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Is 2009 the best year ever for movies?

post #1 of 25
8/21/09 at 8:39am
Thread Starter 

It all began with May's Star Trek reboot and will end grandly with Avatar. 2009 may be the best year ever for big-scale film (and some very good small ones):

Terminator Salvation. I wasn't disappointed with it, to say the least
Moon. A great little sci-fi drama that nobody saw
District 9. Finally, an original storyline and highly entertaining
and coming up:

Possibly the best WWII movie ever made: Inglorious Bastards
You want a slasher movie? Check. Halloween II
Looking for a Disaster flick to end all disaster flicks? 2012. Amazing trailer
Post-Apocalyptic angst? The Road
Need some mystery thrills? Check. Shutter Island
Sci-fi Action? Take your pick: Whiteout, Pandorum
Sc-fi thrillers your game? Go see The Surrogates
Then there's the remake of one of the best episodes of the 80's version of The Twilight Zone: The Box.


I don't remember anything pre-summer but, man, what a lineup!
 

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post #2 of 25
8/21/09 at 8:44am
In recent years, 2003 had two Matrix films, Return of the King, Pirates 1, Master and Commander, and Nemo.  2009 doesn't come close.

And the word angst and the Road really don't go together.  And I'd argue that Inglorious Basterds won't unseat Patton or several other movies anytime soon.  It might be the best WWII fantasy film ever.

Pre-summer did have Watchmen.
Edited by Chuck Mayer - 8/21/09 at 1:44pm
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post #3 of 25
8/21/09 at 9:18am
IMO, 2009 can't touch 1999, which was for my money the greatest year of movies thus far. Check out the embarasment of riches -- Bear in mind all of the the first three were, at the time, untainted by disappointing followups:

The Matrix
The Mummy
The Sixth Sense
Fight Club
American Beauty
Office Space
The Iron Giant
Toy Story 2
Three Kings
Sunshine

Being John Malkovich
Galaxy Quest
Election
Payback
EdTV
Idle Hands
Stuart Little
Go
Girl, Interrupted
Man on the Moon
The Boondock Saints
The Limey
The Talented Mr Ripley
South Park: B,L,U
The Insider
Eyes Wide Shut

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post #4 of 25
8/21/09 at 3:53pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by Luisito34 View Post

It all began with May's Star Trek reboot and will end grandly with Avatar. 2009 may be the best year ever for big-scale film (and some very good small ones):

Terminator Salvation. I wasn't disappointed with it, to say the least
Moon. A great little sci-fi drama that nobody saw
District 9. Finally, an original storyline and highly entertaining
and coming up:

Possibly the best WWII movie ever made: Inglorious Bastards
You want a slasher movie? Check. Halloween II
Looking for a Disaster flick to end all disaster flicks? 2012. Amazing trailer
Post-Apocalyptic angst? The Road
Need some mystery thrills? Check. Shutter Island
Sci-fi Action? Take your pick: Whiteout, Pandorum
Sc-fi thrillers your game? Go see The Surrogates
Then there's the remake of one of the best episodes of the 80's version of The Twilight Zone: The Box.


I don't remember anything pre-summer but, man, what a lineup!
 


 2008's offerings have eclipsed this year's by a mile. Outside of UP, I was really let down this year movie wise. To answer your question, the best movie year ever has to be 1939. No other year will ever compare to that year.

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post #5 of 25
8/21/09 at 6:31pm
I'd say it's been one of the weakest years in a long long time, and I know I'm not alone.
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post #6 of 25
8/21/09 at 8:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zack Gibbs View Post

I'd say it's been one of the weakest years in a long long time, and I know I'm not alone.

I was thinking the same thing. This year has definitely had its share of gems -- the quite possibly the best Harry Potter of them all, The Hangover, Watchmen, Knowing, Star Trek, and some great smaller films, -- and with Avatar looks set to finish with a bang. But this year has high an unusually high dud to success ratio.
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post #7 of 25
8/21/09 at 8:46pm
This has been a good year.  But in my mind, nothing can replace 1994:

Hoop Dreams
Forest Gump
Nell
Ed Wood
Shawshank Redemption
Pulp Fiction
Bullets over Broadway
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Heavenly Creatures
Lion King
Hudsucker Proxy
Quiz Show

1994 to me stands out because it has so many films that to this day I don't view as just "good" but "incredible" film efforts.

