Movies to Watch Out For in 2009

Fantasy: This year is bound to see the release of the much awaited Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. As the series draws to a close and Harry Potter grows up, this is one movie that no kid or adult is going to miss this year. Another awaited fantasy/ book based movie of 2009 is Where the Wild Things Are. An adaptation of Maurice Sendak's children's classic, where a small boy creates his own imaginary world of monsters and wild things, this book has been in the news for a lot of reasons. The movie however, may be geared towards the adult population.

Drama: Hollywood is high on drama in 2009, and we see almost all current screen stalwarts starring in some emotional or moral drama this year. The Soloist, starring Robert Downey Jr as a journalist and Jamie Foxx as a schizophrenic musical prodigy is based on a true heart wrenching storyline. As per most experts, this might be a favourite at the 2009 Oscars. Also, Quentin Tarantino's latest, Inglourious Basterds, a flick about a group of Jewish-American soldiers and their brutal Nazi killings is a must watch for war movie/action/drama fans. Expect the trademark Tarantino violence and a star studded cast with Brad Pitt, Mike Myers, Samuel L. Jackson, Eli Roth and other notables.

Prequels and Sequels: This year is going to be full of popular prequels and sequels. X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a prequel, promises to be a treat for X-men fans, since the story deals with the origin of the X-Men and how it all came to be. Gambit, who has been till date missing from the big screen, debuts in this one. Boondock Saints 2: All Saints' Day and fourth instalment from the F&F series, the Fast and Furious 4 promise to keep cult fans entertained.

Book Based: 2009 sees big books going to the big screen. The Watchmen, which is based on one of the best graphic novels ever is a highly anticipated release, especially with 300 director Zack Snyder behind the camera. The prequel to the Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, again starring Tom Hanks as symbologist Robert Langdon in his adventures at the Vatican is much awaited in spite of the poor performance of the Code.

Action: The Terminator returns in 2009 with Terminator: Salvation and so do the Transformers with Transformers: Rise of the Fallen. Star Trek promises some high quality sci fi action while the Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian and other notable movies will keeps action fans entertained through 2009.

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Best Horror Films of 2009

5.) Grace

Many times I will rent horror movies solely based on how original the plot is. Regardless of how terrible it might be, I'll always give it a chance if it is something I've never seen before, hoping it turns out to be great. Grace was won of those films, a case where I read the back of the box and thought, "now that's sounds cool," and it was. The movie revolves around a pregnant woman who loses her unborn baby in utero during a tragic car accident. Opting to go ahead and deliver the lifeless fetus anyway, the mother goes into labor only to be shocked to give birth to a live, breathing baby. Chalking it up as a medical miracle, the doctors let the mother take the child home to begin her new family. But after weeks of the baby refusing milk, the mother soon realized that all the hungry baby wants to eat is human blood. She becomes a hermit with her baby, going to extreme measures to satisfy her child's hunger. This Sundance gem from writer/director Paul Solet was definitely worth the rental and ended up being one of the best surprises of 2009.

4.) Dead Snow

The chief reason why this film cracks my list of top five horror films is thanks to that million dollar premise; the same premise that supposedly got the movie financed with just two powerfully awesome words: Nazi Zombies! And even though Dead Snow could have and should have been a lot better than it was, it doesn't take away from the fact that Tommy Wirkola's blood soaked tale of medical students stranded in the snow capped hills of Germany while being slowly picked off one by one by flesh eating, swastika wearing monsters from the Third Reich is an absolute blast to watch. With obvious inspiration from American horror classics like the brilliant Evil Dead, Dead Snow is one of those contemporary horror films that was created with blood-and-guts comedy as its number one objective. Just goes to show that Tarantino wasn't the only filmmaker this year to put a humorous spin the "horrors" of WWII.

