Wednesday, December 30, 2009

2009 -- Movies I Loved

For some reason, I'm having a hard time coming up with any movies in 2009 that I just really really loved, but there are a few I liked quite a lot.

My favorite movie of 2009 was probably (500) Days of Summer. I honestly didn't expect to actually like it that much so I'm not sure if expectations play a role here, but I adored this movie.

I also really enjoyed Star Trek--it was good fun, Ponyo--a beautiful and perfect children's film, Where the Wild Things Are--bittersweet but still lovely, A Christmas Carol--a near perfect retelling (the part where he's being chased through the streets lost the plot a little bit for me), and Brothers--I agree with critics that it wasn't perfect but it emotionally devastated me and there was a lot that was just really spot on about it.

I really wanted to see The Hurt Locker but didn't get a chance to.

What were your favorite movies of the year?




Amy

20 comments:

Lenore Appelhans said...

I also really enjoyed 500 Days of Summer, but I also didn't LOVE any movies this year.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Hi Amy!
You probably saw my top movies post on Monday. I really had to think about it as well. Wasn't a great year for movies. But Avatar gets my top pick, along with The Blind Side and Star Trek.

Alea said...

500 Days of Summer was definitely my favorite as well! I expected to really like it but I really really loved it!

Sandy Nawrot said...

My sister, who is a movie critic, would tell you that she didn't fall in love with too much this year on the silver screen. We enjoyed a number of them, like Star Trek, The Blind Side, Ponyo, or Harry Potter, but weren't blown away. My problem is that the dark, independent ones, which are the ones I usually like, aren't kid friendly, so end up watching them via Netflix a year after they come out!

Unknown said...

There were several movies I enjoyed this year - Easy Virtue, Harry Potter #6, Star Trek, Me and Orson Welles, Sherlock Holmes, An Education...I feel like I'm forgetting one or two, but that's all that comes to mind at the moment. I've gotten way more selective about which movies I'll pay to go see in the theater...used to go see upwards of 30 films a year (yikes!) and this year I don't know if I've even been to see 10. So for me, not thinking of a dud is pretty good. :)

Beth Kephart said...

We have 500 Days of Summer on order, at last! The movie I've wanted to see since it was released. Last night I watched Julie and Julia and did love it, though Julie Powell's follow-on book, Cleaving, seems shockingly wrong, in many ways.

I am afraid to watch Brothers. I know that I should, I LOVE Portman, but.... I am afraid.

Alea said...

Me too Beth! I love everyone in Brothers but yeah I don't know!

Amanda said...

Perhaps it's a bit sad, but i only saw two movies in theatre this year - HP6 and Coraline...

bermudaonion said...

Hmm, I'm not sure, but I really liked Precious, Julie & Julia, Coraline and Amelia.

Jenny Girl said...

I ususally wait for video, but I just saw The Young Victoria and loved it! I was disappointed with Potter's last outing.

Oh and the Hangover. Made me laugh out aloud :)

Amy said...

Lenore...okay good, glad I'm not alone! :)

L.Diane...I liked Avatar but didn't love it. :(

Alea...yeah, I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I'm glad I was so charmed by it!

Sandy...I totally forgot about The Blind Side! I liked that one too, but again, didn't LOVE it.
Unfortunately, not even the dark and depressing indies are winning with me, though I haven't seen Precious and I was very moved by Brothers.

Ruth...I wanted to see An Education but it left the theatre too fast. I do see a lot of movies in theatre esp. during the summer.

Beth..i hope you love 500 Days of Summer! I liked Julie and Julia but didn't like it as much as I expected too. I think Brothers is worth watching, but yes it is emotionally devastating. I couldn't stop thinking about it for days.

Amanda...not sad at all! I think I'm the sad one for seeing so many duds! :) I liked HP6, I always like the movies, but I just love the books so much more.

Kathy...I've only seen Julie and Julia out of those but maybe I should have made it higher priority to see Precious!

Jenny..I really want to see The Young Victoria!

Unknown said...

I haven't been to a movie in a theater for 2 years because of my immune system. I have 500 days in my Netflix queue. I loved The Duchess which I saw last winter, as well as Lost in Austen, a British film I recently got.

Literary Feline said...

I went through all the movies I watched last year and came up with a top give list, which I'll post tomorrow. I was worried I wouldn't be able to pick that many, but it turned out that exactly five stood out for me. Star Trek was one of them. :-) That's the only movie from those you mention that I've seen.

Natasha @ Maw Books said...

I enjoyed (500) Days of Summer too. I loved Harry Potter and Star Trek. Just saw this one but it easily just made my favorite movie of the year - Invictus. Loved it! Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela.

Gina said...

Definitely agree with A Christmas Carol and Star Trek....for me I would add on a few others though.

HP and the Half-Blood Prince - good, but they waited WAY to long to release it....the buzz died down quite a bit
New Moon - much better than the first, but the books still rule
Julie and Julia - much more likeable than anticipated my most, although the ending was kind of skewered for me
My Life in Ruins - under-estimated smaller release film, but if you watched/liked My Big Fat Greek Wedding, definitely watch this one
The Proposal - What can I say? Great actor and actress combo....hilarious and cute movie!
The Ugly Truth - a little crass, but still funny
Law Abiding Citizen - just saw this the other day...kind of gruesome, but with decent thrills...

sarah Pekkanen said...

Oh, I"ve heard such great things about (500) Days of Summer but I don't know anyone personally who has seen it... it's on my rental list!

Carrie K. said...

I've had 500 Days of Summer on the top of my Netflix queue for a while - I really want to see it! I loved Star Trek. Thought HP 6 was disappointing - probably my least fave of the series. I really want to see Sherlock Holmes and The Blind Side.

Stephanie said...

I wanted to see The Hurt Locker too. Roger Ebert raved about it.

Jen said...

First of all, thanks so much for the mention on your blog post. I feel so flattered to be among your list. :)

As for favorite movies, I totally agree with 500 Days of Summer. It is the only movie that totally stands out to me as being a favorite. I actually just finished watching Up and thought it was outstanding as well. If you haven't seen it, definitely check it out. Just make sure to bring the tissues. OMG, I cried A LOT!!

Violet said...

Oh...just watched Avatar and loved it. I have to see Precious, I saw it on Oprah show the other day and it looked really powerful.

I loved Julie and Julia too. I'll put Brothers on my list.

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