Without further ado, here’s our 2009 Holiday Buying Guide for DVDs and Blu-Rays:

Romantic Comedies

1. (500) Days of Summer – comes to DVD/Blu-Ray on December 22, 2009
   There is no better romantic comedy this year than (500) Days of Summer. OK, so it’s a relationship comedy, not a romantic comedy per se, but this is one of the most unique, refreshing, feel-good, believable and enjoyable films of 2009. Skip past the fluff and buy this one for your girlfriend or wife. Guys will love it, too. The movie stars Jospeh Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel as two young people who meet and carry on a relationship. Unlike most romantic comedies, however, the movie looks at the rise and fall of their relationship, bucking convention at every turn. It’s funny and heartwarming, even if not everything that happens in it is happy.
2. Away We Go
   Talking about romantic comedies that don’t adhere to standard formulas, Sam Mendes, the director behind such great films as American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Jarhead and Revolutionary Road, went for a change of pace here and delivered an indie comedy about a married couple (played by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph) who are simply seeking a better home for their expected baby. They travel from city to city and encounter lots of odd people, leading to the conclusion that all they need is each other. Away We Go leaves a smile on your face and offers plenty of hilarious moments (Maggie Gyllenhaal steals the spotlight at one point as a New Age mother).
3. The Proposal
   If you must go the more traditional route, there’s The Proposal. This Sandra Bullock/Ryan Reynolds vehicle is about a bitchy boss who, facing deportation, convinces her depressed assistant to marry her so she can stay in the country. The Proposal follows the typical formula where the two leads hate each other, warm to each other and then fight with each other, leading to a romantic chase at the end to get the other back. It’s all very predictable, but there are still enough funny moments to make it worth it.

Action Movies

1. Star Trek
   One of the biggest movies of the year, this J.J. Abrams film is a fresh reboot of the Star Trek franchise. Even if you aren’t a traditional fan of the movies or show, there’s more than enough here to enjoy, including legitimate special effects (something missing in past movies), mainstream humor and lots of action. The movie is exciting, funny and fast-paced, and is a movie that shouldn’t be left unwrapped come Christmas/Hanukkah.
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
   The latest Harry Potter movie isn’t really an action movie – in fact, very little action actually occurs in the picture – but I didn’t know where else to put it. It’s funny, but it isn’t really a comedy. It’s serious, but to call it a drama isn’t fair either. And now that it’s rated PG-13 and features all kinds of evil things, it isn’t quite safe to call it a family film. What I can call it is one of the most enjoyable movies of 2009 and one that everyone should own. This is the beginning of the end for the franchise, but director David Yates looks like he’s taking it out in high fashion. The movie is compelling and thoroughly interesting, and well worth repeat viewings.
3. Taken
   This January darling went on to make over $150 million, despite being a watered down Bourne rip-off. In the film, Liam Neeson plays a father, who is also an ex-covert agent, who learns that his daughter has been kidnapped in Paris. Bad move by the kidnappers. Neeson goes on a rampage to find his daughter and bring her home, leaving piles of dead bodies in his wake. The film is exceedingly simple and straightforward, but incredibly exciting, action-packed and entertaining.
4. Valkyrie
   Lots of people laughed off this Nazi thriller that stars Tom Cruise as an eye-patched Nazi commander who sets out to assassinate Hitler as a cheesy action film, but in reality, Valkyrie is a surprisingly effective, entertaining and gripping tale based on a true story. If you can get past the menagerie of accents used in the picture (frankly, I’d rather hear Tom Cruise with an American accent than have him attempt a German one), Valkyrie is well worth it.
5. Fast and Furious
   Any of my readers know that I am not a fan of this lame, cheesy franchise, but the latest Fast and Furious movie (confusingly titled just Fast and Furious), which reunites the original cast (Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster), is surprisingly entertaining. There’s more action, more cars and a better screenplay, all of which combine for a good time. It’s not as good as the other movies on this list, but some people prefer the simpler action movies.

For the family

1. Up
   This is the easiest pick on this list. Easily the best animated film of the year – and also one of the best movies of the year overall – Disney-Pixar’s Up is something both children and adults will enjoy. Whereas the last couple Pixar movies have skewed toward older audiences just a little, Up offers the deep character development that makes movies interesting for adults while presenting the story through a goofy, exciting and funny premise: a house that floats with the help of balloons. The movie is funny, heartwarming and entertaining from beginning to end. This is absolutely one to own.
2. Bolt
   This animated Disney film came out way back in November 2008, but it should not be overlooked this holiday season as one to own. While not as deep as Up by any stretch of the imagination, Bolt is an entertaining, fast-paced and exciting adventure about a Hollywood dog who thinks he’s a superhero but really isn’t. When he’s separated from his owner, he sets out to reunite with her. Bolt offers some surprisingly good action sequences, and all around is a funny, enjoyable picture.
3. Marley & Me
   Another December 2008 release, Marley & Me was one of the big hits last Christmas. If you saw it in theaters with the family, this year you can buy it for them on DVD or Blu-Ray. In the movie, Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as a married couple who get a dog. The movie chronicles the dog’s life from puppyhood onwards and the impact he has on his family, for better or for worse. The movie is funny, entertaining and surprisingly emotional.
4. Paul Blart Mall Cop
   Critics hated this movie but audiences loved it, as it earned a surprising $150 million in theaters. Kevin James stars as a fat loser of a security guard who has a crush on one of the women working in his mall, and he must save her when robbers take over. There’s nothing particularly intelligent about the movie, but it’s mildly funny and honestly entertaining throughout. This was one of my guilty pleasures of 2009.
5. Bedtime Stories
   A December 2008 release, Bedtime Stories stars Adam Sandler as a man who learns that his niece and nephew can bring their imagination to life. Sure, a movie starring Adam Sandler doesn’t sound like a good pick for the family, but the movie, released by Disney, offers a still-funny Sandler but without the PG-13 jokes. Kids will love the stuff that happens and parents will appreciate the sarcasm scattered throughout.

