Best Movies I've Seen In 2010

Dvd release 2010- Many of us have some knowledge of the Sino-Japanese war; and many are the films that have portrayed what happened during that period. "CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH" is director Lu Chuan's attempt in portraying the massacre in Nanking (rape of Nanking), a period that occurred between 1937 and 1938 when the Imperial Japanese army have occupied China's capital committing atrocities against defenseless Chinese P.O.W.s such as murder, mutilation, looting and rape. The incident is truly one of the most emotional issues between China and Japan that it would be easy to assume that a Chinese-made film that portrayed the events would have strong anti-Japanese sentiments. This has been hailed as the Chinese "Schindler's List"
See the full review, "A Powerful Achievement In Chinese Cinema!".

This film is tense, taut, filled with dramatic and horrific logic that will stay with you after the end credits. It may also be Natalie Portman's best performance yet. "Black Swan" is a freaky mind-bender of the highest order; it is smart, sexy and unsettling….and very realistic.
See the full review, "Dancing With One's Own Personal Reflections....".

The real Tangshan earthquake took place in July, 1976 and is one of the most tragic events in China's history. The disaster claimed the lives of more than 245,000 people (some records report more) and according to my research, it was interwoven with a very chaotic time in the country's history. "Aftershock" is an easy film to love. It is the kind of film that impresses because of the way the characters revolved around familial love that is based on pure, primal emotions that develop among normal human beings. It is a story about survival, how one faced certain death and how one endured after a tragic misfortune. You cannot help but be swept in the film's emotions, this one of those times that I was incredibly touched by its tear-jerking moments. It is not a film that provokes a thought but rather it is an emotional one. It is a film with good intentions albeit somewhat a little obvious as to why it played it safe. Feng Xiaogang always had the right touch to instill the right emotions at the right set time.
See the full review, "Choosing Who Lives And Who Dies?".

Stories about friendship and courage. They are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser whose stories have been told in various different ways. It is just something that people need to be told from time to time that I doubt anyone would grow tired of it. Well, director Tom Hooper's "The King's Speech" won the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival People's choice award and it tells about the true story of a King George VI who overcame something very significant in the face of a chaotic world event. The film also tells the story of a friendship that surpasses a huge royal divide; as a King and his subject find something special that defined the word ‘courage'.
See the full review, "Everyone Has The Right To Be Heard!".

A parents' worst fear is when they outlive their children, worst even is when the child is taken at a very young age. I would imagine that such a tragedy would be almost unbearable. The play by David Lindsay-Abaire took on this premise and he adapts his tale to the big screen with director John Cameron Mitchell help in 2010‘s "Rabbit Hole". The Nicole Kidman produced film premiered in the Toronto film festival and has received a standing ovation. The film is a remarkable story that defines grief; how we as humans tend to cope with it, how it sometimes coincides with guilt and how we try to live with it. "Rabbit Hole" is a powerful film about a messy, tragic emotional reaction to the loss of a child.
See the full review, "4 ½ Stars: Should GRIEF And Mourning For The Loss of A Child Be An Everlasting Burden?".

U.S. LIMITED Theatrical run in 2010. "The White Ribbon" is a mystery surrounded by another mystery. Why did all these things happen and who is truly responsible? The film has an ambiance as seen through the eyes of a man who was there but like most of the others, knew very little. The film is horrific and yet it isn't a horror film, it is a drama and yet it feels rather detached; I believe in Haneke's eyes, this is a way to approach the awful reality of this repressed society since its questions and answers can be debated in a number of different ways. Just who are what is truly to blame?
See the full review, "What Does The White Ribbon Truly Stand For?".

