The year didn’t exactly begin with a bang, but the last half of 2010 proved to have everything you’d want in your library, with a smart and moving action movie, as well as two films that revealed new threads in the social fabric. New directors emerged, and old veterans returned, proving the film world is still vibrant – and willing to take on the big dramatic challenge of reflecting an ever-changing reality.

10. Somewhere

Hollywood actor Johnny Marco, nested in his luxury hotel of choice, is a stimulated man. Drinking, parties and women keep a creeping boredom under wraps in between jobs. He is the occasional father of a bright girl, Cleo, who may be spoiled but doesn’t act it. When Cleo’s mother drops her off and leaves town, Johnny brings her along for the ride, but can he fit an 11-year-old girl into his privileged lifestyle?

I went out of the cinema feeling cleansed, which is the same reaction I had to Lost in Translation. Which, for me, is a very rare reaction. It’s slower and slightly more adult, but it’s the same limbo theme; alienation, emptiness and loss of purpose. And SC uses the hotel as a symbol once again: A nothing place, like standing on a platform waiting for the train. Stephen Dorff plays, excellently and believable, the pleasure addicted star that is in the middle of falling apart, slowly dissolving in his surface life. SC let’s the character free himself from all the unnecessary things in life, one by one, until there is only the core left, and I couldn’t help feeling lighter and happier myself when that happened. Apart from that it’s also hilarious – if you are able to appreciate subtle humour and can laugh at the ridiculous side of life. Just a little thing like the unsexy, squeaky sound it made, when the blonde twins turned on their poles… It totally cracked me up.

9. Kick-Ass

Dave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan with a few friends and who lives alone with his father. His life is not very difficult and his personal trials not that overwhelming. However, one day he makes the simple decision to become a super-hero even though he has no powers or training.

You know that rare feeling… happens every year or so… when you pour out of the cinema SO excited at the film you’ve just watched, and every other word is “ohmygodilovedtwithbitwherethey”? Well ‘Ding’, Kick ass hits that sweet spot. Comprising teen comedy, kick-ass action (sorry) and a healthy dose of comic book style violence and gore, it rocks.

It’s Superbad meets Kill Bill.

The film is a fairly faithful adaptation of the comic book, and where tweaks have been made, they make the plot more robust for the audience to empathise with.

Kick-ass is stylish, fun, daring, and the dark surprise of violence and gore kept the balance of comic teen angst fresh: a delicious perk me up when you were settling into comedy mode. There was never a dull moment in the pace of the film, never a flimsy plot point, and actually the audience guffawed their way through the film. Did I mention it has a cool soundtrack to boot? I’ve already got it on my Phone.

8. The King’s Speech

Tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George (‘Bertie’) reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war.

I think I must have seen a different film from the previous two reviewers at Leeds on Friday. It is now two days ago and I am still feeling overwhelmed by what I saw. It is a very touching, and quite inspiring story about a man, psychologically scarred, and trapped in a situation from which he could have no escape and facing it with immense courage. It so happens that he was royal, and that was a large part of his problem- but the film isn’t so much about royalty as a human story. The film conveyed very powerfully in the opening scene, the enormity of what was required of him. As the film develops, the complexities of the character are revealed. The acting is superb, especially from the three principals, and the development of the troubled and sparky relationship at the heart of the film is a joy to watch. The film is very funny and the characters have warmth and humanity. The film is well paced, and carries you along to the emotional climax, so that, even though I knew the story, it had me holding my breath. If you don’t need lots of action or special effects in your film, and enjoy seeing top-notch actors at the very peak of their craft, this will be for you. You might also, as I did, gain a bit more insight into the human drama behind a significant, but relatively unexplored period of British history.

7. True Grit

Following the murder of her father by hired hand Tom Chaney, 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit,” Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn. Mattie insists on accompanying Cogburn, whose drinking, sloth, and generally reprobate character do not augment her faith in him. Against his wishes, she joins him in his trek into the Indian Nations in search of Chaney. They are joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, who wants Chaney for his own purposes. The unlikely trio find danger and surprises on the journey, and each has his or her “grit” tested.

Just came back from seeing “True Grit.” Now this is the kind of film that the average person goes to the movies to see. It was amazing, highly entertaining, suspenseful, funny, and had a great story line. Jeff Bridges was fantastic, as was Matt Damon. Josh Brolin was good too, the only problem is I didn’t get to see enough of him. He is definitely an up and coming actor that I hope to see more of. However, the best acting in the entire film was done by Hailee Steinfeld. Hailee plays the role of Mattie Ross and she is incredible. She really is 14 and held her own with the likes of Damon, Bridges, and Brolin. This film was an excellent western and comedy. There were several times that the theater was filled with laughter. I will definitely see this film again and may even purchase the DVD.

6. Inside Job

‘Inside Job’ provides a comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008, which at a cost over $20 trillion, caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and nearly resulted in a global financial collapse. Through exhaustive research and extensive interviews with key financial insiders, politicians, journalists, and academics, the film traces the rise of a rogue industry which has corrupted politics, regulation, and academia. It was made on location in the United States, Iceland, England, France, Singapore, and China.

Inside Job belongs to a genre of new documentaries, like The Cove, Dear Zachary and Bowling For Columbine, that are not only made to document the background of a phenomenon but also to encourage people to do something about it. Dividing itself into five sections of a ‘report’, the film looks at the background and effect of the recession and its effect on politics, the world, society, the economy, public welfare, education, the present and the near and distant future.

Inside Job is undeniably motivational and does well to extract the hypocrisies and selfishness of the main perpetrators and other persons linked with the crisis. Inside Job depicts the global financial from only one perspective and does not give due weighting to the alternate point of view. Of course, it does not help that the main protagonists involved in the entire affair are obviously missing from this documentary, a fact that is rubbed on to the audience time and again.

On the flip side, economics, being a head scratcher for several budding commerce students by nature, the spoken narrative of figures and key personnel could perhaps have been better explained with a clearer use of graphics. However since the film makers are not lecturers it would be too much to expect them to be aware of the concepts of pedagogy.

Well crafted and edited, Inside Job is a good introduction to the cause and effect of the financial crisis, it falls just short of being the definitive version. It is a good watch nevertheless and provides sufficient food for thought and plenty of opportunity for future cocktail party discussion.

5. Exit Through the Gift Shop

The story of how an eccentric French shop keeper and amateur film maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner. The film contains footage of Banksy, Shephard Fairey, Invader and many of the world’s most infamous graffiti artists at work.

An experience will ultimately become a diluted memory, unless the experience itself is documented in image or film, in which case it will last forever (or until it is deleted/destroyed…). ‘Exit Through The Gift Shop’ is a brilliant examination of the underground street art culture, and a poignant look at man’s obsession with a culture he is increasingly drawn into throughout his life.

Thierry Guetta (pronounced Te-ree), is a French immigrant living Los Angeles with his loving wife and children and a good honest job, but there is one object he will never leave the house without; his video camera. Guetta has been enticed into the everyday cinema verité movement of simply recording any, and everything that goes on in his life. From playing with his children, to his ultimate attraction of following other street artists around and documenting their work, Guetta loves to watch, document and admire from behind the lens. Guetta eventually earns the trust and respect of various artists around the globe including the elusive Banksy, his cousin Space Invader and Shepard Fairey, and provides the audience with an up close and personal view of a culture (or industry) which has been projected into the limelight over the past five years.

4. The Kids Are All Right

Nic and Jules are in a long term, committed, loving but by no means perfect relationship. Nic, a physician, needs to wield what she believes is control, whereas Jules, under that control, is less self-assured. During their relationship, Jules has floundered in her “nine to five” life, sometimes trying to start a business – always unsuccessfully – or being the stay at home mom. She is currently trying to start a landscape design business. They have two teen-aged children, Joni and Laser, Nic who is Joni’s biological mother, and Jules who is Laser’s biological mother. Although not exact replicas, each offspring does more closely resemble his/her biological mother in temperament. Joni and Laser are also half-siblings, having the same unknown sperm donor father. Shortly after Joni’s eighteenth birthday and shortly before she plans to leave the house and head off to college, Laser, only fifteen and underage to do so.

The kids are better than all right, they’re terrific. So are their lesbian moms, played with insight and skill by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. Trouble is, the film that surrounds them turns out to be less than compelling stuff despite its topicality. The sperm donor responsible for the family at hand is played by Mark Ruffalo, and although a talented fellow, his character has enough foibles to keep him emotionally distant from the viewer. The story of his introduction to this modern family goes in a couple of directions, but all feel familiar and none satisfactory. Terrific premise, but unfulfilled promise.

3. 127 Hours

127 Hours is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers, family, and the two hikers he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet?

