Hi Bryan Here…

And here it is.  The last of the Ultimate Top Films of the Decade List until the Final Top 10.  So many great films are on this list.  I guess the numbering got messed up somewhere down the line so this list starts with 31.5 instead of 30 and goes to #11.  So after this list, I will reveal my Top Ten Films of the last decade.  So you can check out the entire list now and you might be able to guess what would be on my Top 10.  Please feel free to comment and let me know your guesses.  As usual, you will get the title of the film, the release date, a mini review and synopsis by yours truly, and a link to purchase the movie over at amazon for a good price.

31.5_ No Country For Old Men – November 9, 2007

One of the Coen Brothers best films.  The 4th best in my opinion.  It is not a comedy by any means, but the pure edge makes this film so tense, that you are on the edge of your seat.  Javier Bardem’s character, Sugar, has forever been imprinted in my brain as one cold killer.  And it marked a big return for Josh Brolin.  This film is so well done.  Love it.

30_ Avatar – December 18, 2009

James Cameron finally came back to the SCI-FI genre he once helmed and made the largest grossing movie ever.  Even beating out his own Titanic which has held the #1 spot since it came out over a decade ago.  Once again Cameron changed the film industry by using a different camera he invented which made literally everything on the screen 3-D.  Not just objects that are thrown at the screen.  Everything on film has depth.  I really liked this film.  It is pure beauty and has tons of action to boot.  But is a story you have seen time and time again, but told in a different world which makes it work.  Looking forward to the sequel.  Also the alternate opening on Earth should have been in the theatrical release.

29_ The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring – Decemeber 21, 2001

One Ring To rule Them All.  The first film in the series of epicness.  This film put Peter Jackson on everyone’s radars and put the FX company Weta at the tippy top.  We all saw what an amazing job people can do when they love and are passionate about a story.  It all came out in this film.  The attention to detail is something to be marveled at.  Just writing about this makes me want to have a day marathon and watch all these films again.  A true masterpiece.

28_ The Incredibles – November 5, 2004

Another excellent Pixar film.  And this time it is all about superheroes.  Craig T. Nelson did such an amazing job of voicing Mr. Incredible.  It just brought him to life.The story was amazing and the visuals were top notch.  I really think they need to make some sequels to this movie.  It deserves it.  I cannot wait for this to be released on bluray.  I am a huge Incredibles fan.  I just want more.  If only some execs could make the live action superhero movies this way, then all in the world will be right.

27_ The Wrestler – December 17, 2008

This movie was phenomenal.  Mickey Rourke should have won the oscar for his role.  Now I have watched wrestling for a couple of decades so this film really did a number on me.  I have seen this before.  Going to comic conventions and what not and seeing the older wrestlers in bad shape and lonely.  It is very sad.  But ultimately, they did it to themselves.  The way Aronofsky directed this film is pure brilliance.  His best movie definitely so far.  You really feel bad for the aging wrestler even though he makes some pretty horrible decisions, but he really wants to do good.  Fairly difficult to watch, because it is very emotional.  A true gem of a film.

26_ Snatch – December 8, 2000

I remember when this film came out.  I was looking forward to it so much.  Guy Ritchie hit my radar when I first saw Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.  I thought to myself, “Hey this film is original and AWESOME.  Only to be blown away to the 100th power by his 2nd film which was Snatch.  A perfect combination of comedy and violence and great dialogue.  It is also 2nd best to Pulp Fiction in how it takes multiple story lines and converges them together.  This movie is very quotable still to this day and I love re-watching it time and time again.  Brad Pitt will be forever a bare knuckle boxer.

25_ The Royal Tenenbaums – December 14, 2001

The best film ever of a dysfunctional family directed by Wes Anderson.  This film really put Wes on the map.  Very few people saw Rushmore and even fewer people saw Bottle Rocket.   Royal Tenenbaums has an all-star ensemble cast which should have all won awards.  The complete dry humor and non-joke type of comedy dialogue is so amazing.  And every character in the film has an iconic look.  Pretty hard to do.  This film is in my top comedies of all time.  I love this movie.