 

But 2009 has been good so far ;)
 

I was VERY dissappointed by the trailer for "The Road" which appears as though someone has NO real understanding of the book.. and when was it decided that this would be declared as an


Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

environmental disaster, as it is proclaimed in the trailer, they'd ad gun battles with road gangs.. I don't remember ANY of that form the book, at all.


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post #8 of 25
8/21/09 at 9:41pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by mattCR View Post


I was VERY dissappointed by the trailer for "The Road" which appears as though someone has NO real understanding of the book.. and when was it decided that this would be declared as an


Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

environmental disaster, as it is proclaimed in the trailer, they'd ad gun battles with road gangs.. I don't remember ANY of that form the book, at all.

I wouldn't be too worried. The Weinstein Company doesn't know how to sell the movie, so they're pulling a bait and switch ad compaign, which will probably piss off people who go to see the movie expecting one thing and getting something else entirely.

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post #9 of 25
8/22/09 at 10:56am
The best years for movies IMO were: 1939 (Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Stagecoach, The Women, and MANY more) , 1951, 1967, 1977, 1980, 1994, and 2001.
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post #10 of 25
8/23/09 at 10:17pm

1982 had one heck of a lineup:

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
Blade Runner
Tootsie

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Poltergeist

Ghandi

First Blood

The Dark Crystal

Tron
Rocky III
Conan the Barbarian

The Secret of Nimh


Edited by Kevin Lamb - 8/24/09 at 12:23pm
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post #11 of 25
8/24/09 at 4:34am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Luisito34 View Post

Need some mystery thrills? Check. Shutter Island


Shutter Island has been delayed until February 2010.

This year has had some good movies, but overall, I'd say it's pretty weak in comparison to other years. Everyone will have their favorite year, depending on the kinds of films you like and what the marketplace meant for those kinds of films at a given time.

I found this year to be pretty weak, especially this summer. With the exception of Star Trek and Up, I haven't seen any films I'd consider great. Public Enemies was good, but not great. Many films were just too disappointing. The writers strike created this situation - studios have delayed some of their good films to have something to compete with this summer (Star Trek is a prime example) but film slates are pretty slim because the strike left fewer films in development. Add to that the economic downturn and you have a weak crop.

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post #12 of 25
8/24/09 at 4:42am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Luisito34 View Post

It all began with May's Star Trek reboot and will end grandly with Avatar. 2009 may be the best year ever for big-scale film (and some very good small ones):

Terminator Salvation. I wasn't disappointed with it, to say the least
Moon. A great little sci-fi drama that nobody saw
District 9. Finally, an original storyline and highly entertaining
and coming up:

Possibly the best WWII movie ever made: Inglorious Bastards
You want a slasher movie? Check. Halloween II
Looking for a Disaster flick to end all disaster flicks? 2012. Amazing trailer
Post-Apocalyptic angst? The Road
Need some mystery thrills? Check. Shutter Island
Sci-fi Action? Take your pick: Whiteout, Pandorum
Sc-fi thrillers your game? Go see The Surrogates
Then there's the remake of one of the best episodes of the 80's version of The Twilight Zone: The Box.


I don't remember anything pre-summer but, man, what a lineup!
 


Curious that most of the movies on your list have yet to come out and consequently not been seen. Therefore it's hard to declare this year "the best" based on trailers and pre-release hype.
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post #13 of 25
8/24/09 at 7:22am
I'd say this year has been bordline between terrible and very terrible. I enjoyed Star Trek though. 
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post #14 of 25
8/24/09 at 7:30am
Gotta agree with Steve. It's been a terrible year so far. The only two movies I've really enjoyed are Star Trek and Inglourious Basterds. I hope the end of the year is better than the summer has been.
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post #15 of 25
8/24/09 at 8:27am
I'll wait until the end of the year to evaluate 2009, which has been hit and miss for me personally.