From the very beginning up until the very end, you know you are in the hands of some truly special filmmakers, specifically Boyle. Everything in the film seems to have a pulse and a life of its own, whether it is the hyper kinetic editing, the lush and gorgeous cinematography, the often epic score, the thought-provoking writing or just the general style of the film. Where other movies pay very little attention to the little things, Boyle and company seem to have amped up the quality in the majority of those areas, and made a film whose elements very much complement each other. I could not believe the short running time at first, but they pack so much in and the film moves at such an aggressively energetic pace, that you barely have time to slow down and breathe once the film really gets moving.

2. Black Swan

Nina (Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side – a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.

The performances where spot on, Vincent Cassel was terrific as the suspicious teacher, whose brilliance and lust for the dancers in his show are both quite reputable, one often beating out the other. And Mila Kunis truly shines in this one, bringing out a side of her many probably didn’t know was possible. She is absolutely beautiful and aptly portrays the black contradiction to Natalie Portmans white, a terrific contrast of good and evil. Kunis, however, as many may assume, is not meant to be there to spark a general conflict of good vs evil, but to emphasize the side of Portman that we have not yet seen. A side that will drive her to the brink of insanity to obtain.

1. The Social Network

On a fall night in 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius Mark Zuckerberg sits down at his computer and heatedly begins working on a new idea. In a fury of blogging and programming, what begins in his dorm room soon becomes a global social network and a revolution in communication. A mere six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history… but for this entrepreneur, success leads to both personal and legal complications.

I went into this film with little or no hope. By the time the movie was over, with the Beatles’ “Baby, You’re A Rich Man” playing over the end credits, I had a huge smile on my face. I literally cannot wait to watch this again during it’s wide release.

The lighting and camera work here is beautiful, every scene and sequence is a joy to watch. If Fincher hasn’t already proved himself time and time again with his great films, this one might be the one to seal the deal for him. One sequence in the middle of the film features a boring rowboat race. Fincher sets up the photography so beautifully, that it feels like you’re watching a painting come to life.

All the performances are excellent. Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark Zuckerberg as a fast-paced, nerdy, kind of jerk-ish attitude, and Andrew Garfield is his best friend, Eduardo, who at the beginning didn’t mean much to me, but I found myself rooting for him by the end. Justin Timberlake is easily the weakest one of the three, but he still does a decent job.

And oh, man the soundtrack. Trent Reznor deserves some kind of recognition for this. It is amazing. A lot of people say the movie sounds boring. They cite “The invention of facebook” as an uninteresting topic. I say don’t believe that talk, and check out this interesting, funny, thrill ride by Fincher and co.

10. Fight Club (1999)

“Fight Club” an aggressive, confrontational, often brutal satire that is quite possibly a brilliant masterpiece. Taking the “Choose life,” anti-consumerism rant at the beginning of “Trainspotting,” and carrying it to its logical — albeit extreme — conclusion this is a big budget, mainstream film that takes a lot of risks by biting the hand that feeds it. The film’s narrator (Edward Norton) is an insignificant cog in the drab, corporate machine, dutifully doing his job and what he’s told without question. He’s an insomniac slave to his IKEA possessions and only finds joy in going to as many self-help/dealing with terminal diseases sessions as he can. It provides him with an escape from his sleepless nights. That is, until Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter), a trashy chain-smoking poser, enters his life and upsets his routine. The narrator also meets Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), a charismatic soap salesman whose straightforward honesty, candor and sleazy lounge-lizard outfits are a breath of fresh air. One night, after the two men have bonded over beers, Tyler asks the narrator to hit him. At first, it seems like an absurd request but after they pound on each other for a bit, a strange feeling overcomes them. They feel a kind of release and satisfaction at inflicting pain on one another. In a world where people are desensitized to everything around them, the physical contact of fighting wakes them up and makes them feel truly alive. Others soon join in and pretty soon Fight Club becomes an underground sensation. However, it becomes readily apparent that Tyler has more elaborate plans than just organizing brawls at the local bar. David Fincher has taken the dark, pessimistic worldview of “Seven” and married it with the clever plot twists and turns of “The Game” and assembled his strongest effort to date. “Fight Club” is a $50+ million studio film that remains true to its anti-consumer, anti-society, anti-everything message — right up to the last, sneaky subliminal frame.

9. The Matrix (1999)

Writing a review of The Matrix is a very hard thing for me to do because this film means a lot to me and therefore I want to do the film justice by writing a good review. To tell the truth the first time I saw the film I was enamored by the effects. I remember thinking to myself that this was one of the most visually stunning films I had ever seen in my life. Also having always been a comic book fan and a fan of films that were larger than life, the transitional element of the story was very appealing to me and this probably heightened my enjoyment of the film very much. It wasn’t until some time later (and after having seen the film a few times more) that I started to think about the film. I recognized the Christian elements quite quickly but it wasn’t until I wrote an actual 15-page essay on the film that I tapped into some of the philosophical and religious elements and that made me appreciate the film even more. I won’t say that I have recognized all elements because the film is quite literally packed with them.

8. Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

My five children were all pre-teens when ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ came to the theater. While there had been other Sci-Fi movies with a theme of conflict in outer space, the ‘Star Wars’ trilogy filled our imaginations like no other movies before them. The fantastic, strange worlds were presented almost like we were there too. Aliens sitting around a tavern, enjoying drinks and speaking in all sorts of languages. Nothing before had approached the sheer size of the space ships depicted here, huge cities traveling all over the galaxy. And how about the jump to hyper speed, then disappearing from the screen as the speed exceeds light speed! And the light sabres of the Jedi Knights. The Jedi Knights, a striking parallel to the Japanese Samurai.

7. Requiem For a Dream (2000)

Often hype about films lead to disappointment and after waiting 14 months after release for my local cinema to show this film, I was done thinking about it. Thank goodness too, rather than challenge my brain (not hard to do unfortunately) this film went straight for the heart, ripped it out and kicked it around the floor for 90 minutes. As the addictions plunged further into the depths of Hell, I felt myself more and more arrested by the film. I’ve never left a film shaking or feeling physically ill- not including Pearl Harbour, of course You want to look away, but cannot. This movie is by no means flawless, but then again I would like to hope that the flaws add to the gritty reality of the film. The ending was truly the most frightening thing I have ever seen in film- forget the cheap scares of The Exorcist, Psycho and the endless bile of the ‘slasher flick’, this stuff is REAL.

6. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

I believe that this film is the best story ever told on film, and I’m about to tell you why. Tim Robbins plays Andy Dufresne, a city banker, wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. He is sent to Shawshank Prison in 1947 and receives a double life sentence for the crime. Andy forms an unlikely friendship with “Red” (Morgan Freeman), the man who knows how to get things. Andy faces many trials in prison, but forms an alliance with the wardens because he is able to use his banking experience to help the corrupt officials amass personal fortunes. The story unfolds…. I was so impressed with how every single subplot was given a great deal of respect and attention from the director. The acting was world-class. I have never seen Tim Robbins act as well since, Morgan Freeman maybe (e.g. Seven). The twists were unexpected, an although this film had a familiar feel, it wasn’t even slightly pretentious or cliched, it was original. The cinematography was grand and expressive. It gave a real impression of the sheer magnitude of this daunting prison. But the one thing which makes THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION stand above all other films, is the attention given to the story. The film depends on the story and the way in which it unravels. It’s a powerful, poignant, thought-provoking, challenging film like no other. If Andy were to comment on this film, I think he might say: “Get busy watching, or get busy dying.” Take his advice.

5. Gladiator (1992)

This movie is proof that a great movie doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. you just have to pick the right elements. a good story, picking the right cast, the right filming places. After seeing Cuba gooding Jr. in this movie i became a big fan of his. it’s to bad thats he does these the rich guy kind of easy parts these days. this was some really good acting of him. It felt real. 1 question though. Why did an actor like James Marshall never make it big time. I like the vibe he brings to the white screen. and Robert Loggia..who doesn’t like his raw, had to much whiskey kind of voice. Jon Seda, a real struggling boy in this movie, through the years he gotten even greater. keep on going the right way Jon !!! My Final conclusion: most boxing film do not have a lot of dept. Thy this one boys…this one is definitely in my personal top 5

4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

As a movie watcher, I tend to become bored with the constant, overdone, overdrawn, underplayed, overdramatized performance and production quality of most Hollywood films. It’s a trait that in recent years has sadly driven me away from most big budget American films. A decent idea will become mangled by the money making machine that is Hollywood, hoping to pump the most raw cash they can out of it before it drops dead in the street. We all saw the catastophre of a failure that arose from the Matrix Franchise. Such immense hype and professed genius only made the failure all the more poignant for those of us that really wanted and expected more from the franchise. That all being said, I must say that The Lord of the Rings is an amazingly powerful visual experience. Not even just a visual experience. Peter Jackson has crafted one of the finest written pieces of our era into THE quintessential epic. He supplements the brilliant storytelling of JRR Tolkien with one of the most awe-inspiring collection of films ever created.

