CineMarvellous! presents: Nebular's TOP 30 Favorite Horror Movies of the Past Decade [21 - 30]

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CineMarvellous! presents: Nebular's TOP 30 Favorite
Horror Movies
of the Past Decade

(2000 - 2009)

[Part 1: 21 - 30]
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21. Identity (2003) (7.75/10)
"An original, complex, and wildly unpredictable horror/thriller!"
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22. Dawn of the Dead (2004) (7.75/10)
"Zack Snyder's awesomely demented zombie apocalypse debut!"
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23. Ginger Snaps II:
Unleashed (2004) (7.75/10)
"A clever, insightful, dark, twisted follow-up to the original movie!"
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24. Final Destination (2000) (7.75/10)
"Sharp, intense, clever and bloody!"Final Destination 2 (2003) (7.75/10)

"A great sequel of campy, gory and great fun!"
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25. Dark Water (2002) (7.75/10)
"A genuinely creepy, atmospheric and touching!"
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26. 1408 (2007) (7.75/10)
"A never ending hell!"
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27. Wrong Turn (2003) (7.75/10)
"Clichéd, yet creepy, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride!"
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28. The Hills Have Eyes (2006) (7.75/10)
"A full-blooded horror ride!"
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29. Bug (2006) (7.75/10)

"Enthralling descent into madness!"
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30. Silent Hill (2006) (7.75/10)

"Disturbing and grotesque, but beautiful and gripping!" ________________________

[4.00/10] Survival of the Dead (2010)

Survival of the Dead (2010)

George A. Romero, the creator behind the 'Living Dead' franchise, returns with a new entry in that long running series. Though awash with CGI the film is quite competent in technical terms and gore-count, even accomplished in some of it's cinematography but the aesthetic cannot distract from the absurd, nonsensical storyline. Add to this a cast of unbelievable two-dimensional characters and your left with a cold turkey. It seems Romero has forsaken all that made his early 'Dead' films great instead adopting a lazy, unsatisfying 'rinse-and-repeat' formula. Just about every scene has its badly scripted dialogue interrupted by an errant lurching zombie bursting into frame. Somehow this happens with zero shock value throughout as various characters kill various zombies in various comedic and silly ways. With the recent evolution of slow zombies into fast killers in more recent and better films Romero really needed to create a sense of relentlessness and the inevitability of imminent danger with his lumbering monsters. Romero's ".. of the Dead" franchise is now officially dead. RIP!

• My Rating: 4.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 42% (5.2/10)
• IMDb: 5.6/10

[7.25/10] Grace (2009)

Grace (2009)

"Grace" lives up to it's title as a sophisticated, subtle and intelligently twisted exercise which relies on the power of it's central idea completely and runs with it to its logical conclusion. The filmmakers do everything to allow the theme to operate in stark contrast to reality. One of my favorite aspects of the film was how female-centric "Grace" was, but the characters were three dimensional as opposed to some of the more recent big budget Hollywood films. The film direction and cinematography were neat and quite realistic. Although the story might be predictable, the acting brought new perspective on this weird subject „having a strange child with even more strange needs". You can see the strong wish of the mother to keep the baby, giving all of her to the child. Emotionally and physically! Piece by piece! A classic fight of generations, little of selfishness too, fights without a personal barrier! ...Horrifying child, a mother capable to do anything gave me the creeps! A dark, dramatic tale of horror, "Grace" is a creepy, understated ride rife with social commentary, black humor and excellent performances.

• My Rating: 7.25/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 68% (6.5/10)
• IMDb: 5.5/10

[4.50/10] From Paris with Love (2010)

From Paris with Love (2010)

"From Paris with Love" is essentially an action/comedy, which to me automatically signals an emphasis on action choreography and humor. The most entertaining films of this genre take the fight scenes to exceptional levels while sprinkling in some good laughs along the way. "From Paris with Love" provides subpar humor and downright atrocious gun play. Also, the plot is unoriginal and way over-the-top and nothing in the script is worth remembering let alone repeating. However what kills this film isn't the clichéd plot or bad writing, but it's complete lack of anything close to acting. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is just bad in this film. He's gorgeous, yet flat and uninteresting. I spent most of the film wishing for much less of him and more Travolta. The thing that appalled me the most was the editing of the film and the transition between some scenes. I thought it was rather choppy and not something I would expect from experienced directors like Luc Besson and Pierre Morel. Although the film does have its moments and can be quite entertaining at times, "From Paris with Love" provides nothing that stands out. Action moments you want to tell people about don't exist, and the story and acting are both disappointing.