24_ The Station Agent – December 5, 2003

A big favorite of mine.  I saw this movie at the theater with a friend and during the film the fire alarm went off and we all had to evacuate the theater.  When we got back to our seats, the film literally had about a minute and a half left.  But we all got free movie passes so that was cool.  This film is about an unlikely friendship between three people who all need each other.  It seems that the characters are all lost souls, but when they are together, they are the happiest they have ever been.  Even if it means that they just sit quietly together.  This movie is such a feel good movie and fairly funny too.  I just love this film.  See it if you have not yet.

23_ Little Miss Sunshine – July 26, 2006

They really do not make comedies like this quite often.  They used to a couple of decades ago, but since then they are pretty rare.  This comedy with a stellar cast has a lot of heart and soul in to it.  You will laugh, cry, and feel in good spirits once finishing viewing.  This family sticks together no matter what.   Through the think and thin of life.  Alan Alda was superb and deserved that Oscar for his role.  This movie is just a lot of fun to watch and it has tons of heart.  I wish all comedies were as good as this one.

22_ Up – May – 29, 2009

Yet another Pixar film on the list and this one might be the most adult Pixar film on the list.  In the first few minutes of the movie, it dealt with a mis-carriage, death, depression, and loss.  Not exactly what you would expect from a kids animated Pixar film.  This brought on tears a few times during watching the whole film.  It still does when I re-watch it.  I just love the unwilling relationship that turns to genuine love and friendship during the course of this film.  It was funny in all the right moments too.  Pixar just continues to knock films out of the park.  Love this movie.

21_ Audition – March 3, 2000

A movie that plays out like a romantic comedy then abruptly turns into one hell of a nightmare of terror and torture.  This movie is hardcore and not for weak.  Takashi Miike is one hell of a suspenseful director and story teller.  I always debate on showing this film to women.  If you question that, just see the film, and you will understand why I say that.  This film is beautifully done, but man is it hard to to watch in some segments.  I get chills just thinking about it.  This is a must see for any genre fan.  Superb film.

20_ Kill Bill: Volume 2 – April 16, 2004

A pretty much perfect sequel to an already perfect film.  Well not rally a sequel, but more of the 2nd act.  This was originally going to be all one film, but was split into two.  And it works that way.  I love seeing the background and events that led up to Black Mamba being who she is and why and how she survived her horrid almost massacre.  And the explanation of Superman told by David Carradine was brilliant.  And who couldn’t love the fight between two six foot blondes in a small RV.  It kicked so much ass .  These films were amazing.  More please.

19_ Kill Bill: Volume 1 – October 10, 2003

The first act of this amazing film was spectacular and was action packed to the core.  I loved how Quentin Tarantino showed all of us his love for the old Kung Fu films he grew up watching by using certain colors, and FX techniques to present this masterpiece of a film.  The anime sequence was so great as well.  I loved that he used this story segment  as an anime.  Perfect.  And that House of Blue Leaves 1 vs. 89 people was EPIC.  These two films are so much fun to watch and are just so well done.  Tarantino does not disappoint one bit.

18_ The Orphanage – December 28, 2007

A pretty scary ghost story that is probably one of the best shot horror films in some time.  Awesome director, Guillermo Del Toro produced this film for a first time director, and you can tell that tons of love went in to this.  This movie made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up straight throughout most of the film.  But it is so much more than just a Ghost Story.  It is more or less the story of Peter Pan in a way.  see this film.  A must see for any fan of movies and especially the ghost and horror genres.