3. Titanic (1997)

Firstly and foremostly, I did not go see Titanic to see DiCaprio…although I think he can be a great actor. Reading through earlier comments, i grew a bit weary of hearing about lame script and shallow characters. I went to see a ship sink…the plot and the characters were, at least to me, a kind of icing on the Cake. I actually think a lot of the characters were done well; that is, by the time they die in freezing water, you actually felt a tinge of sadness for them. But , by the time Titanic was over, I was sufficiently moved to make me tell people that it was a great movie. Kate Winslet was good, Kathy Bates was perfect, Leo was ok (I’ll give you people that – I’ve seen him shine like I know he can … Basketball Diaries, Romeo & Juliet). But ultimately, the Titanic sinks…and it was absolutely stunning. Bravo to Cameron. He didn’t just show us a large ship sinking, he showed us the back half of it crashing down on a hundred freezing, drowning people; he showed us a third class mother attempting to sing her children to sleep because she knew they were all doomed (broke my heart – i cried the most right there at that point), he showed people who worked extremely hard to get OUT of the bowels of the ship only to be sucked back in when a random window shattered and the water carried them on back in…detail. I like detail in a movie. Very impressive job.

2. Forrest Gump (1994)

I have seen this movie easily a half a dozen times, and I find that the beauty of the film is how Forrest Gump not only shares his innocence and purity with others, including the audience, he also manages to retain that innocence and purity through some very difficult times. As a Viet Nam veteran, and a college graduate of the late Sixties, I could of course personally relate to the various periods that Forrest Gump endures. I would only mention that the skillful and seamless blending of music, action, and period costume was enthralling. And yet it was so perfectly understated that Forrest Gump’s travels through thirty five years of the stormiest and most meaningful years of American history only became clearly defined for the viewer. Even more so than the well known chocolates quote as a metaphor for life, I felt that the remark that stupid is what you do is probably more workable for most of us.

1. The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather is commonly considered to be one of the “greatest films of all time”. Even though I’ve given it a 10, I wouldn’t put that same kind of exalted emphasis on it. I’ve given literally thousands of films 10s over the years, and for me, Godfather just barely made a 10. I think it has a number of flaws, but Coppola also has a knack for transcending the problems with some brilliant move or another. At any rate, it is definitely must-see viewing–even if it’s only because it’s so highly regarded–if you’ve not experienced the film yet. I think it’s a good idea to attain cultural literacy, and films as popularly loved as The Godfather become necessary elements in achieving that literacy.

Shorn of its gangster trappings, The Godfather is sprawling and soap-operatic in tone. The sprawl is appropriate to its origins as a novel by Mario Puzo, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Coppola. There is a large cast of characters–maybe too large, as it can be difficult to keep track of just who everyone is. Even after you’ve watched the film a couple times you may find scenes where mobsters seem to spontaneously appear and you catch yourself saying, “Wait, who is that guy supposed to be again?” The soap opera angle can be a positive or negative depending on your tastes. I tend to not like soap-operatic stories, but of course Coppola put yummy gangster topping on this one to make it palatable for guys like me. At root, though, The Godfather is concerned with realistic depictions of a very dysfunctional family as they try to make it through life–including marriages, births, adultery, spats between family members, tiffs with others in their community, and so on. My theory is that the soap opera angle accounts for much of the film’s appeal. For me, it (and the slight lack of focus from the sprawl) accounts for much of the reason that I barely gave the film a 10.

10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid

My son has been waiting for this movie for months, so as to not disappoint, off we went expecting a lukewarm kiddie movie. NOT THE CASE!!! My husband and I laughed often and loudly. As a elementary physical education teacher, I really enjoyed the take on the middle school coach. It was a charming, off beat and entertaining. It was also especially timely, since my son heads off to middle school next year. I left the theatre and called my other teacher-moms with children that loved this series and told them to run, don’t walk to see this. Great story,surprisingly clean and enjoyable. Not your typical kids movie. My son told me as we left the movie that the story didn’t exactly follow the books, but as we all know, they never do. The transition from a cartoon book to on-screen real life people was wonderful! This will join our home library when it comes out. And “yes” I do plan on buying my son a shirt with our faces screened on that says “I love my Mommy” for his first day of middle school. Well, only if he gets out of line between now and then ; )

9. The Bounty Hunter

I was excited when I first saw the previews of this movie. I am a HUGE Gerard Butler fan and I don’t believe he’s ever done a movie with Ms Anniston. The concept was fair enough…a romantic comedy with a little suspense thrown in. I left the theater feeling…”that’s it?” Sure there were a couple cute things here and there, maybe a little suspense, but definitely not enough to carry a movie! The pace was much too slow for me, although I’m sure the actors did what they could with the script they were given. I loved seeing Gerard in Law Abiding Citizen, but this was truly disappointing! I am a big movie fan, but I wouldn’t recommend seeing this to any of my friends

8. Dinner for Schmucks

Just finished watching “Dinner for Schmucks”. To me it’s a typical rom-com, but there’s this weird guy in it that steals the show. I really liked the “mice”-en-scenes, the ones at the dinner were lame, but the scenes Barry recreated from his marriage were beautiful in an odd way. I liked Steve Carell, as Barry, because surprisingly of all the over the top characters in this movie, he was the most believable and lovable and I’m not a fan. It took me a lot of time to like him in “The Office”, but thanks to Comedy Central over here in Holland and after a lot of sleepless nights with absolutely nothing else to watch, he kind of grew on me. Zach Galifianakis character was great too, but the only things that had me laughing out loud was some of the slapstick. S o was it a good movie? Yes, enjoyable enough for a Sunday afternoon. I tried to watch the original “Le dinner du cons” before I saw this remake but I couldn’t stand it, because of the slow pace. Now I have seen the remake and was pleasantly surprised, I just had to watch the original, because everyone keeps saying it’s so much better. I used to love Louis de Funes and the Pink Panther movies when I was a boy (and yes I know Clouseau wasn’t really French!), so I gave it another go. I was happy to see Jacques Villeret, the sidekick of Louis de Funes in a couple of movies, but I guess that’s also the problem. He needs someone else to shine and he didn’t really on his own. The dialogs were more tongue in cheek than laugh out loud funny and I really feel sorry for people who think this is the funniest movie ever… I was also very disappointed that the actual dinner wasn’t in the movie, because I expected the French to outshine the remake in it. So if you like Steve Carell you’ll love this movie and as a remake I think it did improve on the original even though they gave it a typical Hollywood ending. If you really want to see a train wreck of a remake, I still think Louis de Funes’ “Oscar” by Sly Stallone is the worst remake ever!

7. Sex and the City 2

I love to watch a good chic-flick. However, I was so disappointed. This movie has little to offer except constantly changing ‘bizarre’ costuming presented as high fashion and thoroughly embarrassing ‘ugly American’ scenes of over-indulged, entitled and rudely written characters. I went to the theater to enjoy a fun movie. I came away shaking my head. The movie was disrespectful to me as an American woman. Who acts like Samantha when in a foreign country, the Middle East or otherwise? As I watched the characters make total asses of themselves I was embarrassed for them simply sitting in the theater. It’s no wonder other countries believe Americans lack respect for everyone and everything. Hollywood apparently does and wants everyone to know it. Unfortunately, the general public is judged by Hollywood–the American delivery system. It’s not worth the money to see it. If you can get it on DVD for a buck, then judge for yourself.

6. Due Date

At first i was a little hesitant about going to see this film. I guess i was a little worried that, as with so many other comedys (Grownups to name but one), all the best bits were used in the adverts/trailers for this film. I was wrong and boy am i glad i went to see this movie. At first i was a little hesitant about going to see this film. I guess i was a little worried that, as with so many other comedys (Grownups to name but one), all the best bits were used in the adverts/trailers for this film. I was wrong and boy am i glad i went to see this movie. I’d recommend that you go see this film, enjoy it for what it is. A damn good laugh and great way to spend a couple of hours at the flicks.

5. Date Night

If you’re looking for something masterfully done, look elsewhere. If you just want to see two stars who are funny be funny almost despite some of the limitations in the script, Date Night deserves a chance. At the least you get to see the two show off their “skills” in a strip-club scene, and, did I mention Mark Whalberg doesn’t have on a shirt? So yeah, basic premise, married couple looking for a little change (their friends are splitting up), go out to ‘The City’ (NYC of course) and to a very nice restaurant. In a move that could come out of a Seinfeld episode, they can’t get a reservation so Carrel overhears a waitress calling for someone else for a reservation and he decides they should take it since they’re no-shows. The “Tripplehorns”, as it turns out, have some shady dealings with some bad dues with guns, and so the Fosters, our confused heroes, go on the run in the city. Whenever the movie focuses on the core plot of all of this, it’s by the numbers stuff, save for a climax that ratchets up the absurdity of everyone involved (including good actors playing decent-to-mediocre baddies like William Fichtner and Ray Liotta).