• My Rating: 4.50/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 36% (4.7/10)
• IMDb: 6.5/10

[3.75/10] The Final (2010)

The Final (2010)

"The Final" is about a group of tormented teenage school kids who are constantly humiliated by the more popular and stronger bullies. The storyline isn't the most original so it really needed strong performances and the way the story was told. However this failed miserably in both departments. There's not a single character in "The Final" that we care about or believe. Really, in the end I wanted all the characters to die. And thank God, they did! The acting wss atrocious and the script was too far-fetched! The school girls were laughably bad and annoying. The torture scenes were stale, weak and preachy. Overall, "The Final" is below average horror flick that has nothing to offer.

• My Rating: 3.75/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 25% (4 Reviews)
• IMDb: 5.3/10

[9.25/10] How to Train Your Dragon [3D] (2010)

How to Train Your Dragon [3D] (2010)

While the premise of "How to Train Your Dragon" may seem tenuously related to that of other films of its ilk, the way in which it's actually delivered makes the whole movie feel all its own. It's a simple story, beautifully told! Tolerance, understanding, and parental approval themes are explored with charm, humor and grace in this great adventure. The two main characters, Hiccup, voiced surprisingly brilliantly by Jay Baruchel, and Toothless, are incredibly endearing, and their relationship is unfolded in such a way that's nothing short of tear-jerking. "How To Train Your Dragon" also has a wondrously, appealing visual style. There are some moments in the film where the images placed on the screen are so emotionally resonate and brilliantly perfect that they teared me up. The movie is from the same team that brought us "Lilo and Stitch", and you can tell they really put a lot of love into this movie. From the landscapes to the various camera angles, everything was done to give an epic and open feel to the world. The dragons look amazing and it was nice to see a variety of them rather than just one breed. The film pushed CGI to its limits and the 3D worked really well during many of the scenes, especially the flying sequences. John Powell's fantastic score adds another dimension to the already epic film landscape by amplifying the sensations of every scene. "How To Train Your Dragon" can surely be added to the list of fantastic animated films of the past 10 years - a terrific film about family, friendship, individuality, and the importance of understanding before action. It is simply a beautiful, fun and spectacular piece of work!

• My Rating: 9.25/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 98% (7.8/10)
• IMDb: 8.3/10

[7.25/10] Alice in Wonderland [3D] (2010)

Alice in Wonderland [3D] (2010)

With Tim Burton written all over this imagining of the world of "Alice in Wonderland" you know what you're in for, and the director doesn't fail to deliver the familiar atmosphere and traits that his fans or even casual movie goers have come to recognize. He succeeded to transform Alice's story into an epic visual experience. The best part of the movie is that the visual effects were mastered wonderfully. The stunning beauty of the environments along with the 3D effects threw you into the mesmerizing, vibrant and imaginative world of 'Wonderland'. There is, in fact, so much detail to the settings that one would have to see the film two or three times to appreciate everything presented. Apart from the setting, the cast is truly wonderful, too. Depp, alas, has less memorable lines and scenes but, that is not his fault. In any case, he definitely has his moments and works them to highest advantage. On the other hand, Bonham Carter makes the film, for her Red Queen is very comical and her appearance, with a huge, light bulb shaped head, is a scream. She was magnificent every time she appeared on the screen. Seems like Tim Burton's 'fetish' for his wife to appear in his movies succeeded this time on a big level. I didn't really liked Mia as Alice. Don't know why but I can't find her attractive enough to really enjoy her presence on the screen and her acting as Alice wasn't that great. Anne Hathaway was cute, yet quite forgettable as The White Queen. The plot isn't exactly complex and it's filled with random situations. Still, it was a very easy to follow story where you just need to relax and enjoy the amazing atmosphere and crazy situations. This is an entertaining movie that doesn't tries to be more than that. With a range of quirky characters and curious concepts to incorporate into his cinematic vision, Burton has created a surreal experience that is both brave and bold. "Alice in Wonderland" comfortably forgoes being a masterpiece to instead deliver softer and more accessible entertainment.

• My Rating: 7.25/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 52% (5.7/10)
• IMDb: 6.9/10

George Beremov's TOP 15 Favorite Movies of 2009

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George Beremov's TOP 15

Favorite Movies of 2009

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1. Inglourious Basterds (10/10)

"Tarantino plays with his usual palette of colors: violence, humor, crisp dialogue, and music and mixes all of them that create new colors and shocking results that only he can pull off. Those wanting to be entertained and willing to approach this as a work of fiction, will find a film that is gripping, funny, thrilling and spectacular in equal measure. Tarantino has made a war movie that practically blows the genre apart at the seams. And it is utterly fantastic!"

