COMPLETE LIST: Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2007

On this point, I am inclined to largely disagree. I think there was a time when that was the reality, but how many Oscar worthy films are being produced by the major studios these days? The Indies have dominating Best Picture nominations over the past sevearl years. I think this is largely because most of them come from young directors who don't necessarily pursue paths that are safe and popular. I'm beginning to believe that the only questions asked of anyone bringing a movie project to the major studios these days are:

Have we seen it before?

Will it get us 2 good weeks at the box-office?

If the answer to both is "yes" filming will begin the next day.

At the risk of making an unpopular statement, which rarely stops me from speaking my mind on this board , I thought Lord of the Rings (book and movies) was garbage. Could someone please explain to me why the bad guys, who controlled pretty much everything except one stupid ring, and including the mountain where the all powerful ring was forged, couldn't just go out and forge about a million more and sell them on The Shopping Network? And why did every wide place in the road have to have some mighty sounding name? "Look Balbo, it's the dung heap of Rama Lama Yabba Dabba Doo!" Actually, I have about a million questions dealing with the absurdity of the plot. Admittedly, way back in college, I attempted to read the first book. After about 10 pages, I winged it out of my second story window. I watched the first movie...sort of. Most of the time I spent studying the back of my eyelids.

I don't know. I haven't talked to him lately. But I was not enthusiastic.

If you live in a reasonably large city, there is probably an arthouse theater. Colleges usually show indie films as well. If there is neither an arthouse  or college nearby, try Blockbuster or Netflicks.

I'll confess up front that I don't read every post that ends up on this forum. In fact, I probably don't see 10%. I unfortunately missed your reference to being a film extra. Actually, my wife and I were extras on a TV show that was filming about a week ago...some show that will air on Food Network. We were recruited while attending a hockey game. I guess it just goes to prove that anyone can get their five minutes of fame. (Andy Warhol predicted 15 minutes, but the population keeps growing fast)

There are a lot of bad Indie films released every year (note my signature line) but if I have my choice between someone trying to create a piece of crap with an air of originality vs. the same piece of crap I've seen a dozen times, give me the air of originality. Ultimately, finding quality indie films requires a little homework. There are all sorts of websites that provide information about upcoming releases, both from indies and the studios.

MY OSCAR RANT: "Norbit" gets an Oscar nod, "Surf's Up" gets a Best Animated Film nomination (over "The Simpsons Movie") the over-rated "Sicko" gets a Best Documentary Nod (while "The King Of Kong" and "In The Shadow Of The Moon" didn't) "Into The Wild" and "The Diving Bell And The Butterfly" hardly got any, Cate Blanchett got two nominations (because she's Cate Blanchett?) "Spider-Man 3" and "Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix" had way better special effects than "The Golden Compass", and "Zodiac" and "Before The Devil Knows You're Dead" didn't get any.

This leads me to the conclusion that the Acadamy voters are F*CKING morons!! 

Response from Head RAZZberry: I, too, was stunned that they failed to nominated SIMPSONS MOVIE (and included the decidedly mediocre SURF'S UP) and generally ignored many far more deserving contenders thoughout their field of nominees. I think Blanchett's Best Actress nomination speaks to the lack of strong roles for women in general (though their snub of Angelina Jolie was surprising).

Based on the lack of movie-goer interest in what they've nominated (none of their contenders even grossed $90 million) I would expect that, strike or no strike, the ratings for this year's Giving Out of the Little Gold Naked Men will tank...BIG TIME!

Transformers has great special effects, but it was tough to tell the difference between some of the transformer characters at times.  Overall, I thought that Transformers was a terrible movie.  Although, I'm not a teenager, so that's probably part of the problem.

Norbit got Oscar nods?  I had no idea.  I haven't seen it, but I've heard nothing but good. 

I was just thinking about someone who could have been up for worst actor back in the 80's.  Charlie Sheen had a great performance in Platoon and followed it up with an absolutely awful performance in Wall Street.  How did he take such a turn?  Maybe it was just the part that Oliver Stone had written.

"Because I Said So" is my second worst movie for 2007. It only avoids the top spot because "I Know Who Killed Me" exists. "Because I Said So" is, also my tenth worst movie of all time, after "In The Cut", "Freddy Got Fingered", "Running With Scissors", "Hotel", "Dirty Love", "Inland Empire", "I Know Who Killed Me", "Rollerball", and "Batman & Robin". 

ShumacherH8ter: "Because I Said So" is my second worst movie for 2007. It only avoids the top spot because "I Know Who Killed Me" exists. "Because I Said So" is, also my tenth worst movie of all time, after "In The Cut", "Freddy Got Fingered", "Running With Scissors", "Hotel", "Dirty Love", "Inland Empire", "I Know Who Killed Me", "Rollerball", and "Batman & Robin". 

I think we have a similar taste for movies.  I will normally finish a movie, no matter how bad, but I turned off "Inland Empire" before I was 30 minutes in.  And yes, "Batman & Robin" is awful.  However, I do actually like "Freddy Got Fingered" a little.  Not one I'd watch much, but it has its moments.