4. Valentine’s Day

I was the classic husband dragged to see this on Valentine’s Day weekend as a goodwill gesture. It was every bit as bad as could be possibly imagined. Half of Hollywood’s A List star as vacuous stereotypes, moronically obsessed with the holiday in question. This despite the fact they are all living millionaire lifestyles, with perfect tans and the whitest of teeth. It’s Love Actually, without a sense of humour or any depth whatsoever. No- one and nothing is remotely realistic – every storyline has a trite and convenient resolution and none is convincing or interesting. There is a perfect and unlikely ratio of ethnicities and sexualities. The sex trade is entirely trivialised and sanitised. No-one stays upset about relationship breakdowns for more than one scene. People break into spontaneous dance sequences in which everyone knows the pre-rehearsed moves but the film doesn’t have the conviction to show it for more than 3 seconds… Just utter pointless and patronising bilge…

3. Jackass 3D

I really liked the last Jackass movie, because there was an intelligence at work there, beyond just a desire to be shocking and gross (though “shocking” and “gross” is being too mild). And this was just a lot more of the same. The film is not for the squeamish, especially due to the delight taken in excrement. Excrement here is treated like confetti on New Years Eve. I don’t want to get into details, because much of my enjoyment of this film is due to the shock factor. There were a few scenes that I was just too scared to watch. I won’t get into trying to describe or give a list of what’s shown here. Let me just say that if Thomas Edison had ever thought his invention would show something like THIS, he’d have destroyed his camera and killed himself. But for about 80% of this film, I was howling with laughter, though terribly embarrassed I was carrying on like that.

The only thing I can say specific to a scene in this movie is that the Midget Bar Fight has got to be, no doubt about it, the most hilarious “Candid” scene I’ve ever watched. I had major qualms about going to see a film so crude, gross, violent, and obviously marketed to an audience about 40 years younger. I saw it. I loved it. I’m so embarrassed. And I saw it in 2-D. Which was at least one D more than I needed. The idea of watching some of these scenes in 3-D

2. The Other Guys

I saw the advanced screening tonight in New York City and it was hilarious. The dry humor was tremendous and the chemistry between Marky Mark and Will Ferrell is unmatched. They were so funny together it was great. The story of the movie is pretty predictable but there legit is non stop laughter through the entire film. The only draw back was the length of the movie, they could have trimmed it a bit but overall it’s a solid summer comedy. Dare I say this was Will Ferrell’s best performance since Anchorman. It’s certainly one of those movies you will be quoting with your friends for a long time. The entire theater was laughing throughout the entire thing..Great movie…go check it out.

1. Grown-Ups

There is nothing wrong about this film… there is nothing right about it either. It’s just another Adam Sandler feel-good movie, and if you like these (I certainly do), you will like this movie too. If you hate them for a lack of plot or the shallowness of the jokes, you won’t. I just know I laughed a numerous amount of times, and I felt good after having watched it. And no, I’m not a stupid guy; I like a good plot, good acting, directing and well-thought-of puns as does the next guy. But there are times when you feel like watching a complicated drama, and there are times when you feel like watching a no-brainer.

This is definitely a no-brainer, which will make you feel good from time to time. That’s why Adam Sandler makes these movies, and that’s why they keep doing so well. They will make you feel good

10. A Christmas Story (1983)

A Christmas Story, there is absolutely no way that anyone could ever say they never saw this film since it’s shown every Christmas, especially on TNT when they do the 24 hours of A Christmas Story, lol. But onto the movie, I’ve watched A Christmas Story since the day I was born, it’s one of those films you never get sick of because of the simple fact that each year of your life you could relate to it in some way. Each character has these memorable moments and you could say that you’ve been in the same situation. It’s great seeing this movie because it makes us laugh about the silliest moments in our life during the Christmas season.

9. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

After strong performances in films such as “Mr Smith Goes to Washington” and “The Philadelphia Story”, James Stewart confirmed his status as one of the greats with his performance as George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. This movie is, without a doubt, the best of all time. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a movie that you can watch over and over again. It’s movie that makes you think, about life in general and how each person makes a difference, and about how great life can be (hence the title “It’s a Wonderful Life). Whilst making you think, it also entertains with many light hearted moments, particularly towards the end of the film.

8. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

A truly superb Christmas treat for old and young alike. This is the re-telling of the classic Dickens novel ‘A Christmas Carol’. Michael Caine is cast superbly as Scrooge but the muppet characters are absolutely brilliant, particularly Gonzo and Rizzo.

The sets are excellent and the music stirring (so much so I bought the CD soundtrack and listen to it at the festive season whilst driving). I never fail to watch this movie at least once a year and if you haven’t seen it you should, it really does make you feel good.

7. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

Steve Martin, John Candy, William Windom, Edie McClurg, Laila Robins, Kevin Bacon (cameo). One of my all time favorite comedies. Side-splittingly hilarious film by writer-director John Hughes about uptight advertising salesman Neal Page (Martin in a versatile comic turn) faced with many pitfalls in reluctantly traveling with obnoxious yet well-meaning shower curtain-ring salesman Del Griffith (Candy in arguably his best role) offering assistance and resulting in setback. Great scenes all around in this first-rate buddy road flick. Candy is bittersweet with his ” I like me” moment but the best moments are him going down a highway the wrong way with two oncoming semis and Martin’s priceless apoplectic moment at a car rental saying the “F” word 18 times (yes I counted! in fact I watched this video at least once a week for two years at college with my roommates laughing helplessly).

6. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

The Griswold family is set to celebrate the holidays like never before, in `National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,’ directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik and written by John Hughes. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) has decided to have a traditional, old-fashioned family Christmas, and has invited his parents and in-laws to stay with them through the season. He has a surprise he wants to share with everyone this year; with his Christmas bonus from work, he’s putting in a pool, to which he’s already committed the down-payment money (so the bonus had better come through, big time, or he’s `in it up to here’). To kick off the season, he takes Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo) and the kids, Audrey (Juliette Lewis) and Rusty (Johnny Galecki) to the mountains to find the perfect `Griswold family Christmas tree. And it’s only the first of one hilarious scene after another, as we follow Clark and clan through one long laugh-fest, filled with surprises and fun. Chase is at his best here, in the most enduring (and endearing) character he’s ever done; Clark the Everyman, who only wants the best things for his family and himself, but whose plans more often than not go awry, doomed to fall just short of realization. When he decorates the outside of the house, he uses 25,000 twinkle lights; they use enough juice to black-out an entire neighborhood, and they do (once he can get them to work).

5. The Polar Express (2004)

The Polar Express delivered me all the way back to childhood and my own faith in Santa Claus at the age of five. I could not only hear the bells, I could see his sleigh in the night sky. Chris Van Allsburg is to be commended for writing an excellent fantasy and Tom Hanks for conducting the wonder tour to beat them all. The special effects are just outstanding, the story line credible and heartwarming. The characters are believable and utterly charming. The children depicted are our own. I would recommend this film to any and all who love Christmas and remember what it is to believe. The experience of watching makes you a participant, breathless to see what comes next. I can hardly wait to view it on IMAX and am taking my entire family, including seven grandchildren to the Tulsa Cinemark this season. Let’s hope we see more of this quality venue in months and years to come.

4. Home Alone (1990)

“Home Alone” is a hilarious film about a young boy (Macaulay Culkin) who is accidently left home during the Christmas holidays after the rest of his family goes to Europe. At first Culkin loves the situation, but soon he is scared to death when he learns that burglars Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are targeting his house. However, Culkin is pretty smart for an eight-year-old and he has plans for them when they attack. Chris Columbus’ direction is smart and so is the over-achieving screenplay. This film has a little bit of something for everyone and the fact that the backdrop is the Christmas holidays, only makes it that much more special. All the performers do well and in the end the film also does. 4 stars out of 5.

3. Elf (2003)

For those that represent the general public in the movie, as well as the audience, Ferrell’s character dares us to believe again, even for a moment of the magic of Christmas and tears down decades of political correctness to connect us with the late 60s and 70s when so many annual Holiday shows brought us a seemingly sustained desire to entertain ourselves with the magic that waxes then wanes but for a few short weeks each year. Whether a work of animation or raw theater, this refreshing story brings vitality and rekindles childhood memories for the kid in all of us.

