Our Top 10's of 2001 -- Time To Throw Down - Page 3

Dana Fillhart · 01-03-2002, 07:18 PM

Updated 17 Feb 2002: The list has stayed the same but I've filled in a couple reviews.

I will get around to filling in the rest of my reviews as time warrents...additionally, please see the following for further info on my movie opinions:

The 2001 movies thread
The 2002 movies thread
The 2002 Oscars Predictions
The 2002 Oscars Discussion Thread

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - 95%
My official review can be found here.

2. Memento - 95%
(Review upcoming)

3. Amélie - 90%
(Review upcoming)

4. Happy Accidents - 90%
I saw this movie back in September, during the California HTF Meet in Hollywood. I am basically going on memory, but I believe Marissa Tomei's performance in this movie is significantly better than that of In the Bedroom (though admittedly her role in the latter was much more in the background than this movie). The story (which I don't want to spoil; best to go in this movie not knowing much more than it's a story of an improbable relationship made more difficult by ... something weird

-- the story is told in a quirky-comedic sort of way, primarily from Tomei's character, and from this, you never know how to really view the male protagonist; this works well in the film's favor. The conclusion of the story, however, felt like it should have been (or actually was) different than the one give; I'm not the only one who commented on this. Despite that, the ending still works well in the context (just not as well as what some others have mentioned in this thread.
The acting (Tomei, as mentioned, and the rest of the cast) is top-notch, and the cinematography enhances well the flow of the story. I highly recommend this movie -- if anybody can find it! I'm praying for a Criterion DVD release, and soon!

5. Moulin Rouge - 90%
My informal review/comments can be found in this thread.

6. A Beautiful Mind - 90%
(Review upcoming)

7. The Royal Tenenbaums - 90%
(Review upcoming)

8. Ghost World - 90%
(Review upcoming)

9. In the Bedroom - 85%
My official review can be found in the 2001 Film List thread.

10. The Others - 85%
(Review upcoming)

Jason Whyte · 01-04-2002, 02:19 PM

[size=]Updated to place in In The Bedroom and The Royal Tennebaums, both cracking my top 10. This bumps Asoka and Focus off the list.

Jay[/size]

Thi Them · 01-04-2002, 02:40 PM

It's great to see Final Fantasy in some people's top ten. I thought I was the only one who would have it in there.

Jason, nice place on your list to put In the Bedroom. I'll have to see The Royal Tenenbaums again to see if it makes my top ten.

~T

Mark Pfeiffer · 01-04-2002, 07:53 PM

Jason Whyte said:

Quote:

This bumps Asoka and Focus off the list.

Good. Focus is a mediocre, ham-fisted film.

Bruce Hedtke · 01-04-2002, 10:15 PM

The Lord of the Rings

The first 2 hours or so were simply amazing. As exciting and as well crafted a film as I've seen in ages. The energy seemed boundless and each turn was for the better. The last hour, however, stole alot of thunder from the film. Dragged mercilessly and embarked on a 40 minute journey that could easily have been pared to half that.

Bruce

JohnS · 01-05-2002, 05:52 AM

[font=]I as well have changed my top 10 due to seeing Royal Tenenbaums[/font]

Scott Weinberg · 01-08-2002, 02:42 AM

Heck, how did I not get on to this thread earlier? I must have confused it with the 2001 Film List. Or maybe it was all that cough syrup I drank. Oh well, if anyone's still interested, here's my Top 10 and Bottom 10.

The Good

1. Moulin Rouge!
2. The Royal Tenenbaums
3. Memento
4. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
5. Shrek
6. Ghost World
7. The Endurance
8. The Others
9. Amelie
10. A Beautiful Mind

Honorable Mention: Monsters Inc., Donnie Darko, The Man Who Wasn't There, A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, Enemy at the Gates, Bridget Jones's Diary

The Bad

1. The Wash
2. Freddy Got Fingered
3. Pootie Tang
4. Tomb Raider
5. Hardball
6. Pearl Harbor
7. Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles
8. Tomcats
9. Domestic Disturbance
10. Head Over Heels

Dishonorable Mention: Down to Earth, Exit Wounds, Along Came a Spider, Driven, A Knight's Tale, The Animal, The Fast and the Furious, Summer Catch, Two Can Play That Game, The Last Castle, Bones, 13 Ghosts, The One, Out Cold, Black Knight

Josh_Hill · 01-08-2002, 06:21 AM

Lord of the Rings:Fellowship of the Ring
Vanilla Sky
Moulin Rouge
Beautiful Mind
Royal Tenenbaums
Hearts in Atlantis
Hannibal
Black Hawk Down
Tomb Raider/Original Sin
The Pledge
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
A.I.
Monster Inc.

Kevin Simon · 01-08-2002, 06:59 PM

Many of my faves are listed, but one of the WORST had to be; "Behind Enemy Lines."

To much unbelievable action, and, it seemed as if the director was trying to impress us with constant music/editing style changes, etc etc etc.

Stephen R · 01-09-2002, 12:40 AM

I don't know about the rest of you, but this has gotta be one of the hardest year-end lists I've ever composed! There were so many great films this year. I really felt sad about having to knock The Others into the runners-up slot; it's a movie I love!

In comparison to last year, #9 and #10 on that list were both 3 out of 4* films in my book, and comprising a runners-up list was a mundane affair. This year, it's possible that by the time I've seen all the movies I still need to see, the ENTIRE list will be comprised of 4* films (8 are currently). This is quite an oddity for my lists. 2000 only had two 4* films, and 1999 only had four 4* films (and I still stick by that after having seen many, many more films from those respective years).

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I thought 2001 was a wonderful year for movie-watching; a giant leap over 2000 and a respectable step up from 1999. And there's still so much left to see!

PhilipG · 01-09-2002, 01:51 AM

[size=]Top 10:

1. Moulin Rouge (clear winner)
2. Memento (clear runner-up)
3. Apocalypse Now Redux (the horror!)
4. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (example of how to adapt a book well)
5. Shrek (succeeds despite Mike Myers)
6. 15 Minutes (biting satire)
7. Mulholland Drive (Lynch back on form)
8. Enemy at the Gates (great ensemble cast; Harris excels)
9. Swordfish (slick trash)
10. Pearl Harbor (from the first bomb)

Disappointing movies of 2k1 included
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (a most disappointing adaptation; listen to the radio production instead)
2. Tomb Raider (Angelina Jolie + Chris Barrie vs utterly bad script)
3. Cats and Dogs (awful movie / great trailer!)
4. Planet of the Apes (waste of talent)
5. Pearl Harbor (up to the first bomb)[/size]