Dramas

1. Inglourious Basterds – coming to DVD/Blu-Ray on December 15, 2009
   When I first saw Quentin Tarantino’s latest film – about a group of American Jews (led by Brad Pitt) who travel through Europe torturing Nazis during WWII – I was a bit underwhelmed. But within days, I began to realize that Tarantino had done it once again – and now I can’t wait for this picture to come to DVD/Blu-Ray. The film’s dialogue is incredible and the scenes utterly suspenseful, though little action actually occurs. Of course, as with all of Tarantino’s movies, Inglourious Basterds is not for everyone, but it’ll make a worthy addition to someone’s collection.
2. Gran Torino
   If this is Clint Eastwood’s last movie where he’s in front of the camera, he really goes out in style. Though not action-packed, the drama-comedy has tons of laughs and just as much heart, but still paints Eastwood as a complete badass you wouldn’t want to mess with. This hit film is a must-own.
3. Slumdog Millionaire
   Heard of it? Yeah, I didn’t think so. The Oscar-winner has been on DVD for quite some while, but when was the last time you saw it? Last December? Slumdog Millionaire is one of those feel-good movies that will fit right into anyone’s movie collection.
4. Milk
   Speaking of dramas, I actually found Milk more compelling than Slumdog Millionaire. Given that gay marriage continues to be shot down, despite the fact that the American constitution is meant to protect minorities, Milk is just as relevant as ever, and features stunning performances from Sean Penn, James Franco and otherss.

Horror movies

1. Let the Right One In
   Yes, it’s a foreign film, but it’s a really, really good foreign film. It’s not scary, per se, but the director creates a sense of constant foreboding that never goes away. In the picture, a young boy befriends a girl who has just moved into his apartment complex – however, the girl is actually a vampire. She, thankfully, appreciates the companionship and decides to protect him from bullies and the like. This vampire movie makes Twilight look like nothing.
2. Drag Me to Hell
   This horror-comedy, directed by Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead trilogy, Spider-Man trilogy), stars Alison Lohman as a bank employee who finds herself cursed by a gypsie woman. She begins to see and hear things, and soon discovers that she’s going to be dragged to Hell in a matter of days by a very unpleasant demon. Not everyone liked this movie, but it’s a blast – just don’t take it too seriously. It’s gross, funny and at times scary, but most importantly it’s a lot fun.
3. Friday the 13th
   I am not a fan of the Friday the 13th movies. They’ve all been so Goddamned awful. But, the latest film in the franchise, a reboot from the same guy who rebooted The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, is actually pretty good. It embraces the cheesiness of the other movies while still delivering an exciting and gory slasher flick full of blood, brains and boobs.

Suspense

1. Tell No One
   This French film was one of the best movies of 2008. In Tell No One, a husband and wife go to their private lake. The woman, out of sight, screams, and before he can get to her, the husband is knocked unconscious. Several years later, the husband is still haunted by the death of his wife and the fact that he’s accused of killing her. When a new body is discovered nearby, the police begin to investigate him once again – while he begins to suspect that his wife is still alive.
   The elaborate thriller is smart, well-acted and incredibly exciting. Sure, it has subtitles, but you won’t notice after a few minutes as this is one of the most engaging movies you’ll see all year. Absolutely recommended.
2. State of Play
   This surprisingly excellent political thriller is a remake of a popular BBC mini-series, but State of Play, starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Robin Wright, Helen Mirren and Rachel McAdams, holds its own. In the movie, a politician’s assistant is murdered and two journalists uncover a massive conspiracy that has deadly ramifications. The movie blends comedy, commentary and suspense incredibly well, and is easily one of the best movies of 2009.
3. The Shield: The Complete Series
   It’s not a movie, but The Shield is one of the best cop shows ever made – I will definitely be getting this one this Christmas, even if I have to buy it myself. You have to watch the show from beginning to end to get the full experience, but the final season is one of the most elaborate, entertaining and exciting seasons of any television series.
4. Knowing
   A lot of people made fun of Knowing without ever seeing it, but the movie, from the director of Dark City (one of my favorites), is surprisingly really good. It’s not without its flaws, and Nicolas Cage doesn’t do his finest, but the story is a lot more complicated than what was shown in the trailers.

Comedies

1. The Hangover
   The surprise hit of the summer made over $250 million despite featuring no major stars. Why? Because it’s pretty damn funny. While I fear the repeat value may be limited (the movie was so entertaining because you didn’t know what would happen next), it’s still a well made comedy that deserves to be in any guy’s DVD collection.
2. I Love You, Man
   Jason Segal. Paul Rudd. Need I say more? In the ultimate bromance, Rudd stars as an engaged man who realizes he doesn’t have any close guy friends. So, he starts going on “man dates,” but when he meets Segal, things go overboard (i.e. he starts spending so much time with Segal that he forgets to hang with his hot fiancee) . I Love You, Man isn’t nearly as funny as similar comedies from past years, but there are still plenty of laughs to go around.

But does anyone think that 2012 is going to be Roland Emmerich’s best movie? I doubt it. After all, the movie features planes navigating falling skyscrapers (why don’t you fly above the city?), cars bouncing out of crashing 747’s onto ice sheets and, of course, impossibly large tidal waves. It’s going to be ridiculous. It could be fun, but it’s going to be ridiculous.

So, in lieu of 2012’s Best Picture nomination (ten films are being nominated this year, and there haven’t been that many good movies, people), I thought it was about time to look back at Roland Emmerich’s best and worst movies – in other words, his entire career (ignoring his 1980’s films which most people have, just like me, thankfully not seen). Here we go – the best and worst Roland Emmerich movies, not counting the movies no one’s seen:

The Good

1. Independence Day
   It’s hard not to like ID4. I mean, you’ve got aliens, you’ve got Will Smith and you have some of the most amazing city-flattening sequences in the history of cinema. To boot, the story’s not half bad, the screenplay more than good enough for this kind of movie. Sure, it has its overly goofy parts (Jeff Goldblum, cable repair guy, is able to program a virus in a matter of hours that wipes out the defenses of a far superior race), but Independence Day is loads of fun. While the special effects are just slightly starting to look dated, they still hold their own – and there’s something breathtaking about those shots of LA, New York and Washington, D.C. getting wiped off the face of the planet (bad combo of words: I’m now on the FBI’s watch list). Despite the utter death and destruction, the movie is ultimately one hell of a feel-good movie – and that’s why it’s my favorite, and the best, Roland Emmerich movie.
2. Stargate
   Coming in at a close second – and I was almost tempted to list this one above Independence Day – is the James Spader/Kurt Russell sci-fi action film Stargate. I never got into the subsequent TV shows, but the movie has a great, unique premise, one that combines modern military might with ancient Egyptian Gods – who have superior firepower. There’s just something about this picture that works, from the performances to the story to the exciting, “whatta’re you gonna do now, Ra-bitch!” ending.