U.S. DVD Release in 2010. "Revenge is a dish best served cold" and Austrian writer/director Gotz Spielmann's "REVANCHE" (the title means ‘revenge' in German) is a calculating, brilliantly simple existential thriller goes into the depths of the frigid workings of the human psyche that may trigger the desire for vengeance. Criterion always picks up the best pieces of foreign cinema and "Revanche" doesn't disappoint. The film puts it focus on its characters, without any use of gimmicks, attitude, and even throbbing music. "Revanche" is brilliant in its simplicity that makes it feel more realistic, thought-provoking and sincere in execution.
See the full review, "Dense Human Suspense Beautifully Woven into a Fine Existential Thriller!".

U.S. Limited theatrical run in 2010. "Mother" is a film with no clear-cut ending and the moral complexities given by the film's conclusion may turn off folks who only like the usual spoon-fed details of good and evil. There are some scenes that require reading between the lines, (as with any other Asian film) and Bing uses some commentary on maternal issues.
See the full review, "A Mother's Love Knows No Bounds In This Murder Mystery!".

The film is so undeniably simple at first impression, doubtless those folks who have seen a good number of genre films and independent movies have come across movies with strong similarities. Yet, I find this film quite compelling and effective with how it develops its story. Depressing films have the strong potential to be brilliant no matter how simple its premise is; and "Winter's Bone" is one such movie. This nourish drama has won the Grand Jury prize at Sundance.
See the full review, "An Unflinching Drama About a Girl Who Seeks Out Her Missing Father...".

"Inception" is a film with a lot of ambition. It is smart, methodical, and bold; I have to say that Nolan and company did execute the film with amazing skill most especially from a technical standpoint. The film has a heart-throbbing soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, and the film is just so good from a visual standpoint; many thanks to the team that gave us Nolan‘s "Batman" films. I guess if the film had a flaw is that it can alienating since some elements moved too fast with a relentless assault of information that some casual viewers will barely make a connection in the film's opening scenes, some may even say that there is just too much that went on with the movie that its editing feels a little uneven but I disagree. It does lack some solid character development (but each character does have a purpose) since the plot is highly favored in the film.
See the full review, "Christopher Nolan Creates a Dream Worth Watching...".

"How to Train Your Dragon" may just become the one of the best animated successes to hail from Hollywood in 2010 although it is too soon to speculate; but the film is now ahead of the pack. The film has all the qualities I look for in an animated film for all ages; a great backdrop (world of Vikings), action and thought-provoking moral themes, light-hearted humor and enough ‘cutesy' devices to satisfy viewers of all ages and gender. The last time I felt this much satisfaction and entertainment from an animated movie usually comes from Japanese anime, so imagine my surprise to feel this way about American animation.
See the full review, "MAY Well Become the BEST Animated Movie of 2010!! ....it's NO Son of a "HALF-Troll"..".

I have no idea how many times I have stated the rules for filming a movie that remakes an iconic original. Well, if you're one of those folks who've read any of my reviews before, they are quite simple: 1) It must broaden the scope that is covered by the original film while adapting it for a much more modern audience. 2) It must follow the essence and the spirit of the said material. 3) It should pay homage to the source material and/or the original film. I have to say I am impressed as to how the Coen Brothers made it so easy to accomplish this mission and adapt the novel by Charles Portis for this modern age. Most remakes or adaptations play around with their source material, but the Coen bros. knew what they were about to do and stayed within the basics and they knew how to make the film stronger and possibly more compelling than the original movie with John Wayne.
See the full review, ""The Dude" Stands Side-By-Side With "The Duke" In This Re-Issue of the Classic Western!".

Love and Marriage. Life and Marriage. How about life and love in marriage? We've all heard the stories; why some couples make it and some don't. I guess I would be lying if I said that director Derek Cianfrance's "Blue Valentine" brings something new to the table as with films about the hardships of marriage. No, it doesn't offer anything different, but I guess it is its familiar elements that makes it easily accessible and believable. For some reason, this film reminds me of "The Story of Us" with Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer, albeit that movie had a more uplifting end theme. However, if at all possible, "Blue Valentine" may offer a much more pessimistic view about marriage. Beware, this film is very real and offers the portrayal of a couple who was so taken by each other during their younger days and those feelings begin to wane after a time.
See the full review, "People Change and Feelings Change...Life in Marriage And Marriage In Life....".

