Year 2009 has been a year of fantasy for Hollywood. The message this year’s movies gave us was "put hardcore money with little hint of story and you have a blockbuster!" Movies like Star Trek, Avatar, Transformers 2, Terminator Salvation,Harry Potter and Half Blood Prince etc. are some example of this. On the other side small budget movies like Paranormal Activity, District 9, The Hangover, Up in the air, (500) Days of Summer etc. challenged this theory by their record breaking success and critics reception. This is my list of top 10 Hollywood movies of this year.
10. Up:
This Disney- Pixar animated comedy is one of the best animated movie made by Pixar. Story is based on a dream of old man and his wife to take their house besides Paradise Falls in the ‘Lost lands’. In his balloon aided
house air trip, he is accompanied by a child who’s desperate to help this old man for his batch. With very cute love story and fun on the other hand, movie did really good on the box-office. Movie had 95% critic reception and was one of the most anticipated movie of 2009.
9. Star Trek:
Hollywood is never fed up of Star Trek. Starting with a TV series, this is 11th movie based on this fantasy TV show. Directed by J.J. Abrams, movie revolves around how Star Flit member gathered together. With Star Cast like Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, Zachery Quinto and Eric Bana as Captain Nero, movie is avarage piece of work. This one too had 93% critic reception and is also nominated for several prestigious awards.
8. Public Enemies:
There are very few movies where you have a perfect blend of actors and director. Public Enemies is one of those. Starring Johny Depp and Christian Bale, movie is directed by Hollywood’s ace director Michael Mann. Movie is based on true story of Bank Robberer John Dillinger. Movie had 67% critic reception.
7. Saw IV:
“If its Halloween, it has to be SAW”. Started in 2004, Saw series have been Hollywood favorite horror movies. Returning this year with its sixth and said to be last installment, SAW IV is far more better that other SAW movies. Saw V was a box-office blockbuster but both critic and viewer disappointment. This one was cleverly promoted with ideas like ‘Give till it hurt’ blood camps and saw motion posters. Movie had only 45% critic reception but made a record breaking success in Halloween time.
6. (500) Days of Summer:
This is how a romantic comedy should be. No clichés, no happy endings…everything new. (500) Days of Summer is an example of a good romantic entertainer. Directed by first time director Marc Webb, it’s a simple love story between boy and girl shown in non linear way. It’s a great treat for romance loving Bollywood people like us. Movie didn’t do that good on box office but got 86% critic reception.
5. Inglourious Bastards:
Quentin Tarantino’s movies are always welcomed by every movie geek. And this time Tarantino tries to change history by killing Hitler in inglourious Bastards. With star like Brad Pitt and surprising element Chistoph Waltz who played Colonel Landa, this movie has finest screenplay and character development if compared to his earlier work. Tarantino calls it greatest script of all time by him and it’s indeed true. Movie has 88% critic reception and did extremely well on the box-office.
4. Paranormal Activity:
This was the biggest surprise of ’09. A homemade movie became the decade’s scariest thing. Directed by Oren Peri movie had complete production crew of four people including director, two producers and one exclusive producer. Movie was just made in seven days with complete acting crew of four actors in directors own place. It was supposed to be released in 2007 but didn’t got distributors so Oren decided to go with its DVD release. But suddenly Paramount opted for its distribution and released it in 11 theaters. The response was overwhelming. Everyone was found to be shaken after watching it. So Paramount and Oren developed a website where people were asked to register themselves and the area code where they want movie to be released. 2.3 million People registered within 2 weeks. This vast response gave movie 12 distributors only for USA. Made from 15000USD movie made 141 millionUSD from box office and DVD sales are yet to be added. This is now most profitable movie in whole cinema it’s very difficult to break its record. Movie received mixed reviews but earned 82% critic reception. If you watch it, nightmares guaranteed.
3. The Hangover:
The Hangover is a screwball comedy of ’09. A simple but new concept with lot of fun, that’s how you can describe The Hangover. Unpredictable humor with great punches and amazing soundtrack makes movie energetic and super entertaining. Made from just 35 million USD movie grossed around 450 million USD in USA alone. With 78% critic reception, movie was a great hit in US and overseas.
2. District 9:
D9 is the most creative idea in field of Sci-Fi so far. Directed by Neil Blomcamp and produced by veteran director Peter Jackson, story takes place at Johannesburg where an alien space ship comes over the city. Later it is seen that they are refugees of an endangered species. Government build habitat for them naming District 9 and real fun starts. This is the best sci-fi thriller you've seen in years, District 9 takes such mega-budget crap as Transformers 2 and GI Joe and rubs their faces in mud. Made from just 30Million USD movie made around 300 million in US and had 90% critic reception.
1. Avatar:
11 years of wait and movie arrives at the end of this mega earning box office year. Avatar was No. 1 in ‘Most Anticipated movies of 2009’ by Hollywoodreporter.com and remains No. 1 in my list of top 10 movies. Directed by expert director James Cameron, movie uses high tech 3-D and CGI for creation of factious moon Pandora. This is costliest movie ever made with a budget of 450million USD and has earned over a billion in just 17 days. Movie’s extraordinary effects and cinematography has nominated itself for 4 Golden Globe just after a day of its release. Movie has got 82% critic approval with some arguing on its predictable story. Movie is still running in the theater and is on the verge of breaking every possible record in Hollywood.