3.) Paranormal Activity

Unlike much of the nation's population, I didn't fall madly in love with Paranormal Activity when I first saw it, personally having some issues with the film's lackluster ending (what the hell, Spielberg?). Now don't get me wrong, it was definitely creepy as hell with some real stomach-upsetting moments, but the film's fright factor isn't what gets this film in my top five. What won me over was what a convincing and entertaining movie writer/director Oren Peli was able to deliver with just a minuscule budget of around $11,000 that was able to be enjoyed by a global audience. An impressive feat that thousands of struggling filmmakers try to achieve every year. Now, thanks to Peli, there is new found hope for them as every major movie studio in America is on the lookout for the next Paranormal Activity.

2.) Trick R' Treat

Thanks to two years worth of extensive Internet buzz that no film could live up to, this anthology of spooky tales was unfortunately considered a disappointment to many people, unable to live up to world wide web's hype. But for me, it became an instant holiday classic, one that immediately made my annual Halloween playlist of horror films, accompanying the likes of such notable titles as John Carpenter's Halloween and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Written and directed by Superman Returns scribe Michael Dougherty, Trick R' Treat has intriguing characters in fun, campy stories that comprise a movie that never takes itself to seriously while at the same time staying true to the spirit of All Hallows Eve. The film ended up being one of the best selling DVDs of 2009, which kind of makes you wonder exactly what Warner Bros. was thinking shelving the movie with such bankability among the masses of horror junkies for two whole years. Hopefully they won't be that stupid for the already planned sequel.

1.) Sauna

I'm almost certain that if you watched this history/horror hybrid from director Anti-Jussi Annila on mute for its entire running time, it would still effectively creep the hell out of you. The Finnish film, which was technically a 2008 release but didn't make its way over to the States until 2009, has without a doubt some of the most gorgeous cinematography you will ever see in a horror movie, utilized to create a dark, eerie atmosphere from start to finish. Brilliantly interweaving elements of arthouse cinema with the shock value of modern Hollywood horror, Sauna delivers a supernatural tale set in year 1595 that's just as believable and terrifying as anything seen in Paranormal Activity. Completely oblivious to horror films from Finland beforehand, thanks to Sauna, I will now be keeping an eye out for them.

Adam Krause is a huge film buff. If he is not watching a movie, he is most likely writing one or about them. To read film reviews, blog posts and more articles like this one, please visit adamkrause.webs.com. Or visit www.staticmultimedia.com, a website that Adam writes for that throughly covers film, television, video games and music for all of your entertainment needs.

The Five Best Films of 2009

Honorable Mention: Star Trek

I bought my ticket to this film a wary skeptic with little hopes of being amused. I left the theater a full-blown Trekkie. J.J. Abrams' reboot of the iconic franchise was a monumental success that solidified a new generation of Star Trek fans while pleasing the existing ones, who have been patiently waiting for a film like this for ten years. In what was without a doubt the best casting of the year, Abrams gave new life to such memorable characters as Captain James Kirk and Spock by bringing in young, talented blood like Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Simon Pegg. Hands down, Star Trek was the most fun I had watching a movie this past summer; a perfect popcorn flick. And with the success that this film had, I'm just going to take logical guess and say that the Star Trek franchise will live long and prosper in years to come.

5.) Up In The Air

In my opinion, George Clooney has gotten by mostly on good looks and a great smile without much real depth as an actor. But never has the man's charming demeanor worked as well as it did in this film with his portrayal of an unattached loner who spends the majority of his life in airplanes as he travels from city to city firing people for a living. Helmed by the extremely talented Jason Reitman, the movie beautifully depicts the heartbreak of the recession, the stark differences in the generation gap and the power and importance of finding love in your life, all while keeping a smile on your face. With Up in the Air, Reitman once again proves that Juno and Thank You For Smoking were not merely flukes, but the beginning of what is sure to be an illustrious directing career for the young filmmaker.

