meteordust (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
meteordust) wrote2006-01-02 11:44 pm
meteordust) wrote2006-01-02 11:44 pm
Entry tags:
Movies of 2005
In 2005, I saw 20 movies at the cinema. I think this is a personal record.
The highlights
Sin City - The trailer blew me away. The graphic novels etched themselves on my brain. I had huge, huge expectations for this movie - and it totally rocked. At times disturbingly violent, but capturing the grim setting perfectly while oozing character and style.
Initial D - I'm not saying this is one of the best movies of the year. There are far better on this list. But I went in with low expectations, and it surprised me with its charm, cheesy and dorky as it was. Plus, y'know, Taiwanese rap!
The disappointments
Howl's Moving Castle - Put down your pitchforks, I'm not saying I hated it. What I am saying is that it didn't enchant me the same way other Ghibli movies have. Maybe because I loved the book too much and had certain expectations of the movie, which threw me with all the switchbacking it did. I suspect I will appreciate it more on a rewatch. And I have much love for the cuteness of Calcifer.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - Okay, I'm not sure what's wrong with me. Everyone else seems to love it. I thought I would love it too, especially after getting all pumped by the trailer. I can't fault the movie as an adaptation - it hit all the necessary marks. But somehow it was missing the sense of wonder I remember so vividly from reading the book - the sense of wonder that made my ten year old self wish so badly that my wardrobe led to Narnia too. Maybe it was just more magical in my head.
The underappreciated
Night Watch - If you like fantasy at all, especially urban fantasy, you have got to see this movie. It does things that will spin your head around. So good to see people pushing the boundaries and redefining what fantasy can be.
Hinokio - Boy who lives as a recluse after car accident uses a robot as his sole connection to the outside world - goes to school, makes friends, even falls in love for the first time. One of those movies that just shines. And if you're me, makes you cry too.
The rest of the crop
Sideways - Arty midlife crisis movies are not really my cup of tea. But I guess it's nice to see that Thomas Haden Church is still doing something.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow - My inner fourteen year old cherished this loving tribute to the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Nonetheless, this movie could have been improved by less Gwyneth and more Angelina.
House of Flying Daggers - Pretty, but hollow. The West deserves to get a wuxia movie with heart.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - OMG MARVIN SO CUTE!!! The rest of the movie wasn't too bad either.
Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Um, it was better than the first two?
War of the Worlds - Visually spectacular and full of action, but somehow there's not much left to chew over afterwards. Then again, maybe this story's been around for so long that everything possible's been said already.
Unleashed - At last! A US movie where Jet Li gets to emote! Heartbreaking and heartwarming.
Wallace & Gromit - Curse of the Were-Rabbit - It's Wallace and Gromit. Of course it's good.
Serenity - "Take my love, take my land / Take me where I cannot stand / I don’t care, I’m still free / You can’t take the sky from me..." A brilliant SF movie, whether you're Firefly fan or newcomer. Also, Joss Whedon successfully defends his title of You Evil Bastard.
Ghost in the Shell: Innocence - You don't need me to tell you how stunning this movie was.
Appleseed - Gives Ghost in the Shell: Innocence a run for its money.
Ping Pong Bath Station - Unappreciated housewife runs away from her husband to the town they honeymooned in, and decides to revive its fading fortunes with a ping pong tournament. Whimsy, grace, and heart.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - I am still very impressed that they managed to pare down a 636 page book into a two and a half hour movie - and make it good.
Mirrormask - The story didn't quite work for me, but damn I want to live in Dave McKean's dreamworld.
The 2006 preview
Brokeback Mountain - The more I hear about this movie, the more it seems that calling it 'the gay cowboy movie' is doing it a terrible injustice. Even 'epic love story' seems not so accurate as 'universal story of longing and loss and unfulfilled dreams'.
Aeon Flux - Well, only if it doesn't suck. Which it sounds like it probably does.
Rent - "There's only us / There's only this / Forget regret / Or life is yours to miss / No other road / No other way / No day but today."
V for Vendetta - Alan Moore has disassociated himself from the production. But hey, Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. How bad can it suck? (Please, please, please...)
March of the Penguins - 85 minutes of penguins. Enough said.