The Mediocre

3. The Day After Tomorrow
   Some people love this movies, others hate it. I’m in the middle. It has some great visual effects and a chilling (bad pun alert!) story. It’s one of Jake Gyllenhaal’s first big movies, and it also has Emmy Rossum in it, whom I have a huge crush on. There are some really cool destruction sequences in the film as well, and the shots of a frozen New York are pretty impressive. This is the movie that The Happening should have been. That being said, it lacks the punch of Emmerich’s other, better movies; it isn’t as exciting, and the weather just is never that interesting of a villain.
4. The Patriot
   It’s been a while since I’ve seen this one, but that’s because The Patriot, which starred Mel Gibson and the late Heath Ledger, never really did it for me. It’s a decent enough movie, full of [rare] Revolutionary War battles and, of course, two of the more entertaining actors of our time. The problem is that war movies need to be of a certain caliber, and Roland Emmerich just doesn’t quite have the knack for injecting the necessary emotion to succeed in the genre. It’s not nearly as painful as John Woo’s Windtalkers, but the fact that I’m comparing them isn’t a good sign. The Patriot is fine, but is it Glory? No. Not at all.
5. Universal Soldier
   Emmerich’s first big movie, this action thriller starred Jean Claude Van-Damme (JCVD!) as a genetically engineered soldier who goes AWOL. The movie’s pretty mindless, but it still holds up pretty well given it’s silly story and lead actor. For people who scratch their heads and wonder how Van-Damme was ever a leading man, Universal Soldier is the perfect example of one of those late 80’s, early 90’s action movies that were ridiculous and over-the-top, but worked nonetheless for whatever reason.

The Bad (and the Ugly)

6. 10,000 B.C.
   I actually didn’t hate 10,000 B.C., but I know I should. This movie, which, like Year One, blends Egyptian lore with cavemen antics (and woolly mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers!), has enough action and adventure to satisfy people looking for… well, action and adventure. But its lack of compelling characters and the fact that it feels a lot like Stargate only without the really cool elements hurts it tremendously. Others, who hated it more, will just say that 10,000 B.C. is incredibly stupid.
7. Godzilla
   Now, for a film truly hated around the globe, we present Godzilla. Yes, remember that big-budget action-destruction film set in New York that starred an obvious choice in Matthew Broderick? Roland Emmerich made that one, and boy did it suck. Sure, it had some decent destruction scenes, but I remember thinking two things: 1) why is Matthew Broderick in this? and 2) why do I feel bad for Godzilla? I blame Emmerich. Damn you, Emmerich, damn you! Why did you make me feel sympathetic toward Godzilla (or: Gojilla)! Damn you! The movie trailers were awesome, but that is where the good stuff ended.

Wow. Roland Emmerich really hasn’t done that many movies. Then again, I’d be exhausted destroying the world that many times (and yes, I realize now that I’ve written this that he’s only focused on death and destruction three times in his career).

What do you think? What are your favorite Roland Emmerich movies?

Enough for tirades, though. The summer was host to some surprising hits (Star Trek, The Hangover, The Proposal) and some shocking failures (Land of the Lost, Terminator: Salvation) and a few major disappointments (again, Terminator: Salvation and X-Men Origins: Wolverine), so it’s only fitting that we look back on the last four months and praise the movies that were actually worth the price of admission. The best movies of the summer were:

1. (500) Days of Summer
   This unique “romantic comedy” defied its genre and delivered something truly… well, unique. Funny, edgy, dramatic, lighthearted and believable all at once (even though it includes a dance number with cartoon blue birds and marching bands), (500) Days of Summer is the perfect date movie: guys will love it just as much as women, if not more so, and yet it doesn’t rely on raunchy comedy at all. There were a lot of great films this summer, but this movie’s ability to exceed expectations and do it so effortlessly makes this one the best movie of the summer.
2. Up
   Pixar can do no wrong, apparently. Though DreamWorks has been able to match them financially for a couple years now, their chances at Oscar gold are no better off than they’ve ever been as Pixar continues to make engaging, emotional and entertaining films that could just as easily compete with live-action dramas. For a studio to constantly appeal to children and adults alike so effortlessly is a feat. Up is one of the best movies ever created by the studio that continues to “up” its game each and every year.
3. The Hurt Locker
   We’ve seen a resurgence in war movies over the last year with the likes of Valkyrie and Defiance, but modern-day films set in Iraq have yet to click with audiences. Financially that is. The Hurt Locker struggled to make much money this summer, but it did what few other Iraqi-focused films have done in recent years: it confirmed that it was undeniably good. This incredibly tense war film, about a team of bomb-defusing specialists, is exceptional and should find a solid audience on DVD.
4. Away We Go
   Sam Mendes should never be underestimated. One of the best directors of the decade, Mendes turns his attention to indie comedy for the first time. Away We Go looks and feels nothing like his other films (American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Jarhead, Revolutionary Road); the movie skips from one segment to the next, enveloped in sincere, laugh-out-loud humor and heartfelt emotion. Johsn Krasinski (”The Office”) and Maya Rudolph both turn in exceptional performances, and the supporting cast (which includes Maggie Gyllenhaal as a psychotic hippie who has sex with her husband while her children are in the room and believes strollers are evil) is pitch perfect. The movie itself is consistently entertaining, funny and surprisingly emotional.
5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
   The latest Harry Potter is one of the best of the franchise, a series that has, by and large, been critically successful anyway. The Half-Blood Prince is the darkest yet, but the filmmakers still managed to fill it with teen love and plenty of laughs. The movie is legitimately entertaining, even if it barely has a plot. OK, that may be unfair, but for a movie that is essentially designed to set up the battle that is to come, it is nearly pitch perfect.
6. Star Trek
   This May, J.J. Abrams did what few thought was possible: he made Star Trek popular again. Never before had I seen my female friends wanting to see a Trek film, nor the general excitement toward the picture. This film is proof that if you make a good movie and promote it effectively, good things will happen: it’s one of the summer’s biggest films, despite the fact the previous entry in the franchise opened to a paltry $10 million a few years earlier. Star Trek wasn’t a perfect film, but it was highly entertaining, and whenever the sequel rolls around, the sky is definitely not the limit.
7. The Hangover
   The biggest success story of the summer, this $35-million film with no major stars opened huge and went on to make over $250 million. The movie, while not the funniest film in recent years, is still more than funny enough; The Hangover has a great blend of memorable scenes, hilarious moments and an engaging concept, all of which evoked strong word of mouth. A sequel is already in the works.
8. Inglourious Basterds
   The long-awaited Quentin Tarantino WWII film turned out to be worth the wait. Though it offers up little action, which was a bit disappointing, Tarantino once again delivers on the dialogue. Scene after drawn-out scene are crammed with delicious, nail-biting dialogue and excellent performances from the eclectic cast. Even non-Tarantino fans may find something to like here.
9. District 9
   Another film to benefit from word-of-mouth was the $30-million sci-fi action film District 9, about aliens in an apartheid-esque situation in South Africa. Though it wasn’t everything I was expecting it to be, it’s still a slick, well-made picture with an explosive finish. Once again, the question is raised: why do some films costs $200 million to make when you can make a comparable film for only a fraction of the price?
10. Drag Me to Hell
    Sam Raimi, best known for directing the three Spider-Man films, returned to his roots with the absurdly funny horror flick Drag Me to Hell, about a bank employee who finds herself cursed by a gypsie woman and doomed to eternal burning in the pits of hell. The movie has its scary moments, but it succeeds by being pure entertainment; it’s fast-paced, funny and delicious. If you didn’t catch it in theaters – and judging by its box office performance you probably didn’t – definitely pick up a copy on DVD.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to see the documentary The Cove yet, awell-reviewed film that more than likely would have made this list if… well, if it was available to see around here.

