Flops & Tops - Tops

So I have already covered the Flops of the recently past year. And as claimed, this post will be to the tops of 2009. There have been some really good movies and then there have been some great ones as well. Here I am going to be putting up the ones which I loved.

Paul Blart Mall Cop kick-started the list of the awesome movies. Starring the undoubted King of Comedy, Kevin James and the adorable Jayma Mays( Think Glee), the movie will have you rolling in laughter within a few scenes. Kevin James has done a brilliant job. If you happen to be looking for quality family entertainment, then look no further. Paul Blart Mall Cop should be your first choice.

Every year around Valentine's Day, Hollywood churns out a movie dedicated to the glorious and equally disastrous day. This year we had He's Just Not That Into You. Inspired by a single line from the multi-award winning HBO series Sex and the City, the movie became a box office blockbuster. Despite the fact that it has a huge cast of extremely notable personalities, the movie is well distributed amongst them. Now I know it's a complete chick flick, but when you have Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore and Scarlett Johansson in the same movie. It's an utter sin to miss it out.

Ever seen one of those movies where everything just keeps getting from bad to worse coupled with a tumult of hilarious incidents?! If not then you need to check out Confessions of a Shopaholic! This is one of those rare times when a movie adaptation of a book has actually fared well. I saw this movie on the way to States and through the 9 hour long flight, I actually watched it twice. It has many of my favorite things thrown together, so no doubt it was a huge hut for me. It's pretty darn amazing. And don't we all have a little shopaholic in us?

While there is absolute no doubt that the Dark Knight would be best movie ever to be inspired from a comic, one movie came very close to it this year. I'm talking about Watchmen, guys! Zack Snyder, who is extremely well-known for 300 took charge of this project and did it marvelously. There is really no contest about that. Though there are many directors with far more experience that Zack, this movie needed abit more younger appeal with slight taint of darkness. Though I had never heard of Watchmen prior to this, but after the movie I'm knee deep into their comic book series

One movie that I expected would bomb really badly but turned out quite well was Star Trek. Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho and Zoe Saldana I was a complete idiot to think this movie would flop. The movie has one of the most gripping story lines with excellent visual and cinematic effects. Zachary Quinto, popularly known for playing the cold-blooded power-mad killer in Heroes Sylar, did his role incredible justice. Though he looked completely crazy, he made it impossible to not take his character seriously.

Dan Brown is an amazing author and his books are just beyond words. The only author who for me has out-stripped J.K Rowling. Brimming with actual facts and cult fascination, they are simply too good to be true. Previously Da Vinci Code was made into a movie and it really didn't do well. I felt the movie had left several important facts out of the book and just didn't feel complete. Now Angels & Demons though once again couldn't explain each and every detail but this time round they managed to keep it more confined and more planned. Tom Hanks, the geeky equivalent of James Bond minus the high tech gadgetry reprises the role of Professor Robert Langdon and does a remarkable job. Another top of the year, people!

Another stellar flick this year was Night At The Museum; Battle of the Smithsonian. When you have Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Robin Williams and Hank Azaria on the same screen, you really can not afford to look for anything else in the theater. This movie no doubt has to the best movie of this year. This is another gem of a movie if you want one that your little ones can watch along with you. It was a huge hit at the box office. With that cast, I think it pretty much was destined to be one.

Is it just me or has anybody also felt the lack of guy flicks?! It's so hard to find a movie that you can just watch with your friends that just defines being a guy from the start to finish. That trend changed with Hangover. This movie is a complete guy flick. But girls are equally invited and welcomed. A bachelor party gone wrong not only results in a huge headache, a messed up hotel suite but also the groom turns out to be missing. The cast has done the most amazing job. The chemistry gets a 10 out of 10 from me. If you haven't seen it yet, you're missing out on an amazing movie.

I'm a huge fan of Katherine Heigl. Besides the fact that she's a complete blond bombshell and is insanely amazing at acting. Her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens in Grey's Anatomy is probably one of the most engaging characters present on TV right now. She was set to star opposite Gerard Butler, famous for P.S. I Love You, in the romantic comedy The Ugly Truth. The movie's plot is extremely fresh and extremely humorous at many spots. This is one great summer flick. At first I was afraid that Heigl would out-shine Butler, but Butler does an amazing job at portraying his cocky, arrogant, womanizer.

While a good majority of 2009 was littered with funny flicks, one of the most thought provoking flicks came out much later in the summer, My Sister's Keeper is a stellar. Starring Cameron Diaz, Alec Baldwin, Abigail Breslin and Thomas Dekker, this movie will no doubt grab a few accolades in the up-coming awards. Cameron Diaz who in no way I would ever think of playing the role of a mother carried her role extremely proficiently.

A movie that I still have not yet fully understood inspite of repeated watching is District 9. It's kind of like the Matrix of 2009. I know there are aliens but exactly how the story wraps around the main theme leaves me boggled. But yeah, it is a good movie no doubt. I saw it pretty late because of exams but I liked it alot. I watched it again a few days back hoping to finally decipher the entire tale but was futile. I'll be sitting down for it again soon. Hopefully this time getting it right!

Quentin Tarantino out did himself again with the World War II drama, Inglorious Basterds. A cast involving the likes of Brad Pitt, Eli Roth, Mike Myers and Diane Kruger the film really had no way to go but to the top. Brad Pitt did an amazing job, especially on the accent. There is really alot this man has up his sleeve. Inglorious Basterds is definitely one for the keeps.

Tom Hanks earlier this year reprized his role as Professor Robert Langdon, but his really star came from producing the incredibly creative Where The Wild Things Are. The movie depicts the journey of a young boy with a rather wild personality, Max, as he journeys to an unknown place and befriends a group of creatures only found in the wildest imaginations. It's another book turned into a movie and is surprisingly really good. The animation definitely gets a thumbs up from me. And on another plus point, this is another movie our kids can watch.

2012 was no doubt the most anticipated movie of 2009. Being based on the Mayan prophecy of the world coming to an end in 2012, the movie displays the fight for survival of humanity as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis strike various places all over the world. The movie is thoroughly engaging and will practically have you hanging on to your seat. It also features the song 'Time For Miracles' by Adam Lambert, but the real thing which makes the movie so amazing is all the special effect.

While the list has gotten pretty long and has some really amazing names to it. No doubt the best was really saved for the last. I'm talking about the James Cameron wonder, Avatar. Having previously gained fame for Titanic, Avatar just propelled Cameron to a completely new level of awesomeness. The movie is cleverly drafted and well executed. The animation is freakishly real and will definitely take your breath away. Those blue skinned creatures, Na'vi are perfected to the last detail. The movie is definitely going to be giving all the previously stated movies a run for their money.

One movie which I thought could be another top for this year has not been released here yet so I have no idea about it but I'll be checking it out soon and you'll find it here. Till then take care and a Happy New Year everyone!

Also this post happens to be my 100th so it has to be special in some sense only even I don't know how.

Copyright © Saad Khan 2009 (Karachi, Pakistan; saadkhalidkhan@gmail.com)