My Top 10:
1. Eastern Promises - This movie is just awesome. Along with No Country for Old Men, it raised the bar for my yearly favorites. Great story with unexpected plot twists and memorable characters...It sets a new standard for staging a screen fight. If you haven't seen this one, you owe it to yourself to do so.
2. Children of Men - This could be one of my favorite sci-fi films of all time, but I'll have to give it a couple more viewings before I'll commit to that. For now, it's definitely one of my highest recommendations...Even without the visionary production design (of a realistically bleak future) and sweeping camera-work, the script and cast set it above most mainstream fare.
3. Breathless: Criterion - Finally, the deluxe edition of one of the greatest films of all time is back in print, and better than before. I had been searching for the out of print Criterion version of this since starting my laserdisc collection. It looks better than before and has TONS of great extras...a must buy for any cinephile!
4. Black Sheep - This is my favorite new horror film from a year of GREAT genre releases. It's not the scariest film you'll ever see, but it's definitely one of the more original. This is one splatter comedy that never disappoints.
5. Evil (To Kako) - Another entry from the horror scene; it's set apart by some innovative editing, camera-work reminiscent of early Raimi, and some of the best kills since Bad Taste...It's the first Greek zombie film, and probably the best splatter comedy that you haven't seen. Due to some unfortunate cover art, this one never found the right audience, but I'm always talking it up to try to change that.
6. Battlestar Galactica: The Razor - Sure, it's just an extended episode of a Sci-Fi Channel show, but it definitely belongs on my list. Great action, some cool battles, and even the return of old-style Cylons! I don't know how good it is if you are not a fan of the show, but if you're into either the old or the new version, you'll love this.
7. Hatchet - Our regular customers know all about this one. Fun splatter comedy/classic slasher flick with a cool new monster, lots of in-jokes, plenty of gore, and some fan-favorites making cameos, including Newbury Comics's own Toothface...As far as I know, these guys even invented the gas-powered belt-sander.
8. Behind The Mask: Rise of Leslie Vernon - Speaking of in-jokes, this horror mockumentary is a great exploration of what makes horror films work...A bit light on the gore, but plenty of referential stuff for the real horror fans. Even without the gimmick of being a documentary about the country's newest supernatural slasher, this would've been on my top horror list.
9. Planet Terror - The better half of the Grindhouse double feature was definitely this zombiesque bloodbath from Robert Rodriguez. It's got completely over the top performances, action and gore, not to mention a cast that will be familiar to any gorehound. If you haven't seen it, make sure you don't fast forward through the Machete trailer!!
10. Idiocracy - Mike Judge's vision of the future seems eerily plausible...From the opening description of how present day society might transform into the future depicted in the film, you can tell that this is going to be a brutally funny film. Aside from some faltering jokes towards the end, it really doesn't disappoint. After Evil (To Kako), this is the best film you didn't see this year.
Runners up:
Blade Runner: Ultimate Collector's Edition
Borat
Hot Fuzz
Simpsons: The Movie
Superbad
TV on DVD special mentions:
Heroes: Season 1
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Seasons 1&2
Lost: Season 3
Saturday Night Live: Complete Second Season
Weeds: Season 2
1. Eastern Promises - This movie is just awesome. Along with No Country for Old Men, it raised the bar for my yearly favorites. Great story with unexpected plot twists and memorable characters...It sets a new standard for staging a screen fight. If you haven't seen this one, you owe it to yourself to do so.
2. Children of Men - This could be one of my favorite sci-fi films of all time, but I'll have to give it a couple more viewings before I'll commit to that. For now, it's definitely one of my highest recommendations...Even without the visionary production design (of a realistically bleak future) and sweeping camera-work, the script and cast set it above most mainstream fare.
3. Breathless: Criterion - Finally, the deluxe edition of one of the greatest films of all time is back in print, and better than before. I had been searching for the out of print Criterion version of this since starting my laserdisc collection. It looks better than before and has TONS of great extras...a must buy for any cinephile!
4. Black Sheep - This is my favorite new horror film from a year of GREAT genre releases. It's not the scariest film you'll ever see, but it's definitely one of the more original. This is one splatter comedy that never disappoints.
5. Evil (To Kako) - Another entry from the horror scene; it's set apart by some innovative editing, camera-work reminiscent of early Raimi, and some of the best kills since Bad Taste...It's the first Greek zombie film, and probably the best splatter comedy that you haven't seen. Due to some unfortunate cover art, this one never found the right audience, but I'm always talking it up to try to change that.
6. Battlestar Galactica: The Razor - Sure, it's just an extended episode of a Sci-Fi Channel show, but it definitely belongs on my list. Great action, some cool battles, and even the return of old-style Cylons! I don't know how good it is if you are not a fan of the show, but if you're into either the old or the new version, you'll love this.
7. Hatchet - Our regular customers know all about this one. Fun splatter comedy/classic slasher flick with a cool new monster, lots of in-jokes, plenty of gore, and some fan-favorites making cameos, including Newbury Comics's own Toothface...As far as I know, these guys even invented the gas-powered belt-sander.
8. Behind The Mask: Rise of Leslie Vernon - Speaking of in-jokes, this horror mockumentary is a great exploration of what makes horror films work...A bit light on the gore, but plenty of referential stuff for the real horror fans. Even without the gimmick of being a documentary about the country's newest supernatural slasher, this would've been on my top horror list.
9. Planet Terror - The better half of the Grindhouse double feature was definitely this zombiesque bloodbath from Robert Rodriguez. It's got completely over the top performances, action and gore, not to mention a cast that will be familiar to any gorehound. If you haven't seen it, make sure you don't fast forward through the Machete trailer!!
10. Idiocracy - Mike Judge's vision of the future seems eerily plausible...From the opening description of how present day society might transform into the future depicted in the film, you can tell that this is going to be a brutally funny film. Aside from some faltering jokes towards the end, it really doesn't disappoint. After Evil (To Kako), this is the best film you didn't see this year.
Runners up:
Blade Runner: Ultimate Collector's Edition
Borat
Hot Fuzz
Simpsons: The Movie
Superbad
TV on DVD special mentions:
Heroes: Season 1
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Seasons 1&2
Lost: Season 3
Saturday Night Live: Complete Second Season
Weeds: Season 2
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Boston
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