Jason KingSalty Top 10 Films of 2009
December 23rd 2009 21:32
:
YEAR OF SCI FI
Category: No Category
These are the films I LOVED and it was quite easy this year. I did not have to choose from 15 films worth $15-. There was a distinct top 10. It should be noted that these are from the films I have reviewed only and some of the big films I did not even see this year. For example I am yet to watch Inglourious Basterds and have copped much flack about this 
This year has seen some consistant crap films but also, and thankgod, this year has seen some remarkable films that were just brilliant. No films in the last 10yrs have really rocked my Top 100 films of all time and this year THREE films jumped into my top 10 films of all time. It was also a pleasure to see a resurgence in succesful sci fi that made international success. In fact - my top 3 films this year are all sci fi.
I hope you have a brilliant Xmas and an amazing NY's and I cannot wait to watch more films and review them for you here at Salty Popcorn.
FYI: All the titles are links if you want to click through to the actual review of the film.
Number 10:
Astro Boy $15-
Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist named Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage). Powered by positive "blue" energy, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly. Embarking on a journey in search of acceptance, Astro Boy encounters many other colorful characters along the way. Through his adventures, he learns the joys and emotions of being human, and gains the strength to embrace his destiny. Ultimately learning his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to understand what it means to be a hero.
This film was written off by most critics but I got a massive surprise and loved the darkness of it and the sweet tale of the most humane robot there ever was.
Number 9:
Mao's Last Dancer $15-
Based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao's cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet. In 1979, during a cultural exchange to Texas, he fell in love with an American woman. Two years later, he managed to defect and went on to perform as a principal dancer for the Houston Ballet and as a principal artist with the Australian Ballet.
Just beautiful - I am yet to read the book but have been told it is even more impressive than the film.
Number 8:
Gran Torino $15-
For his fourth directorial feature in the span of two years, Clint Eastwood tells the story of a grizzled Korean War vet's reluctant friendship with a Hmong teenage boy and his immigrant family. Set in contemporary Detroit, GRAN TORINO tackles the shifting cultural and economic landscape of not only the Motor City, but America as well. Eastwood stars as Walt Kowalski, an unabashed bigot who never heard a racial insult he didn't love. Bitter, haunted, and full of pride, Walt refuses to abandon the neighborhood he's lived in for decades despite its changing demographics as he clings desperately to a mindset long since out of step with the times. When his Hmong neighbor Thao tries to steal his prized muscle car as part of a gang initiation, Walt is forced to grapple with the world around him. There is nothing subtle about Walt's bigotry, yet his misanthropy knows no bounds, and Eastwood does a remarkable job. Estranged from his family and his church, and without any sense of personal peace, Walt offers all that he has to Thao and his family, namely wisdom and protection. When tragedy strikes the family, Eastwood allows a little classic Harry Callahan to poke through, but the surprising finale shows us a hero that Dirty Harry would never have the guts to be.
One of Clint's best and I am dying to see his latest, Invictus!
Number 7:
Revolutionary Road $15-
It's 1955. Frank and April Wheeler, in the seventh year of their marriage, have fallen into a life that appears to most as being perfect. They live in the Connecticut suburbs with two young children. Frank commutes to New York City where he works in an office job while April stays at home as a housewife. But they're not happy. April has forgone her dream of becoming an actress, and Frank hates his job - one where he places little effort - although he has never figured out what his passion in life is. One day, April suggests that they move to Paris - a city where Frank visited during the war and loved, but where April has never been - as a means to rejuvenate their life. April's plan: she would be the breadwinner, getting a lucrative secretarial job for one of the major international organizations, while Frank would have free time to find himself and whatever his passion. Initially skeptical, Frank ultimately agrees to April's plan. When circumstances change around the Wheelers, April decides she will do whatever she has to to get herself out of her unhappy existence.
