So perhaps you are a bit too old for video games (whatever that means, I’m almost 39 and Mr. Samuel Jackson is older than me) or you just don’t find them interesting (truly a shame). Well perhaps you enjoy movies. Cinema is perhaps one of the largest forms of entertainment on the planet (I know that someone wants to debate that, but I’m going with it for the moment).
Sadly that also means that there is probably the most money in this form of entertainment. Where there is money there are bean counter trying to reign in costs and corporations looking for profit-centers (reigning in ideas). Occasionally this war of numbers works out and we get some decent films, maybe a surprise and rarely something everyone must see. Most of the time we get different flavors of feces, sometimes hot, some cold and more than a handful that make you wish you could throw up just so it would be more entertaining than the movie. The movies of 2006 is no different.
So let’s look at what was good. This is a short list, mostly because it seems that Hollywood is afraid of new idea (or they just won’t spend money on a new one). Casino Royale and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest are at the top. My preference is for Mr. Johnny Depp. Who wouldn’t want to take a trip to Tortuga with Capitain Jack Sparrow via a broken compass?
United 93 is a trip in time that makes the realities of yesterday come to life again. It’s hard to watch without the emotional connection to that day. Even more difficult for those of us in New York City and in the area that day.
Feast shows that Operation Greenlight can work. Director John Gullagher makes a movie that shows he has a vision. Worth the wait, though I think they should have given it its national big screen debut it deserved and many of us waited for.
Superman Returns and Apocalypto are 2 movies I didn’t see. I won’t see Superman because the entire theme of the character is uninteresting and annoying to me. Superman doesn’t represent me nor does his values of truth justice and the American way (all based on the themes of early 20th century America that did not see me as part of those themes). Unfair as that is I can’t separate the movie from the origin.
Apocalypto is a movie I have yet to have a chance to see. I plan on it though. Mr. Mel Gibson may have many issues but his ability to convey sweeping themes in his movies are unquestioned. From what I’ve been able to see the visuals are stunning, and I’ve long held that if the movie is well acted the language is unimportant. It would seem that many agree with my assessment.
Mission Impossible III was more bang for the buck. Finally we get to see an IMF TEAM in action. Closer to the concept of the original series, well worth the admission price.
Also worth noting though probably less familiar to the general population are The King of Scotland, This Film is Not Yet Rated, and Thank You For Smoking. Also DreamGirls which just came out and should be counted for 2007.
Continued in Worst films of 2006
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