K. Close III

GATW’s Coding Ninja’s Top 10 of 2010

Friday, December 31st, 2010 | GATW Archives

Once again, it is time for me to fess up and reveal to the world how few movies I actually get a chance to see, despite my working for a movie news and review site. To be honest, this year, I thought I would be writing “The Seven Movies of 2010 That I Actually Saw.” Thankfully, with quick DVD releases, and even some Netflix Streaming, I was able to see a grand total of seventeen releases for the year. But I digress. Here, in all its glory, is my entirely unconventional Top Ten of 2010!

10. GET HIM TO THE GREEK
I am a man of simple pleasures and it doesn’t take a deep, enthralling piece of artwork to entertain me for 90 minutes. What does win me over, however, is when a movie far exceeds its expectations. I’m not going to try to suggest that GET HIM TO THE GREEK was a good movie, but I had a very good time with it. I enjoyed it and that’s all I wanted from it. Of my seventeen movies, there are several that couldn’t even deliver entertainment.

9. TRON: LEGACY
Another humble admission: this is the first 3D movie I’ve seen since CAPTAIN EO at Walt Disney World in 1990. No, I didn’t see AVATAR (not even in 2D), and I’ve never been fond of 3D. That said, TRON made it on my list for three reasons: escapism, and nostalgia, and Daft Punk. TRON was a mindless movie more filled with eye candy than most action films can even attempt at, lace that with the repackaging of my childhood and my love of techno, and I was ready to buy my ticket at the window.

8. THE RED BARON
I am not now, nor have I ever been, a history buff, but I’ve always been fascinated by aviation. Combine that with my new found love for the board game Wings of War(a World War I dogfight simulation), and I was compelled to watch THE RED BARON when it appeared on my Netflix streaming queue. Unexpectedly, however, it was compelling and beautiful. It was not only gorgeous to watch but also prompted me to learn more on the subject of WWI aviation. It was a solid story that made me a fan, regardless of the allegiance of the protagonist.

7. KICK-ASS
Earlier in the year, before I ever had the opportunity to see KICK-ASS, I expected to rate it much higher. Not to say that it wasn’t good, but I don’t feel that it truly lived up to its moniker. It never really “kicked ass.” It was good, and very stylistic, and it even found a way to entertain. It just didn’t manage punch its way up the list any further.

6. YOUTH IN REVOLT
I was a very meek teen, and I’ve never grown much further than that. I still have trouble asserting myself, which may be why I’m the web guru around here, rather than a more vociferous writer. YOUTH IN REVOLT appealed to my inner rebel and let me assert myself vicariously through the character of Nick Twisp. I only wish I could go back and portray my own Francois Dillinger.

5. HOT TUB TIME MACHINE
Don’t you judge me, I grew up in the 80’s! This movie was made for me, and I love it’s “no pretenses” honestly. They didn’t try to come up with some kind of clever title or premise. It is what it is and I loved it!

4. ALICE IN WONDERLAND
As I said, I am a child of the 80’s, and as such, my film aesthetic has grown with a solid input from Tim Burton. Now, as a father of a three-year old, I was thrilled to find a Tim Burton movie that the two of us can share. I love the reinterpretation of the original material, as well as the references and nods to the previous Disney adaptation. Tim Burton acknowledges that we don’t live in a vacuum, segregated from all other previously existing media, and it is always a treat to be reminded that the film makers share the same, complex, layered world in which we live.

3. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
Aside from the transmogrification of the actors in ALICE IN WONDERLAND, this is the only animated movie I’ve seen for the year (which is astounding, considering the aforementioned fact that I have a three-year old). Nevertheless, we bought this one on DVD, sight unseen, and fell instantly in love with it. I’ve always been a fan of both dragons and Jay Baruchel, so this was a hit with me. The animation and the story was also well developed and thoughtful. This is a movie that I will be happy to watch again and again.

2. INCEPTION
Quite likely the deepest film on my list (no pun intended…okay, well, maybe). A remarkable film from Christopher Nolan, original and thought-provoking. Joseph Gordon-Levitt returns from my 2009 list with an equally powerful and remarkably different role. He proves, once again, that he is a breakaway actor. Also worth mentioning is the always scene-stealing performance of Tom Hardy, who literally floored me with the percussion of his performance. I look forward to seeing his career explode.

1. SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD
And my number one pick is the movie I had anticipated the most. I absolutely loved this movie…everyone and everything involved could have done no wrong. From the classic Edgar Wright dynamic camera, to Michael Cera’s chronic apathy, right down to the cameos of Clifton Collins Jr. and Thomas Jane. It a perfect marriage of Bryan Lee O’Malley and Edgar Wright, and it was bliss to my eye-holes.

In closing, I wanted to list a few movies from 2010 that I’m dying to see, but haven’t had the time to get to them in the confines of this year: DISTRICT 13: ULTIMATUM, 3 IDIOTS, DEFENDOR, EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP, ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE UNDEAD, BURIED, THE SOCIAL NETWORK, RED, and HOLY ROLLERS. I have a busy year ahead of me and I suspect that in catching up with 2010, I will only end up behind in 2011.

See you for my unconventional Top Ten next year!

Tags: SXSW 2010, top ten

1 Comment to GATW’s Coding Ninja’s Top 10 of 2010

Leave a comment