This film was worth the ticket price just to see Leo and Kate back together again and it would be a sad year without a Leo film in my top 10
Number 6:
UP $15-
The film tells the tale of two lonely souls that come together for an adventure that Indiana Jones would be proud of. Carl Fredricksen is the old grumpy man who has lost his life partner and spends his time isolated from society in his own routines and preferably away from the public locked away in his home. Him and his deceased wife met when kids and played adventures together with one of their greatest adventure being left as a plan before time got the better of them. Now time is against Carl again, after the courts have decided it is time for him to be moved to a retirement village he sets his heart on his great last adventure. By tying thousands of balloons to his house it sets aflight, but with an unexpected stowaway. Meet the cute and innocent, plump little kid from the Wilderness Explorers, Russell. Russell is the one thing that will drive Carl insane or open his heart to a new adventure and the love for others.
This is such a beautiful tale - LOVED IT, and watching it with an autistic kid behind me who was in absolute heaven - priceless
Number 5:
Mary and Max $16-
MARY AND MAX chronicles Mary's trip from adolescence to adulthood, and Max's passage from middle to old age, it explores a bond that survives much more than the average friendship's ups-and-downs. Like Elliot and Coombs' Oscar winning animated short HARVIE KRUMPET, MARY AND MAX is both hilarious and poignant as it takes us on a journey that explores friendship, autism, taxidermy, psychiatry, alcoholism, where babies come from, obesity, kleptomania, sexual differences, trust, copulating dogs, religious differences, agoraphobia and many more of life's surprises.
This film is sad, dark, divine and an absolute MUST watch - it is captivating and ingenious.
Number 4:
Twilight New Moon $16-
This episode of the franchise is by far the worst book in the series. You spend the first movie/ book meeting all the characters and falling in love with the angst and sexual tension between Bella and Edward and then in NEW MOON Edward decides to leave Bella for her own safety. So Bella mopes around, teams up with Jacob and then plays love tennis deciding which way to turn. While NEW MOON was quite a boring book, they have performed two movie miracles that are NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to do. 1) They made the movie WAY BETTER than the book and 2) They made a sequal that SHITS all over the first film.
Call it a homoerotic love of mine But Taylor Lautner is incredibly attractive you have to admit. Many people worldwide commenced a desire for a child because of this film He ended up winning the most attractive body in the world due to his insatiable workouts to secure his part. Add to that this film is ONLY really HUGE for fans and there are nearly as much of them as there are Harry Potter fans. LOVED IT!
Number 3:
District 9 $17-
One of the most ingenious Sci Fi/ Human Rights films ever made, and all made on the cheap. Just superb!
Number 2:
Star Trek $17-
I thought this one would maintain the top spot in my top films for a long time, finally coming in at a draw with my all time fave film Titanic but it got pipped in the last leg. Never the less, Star Trek is one of the most amazing films I have ever seen. Made for fans and non fans JJ Abrams recreated a universe that was out of this world (punn intended).
Add to that the experience I had with this film. I got to attend the world premiere - check, I then got to interview the director and all the lead actors. It made my year and created my internal buzz that will live with this film for all time. I still ove you Chris Pine
And DRUMROLL PLEASE....................... ........................
Of course NUMBER ONE GOES TO THIS DESERVED FILM......................... ..
AVATAR - Priceless
This is the first film to knock my all time favourite film from it's top film. That film was Titanic and was created by the same director. I love you Sir James Cameron.
That's all folks - have a safe and Merry Christmas and celebratory season. Big hugs from Salty Popcorn.
This year has seen some consistant crap films but also, and thankgod, this year has seen some remarkable films that were just brilliant. No films in the last 10yrs have really rocked my Top 100 films of all time and this year THREE films jumped into my top 10 films of all time. It was also a pleasure to see a resurgence in succesful sci fi that made international success. In fact - my top 3 films this year are all sci fi.
I hope you have a brilliant Xmas and an amazing NY's and I cannot wait to watch more films and review them for you here at Salty Popcorn.
FYI: All the titles are links if you want to click through to the actual review of the film.