2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Santa Claus has come to town. Or at least that’s what a gentlemen appropriately named Kristopher Kringle played by Edmund Gwenn complete with full white beard is claiming. He makes his appearance at the Thanksgiving Day Parade as sponsored by R.H. Macy’s Department Store and finds the Santa hired for the occasion, Percy Helton, full of a little too much Christmas cheer already. In charge of the parade is one of Macy’s middle level executives, Maureen O’Hara, who fires Helton and hires Gwenn right then and there.

Gwenn’s obvious sincerity makes him an ideal Santa Claus for Macy’s and for us. He spreads the real meaning of Christmas around even has Macy’s declaring a holiday truce with its rival Gimbel’s. That’s a part of Miracle on 34th Street that might be lost to viewers today. Gimbel’s was Macy’s big department store rival and it’s flagship store in New York stood across 34th Street at the time. Gives a meaning to the title that is lost on today’s audience.

1. Bad Santa (2003)

The first time I saw Terry Zwigoff’s latest effort (co-executive produced by the Coen brothers) Bad Santa, I didn’t know whether I was watching a comedy that had astonishingly funny and madcap moments, or if it was a really bad movie. At times the script felt like it was under the penmanship of demented cretins off loan of some low-rent porno company. But there were scenes and moments with good old Billy Bob Thornton that had me laughing uncontrollably, so I decided to see it again recently. Now I understand it- this is a dig-in nails, ribald, hardcore satirical look at one (un-kept is a term used loosely) man in the midst of Americana during Christmas time.

Yet I think the brilliant aspect about Bad Santa is it never takes itself a bit too seriously. Even in the denouement, when we are sort of assured things will turn out alright; it’s like a denouement on a South Park episode. In fact, that’s something that can be said about Bad Santa, is that it feels like a work in the vein of Parker and Stone, but since it’s from the director of Ghost World it comes off a little fresher, with an appeal all its own.

10 .Faust – Eine deutsche Volkssage (1926)

To fans of early horror, director F.W. Murnau is best known for ‘Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens,’ his chilling 1922 vampire film, inspired by Bram Stoker’s famous novel. However, his equally impressive ‘Faust’ is often overlooked, despite some remarkable visuals, solid acting, a truly sinister villain, and an epic tale of love, loss and evil. The story concerns Faust (Gösta Ekman), an old and disheartened alchemist who forms a pact with Satan’s evil demon, Mephisto (Emil Jannings). As God and the Devil wage a war over Earth, the two opposing powers reach a tentative agreement: the entire fate of Mankind will rest on the soul of Faust, who must redeem himself from his selfish deeds before the story is complete.

9. King Kong (1933)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KING KONG! This month marks the 70th anniversary of the release of the classic 1933 movie King Kong. Produced by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, King Kong is a tragic tale of a giant ape that is taken from his jungle home and put on display in the big city of New York. He escapes while pursuing a girl he has become enamored with and dies a tragic death at the hands of a squadron of Biplanes. Who among us can forget the classic ending line `It was Beauty that killed the beast’.

King Kong played to record numbers during its East Coast release in the first week in March 1933(It was released in April on the West Coast). In two theaters in New York the film grossed $89,931 smashing all records. Keep in mind this was during the depression! Many film makers have drawn inspiration from King Kong’s tragic tale. Craftsman such as Godzilla director, Ishiro Honda , Ray Harryhausen,( who worked with King Kong effects artist Willis O’Brien on his film MIGHTY JOE YOUNG for which O’Brien won the very first special effects Oscar) and Peter Jackson have claimed to be inspired by Kong’s dynamic presence.

8. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

When people talk about perfect films I don’t actually know what they mean. Perfect for whom? Perfect compared to what? I think that perfection is in the brain and heart of the beholder. “Rosemary’s baby” is a perfect film to me. Scary in a way that makes you breathless. You’re thinking and feeling throughout the film. One of the many sides of Polanski’s genius is to suggest. And what he suggest is so monstrous that we don’t want to believe it, but we do. The characters are so perfectly drawn that there is no cheating involved. John Cassavettes’s superb study in selfishness and egomaniacal frustration is so real that comes to no surprise that he could do what he does to advance his career, but we are surprised, we’re horrified. The spectacular Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer are not Deborah Kerr and David Niven, are they?

So that they turn out to be what they turn out to be is totally believable, but Polanski presents it in such a light of normality that you can’t believe it. Mia Farrow’s predicament is as classic as the boy who cried wolf tale and yet, as told by Roman Polanski in the wonderful face of Mia Farrow, is as if we’re hearing it, seeing it and living it for the first time. Every silence, every voice in the distance, every door opening. Your heart is always in your throat. There is something there that accelerates a constant state of dread. Very few movies have been able to take me to that place, most of them by Roman Polanski, what about “The Tenant” or “Repulsion”? Other movies that come to mind: David Lynch’s “Eraserhead” and Martin Donovan’s “Apartment Zero” But “Rosemary’s baby” stands alone as a terrifying masterpiece.

7. Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)

I despise most vampire stories. Not even Florence Stoker’s dear departed husband could keep me occupied after the first act in Transylvania in “Dracula”. The vampire has been so romanticized as an archetype (particularly during the ’90s) that I can’t but feel that most horror fans have forgotten exactly what made us afraid of these guys to begin with. Murnau’s “Nosferatu” is just such a reminder and, because of that, is the only screen version of “Dracula” that I have ever loved.

Though Murnau, in the hopes of dodging the copyright bullet, took many liberties with the novel, he actually shot a great part of the film on location (an unusual practice for the time) in the historical Dracula’s old stomping grounds: the Carpathian Mountains in Romania. The town, landscapes, and castles were all for real, not just some fancy studio backdrop. To me, it helps convey the tone of authenticity, as you can believe this story being told. As for Max Schreck, no charming, suave seducer is he. With his bald head, bushy eyebrows, rat-like teeth, pointed ears, nails as long as the fingers they are attached to, emaciated build, and stare that seems to come from the bottom of Hell itself, he is the primal, archetypal image of the vampire of legend.

6. The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist is one of the best movies to come out of the 70′s and deserves better than slowly descending down the top 250. It’s one of those essential films you have to see in order to understand what a movie truly is and this is more than a horror film. Unfortunately there are so many people who are saying they got bored, I think because they expected a terrifying movie, people! This isn’t a slasher movie, this isn’t some scary Michael Myers that you can shoot, this is a story about normal people in a normal house and upstairs there is a little girl who happens to be possessed by “The devil himself”. Faith is so strong and when it’s shaken, anything in your imagination can run wild.

5. The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter’s The Thing is hands down the best horror film ever made. Not only that, but it is also on of my personal favorite films of all time. What makes the movie so great? It’s hard to put my finger on it. Everything just seems to work in The Thing, it’s one of the rare occasions where everything just seems to fall in place. The film is even superior to Alien in creating a type of moody atmospheric hell. The fact that it’s not only about the gore (which is wonderful btw), but it is able to create a paranoia that is unmatched in films. A truly wonderful film that is worshiped by all horror buffs, and anyone who has good taste in films.

4. Les diaboliques (1955)

Are you alone? good. Have you turned off the lights? good.Is there a storm brewing in that dark foreboding sky?Excellent. Do you like brilliant black and white movies? Wonderful.Now, sit back and enjoy the best of the best. This is quite simply the best psychological thriller ever made.Often imitated but never bettered. If you have a problem with subtitled films then don’t worry because you will understand this film without reading them. If you want slash and gore, go elsewhere.If you want sophisticated entertainment,you’ve come to the right place.Georges Cluzot’s finest work is a thing of beauty as is his wife Vera, who stars opposite Simone Signoret as the schoolmaster’s wife.From the very start it is very clear that all is not as it seems. But why? and who? What is the terrible secret of the swimming pool and later on, the bathtub? As the tension builds to an unbearable climax, we sit and hide behind our hands, peering through the gaps in our fingers.Oh my God!! it can’t be!…..it is! Do not confuse this movie with the disgraceful remake starring Sharon Stone. All copies of that disaster should be burned. Watch this movie if you are a serious film buff. Rent something else if you have the attention span of a goldfish.Brilliant. 10/10

3. The Shining (1980)

When this film first came out in 1980, I remember going to see it on opening night. The sheer terror that I experienced in viewing “The Shining” was enough to make me go to bed with the lights turned ON every night for an entire summer. This movie just scared the life out of me, which is what still happens every time I rent the video for a re-watch. I have seen The Shining at least six or seven times, and I still believe it to be simultaneously and paradoxically one of the most frightening and yet funniest films I’ve ever seen.

