2007 Movie Retrospective: The Good, The Bad, And The Atrocious

December 28th, 2007


2007 has come and gone and, as usual, we have had our fair share of good films, decent ones, and downright terrible films. So without further ado here is a list of films that we here at FlickDirect find the best and worst of this past year.

The Best of 2007

Pirates of The Caribbean: At Worlds End

Director: Gore Verbinski
Cast: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgard, Jack Davenport, Kevin R. McNally, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook, Andy Beckwith, Chow Yun-Fat, Naomie Harris, Keith Richards

In the follow-up to the record-breaking smash 2006 hit PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST, we find our heroes Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) allied with Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) in a desperate quest to free Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from his mind-bending trap in Davy Jones' locker - while the terrifying ghost ship, The Flying Dutchman and Davy Jones, under the control of the East India Trading Company, wreaks havoc across the Seven Seas. Navigating through treachery, betrayal and wild waters, they must forge their way to exotic Singapore and confront the cunning Chinese Pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat). Now headed beyond the very ends of the earth, each must ultimately choose a side in a final, titanic battle - as not only their lives and fortunes, but the entire future of the freedom-loving Pirate way, hangs in the balance.

Simply Amazing! The perfect summer film. Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley were, as usual, spot on. Great ending to a wonderful trilogy!


© Disney. All Right Reserved.

Bourne Ultimatum, The

Director: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, David Strathairn, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramirez

All he wanted was to disappear. Instead, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is now hunted by the people who made him what he is. Having lost his memory and the one person he loved, he is undeterred by the barrage of bullets and a new generation of highly-trained killers. Bourne has only one objective: to go back to the beginning and find out who he was. He must travel from Moscow, Paris, Madrid and London to Tangier and New York City as he continues his quest to find the real Jason Bourne - all the while trying to outmaneuver the scores of cops, federal officers and Interpol agents with him in their crosshairs.

As usual the Bourne series does not disappoint. Cleaver plot, exciting, believable action. Everything you expect in a Bourne film.


© Universal Pictures. All Right Reserved.

Live Free or Die Hard

Director: Len Wiseman
Cast: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant, Cliff Curtis, Maggie Q, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kevin Smith

An attack on the vulnerable United States computer infrastructure begins to shut down the entire nation. The mysterious figure behind the shattering scheme has figured out every digitle angle--but he never figured on an old-fashioned, 'analog' fly in the ointment: John McClane.

Len Wiseman succeeds where every Die Hard sequel has failed....to live up to the first film. Great action and finally Brue Willis IS JOHN MCLANE AGAIN. I can not wait for number 5!


© 20th Century Fox. All Right Reserved.

Honorable Mention: Stardust

Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Peter O'Toole, Ian McKellen

From the imaginations of best-selling author Neil Gaiman and director Matthew Vaughn comes "Stardust," the enchanting tale of a fallen star who crashes into a magical kingdom -- and turns out to be no ordinary meteorite at all, but a beautiful, imperiled woman chased after by an incredible array of seekers who want or need her secret powers. From wicked witches to power-mad princes, from flying pirates to dueling goblins, each person who encounters the star has his or her own agenda, but they all desire just one thing: her heart.

Sleeper film that will most likely become a cult classic. In the same vein as the 1980s hit, The Princess Bride...just a little more grown up. Seeing this film makes me extremely upset Matthew Vaughn passed on the disater now know as X-Men 3. A must watch for everyone!


© Paramount Pictures. All Right Reserved.

Worst of 2007

Ghost Rider

Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Raquel Alessi, Angry Anderson, Arthur Angel, Matt Long, Sam Elliott, Peter Fonda, Donal Logue

This is the story of motorcycle stunt performer, Johnny Blaze (Cage), who agrees to become the host of a "spirit of vengeance" in exchange for the safety of his true love, but the price he pays is to be cursed with the avenging spirit that takes its form at night as a demon with a flaming skull on a motorcycle of hellfire...

First big letdown of 2007. After Daredevil I really had high hopes for this one, but it was just a mess. Hopefully Mark Steven Johnson will get his third film in the comic book genre done correctly, and this one will be a memory.


© Columbia Pictures. All Right Reserved.

Fantastic Four: Rise of The Silver Surfer

Directed: Tim Story
Cast: Michael Chiklis, Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, Julian McMahon

In what will surely be an effects filled blockbuster the fantastic four will battle the intergalactic villain Silver Surfer in a plot to destroy the earth. Returning are Ioan Gruffudd as Richard Reed , Jessica Albo as Sue Storm, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm. The group will also have to contend with the surprise return of Dr. Doom as they uncover what Silver Surfers motives really are.

Looks like Tim Story and the folks at 20th Century Fox have not paid attention to trends. Superhero kid movies just do not work. Maybe they should have watched Batman Begins before embarking on this one.


© 20th Century Fox. All Right Reserved.

I Know Who Killed Me

Director: Chris Sivertson
Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Julia Ormond, Marc Senter, Neal McDonough, Brian Geraghty, Brian Geraghty, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Spencer Garrett, Bonnie Aarons, Kenya Moore

A young woman is abducted and tortured by a serial killer. After she's rescued she claims she's a different person, raising questions as to whether she is suffering from post-traumatic stress or if something more sinister is going on.

Great concept and a wonderful way to showcase Lindsay Lohan as a serious actress....Too bad went this one went into left field (and what was with the blue rose?)


© Sony Pictures. All Right Reserved.

Honorable Mention: Shoot 'Em Up

Director: Michael Davis
Cast: Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Monica Bellucci

A gritty, fast-paced action thriller, "Shoot 'Em Up" kicks into high gear with a memorable opening scene and never relents. Clive Owen stars as Mr. Smith, a mysterious loner who teams up with an unlikely ally (Monica Belluci) to protect a newborn baby from a determined criminal (Paul Giamatti) who hunts them throughout the bowels of the city. "Shoot 'Em Up" is written and directed by Michael Davis ("Monster Man").

Superb cast. Could have been agreat mind-numbing escape action film, instead just mind numbing...A little plot would have been nice (and beliveability too).


© New Line Cinema. All Right Reserved.

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