In a year that I really wanted to escape from the real world, amazingly, I didn’t end up in the theater as much as I wanted. Yes, Tim has been mostly absent from MoviePie for yet another year. New Year’s resolution: I’ll write more. BUT I can’t promise I’ll get to anything before MoviePie mistresses, Linda and ace writer Vickie peck out their reviews. Damn they are quick on the draw.

In no particular order and with no malice intended towards those that did not end up on the top of my list:

• Open Water – Left behind, in the ocean, by some stupid-ass who didn’t realize they were there to begin with… Ok, I’d do just about anything to avoid this situation. Shark… SHark… SHArk… SHARk… SHARK!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Finding Neverland – Johnny Depp with a British accent, need I say more? Great story, cute kids and Kate Winslet - a winning combo in my book.
• Dorian Blues – Self realization, with wit and good sarcasm. Coming out is always hard on everyone around you, lets make the folks laugh a little bit.
• Touching the Void – I remember thinking about the choices made in this story and realized that conquering a mountain isn’t really in my long-term plans. I like warm way too much.
• The Incredibles – Let’s just say it, Good Clean Fun!
• Spider-Man 2 – It was better than the first and one of the best, if not the best, superhero movies. (Bowing head to remember Christopher Reeve - I will miss you)

Ok, this is my Asian section…

• Hero (Ying xiong) – I was sitting next to our web mistress when she saw it for the first time. I swear, she had been waiting sooooo looooong for this movie to get released here, that when the opening credits started to roll, she burst out in tears. The stress was killing her. Can you imagine having an imported sealed copy of this movie sitting with the rest of your DVDs, but waiting to view it on the big screen before you opened it? Knowing her, she broke the seal and caressed the disc when nobody was watching. Put the DVD down and walk away from the movie shelf.
• The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi – After the blind swordsman kicks ass throughout the film, there is a very nice, totally unrelated, dance sequence to accompany the end credits. What the…?
• Beautiful Boxer – Brilliant! Asanee Suwan was great as Nong Toom /Parinaya Charoemphol, it amazed me that it was his first acting gig. Beautiful Boxer is the true story about Thai champion kick-boxer Nong Toom who fights to earn enough money to accomplish his ultimate goal, to become a woman.

Random mentions and awards

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Best documentary:

Heir to an Execution - Julius and Ethel Rosenberg’s granddaughter researching the execution of her grandparents.

Best use of Angelina Jolie:

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow – The ever sexy eye patch-wearin’ Capt. Francesca 'Franky' Cook.

Best use of Lucy Lawless:

Eurotrip – She played a dominatrix (Madame Vandersexxx) Yes Mistress, what do you want me to do? Yes Mistress, as you command.

You go in expecting one thing and end up with something completely different…

Eating Out – No, it’s not porn. Damn!

High hopes for a good book to make a good movie:

The Tesseract - Umm, not so much a good movie. Read the book.

The “It might make sense if I were on acid” award goes to:

Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space - I’m still trying to figure this one out.

High hopes for another really good Asian horror movie:

Doppelganger (Dopperugenga) – It really started off good, but ended with a whimper.

Good Asian horror movie (Ok, US-imitation Asian horror movie)

The Grudge - when you feel a hand coming out of the back your head, its time to get out of the shower and run away.

How friggin’ long is this movie anyway?

The Aviator