[NOTE: this article had been modified since it was first published. Having just seen Away We Go, I removed Public Enemies from the list. I also moved Inglorious Basterds up from tenth place to 8th place]

Here are ten movies you should see this September:

1. State of Play
   Now out on DVD, this star-studded thriller, a remake of a BBC miniseries, is a surprisingly excellent and intelligent film about the destruction of the newspaper industry, journalism ethics, political scandal, murder and sex. Russell Crowe stars as a reporter who starts to explore a massive conspiracy revolving around the suspicious death of his college roommate’s aides. Oh, his college roommate, played by Ben Affleck, is now an influential senator. Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren and Jeff Daniels also star.
2. The Informant!
   Matt Damon reunites with his Ocean’s 11 director for The Informant, a comedy about an executive whistle-blower who’s working with the feds to bring down a major corporation while also vying for a promotion. Roughly based on a true story, Damon put on a lot of weight and has shed any resemblance to Jason Bourne to pull this character off – and the film looks like a riot.
3. Away We Go
   Coming to DVD at the end of the month, Sam Mendes’ latest film earned strong reviews yet didn’t get much attention – or promotion – in theaters. Away We Go stars Jon Krasinski and Maya Rudolph as a young couple preparing for their first baby. The film, from the director of American Beauty, is supposed to be a feel-good, smile-on-your-face dramedy, and that sounds good to me.
4. 9
   Easily one of the weirdest and most unique films of the year, this animated adventure is set in a world where humanity has been wiped into extinction. Good versus evil rages on however, as nine little puppets have survived, only to be hunted by a bunch of spider-looking things. The movie has received some excellent early reviews and looks like a visual epic. Unfortunately, parents probably won’t take their kids to see it and adults will be turned off by the CGI.
5. The Surrogates
   Bruce Willis stars in his latest action thriller, an interesting-looking film set in a future where most humans use robot variants of themselves to interact in the real world, essentially removing the normal risks associated with life. But when people start dying through their surrogates, Willis, a detective, must venture into the real world to learn the truth. The September release date is a little scary, but I’m sort of psyched for this one.
6. Extract
   Now in theaters, the latest comedy from Mike Judge – the creator of Office Space – takes another satirical look at normal workers, this time from the perspective of a factory manager. Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck and Mila Kunis star in the film that looks pretty funny – though not nearly as funny as Judge’s cult classic.
7. Capitalism: A Love Story
   Perhaps Michael Moore’s most timely documentary yet, Capitalism: A Love Story examines how we got into this mess. Always providing a liberal slant, it will be interesting to see what angle Moore takes and how audiences react; though Bush and the lack of regulation is blamed for some of our problems, Obama isn’t exactly popular – even among liberals – for his trillions of dollars worth of deficits. At the very least, Capitalism should evoke plenty of conversation – and that’s all a documentary should strive for.
8. Whiteout
   There is one serious problem with this film: Kate Beckinsale is in Antarctica, which means she’s going to be wearing a fluffy coat most of the time. That’s a shame. But still, Whiteout, about a murder investigation at the end of summer in the most desolate place on the planet, looks intriguing enough. This film has been bounced around for quite a while and its dumping in September does not suggest there’s much to see here, but it still has a fighting chance.
9. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
   Based on the popular kid’s book, this animated adventure is about a scientist who discovers a way to turn water into food. The experiment backfires, however, when the food starts to get larger and larger, resulting in dangerous circumstances. The movie, which, of course, will be in 3D, has a lot going for it: namely a fun, family friendly story, plenty of memorable visuals and a concept that doesn’t rely on talking animals. This one should be a hit.
10. Jennifer’s Body
    It’s hard to get a read on this one: though it’s from the writer of Juno, Jennifer’s Body is a horror-comedy about a sexy girl (Megan Fox) who likes to eat boys – literally. Her best friend, played by Amanda Seyfried, realizes that it’s upon her to stop the demonic creature. The film appears to be chock full of campy one-liners and cleavage shots of Fox, and that’s good enough for me.

For more movies, visit our September 2009 theatrical releases page or our upcoming DVD releases page.