"Social Network" is a film directed by David Fincher and is scripted by Aaron Sorkin; the film is based on the book by Ben Mezrich called "The Accidental Billionaires". "Social Network". God, how those words now mean quite a lot to a great many number of people these days. Right now, I am posting a review on a "social networking" site called lunch.com about a film that portrays the beginnings of one of America's most famous "social sites" called "Facebook". You would not believe the story behind how the idea came about and how "Facebook" became a multi-billion dollar company.
See the full review, "Can't Make A Few BILLION Without Making A Few Enemies...".

We've all heard about the efforts of the resistance in destabilizing the invading side in the Sino-Japanese war and the struggles with the Third Reich. Executively-produced by Feng Xiaogang and directed by Chen Kuo-fu and Gao Qunshu, "The Message" (2009) is a polished Chinese war thriller based on the novel "Leng Sheng" by Mai Jia. The film is about a spy hunt during the 2nd Sino-Japanese war when the Japanese has occupied several major areas in China.
See the full review, "Feng Xiaogang Produces A Polished War Thriller Boasting of Excellent Acting and Taut Direction".

The original "Toy Story" revolutionized the way CGI-animation was seen in the U.S. in 1995. The film defined the words "computer generated graphics" with its stellar animation and the fact that the film itself appeared to specially highlight this technological advancement in animation. It sure helped that it also had a stellar voice cast and an endearing story. The first movie made "Pixar" what it is today. Given its widespread success, it spawned a sequel in 1999 called "Toy Story 2" which was almost every bit as successful as the original all the while expanding on the story of Woody and Buzz, and all the toys owned by a boy named Andy.
See the full review, "No Toy Gets Left Behind In The "Great Escape" From Daycare Center!".

U.S. Dvd Release in 2010 (no theatrical run) Director Marina De Van's "Don't Look Back" is a French psychological thriller brings elements of paranoia, confusion, fear and discomfort as the story brings the viewer into the psyche of a woman who just one day wakes up to see the world around her slowly change. It is not a comforting thought to one day find that the people, the things that you know may not exactly be the same as you've known all your life.
See the full review, "Sometimes We See What We Want To See....and Draw Our Own Perceptions....".

U.S. limited theatrical run in 2010- "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" is a film about secrets and revelations; its slower pace is part of its strength. The film encourages the viewer to get to know its characters piece by piece as it takes you on a ride to solve this familial mystery. There are some character staples at times but I didn't really feel bothered by them since the performances and the way it developed the story felt really gripping
See the full review, "Imposingly Violent, Excellently Acted With A Tight Plotting Sets a Tone of Unease and Intimacy....".

Sports dramas that channel an inspiring ‘underdog' story. It is pretty cliché nowadays in the halls of filmmaking. Well, director David O. Russell's "The Fighter" stems from cliché but then again, sometimes real life is all about cliché. It centers on the real-life story of Irish boxer Micky Ward and his half-brother Dickie Eklund. This film is the third collaboration between Russell and Wahlberg, the first two being "Three Kings" and "I Heart Huckabees". At first look, "The Fighter" looks like another boxing story that emulates the Oscar-winning "Rocky" but instead it sets its eyes on the human and familial relationships in the middle of conflict. Yes, the film is an disconcerted one, but I was impressed with the amount of spirit found from its real-world inspiration that it manages to overcome its weaknesses.
See the full review, "FIGHT TO WIN in Life and in The Boxing Ring!".

U.S. Limited Theatrical Run in 2010. One of the scariest movies of 2007 was the Spanish horror hit [REC] that also inspired the American remake "Quarantine". [REC] took the first-person POV style cinematography to heights never seen before as it was edgy, rough and very scary. The Spanish film portrayed a group of people headed by a few firemen and a female reporter who were caught in a building full of flesh-hungry, rabidly feral people. The film offered not that many answers so it warranted a sequel, and now directors Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza return to the same claustrophobic concept with [REC] 2 with 2009.
See the full review, "Spain's Blockbuster Horror Sequel Comes to America!!".