4.) Inglourious Basterds

Despite the lack of screen time that the titular Bastards actually received in the movie, Quentin Tarantino's take on WWII was easily one of the funniest and entertaining films of 2009. It was his best film since Pulp Fiction, Brad Pitt's best film since Fight Club and the best Christoph Waltz film I've ever seen, mostly because this was the only film I've ever seen of his. And with a well deserved Academy Award nomination most likely on the way for the German actor, I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of him in American cinema. And even though I would love to see the sequel to Inglourious Basterds that Tarantino is already spreading rumors about in Hollywood, I'm not getting my hopes up. I'm still annoyed that The Vega Bros. prequel never happened.

3.) Avatar

Did the trailer give too much of the plot away? Yes. Did the marketing campaign get ridiculously out of hand? Absolutely. Will it be one of the best experiences you ever have in a movie theater? Without a doubt. James Cameron's film not only breaks new ground in filmmaking with it's stunning 3D technology and breathtaking visual effects, but it also delivers an engaging storyline that will move you, appall you and thrill you for the duration of its 160 minute running time. Regardless of how silly the "blue people" look to you, do yourself a favor and put all doubts aside, pay the extra few bucks for the 3D showing and prepare to be truly amazed. Mr. Cameron once again proves that he is one of the most prominent and influential filmmakers around. Lets just hope it doesn't take another twelve years for him to make his next feature.

2.) (500) Days of Summer

If all Hollywood rom-comes (romantic comedies) were as authentic and heartfelt as (500) Days of Summer, men would no longer put up a bitch fit when their lady friends force them to go. Rarely a movie captures the realism of falling in love with such validity as Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber did with their script for this wonderful movie. Perfectly directed by newcomer Marc Webb and with outstanding acting from Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (one of the best young actors working today) who both hilariously depict the trials and tribulations of young love without being sappy and cliché. After all, it was a story of a boy who met a girl, but it was not a love story.

1.) District 9

I knew this movie was going to be my personal pick for the best film of 2009 the minute I walked out of the movie theater in awe of the masterpiece I had just witnessed. I just couldn't foresee another movie being released that was going to blow me away as much as Neill Blomkamp's directorial debut did. With its sheer creativity and unbelievable originality, the gripping storytelling and those remarkable special effects, there truly was no other film from this past year that I enjoyed watching as much as District 9. It's my must-see movie of 2009. I can only hope that Christopher Johnson makes good on his promise to Wikus Van De Merwe and returns to planet earth with the cure to his anomalous condition so we can all be treated to a sequel. Hell, as long as this Blomkamp is in the director's chair, I'm down for a trilogy.

Adam Krause is a huge film buff. If he is not watching a movie, he is most likely writing one or about them. To read film reviews, blog posts and more articles like this one, please visit adamkrause.webs.com. Or visit http://www.staticmultimedia.com, a website that Adam writes for that throughly covers film, television, video games and music for all of your entertainment needs.

Upcoming 3D Movies on DVD - What Should You Expect From Them?

The much-talked about Avatar movie during the Oscars created a wave of new movies that got the audience begging for more. It was during 2009 that 3D movies generated success one after another, creating a myriad of movies from animation to fantasy themes that never fails to amaze the audience no matter what age. 2010 is no different. What should you expect in these movies? 3D movies on DVD!

Before three dimensional, there was SD. We used to watch movies in this format. Now, we have 3D movies has proven to be 'epic' in so many levels. Kids and adults alike love how these effects created a world where fantasy comes to life.

If you missed watching one of these movies, the industry has made sure you can watch it at home. Three dimensional movies on DVD have been following the footsteps of theater success. If you missed great movies like Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, My Bloody Valentine and of course, Avatar, then there is no doubt you will ever miss watching these movies on DVD.

You can watch these movies in SD or HD televisions. However, 3D movies on DVD would look better if all 3D equipments are available. There are some drawbacks with these 3D movies on DVD. There is a high possibility that these movies will not play on your regular DVD player. It needs a 3D DVD player for you to watch it. So, before purchasing 3D movies, ask a representative from that video store if that DVD works with regular DVD players.