1. Lost
   One of the most addictive and clever shows ever made, Lost comes to an end in 2010. The last season ended with a bang – literally – and no one but the creators know what’s in store for its final run. Though the show has stumbled a few times, it is one of the few that you can watch over and over again and become more and more engaged in the characters, story and mystery of the island.
2. Dexter
   Perhaps even more addictive than Lost due to its shorter seasons and fast-paced story arcs, this Showtime show is incredibly entertaining. Dark, hilarious and disturbing all at once, the show features brilliant performances and a unique plot – about a forensics specialist who is also a serial killer, who only kills killers. Since I don’t have Showtime, I’m currently halfway through the third season on DVD as I write this.
3. Big Love
   This Bill Paxton-starring show seems innocent enough; it’s about a man and his three lives as he tries to balance his traditional polygamist views with his modern business interests in Utah. But this highly entertaining, comedic, dramatic and thrilling show is surprisingly complex, as Paxton constantly becomes walks a fine line – and often falls off that line – between savvy business dealings and crime as he attempts to take down his so-called prophet of a father-in-law while keeping his own name out of the news.
4. Entourage
   Some people say that Entourage lost its edge seasons ago, but I disagree. The last season was funnier than ever, and it continues to get better as it goes along. Between Ari and Lloyd and Drama and Turtle, there are plenty of classic characters that make this show work surprisingly well. It’s just a shame each episode is only half an hour long; I’m always disappointed when it ends each Sunday.
5. True Blood
   From Alan Ball, the writer of American Beauty, comes this HBO show that is very similar to Twilight, only involving more gore, sex, nudity and interesting characters. Anna Paquin stars as Sooky, a human who can hear people’s thoughts who is also dating a vampire. The show shouldn’t be good but it is; it’s highly entertaining, exciting and at times funny, with plenty of screwy things going on at all times. I’d say it’s simply a guilty pleasure, but it deserves a better description than that.
6. Rescue Me
   It was recently announced that only one more season remains of this FX show about New York firemen in a post 9-11 world, which is a shame. At the same time, the Dennis Leary-starring show has been waning a bit recently. Nevertheless, it continues to walk that fine line between legitimate drama (Leary is an alcoholic dealing with the death of his son and who sees his dead brother) and hilarious comedy (every firemen in the house has very unique quirks) and is one of the more entertaining shows on television. The recent orange penis scene was particularly funny.
7. Mad Men
   This critically acclaimed AMC drama just got renewed for a fourth season, and for good reason. The subtle depiction of ad men (and women) in the 1960’s should be incredibly drab and boring, but it isn’t. For some reason, the finely tuned series is pitch perfect in so many ways, it’s hard to find a fault.
8. The Office
   Comedies and sitcoms are rarely my cup of tea – I prefer serialized dramas. But The Office is one exception; Steve Carell and his crew deliver the laughs week after week. Though this previous season disappointed a bit, it’s still my go-to for laughs every Thursday.
9. Fringe
   I started off, well, on the fringe about Fringe, as I wasn’t sold on the characters or stories. While it still pales in comparison to The X-Files (watch the first few seasons again and tell me if you disagree), Fringe grew on me in the second half of its run, developing an intriguing world where anything is possible. While I feel that Fox still needs to tweak its characters, I am definitely looking forward to the next season – oh, and Leonard Nimoy.
10. Dollhouse
    After watching the first episode, I stopped watching. It sucked. But I gave this Joss Whedon show a second chance on DVD and found it to be one of the most entertaining and intriguing new show of 2009 (or 2008?). Elisha Dushku stars as a doll, a woman whose memory is (allegedly) wiped clean after each mission she goes on, whether it’s a sexual rendezvous or an assassination. The show blends individual adventures with an overlying plot of morals and secrecy, where any character might not be what they seem.
11. 24
    2008’s season was a disaster, but 2009’s resurrected the popular Kiefer Sutherland show, albeit one set in a post-Bush world. The plots are often over the top, but are consistently entertaining and exciting. You won’t love all the twists (I still don’t buy into the Tony Almeada twist), but 24 is guaranteed to keep the adrenaline flowing.
12. Damages
    I’ve only seen the first season, but it was one of the most interesting, complex and surprisingly exciting seasons I’d seen in a long time. Ellen Byrnes and Glenn Close star as lawyers who are both on the same side and playing against each other simultaneously. Damages has one of the best casts on television (William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden join in season two), if not the best. I’m still waiting for FX to release the second season on DVD so I can watch it, though.
13. Californication
    David Duchovny stars as a sex addict in California who’s trying to get back together with his wife and daughter but keeps getting himself in trouble. This Showtime show is hilarious, and the second season just came out on DVD. I just have to get through Dexter before switching gears to this show.
14. The Tudors
    Though it comes off as a bit cheap, there’s something enthralling about this fictionalized drama based on the life of Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Season 2 unleashed as we got to see the rise and fall of Ann Bolyn as well as a variety of other characters. It’s not perfect, but there’s something incredibly entertaining about this show, also from Showtime.
15. Heroes
    A year ago, this show would have ranked much higher on this list, but season three just sucked. Well, most of it. The first 18 episodes or so were disastrous, but the last four or five episodes – which featured the return of one of the show’s original writers – salvaged some self respect. I’m hoping that that continues into the fourth season, but one sign of trouble and I’m gone. It’s a shame, because this show’s first season was so great, and it’s an idea with unlimited possibilities.

Whether they’re in theaters or on DVD/Blu-Ray, here are ten movies you need to see in August. Watch these movies soon, or else you’ll have put off a good thing:

• (500) Days of Summer (now in theaters)
  This romantic comedy is not a romantic comedy at all, but a story about a relationship. This edgy, well-written, well-acted drama-comedy is about the 500 days one young man spends thinking about, dating, sleeping with, fighting with, breaking up with, getting back together with and… with a beautiful young woman named Summer. Though it doesn’t need to be a date movie, this is one of the best date movies of the century. Yes, you heard me.
• Two Lovers (now on DVD)
  Odds are that you haven’t seen this Joaquin Phoenix/Gwenyth Paltrow romantic drama. Even though it arrived on DVD a couple months ago, this film made few waves, resulting in very little awareness. Two Lovers is superbly acted and presents a very simple and yet equally complex story about a bipolar man torn between a sweet, loving woman and a wild party girl.
• The Hurt Locker (now in theaters)
  Do you like war films? Do you like good war films? Then watch The Hurt Locker, a visually and emotionally intense Iraq war film about a group of guys who defuse roadside bombs while facing the threat of snipers and other wartime obstacles at every turn. This is the best movie of the year so far, and should not be passed up.
• District 9 (coming to theaters on August 14)
  Despite (or because of) some very weird trailers, District 9 looks like this year’s Cloverfield. Set in South Africa, this movie about racism and homophobia (maybe) is in fact a unique-looking action-thriller about a group of aliens who “crash landed” on Earth and have been quarantined in a small part of the country. When the government goes in to relocate this allegedly peaceful species, they are surprised when the creatures fight back. The couple reviews that I’ve read have been glowing, and this looks like one last hoorah before the summer ends.
• Inglorious Basterds (coming to theaters August 21)
  Well, except for this last hoorah. Quentin Tarantino’s long-awaited war flick about a group of mercenaries who sneak around WWII Germany to torture and murder Nazis arrives in theaters soon. Brad Pitt and a ridiculous amount of other actors have parts in this movie, which looks like no other war movie ever seen. That being said, I’ve heard some mixed reviews – but it’s Tarantino!
• Sunshine Cleaning (coming to DVD August 29)
  This dramedy received strong reviews when it came to theaters in the spring, and is now hitting DVD. About two women ( Amy Adams and Emily Blunt) who decide to start their own crime scene-cleaning business, the movie looks to offer a fair amount of laughs and indie entertainment.
• The Baader Meinhof Complex (coming to theaters August 21)
  This drama about a group of young people who set out to stop what they perceive as a new wave of fascism in 1970’s Germany by becoming terrorists looks pretty cool and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Picture at this year’s Awards. I just received a screener in the mail so expect my review in the next week or two.
• I Love You, Man (coming to DVD on August 11)
  This funny bro-mance starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel arrives on DVD soon. The movie isn’t quite as good as such films as Role Models (which starred Rudd) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (which starred Segel), but it’s still pretty damn close. Get a big group of friends together and laugh your assess off at this crude but heartwarming tale of heterosexual man love.
• Adventureland (coming to DVD on August 25)
  Don’t expect to be laughing out loud, but this coming-of-age story set amidst a bunch of young carnies during one summer is surprisingly touching and entertaining. Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, with Ryan Reynolds in tow, the movie is a great blend of comedy, drama, romance and teenage life, not unlike…
• A John Hughes Film
  In memory of the late director, go and watch one of his timeless classics. Despite his best movies coming twenty years ago or more, they stand up surprisingly well. Though Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off are well worth it, I think I’ll do something different and watch Planes, Trains and Automobiles, one of my all-time favorite comedies.

Other potential winners are Halloween II, The Goods: Live Hard. Sell Hard.

With the Sam Rockwell sci-fi thriller Moon, about an astronaut who begins to see some very strange things on the eve of his return trip to Earth, coming to limited theaters this week, I felt it was a good time to look at the sci-fi movies of recent years that for one reason or another don’t get the respect they deserve. Some are blockbusters that people now shrug off and others are tiny films that lacked the marketing budget to become well known.

Here are the most underrated sci-fi movies of the 21st century, in no particular order:

• Children of Men
  Some critics shrugged this action-drama off and the movie, lacking a full wide release, never got the attention it deserved, but Children of Men is one of the most chilling and depressing visions of the future. Beyond that, the movie is full of hope, excitement, action and political commentary, making it one of the best sci-fi films in recent memory. In fact, Children of Men was #1 in my Top Ten movies of 2006.
• Donnie Darko
  This cult classic hardly should classify as underrated anymore, but there are still plenty of people who have yet to witness the perfection that is Donnie Darko, the movie that put Jake Gyllenhaal on the map and made Richard Kelly, well, a one-hit wonder.
• Frequency
  This little film starring Dennis Quaid and Jesus himself, Jim Caviezel, as father and son separated by time. In the movie, Caviezel discovers that he can communicate with his now-dead father in the past through a CB radio, and the two work together to stop a serial killer. The movie isn’t a classic, but it works nonetheless. Technically this movie, which was released in 2000, was not released in the 21st century, but oh well.
• Minority Report
  This Steven Spielberg film perhaps doesn’t deserve to be on the list because most have seen it, but it often isn’t given the credit it deserves. The movie is smart, exciting and intriguing, and also features some spectacular-but-unique visual effects and a clever vision of the future.
• 2046
  In this dreamlike film from Kar Wai Wong, this sci-fi film is actually a sequel to the romantic drama In the Mood for Love, even though that one was by no means a sci-fi pic. Original and mesmerizing in every way, 2046 isn’t for everyone but is a must-see for the true sci-fi fan.
• Serenity
  This movie, based on the excellent television Joss Whedon show Firefly, is one of the most overlooked sci-fi action films ever made. Fan hopes that the movie would be a big enough hit in theaters to relaunch the short-lived TV show died quickly, but that doesn’t stop Serenity from being funny, action-packed and exciting from start to finish. If you like action films, Serenity is a must-see.
• Equilibrium
  If this movie had been released just a few years later, it would have received massive promotion and a summer release date. Instead, Equilibrium, which stars Christian Bale in a Big Brother-esque future, barely received a theatrical release. Nonetheless, this film has some amazing action and, of course, stars Batman himself.
• Primer
  This trippy time travel film is so confusing it isn’t even clear for quite a while that the movie is about time travel. Shot on a miniscule budget, the movie is about a couple of guys who accidentally invent a time travel device, but their determination to not mess with time leads to some seriously disturbing stuff.
• Stardust
  This adventure film, more fantasy oriented than sci-fi, was shrugged off as cheesy, B-grade fare by everyone, including me, but the movie is actually a highly enjoyable and shockingly funny film that includes ghosts, evil witches, shooting stars and even gay pirates. Stardust is this decade’s version of The Princess Bride.
• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
  Another fantasy film that failed to live up to its box office potential, Prince Caspian is perhaps the most brutal PG-rated movie ever made. There’s plenty of action and excitement to go around, is a vast improvement over the original Chronicles of Narnia movie. A lot of people decided not to see this sequel despite the success of the original, and if you’re one of them, you should give it another chance.
• Deja Vu
  Denzel Washington plays typical Denzel Washington in this flashy Tony Scott film, about a police unit who utilizes a special device that allows them to look back in time to solve mysteries. After a terrorist blows up a populated New Orleans ferry, however, Denzel decides that the best course of action may be to travel back in time himself to change the course of events. The movie requires a level of disbelief (as do all time travel movies), but it’s a fun and gritty adventure flick.
• The Last Mimzy
  This family movie, about two children who develop “powers” after stumbling across a magical stuffed toy, was ignored by most audiences due to the fact that it is, in fact, a family movie. But The Last Mimzy is a well-made, clever and original sci-fi film that has similarities to Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
• A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
  Steven Spielberg is responsible for many of the classic sci-fi films over the last several decades, as well as three underrated films on this list. No movie is more underrated, or as ambitious, as A.I., starring Haley Joel Osmet as a robot child who is abandoned by his parents. Featuring an excellent performance by Jude Law, the Pinocchio-esque adventure film has all the makings of a sci-fi original; unfortunately, most people remember this film for it’s 27 endings, which, admittedly, become painful after a while. Endings are important, but A.I. is one film where people have forgotten just how good the rest of the movie is.
• Unbreakable
  Marginally sci-fi, Unbreakable is one of my favorite movies. A lot of people consider M. Night Shyalaman as a one-hit wonder (The Sixth Sense), and yet this one, about an invincible Bruce Willis, is a well-paced and intriguing drama with a pretty good twist ending. Some people really hate this one, but it’s subtle (and hypocritically direct) homage to comic books is impressive.
• Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
  Jude Law, Gwenyth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie star in the visual epic, which was essentially made on a home computer. The movie never lived up to its hype and has quickly been forgotten, but it’s throwback look and feel to early adventure films make this one a hidden gem. It certainly could have been better, but it’s still pretty good.
• Howl’s Moving Castle
  I can’t remember much about this animated film other than that I found it immersive and extremely creative. The movie is, in fact, about a “moving castle,” but there is a much deeper plot than that. The animated element understandably turns off a lot of people, but this one is worth a chance.
• Sunshine
  Before he did Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle directed Sunshine, a visually stunning sci-fi film about a group of astronauts headed to the sun to save it – and subsequently Earth – from destruction after the previous mission failed. But as the astronauts approach the sun, they discover that there may be a survivor from the previous mission – and that he’ll stop at nothing to ensure that they fail as well. The movie’s blend of visual epic and psychological thriller doesn’t always work, but it comes about as close to ever as being the 21st century’s answer to 2001.
• The One
  This Jet Li-starring action film has a pretty standard and even cliche plot, and if you’re not a fan of movies that star the same actor twice, you may want to stay clear, but there’s enough excitement and special effects (a la The Matrix) that make this a worthy entry on the list. I haven’t been a huge fan of most of Li’s American films, but The One is an exception.
• Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
  Terminator 3 often gets a bum rap, but after Terminator Salvation failed to inspire, I had to give this one another chance. While it understandably doesn’t compare to the original James Cameron classics, it actually is a pretty effective action film with some strong sequences and a surprisingly explosive ending. On its own, Terminator 3 is a well-made and exciting action flick, but when viewed as part of a trilogy, most quickly shrug it off: hence the “underrated” description.
• Idiocracy
  Not a classic by any means, Idiocracy pales in comparison to Mike Judge’s Office Space, but it still has its moments. About a man (Luke Wilson) who wakes up a thousand years in the future to find that he is now, unfortunately, the smartest man on the plan, Idiocracy pokes fun at the current state of America and provides a fair amount of laughs.
• War of the Worlds
  The last Spielberg movie to make this list, several people “hate on” this film because it stars Tom Cruise, and yet it’s an exciting experience with plenty of alien action. Featuring a great destruction sequence in Brooklyn and some other impressive moments (the ferry attack comes to mind), Spielberg really fires on all cylinders – as does Cruise and co-star Dakota Fanning. The movie’s ending is a little lackluster, but only marginally so.
• Wristcutters: A Love Story
  There’s a special place in purgatory for those who commit suicide, and that’s what this film explores. After a young man’s girlfriend commits suicide, he does the same, only to find himself in a dreary world that looks a lot like the Southwest. He sets out with some friends he picks up along the way to find his girlfriend and get her back. Sounds weird, huh? Yes, especially considering that there’s a black hole under the front passenger seat in the car the characters drive around. But Wristcutters is an enjoyable and utterly unique romantic comedy.
• Knowing
  Nicolas Cage stars as a professor who discovers a code that he believes predicts what could be the end of the world. Like Next, Knowing looked like it could be harmless, B-grade action fare, but the movie, from the director of Dark City, is surprisingly deep. Though the movie suffers from some questionable special effects, Knowing has some good disaster sequences and an underlying sci-fi layer that wasn’t at all advertised in the previews.
• Reign of Fire
  Christian Bale is on the list again! In this one, he’s battling dragons alongside Matthew McConaughey in a futuristic world where much of society has been wiped out by the deadly creatures. I wasn’t a big fan of the movie when I first saw it, but it has grown on me over time. Either way, it’s a movie that was largely ignored by audiences and critics alike.
• Timecrimes
  This Spanish-languge film isn’t perfect as it suffers from a pretty low budget and questionable acting from the main star, but its increasingly complex time travel elements make this one hard to predict. It starts out as a horror movie and quickly turns into a thriller where the main character is battling different versions of himself; it’s definitely compelling.

Watch the Moon movie trailer, and look forward to our Moon movie review coming later this week!

1. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
   The performances, action and emotion in this movie are beyond comparison. That being said, I almost liked…
2. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
   …as much. In fact, it’s pretty bad ass and features several great sequences. I’ve watched this one more than any other Star TrekThe Wrath of Khan movie, including .
3. Star Trek: First Contact
   After the disappointing Generations, this one kicked the TNG cast into high gear with a funny, exciting and Borg-filled action flick where the fate of Earth lies in the balance.
4. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
   Though it would be hard these days to pull off a movie such as this (a futuristic cast jumping back to modern time is, shall we say, cheesy), there’s something just enjoyable and funny about this one.
5. Star Trek: Generations
   Captain Kirk is killed off in a horribly lame way. This was not how Kirk was meant to die. At least we get to see the Enterprise go down in stunning fashion.
6. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
   This Leonard Nimoy-directed film isn’t particularly good, as it suffers from rather shoddy special effects, a weak screenplay and a disappointingly dull story when compared to the previous film. Christopher Lloyd as the main Klingon villain was horrible casting, too. That being said, the movie isn’t as bad as some people make it out to be.
7. Star Trek: The Motion Picture
   The only Star Trek movie that feels truly dated, this one’s slow, methodical and a little too obsessed with how pretty it thinks it is (though compare it to Star Wars, which came out a year earlier, and it is really not that pretty). But, for what it’s worth, it’s still a grandiose film with an interesting ending.
8. Star Trek: Nemesis
   A lot of people give this one a lot of heat, and in reality it’s not that great, but it’s not nearly as bad as some people say. Sure, the villains look like Nosferatus, but it was a step in the right direction… if only they hadn’t released it at the same time as Lord of the Rings, which last time I checked has an overlapping fan base.
9. Star Trek: Insurrection
   This stupid movie had way too much New Age concepts for my taste, and all around came off as a fluffy, uninteresting action flick. But it’s not as bad as…
10. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
    … which is truly bad. William Shatner directed this one, but it didn’t work out. Captain Kirk versus God is really not a battle anyone needs to see.