We've all seen movies that portray vampires as seductive bloodsuckers, savagely feral creatures, zombie-like interpretations, martial arts vampires, and even love-sick ones. One may argue that the vampire genre is running out of ideas. Movies have to tried to reinvent the genre in different ways; now writer/directors Peter and Michael Spierig takes another stab at making something fresh with ‘DAYBREAKERS". The film is a dark look at a futuristic world after society has become dominated by the undead. The film isn't as much as a horror film than it is a dark fantasy film based on vampire lore. This future as seen as the Spierig brothers is quite interesting and while I have to freely say that it is not for everyone, I have to commend it for its attempts at a fresh look on ‘vampire society'; hell, the bloodsuckers aren't so different from mere mortals after all.
See the full review, ""LIFE is a B!+*h ....When you Don't DIE!"".

Fans of Chinese Wuxia Fantasy-Adventures know that John Woo began his career in this genre around 26-27 years ago. He had such strong competition that the famed action director instead made his mark in Hong Kong "Bullet Ballet" with acclaimed movies such as "Hard-Boiled" and "The Killer". Well, after the huge success of the 5 ½ + hour two-part epic "Red Cliff", John Woo seems to be making a return to Chinese Wuxia as he co-produces, co-directs with writer/co-director Su Chao-Bin in the finely crafted, tragically romantic Mandarin-period Wuxia epic called "Reign of the Assassins". The film stars one of the best female actresses who ever did a spin kick, Malaysian-Chinese actress Michelle Yeoh in the lead.
See the full review, "A Chinese Wuxia Classic In The Making...Michelle Yeoh Returns!".

"Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World" is indeed a film that channels outright silliness and makes good on its promise. It does make a genuine attempt to become different and original while being so wildly entertaining. The film is something not to be taken seriously, and if you do, you will only lessen its entertainment value. The film does have a heart and I liked its overused moral lesson of ‘starting over', forget the past and that what matters are the things that we care about. Despite the fact it does have the stereotypical mysterious ‘dream girl' bit and the from the "zero to hero" bit, I liked what it did with its premise. "Scott Pilgrim" is an inventive movie with high replay value and I would say that the movie is a must-see.
See the full review, "Let The Ex-Battles Begin in This Zany, Bizarre, Action-Packed Romantic Comedy!".

Limited Theatrical run in 2010. A horror movie with a low body count so don't expect the usual thrill-a-minute ride. It is a grueling human drama whose appreciation could only come from how we are attached to its protagonists and feel its realism. "Frozen" is a simple film and there really isn't much of a story, but it is an attempt to re-imagine and refresh emotional claustrophobia.
See the full review, "Adam Green Redeems Himself With A Slice of Pure Human Horror!".

Some changes did bother me a bit especially in the film's ‘happy ending'. I also didn't like the way the "Big Daddy" character was changed extensively both in character and appearance. "Kick Ass" the comic series kicked major ass as a brilliant, compelling, brutally violent piece of comic book fiction; I knew the movie would be inferior but I was still disappointed that once again Hollywood missed the point. This film has all the trappings of a super-hero movie and it is still pretty good. Matthew Vaughn's "Kick-Ass" is an extremely watered down adaptation but honestly, his version was good for what it wanted to be; a fun, comedic, violent "I wanna be a super-hero" that is still entertaining.
See the full review, "You Wanna Be A....WHAT??!!!!!...Remember....With NO Power, Comes NO Responsibility!".