Frightening because of the extraordinarily effective use of long shots to create feelings of isolation, convex lens shots to enhance surrealism, and meticulously scored music to bring tension levels to virtually unbearable levels. And “funny” because of Jack Nicholson’s outrageous and in many cases ad-libbed onscreen antics. It never ceases to amaze me how The Shining is actually two films in one, both a comedy AND a horror flick. Ghostly apparitions of a strikingly menacing nature haunt much of the first half of the film, which gradually evolve into ever more serious physical threats as time progresses. Be that as it may, there is surprisingly little violence given the apparent intensity, but that is little comfort for the feint of heart as much of the terror is more implied than manifest. The Shining is a truly frightening movie that works symbolically on many levels, but is basically about human shortcomings and the way they can be exploited by unconscious forces combined with weakness of will. This film scares the most just by using suggestion to turn your own imagination against you. The Shining is a brilliant cinematic masterpiece, the likes of which have never been seen before or since. Highly, highly recommended

2. Alien (1979)

The beginning of one of the greatest series of all time. This film will always remain a classic. It’s scary, influential and insanely entertaining. Not just that but Ridley Scott actually has a great sense of style and mood and he plays with that a lot, to make us shiver. There’s also an interesting mystery surrounding the Alien which we know practically nothing about. Sigourney Weaver is just as powerful as usual and really brings strength to the film; they make one. Last but not least, the musical score. Wow! It’s fantastic. I think the Alien series is known for that aspect as well. Let’s hope they’ll continue the series and dang we need it all on DVD !

1. Psycho (1960)

I saw this movie as a teenager when it was first released in the 1960′s. The promotional hype for the film ensured you did not have a clue what it was about and people who had seen the movie were asked not to reveal the ending. You went to see it anticipating something scary and thats what you got. Even 30 years later I still remember sitting in a dark theatre with my heart pumping and everyone, and I mean everyone, screaming their lungs out.

The movie set a new and very high standard in horror movies which I don’t believe has ever been equaled. The characters were great, the direction perfect and the music, which I thought was absolutely fantastic, made this a classic. I still get scared when I see it on TV.

10. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

The slew of dismissive “gay cowboy” and “quit you” jokes that inundated the airwaves and the internet after the release of this movie could easily have made the experience of watching it feel like nothing more than an extended joke, but in fact it’s still as powerful as ever. You’d be hard-pressed to find a screen kiss more powerful than the one a reunited Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ennis (Heath Ledger) share in Ennis’ stairwell, or an ending more subtly, silently heart-breaking. Despite—or perhaps, because of—the insurmountable obstacles Jack and Ennis face, this movie makes a love that strong seem worth fighting for.

9. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

“Meet me in Montauk.” Breaking through the memory-erasure procedure Joel (Jim Carrey) has impulsively agreed to undergo to wipe out any recollection of his failed relationship with Clementine (Kate Winslet), those whispered words evoke the possibility of second chances, of lost lovers reunited, of happiness recaptured and held. Eternal Sunshine is unique because as Joel loses his memories, the film in turn discards all the reasons why he and Clementine were wrong for each other, and rediscovers the ways in which they initially were—and might one day be again—so right.

8. The Notebook (2004)

Directed by Nick Cassavetes (son of the inimitable John Cassavetes) and starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, The Notebook offers all the components of an epic love story: beautiful young protagonists are madly in love but kept apart by social differences; steamy love scenes; and tear-jerking tragedy. Based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks, the story is set in the 1940s yet told in present time by an elderly man (James Garner) to a fellow nursing home patient (Gena Rowlands, the director’s mother).

7. Moonstruck (1987)

Sometimes, Cupid has a sense of humor. Just a few weeks before her wedding, Loretta (Cher) falls in love with her fiancé’s estranged brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage), who lost his hand in a tragic bread-making accident. As goofy as it sounds, the comedy in this Oscar-winning contemporary classic is as organic as the attraction between Loretta and Ronny is undeniable. You’ll feel just as caught up in the lunar lunacy (and love) by the end.

6. An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

Boasting the consummate embodiment of the modern fairy tale ending, An Officer and a Gentleman makes the idea that a handsome young man in uniform might come sweep you off your feet and lift you up where you belong seem…well, at least a little plausible. That the handsome young man in question (Richard Gere) has to grow up and mature as a person in order to be worthy of his factory worker girlfriend, Paula (Debra Winger), adds another touch of realism, and makes that famous closing scene even more sublime.

5. The Age of Innocence (1993)

From the lavish sets and scenery to the Academy-award winning costume design, The Age of Innocence is a visual feast with love and longing at its core. Dashing Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) and demure May Welland (Winona Ryder) seem to be the perfect match until Michelle Pfeiffer’s Countess Olenska enters the picture. Every gesture and glance is pregnant with meaning in this intricately and grandly conceived film based upon the 1920 novel by Edith Wharton.

4. An Affair to Remember (1957)

Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr star as an artist and a nightclub singer who are destined to be together—and are almost kept tragically apart. The dramatic plot, full of chance encounters, misunderstandings and a pivotal meeting atop the Empire State Building, has inspired countless remakes and homages, including, most famously, Sleepless in Seattle. It’s easy to see why: Grant and Kerr’s passion is so intense, it can’t help but inspire equal fervor in others.

3. Casablanca (1942)

Great love stories are often about sacrifice. Many would argue: what truer test of devotion can there be than the willingness to give anything, everything, for the one you love? Enter Casablanca, arguably the greatest love story ever filmed, in which Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman must give up their chance at personal happiness not for each other, but for a cause that’s greater than them both. It’s more than just a romantic story, it’s a noble one, made even more powerful by the sweeping, bittersweet memories they—and we—will always have of when they were happy in Paris.

2. Roman Holiday (1953)

Like a modern fairy tale, Roman Holiday concerns the love affair between a princess (Audrey Hepburn) and a commoner (Gregory Peck). Though this improbable pairing is destined not to last, Peck’s paparazzo honorably suppresses his exposé of the princess and thereby remains in her good graces. This fun frolic through the streets of Rome was Hepburn’s first starring role, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress.

1. Gone with the Wind (1939)

When two people as headstrong and passionate as Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) and Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) meet, enough sparks fly to set Atlanta alight — if it weren’t already burning. The classic romance set against the dramatic backdrop of the Civil War is as epic as they come, with such an ardent, arduous romance at its core that nearly 70 years later, we’re all still holding our breaths at the thought of what the tomorrow Scarlett famously speaks of might bring for her and Rhett

10. Speck (2000)

Based on the killings of the 1960′s, Richard Speck is a disturbed man that breaks into the college sorority house. He rapes and beats the eight women while thinking to himself about his own psychotic world. Is someone strong enough to escape the grasp of Richard Speck?

9. Summer of Sam (1999)

Spike Lee’s take on the “Son of Sam” murders in New York City during the summer of 1977 centering on the residents of an Italian-American South Bronx neighborhood who live in fear and distrust of one another.

8. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)

Henry likes to kill people, in different ways each time. Henry shares an apartment with Otis. When Otis’ sister comes to stay, we see both sides of Henry; the “guy-next-door” and the serial killer. Low budget movie, with some graphic murder scenes.

7. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

A bored small-town girl and a small-time bank robber leave in their wake a string of violent robberies and newspaper headlines that catch the imagination of the Depression-struck Mid-West in this take on the legendary crime spree of these archetypal lovers on the run.

6. The Boston Strangler (1968)

Boston is being terrorized by a series of seemingly random murders of women. Based on the true story, the film follows the investigators path through several leads before introducing the Strangler as a character. It is seen almost exclusively from the point of view of the investigators who have very few clues to build a case upon.

5. Ed Gein (2000)

The true story of Edward Gein, the farmer whose horrific crimes inspired Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Silence of the Lambs. This is the first film to Gein’s tormented upbringing, his adored but domineering mother, and the 1957 arrest uncovered the most bizarre series of murders America has ever seen.

4. Dahmer (2002)

Based on the true crime story of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, this movie tells the emotionally riveting story of a man who turned his darkest fantasies into a horrifying reality.

3. The Helter Skelter Murders (1970)

A mixture of documentary footage and re-enactment scenes, some filmed on the action locations, of the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders committed by the gang known as the Manson Family.

2. To Catch a Killer (1992)

“To Catch a Killer” tells the true gruesome story of John Wayne Gacy – a good friend and helpful neighbor, a great child entertainer, a respectful businessman, and a violent serial killer who raped and murdered over 30 young boys.

1. The Deliberate Stranger (1986)

Based on a true story, this film depicts the life of Theodore Robert Bundy, the serial killer. In 1974, after having murdered several young women, he leaves Seattle for Utah, where he is a law student and where other girls disappear. It takes the cooperation of a number of police forces to work efficiently on this case. Soon, but not soon enough, the police eliminate endless possibilities and close in on him. Bundy is tried in the media and his good-boy attitude brings him sympathy but also the hatred of many.