Number 10:
Astro Boy $15-
Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist named Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage). Powered by positive "blue" energy, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly. Embarking on a journey in search of acceptance, Astro Boy encounters many other colorful characters along the way. Through his adventures, he learns the joys and emotions of being human, and gains the strength to embrace his destiny. Ultimately learning his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to understand what it means to be a hero.
This film was written off by most critics but I got a massive surprise and loved the darkness of it and the sweet tale of the most humane robot there ever was.
Number 9:
Mao's Last Dancer $15-
Based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao's cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet. In 1979, during a cultural exchange to Texas, he fell in love with an American woman. Two years later, he managed to defect and went on to perform as a principal dancer for the Houston Ballet and as a principal artist with the Australian Ballet.
Just beautiful - I am yet to read the book but have been told it is even more impressive than the film.
Number 8:
Gran Torino $15-
For his fourth directorial feature in the span of two years, Clint Eastwood tells the story of a grizzled Korean War vet's reluctant friendship with a Hmong teenage boy and his immigrant family. Set in contemporary Detroit, GRAN TORINO tackles the shifting cultural and economic landscape of not only the Motor City, but America as well. Eastwood stars as Walt Kowalski, an unabashed bigot who never heard a racial insult he didn't love. Bitter, haunted, and full of pride, Walt refuses to abandon the neighborhood he's lived in for decades despite its changing demographics as he clings desperately to a mindset long since out of step with the times. When his Hmong neighbor Thao tries to steal his prized muscle car as part of a gang initiation, Walt is forced to grapple with the world around him. There is nothing subtle about Walt's bigotry, yet his misanthropy knows no bounds, and Eastwood does a remarkable job. Estranged from his family and his church, and without any sense of personal peace, Walt offers all that he has to Thao and his family, namely wisdom and protection. When tragedy strikes the family, Eastwood allows a little classic Harry Callahan to poke through, but the surprising finale shows us a hero that Dirty Harry would never have the guts to be.
One of Clint's best and I am dying to see his latest, Invictus!
Number 7:
Revolutionary Road $15-
It's 1955. Frank and April Wheeler, in the seventh year of their marriage, have fallen into a life that appears to most as being perfect. They live in the Connecticut suburbs with two young children. Frank commutes to New York City where he works in an office job while April stays at home as a housewife. But they're not happy. April has forgone her dream of becoming an actress, and Frank hates his job - one where he places little effort - although he has never figured out what his passion in life is. One day, April suggests that they move to Paris - a city where Frank visited during the war and loved, but where April has never been - as a means to rejuvenate their life. April's plan: she would be the breadwinner, getting a lucrative secretarial job for one of the major international organizations, while Frank would have free time to find himself and whatever his passion. Initially skeptical, Frank ultimately agrees to April's plan. When circumstances change around the Wheelers, April decides she will do whatever she has to to get herself out of her unhappy existence.
This film was worth the ticket price just to see Leo and Kate back together again and it would be a sad year without a Leo film in my top 10
Number 6:
UP $15-
The film tells the tale of two lonely souls that come together for an adventure that Indiana Jones would be proud of. Carl Fredricksen is the old grumpy man who has lost his life partner and spends his time isolated from society in his own routines and preferably away from the public locked away in his home. Him and his deceased wife met when kids and played adventures together with one of their greatest adventure being left as a plan before time got the better of them. Now time is against Carl again, after the courts have decided it is time for him to be moved to a retirement village he sets his heart on his great last adventure. By tying thousands of balloons to his house it sets aflight, but with an unexpected stowaway. Meet the cute and innocent, plump little kid from the Wilderness Explorers, Russell. Russell is the one thing that will drive Carl insane or open his heart to a new adventure and the love for others.