The war in Iraq. Why exactly did our country ever engage in such a war…weapons of mass destruction? If one remembers, about almost 7 years ago in 2003, then president George W. Bush stood on the deck of an aircraft carrier declaring "mission accomplished" in Iraq. Well, I'll get right to the point, you may not like director Paul Greengrass' (The Bourne Ultimatum) and writer Brian Hildeland‘s "Green Zone" if you don't agree or at least admit the possibility that their point of view is possible, and this is a crucial part of what would either make their film either good or bad in the eyes of the viewer.
See the full review, ""The Reasons WHY We Go To WAR ALWAYS Matters!!"".

The film is based on the story of the Ninth Legion during the Roman invasion of Britain where they met heavy resistance by the Pict tribes. This legion was believed to have met a humiliating defeat that Rome had to cover it up. Keep in mind though, that this is not a history lesson but a fictional tale crafted by Marshall. So if you want a violent, bloody and gory action-adventure then you will be right at home with "Centurion"
See the full review, "Neil Marshall Incorporates Blood and Gore, Violent Swordplay and Substance in This Epic-Adventure!".

The Book of Eli" is a thematic action film. It is not the type of film that is for everyone, since I know a lot of viewers would end up shaking their heads, that they would say that the movie requires a large suspension of disbelief. The twist at the end, may turn off some viewers but I liked it. It allowed me to ponder, ask questions, and then believe; if you have been paying attention in the film's entirety and every last character detail. The direction set the film's groundwork that I easily bought the final act. "The Book of Eli" isn't your usual post-apocalyptic action film, it makes one wonder and marvel if such things are possible…then again, all you have to do is BELIEVE.
See the full review, ""...Though I Walk The Valley in The Shadow of Death, I Will Fear NO EVIL."".

Yes, I am including this because of its raw guts and bold attitude. I dare anyone say that the Japanese doesn't know their stuff when it comes to pink violence and crazy originality. I'll be brutally blunt. "Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl" is a crazy, bizarre exercise in Japanese grind house filmmaking. It pokes fun at itself and never takes itself seriously; it is not at all scary or unnerving, but makes it a point to make fun at some social forbidden themes and takes them to the most extremes of exaggeration that can be quite grim and yet funny. The film has a very thin plot, but then again fans of "Robo-Geisha (which I will review later) and "Machine Girl" weren't there to see an intricate plot but they were there for the outrageousness of its scenes. For a film of its kind, "Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl" hits the right spots as a silly, bizarre film that will no doubt develop a cult following. I just help but like this film.
See the full review, "An EPIC Battle of Japanese "PINK-Violent" Proportions!".

Official Dvd Release in 2010. Disaster movies. For some reason, the general movie-going public has an attraction to such movies. Hollywood had just recently released "2012" and now South Korean filmmakers together with the special effects people (Polygon Entertainment) of "The Day After Tomorrow" are poised to have their own interpretation of a disaster flick titled "Haeundae" (2009, titled "Tidal Wave" in Europe and "Tsunami" in some parts of Asia). I have rather become a bit jaded with the usual disaster movie trappings but surprisingly, the movie proved to be a lot better than I expected. Director Yoo Je-Kyoon manages to get the right amount of bleakness and the essential uplifting message just right.
See the full review, "South Korean Filmmakers Takes a Stab at a DISASTER MOVIE With a Strong Humanism...".

official DVD RELEASE in 2010. I've often said that Hong Kong Director Johnnie To is the epitome of cool and calculating style. His latest film also proves that he is one versatile director seeing as how he is able to direct a film that uses three languages such as French, English and Mandarin; it wouldn't be too impressive but To doesn't speak a word of English or French. "VENGEANCE" (2009) is a film that has high expectations going for it in Asia and the film has been selected in the Cannes Film Festival. The film may well be a fitting conclusion to To's trilogy of movies about hitmen such as "The Mission" and "Exiled", so if you notice several similarities to style and tone to the other two films, it may well be intentional. "Vengeance" also includes French actor Johnny Hallyday (who is a Pop legend in France dubbed the "Elvis Presley of France") who took over the role that Alain Delon left vacant.
See the full review, "Hong Kong Director Johnnie To Returns to What He Does Best...Very Cool Action Films!".