Best Movies of 2007

[Mistwell]

I just watched the Ebert and Roper list of the best movies of 2007.

I still have a few more movies to go for this year (well OK some will have to come in 2008), and several I want to catch on DVD. But, of those I have seen already, these are my top 15 that come to mind right now, in no particular order:

Once - Great indie movie, technically a musical but really more like a fantastic love story. Probably my favorite of the year.
King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters Fantastic documentary about current world's best Donkey Kong players and the world of 1980s video games today. Should win Academy Award. See this one.
Waitress - Great indie movie. Sadly, the writer (also a primary actor in the film) was murdered right after it was finished. In some ways, this movie reminds me of the TV show Pushing Daisies, if purely from a Pie perspective.
Juno - Great indie movie, going wide release, probably up for some Academy Awards. Juno, like the city in Alaska? No (...like the Roman Diety).
3:10 to Yuma - Best Western I have seen in years.
In the Shadow of the Moon - Ron Howard's great documentary about the landing on the moon, told often by Michael Collins, the third astronaut who stayed in the capsule alone while Aldrin and Armstrong landed on the moon. You will probably know if you would like it simply by watching the trailer at that link.
The Darjeeling Limited Wes Anderson's quirky indie comedy. See the extended version with the short movie at the front-end if you can, as it features a hot Natalie Portman scene.
1408 Best Hitchcock-like movie of the year
Elizabeth: The Golden Age Sequel to the Academy Award winning Elizabeth, continuing with the Spanish Armada.
Michael Clayton Good thriller drama about the fall of a law firm and their "fixer".
300 - See My Review
Stardust - Pretty good adaptation of Gaiman's great book
Knocked Up - Best comedy of the year
No Country for Old Men - Made me think. A good drama.
Ratatouille - Best animated film of the year.
Sweeny Todd - Best musical, and I hate musicals!

I'd really like to see Zodiac and Atonement, by the way.

There were others that almost made my list, but not quite. Curse of the Golden Flower, Beowulf, Superbad, Order of the Phoenix, I Am Legend, and a few others.

So, what is your list of best movies of 2007?

 

[TracerBullet42]

Juno - Great indie movie, going wide release, probably up for some Academy Awards. Juno, like the city in Alaska? No (...like the Roman Diety).

Just got home from seeing this movie, and it was brilliant. I will definitely be picking this one up on DVD.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Transformers & Disturbia.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Movies I enjoyed a lot (mostly) in 2007:

The Bourne Ultimatum: I actually thought this was the best of the three movies - and I LOVE the previous two films. The Bourne franchise seems to do almost everything right and gets almost nothing wrong. The result is pure cinema. My favorite film this year.

Stardust: A gem of a movie and my second favorite of the year. Will you like this movie? Did you like The Princess Bride? If your answer is "yes" - buy Stardust on DVD and enjoy it - often. Great movie. Underperformed at the box office, imo.

Into the Wild: A great movie that, I predict, will make some serious noise at the 2008 Oscars. Look for this one to re-released in theatres this March/April, especially given the fact that it seems to have escaped piracy on the Internet. Emile Hirsch is Leonardo De Caprio v. 2.0. Better get used to this young man - you will be seeing a lot more of him in the years to come.

300: It's easy to over-rate this film. It's very good - to a point. As long as you don't expect it to be more than an over the top graphic novel made flesh - it delivers.

Beowulf 3D: For a genre film, I thought this was very entertaining. Technically, in terms of its use of 3D, the film was an amazing feast for the eyes and a new high water mark in the science of film-making.

I Am Legend: Not a great film - but a very good one. I found the first two-thirds of the film far more entertaining than the last third, where the movie devolves into somewhat predictable action. Will Smith and THE scene with his dog is why Will Smith is the leading man on the Hollywood A List.

Michael Clayton: A serious film. Not the usual popcorn fest and, in the same vein as Syriana, a time for George Clooney to show you a view on to a world that you recognize has the ring of truth - but prefer it did not. Well worth watching.

Sicko: As a Canadian, all I can do is shake my head and be damn glad I live where I do. While not as good as Bowling for Columbine, this was a better and far less partisan a film than Fahrenheit 9/11. Worth watching.

Ratatouille: It's not Toy Story or Toy Story II, but it's still a great animated film and the best animated film of the year - by far.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End: I enjoyed the movie, though I think this was the weakest of the three. Unlike most movie series, there are a lot of fans who split their votes as to the best of the series across the three, which is in itself, an interesting development. Whatever the case, Johnny Depp continues to be so much damn fun to watch, it's impossible not to love him as Captain Jack Sparrow.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer: While not the greatest Superhero flick of all time - it was better than the first film and enjoyable popcorn fare. Worth seeing.

The Simpsons Movie: A damned decent film which makes you laugh - and while the comedy is childish at times - it still has a biting edge to it that we expect from The Simpsons. While the writers may be losing it on the small screen - they did pull out the stops for the movie. Worth seeing.

Iffy films...

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: My least favorite of the five to date. The story is too big to tell in one film, and by sticking to the "main" theme of the novel, the darkness in the film overwhelms everything else. I think this movie series, like the novels, reached its zenith with Prisoner of Azkaban. It's all been downhill from there.

The Last Legion: *sigh* While I can't really recommend it, it's not utterly terrible. It's simply a mediocre genre film. Given the money spent on it - you'd think they could have done a lot better.

Genresque films that I have not seen as I cannot help but feel there is good reason for avoiding them: Transformers, Aliens vs. Predator II, Golden Compass and National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Ah well, I'll see em on DVD in the ordinary course. I always do.

Yet to see but must: Sweeney Todd.

 

[Jayouzts]

Just got home from seeing [Juno], and it was brilliant. I will definitely be picking this one up on DVD.

I agree. If Ellen Page does not win the Best Actress Oscar then something is wrong. I'd put it 3rd best for the year behind No Country for Old Men and Ratatouille.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Juno, like the city in Alaska?

Or, no, because that would be Juneau.

I can't help myself, I'm a nitpicky geographer.