This is such a beautiful tale - LOVED IT, and watching it with an autistic kid behind me who was in absolute heaven - priceless
Number 5:
Mary and Max $16-
MARY AND MAX chronicles Mary's trip from adolescence to adulthood, and Max's passage from middle to old age, it explores a bond that survives much more than the average friendship's ups-and-downs. Like Elliot and Coombs' Oscar winning animated short HARVIE KRUMPET, MARY AND MAX is both hilarious and poignant as it takes us on a journey that explores friendship, autism, taxidermy, psychiatry, alcoholism, where babies come from, obesity, kleptomania, sexual differences, trust, copulating dogs, religious differences, agoraphobia and many more of life's surprises.
This film is sad, dark, divine and an absolute MUST watch - it is captivating and ingenious.
Number 4:
Twilight New Moon $16-
This episode of the franchise is by far the worst book in the series. You spend the first movie/ book meeting all the characters and falling in love with the angst and sexual tension between Bella and Edward and then in NEW MOON Edward decides to leave Bella for her own safety. So Bella mopes around, teams up with Jacob and then plays love tennis deciding which way to turn. While NEW MOON was quite a boring book, they have performed two movie miracles that are NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to do. 1) They made the movie WAY BETTER than the book and 2) They made a sequal that SHITS all over the first film.
Call it a homoerotic love of mine
But Taylor Lautner is incredibly attractive you have to admit. Many people worldwide commenced a desire for a child because of this film He ended up winning the most attractive body in the world due to his insatiable workouts to secure his part. Add to that this film is ONLY really HUGE for fans and there are nearly as much of them as there are Harry Potter fans. LOVED IT!Number 3:
District 9 $17-
One of the most ingenious Sci Fi/ Human Rights films ever made, and all made on the cheap. Just superb!
Number 2:
Star Trek $17-
I thought this one would maintain the top spot in my top films for a long time, finally coming in at a draw with my all time fave film Titanic but it got pipped in the last leg. Never the less, Star Trek is one of the most amazing films I have ever seen. Made for fans and non fans JJ Abrams recreated a universe that was out of this world (punn intended)
.Add to that the experience I had with this film. I got to attend the world premiere - check, I then got to interview the director and all the lead actors. It made my year and created my internal buzz that will live with this film for all time. I still ove you Chris Pine
And DRUMROLL PLEASE....................... ........................
Of course NUMBER ONE GOES TO THIS DESERVED FILM......................... ..
AVATAR - Priceless
This is the first film to knock my all time favourite film from it's top film. That film was Titanic and was created by the same director. I love you Sir James Cameron.
That's all folks - have a safe and Merry Christmas and celebratory season. Big hugs from Salty Popcorn.
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Comment by JESUS
What's Love?
Ah well, merry xmas to u too
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
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Hahahahahahaha - re Twilight
MERRY XMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!! or should I be saying Happy Birthday to you?
Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Comment by Jason King
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You guys at 20/20 seem to represent more of the art house market and I hope I am bringing up the commercial side of things
Am about to get a new fast 27" Mac as opposed to my abacus so am very keen to be online writing heaps more next year.
Take care
JK
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
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Movie Train
Artist Quirk
go team Edward!
loved Revolutionary Road and Star Trek
i think if you watched Inglourious Basterds you would probably rate it highly
and im yet to see Avatar but ive heard good reports
Comment by Jason King
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Boo team Edward - Jacob all the way!
I am going to buy Inglorious on Blu Ray - everyone keeps telling me to get it.
Keen to know what you think of Avatar as it is 90% CGI and we know how much you love it
Happy New Year to you Lady Morgan
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
I never seem to have enough time to watch everything I want these days so it is always good to read your recommendations, Jason.
Thanks
Janet
Comment by Jason King
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Thanks Janet!
Comment by K @ the Lair
Comment by Jason King
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The 3D version will change your world.
I know you get really excited when cool things happen in films but you can't say ooooo and arrrrrr every time something happens in the 3D version or they will boot you out
Comment by silverautumn
Cinema Three
Projecting Projectionist - Film Reviews from a Small Town Theatre Employee
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
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I keep meaning to buy Inglorious on Blu Ray but I always forget