Favorite Movies of 2006
Wow! It's 2007. I remember when pop cultural references to the distant future such as Prince's "Party like it's 1999" or "2001: A Space Odyssey" made a year like 2007 seem so far into the future. But here we are; we've now entered the 7th or 8th year (depending on how you count the year 0) of the new millennium.
So many amazing things happened in 2006. But for this post, I'll keep it a narrow topic that I love: Movies! Below are my favorite movies that had a theatrical release in 2006. Now, I acknowledge there may be better movies released in 2006. I still very much would like to see "Flags of our Fathers," "Letters from Iwo Jima," and "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" all of which I think I will enjoy, but for now these are my Top Five Films of 2006:
1) FLIGHT 93
I appreciated director, Paul Greengrass' no-frills nearly documentary style approach to this story. There was utmost respect not to paint this story with cultural, political or social commentary, but to let the moments unfold very much as they did that tragic day on 9/11. Unlike "World Trade Center" there was little over-dramatization/Hollywood-esque blockbuster moments. There were no big stars. Instead, Mr. Greengrass' film is about the pure moments and events of that day. The result of that choice for me was an experience that was purely riveting cinema.
2) INSIDE MAN
I believe director, Spike Lee is one of the great American film makers of our time. This film is like his post 9/11 valentine to New York City. The cuts to interviews of NYC bank hostages showcases and gives voice to the multi-cultural melting pot that is New York City. This serves as a nice underlying spicy base to the main body of story which touts some great actors, stars and scenes. Despite its twists, the story is a fairly straighforward bank robber, crime story. But in the hands of a master director like Spike Lee, there are many great scenes and moments which add to a solid film that manages to make observations about power, corruption, guilt and attempted redemption in one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Oh and the soundtrack by the great Jazz musician/composer Terence Blanchard doesn't hurt either.
3) The Departed
The is the best film by director, Martin Scorsese since his glory days of "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull" and "Goodfellas" and may very well garner him his much evasive, yet deserved Oscar win. If so, it's interesting that a remake of a solid Hong Kong crime film, "Infernal Affairs" would give him that win. The original film is easily one of the best to come out of Hong Kong cinema in the last decade. in the hands of a master director like Mr. Scorsese, I believe the result is greatly improved. The changes and the film itself is not without it's flaws or problems. I particularly wince at the ending scene and last shot of the film. But overall, it is a cinematic joy to watch Scorsese making the type of film that he is best known and loved for.
4) Monster House
I'm a little jealous of first time director Gil Kenan whom I've read got this gig almost immediately out of film school. Unfortunately, this animated film did not do very well at the box office. From a marketing and business standpoint, I understand why. But in the over saturated market place of animated CG, cute animal films, I appreciated his non-Pixar-wannabe approach to the CG animated film. The stop-motion-like style and stylistic choices to the film make this stand above the rest of the animated CG crowd. It is a charming and fun movie about childhood fears and friendships without being too saccharine or sweet. I hope Gil Kenan gets another shot at directing.
5) Gwoemul (The Host)
I love giant Asian monster movies. With the likes of Godzilla and Gamera, the Japanese have ruled this genre for decades. But with "The Host," Korean director, Joon-Ho Bong, almost single-handedly wrests that rule from Japanese cinema. This is a fairly straitforward and often-times predictable giant monster movie with a host of cliche moments in a cliche story. But Joon-Ho manages to fit in many little creative twists to very cliche moments. All of them add up to a very enjoyable and entertaining movie that pits a quirky dysfunctional Korean family against a giant monster that confounds the Korean and U.S. governments and military. This is the most enjoyable giant monster movie I have seen in a very long time. Hollywood has remade its fill of Japanese horror movies and is moving onto Korean movies. I've read Hollywood is going to remake this one. If they get the wrong team and mess this up, at least I'll always have this original Korean film to watch.
Honoarable Mentions:
"Isabella"
A film by my friend, Pang Ho Cheung which didn't find enough commercial success to be distributed outside of the Asian market. That's a shame as I think this is a nice father/daughter film set against the unique setting and time of Macau's hand over back to China.
"4 Kings"
An interesting documentary-style film about the Hong Kong music industry directed by Hong Kong heart throb Daniel Wu. It's Hong Kong's version of "Spinal Tap" and it's observations about the HK entertainment industry, according to my friends in the industry, is spot on. It's a surprisingly entertaining and interesting by a leading HK actor. All his looks and he can direct too. I'm jealous!
"Curse of the Golden Flower"
The third martial arts epic by China's premier director, Zhang Yimou. IMHO, it's better than his second, "House of Flying Daggers," but not as good as his first, "Hero." It's an over-the-top but entertaining classic Chinese opera about a dysfunctional family that happens to be the royal family of China. When ordinary families feud, people get hurt. When the royal family of China fight, thousands die in a operatic, kung-fu wire-fu CG battles. Artsy and fun at the same time!
"Curious George"
In an age of CG animated films with smart-ass humor, it's nice to go back to the basics of traditional 2D animation (although it has moments of 3D animation). The story is simple and charming. A perfectly wholesome cartoon of one of the most beloved children's characters for kids of all ages.
"Cars"
Pixar continues to make great animated CG films. IMHO, this is the second weakest Pixar film behind "A Bug's Life." But despite it being one of the weakest Pixar films, it is head above heels above almost all of the other CG-animated wannabe-Pixar films.