X-Men 3 - "The director says he wants to make it different from the first two, but why, oh why? Considering they were *good* and people actually *liked* them." >_<
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Woo, it's the return of Captain Jack Sparrow! (Orlando who?)
The highlights
Sin City - The trailer blew me away. The graphic novels etched themselves on my brain. I had huge, huge expectations for this movie - and it totally rocked. At times disturbingly violent, but capturing the grim setting perfectly while oozing character and style.
Initial D - I'm not saying this is one of the best movies of the year. There are far better on this list. But I went in with low expectations, and it surprised me with its charm, cheesy and dorky as it was. Plus, y'know, Taiwanese rap!
The disappointments
Howl's Moving Castle - Put down your pitchforks, I'm not saying I hated it. What I am saying is that it didn't enchant me the same way other Ghibli movies have. Maybe because I loved the book too much and had certain expectations of the movie, which threw me with all the switchbacking it did. I suspect I will appreciate it more on a rewatch. And I have much love for the cuteness of Calcifer.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - Okay, I'm not sure what's wrong with me. Everyone else seems to love it. I thought I would love it too, especially after getting all pumped by the trailer. I can't fault the movie as an adaptation - it hit all the necessary marks. But somehow it was missing the sense of wonder I remember so vividly from reading the book - the sense of wonder that made my ten year old self wish so badly that my wardrobe led to Narnia too. Maybe it was just more magical in my head.
The underappreciated
Night Watch - If you like fantasy at all, especially urban fantasy, you have got to see this movie. It does things that will spin your head around. So good to see people pushing the boundaries and redefining what fantasy can be.
Hinokio - Boy who lives as a recluse after car accident uses a robot as his sole connection to the outside world - goes to school, makes friends, even falls in love for the first time. One of those movies that just shines. And if you're me, makes you cry too.
The rest of the crop
Sideways - Arty midlife crisis movies are not really my cup of tea. But I guess it's nice to see that Thomas Haden Church is still doing something.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow - My inner fourteen year old cherished this loving tribute to the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Nonetheless, this movie could have been improved by less Gwyneth and more Angelina.
House of Flying Daggers - Pretty, but hollow. The West deserves to get a wuxia movie with heart.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - OMG MARVIN SO CUTE!!! The rest of the movie wasn't too bad either.
Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Um, it was better than the first two?
War of the Worlds - Visually spectacular and full of action, but somehow there's not much left to chew over afterwards. Then again, maybe this story's been around for so long that everything possible's been said already.
Unleashed - At last! A US movie where Jet Li gets to emote! Heartbreaking and heartwarming.
Wallace & Gromit - Curse of the Were-Rabbit - It's Wallace and Gromit. Of course it's good.
Serenity - "Take my love, take my land / Take me where I cannot stand / I don’t care, I’m still free / You can’t take the sky from me..." A brilliant SF movie, whether you're Firefly fan or newcomer. Also, Joss Whedon successfully defends his title of You Evil Bastard.
Ghost in the Shell: Innocence - You don't need me to tell you how stunning this movie was.
Appleseed - Gives Ghost in the Shell: Innocence a run for its money.
Ping Pong Bath Station - Unappreciated housewife runs away from her husband to the town they honeymooned in, and decides to revive its fading fortunes with a ping pong tournament. Whimsy, grace, and heart.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - I am still very impressed that they managed to pare down a 636 page book into a two and a half hour movie - and make it good.
Mirrormask - The story didn't quite work for me, but damn I want to live in Dave McKean's dreamworld.
The 2006 preview
Brokeback Mountain - The more I hear about this movie, the more it seems that calling it 'the gay cowboy movie' is doing it a terrible injustice. Even 'epic love story' seems not so accurate as 'universal story of longing and loss and unfulfilled dreams'.
Aeon Flux - Well, only if it doesn't suck. Which it sounds like it probably does.
Rent - "There's only us / There's only this / Forget regret / Or life is yours to miss / No other road / No other way / No day but today."
V for Vendetta - Alan Moore has disassociated himself from the production. But hey, Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. How bad can it suck? (Please, please, please...)
March of the Penguins - 85 minutes of penguins. Enough said.
X-Men 3 - "The director says he wants to make it different from the first two, but why, oh why? Considering they were *good* and people actually *liked* them." >_<
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Woo, it's the return of Captain Jack Sparrow! (Orlando who?)