To be a true horror fan, you have to be a little sick in the head. Let’s be realistic here – chances are you like to be scared and/or you enjoy seeing people meet a bloody, violent demise. It’s ok, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s good for the heart, we hear.

10. Irreversible (2002)

As many of you would agree, Irreversible is the sickest movie ever made! There are only two really sick scenes in the film, (a harrowing, violent, and seemingly never-ending rape, and the infamous fire-extinguisher-bludgeon scene), they are so well done, and so shocking – especially in the context of the story – that we felt compelled to include Irreversible on this list. Rarely has a title been so appropriate; once you have seen this film, you cannot un-see it, and its effect on you will be forever Irreversible.

9. Men Behind the Sun (1988)

To be honest, this film could be 100% fictional and it still would have made the top 10 list, as some of the scenes are downright brutal and extremely controversial: a (supposedly real) live cat is thrown into a room of starving rats and torn to pieces; a (supposedly real) corpse of a boy is slowly autopsied; a man is placed in a pressure chamber until his intestines blow out of his anus; a woman is tied to a post outside in the freezing cold, with buckets of cold water being dumped over her head to test the effects of frostbite, then her hands are plunged into boiling hot water, the skin peeling right off the bones; etc etc (those aren’t even the worst scenes, trust us).

8. Salò or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)

Set in the Nazi-controlled, northern Italian state of Salo in 1944, four dignitaries round up sixteen perfect specimens of youth and take them together with guards, servants and studs to a palace near Marzabotto. In addition, there are four middle-aged women: three of whom recount arousing stories whilst the fourth accompanies on the piano. The story is largely taken up with their recounting the stories of Dante and De Sade: the Circle of Manias, the Circle of Shit and the Circle of Blood. Following this, the youths are executed whilst each libertine takes his turn as voyeur.

7. Ichi the Killer (2001)

I am not a Japanese and I do not understand Japanese language that well. I got a sub-title’d version of this DVD and man what I can say – Holy Sh*t!!! The way how Ichi kills everyone is nothing but a pure “mess” – yes I mean it! The dress-up of Ichi makes no sense but his actions do.

Cutting off someone’s nipples, or slicing someone in half, or cutting someone’s face off and throwing it against the wall and I am not telling you something that is not there in the movie. This movie is pure sickness redefined! As it stands, this film is often quoted as the sickest film ever, but usually only by people who haven’t seen the rest of our Top 10.

6. Murder-Set-Pieces (2004)

Beefy German-speaking serial killer murders tons of naked women in Las Vegas. For 90 minutes, we see various naked women getting killed by the serial killer. The women are tortured, sliced, diced, chainsawed, etc, to death.

That is the story is all about but I should tell you . . . There’s very little attempt to create suspense or understanding into the few characters populating this claustrophobic flick. It’s all surface. No depth whatsoever. And any level of realism in MSP was thrown out of the window because the abysmal acting, certainly from all the bimbos. I mean, we are talking HG Lewis level of acting here.

5. Guinea Pig 2: Flowers of Flesh and Blood (1985)

Not that it isn’t well deserved; this is quality stuff here folks. The film itself is fairly simple: a creepy Japanese dude in a samurai suit (don’t ask us) kidnaps a girl, drugs her, ties her to a bed, and slowly cuts her to pieces. That’s it, that’s the whole movie. But the special effects are SO well done and so convincing, it really takes it to a whole other level. Fingers, hands, you name it; everything is cut off in slow, agonizing detail. The blood looks great, the gore is splendid, and the dismemberments are top notch (for example, after cutting off one of her hands, the fingers suddenly clench around his wrist, despite the fact it is no longer attached. Yikes.).

4. Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

When I saw this movie, I should say I literally puked. The torture they do to the tribal women in this movie is sick, sicker and the sickest ever!

Cannibal holocaust is a truly charged viewing experience; in all its 20 years of existence no other non mondo film (until maybe Men behind the sun) had such a reputation to shock, even today it is believed by some at the UKs trading standards to be an actual snuff film. CH is not the goriest film ever made, but in terms of themes and narrative its still the cruellest, most fascinatingly harsh piece of filmaking in the horror genre. Ive seen all the Traces of death, the men behind the sun films, and the Guinea pigs and I still think this is king.

3. Cutting Moments (1997)

In the center of a monotonous suburban existence, Sarah lives silently and in subservience to her icy husband Patrick. They have been together far too long, and Patrick’s affections for his wife have all but vanished. Instead, his sexual urges are tempting him to lust after their own son. Realizing how far gone her husband is, Sarah undertakes drastic, shockingly sickening measures to salvage some sense of her life and purge her years of festering resentment.

2. Aftermath (1994)

A favorite here at the Horror Brain headquarters, Cutting Moments is a disquieting, harrowing look at the mental breakdown and subsequent downward spiral of a family torn apart by abuse, both physical and mental, and the limits of the human psyche.

A mostly silent and slow-paced film, there’s no denying the talent behind Cutting Moments, as Buck masterfully lets silence speak louder then words; allowing the tension of the film to slowly rise to a boil before the incredibly disturbing and permanently scarring bloody climax.

1. August Underground’s Mordum (2003)

DAMMIT! This is Fred Vogel’s Toe Tag Pictures, the new masters of gore. This is the second movie of a planned trilogy. This is the one, the only, August Underground’s Mordum. Sickening. Depraved. Disturbing. Unsettling. Horrific. Disgusting. Brutal. Disconcerting. Repulsive. Upsetting. Sordid. Troubling. Nauseating. Ghastly. Filthy. Revolting. Nasty.

Needless to say, it’s pretty messed up. The August Underground movies are faux-snuff films, documenting the exploits of a group of serial killers as they maim, torture, rape, humiliate, and ultimately murder their helpless victims.

Anyway, so here are my top 10 best Hollywood movies, with brief movie reviews, which are given in a chronological order:

1. Casablanca (1942)

This 1942 Oscar winning romantic movie, with the backdrop of World War II, starring the brooding Humphrey Bogart in the role of Rick Blaine and the beauteous Ingrid Bergman in the role of Ilsa Lund, has become an all-time classic. Redolent with smoke filled, emotionally charged scenes, it is about the conflict faced by Rick of choosing between doing the right thing and helping the husband of his former lover, Ilsa, and his love for her. Today, Casablanca is ranked amongst the all time best Hollywood movies ever made.

2. Singin’ in the Rain:

This wonderful musical-cum-comedy movie of 1952, which stars Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor, directed by Stanley and Kelly Donen, with the choreography also provided by Kelly, is a hilarious take on the transition of Hollywood movies from the silent film era to the talkies. And of course, one of the most memorable scenes in the movie is Gene Kelly’s performance in the title song, Singin’ in the Rain, which is regarded now as iconic.

3. Ben-Hur (1959)

This epic film first screened in 1959, based on the novel by Lew Wallace, Ben-Hur. A Tale of Christ, and directed by William Tyler, starring Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Haya Harareet, Jack Hawkins, and many more, is one of the most memorable movies in my mind. Who can forget that galley scene, and of course that simply stupendous chariot race scene! Even by today’s hi-tech, computer-generated special effects standards, that chariot race scene in Ben-Hur is regarded as one of the most sensational action sequences ever to be captured on film. Ben-Hur won eleven Academy Awards, which included Best Picture.

4. Psycho (1960)

This genre defining horror-cum-suspense movie of 1960, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, has won acclaims as one of the most effective in its class. Practically all the scenes have become legends cinematically, and have gone on to spawn several remakes and sequels, none of which have managed to come anywhere close to the original. The movie is about the encounter between Marion Crane, played by Janet Leigh, a secretary who goes to hide at a motel after stealing from her employer, and the lonely owner of the motel, Norman Bates, played brilliantly by Anthony Perkins. Can one talk about Psycho and not mention the shower scene? It still sends shivers down my spine! It has been studied closely and has aroused endless debates about why it inspires such terror and how it was made.

5. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Oh, how can I ever forget the languid, gun-on-hip toting saunter of Clint Eastwood, his blue eyes crinkled against the sun, the comic effects of Eli Wallach, and the villainous depiction of Lee Van Cleef . And then there is the famous score of the film, of course, which was composed by Ennio Morricone. This 1966 film, categorized as a spaghetti Western and considered an epic, was directed by Sergio Leone. The movie’s spectacular widescreen cinematography was created by Tonino Delli Colli, the director of photography. The plot revolves around the three gunslingers who are competing with each other to locate the hidden Confederate gold, which involves gunfights, Civil War battles, hangings, violent chaos, and prison camps – all the classic themes of a great Western.