That's it for 2006. In my next post, I hope to post my thoughts on my most anticipated and most dreaded films for 2007.
Happy New Year to all!
So many amazing things happened in 2006. But for this post, I'll keep it a narrow topic that I love: Movies! Below are my favorite movies that had a theatrical release in 2006. Now, I acknowledge there may be better movies released in 2006. I still very much would like to see "Flags of our Fathers," "Letters from Iwo Jima," and "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" all of which I think I will enjoy, but for now these are my Top Five Films of 2006:
1) FLIGHT 93
I appreciated director, Paul Greengrass' no-frills nearly documentary style approach to this story. There was utmost respect not to paint this story with cultural, political or social commentary, but to let the moments unfold very much as they did that tragic day on 9/11. Unlike "World Trade Center" there was little over-dramatization/Hollywood-esque blockbuster moments. There were no big stars. Instead, Mr. Greengrass' film is about the pure moments and events of that day. The result of that choice for me was an experience that was purely riveting cinema.
2) INSIDE MAN
I believe director, Spike Lee is one of the great American film makers of our time. This film is like his post 9/11 valentine to New York City. The cuts to interviews of NYC bank hostages showcases and gives voice to the multi-cultural melting pot that is New York City. This serves as a nice underlying spicy base to the main body of story which touts some great actors, stars and scenes. Despite its twists, the story is a fairly straighforward bank robber, crime story. But in the hands of a master director like Spike Lee, there are many great scenes and moments which add to a solid film that manages to make observations about power, corruption, guilt and attempted redemption in one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Oh and the soundtrack by the great Jazz musician/composer Terence Blanchard doesn't hurt either.
3) The Departed
The is the best film by director, Martin Scorsese since his glory days of "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull" and "Goodfellas" and may very well garner him his much evasive, yet deserved Oscar win. If so, it's interesting that a remake of a solid Hong Kong crime film, "Infernal Affairs" would give him that win. The original film is easily one of the best to come out of Hong Kong cinema in the last decade. in the hands of a master director like Mr. Scorsese, I believe the result is greatly improved. The changes and the film itself is not without it's flaws or problems. I particularly wince at the ending scene and last shot of the film. But overall, it is a cinematic joy to watch Scorsese making the type of film that he is best known and loved for.
4) Monster House
I'm a little jealous of first time director Gil Kenan whom I've read got this gig almost immediately out of film school. Unfortunately, this animated film did not do very well at the box office. From a marketing and business standpoint, I understand why. But in the over saturated market place of animated CG, cute animal films, I appreciated his non-Pixar-wannabe approach to the CG animated film. The stop-motion-like style and stylistic choices to the film make this stand above the rest of the animated CG crowd. It is a charming and fun movie about childhood fears and friendships without being too saccharine or sweet. I hope Gil Kenan gets another shot at directing.
5) Gwoemul (The Host)
I love giant Asian monster movies. With the likes of Godzilla and Gamera, the Japanese have ruled this genre for decades. But with "The Host," Korean director, Joon-Ho Bong, almost single-handedly wrests that rule from Japanese cinema. This is a fairly straitforward and often-times predictable giant monster movie with a host of cliche moments in a cliche story. But Joon-Ho manages to fit in many little creative twists to very cliche moments. All of them add up to a very enjoyable and entertaining movie that pits a quirky dysfunctional Korean family against a giant monster that confounds the Korean and U.S. governments and military. This is the most enjoyable giant monster movie I have seen in a very long time. Hollywood has remade its fill of Japanese horror movies and is moving onto Korean movies. I've read Hollywood is going to remake this one. If they get the wrong team and mess this up, at least I'll always have this original Korean film to watch.
Honoarable Mentions:
"Isabella"
A film by my friend, Pang Ho Cheung which didn't find enough commercial success to be distributed outside of the Asian market. That's a shame as I think this is a nice father/daughter film set against the unique setting and time of Macau's hand over back to China.
"4 Kings"
An interesting documentary-style film about the Hong Kong music industry directed by Hong Kong heart throb Daniel Wu. It's Hong Kong's version of "Spinal Tap" and it's observations about the HK entertainment industry, according to my friends in the industry, is spot on. It's a surprisingly entertaining and interesting by a leading HK actor. All his looks and he can direct too. I'm jealous!
"Curse of the Golden Flower"
The third martial arts epic by China's premier director, Zhang Yimou. IMHO, it's better than his second, "House of Flying Daggers," but not as good as his first, "Hero." It's an over-the-top but entertaining classic Chinese opera about a dysfunctional family that happens to be the royal family of China. When ordinary families feud, people get hurt. When the royal family of China fight, thousands die in a operatic, kung-fu wire-fu CG battles. Artsy and fun at the same time!
"Curious George"
In an age of CG animated films with smart-ass humor, it's nice to go back to the basics of traditional 2D animation (although it has moments of 3D animation). The story is simple and charming. A perfectly wholesome cartoon of one of the most beloved children's characters for kids of all ages.
"Cars"
Pixar continues to make great animated CG films. IMHO, this is the second weakest Pixar film behind "A Bug's Life." But despite it being one of the weakest Pixar films, it is head above heels above almost all of the other CG-animated wannabe-Pixar films.
That's it for 2006. In my next post, I hope to post my thoughts on my most anticipated and most dreaded films for 2007.
Happy New Year to all!
posted by Unknown | 5:10 PM
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