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2. Avatar [3D] (9.75/10)

"...the 3-D really immersing you into Cameron's futuristic world - Pandora is brought to life with all of the richness and color of our most wild dreams. He makes this dream-like world seem so vividly real, so gloriously captivating that you'll be lucky if you can move out of your seats after your first visit."

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3. Coraline (9.50/10)

""Coraline" is a real eye-popping treat, whether you see it in 3-D or not. As long as you can see the movie in colour, then you'll easily and gaudily get the full end of the visual orgasm that "Coraline" is."

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 4. Watchmen (9.25/10)

""Watchmen" is a visual feast from start to finish. But not just that; it is also an excellent film overall, because of a terrific screenplay, stylish direction and great acting."

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5. Fantastic Mr. Fox (9.25/10)

""Fantastic Mr. Fox" is extremely funny and with as much depth as any grown-up film made this year, it's not just entertaining and fun to watch, it's a spectacularly well-made film!"

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6. Up (9.25/10)

"Pixar has yet again raised their bar even higher. "Up" is a beautiful adventure film filled with rich characters, great animation and very real emotion."

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7. Star Trek (9.25/10)

"It is a true 21st-Century Star Trek - explosive, exciting, character-driven and a miraculous spectacle to behold!"

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8. [Rec]² (9.00/10)

""[Rec]²" is a honest movie, made by horror fanatics for true horror fans. Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza prove themselves once again as pure horror geniuses!"

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9. Zombieland (9.00/10)

""Zombieland" is witty horror entertainment with a great cast and clever cinematography. A roller coaster ride you immediately want to ride again as soon as its over."

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10. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
(9.00/10)
"Män som hatar kvinnor" is a gripping, suspenseful and beautifully-crafted mystery thriller that delivers!
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11. Up in the Air (8.75/10)
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12. District 9 (8.50/10)
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13. Drag Me to Hell (8.50/10)
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14. Mary and Max (8.50/10)
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15. Micmacs (8.50/10)

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[7.00/10] The Secret In Their Eyes (2009)

El secreto de sus ojos

a.k.a.

The Secret In Their Eyes (2009)

This Foreign Language Oscar winner is about a retired investigator wants to write a novel about a 25-year old unresolved brutal rape/murder case that affected him the most. He reconnects with the people associated with the case to get insights about his writings. In the process, he discovers more about this cold case, as well as about his own self and his relationships. Juan Jose Campanella may be an acclaimed director in Argentina, but his combination of murder mystery, romance and drama just wears thin being nothing more than just good. From the unremarkable beginning, the plot moves along at a nice, if leisurely pace. The murder case gets solved quite early on, although whodunit isn't obvious, and it takes a while to track him down. There are some fantastic football stadium shots, then some other unexpected stuff happens, followed by a satisfying twisty end. Sandwiched into this are the developing relationships between the various participants. In "El secreto de sus ojos", where character arcs are as important as the plot, nobody lets the side down. The acting from Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago, in the three major roles, is competent, believable and engaging. Tchnically, "The Secret In Their Eyes" is artfully shot taking advantage of dazzling cinematography and set pieces. All in all, "The Secret in Their Eyes" has quality and good ideas, but I never felt I was watching something more than a good movie. It was solid, but far from great!

• My Rating: 7.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 77% (7.2/10)
  
• IMDb: 8.4/10

[3.50/10] Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)

Did You Hear
About the Morgans? (2009)

"Did You Hear About the Morgans?" is a bland romantic comedy obeying all the clichés about country vs. city and married couples reconciling with a denouement that defines telegraphing. The acting was shockingly bad! Hugh Grant acted like a man being held at ransom, trying to convey a desperate plea for help. His performance was forced and there was literally no chemistry whatsoever between him and Sarah Jessica Parker. He's a terrible actor. Period. Sarah Jessica Parker acts the same way she does in "Sex And The City". She isn't much for characterization. Sam Elliott and Mary Steenberger have smaller parts but they are the best thing about this movie. Both are superb actors and don't overact or overdramatize their parts. Outside of the beautiful locations and a couple of amusing jokes, "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" is pretty much anemic stuff that would more be suited for TV!

• My Rating: 3.50/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 13% (7.5/10)
• IMDb: 3.9/10

[9.00/10] The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

Män som hatar kvinnor

a.k.a.

