I’m always in search of a good flick. And MoCA Tom, one of my go-to sources for movie recommendations, put this list together for me. They’re not necessarily the best films of the year, but the ones Tom most enjoyed. Presented in no particular order and without regard for year of premiere. While keeping in mind his penchant for zombies, sci-fi, and just about anything else over-the-top. (He hasn’t yet seen Avatar.) For more drama and art house fare, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Anything we missed?
Outlander
SciFi sleeper hit of 2009. Not sure why this didn’t get more press.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Taken
Liam Neeson’s a total bad ass. His character is Qui-Gon Jinn from Star Wars meets Jules from Pulp Fiction.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Up
I love Pixar movies. The best part is always the intro movie before the main movie. If you don’t cry in the first 15 minutes of this movie, then you have no soul.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Star Trek
I’m sick of the whole re-boot/remake that is going on in Hollywood. However, this is the one that they got right. The casting for this movie was phenomenal. Carl Urban was awesome as Dr. McCoy.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
The Hangover
Laugh out loud funny. Who hasn’t had a night like that in Vegas?
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Dead Snow
I am a huge Zombie fan. Zombies are America’s Godzilla. But you know what I like better than Zombies? Nazi Zombies! This Norwegian Zombie Horror Comedy (“Zomedy” if you will) reminds me of the early Peter Jackson movie Dead Alive.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Zombieland
Another Zomedy with a great surprise cameo.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Paranormal Activity
Creepy movie. Do not watch this in the theater. This movie is best watched in the comfort of your own home. Also, get the original ending to this movie. The ending I saw in the theater sucked.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Black Dynamite
This is a great homage to the blaxploitation movies of the 70’s. This is the “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” of this decade.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Ninja Assassin
Who does not like Ninjas? Great Martial Arts film with lots of blood and ass kicking.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Pandorum
The crew of a colony space ship wake up from hibernation with no memory and creepy things hunting them for food. I was surprised with the ending.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Taking Woodstock
Amazing that the event that defined the Hippie era was just a ploy to get money. The irony.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Extract
I am a big fan of Mike Judge (Beavis and Butthead, Office Space). Just watch Beavis and Butthead tell you about the movie.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
District 9
The viral marketing for this movie had me hooked. Plus the alien weapons are sweet!
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Inglourious Basterds
Classic Quentin Tarantino. This is an alternate history of World War II with all the Tarantino twists you expect. Plus a great soundtrack.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
The Hurt Locker
This is about an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team in the Iraq War. Every time these guys walk up to defuse a bomb I cringe. A good movie about the addiction of war.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Fanboys
The story of Dave Zatz’s Apple obsession. Just kidding. This is about a group of Star Wars fanboys that plan to break into Skywalker Ranch and steal a copy of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace before it is released in theaters. Hilarity ensues.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
Crank 2: High Voltage
This movie is so over the top it’s ridiculous. Which is why I loved it.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
As an X-Men fan, I had to go see this. I thought they did a decent job. Where there things they messed up? Yes. Was I still entertained? Yes. Plus me wife really wanted to see this. I think she has the hots for Hugh Jackman.
DVD • Blu-ray • Netflix • IMDB • Rotten Tomatoes
i gave Up to a couple of people for Christmas. the combo dvd/blu-ray/digital copy version for 19.99 on amazon is a great gift
PS you should have an open comment post so we can all brag about our christmas gadgets recieved
Good call. I’m hoping Mari finds a little time to post this weekend as her family usually exchanges a ton of tech/gadgets, and that’d be a great post for folks to follow with their new-found geek bounty.
As for me, family is prohibited from buying me anything technologically related – because they’ll get it wrong and/or I could “recycle” it after a short period of time. Not to mention, Melissa and I didn’t exchange gifts this year and instead took a trip down to Orlando.
I just finished watching “Outlander” and I have one guess as to why it didn’t get more press… it wasn’t a very good movie. I like end of year lists because I usually stumble across a good movie that the critics were wrong about or somehow slipped under the radar. That was not the case with this movie. However, I am not disheartened by the one bad pick; I plan to check out “Pandorum” in the very near future.
Yeah, a few of these are questionable. Which is why I linked the Rotten Tomatoes mashups for perspective. Tom’s still my top go-to guy, despite his love of bad sci-fi. ;)
I have seen Taken, Up, District 9, Star Trek and The Hangover and all were pretty good; worthy of a year end list. In addition to Pandorum, I plan to check out Inglourious Basterds because you can rarely go wrong with Tarantino.