In terms of best years for cinema, I agree with the previous selections of 1939 and 1982 (two of my favorite years) and would add 1996 to the mix with:

Angels and Insects
Breaking the Waves
Bound
The English Patient
Fargo
Fly Away Home
Hamlet
Lone Star
Microcosmos
Secrets and Lies
Shine
Sling Blade
Sydney (Hard Eight)
Trainspotting

- Walter

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post #16 of 25
8/24/09 at 10:49am
Thread Starter 
I kind of jumped the gun by declaring 2009 the best year ever.  I guess I got carried away by trailers for upcoming films (Avatar, The Road) plus there are several films I've seen this year that I consider to be very good, more than in recent times. My main criteria for judging films is that they have to be infinitely watchable, in other words, they need to have a very high re-watch value. This is why I'm changing my best year ever award to 1982. Thanks Kevin for reminding me.
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post #17 of 25
8/25/09 at 12:32pm
 I would definately declare 2009 a good year for smaller films but as a whole in general, 2009 pales in comparison with 1939, 1982, 1999, and 2001.


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post #18 of 25
8/25/09 at 12:58pm
I have to say that 1989 is my favorite year for movies.

batman 89
indy 3
lethal weapon 2
when harry met sally
parenthood
the abyss

and many more.

Jacob
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post #19 of 25
8/25/09 at 4:20pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Lamb View Post

1982 had one heck of a lineup:

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
Blade Runner
Tootsie

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Poltergeist

Ghandi

First Blood

The Dark Crystal

Tron
Rocky III
Conan the Barbarian

The Secret of Nimh


Agreed. 
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post #20 of 25
8/25/09 at 8:31pm
Of recent years (this decade), I think that 2004 is the best:

Personal all-time favorites:
Garden State
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Before Sunset

Other good or great movies:
Aviator
Bourne Supremacy
Closer
Collateral
Dawn of the Dead
Dreamers
Finding Neverland
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Hellboy
Hotel Rwanda
I Heart Huckabees
Incredibles
Kill Bill V2
Million Dollar Baby (not a big fan personally, but critically acclaimed)
Miracle
Ray (not a fan personally, but critically acclaimed)
Shaun of the Dead
Sideways
Spider-man 2

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post #21 of 25
8/25/09 at 8:51pm
In addition to 1994 would be '93 which had a few modern classics as well (93 through 96 were particularly good years).  And many years of the New Hollywood era are strong.
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post #22 of 25
8/26/09 at 7:21am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Scott Richard View Post

The best years for movies IMO were: 1939......

Eric, I just watched the TCM documentary on the films of 1939. What a fantastic year for movies, it sure gets my vote.

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post #23 of 25
8/27/09 at 9:06am
1982 also had:
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Pink Floyd the Wall
The Thing
Friday the 13th Part 3
Porky's
Victor Victoria
Sophie's Choice
Whose Life Is It Anyway
Richard Pryor - Sunset Strip
Road Warrior
My Favorite Year
Tex
Creepshow
The Verdict
Quest for Fire
The Beast Within
48 Hrs.

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post #24 of 25
8/27/09 at 10:36am
My personal favourite year for films, just gotta be - 1982.

For classic movies, 1939 seems to be choc-a-bloc with all time greats, 1940 was pretty good too.
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post #25 of 25
9/2/09 at 1:30pm
it's one of the best years I've encountered in this decade, comparable to 2006, iirc, for overall excellence:

10 of 10:
(500) Days of Summer
Up
Food, Inc
Ponyo
Everlasting Moments

9 of 10: 
The Baader Meinhof Complex
Coraline
Departures
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29
Julie and Julia
Must Read After My Death
Star Trek
Sunshine Cleaning
Taken
The Hurt Locker
The Soloist
Tokyo Sonata

8 of 10:
Bruno
Easy Virtue
Inglourious [sic] Basterds [sic]
The Hangover
Whatever Works

7 of 10:
Brothers Bloom
Chocolate
Fast and Furious
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Seraphine
Sugar
Watchmen

6 of 10:
Angels and Demons
Monsterss vs Aliens
Night at the Museum 2
Tokyo!

5 of 10:
Observe and Report

4 of 10:
Transformers 2

2 of 10
X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Overall it's been a pretty damned stellar year.
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