Wednesday, December 29, 2010

SF&F movies: best and worst of 2010

io9, a website devoted to all things science fictional and fantastical, has listed its top 10 best and worst movies of 2010. The lists are notable for me because -- shocking though it seems for a sci-fi writer -- I have seen only one of the movies on the Best list (along with one of the honorable mentions). I've also seen half of one of the movies on the Worst list. I started watching it on a 15-hour flight and it was indeed too terrible to finish.

Looking down the Best list, I'm seeing a couple of movies that I don't want to see because no matter how good they supposedly are, I can't watch horror movies. I just don't have the fortitude to put scary images in my head that I can never get out. But several look really interesting and I can only blame an international move, a book deadline, and a new baby for my lack of movie-watching this year.

Take a look at the list and give me your recommendations! What did you think of these movies? Which ones should I check out on DVD?  Is the new Harry Potter movie really the best one so far? Does Predators deserve its spot at #4? How about Inception at #1? (I've heard mixed reviews of that one.)

For the record, the two movies that I did get around to seeing were both ostensibly children's movies and I enjoyed them both. Toy Story 3 was a lot of fun and had one of the most emotionally draining scenes I've seen in a very long time (although I can't quite get over the fact that the teddy was irredeemable). How to Train Your Dragon was the most cliche-ridden story you can hope to see, a step-by-step guide to writing the Hero's Journey... but somehow it worked.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

I definitely recommend the new HP. The trio have grown up alot and this was the first movie their acting didn't make me cringe. Several "good" acting moments as well!

PS - Jump on the horror train! There's nothing to be scared of :D (H)

Midnyte Reader said...

LOVED Harry Potter. I actually want to see it again. I also loved Let Me In, but I am really into horror. I really liked Kick Ass also...I think I'm going to buy it. And actually, I really liked Predators too!

My friend loved Inception. Quite honestly, I was bored. Although the sfx were good, I just felt the story had been done before.

Book Chatter Cath said...

Cant comment on TS3 or HTTYD cause I haven't seen them but I thoroughly enjoyed Inception, Predators and a couple of others however Scott Pilgrim bored me and I fell asleep!!!! and I had to really force myself to watch Harry Potter, they lost me a few movies back.....they are just hollow shells compared to the books:(

Terri Garey said...

Interesting lists. Strangely, some of the movies I liked the most were on the worst list, and some of the movies I hated were on the best! I'm not a big horror fan, either, so there are some I'd never watch anyway (I love to write about creepy stuff, but I'm too chicken to watch it!) :D Although I really do want to see Let the Right One In...

The fact that the reviewer gave Hot Tub Time Machine an Honorable Mention for one of the best movies of the year REALLY makes me doubt his taste, much less his sanity! (Worst. Movie. Ever.)

Jackie Uhrmacher said...

I can't believe they put Legion on the "worst" list. I absolutely adored that movie. Yes, it was cheesy and campy, but it worked.

Out of the "best" list, I've seen Kick-Ass (not so much Sci-Fi, but very funny and strangely heart-breaking), Scott Pilgrim (I took my 3 year-old to see it. HILARIOUS!), and The Crazies. The Crazies made me tear up a little, but it was okay. Not sure I'd put it on the "best" list, though.

Sullivan McPig said...

I can recommend The Crazies and Kick-Ass
The Crazies is a nice horror movie while Kick-Ass is full of action and humor.

Sharon S. said...

I want to see Let Me In and Harry. Splice is yucky (don't want to spoil), Toy Story-awesome, my daughter loved KickAss and The Crazies. I was disappointed in paying $10 for Predators, but as a rental, go for it.

I liked the kickass Alice and I want to see Wolfman, Legion sucked, IronMan was okay action, Book of Eli had a great ending, worth the rental, Jonah Hex, is what it is (by that I mean cheesy) and is worth a rental, Airbender sucked!

Stephanie M said...

I loved the new HP. I have actually seen and liked more movies on the worst list than the best list. I loved Iron Man and the Book of Eli was alright. I liked the Lovely Bones.

thatonegirlyouknew said...

Well I disagree with half that list. But as for Harry Potter, it isn't the best, PoA was in my opinion, but it was amazing and definitely better than Order.

Inception was really good, number one good? Not so sure. Talented actors (attractive too) and gorgeous graphics.

I thought Legion was good for what it was. If you watch the trailer and like that, you'll enjoy the movie. It's not like they were going for an Oscar.

I kind of hated Splice. Super letdown. I left the theatre thinking, "Adrien Brody MUST have a twin cause he would never make a movie this bad."

I won't watch Let Me In. Let the Right One In is one of the best films hands down and to remake it hurts my soul.

The Crazies was pretty good. Kick Ass was, well just look at the title. Scott Pilgrim was genius. Alice in Wonderland was fun.

And finally, The Last Exorcism, which was also a letdown. It had some good moments, but all in all, I would be okay if I hadn't watched it.

Jessica @ a GREAT read said...

Loved Toy Story 3, but I know what scene you're talking about and was kind of surprised Disney went there. There was a little boy behind me in the theater who said, "dad I want to go home" because he was scared. I got the DVD for Xmas but haven't had a chance to watch it again.

One of my other fave movies from 2010 that I can think of off the bat was Vampires Suck! It was hilarious!! It made fun of every aspect of Twilight and a few other trends, when I saw it schools had just started so I literally had the WHOLE theater to myself!!

I also really enjoyed Disney's Tangled. I'm a Disney girl, so I thought that story was really cute and can't wait to add the DVD to my ever growing collection.

Patricia JL said...

Wow, I've seen more on the bad list than the good (personally I would have put percy jackson as the all time worse movie. I didn't read the whole book but what I did read was nothing like the movie!) Most of the ones on the good list were horror and I don't do those, but I do agree, Inception was the BEST MOVIE EVER!!! I loved everything about it (d/l'ed the soundtrack too!)
Also I enjoyed Alice in Wonderland but then again I <3 Tim Burton.

A. B. Keuser said...

I saw three of the films on the "Best" list.

Inception was very well done - but almost anything by Nolan is bound to be good. And I'd definitely suggest seing it. I love surrealism in any form.

Kick Ass was funny. I know a lot of people who didnt like it, but then they never agree with me on movies. It felt very original to me.

The Crazies. I havent seen the original, but the bf has and he wasn't disappointed in the remake. I had some plot issues with it, but any movie seems to have those anymore.

I'd recommend seeing all of those.

But I have to say, I think Tron: Legacy got a bad rap. There are a lot of plot similarities, but the update (with out being a remake) was wonderfully done. (don't waste your money on the 3D though - it's not worth it.