Reviews

Monday, March 29, 2010

The Best of 2009

The year 2009 is in the books.  That of course means that it's time for your friendly, neighborhood critics at Movie Bangerang to reveal what we thought were the year's best films.  Instead of individually listing our favorites, we decided to combine our lists.  It should also be noted that we will continue to see movies released last year as time goes on, so the list is subject to change.  We have decided, in our wisdom, to narrow it to five. Enjoy!


5. Avatar


It may not have been a perfect movie, but there's no denying it - "Avatar" is a thrilling and ambitious ride and is visually the most incredible movie out there.  This is a film that will be remembered for years to come and one that has earned a spot on our list of the best of the year.


















4. The Princess and the Frog


While we have been getting nothing but non-musical computer-animated movies from Disney for quite some time, directors Ron Clements and Jon Musker brought back the old Disney feel with "The Princess and the Frog" and took us all back to the glory years.  Hopefully this level of excellence will continue in their future efforts.



















3. (500) Days of Summer


A quirky, hiliarious, and insightful romantic comedy that never ceases to entertain.  Director Marc Webb uses a variety of storytelling techniques to drive this original and unforgettable film.


















2. Star Trek


This is probably the most surprisingly good movie to come along in some time.  "Star Trek" is so brilliant and memorable in every way from the interesting characters to the awesome action scenes.  It's simply unbelievable that they were able to make a movie watchable and exciting to fans and non-fans alike.  This is a great sci-fi film.


















1. Up


One of the most beautiful sequences in recent movie history sets the stage for a story that resonates with viewers young and old.  "Up" is one of, if not the funniest, best-looking, and most complete films Pixar has ever created.  It also happens to be the best film of the year.


Monday, March 1, 2010

(500) Days of Summer

















Right from the get-go, this is a film that separates itself from the pack.  It establishes its quirky mojo right out of the gate and engages the audience the whole way.  This is a very real and relatable romantic comedy told in a very unconventional and hugely entertaining way.  From split-screens to musical numbers to dramatic reenactments, the movie keeps you hooked wondering not only what's going to happen next, but how the filmmakers are going to present it.  To boot, the whole story is told out of order!  Some of the dirty humor definitely could have been cut back a bit.  It feels a little out of place. Regardless, this is a funny and fascinating film that definitely deserves a look.

Bryce ***1/2
Chase ***1/2
Landon ***1/2
Logan ***1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: ***1/2