17_ Up In The Air – December 4, 2009

This film was so good.  It still speaks of the time where tons of people are being laid off and losing their jobs they have had for dozens of years.  The director Juno, Jason Reitman, does one hell of a job establishing our characters and we really feel for what they have to go through and it is just so hard to hear the reactions of the people losing their jobs in this film.  But what is true at heart in this film, is that we have our main character played by George Clooney who wants no real human relationship until he thinks he meets the girl of his dreams.  What a fantastic film. See it.

16_ District 9 – August 14, 2009

This is one hell of a cool movie about an alien invasion and what a part of the world would do in that situation.  What was cool about this film, was it is part documentary, well mockumentary in the way it is shot which gave you the actual feeling of being right there in the midst of things.  The FX on this film are some of the best I have ever seen.  It was also cool to finally see a film where we don’t really see the actual invasion happen, but what life is like several years after the invasion.  It is pretty sad to say the least.  I highly recommend this film.  Also, it is the movie where I met Claire.

15_ High Fidelity – March 31, 2000

I cannot believe it has been more than ten years since this film came out.  This film should be seen by everyone.  And if you have not seen it.  Shame on you.  Cinematic idiot.  John Cusack is so good in this movie and Jack Black is just hilarious as ever.  The music in this film is top notch and just the story line alone is just badass.  Who doesn’t want to watch a film about a guy who finds all of his ex girlfriends and asks them what went wrong in their relationship.  Pure comedy.  This movie will forever be a classic in my eyes.  Tons of excellent big name actors are in this film.  And I still ask people what their top 5 songs to play at their funeral would be.  Love this movie.

14_ Pan’s Labyrinth – December 29, 2006

Guillermo Del Toro’s masterpiece dark fairy tale is truly one of the best films out there.  Del Toro is a true master at storytelling.  This is not your typical fairy tale for kids.  This fairy tale is riddled with extreme violence, tons of torture, hardcore scary monsters, and much much more.  You really fall in love with the main character who is a little girl who is put into a world where she does not want to be and does not belong.  She tries to escape it by reading her fairy tales.  But her fairy tales come to life.  It is a very sad and tragic tale, but ultimately very fulfilling and uplifting all the same.  This film is pure genius.  Loved every minute of it.

13_ American Psycho – April 14, 2000

My favorite Brett Easton Ellis novel came to life and brought forth Christian Bale on everyone’s radar.  This is one sick and twisted dark comedy about a CEO who moonlights as a serial killer.  This film was truly fantastic on every level.  Some people complained about it not being true to the book, but if it was, then we would have a XXX rated film and no theater would release that.  Christian Bale definitely showed his acting chops with this film.  And since it is set in the 80’s tons of 80’s music to make you laugh throughout while he is killing his victims.  This whole movie is so beautiful and darkly charming.  This is one of my favorites of all time.

12_ Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – December 18, 2002

My favorite Lord of the Rings film.  This 2nd part was the most beautifully shot film of the trilogy.  The battle at Helm’s Deep might be one of the best ever battle sequences ever shot on film.  I also love the way the hobbits stick together throughout this particular segment.  It shows just how much good there is in a world being torn apart by hate and evil.  This is my favorite Peter Jackson film to date.  It is so well done.  It is the Empire Strikes Back of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

11_ 28 Days Later – June 27, 2003

Director Danny Boyle re-invented the horror zombie genre with this film.  He took the zombies themselves and made them turn to a zombie in matter of seconds and made them run at full speed rather than the slow walk.  This made for one hell of a frightening movie.  This movie was so suspenseful on a level that you can’t begin to imagine.  You just need to see the film if you have not seen it yet.  All the main survivor characters are very likable in this film and you just hate it when they die.  It is not just about a film about zombies, but a film about survival and looking after one another.  This is one of the best zombie films ever made.  It won’t be topped.

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By Bryan Kluger

Former husky model, real-life Comic Book Guy, genre-bending screenwriter, nude filmmaker, hairy podcaster, pro-wrestling idiot-savant, who has a penchant for solving Rubik's Cubes and rolling candy cigarettes on unreleased bootlegs of Frank Zappa records.

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