High Definition or HDTVs are quickly replacing old and standard 'flat' screen TVs. These TVs produce clearer images with effects close to the real thing. It is as if you are not watching in your living room TV -- but in the theater! This type of TV works best with your 3D movies on DVD. Usually, you will find glasses along with the movie. 3D glasses helps project the image better and let you experience a real three dimensional effect!

You can check your video store and look for these 3D movies. Let the movies come to life in the comforts of your home. Just browse through the latest DVDs in the rack, purchase it and play it in your DVD player. Get the best movie experience by watching it in HD TV with 3D glasses that might come along with the DVD.

Find out more about 3d DVD and what 3d DVD movies are available on the market.

Best Animated Kid's Movies of 2009 and 2010

Kids world over have enjoyed and still enjoy animated cartoons and movies. Animation gives films a special something which really attracts children. Here is a look at the best animated kid's movies of 2009 and 2010.

Beginning with 2009, a number of animated kid's movies were released and most of them were successful at the box office. The first animated movie of 2009 was Monsters vs. Aliens. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures, Monsters vs. Aliens released on March 27th 2009 in 3D. Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie and Will Arnett lent their voices for the movie amongst others. The film was a box office success and collected high revenue world over.

Up was the next kid's movie to release and it turned out to be a blockbuster at the box office. Released on May 29th 2009, Up is an animated comedy-adventure released in Disney Digital 3D. Produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the film featured voices lent by Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Bob Peterson and Jordan Nagai. The movie enjoyed critical acclaim from critics and viewers alike, making it the most successful animated film of 2009.

Produced by Blue Sky Studios and distributed by 20th Century Fox, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs was released on July 1st 2009 in 3D. The film is the third installment in the Ice Age series and enjoyed a successful run at the box office. Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo lent their voices for the movie.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was the final animated kid's movie of 2009. A computer animated comedy, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was produced by Sony Pictures Animation and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The film released on September 18th 2009 and received a great response at the box office.

Moving on to 2010, How to Train Your Dragon was released on March 26th 2010 in 3D and received a great response from critics. Though it did not do very good business initially, the film gained popularity by word of mouth and became a success at the box office. The fantasy film produced by DreamWorks Animation featured the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler and Craig Ferguson amongst others.

Shrek Forever After is the next animated kid's movie of 2010. The film was produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures and released worldwide on May 21st 2010. The film was also released in 3D and IMAX 3D. The film was a box office hit just like the earlier films in the Shrek series.

Toy Story 3 is the final animated release of 2010 so far. Produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures, the third installment in the Toy Story series became Pixar's highest grossing film worldwide. The movie featured voices lent by several artists who include Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack.

This wraps up the list of animated kid's movies released in 2009 and 2010.

For more information about animated kids movies visit moviesforkid.com website where you will find reviews of such good movies like Ratatouille Movie and others.

Top Family Friendly Movies of 2009

Here are the all around BEST family friendly movies of 2009. These are movies that you can't go wrong with for both kids and adults together. These are great movies you can enjoy over and over again with your kids. If you missed one, be sure to keep an eye out for when it is released on DVD and snatch it up quick. Each one of these family friendly movies for 2009 will be worthy additions to your family movie collection.

The Princess and the Frog

The folks at Disney have come up with another classic here with their first and long over due animated story featuring an African American heroine. You will feel like you are watching a story line similar to Little Mermaid at times, but the characters are believable and ones you will cheer for. The best audience for this movie is girls at middle school age and younger.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

A bit corny at times, okay a lot corny, but kids loved this movie. It is based on the children's book by the same name and succeeds at all levels. This animated screen version is funny and moves at a fast pace. It is based on the unlikely event of food coming down as rain. The visual effects are great as well.

Hannah Montana: The Movie

What child doesn't know about the hit Disney TV show Hannah Montana? Well in this full length feature film all the characters are brought to the big screen. It is a heart warming story of a young girl (played by Miley Cyrus) coming of age and searching for herself. With lots of horses, and a country setting this musical family comedy is filled with family values and is enjoyable for kids of all ages and their parents.

