil-4-Afterlife-Movie-Poster.jpg<img height=150>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/Resident_evil_apocalypse_poster.jpg<img height=150>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/RE_Extinction.jpg<img height=150>http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4060/reabig.jpg
These films scored really poorly from critics, and I can certainly see why. The thing is, I still enjoyed them. The latter three were certainly better than the first, but they're all entertaining in their own right. Afterlife was especially good.
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.226415-2-50-Reviews-The-Happening-2008>The Happening
<img height=150>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a6/Happening_poster.jpg
This is the film that got it all started for me. I didn't think that The Happening would be any good, but it turned out that it was really funny. No, it wasn't thrilling like it should have been, but it was still enjoyable. In this case, not sticking to its genre paid off.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.241838-2-50-Reviews-Silent-Hill-2006>Silent Hill
<img height=150>http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3161/silenthillposter.jpg
Video game adaptations don't have a great history, and critically, Silent Hill was no different. And yet, I liked it. It was a pretty solid horror movie. It might have been a poor adaptation of the game, but I still enjoyed myself while watching it.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.242946-2-50-Reviews-Ultraviolet-2006>Ultraviolet
<img height=150>http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1173/ultraviolet.jpg
I didn't think much of Ultraviolet before watching it. Nobody I know liked it at all, and critics hated it. I didn't think it was great, but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as people told me. It was enjoyable, but only if taken as a dumb action film.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.228340-2-50-Reviews-Whiteout-2009>Whiteout
<img height=150>http://www.moviesonline.ca/movie-gallery/albums/userpics//poster_whiteout_ver3.jpg
Called by some as "The Worst Movie of 2009", Whiteout was the worst reviewed movie on this list. I knew this going in, but I still liked it. Probably more than I should have, but it wasn't a bad movie at all. It's exciting, at times anyway, and it managed to keep me entertained.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.228340-2-50-Reviews-Whiteout-2009>Whiteout
<img height=200>http://www.moviesonline.ca/movie-gallery/albums/userpics//poster_whiteout_ver3.jpg
This was a hard choice, as all of these films surprised me more than they should have. Still, Whiteout was the one that surprised me the most with how much I enjoyed it. Maybe it was because it was panned so heavily, but I had fun while watching it, and it made me mad that so many critics hated it. Mad enough that I wrote them an open letter.
Best Film
The moment you have all been waiting for. Here are the nominees for the film which I consider to be the best out of the first 100 films I've reviewed.
<spoiler=Nominee #1><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.250737-2-50-Reviews-Sin-City-2005>Sin City
<img height=150>http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2149/sincityposter060305.jpg
If only Sin City's middle story was great, then the entire film would have been amazing. That one story drags it down, but not enough to stop it from being one of the best films I watched.
<spoiler=Nominee #2><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.230924-2-50-Reviews-The-Departed-2006>The Departed
<img height=150>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/Departed234.jpg
The Departed also failed to win its respective category earlier on, but that doesn't stop it from being an excellent film. This is likely due to the personnel involved in its creation, as it has excellent starring actors, and a great director.
<spoiler=Nominee #3><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231661-2-50-Reviews-Snow-Angels-2007>Snow Angels
<img height=150>http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/292/snowangelsmovieposter75.jpg
I can't describe my feelings for this film without tearing up with memories of me watching it. This film hit such a personal note with me that it saddens, yet also makes me happy whenever a thought of it enters my mind. Go see it.
<spoiler=Nominee #4><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.235794-2-50-Reviews-Let-the-Right-One-In-2008>Let the Right One In
<img height=150>http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2909/lettherightoneinposter.jpg
This is another beautiful film. It has excellent acting, and tells the story of two friends, one of which happens to be a vampire. This isn't like Twilight though, and the film takes a look at whether or not being a vampire would actually be a good thing.
<spoiler=Nominee #5><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.251797-2-50-Reviews-Inception-2010>Inception
<img height=150>http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6185/inceptionposter0.jpg
Inception is the complete package. Good acting, great visuals, and and interesting story. It's my top film released in 2010, and is one that I really enjoy watching.
<spoiler=Winner><url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.231661-2-50-Reviews-Snow-Angels-2007>Snow Angels
<img height=250>http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/292/snowangelsmovieposter75.jpg
I think I've said all I need to at this point. Snow Angels is an amazing film. It is my favorite so far, and it was the most powerful film I've ever seen. Seriously, go watch it now.
Intermission Time!
Next, we will look at the worst films I've seen so far. Take a break from reading all this, and maybe go watch a good movie.