So, what do you think of the list? Am I right or am I right? And where does the new Star Trek film fall into this list…

1. Observe and Report
   From the writer and director of The Foot Fist Way comes Observe and Report, the latest Seth Rogen comedy. Hot on the tails of Paul Blart: Mall Cop, this one is also about a security guard – but its R-rated, Rogen-esque humor is far from that surprise hit. While the movie does look a little more slapstick than some of Rogen’s other movies, it does still look similar – and if it is, it will be the movie to see this month. Rogen rarely chooses poorly, and this should be another successful comedy for him. And I’ll never consider kissing a woman who just vomited again.
2. Adventureland
   Opening only a week earlier is Adventureland, a comedy I fear will fly under the radar due to lack of promotion. However, comedy fans should pay attention: this is another R-rated flick from the director of Superbad. Enough said.
3. The Soloist
   This Robert Downey Jr./Jamie Foxx film was originally set to open in December, perhaps as a potential Oscar candidate. Strangely, it was pushed back to April, making me question the quality of this release. At the same time, the previews have been strong, suggesting that this could be the first big drama of the year. While Foxx’s popularity has faded a bit since the days of Ray, Downey Jr. has never been hotter; it will be interesting to see how this one plays out.
4. State of Play
   The lack of promotion for this political thriller does not bode well, but State of Play has an excellent cast in the form of Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Helen Mirren and Russell Crowe. The movie is about a scraggly journalist who uncovers a massive political cover-up, putting his life and reputation at risk.

And that’s it. Those are the four movies that I actually plan on seeing in theaters. Four frikkin’ movies. In an entire month. That’s just plain sad. But… I promised eight movies, right? So here are four more that could have their entertainment value, even if I don’t have high hopes:

1. Obsessed
   I’m not a Beyonce fan, but Beyonce plays the wife of a businessman whose indiscretions with a crazy assistant lead to a pretty bad situation. Yes, this Fatal Attraction offers the prospect of seeing Beyonce and Ali Larter in a mud fight, so I’m sold right there. Other than that, Obsessed looks like a pretty run-of-the-mill erotic thriller, but I could think of worse things.
2. Fast and Furious
   The first one sucked. The second one was worse. The third one was… not as bad (but still pretty stupid). Now, the director from Tokyo Drift has brought together the original cast – Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Michelle Rodriguez among them – for this cleverly titled action flick. I have absolutely no love for this franchise, and am not expecting much from this one. Still, as mindless entertainment goes, there aren’t many other options this month.
3. Crank: High Voltage
   The first Crank was awful, stupid and overly frenetic. Crank 2 looks “bigger and better,” but that’s all relative. Despite my ill feelings toward the original, the filmmakers seem to have embraced the ridiculous nature of the original and taken it to the extreme. The trailer is surprisingly effective, highlighted by a scene of Jason Statham rubbing against an old woman for static electricity… his hot little whore.
4. The Informers
   This limited-release movie will probably be a disaster, but it does have one thing going for it. While I am shallow for saying it, the rest of the Internet users who have downloaded the unrated trailer are no better. Amber Heard, the hottie who has been starting to pop up here and there, gets naked. Will it be enough to draw me to theaters? Probably not, but I’d be surprised if it even opens at all in Seattle to begin with.

Yes, even though the title is completely misleading (I was expecting a countryside sci-fi comedy), Adventureland takes place in an amusement park, where cotton candy, corn dogs, elephant ears and garlic fries run rampant, where crickety rides run by unsavory folk cost $10 a pop, and… OK, I don’t know if any of that is in the movie. But I do know that Adventureland is about a new college grad who, struggling to find a “real” job, ends up working at an amusement park with a lot of strange fellers and a helplessly attractive vixen.

Oh, and the movie is from the director of Superbad, so don’t expect a PG-rated family film.

In anticipation of Adventureland – which looks pretty good – I’ve compiled a list of some other movies that have featured amusement parks in one way or another. It’s also 12:30 am Friday night (I know, I know, I should be out picking up chicks), so my recollection of which of the thousands of movies that I’ve seen have featured amusement parks is shaky at best. So, if I missed any – and I’m sure I did – please be sure to leave a comment.

Here are some of the most memorable movies featuring amusement parks, with random notes:

• National Lampoon’s Vacation – who could forget Walley World, and the adventure Chevy Chase takes his family on? I believe he takes John Candy hostage, too, when they discover that the park has closed down for renovations.
• The Notebook – All I can say is that I have several special edition DVD sets of this movie sitting on my floor right now, and each one literally weighs a pound. That’s a lot of sappy romance – it’s almost burning a whole in the floor.
• Grease - John Travolta likes theme parks. He believes that while riding a roller coaster he comes closer to those Scientology aliens.
• Final Destination 3 – this movie isn’t that memorable, but when the whole movie is based around a roller coaster accident where a bunch of young folk get slaughtered and decapitated, one has to mention it.
• Fear - I fear my memory is escaping me here.
• Encino Man- Wow. I don’t think I would ever include a Paulie Shore movie in one of my lists, yet here we are…
• Lost Boys – speaking of vampires, this is one of those classic amusement park movies.
• Big - note to self: never, ever take a fortune from a creepy fortune taker robot thingy.
• Breaking All the Rules – I have to admit: I haven’t seen this one (I was three when this one was released). But it’s about falling in love at an amusement park, so it had to be included.
• Jurassic Park – Jurassic Park is like one of those amusement parks that just never quite reaches out to its target audience in the way intended. Sort of like Knott’s Berry Farm. Any amusement park where the attractions eat the paying visitors is not a good thing.
• Batman: Mask of the Phantasm – sure, The Dark Knight was awesome, but don’t forget about this damn cool animated movie from the 1990’s that featured Batman, The Joker and a masked vigilante/villain called the Phantasm. The movie concludes with a gigantic theme park exploding and The Joker dying as a result.
• The Living Daylights – James Bond and amusement parks? Oh yeah! I remember something about balloons popping and assassins.