G-Force

This is a creative 3-D animated comedy adventure brought to us by Disney. It is about a group of specially trained guinea pigs that are used by the government for top secret espionage. The characters are fluffy and engaging as they go about using all their latest spy gear and gadgets. The movie is clever, fun for all ages and finishes with a great message.

Ice Age: Dawn of The Dinosaurs

This is actually the third installment of the Ice Age movies with a new, fun and lovable character being introduced. If your kids saw the earlier Ice Age Movies this will be enjoyed as well. The animation is great and who doesn't love a movie with dinosaurs.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Kids sure seem to love it when museum characters come to life after the doors are closed. In this sequel we are taken to the Washington DC Smithsonian museum where once again the museum exhibits come to life. Silly, witty and with charming characters, this movie is highly fun for kids of all ages.

Up

This very successful animated adventure film is my favorite for the whole year. It teams up Disney and Pixar and quite possibly will become Pixar's best film to date. The characters are entertaining, the story is well written, and the animation and graphics are superb. It is filled with funny lines that have both kids and adults enjoying and laughing together. Even though it is just an animated film, it will have you re-evaluating your life at the end.

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Best Movies of 2009 - Zombieland

Blood, guts, bullets and laughter - not exactly recipes you'd expect to see together in a film, and particularly not in a candidate for best movie of 2009. However, the film industry has a long history of intertwining the horror and comedy genres, albeit not always with great success. In fact, it can be argued that much of the time this combination occurs unintentionally. While the director and actors set out to make a genuinely scary horror movie, the audience sees it in a different light, finding laughter in the sheer ridiculousness of the plot or the terrible performances by the actors. Trust me when I say this is not the case with Zombieland.

With Zombieland it is clear from the very beginning that the writers, director and actors all had their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks when they created this film. Up and coming comedy actor Jesse Eisenberg, who made a name for himself in the cult hit Adventureland narrates the film, and we are introduced to the film by his character Columbus as he lays out the rules he uses to survive the harsh reality of a country overrun by flesh-eating zombies.

Eisenberg hits just the right note as a socially inept obsessive compulsive who has used his rule book to survive when 99.9% of an arguably more capable population has been wiped out. Yes, at times it seems like he learned his craft by watching Michael Cera in Arrested Development reruns, but he makes a pretty good straight man, with good comic timing.

However, as good as Eisenberg is, he is quickly overshadowed the first time Woody Harrelson's Tallahassee appears on screen. Also socially inept, but in a completely different way, Tallahassee is an elite zombie-killing machine, and never shows a hint of fear no matter how many of the creatures he faces, dispatching them in a variety of different, but spectacularly violent, ways, using just about every weapon imaginable. In between killing zombies Tallahassee manages to squeeze in plenty of classic one-liners, several of which will live on in pop culture lore for years to come, proving he still has the comedic skills that we saw in the TV show Cheers and the cult bowling movie Kingpin. In a bizarre, but amusing, side story Tallahassee spends much of the movie in search of Twinkies, for which he has developed an inexplicable craving.

Filling out the cast are Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin, a pair of young, but world-wise grifters who Tallahassee and Columbus run afoul of, and eventually fall into an uncomfortable partnership with.

All in all Zombieland is classic horror comedy, much in the same vein of the British favorite Shaun of the Dead. It is certainly destined to achieve cult status, and is one of the those rare movies that fans should own in their DVD (or Blu-ray) collection, because it can be watched over and over again. Yes, hardcore horror fans might be disappointed, but with a name like Zombieland there should be little doubt that this film has comedic elements.

If you love comedy movies, and aren't turned off by violence and gore - this is a zombie movie after all - then definitely check Zombieland out. It might not have had the exposure that some of the year's biggest movies enjoyed, but is a sleeper pick for the title of best movie of 2009.

The author is an avid writer with a passion for film. Check out his list of the Top 100 Best Movies for more great film picks.