6. 2001 A Space Odyssey

Based partly on the short stories written by Arthur C. Clarke, particularly ‘The Sentinel’, this science fiction movie of 1968, directed by Stanley Kubrick, extensively collaborating with Clark, deals with fascinating themes like extraterrestrial life, artificial intelligence, technology, and human evolution. The special effects used in it were pioneering, and it was marked by its scientific realism, and the intriguingly equivocal sound effects and imagery used instead of the traditional techniques of narrative. Although the movie got mixed reviews when it was released, critics today proclaim it as one of the greatest movies ever made.

7. The Godfather

This 1972 movie, which has won the Academy Award, based on the Mario Puzo novel of the same name, is another of my all-time favorites. With the direction given by Francis Ford Coppola, from the screenplay written by him and Puzo, the movie has some fantastic performances given by Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Al Pacino, James Caan, and Diane Keaton. This crime film, spanning ten years from 1945-1955, is a chronicle of the Corleone family. No other movie made about the mafia since this movie comes anywhere close to The Godfather, in my opinion. I found the two sequels, The Godfather Part II (1974) as well as The Godfather III (1990), equally engrossing.

8. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

The viewer is taken into the environs of a mental hospital in this 1975 movie. It delves into the life of a man called Randall McMurphy, a convict who chooses to spend time in the hospital, rather than serve time in prison. He achieves this by feigning to be slightly crazy. The time he spends in the mental ward, the interactions he has with the other patients there, his conflicts with the insensitive and cold nurse, named Ratched, are what make this one of the best Hollywood movies. The movie went on to sweep all the major Oscar awards of that year, such as Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture. Its star cast includes Jack Nicholson, Danny Devito, Louise Fletcher, William Redfield, Peter Brocco, Michael Berryman, and Alonzo Brown.

9. Apocalypse Now

This 1979 movie, takes you as much into the dark jungles of Vietnam where Benjamin L. Willard, an army captain, is sent to eliminate Walter E. Kurtz, a Colonel of the United States Army Special Forces, who is thought to have gone insane, as it takes you into the dark depths of the human psyche. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and based in large part on the novel, Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, it has the brooding presence of an aging and corpulent Marlon Brando at his best, Robert Duvall in the Oscar-nominated role of Lt. Colonel Bill Kilgore, Dennis Hopper in the role of a photojournalist, and of course Martin Sheen in the role of Captain Benjamin, which was based on Conrad’s character, Marlow. Apocalypse Now is the winner of the Academy Award of 1979, the Cannes Palme d’Or, and the Golden Globe.

10. Schindler’s List

Although Oskar Schindler was an unlikely figure to be an historic hero, he became exactly that, and his story has been told brilliantly in this evocative film of 1993. Schindler, the businessman, whose primary motive was to make money, spends all his fortune on saving one thousand Jews from the gas chambers of the Nazis. Starring Ben Kingsley and Liam Neeson, many consider it to be a masterpiece of the director, Steven Spielberg’s film making career.

As usual we will start with Number 10 and go down for the Number 1. No matter where does a movie stand it is a porn movie So you sure gonna enjoy it Lol just kidding . . . well may be not?

10. Conquest (1997)

The daughter of a pirate who was murdered by an infamous privateer teams up with a pirate captain, whose wife was also murdered by the same man, to avenge her father’s death. There were numerous non-sex roles, this shows that they had much more money to spend than the usual porn flick, and I thought that they spent is relatively wisely. Conquest was good, a reasonable story (head and shoulders above most other porn), good period wardrobe, good cast, (Tom Byron in his grungy mode is perfect as a seaman on a pirate ship), and well-shot sex scenes. Since you know (I would believe) more about pre 1900-music than most people in porn, it would seem reasonable if they asked you about the right music choice. Did they? Were you in any way involved in the music of this video?) Wrong centuries, but it was much better than the usual synth stuff in porno movies.

9. Flashpoint X (1998)

True porn fans need smoldering women and a palpable erotic tension to fulfill their appetites, not the picturesque locations and slow-mo fight sequences Hopkins dishes up. The recipient of a great deal of adult industry hype as superstar Jenna Jameson’s farewell film (at least until she un-retired herself once again to do DREAMQUEST), FLASHPOINT proves a sadly overblown affair. Well-made for sure, it falls into the same trap a lot of other big, expensive porno movies – like Nic Cramer’s OPERATION SEX SIEGE for Private – did before, meaning that it focuses heavily on all the production elements that might be considered worthy additions, substituting special f/x and loud action sequences for what should rightly be considered the genre’s very essence, i.e. hot, erotic sex.

8. Manhunters (2006)

Although it isn’t often mentioned along with the more ballyhooed Pirates, the acting, plot and production are well above par, and the final product is comparable to Pirates. The critics agreed, as Manhunters took home seven AVN awards (Oscars for porn movies) in 2006, and was nominated for 17 awards in total.

7. Operation Desert Stormy (2007)

Operation Desert Stormy is dumb sexy fun – simple as that! It is three hours of James Bond parody that is lifted by a superior cast. The sex is not overwhelming – it IS a couple’s movie – but it doesn’t get in the way of the plot. Stormy did an excellent job on this movie and gave Steven St, Croix enough room to goon about to great effect. Reliable actors such as Randy Spears and Ron Jeremy also do well.

My only complaint would be that it is three hours long. Too much of a good thing. Nice action sequences, though, and a great (by porn standards) parachuting sequence. Explosions and fight scenes vie with the usual orgies and lesbian action. Stormy is also a terrific light comedian, hugely under-rated, who can get a laugh with just the twitch of an eyebrow or a sideways glance. If you liked Pirates or Space Balls, this is an excellent movie in a similar style.

6. Upload (2007)

In a pornographic film, it’s *expected* that everyone will do everyone else, and so keeping the characters from doing so, in a way that preserves them, is an intriguing choice. With a unique X-Files-like story, and a cast headlined by Eva Angelina and Kylie Ireland, its no small wonder that this big-budget porn was such a hit.

5. Fashionistas (2002)

All the extreme goings-on are handled with such an impeccable sense of style and an unerring “eye” for the erotic however, that even those not so inclined will ultimately be won over. In perhaps another intriguing “first”, Stagliano has married mainstream porn to specialty fare, taking the union much further than many surely expected. If the somewhat abrupt ending, following the awe-inspiring Antonio/Jesse encounter the whole feature’s been building up to, gives the impression of leaving several loose ends dangling, viewers can take heart in the fact that the director has decided to continue the tale with the just-released THE FASHIONISTAS : SAFADO and the announced THE FASHIONISTAS : BERLIN. I, for one, await with baited breath.

4. Pirates (2005)

Pirates (also known as Pirates XXX) is an adult action-adventure film. In reviewing the R-rated version, I tried to forget that this movie was made by the porn industry, to keep my review fair. Surprisingly, the costumes, sets, backgrounds, music and special effects were fantastic, especially considering that this movie was reportedly made for only $1 million. (A typical Hollywood movie costs between $15 million and $80 million, with budgets going as high as $200 million.) The drawback here was the acting. About 25% of the actors were very good, about 25% were okay, and about 50% were horrendous. Surprisingly, the porn actors weren’t necessarily all bad, and the non-porn actors all good.

The porn girls were a mixed bag, as well. Janine was okay, Jesse Jane was horrible, and Carmen Luvana was pretty good. The only time Jesse was any good was when she was imitating a monk. Granted, the dialogue in a few scenes was pretty poor, so I could empathize with the actors a few times.

3. Uninhibited (1995)

It’s not usual for a porn budget to cross the million dollar mark, but the big investment actually paid off in the end. HBO and the USA Network picked up the film after editing it down to an R version. Uninhibited is the work of the late Adult Video News hall of famer, Buck Adams. The Antigua Pictures flick was shot on 35-mm film and turned out to be one of the best films of the year with a Best Film nomination from the AVN.

2. Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge (2008)

Everything is even better in this one. If “Pirates” bring us adventure, comedy, sex, a good script and great production, “Pirates II” has the same but multiplied. It’s funnier and more interesting, it is better written and better acted, it has more variety in girls and sex scenes, a lot more of special effects and rough sex (more than in the first one, at least). The best scenes? Hard to say. Maybe Belladonna and Jesse Jane; Evan stone, BElla and Sasha; St Croix, Shay JOrdan and Jesse… every scene is very good. Maybe the orgy is the great disappointment.

1. Caligula (1979)

As pornography, this film leaves a lot to be desired. To call it such is naive and absurd, and you obviously haven’t seen any REAL pornography. As a film, it leaves a lot to be desired. It lacks a number of things (dialogue, plot movement, etc) that make even a mediocre movie mediocre. I really like this movie. It is like NOTHING that has ever been made nor will there ever be anything made like it. It is all at once historical (at least as much as say, Saving Private Ryan); it is thought provoking, it is strangely erotic, it is disturbing, and lastly, it is a movie that (love it or hate it) you will NOT forget if you do decide to see it. I say SEE IT