The Girl with the
Dragon Tattoo (2009)

Brief review: "The Girl with the Dragon Tatto" is very well-produced and nicely-crafted Swedish thriller and it can go alongside with most of the new Hollywood movies. The script is based on the first of Stieg Larssons' three bestselling novels, and it's more than just your usual crime-thriller kind of script, it also has a substance involving personal lives of some characters present which gives this movie more emotion and makes it more thought-provoking for viewers. Two and a half hours may seem long to some but this film keeps your interest throughout, and even though it may seem slow at times, it was perfectly-paced. The performances are top-notch! Michael Nyqvist inhabits the role of Mikael pretty comfortably, spending quite a lot of time looking surprised, but Nooni Rapace as Lisbeth is something else again – practically an elemental force – never was someone so vulnerable and so dangerous at the same time. Her character is intense, hurt, angry, and resolute to find justice. Both lead actors are superb and even at two and a half hours where the pair essentially dominate most of the screen time, they're always interesting to watch. The film is dark, yet brightly-shot and beautifully-directed by Niels Arden Oplev. The Scandinavian landscape has its part in guaranteeing the story's success, too. Like in the wonderful "Let the Right One In", the cold, snowy environment provides the ideal backdrop for one of the most chilling and grisly tales of murder ever committed to film. "Män som hatar kvinnor" is a gripping, suspenseful and beautifully-crafted mystery thriller that delivers!

[3.75/10] The Bounty Hunter (2010)

The Bounty Hunter (2010)

"The Bounty Hunter" is a thinly-plotted comedy that is overlong and under-joked. The rom-com genre relies heavily on the magnetism of its stars. We have to like them and hopefully, their attraction to each other is somehow believable. Jennifer Aniston, given the right property, is certainly likable enough but she's yet to have found anything feature film-wise to transition into a major star. Whenever Gerard Butler is in a romantic comedy, he does bring a slightly edgy 'tough guy' quality to the movie but I'm not sure that it entirely works. Well, Aniston and Butler just don't click here! Plunk them down together with a script that meanders about without any real sense of tension or direction and you have some inkling right from the opening scene that this is not going to go well. A bad script could be lifted by clever direction, you would expect the director to have a hand on the tiller to keep the whole thing off the rocks. Unfortunately, it seems as though the director had his mind on other things. Film's pacing is totally uneven, sequences that advance the story either drag like mad or zip through so fast that you want to hit the rewind button. Overall,"The Bounty Hunter"'s direction is sloppy, action scenes are poorly-constructed and there's precious little tension, romantic or otherwise to latch on to. It's just one long empty chase.

[7.00/10] 14 Blades a.k.a. Gam yee wai (2010)

Gam yee wai

a.k.a.

14 Blades (2010)

Director Daniel Lee isn’t a very good story-teller and that his films reveal nothing but patchy storyline. “14 Blades” lacks the engaging must-have tear duct squeezing moment and most importantly strong plot. Instead, it is about exotic locations, elaborate costumes and fancy weaponry. Donnie Yen manages to make his fights look like a spirited walk in the park as he oozes masculinity and charisma. But his acting still leaves much to be desired. Vicky Zhaodelivers a decent performance. She's super-cute and a joy to watch! The film’s most notable performance is turned in by pop star Chun Wu, here playing a Jack Sparrow-type desert pirate by the name of the Judge of the Desert. Wu’s desert bandit adds some much-needed color to the film! The fighting scenes also leave a lot to be desired. While the fights are well-choreographed, the egregious use of fast cuts and slow-motion seem to point to technical deficiencies during the shoot. While Daniel Lee's "14 Blades" isn't a modern wuxia masterpiece, but there is enough hard action, longing romance, silly humour, morality spiels, and well-choreographed fight sequences in deserts, forests, temples and tea-houses, to engage every martial arts fan across the board.

[5.50/10] The Rebound (2009)

The Rebound (2009)

"The Rebound" is pretty straightforward, and just a little bit predictable. Bart Freundlich's direction is too bland and impersonal, because he does not bring too much passion to his work. There's nothing special about "The Rebound". It is the typical love story about the older woman falling in love with a younger man. However, the thing about the movie that grabbed me was that it was genuine, it seemed quite real. It was funny without being over the top, the kid actors had me in stitches, and it really is the epitome of a female mid-life crisis. The cast is good. Zeta-Jones delivers a very good performance and Justin Bartha was also very decent, the two kids are very funny. For those who like their fairy tale happy endings - you might be disappointed. The ending leaves the outcome of the reunion of Sandy and Aram up to the viewer's interpretation. All in all, "The Rebound"is watchable and moderately entertaining, but absolutely forgettable.